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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d) of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) January 28, 2025

 

SIGNING DAY SPORTS, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware   001-41863   87-2792157
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)
  (Commission File Number)   (IRS Employer
Identification No.)

 

8355 East Hartford Rd., Suite 100, Scottsdale, AZ   85255
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code (480) 220-6814

 

 
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class   Trading Symbol(s)   Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share   SGN   NYSE American LLC

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

 

Emerging Growth Company

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

 

On January 28, 2025, Signing Day Sports, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), entered into a Stock Purchase Agreement among the Company, Dear Cashmere Group Holding Company, a Nevada corporation (“DRCR”), James Gibbons (“Gibbons”), and Nicolas Link (together with Gibbons, the “Sellers,” and together with the Company and DRCR, the “Parties”), dated as of January 28, 2025 (the “Purchase Agreement”). The Purchase Agreement provides that, subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth in the Purchase Agreement, the Company will consummate the transactions (the “Transactions”) contemplated by the Purchase Agreement at the date (the “Closing Date”) of the closing of the Transactions (the “Closing”). The Transactions will include (a) the Company’s issuance to the Sellers of (i) shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company (the “Company Common Stock”), constituting 19.99% of its outstanding shares of the Company Common Stock (the “Common Stock Consideration”); and (ii) an aggregate of 19,782.720 shares of a Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company (the “Company Preferred Stock”), which will automatically convert, subject to the Stockholder Approval (as defined below) and the listing clearance of The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”), into 19,782,720 shares of common stock (the “Preferred Stock Consideration”) in accordance with the Preferred Stock Certificate of Designation (as defined below) (such conversion, the “Preferred Stock Conversion”); and (b) the Sellers’ sale and transfer to the Company of the number of shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, and preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share, of DRCR, that represent in the aggregate 99.13% of the issued and outstanding capital stock of DRCR (the “Sellers’ Shares”) and 99.13% of the aggregate voting power of DRCR.

 

The Purchase Agreement contemplates that: (a) the Company may enter into agreements with additional stockholders of DRCR (“Additional Sellers”) to purchase their shares of DRCR, pursuant to the terms and conditions set forth in the respective purchase agreements (“Additional Agreements”); (b) upon the Closing, DRCR will function as an operating subsidiary of the Company, and the Company will consolidate the financial results and information of DRCR with its own; (c) the Company has obtained an opinion of a financial advisor to the board of directors of the Company (the “Board”) to the effect that, as of the date of such opinion, and based on and subject to the assumptions, limitations, qualifications and other matters set forth in such opinion, the Transactions are fair, from a financial point of view, to the stockholders of the Company, and has provided a copy of the written opinion to DRCR, solely for informational purposes; and (d) subsequent to the Closing, subject to receipt of any necessary stockholder, regulatory, and stock exchange consents or approvals, the Company will acquire the remaining outstanding equity ownership of the Company through a merger of DRCR into the Company or a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (the “Merger”).

 

The Purchase Agreement provides that if, at the effective time of the Merger, the Company has indebtedness for borrowed money or liabilities in excess of $150,000 relating to the period prior to the Closing (the “Aggregate Company Liabilities”), then, as soon as practicable following the closing of the Merger, the Company will issue a number of shares of Company Common Stock to the former stockholders of DRCR equal to the Aggregate Company Liabilities divided by the quotient obtained by dividing $170,000,000 by the number of shares of the Company Common Stock outstanding at the effective time of the Merger on a fully-diluted basis (“Adjustment Shares”).

 

The Purchase Agreement provides that Maxim Partners LLC (or its designees) (“Maxim”) will be issued a number of shares of Company Preferred Stock equal to 3.0% of the total outstanding shares of the Company after giving effect to the Closing on a fully diluted and as converted basis, pursuant to the terms of the letter agreement between DRCR and Maxim dated April 18, 2024 (the “Advisor Shares”).

 

Pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, the Board has (a) approved and adopted the Purchase Agreement and the Transactions, (b) determined that the Purchase Agreement, the Transactions, and the Merger are advisable and in the best interest of the stockholders of the Company, (c) approved, adopted and declared advisable the payment of the Company Stock Consideration, (d) directed that (i) the approval of the issuance of the shares of Company Common Stock underlying the Preferred Stock Consideration pursuant to the Preferred Stock Conversion, (ii) the third amended and restated certificate of incorporation of the Company in form and substance mutually agreeable to the Company, the Sellers and DRCR, including the change of the name of the Company to such name as will be designated by the Sellers (the “Amended Company Charter”), and (iii) the election of the New Directors (as defined below) be submitted for consideration at the Stockholders Meeting (as defined below), and (e) recommended (the “Board Recommendation”) to the stockholders of the Company that they approve the Preferred Stock Conversion, the Amended Company Charter and the election of the New Directors (collectively, the “Purchase Agreement Matters”).

 

1

 

Conditions to Closing

 

The Closing will be subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the following conditions:

 

obtaining Nasdaq approval of the initial listing of the Company Common Stock on The Nasdaq Capital Market;

 

delivery of the Common Stock Consideration and Preferred Stock Consideration by the Company;

 

obtaining necessary governmental and third-party approvals to consummate the Transactions;

 

non-occurrence of any legal prohibitions against the consummation of the Transactions;

 

delivering resignation letters of Daniel Nelson (“Nelson”) as Chief Executive Officer of the Company and one member of the Board, as discussed below;

 

filing the Preferred Stock Certificate of Designation (as defined below) with the Delaware Secretary of State, as discussed below;

 

satisfaction of DRCR and the Sellers with their respective due diligence of the Company;

 

delivery of evidence that the Company has satisfied all indebtedness for borrowed money of the Company and has satisfied all material liabilities of the Company, including all accounts payables owed to financial advisors, service providers and others;

 

entry into a certain lock-up agreement by each director and officer of the Company and of DRCR and each of the Sellers (each, a “Lock-Up Agreement”), as discussed below;

 

delivery by each of the Company and DRCR of cash flow forecasts and working budgets for the 12 months following the Closing Date;

 

waiver or termination of any rights of first refusal or similar rights enforceable against the Company pursuant to any contract to which the Company is a party;

 

entry into certain employment-related agreements by certain designated individuals;

 

the truth and correctness of the representations and warranties of each of the Parties in the Purchase Agreement in all material respects;

 

performance of each of the other obligations and covenants required to be performed at or before the Closing will have been performed;

 

non-occurrence of any material adverse effect on any of the Parties; and

 

certain customary closing conditions.

 

Changes to Company Management and Structure. The Purchase Agreement provides that, prior to the Closing, each of the Company and DRCR will take all necessary actions so that, at the Closing, one of the non-independent directors of the Board will resign, and the remaining directors of the Company will elect Gibbons to fill the vacancy. At the Closing, Nelson will resign as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, and Gibbons will be appointed as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer. In addition, prior to the Closing, the Company will form a wholly-owned operating subsidiary of the Company (the “Company Operating Subsidiary”), and as of immediately after the Closing, will appoint Nelson as the Chief Executive Officer of the Company Operating Subsidiary. In addition, the Board will authorize certain individuals designated by the Company with authority to manage and oversee the day-to-day management and operations of the Company Operating Subsidiary. The Company will also take all necessary actions so that, from and after the time immediately following the Closing, the board of directors of the Company Operating Subsidiary will consist of the same individuals as are then serving on the Board.

 

2

 

Filing of Certificate of Designation. Prior to the Closing, the Company will file a certificate of designation, entitled “Certificate of Designation of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock of Signing Day Sports, Inc.,” with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, which will designate the Company Preferred Stock as the “Series A Convertible Preferred Stock,” consisting of 25,000 shares, subject to adjustment, and setting forth the voting and other powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other rights of the Company Preferred Stock (the “Preferred Stock Certificate of Designation”). Pursuant to the Preferred Stock Certificate of Designation, the Company Preferred Stock will rank on par with the Company Common Stock as to distributions of assets upon liquidation. The Company Preferred Stock will have no voting rights except as required by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware and with respect to amendments to the Preferred Stock Certificate of Designation or the certificate of incorporation of the Company that adversely affect the terms of the Company Preferred Stock. On the later of the date of the Stockholder Approval or the clearance of the initial listing application filed by the Company with Nasdaq, each share of Company Preferred Stock will automatically convert into 1,000 shares of Company Common Stock, subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of stock dividends, stock splits, reverse stock splits, or certain similar transactions, or certain corporate transactions of the Company including a merger, sale of all or substantially all assets, purchase of 50% or more of the Company Common Stock, recapitalization, or acquisition by another person of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of Company Common Stock. If the Stockholder Approval is not obtained at a special meeting of the stockholders of the Company (the “Stockholders Meeting”) by the Extended Meeting Deadline (as defined below), the Company will, subject to applicable law, be required to repurchase all of the outstanding shares of Company Preferred Stock held by each of the Sellers and each of the Additional Sellers.

 

Lock-Up Agreements. Prior to the Closing, each of the officers and directors of the Company will enter into a Lock-Up Agreement, and each of the Sellers will enter into a Lock-Up Agreement, between the Company and such other party (“Holder”). Each Lock-Up Agreement will provide that the Holder will not, during the three months following the Closing Date (the “Lock-Up Period”), offer, sell, contract to sell, or otherwise transfer, directly or indirectly, including by the filing (or participation in the filing) of a registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) in respect of, or establish or increase a put equivalent position or liquidate or decrease a call equivalent position within the meaning of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), with respect to, the shares of Company Common Stock and shares of Company Preferred Stock held by each Holder, except as indicated below (the “Lock-Up Securities”). Each Holder may make transfers of Lock-Up Securities (a) to a trust for the benefit of the Holder or as a bona fide gift, by will or intestacy or to a family member or trust for the benefit of a family member of the Holder; (b) to a charity or educational institution; or (c) upon the prior written consent of the Company. Each Holder may also make open market sales of the Lock-Up Securities of up to 10% of the total shares of the Company that were publicly traded on a nationally recognized securities exchange during the trading day immediately preceding the date of any such sale of the Lock-Up Securities. Any such sales must be sold by each Holder in “broker’s transactions” and be made in compliance with the “manner of sale” requirements as those terms are defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). Each Holder may not use any strategy based upon “short” sales of any of such Holder’s Lock-Up Securities.

 

Post-Closing Requirements

 

The Purchase Agreement provides for certain post-signing and post-Closing requirements and covenants, including the following:

 

The Company will seek to raise, with DRCR’s assistance, at least $2.0 million of funding through a private placement or public offering of its securities (the “Company Financing”) as soon as possible after the date of the Purchase Agreement. The net proceeds of the Company Financing will be equally split between the Company and DRCR, and each of them will use such proceeds for its operations and, in the case of the Company, to pay down its indebtedness and other liabilities such that there will be no material liabilities of the Company remaining at the time of the Preferred Stock Conversion. In order to split the net proceeds of the Company Financing as described above, the Company will make loans of one-half of the net proceeds (or such lesser amount as agreed to by the Company, DRCR and the Sellers) to DRCR, which loans will be (i) forgiven upon the Preferred Stock Conversion or (ii) repaid if the Transactions are unwound in accordance with the Unwind Provision (as define below) or if the Purchase Agreement is otherwise terminated in accordance with its terms. The Company Financing will not include the offering of securities pursuant to an at the market offering under the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 (SEC File No. 333-283559) filed with the SEC on December 2, 2024 and declared effective by the SEC on December 5, 2024 (the “Form S-3”) or any similar at the market offering, the proceeds of which will be used to pay down the Company’s indebtedness and other liabilities such that there will be no material liabilities of the Company remaining at the time of the Preferred Stock Conversion.

 

3

 

As soon as practicable, but in no case less than 20 business days after the Closing, all of the assets of the Company existing prior to the Closing will be contributed to the Company Operating Subsidiary. The business of the Company as conducted immediately prior to the Closing will be conducted solely through the Company Operating Subsidiary.

 

Subsequent to the Closing, and subject to the receipt of any necessary stockholder, regulatory, and Nasdaq consents or approvals, the Company will acquire the remaining outstanding equity ownership of DRCR through the Merger, in which the Company will issue shares of Company Common Stock to the remaining stockholders of DRCR in connection with the consummation of the Merger (the “Merger Shares”) and the shares of DRCR held by such former stockholders of DRCR will be cancelled.

 

From the date of the Purchase Agreement until the earlier of (a) the Preferred Stock Conversion, (b) the repurchase of the Common Stock Consideration and Preferred Stock Consideration from the Sellers in exchange for the Sellers’ Shares, and (c) the termination of the Purchase Agreement (the “Restricted Period”), the Company will not sell, transfer, or otherwise encumber the Sellers’ Shares acquired under the Purchase Agreement without the prior written consent from the Sellers.

 

During the Restricted Period, the Company will not, without the written consent of DRCR, which may not be unreasonably withheld, and DRCR will not, without the written consent of the Company, which may not be unreasonably withheld, among other things: (a) Declare any dividends; (ii) adjust, split, combine or reclassify its capital stock (except, in the case of the Company, as may be necessary to satisfy any applicable continued listing requirements of any stock exchange on which the Company Common Stock is listed or any initial listing requirements of any stock exchange to which the Company has applied for listing of the Company Common Stock); (b), redeem, purchase, or otherwise acquire its capital stock (except, in the case of the Company, with respect to the warrant issued to FirstFire Global Opportunities Fund, LLC, dated May 16, 2024); (c) issue or sell its capital stock or securities convertible into its capital stock (other than pursuant to the exercise or conversion of convertible securities outstanding on the date of the Purchase Agreement, or, in the case of the Company, with respect to the At The Market Offering Agreement, dated December 2, 2024, by and between Purchaser and H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC, as sales agent and pursuant to the prospectus contained in the Form S-3); (d) enter into any contract with respect to the sale, voting, registration, or repurchase of capital stock (except, in the case of the Company, with respect to a Company Financing or the Merger Form S-4 (as defined below); (e) incur more than a certain amount and/or type of indebtedness; (f) sell, lease, license, encumber, or dispose of any assets; (g) acquire material assets, properties, or business organizations; (h) enter into certain types of contracts; (i) make certain loans; (j) commence, settle, or take certain other actions with respect to legal actions pending before any governmental or regulatory body; (k) enter into transactions with any affiliate or stockholder that would reasonably be expected to materially delay or prevent the consummation of the Transactions or the Merger or that would be required to be described under Item 404 of Regulation S-K; (l) increase or extend the compensation of any employees, directors, or officers or take certain other actions with respect to employees of the Company or DRCR.

 

The Purchase Agreement provides that during the Restricted Period, the Company will structure its business operations so that the Company Operating Subsidiary and DRCR will be operated as separate subsidiaries of the Company, with the business of the Company as conducted immediately prior to the Closing conducted through the Company Operating Subsidiary and the business of DRCR as conducted immediately prior to the Closing operating through DRCR as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, with each of the Company Operating Subsidiary and DRCR responsible for their own respective management, operations, and financial accounting. In this regard, the Board will delegate Gibbons as the Chief Executive Officer of DRCR and the other executive officers of DRCR with the full authority to manage and oversee the day-to-day management and operations of DRCR during the Restricted Period.

 

The persons serving on the Board immediately prior to the Closing will continue to do so during the Restricted Period. During the Restricted Period, in connection with any election of directors of DRCR, the Company will vote all shares of Company Common Stock and Company Preferred Stock for the election of the persons serving as directors immediately prior to such election, and it will not vote its shares of Company Common Stock and Company Preferred Stock in favor of removal of any director of DRCR or for any director nominee of DRCR without the prior written consent of the Sellers, such consent not to be unreasonably delayed, conditioned or withheld.

 

In connection with the Stockholders Meeting, the Company will nominate the New Directors for election to the Board.

 

DRCR will provide to the Company such information concerning DRCR, the Sellers, the Additional Sellers, and DRCR’s stockholders as is either required by the federal securities laws or reasonably requested by the Company for incorporation by reference into the Form S-3 within 15 days of the date of the Purchase Agreement (the “Form S-3 Information Requirement”).

 

4

 

DRCR will promptly provide to the Company such information concerning DRCR, the Sellers, the Additional Sellers, and DRCR’s stockholders as is either required by the federal securities laws or reasonably requested by the Company for inclusion in the proxy statement/prospectus that will constitute a proxy statement of the Company relating to the matters to be submitted to the stockholders of the Company at the Stockholders Meeting (including all amendments and supplements thereto, the “Proxy Statement”). Promptly after the receipt by the Company from DRCR of all such information, the Company will file with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-4 (including all amendments and supplements thereto, the “Merger Form S-4”) relating to (a) the registration of the offer and sale of the Merger Shares; (b) if permitted by Form S-4 and the related rules and regulations of the SEC, the registration of the offer and sale by (i) the Sellers of the shares of Company Common Stock constituting the Common Stock Consideration and the shares of Company Common Stock into which the shares of Company Preferred Stock constituting the Preferred Stock Consideration are convertible, (ii) the Additional Sellers of the shares of Company Common Stock into which the shares of Company Preferred Stock issued pursuant to the Additional Agreements are convertible, and (iii) Maxim (or its designees) of the shares of Company Common Stock into which the Advisor Shares are convertible (the “Seller Registrable Securities”); and (c) the registration of the offer and sale of any Adjustment Shares; and containing the Proxy Statement.

 

The Company, with the assistance of DRCR, will use its reasonable best efforts to (i) respond to any comments on the Merger Form S-4 or requests for additional information from the SEC as soon as practicable after receipt of any such comments or requests, (ii) cause the Merger Form S-4 to be declared effective by the SEC as promptly as practicable following its filing with the SEC, (iii) in consultation with DRCR, set a record date for the Stockholders Meeting, and (iv) cause the Proxy Statement to be mailed to the stockholders of the Company and of DRCR (other than the Sellers and the Additional Sellers) as promptly as practicable after the date on which the Merger Form S-4 is declared effective by the SEC (the “Merger Form S-4 Effective Date”).

 

If Form S-4 and the related rules and regulations of the SEC related thereto do not permit the inclusion of the Seller Registrable Securities, then upon the written request of both of the Sellers, the Company will file with the SEC as soon as practicable following such request, but in any event within 60 days, a registration statement on an appropriate form (the “Resale Registration Statement”) covering the Seller Registrable Securities and will use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Resale Registration Statement to be declared effective by the SEC as soon as practicable after its filing.

 

As promptly as practicable following the Merger Form S-4 Effective Date and after reasonable consultation with DRCR, the Company will duly call, convene and hold the Stockholders Meeting, to be held on a date no later than 45 days after the Merger Form S-4 Effective Date (the “Initial Meeting Deadline”). If, despite the Company’s reasonable best efforts, the Stockholder Approval is not obtained by the Initial Meeting Deadline, the Company will, during the period beginning on the Initial Meeting Deadline and continuing for 180 days afterward (the “Extended Meeting Deadline”), cause one or more additional stockholders meetings (each, an “Additional Stockholders Meeting”) to be held so as to obtain the Stockholder Approval. As promptly as practicable after the mailing of the Proxy Statement, the Company will solicit proxies from the holders of Company Common Stock to vote in accordance with the Board Recommendation and the recommendation of the Board with respect to the Merger, if the Parties determine that approval of the Merger by Purchaser’s stockholders is required, the adjournment of the Stockholders Meeting as permitted by the Purchase Agreement, and any proposal or proposals that the Company reasonably deems necessary or desirable to consummate the Transactions and the Merger (the “Stockholder Approval”). The Merger Form S-4 will include the Board Recommendation and the recommendation of the Board that the Company’s stockholders approve the Merger (if the Parties determine that approval of the Merger by the Company’s stockholders is required).

 

The Company will use its best efforts to obtain the Stockholder Approval by the Initial Meeting Deadline, including, without limitation, by causing (a) the Board not to withdraw the Board Recommendation, (b) its officers and directors who hold shares of Company Common Stock to be present at the Stockholders Meeting for quorum purposes, and (c) such officers and directors to vote their respective shares of Company Common Stock in accordance with the Board Recommendation. However, the Company may postpone or adjourn the Stockholders Meeting: (a) with the consent of DRCR; (b) for the absence of a quorum; or (c) to allow reasonable additional time (not to exceed 20 days) for the filing and distribution of any supplemental or amended disclosure with respect to the Transactions or the Merger that the Board has determined in good faith (after consultation with its outside legal counsel) is necessary under applicable laws and for such supplemental or amended disclosure to be disseminated to and reviewed by the Company’s stockholders prior to the Stockholders Meeting. Prior to the mailing of the Proxy Statement, the Company will be entitled to engage a proxy solicitor that is reasonably satisfactory to DRCR and the Sellers, and the Company will keep DRCR and the Sellers reasonably informed regarding its solicitation efforts and proxy tallies following the mailing of the Proxy Statement.

 

5

 

Immediately upon adjournment of the Stockholders Meeting or Additional Stockholders Meeting held prior to the Extended Meeting Deadline at which the Stockholder Approval is obtained, the Board will be comprised of: (a) one individual as designated by the Company; (b) three individuals designated by the board of directors of DRCR, two of whom will qualify as “independent” under Nasdaq rules; and (c) one individual that qualifies as “independent” under Nasdaq rules as designated jointly by the Company and DRCR, such that a majority of the persons designated for the Board will qualify as an “independent director” under Nasdaq rules and regulations (collectively, the “New Directors”).

 

Within three business days of obtaining the Stockholder Approval, the Company will file the Amended Company Charter with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware.

 

From and after the date that is 15 days after the Stockholder Approval is obtained, the Company and DRCR will take all necessary actions so that the board of directors of DRCR consists of the same individuals as are then serving on the Board.

 

The Company will use reasonable best efforts to ensure that the existing shares of Purchaser Common Stock shall have been continually listed on the NYSE American LLC (“NYSE American”) as of and from the date of the Purchase Agreement through the Closing Date.

 

From the Closing Date through the sixth anniversary of the Closing Date, the Company will indemnify any present or former director, manager or officer of the Company or DRCR, or their respective subsidiaries (each, an “Indemnified Party”) against costs incurred in connection with any legal actions relating to such capacity, and advance costs incurred in defense of any such legal actions upon request subject to receipt of an undertaking to the Company, to the extent required by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware or the Nevada Revised Statutes, as applicable, to repay such advances if it is ultimately determined that such person is not entitled to indemnification. The present provisions in the Company’s organizational documents with respect to indemnification, advancement of costs and exculpation of present and former directors and officers of the Company will not be amended, modified or repealed for a period of six years from the Closing Date in a manner that would adversely affect the rights of individuals who, at or prior to the Closing, were officers or directors of the Company. The certificate of incorporation and bylaws of the Company (including after the Merger) will contain provisions no less favorable with respect to indemnification, advancement of costs and exculpation of present and former directors and officers as those presently set forth in the Company’s organizational documents. From and after the Closing, the Company will continue to maintain directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies on terms and conditions and with coverage limits at least as beneficial to the Company as its current policies and that are customary for U.S. public companies similarly situated to the Company and shall cause such policies to cover the officers and directors of DRCR from and after the Closing. The Company will pay all costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, that are incurred by an Indemnified Party in enforcing the indemnity and other obligations provided in the Purchase Agreement, except to the extent that it is ultimately determined by a governmental authority with valid jurisdiction that such Indemnified Party is not entitled to be indemnified pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.

 

If the Stockholder Approval is not obtained by the Extended Company Meeting Deadline, the Company will repurchase the Common Stock Consideration and the Preferred Stock Consideration from the Sellers within 15 calendar days, and the Company will return the Sellers’ Shares specified on the signature page of the Purchase Agreement (the “Unwind Provision”).

 

6

 

Termination Provisions

 

The Purchase Agreement contains the following termination provisions:

 

The Purchase Agreement may be terminated by mutual consent of the Parties before the Closing.

 

The Purchase Agreement will automatically terminate upon the Company’s repurchase of the Common Stock Consideration and Preferred Stock Consideration pursuant to the Unwind Provision.

 

The Purchase Agreement may be terminated by any of the Parties before the end of the Restricted Period, by written notice, if the Closing does not occur by the 30th day following the date of the Purchase Agreement (the “Termination Date”), provided that the party seeking termination is not in material breach of the Purchase Agreement and such breach proximately caused the failure to consummate the Transactions on or before the Termination Date.

 

The Purchase Agreement may be terminated by any of the Parties if a governmental law or order or prohibition by either the NYSE American or Nasdaq permanently prohibits the consummation of the Transactions.

 

The Purchase Agreement may be terminated by either DRCR or the Sellers before the Closing if the Company breaches any representations, warranties, covenants, or agreements that cannot be cured by the date of termination, provided DRCR is not itself in breach, or if all conditions for the Closing have been met but the Company fails to fulfill its obligations to complete the Closing after receiving written notice from DRCR and the Sellers indicating their readiness to proceed.

 

The Purchase Agreement may be terminated by the Company before the Closing if DRCR or either of the Sellers breaches any representations, warranties, or obligations that cannot be cured by the date of termination, provided that the Company itself is not in breach, or if all conditions for the Closing have been met but DRCR or Sellers fail to fulfill their obligations to complete the Closing after receiving written notice from the Company indicating readiness to proceed.

 

The Purchase Agreement may be terminated by the Company if DRCR breaches the Form S-3 Information Requirement.

 

If the Purchase Agreement is validly terminated, it will become void without further obligations or liabilities, except that if termination results from fraud or willful and material failure to perform or breach, then the responsible party will be liable for damages as a result of such breach. Certain provisions, including confidentiality, fees and expenses, and miscellaneous terms, will continue to apply after termination. The Purchase Agreement supersedes the Binding Term Sheet, dated September 18, 2024, as amended on November 16, 2024 (the “Term Sheet”), among the Parties, and all other prior or contemporaneous agreements among the Parties.

 

The Purchase Agreement also contains customary representations, warranties, covenants, and mutual indemnification provisions.

 

The foregoing description of the Purchase Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Purchase Agreement, a copy or form of which is filed as Exhibit 2.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K. The foregoing description has been included to provide investors and security holders with information regarding the terms of the Purchase Agreement and is qualified in its entirety by the terms and conditions of the Purchase Agreement. It is not intended to provide any other factual information about the Parties or their respective subsidiaries or affiliates. The Purchase Agreement contains representations, warranties and covenants by each of the Parties which were made only for purposes of the Purchase Agreement as of specified dates. The representations, warranties and covenants in the Purchase Agreement were made solely for the benefit of the Parties, may be subject to limitations agreed upon by the Parties, including being qualified by confidential disclosures made for the purposes of allocating contractual risk between the Parties, instead of establishing these matters as facts, and may be subject to standards of materiality applicable to the Parties that differ from those applicable to investors. Investors should not rely on the representations, warranties and covenants or any descriptions thereof as characterizations of the actual state of facts or condition of the Company. Moreover, information concerning the subject matter of the representations, warranties and covenants may change after the date of the Purchase Agreement, which subsequent information may or may not be fully reflected in the Company’s public disclosures.

 

There were no material relationships between the Company or any of the Company’s affiliates, and any of DRCR or the Sellers, other than in respect of the Purchase Agreement, the Term Sheet, and that certain Convertible Promissory Note issued by the Company to DRCR, dated October 7, 2024.

 

7

 

Item 3.02Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities.

 

The information set forth in Item 1.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated by reference herein.

 

The offer and sale of securities described above is being conducted as a private placement pursuant to and in reliance on the exemption from registration provided by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act and/or Rule 506(b) of Regulation D promulgated thereunder for transactions not involving a public offering.

 

Item 7.01Regulation FD Disclosure.

 

On January 29, 2025, the Company issued a press release to announce the execution of the Purchase Agreement. A copy of the press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.

 

The information furnished pursuant to this Item 7.01 (including Exhibit 99.1) shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act, or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference into any filing under the Exchange Act or the Securities Act, except as expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing.

 

Forward-Looking Statements

 

The press release attached as Exhibit 99.1 hereto, the statements contained therein, and this Current Report on Form 8-K may include “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act, which statements involve substantial risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements generally relate to future events or the Company’s future financial or operating performance. In some cases, you can identify these statements because they contain words such as “may,” “will,” “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “projects,” “intends,” “should,” “seeks,” “future,” “continue,” “plan,” “target,” “predict,” “potential,” or the negative of such terms, or other comparable terminology that concern the Company’s expectations, strategy, plans, or intentions.  Forward-looking statements relating to expectations about future results or events are based upon information available to the Company as of today’s date and are not guarantees of the future performance of the Company, and actual results may vary materially from the results and expectations discussed. The Company’s expectations and beliefs regarding these matters may not materialize, and actual results in future periods are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected, including, without limitation, the ability of the Company to obtain clearance from Nasdaq of a new initial listing application in connection with the Transactions, obtain the Stockholder Approval, obtain sufficient funding to maintain operations and develop additional services and offerings, market acceptance of the Company’s current products and services and planned offerings, competition from existing online and retail offerings or new offerings that may emerge, impacts from strategic changes to the Company’s business on its net sales, revenues, income from continuing operations, or other results of operations, the Company’s ability to attract new users and customers, increase the rate of subscription renewals, and slow the rate of user attrition, the Company’s ability to retain or obtain intellectual property rights, the Company’s ability to adequately support future growth, the Company’s ability to comply with user data privacy laws and other current or anticipated legal requirements, and the Company’s ability to attract and retain key personnel to manage its business effectively, and other risks and uncertainties described in the Company’s Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K, and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements concerning the Company or other matters and attributable to the Company or any person acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements above. The Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update any of these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date hereof, except as required by law.

 

Item 9.01Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d) Exhibits

 

Exhibit No.   Description
2.1   Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of January 28, 2025, among Signing Day Sports, Inc., Dear Cashmere Group Holding Company, James Gibbons, and Nicolas Link
99.1   Press release dated January 29, 2025
104   Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded with the Inline XBRL document).

 

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SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

Date: January 29, 2025 Signing Day Sports, Inc.
   
  /s/ Daniel Nelson
  Name:  Daniel Nelson
  Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

 

9

 

Exhibit 2.1

 

EXECUTION COPY

 

 

 

 

 

STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT

 

 

 

by and among

 

 

 

DEAR CASHMERE GROUP HOLDING COMPANY, a Nevada corporation,

 

 

 

SIGNING DAY SPORTS, INC., a Delaware corporation,

 

 

JAMES GIBBONS

 

and

 

NICOLAS LINK

 

 

 

January 28, 2025

 

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

      Page
Article I. THE PURCHASE AND SALE OF COMPANY COMMON STOCK 2
  Section 1.01 Purchase and Sale of the Sellers’ Shares 2
  Section 1.02 Closing 2
  Section 1.03 Accelerated Vesting of Convertible Securities of Purchaser 2
  Section 1.04 Closing Deliverables 2
  Section 1.05 Directors and Officers 3
  Section 1.06 Tax Treatment 4
       
Article II. PURCHASE PRICE 4
  Section 2.01 Purchaser Price 4
  Section 2.02 Purchase Price Adjustment 4
  Section 2.03 Advisor Shares 5
       
Article III. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY 5
  Section 3.01 Organization and Power 5
  Section 3.02 Organizational Documents 5
  Section 3.03 Governmental Authorizations 5
  Section 3.04 Corporate Authorization 6
  Section 3.05 Non-Contravention 6
  Section 3.06 Capitalization 6
  Section 3.07 Subsidiaries 7
  Section 3.08 Financial Statements 7
  Section 3.09 Undisclosed Liabilities 7
  Section 3.10 Absence of Certain Changes 8
  Section 3.11 Litigation 8
  Section 3.12 Material Contracts 8
  Section 3.13 Benefit Plans 9
  Section 3.14 Labor Relations 11
  Section 3.15 Taxes 11
  Section 3.16 Environmental Matters 12
  Section 3.17 Intellectual Property 13
  Section 3.18 Real Property; Personal Property 14
  Section 3.19 Permits; Compliance with Law 15
  Section 3.20 Certain Business Practices 15
  Section 3.21 Regulatory Matters 16
  Section 3.22 Transactions with Affiliates 16
  Section 3.23 Insurance 16
  Section 3.24 Brokers 16
  Section 3.25 No Additional Representations or Warranties 16
       

 

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Article IV. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PURCHASER 17
  Section 4.01 Organization and Power 17
  Section 4.02 Organizational Documents 17
  Section 4.03 Governmental Authorizations 17
  Section 4.04 Corporate Authorization 18
  Section 4.05 Non-Contravention 18
  Section 4.06 Capitalization 18
  Section 4.07 Subsidiaries 19
  Section 4.08 Reserved 20
  Section 4.09 SEC Filings and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act 20
  Section 4.10 Financial Statements; Internal Controls 21
  Section 4.11 Undisclosed Liabilities 22
  Section 4.12 Absence of Certain Changes 22
  Section 4.13 Litigation 22
  Section 4.14 Material Contracts 22
  Section 4.15 Benefit Plans 24
  Section 4.16 Labor Relations 25
  Section 4.17 Taxes 26
  Section 4.18 Environmental Matters 27
  Section 4.19 Intellectual Property 27
  Section 4.20 Real Property; Personal Property 29
  Section 4.21 Permits; Compliance with Law 29
  Section 4.22 Certain Business Practices 30
  Section 4.23 Regulatory Matters 30
  Section 4.24 Takeover Statutes 30
  Section 4.25 Transactions with Affiliates 31
  Section 4.26 Insurance 31
  Section 4.27 Valid Issuance 31
  Section 4.28 Brokers 31
  Section 4.29 Shell Company Status 31
  Section 4.30 Listing and Maintenance Requirements 31
  Section 4.31 No Additional Representations or Warranties 31
       
ARTICLE V REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE SELLERS 32
  Section 5.01 Purchaser Entirely for Own Account 32
  Section 5.02 Capacity; Enforceability 32
  Section 5.03 Ownership of Sellers’ Shares 32
  Section 5.04 Reliance Upon Seller Representations 33
  Section 5.05 Receipt of Information 33
  Section 5.06 Investment Experience 33
  Section 5.07 Accredited Seller Status 33
  Section 5.08 Restricted Securities 33
  Section 5.09 Non-Contravention 33
  Section 5.10 No Additional Representation or Warranties 34

 

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Article VI. COVENANTS 34
  Section 6.01 Conduct of Business of the Company 34
  Section 6.02 Conduct of Business of Purchaser 36
  Section 6.03 Access to Information; Confidentiality 38
  Section 6.04 Purchaser Financing 39
  Section 6.05 Purchaser SEC Filings 39
  Section 6.06 Purchaser Operating Subsidiary 39
  Section 6.07 Registration Statement for Merger; Resale Registration Statement 40
  Section 6.08 Purchaser Stockholders Approval; Unwind 41
  Section 6.09 Maintenance of NYSE American Listing until Closing; Transfer to Nasdaq at Closing 42
  Section 6.10 Directors’ and Officers’ Indemnification and Insurance 42
  Section 6.11 Reasonable Best Efforts 43
  Section 6.12 Consents; Filings; Further Action 44
  Section 6.13 Public Announcements 45
  Section 6.14 Fees and Expenses 45
  Section 6.15 Takeover Statutes 46
  Section 6.16 Notification of Certain Matters 46
  Section 6.17 Certain Litigation 46
  Section 6.18 Post-Closing Business Operations 46
  Section 6.19 Tax Matters 47
  Section 6.20 Amended Purchaser Charter 47
  Section 6.21 Company Information 47
       
Article VII. CONDITIONS 47
  Section 7.01 Conditions to Each Party’s Obligation to Consummate the Transactions 47
  Section 7.02 Conditions to Obligations of Purchaser 48
  Section 7.03 Conditions to Obligations of the Sellers 49
  Section 7.04 Frustration of Closing Conditions 51
       
Article VIII. TERMINATION, AMENDMENT AND WAIVER 51
  Section 8.01 Termination by Mutual Consent; Automatic Termination 51
  Section 8.02 Termination by Any of Purchaser, the Sellers or the Company 51
  Section 8.03 Termination by the Company or the Sellers 51
  Section 8.04 Termination by Purchaser 52
  Section 8.05 Effect of Termination 52
  Section 8.06 Fees and Expenses Following Termination 52
       
ARTICLE IX SURVIVAL; INDEMNIFICATION 52
  Section 9.01 Survival 52
  Section 9.02 Indemnification by Sellers 53
  Section 9.03 Indemnification by Company 53
  Section 9.04 Indemnification by Purchaser 54
  Section 9.05 Indemnification Procedures 54
  Section 9.06 Exclusive Remedy 55
  Section 9.07 Mitigation 55
  Section 9.08 Tax Treatment 56

 

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Article X. MISCELLANEOUS 56
  Section 10.01 Certain Definitions 56
  Section 10.02 Interpretation 61
  Section 10.03 Reserved 62
  Section 10.04 Governing Law 62
  Section 10.05 Submission to Jurisdiction; Service 62
  Section 10.06 Waiver of Jury Trial 62
  Section 10.07 Notices 63
  Section 10.08 Amendment 64
  Section 10.09 Extension; Waiver 64
  Section 10.10 Entire Agreement 64
  Section 10.11 No Third-Party Beneficiaries 64
  Section 10.12 Severability 64
  Section 10.13 Rules of Construction 64
  Section 10.14 Assignment 65
  Section 10.15 Remedies 65
  Section 10.16 Specific Performance 65
  Section 10.17 Counterparts; Effectiveness 65
  Section 10.18 Non-Recourse 66
  Section 10.19 Conflicts and Privilege Company Counsel 66
  Section 10.20 Conflicts and Privilege Purchaser Counsel 66

 

Disclosure Schedules

 

Company Disclosure Schedule
Purchaser Disclosure Schedule

Seller Disclosure Schedule

 

Exhibits

 

Exhibit A: Form of Seller Lock-Up Agreement
Exhibit B: Form Purchaser Lock-Up Agreement

Exhibit C: Form of Purchaser Preferred Stock Certificate of Designation

 

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STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT

 

This STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of January 28, 2025 (the “Effective Date”), by and among Signing Day Sports, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Purchaser”), Dear Cashmere Group Holding Company, a Nevada corporation (the “Company”), James Gibbons, an individual residing in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (“Gibbons”) and Nicholas Link, an individual residing in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (together with Gibbons the “Sellers” and each a “Seller”). Purchaser, the Company and the Sellers may each be referred to herein as a “Party” and, collectively, as the “Parties.” Capitalized terms used in this Agreement have the meanings specified in Section 10.01 or elsewhere in this Agreement.

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, the Sellers collectively own such number of shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Company Common Stock”), and preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Company Preferred Stock”), of the Company, that represents in the aggregate 99.13% of the issued and outstanding capital stock of the Company (the “Sellers’ Shares”) and 99.13% of the aggregate voting power of the Company;

 

WHEREAS, the Sellers desire to sell, transfer and assign to Purchaser, and Purchaser desires to purchase and accept from the Sellers, the Sellers’ Shares at Closing pursuant to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement;

 

WHEREAS, the board of directors of Purchaser (the “Purchaser Board”), by resolution duly adopted by the unanimous vote of the entire Purchaser Board at a meeting duly called and held, has (a) approved this Agreement, the transactions contemplated hereby (the “Transactions”) and the Merger and (b) determined that this Agreement and the Transactions are advisable and in the best interests of the stockholders of Purchaser;

 

WHEREAS, the board of directors of the Company (the “Company Board”), by resolution duly adopted by the unanimous vote of the entire Purchaser Board at a meeting duly called and held, has (a) determined that this Agreement and the consummation of the Transactions and the Merger are in the best interests of the Company’s stockholders and (b) approved the Company’s execution and delivery of this Agreement and the performance of its obligations hereunder;

 

WHEREAS, upon the Closing the Company will function as an operating subsidiary of Purchaser and Purchaser will consolidate the financial results and information of the Company with its own; and

 

WHEREAS, Purchaser is entering into additional stock purchase agreements (the “Additional Agreements”) with additional sellers (the “Additional Sellers”) who are existing stockholders of the Company as of the date hereof pursuant to which such Additional Sellers are selling, transferring and assigning their shares of Company Common Stock (the “Additional Sellers’ Shares”) and Purchaser is purchasing and accepting from the Additional Sellers, the Additional Sellers’ Shares at Closing pursuant to the terms and conditions set forth in the Additional Agreements;

 

WHEREAS, Purchaser has obtained an opinion of a financial advisor to the Purchaser Board to the effect that, as of the date of such opinion, and based on and subject to the assumptions, limitations, qualifications and other matters set forth in such opinion, the Transactions are fair, from a financial point of view, to the stockholders of Purchaser, and has provided a copy of the written opinion to the Company, solely for informational purposes (it being understood and agreed that such written opinion may not be relied upon by the Sellers, the Company or their shareholders);

 

WHEREAS, it is the Parties’ intention that Purchaser, subsequent to the Closing, and subject to the receipt of any necessary stockholder, regulatory, and stock exchange consents or approvals, shall acquire the remaining 0.87% of the outstanding equity ownership of the Company through a merger of the Company into Purchaser or a wholly-owned subsidiary of Purchaser (the “Merger”).

 

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NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual representations, warranties, covenants and agreements set forth in this Agreement and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are acknowledged, the Parties, intending to be legally bound, agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE I. PURCHASE AND SALE OF THE SELLERS’ SHARES

 

Section 1.01 Purchase and Sale of the Sellers’ Shares.

 

At the Closing, and upon the terms set forth in this Agreement, each Seller shall sell, transfer, convey, assign and deliver to Purchaser such number of Sellers’ Shares set forth below such Seller’s name on the signature page to this Agreement under the caption “Number of Sellers’ Shares,” free and clear from all Liens. 

 

Section 1.02 Closing.

 

The closing of the Transactions (the “Closing”) shall take place (a) remotely by exchange of documents and signatures (or their electronic counterparts) on a date that is two (2) Business Days following the satisfaction or (to the extent permitted by applicable Law) waiver in accordance with this Agreement of all of the conditions set forth in Article VII (other than any such conditions which by their nature cannot be satisfied until the Closing Date, which shall be required to be so satisfied or (to the extent permitted by applicable Law) waived in accordance with this Agreement on or prior to the Closing Date) or (b) at such other place and time as Purchaser, the Sellers and the Company may mutually agree in writing. The date on which the Closing occurs is referred to herein as the “Closing Date.” 

 

Section 1.03 Accelerated Vesting of Convertible Securities of Purchaser.

 

Prior to the Closing, the Purchaser Board (or, if appropriate, any committee thereof administering the Purchaser Equity Plan) shall adopt such resolutions or take such other actions as may be required to adjust the terms of all unvested Purchaser Stock Options, Purchaser RSUs and restricted shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of Purchaser (the “Purchaser Common Stock”), as necessary to provide that such Convertible Securities become fully vested as of the Closing.

 

Section 1.04 Closing Deliverables.

 

(a) Seller Closing Deliverables. At or prior to the Closing (or to the extent specifically set forth below, subsequent to Closing), each Seller shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, to Purchaser, the following:

 

(i) counterparts to this Agreement duly executed by the Seller;

 

(ii) lock-up agreements substantially in the form of Exhibit A (the “Seller Lock-Up Agreements”) executed by each Seller;

 

(iii) any stock certificates representing the Sellers’ Shares;

 

(iv) a general release of all claims in favor of the Company, duly executed by each of the Sellers; and

 

(v) such other documents or instruments as Purchaser may reasonably request and are reasonable and necessary to consummate the Transactions.

 

(b) Purchaser Closing Deliverables. At the Closing, Purchaser shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Sellers or the Persons or accounts, as applicable, as set forth on the Seller Allocation Schedule, the following:

 

(i) the Common Stock Consideration;

 

(ii) the Preferred Stock Consideration;

 

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(iii) a counterpart to this Agreement duly executed by an authorized officer of Purchaser;

 

(iv) the lock-up agreements substantially in the form of Exhibit B (the “Purchaser Lock-Up Agreements”) executed by each officer and director of Purchaser;

 

(v) a duly filed copy of the Purchaser Preferred Stock Certificate of Designation;

 

(vi) copies of the written resignation of one member of the board of directors of Purchaser in accordance with Section 1.05(a);

 

(vii) a copy of the written resignation of Daniel Nelson as chief executive officer of Purchaser; and

 

(viii) such other documents or instruments as the Company or one or both of the Sellers may reasonably require and are reasonable and necessary to consummate the Transactions.

 

(c) Company Closing Deliverables. At the Closing, the Company shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, to Purchaser, the following:

 

(i) a counterpart to this agreement duly executed by an authorized officer of the Company on behalf of the Company;

 

(ii) all of the books and records of the Company, including all Organizational Documents of the Company and such stock certificates and other documents necessary to reflect that Purchaser as the then-sole owner of all of the Sellers’ Shares; and

 

(iii) such other documents or instruments as Purchaser may reasonably request and are reasonable and necessary to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

Section 1.05 Directors and Officers.

 

(a) Purchaser Board. Each of Purchaser and the Company shall take all necessary actions so that, immediately after the Closing, the Purchaser Board shall be comprised of five members, including (i) the four current members of Purchaser Board set forth on Schedule 1.05(a)(i) and (ii) James Gibbons, who is designated by the Company. Each of Purchaser and the Company shall take all necessary actions so that, immediately upon adjournment of the Purchaser Stockholders Meeting or Additional Purchaser Stockholders Meeting at which the Purchaser Stockholder Approval is obtained, the Purchaser Board shall be comprised of: (w) one individual as designated by Purchaser and whose name is set forth on Schedule 1.05(a)(w); (x) one individual as designated by the Company Board and whose name is set forth on Schedule 1.05(x); (y) two individuals that qualify as “independent” under Nasdaq rules as designated by the Company Board and whose names are set forth on Schedule 1.05(a)(y); and (z) one individual that qualifies as “independent” under Nasdaq rules as designated jointly by the Company Board and Purchaser Board and whose name is set forth on Schedule 1.05(z), provided that a majority of the persons set forth in (w) through (z) hereof shall qualify as an “independent director” under Nasdaq rules and regulations.

 

(b) CEOs of Subsidiaries. The Parties shall take all necessary actions so that, from and after the time immediately following the Closing, until their successors are duly elected or appointed and qualified in accordance with applicable Law, or until their earlier death, resignation or removal in accordance with the organizational documents of the Purchaser Operating Subsidiary or the Company, as applicable, (i) Daniel Nelson shall become the chief executive officer of the Purchaser Operating Subsidiary and (ii) James Gibbons shall remain the chief executive officer of the Company.

 

(c) Company Board. The persons serving on the Company Board shall continue to do so until the end of the Restricted Period, or until their earlier resignation, removal or death.

 

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Section 1.06 Tax Treatment.

 

Each Seller and Purchaser agree that the Transactions will be treated for U.S. federal income Tax purposes and applicable state income Tax purposes as a taxable sale by the Seller and a purchase by Purchaser of the assets of the Company (the “Intended Tax Treatment”). The Purchase Price and the liabilities of the Company assumed by Purchaser will be allocated to the assets of the Company for all purposes (including Tax and financial accounting) in accordance with an allocation schedule prepared by the Seller. A draft of the allocation schedule shall be prepared by the Seller and delivered to Purchaser within 60 days following the Closing Date for its approval. If Purchaser notifies the Seller in writing that Purchaser objects to one or more items reflected in the allocation schedule, the Seller and Purchaser shall negotiate in good faith to resolve such dispute; provided, however, that if the Seller and Purchaser are unable to resolve any dispute with respect to the allocation schedule within 60 days following the Closing Date, such dispute shall be resolved by the Independent Accountant. The fees and expenses of such accounting firm shall be borne equally with the Seller or Sellers, as applicable, bearing (in the case of both Sellers, an aggregate of) 50% and Purchaser bearing 50% of such fees and expenses. Purchaser, the Company and each Seller shall file all Tax Returns (including amended returns and claims for refund) and information reports in a manner consistent with the allocation schedule. Any adjustments to the Purchase Price pursuant to this Agreement shall be allocated in a manner consistent with the allocation schedule.

 

Article II. PURCHASE PRICE

 

Section 2.01 Purchase Price.

 

At the Closing, Purchaser shall issue to the Sellers, in accordance with the instructions of the Sellers and the Seller Allocation Schedule included on Schedule 2.01 (the “Seller Allocation Schedule”), the following securities in full consideration for the Sellers’ Shares (the “Purchase Price”):

 

(a) Such number of shares of Purchaser Common Stock in an aggregate amount equal to 19.99% of the issued and outstanding shares of Purchaser Common Stock as of the date of this Agreement (the “Common Stock Consideration”); and

 

(b) An aggregate of 19,782.720 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of Purchaser (the “Purchaser Preferred Stock”), which shall be convertible into 19,782,720 shares of Purchaser Common Stock (subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain events as set forth in the Purchaser Preferred Stock Certificate of Designation (as defined below)), shall have no voting or dividend rights, and shall otherwise have the powers, preferences, rights, qualifications, limitations and restrictions as set forth in the Certificate of Designation for the Purchaser Preferred Stock in substantially the form of Exhibit C hereto (the “Purchaser Preferred Stock Certificate of Designation”), with such shares of Purchaser Preferred Stock automatically converting into the underlying shares of Purchaser Common Stock upon the later of (i) approval of Purchaser’s issuance of such underlying shares of Purchaser Common Stock by Purchaser’s stockholders in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Nasdaq and (ii) the clearance of the initial listing application filed by Purchaser with Nasdaq, with such conversion to not occur before the Stockholder Vote (the “Preferred Stock Consideration” and together with the Common Stock Consideration, the “Purchaser Stock Consideration”).

 

Section 2.02 Purchase Price Adjustment.

 

If, at the effective time of the Merger, Purchaser has any indebtedness for borrowed money or liabilities in excess of $150,000 (such amount, including the $150,000 being the “Aggregate Purchaser Liabilities”) relating to the period prior to the Closing, then the Purchaser shall issue to the legacy stockholders of the Company, including the Sellers and the Additional Sellers, as soon as practicable following the closing of the Merger, a number of shares of Purchaser Common Stock (the “Adjustment Shares”) that is equal to the Aggregate Purchaser Liabilities divided by Applicable Price Per Share. The Adjustment Shares will be issued to the legacy stockholders of the Company on a pro rata basis based upon the number of shares of Company Common Stock held by such legacy stockholders at the effective time of the Merger; provided, however, that for this purpose, the Sellers and the Additional Sellers shall be deemed to hold at the effective time of the Merger such number of shares of Company Common Stock (assuming the conversion of Company Preferred Stock held by the Sellers into shares of Company Common Stock in accordance with their terms) as they hold at the time that the Sellers entered into this Agreement and that each Additional Seller entered into an Additional Agreement. For purposes of this Section 2.02, the term “Applicable Price Per Share” means the quotient obtained by dividing $170,000,000 by the number of shares of Purchaser Common Stock outstanding at the effective time of the Merger on a fully-diluted basis (assuming the conversion, exercise or exchange of all Purchaser Convertible Securities outstanding immediately after the effective time of the Merger). If the Adjustment Shares cannot be included in the Registration Statement, then the Purchaser shall file a separate registration statement on Form S-3 (or, if Form S-3 is not then available to the Purchaser, on Form S-1) that registers the issuance of the Adjustment Shares to the legacy stockholders of the Company and use commercially reasonable efforts to cause such other registration statement to become effective as soon as practicable.

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Section 2.03 Advisor Shares.

 

Immediately following the Closing, Purchaser shall issue to Maxim Partners LLC (or its designees) (the “Advisor”) a number of shares of Purchaser Preferred Stock that is equal to 3.0% of the total outstanding shares of Purchaser Common Stock upon, and after giving effect to, the Closing on a fully diluted and as converted basis, pursuant to the terms of the letter agreement between the Company and Maxim Partners LLC dated April 18, 2024.

 

Article III. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE Company

 

Except as set forth in the in the corresponding sections of the disclosure schedule to this Agreement to be delivered by the Company to Purchaser on the date hereof (the “Company Disclosure Schedule”) (each of which qualifies representations, warranties or covenants set forth in the correspondingly numbered Section of this Agreement and any other representations, warranties or covenants where its relevance as an exception to (or disclosure for purposes of) such other representations, warranties or covenants is reasonably apparent on the face of the disclosure), the Company hereby represents and warrants to Purchaser as follows:

 

Section 3.01 Organization and Power.

 

Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Law of its jurisdiction of organization. The Company has the requisite corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its assets and properties and to carry on its business as now conducted, except where the failure to have such requisite power or authority would not constitute a Company Material Adverse Effect. Each of the Company’s Subsidiaries has the requisite power and authority to own, lease and operate its assets and properties and to carry on its business as now conducted, except where the failure to have such requisite power or authority would not constitute a Company Material Adverse Effect. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation, limited liability company or other legal entity and is in good standing in each jurisdiction where such qualification is necessary, except where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing would not constitute a Company Material Adverse Effect.

 

Section 3.02 Organizational Documents.

 

The Company has made available to Purchaser true and complete copies of the certificate of incorporation and bylaws of the Company as in effect on the date of this Agreement (collectively, the “Company Organizational Documents”), and the Company Organizational Documents are in full force and effect.

 

Section 3.03 Governmental Authorizations.

 

Assuming that the representations and warranties of Purchaser contained in Section 4.04 and of the Sellers contained in Section 5.02 are true and correct, the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Company do not and will not require any consent, approval or other authorization of, or registration or filing with or notification to any Governmental Authority (collectively, “Governmental Authorizations”), other than:

 

(a) such Governmental Authorizations where the failure to obtain such Governmental Authorizations would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect;

 

(b) the HSR Act and any applicable requirements of other Antitrust Laws (if applicable); and

 

(c) as set forth on Section 3.03 of the Company Disclosure Schedule.

 

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Section 3.04 Corporate Authorization.

 

(a) The Company Board has unanimously (i) determined that this Agreement and the consummation of the Transactions and the Merger are in the best interests of the Company’s stockholders and (ii) approved the Company’s execution and delivery of this Agreement and the performance of its obligations hereunder. The resolutions adopted by the Company Board have not been subsequently rescinded, modified or withdrawn in any way.

 

(b) The Company has all necessary corporate power and authority to enter into and deliver this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder and to consummate the Merger. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Company and the performance of its obligations hereunder have been duly and validly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Company. Assuming the due and valid authorization, execution and delivery by the other Parties, this Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding agreement of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms (except as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditor’s rights, and to general equitable principles).

 

Section 3.05 Non-Contravention.

 

Subject to the receipt of the consents, approval, authorizations and other requirements set forth in Section 3.03, and except as set forth on Schedule 3.05 of the Company Disclosure Schedule, the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Company and the consummation of the Transactions do not and will not (a) contravene or conflict with, or result in any material violation or breach of, any provision of (i) the Company Organizational Documents or (ii) the comparable organizational or governing documents of any of the Subsidiaries of the Company, (b) contravene or conflict with, or result in any material violation or breach of, any Law applicable to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or by which any Company Assets are bound, assuming that all Governmental Authorizations described in Section 3.03 have been obtained or made, (c) result in any violation, termination, acceleration of any material obligation, cancellation or material breach of, or constitute a default (with or without notice or lapse of time or both) or require any notice or consent under, any Company Material Contracts or Company Real Property Leases to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which any Company Assets are bound or (d) result in the creation of any Liens (other than Permitted Liens) upon any Company Assets except, in the case of clauses (a)(ii), (b), (c) and (d), as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.

 

Section 3.06 Capitalization.

 

(a) As of the date of this Agreement, the Company’s authorized capital stock consists of 552,501,000 shares, divided into 500,000,000 shares of Company Common Stock and 52,501,000 shares of Company Preferred Stock, which shares of Company Preferred Stock are further divided into 50,000,000 shares of Series A Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Company (the “Series A Preferred Stock”), 1,000 shares of Series B Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Company (the “Series B Preferred Stock”), and 2,500,000 shares of Series C Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Company (the “Series C Preferred Stock”). As of the close of business on the date of this Agreement, (i) 53,763,611 shares of Company Common Stock were issued and outstanding, (ii) 49,999,900 shares of Series A Preferred Stock were issued and outstanding, (iii) no shares of Series B Preferred Stock were issued and outstanding, (iv) no shares of Series C Preferred Stock were issued and outstanding, and (v) there were no Convertible Securities of the Company issued or outstanding other than as set forth in clause (ii) of this sentence.

 

(b) Except as set forth in Section 3.06(a) or to the extent expressly permitted under Section 6.01 (including as required by applicable Law) (i) there are no other outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company, (ii) there are no outstanding subscriptions, options, warrants, calls, convertible securities, rights of first refusal, preemptive rights, or other similar rights, agreements or commitments relating to the issuance or acquisition of capital stock or limited liability company interests to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party obligating the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to (A) issue, transfer or sell any shares of capital stock, limited liability company interests or other equity interests of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or securities convertible into or exchangeable for such shares or equity interests, (B) grant, extend or enter into any such subscription, option, warrant, call, convertible securities or other similar right, agreement or arrangement, (C) redeem, repurchase or otherwise acquire any such shares of capital stock, limited liability company or other equity interests, or (D) provide an amount of funds to, or make any investment (in the form of a loan, capital contribution or otherwise) in the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any other Person.

 

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(c) All outstanding shares of Company Common Stock and Company Preferred Stock have been duly authorized and are validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and not subject to any preemptive rights.

 

(d) Each outstanding share of capital stock, limited liability company interest, or other equity interests of each Subsidiary of the Company is duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, and in each case, to the extent such concepts are applicable to such capital stock, limited liability company interests, or other equity interests, not subject to any preemptive rights.

 

(e) There are no outstanding contractual obligations of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any shares of Company Common Stock, shares of Company Preferred Stock or any shares of capital stock or limited liability company interests of any Subsidiary of the Company.

 

Section 3.07 Subsidiaries.

 

(a) Section 3.07(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule sets forth a complete and accurate list of each Subsidiary of the Company. The Company has made available to Purchaser the organizational documents of each Subsidiary of the Company.

 

(b) Except as set forth in Section 3.07(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, each of the Subsidiaries of the Company is wholly owned by the Company, directly or indirectly, free and clear of any Liens (other than Permitted Liens). The Company does not own, directly or indirectly, any capital stock or limited liability company interests of, or any other securities convertible or exchangeable into or exercisable for capital stock or limited liability company interests of, any Person other than the Subsidiaries of the Company.

 

Section 3.08 Financial Statements.

 

Section 3.08 of the Company Disclosure Schedule contains true, correct and complete copies of (i) the audited balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, and the related audited statements of operations, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for the years ending December 31, 2023 and 2022 (the “Company Audited Financial Statements”) and (ii) the unaudited balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of September 30, 2024, and the unaudited related statements of operations, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for the period ending on September 30, 2024 (the “Company Unaudited Financial Statements”). The Company Audited Financial Statements and the Company Unaudited Financial Statements fairly present, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of the times and for the periods referred to in the Company Audited Financial Statements and the Company Unaudited Financial Statements and have been prepared in conformity with United States generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) (except for (A) the absence of footnotes and (B) changes resulting from normal year-end adjustments (none of which, individually or in the aggregate, are material)). There are no off-balance sheet arrangements to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party.

 

Section 3.09 Undisclosed Liabilities.

 

As of the date of this Agreement, except as set forth in Section 3.09 of the Company Disclosure Schedule, to the Knowledge of the Company there are no liabilities, Liens or obligations of any kind, whether accrued, contingent, absolute, inchoate or otherwise (collectively, “Liabilities”), of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, individually or in the aggregate, that are required to be recorded or reflected on a balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP, other than:

 

(a) Liabilities reflected or reserved against in the consolidated balance sheet of the Company as of September 30, 2024;

 

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(b) Liabilities incurred since September 30, 2024, in the ordinary course of business (none of which is a Liability for tort, material breach of contract or environmental Liability);

 

(c) Liabilities incurred in connection with the Transactions or as permitted or contemplated expressly by this Agreement;

 

(d) Liabilities that will be discharged or paid off prior to or at the Closing;

 

(e) Liabilities incurred pursuant to Contracts or Permits binding on the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (other than those resulting from any breach or default under such Contract or Permit); and

 

(f) Liabilities that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.

 

Section 3.10 Absence of Certain Changes.

 

Except as otherwise expressly contemplated or required by this Agreement, or as set forth in Section 3.10 of the Company Disclosure Schedule, from September 30, 2024 to the date of this Agreement, (a) the business of the Company and each of its Subsidiaries has been conducted, in all material respects, in the ordinary course of business, excluding the execution and performance of this Agreement and the discussion, negotiations and transactions related to this Agreement, (b) there has not been any Company Material Adverse Effect and (c) there has not been or occurred any event, condition, action or effect that, if taken after the date of this Agreement, would constitute a breach of Section 6.01.

 

Section 3.11 Litigation.

 

Except as set forth on Section 3.11 of the Company Disclosure Schedule, (a) there are no legal actions, claims, demands, arbitrations, hearings, charges, complaints, sanctions, examinations, indictments, litigations, suits or other civil, criminal, administrative or investigative proceedings before a Governmental Authority (collectively, “Legal Actions”) pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened, against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or any of its or their assets or properties, that would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect and (b) there are no Orders outstanding against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or any of its or their assets or properties, that would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.

 

Section 3.12 Material Contracts.

 

(a) Section 3.12 of the Company Disclosure Schedule sets forth a list of each of the following Contracts to which, as of the date of this Agreement, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party (each, a “Company Material Contract”):

 

(i) each Contract (A) not to (or otherwise restricting or limiting the ability of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, if any, to) compete in any line of business or geographic area or (B) to restrict the ability of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, if any, to conduct business in any geographic area;

 

(ii) each Contract that is reasonably likely to require, during the remaining term of such Contract, annual payments by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that exceed $250,000;

 

(iii) all Contracts granting to any Person an option or a first refusal, first offer or similar preferential right to purchase or acquire any Company Assets;

 

(iv) all material Contracts (A) for the granting or receiving of a license, sublicense or franchise (in each case, including any such Contracts relating to any Intellectual Property) providing for or resulting in a payment in excess of $250,000 per year or (B) under which any Person is obligated to pay or has the right to receive a royalty, license fee, franchise fee or similar payment in which it is reasonably expected to pay or receive a royalty, license fee, franchise fee or similar payment in excess of $250,000, in each case of clause (A) and (B);

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(v) all partnership, joint venture or other similar agreements or arrangements;

 

(vi) any agreement relating to indebtedness for borrowed money or the deferred purchase price of property (in either case, whether incurred, assumed, guaranteed or secured by any asset), except any such agreement with an aggregate outstanding principal amount not exceeding $100,000;

 

(vii) any agreement for the disposition or acquisition by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries with material obligations of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (other than confidentiality obligations) remaining to be performed, or material Liabilities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries continuing, after the date of this Agreement, of any material business or any material amount of assets other than in the ordinary course of business;

 

(viii) any agreement, other than operating agreements of Subsidiaries of the Company that have been made available to Purchaser, restricting or limiting the payment of dividends or the making of distributions to stockholders, including intercompany dividends or distributions other than such restrictions or limitations that are required by applicable Law or the Company Organizational Documents;

 

(ix) any Contract with an employee of the Company or any Subsidiary involving annual payments in excess of $100,000;

 

(x) any Contract for the development of Intellectual Property, other than those entered into in the ordinary course of business with Company employees and contractors; and

 

(xi) all material agreements with any Governmental Authority.

 

(b) A true and complete copy of each Company Material Contract (including any related amendments) entered into prior to the date of this Agreement has been made available to Purchaser prior to the date of this Agreement. Each Company Material Contract is a valid and binding agreement of the Company or its applicable Subsidiary, except where the failure to be valid and binding would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, (i) neither the Company or such Subsidiary nor, to the Knowledge of the Company, any other party, is in breach of or default under any such Company Material Contract, (ii) as of the date of this Agreement, there are no material disputes in connection with any such Company Material Contract and (iii) as of the date of this Agreement, no party under any Company Material Contract has given written notice of its intent to terminate or otherwise seek a material amendment to such Company Material Contract.

 

Section 3.13 Benefit Plans.

 

(a) Except as set forth on Section 3.13(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, the Company does not have or maintain any, Company Benefit Plans. For purposes of this Agreement a “Company Benefit Plan” is, whether or not written, (i) any “employee benefit plan” within the meaning of Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), (ii) any compensation, stock purchase, stock option, equity or equity-based compensation, retention, severance, employment, individual consulting, change-of-control, transaction bonus, bonus, incentive, deferred compensation and other employee benefit plan, agreement, arrangement, program or policy, whether or not subject to ERISA, (iii) any plan, agreement, program or policy providing vacation benefits, medical, dental, vision or prescription benefits, disability or sick leave benefits, life insurance, employee assistance program, supplemental unemployment benefits and post-employment or retirement benefits (including compensation or pension benefits), in each case (A) under which any current or former director, officer, employee or individual independent contractor of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has any right to benefits and for which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has any Liability or (B) which are maintained, sponsored or contributed to by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries makes or is required to make contributions or with respect to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has any material Liability.

 

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(b) With respect to each material Company Benefit Plan, if applicable, the Company has made available to Purchaser true and complete copies of the most recent summary plan description.

 

(c) Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries maintains, sponsors, or contributes to (or is required to sponsor, maintain, or contribute to), or has any Liability, including on account of an ERISA Affiliate, under or with respect to, (i) any “defined benefit plan” (as defined in Section 3(35) of ERISA) that is subject to Section 412 or Section 430 of the Code or Title IV of ERISA, (ii) any “multiemployer plan” (as defined in Section 3(37) of ERISA and 4001(a)(3) of ERISA), (iii) any “multiple employer plan” (within the meaning of Section 210 of ERISA or Section 413(c) of the Code) or that is or has been subject to Section 4063 or 4064 of ERISA, or (iv) any “multiple employer welfare arrangement” (as defined in Section 3(40)(A) of ERISA). Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, (i) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has any Liability as a result of any time being considered a single employer with any other Person under Section 414 of the Code, (ii) no Company Benefit Plan is a voluntary employee benefit association under Section 501(c)(9) of the Code, and (iii) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has engaged in any transaction described in Sections 4069 or 4212(c) of ERISA or to which Section 4204 of ERISA applied.

 

(d) Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, to the Knowledge of the Company, each Company Benefit Plan is in compliance with all applicable requirements of ERISA, the Code and other applicable Laws and has been administered in accordance with its terms and such Laws.

 

(e) Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, to the Knowledge of the Company, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has any Liability with respect to, and no Company Benefit Plan provides, retiree or post-employment health, medical, life insurance or death benefits to current or former employees or other individual service providers of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries beyond their retirement or other termination of service, other than coverage mandated by COBRA or Section 4980B of the Code, or any similar state group health plan continuation Law, the premium cost of which is fully paid by such current or former employees or other individual service providers or their dependents.

 

(f) Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement nor the consummation of the Transactions or the Merger could (either alone or in combination with another event) (i) result in any material payment from the Company or any of its Subsidiaries becoming due, or increase the amount of any compensation due, to any current or former employee, director, or individual independent contractor of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (ii) materially increase any benefits otherwise payable under any Company Benefit Plan, (iii) result in the acceleration of the time of payment, vesting of any material compensation or benefits or forgiveness of material indebtedness with respect to any current or former employee, director, or individual independent contractor of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or (iv) result in any funding, through a grantor trust or otherwise, of any material compensation or benefits to any current or former employee, director, or individual independent contractor of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries under any Company Benefit Plan.

 

(g) Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement nor the consummation of the Transactions or the Merger could (either alone or in combination with another event) cause any amount to fail to be deductible by reason of Section 280G of the Code or be characterized as an “excess parachute payment” (as such term is defined in Section 280G(b)(1) of the Code).

 

(h) Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, (i) each Company Benefit Plan that constitutes in any part a “nonqualified deferred compensation” (as defined in Section 409A(d)(1) of the Code) has been operated and maintained, in form and operation, in all respects in accordance with Section 409A of the Code and applicable guidance of the Department of Treasury and Internal Revenue Service, and no amount under any such Company Benefit Plan has been, is or is reasonably expected to be subject to any Tax set forth under Section 409A(a)(1)(B) of the Code, and (ii) no person is entitled to any gross-up, make-whole or other additional payment from the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in respect of any Tax (including taxes imposed under Section 4999 or 409A of the Code).

 

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Section 3.14 Labor Relations.

 

(a) (i) No employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is represented by a union and, to the Knowledge of the Company, no union organizing efforts are currently being conducted, (ii) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to, or is currently negotiating any entry into, any collective bargaining agreement or other labor Contract, and (iii) no strike, picket, work stoppage, work slowdown or other organized labor dispute exists or, to the Knowledge of the Company, is threatened, in respect of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

(b) Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Company Material Adverse Effect, each of the Company and its Subsidiaries is, and has been since the Company Incorporation Date, in compliance in all respects with all applicable Laws regarding labor, employment and employment practices, including but not limited to all Laws relating to: (i) the hiring, promotion, assignment and termination of employees (including but not limited to timing and usage of employment applications, drug testing and pre-employment testing); (ii) discrimination; (iii) harassment; (iv) retaliation; (v) equal employment opportunities; (vi) disability; (vii) labor relations; (viii) wages and hours; (ix) the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 and applicable state and local wage and hour Laws (collectively, “FLSA”); (x) hours of work; (xi) payment of wages (including but not limited to the timing of payments, recordkeeping and reporting of wages to employees); (xii) immigration; (xiii) workers’ compensation; (xiv) employee benefits; (xv) background and credit checks; (xvi) working conditions; (xvii) occupational safety and health; (xviii) family and medical leave; (xix) classification of employees; (xx) unfair competition/noncompetition; (xxi) any bargaining or other obligations under the National Labor Relations Act; and (xxii) COVID-19.

 

(c) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has incurred any material Liability or obligation under the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act or any similar state or local Law (collectively, the “WARN Act”) that remains unsatisfied.

 

(d) Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, there are no Legal Actions against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or, to the Company’s Knowledge, investigations, pending or threatened related to any allegations of harassment, sexual misconduct or discrimination by any employee with the title of senior vice president or above (or equivalent title based on role, responsibility or pay grade) of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

(e) Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, there are no pending or, to the Company’s Knowledge, threatened, Legal Actions against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries brought by or on behalf of any applicant for employment, any current or former employees or other individual service providers of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, any current or former leased employee, intern, volunteer or “temp” of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Person alleging to be a current or former employee, or any group or class of the foregoing, or any Governmental Authority, alleging: (i) violation of any labor or employment Laws; (ii) breach of any collective bargaining agreement; (iii) breach of any express or implied Contract of employment; (iv) wrongful termination of employment; or (v) any other discriminatory, wrongful or tortious conduct in connection with any employment relationship, including before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

 

(f) Since January 1, 2022, no executive officer has terminated employment with the Company and, to the Company’s Knowledge, no executive officer intends to terminate employment with the Company or is otherwise likely to become unavailable to continue as an executive officer of the Company.

 

Section 3.15 Taxes.

 

(a) (i) All income and other material Tax Returns required to be filed by or with respect to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries have been timely filed (taking into account all applicable extensions), and all such Tax Returns are true, complete and correct in all material respects, (ii) the Company and its Subsidiaries have fully and timely paid (or have had paid on their behalf) all material Taxes due and payable (whether or not shown to be due on any Tax Return) and have made adequate provision in accordance with GAAP for all material Taxes not yet due and payable in the most recent financial statements of the Company and its Subsidiaries, and (iii) the Company and its Subsidiaries have complied in all material respects with all applicable Laws relating to the withholding and payment over to the appropriate Governmental Authority of all Taxes required to be withheld by the Company and its Subsidiaries.

 

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(b) (i) There are no outstanding agreements extending or waiving the statutory period of limitations applicable to any claim for, or the period for the collection, assessment or reassessment of, any material Taxes due from the Company or any of its Subsidiaries for any taxable period and no request for any such waiver or extension is currently pending, (ii) no audit is pending or threatened in writing with respect to any material Taxes due from or with respect to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, and (iii) no claim in writing has been made by any Governmental Authority in a jurisdiction where the Company and its Subsidiaries does not file Tax Returns that it is or may be subject to taxation by that jurisdiction.

 

(c) There are no Liens for Taxes upon the assets or properties of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, except for Permitted Liens.

 

(d) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has participated in any listed transaction within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 1.6011-4(b) (or any similar provision of state, local or non-U.S. Tax Law).

 

(e) The Company has not been a “controlled corporation” or a “distributing corporation” in any distribution occurring during the two-year period ending on the date of this Agreement that was purported or intended to be governed by Section 355 of the Code.

 

(f) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has any Liability for the Taxes of any Person (other than any of the Company or its Subsidiaries) under Treasury Regulation Section 1.1502-6 (or any similar provision of state, local, or foreign Law), as a transferee, successor, by Contract (other than pursuant to any ordinary course Contract, the principal purpose of which does not relate to Taxes) or otherwise.

 

(g) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries will be required to include any material item of income in, or exclude any material item of deduction from, taxable income for any taxable period (or portion of such period) ending after the Closing Date as a result of (i) any change in method of accounting adopted prior to the Closing for a taxable period ending on or prior to the Closing Date, (ii) any intercompany transaction or any excess loss account described in Treasury Regulations under Section 1502 of the Code (or any similar provision of state or local income Tax law) occurring or in existence prior to the Closing, (iii) any installment sale or open transaction disposition made prior to the Closing, (iv) any item of deferred revenue arising prior to the Closing, (v) any election under Section 965 of the Code made prior to the Closing, (vi) any prepaid amounts received prior to the Closing Date, or (vii) any agreement entered into with any Governmental Authority with respect to Taxes prior to the Closing.

 

(h) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has taken any action that could reasonably be expected to prevent the Transactions from qualifying for the Intended Tax Treatment. To the Knowledge of the Company, there are no facts or circumstances, other than any facts and circumstances to the extent that such facts and circumstances exist or arise as a result of or related to any act or omission occurring after the date of this Agreement of Purchaser or any of its Affiliates not contemplated by this Agreement, that could reasonably be expected to prevent the Transactions from qualifying for the Intended Tax Treatment.

(i) Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Section 3.15 shall be construed as a representation or warranty with respect to the amount, availability or usability of any net operating loss, capital loss, Tax basis, Tax asset, Tax accounting method, Tax filing position or Tax attribute in any Tax period, or portion thereof, beginning on or after Closing Date. This Section 3.15 and Section 3.13 set forth the sole and exclusive representations and warranties regarding Tax matters of the Company and its Subsidiaries.

 

Section 3.16 Environmental Matters.

 

Except as set forth on Section 3.16 of the Company Disclosure Schedule:

 

(a) The Company and its Subsidiaries are in compliance with, and for the past three years, have complied with, all applicable Environmental Laws.

 

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(b) No claims, proceedings (whether civil, criminal, regulatory or administrative) or complaints have been made or issued or, to the Company’s knowledge, are contemplated or threatened by any Governmental Authority or any Third Party (including any employee) with regard to the Company or its Subsidiaries in relation to any liability under any Environmental Laws or relating to Hazardous Substances; and neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any written notice or request for information from any Governmental Authority or other Third Party related to any actual or alleged Liability under any Environmental Law, including, but not limited to, any inquiry, investigation, or remedial or corrective obligations or otherwise pertaining to Hazardous Substances.

 

(c) No Hazardous Substances have been or are being spilled, leached, released, emitted, discharged, escaped or disposed of into the environment from or on the property owned or operated by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, including any Company Real Property, and as of the date of this Agreement, no condition exists on any property owned or operated by the Company and its Subsidiaries, including any Company Real Property, or any other location, in each case which has given rise to, or would reasonably be expected to give rise to, any Liability for the Company relating to environmental or Hazardous Substances matters or Environmental Laws, including such liability on the part of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to make good, repair, reinstate or clean up any property now or previously owned, occupied or used by the Company or its Subsidiaries, including Company Real Property.

 

(d) The representations and warranties set forth in this Article III are the sole and exclusive representations and warranties relating to environmental matters, including Environmental Laws, environmental Permits and Hazardous Substances.

 

Section 3.17 Intellectual Property.

 

(a) Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries owns, is licensed to use, pursuant to valid, enforceable and binding Contracts, or otherwise has the right to use all Intellectual Property used, held for use or necessary for the operation of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company Intellectual Property”) free and clear of all Liens (other than Permitted Liens), except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. Section 3.17(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule sets forth a true and complete list of the following that are owned or purported to be owned by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries: (i) patents and patent applications; (ii) registered trademarks and applications therefor; (iii) registered copyrights and applications therefor; and (iv) domain name registrations ((i) - (iv), the “Company Registered IP”). Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Company and the consummation of the Transactions do not and the consummation of the Transactions and the Merger will not encumber, impair or extinguish any of the Company Intellectual Property.

 

(b) Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, (i) none of the Company Intellectual Property owned or purported to be owned by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (“Company Owned Intellectual Property”) (A) has been adjudged invalid or unenforceable in whole or in part, or (B) is the subject of any cancellation or reexamination proceeding or any other proceeding challenging its ownership, use, registrability, validity and enforceability, and (ii) to the Knowledge of the Company, all Company Registered IP is subsisting, in full force and effect, and, to the Knowledge of the Company, valid and enforceable, and all renewal fees and other maintenance fees have been paid. There exist no material contractual restrictions on the disclosure, use, license or transfer of any Company Owned Intellectual Property.

 

(c) Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, (i) the conduct of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries does not infringe upon, misappropriate or otherwise violate, and has not, since the Company Incorporation Date, infringed upon, misappropriated, or otherwise violated, the Intellectual Property rights of any Third Party and (ii) no Legal Action is pending, asserted in writing, or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened, against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that the conduct of the business of the Company or its Subsidiaries infringes upon, misappropriates or otherwise violates the Intellectual Property rights of any Third Party. To the Knowledge of the Company, no Person is infringing upon, misappropriating or otherwise violating, or has, since the Company Incorporation Date, infringed upon, misappropriated, or otherwise violated, any Intellectual Property owned or purported to be owned by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

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(d) Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, the Company and its Subsidiaries have taken reasonable steps in accordance with normal industry practice to maintain and protect the confidentiality of all Company Intellectual Property that is material to the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries and the value of which is contingent upon confidentiality being maintained. Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, none of the Company Owned Intellectual Property that is material to the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries and the value of which is contingent upon confidentiality being maintained, has been disclosed other than to Third Parties that are bound by customary, written confidentiality agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice and that are, to the Knowledge of the Company, valid and enforceable.

 

(e) Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, all Persons who have contributed, developed or conceived any Company Owned Intellectual Property have done so pursuant to a valid and enforceable Contract (subject to enforceability exceptions for bankruptcy and insolvency and subject to principles of equity) that protects the confidential information of the Company and its Subsidiaries and assigns to the Company (or one of its Subsidiaries, as applicable) exclusive ownership of the Person’s contribution, development or conception, other than Intellectual Property excluded by Law or non-assignable moral rights.

 

(f) Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, (i) the Company and its Subsidiaries have sufficient rights to use all Software, including middleware, databases, and systems, information technology equipment, and associated documentation used or held for use in connection with the operation of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries (the “Company IT Assets”), (ii) in each case, the Company IT Assets operate and perform in all material respects in accordance with their documentation and functional specifications and are sufficient or configurable to effectively perform all operations necessary for the current operation of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries, and all Company IT Assets are owned or licensed under valid licenses and operated by and are under the control of the Company and its Subsidiaries, (iii) the Company IT Assets have not materially malfunctioned or failed in the past three years, to the Knowledge of the Company, do not contain any viruses, bugs, faults or other devices or effects that (A) enable or assist any Person to access without authorization or disable or erase the Company IT Assets, or (B) otherwise materially adversely affect the functionality of the Company IT Assets, (iv) the Company and its Subsidiaries have taken commercially reasonable steps to provide for the remote-site back-up of data and information critical to the conduct of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries and have in place commercially reasonable disaster recovery and business continuity plans, procedures and facilities, (v) no Person has gained unauthorized access to any IT Assets in the past three years, (vi) the Company and its Subsidiaries have maintained, continue to maintain, and caused their vendors to maintain, safeguards, security measures and procedures against the unauthorized access, disclosure, destruction, loss, or alteration of customer data or information (including any personal or device-specific information) in its possession or control that comply with any applicable contractual and legal requirements and meet industry standards, and (vii) the Company and its Subsidiaries have in place with the third-party owners and operators of all data centers that provide services related to the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries written agreements that ensure that such Third Parties adhere to and are in compliance with commercially reasonable standards and requirements.

 

Section 3.18 Real Property; Personal Property.

 

(a) Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, (i) the Company and its Subsidiaries have good and marketable title to, or have a valid and enforceable right to use or a valid and enforceable leasehold interest in, all real property (including all buildings, fixtures and other improvements to such property) used by the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries (the “Company Real Property”) and (ii) the ownership of or leasehold interest in any Company Real Property is not subject to any Lien (except in all cases for Permitted Liens). Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has leased, subleased, licensed, sublicensed or otherwise granted to any Person the right to use or occupy any Company Real Property or any portion of any Company Real Property, there are no outstanding options, rights of first offer or rights of first refusal to purchase any Company Real Property or any portion of or interest in any Company Real Property, and neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to any Contract to sell, transfer, or encumber any Company Real Property.

 

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(b) Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, each of the material leases, subleases and other agreements under which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries use or occupy any material real property (the “Company Real Property Leases”) is valid and binding (except as may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditor’s rights, and to general equitable principles), and no termination event or condition or uncured default on the part of the Company or its Subsidiaries exists under any Company Real Property Lease.

 

(c) Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, (i) the Company and its Subsidiaries have good and marketable title to, or a valid and enforceable leasehold interest in, all Company Assets and (ii) none of the Company’s or any of its Subsidiaries’ ownership of or leasehold interest in any such Company Assets is subject to any Liens (except in all cases for Permitted Liens).

 

Section 3.19 Permits; Compliance with Law.

 

(a) Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, each of the Company and its Subsidiaries is in possession of all material franchises, grants, authorizations, licenses, registrations, easements, variances, exceptions, consents, certificates, approvals, waivers, notices, and other permits of any Governmental Authority (“Permits”) necessary (but excluding any Permits required under Environmental Laws, the representations and warranties to which are addressed solely in Section 3.16) for each of the Company and its Subsidiaries to own, lease and operate their respective properties and assets or to carry on their respective business as it is now being conducted (collectively, the “Company Permits”). All such Company Permits are in full force and effect in all material respects and no suspension or cancellation of any of the Company Permits is pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, has been threatened in writing, against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

(b) Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, each of the Company and its Subsidiaries has for the past five years been in compliance in all material respects with (i) all Laws applicable to the Company or such Subsidiary or by which any of the Company Assets is bound and (ii) all Laws applicable to, and the terms and conditions of, any Company Permits.

 

Section 3.20 Certain Business Practices.

 

(a) None of the Company or its Subsidiaries, nor any of their respective directors, or officers or, to the Knowledge of the Company, any employee, agent, or representative thereof, has in the past three years offered, paid, promised to pay, or authorized the payment of any money or any other thing of value to any Person (i) with the intention of inducing improper conduct on the part of the recipient, (ii) acceptance of which would violate the policies of the recipient’s employer or cause the recipient to breach a duty owed to his or her employer, or (iii) to otherwise secure an undue or improper advantage for the Company or its Subsidiaries in violation of any Anti-Corruption Law.

 

(b) None of the Company or its Subsidiaries, nor any of their respective directors or officers or, to the Knowledge of the Company, any employee, agent, or representative thereof in the past three years (i) has been or is a Sanctioned Person, (ii) has (acting for or on behalf of the Company or its Subsidiaries) transacted business with or for the benefit of a Sanctioned Person or otherwise violated applicable Sanctions, or (iii) committed a violation of any applicable Ex-Im Law.

 

(c) The operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries have been and are conducted in compliance with applicable Anti-Money Laundering Laws, including any financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements.

 

(d) To the Knowledge of the Company, none of the Company or its Subsidiaries has been, in the last three years, the subject of any allegation, voluntary disclosure, investigation, prosecution or enforcement action related to any Anti-Corruption Laws, Sanctions, or Ex-Im Laws.

 

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Section 3.21 Regulatory Matters.

 

Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, (a) the Company and its Subsidiaries currently conduct, and have for the past seven years conducted, their respective businesses in compliance with all Laws applicable to their respective operations, activities or services and any Orders to which they are a party or are subject, including any settlement agreements or corporate integrity agreements, (b) except for routine matters arising in the ordinary course of business, none of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has received any written notice, citation, suspension, revocation, limitation, warning, or request for repayment or refund issued by a Governmental Authority that alleges or asserts that the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has violated any Laws or that requires or seeks to adjust, modify or alter the Company’s or any of its Subsidiary’s operations, activities, services or financial condition that has not been fully and finally resolved to the Governmental Authority’s satisfaction without further Liability to the Company and its Subsidiaries and (c) there are no restrictions imposed by any Governmental Authority upon the Company’s or any of its Subsidiaries’ business, activities or services that would restrict or prevent the Company or any of its Subsidiaries from operating as it currently operates.

 

Section 3.22 Transactions with Affiliates.

 

Except for this Agreement and any other Ancillary Agreement, or as set forth on Section 3.22 of the Company Disclosure Schedule, there are no transactions, arrangements or Contracts between the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, on the one hand, and any stockholder, officer, director, or Affiliate (other than the Company and its Subsidiaries) of the Company, on the other hand, other than (a) employment relationships, equity arrangements and compensation, benefits, travel advances and employee loans in the ordinary course of business and (b) any Contract providing for the indemnification or reimbursement of expenses of (i) any member of the Company Board or other governing body of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and/or (ii) any officer of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

Section 3.23 Insurance.

 

All material fire and casualty, general liability, business interruption, product liability, and sprinkler and water damage insurance policies maintained by or on behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries are in full force and effect and all premiums payable under such policies have been duly paid to date. As of the date of this Agreement, none of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries have received any written notice of default or cancellation of any such policy.

 

Section 3.24 Brokers.

 

Except for the advisor(s) of the Company as set forth on Section 3.24 of the Company Disclosure Schedule, no broker, finder, adviser or investment banker is entitled to any brokerage, success, finder’s or other similar fee or commission in connection with the Transactions based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

Section 3.25 No Additional Representations or Warranties.

 

Except as otherwise expressly provided in Article IV (as modified by the Purchaser Disclosure Schedule), the Company hereby expressly disclaims and negates, any other express or implied representation or warranty whatsoever (whether at Law or in equity) with respect to Purchaser, its Affiliates, and any matter relating to any of them, including their affairs, the condition, value or quality of the assets, liabilities, financial condition or results of operations, or with respect to the accuracy or completeness of any other information made available to the Company, its affiliates or any of their respective Representatives by, or on behalf of, the Company, and any such representations or warranties are expressly disclaimed. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, except as expressly set forth in this Agreement, the Company hereby acknowledges and agrees that neither Purchaser nor any other Person on behalf of Purchaser has made or makes any representation or warranty, whether express or implied, with respect to any projections, forecasts, estimates or budgets made available to the Company, its Affiliates or any of their respective Representatives of future revenues, future results of operations (or any component thereof), future cash flows or future financial condition (or any component thereof) of Purchaser (including the reasonableness of the assumptions underlying any of the foregoing), whether or not included in any management presentation or in any other information made available to the Company, its Affiliates or any of their respective Representatives or any other Person, and that any such representations or warranties are expressly disclaimed.

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Article IV. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PURCHASER

 

Except as set forth in the in the corresponding sections of the disclosure schedule to this Agreement to be delivered by Purchaser to the Company and the Sellers on the date hereof (the “Purchaser Disclosure Schedule”) (each of which qualifies representations, warranties or covenants set forth in the correspondingly numbered Section of this Agreement and any other representations, warranties or covenants where its relevance as an exception to (or disclosure for purposes of) such other representations, warranties or covenants is reasonably apparent on the face of the disclosure), Purchaser hereby represents and warrants to the Company and the Sellers as follows:

 

Section 4.01 Organization and Power.

 

Purchaser and each of its Subsidiaries is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Law of its jurisdiction of organization. Purchaser has the requisite corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its assets and properties and to carry on its business as now conducted, except where the failure to have such requisite power or authority would not constitute a Purchaser Material Adverse Effect. Each of the Subsidiaries of Purchaser has the requisite power and authority to own, lease and operate its assets and properties and to carry on its business as now conducted, except where the failure to have such requisite power or authority would not constitute a Purchaser Material Adverse Effect. Each of Purchaser and its Subsidiaries is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation, limited liability company or other legal entity and is in good standing in each jurisdiction where such qualification is necessary, except where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing would not constitute a Purchaser Material Adverse Effect.

 

Section 4.02 Organizational Documents.

 

Purchaser has made available to the Company true and complete copies of the certificate of incorporation and bylaws of Purchaser as in effect on the date of this Agreement (collectively, the “Purchaser Organizational Documents”).

 

Section 4.03 Governmental Authorizations.

 

Assuming that the representations and warranties of the Company contained in Section 3.04 and of the Sellers contained in Section 5.02 are true and correct, the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by Purchaser and the consummation by Purchaser of the Transactions do not and will not require any Governmental Authorizations, other than:

 

(a) any filings or reports that may be required in connection with this Agreement, the Ancillary Agreements and the Transactions under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or state securities Laws or “blue sky” Laws;

 

(b) compliance with NYSE American rules and regulations and, if applicable, Nasdaq rules and regulations;

 

(c) such other Governmental Authorizations, where the failure to obtain such Governmental Authorizations would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Purchaser Material Adverse Effect; and

 

(d) as set forth on Section 4.03 of the Purchaser Disclosure Schedule.

 

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Section 4.04 Corporate Authorization.

 

(a) The Purchaser Board, by resolution duly adopted by the unanimous vote of the entire Purchaser Board at a meeting duly called and held or by unanimous written consent, has (i) approved and adopted this Agreement, the Ancillary Agreements to which it is a party, and the Transactions, (ii) determined that this Agreement, the Transactions and the Merger are advisable and in the best interests of the stockholders of Purchaser, (iii) approved, adopted and declared advisable the payment of the Purchaser Stock Consideration, (iv) directed that (x) the approval of the issuance of the shares of Purchaser Common Stock underlying the Preferred Stock Consideration pursuant to the conversion of the Preferred Stock Consideration into shares of Purchaser Common Stock in accordance with the Purchaser Preferred Stock Certificate of Designation (the “Preferred Stock Conversion”), (y) the third amended and restated certificate of incorporation of Purchaser in form and substance mutually agreeable to Purchaser, the Sellers and the Company, including the change of the name of Purchaser to such name as shall be designated by the Sellers] (the “Amended Purchaser Charter”), and (z) the election of directors in accordance with Section 1.05(a) be submitted for consideration at the Purchaser Stockholders Meeting, and (v) recommended to the stockholders of Purchaser that they approve the Preferred Stock Conversion, the Amended Purchaser Charter and the election of directors in accordance with Section 1.05(a) (the “Purchaser Board Recommendation”).

 

(b) Purchaser has all necessary corporate power and authority to enter into and deliver this Agreement, to perform its obligations hereunder, and to consummate the Transactions and the Merger. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by Purchaser and the consummation by Purchaser of the Transactions have been duly and validly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of Purchaser. This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by Purchaser and constitutes a legal, valid and binding agreement of Purchaser enforceable against Purchaser in accordance with its terms (except as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditor’s rights, and to general equitable principles).

 

Section 4.05 Non-Contravention.

 

(a) The receipt of the consents, approval, authorizations and other requirements set forth in Section 4.03, and except as set forth on Section 4.05 of the Purchaser Disclosure Schedule, the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by Purchaser and the consummation of the Transactions do not and will not (i) contravene or conflict with, or result in any violation or breach of, any provision of (A) the Purchaser Organizational Documents or (B) the comparable organizational or governing documents of any of the Subsidiaries of Purchaser, (ii) contravene or conflict with, or result in any material violation or breach of, any Permit or Law applicable to either the Purchaser or any of its Subsidiaries or by which any Purchaser Assets are bound, assuming that all Governmental Authorizations described in Section 4.03 have been obtained or made, (iii) result in any violation, termination, acceleration of any material obligation, cancellation or breach of, or constitute a default (with or without notice or lapse of time or both) or require any notice or consent under, any Purchaser Material Contracts or Purchaser Real Property Leases to which the Purchaser or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which any Purchaser Assets are bound or (iv) result in the creation of any Liens (other than Permitted Liens) upon any of the Purchaser Assets except, in the case of clauses (iii) and (iv), as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Purchaser Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Purchaser nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any written notice from any Governmental Authority regarding any actual, alleged, possible or potential violation of, or failure of Purchaser or any of its Subsidiaries to comply with, any Permit or Law.

 

(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, there is no Contract to which Purchaser is a party that purports to have a material adverse Effect (or could be construed to material adverse Effect) on Company Intellectual Property following consummation of the Transactions or the Merger.

 

Section 4.06 Capitalization.

 

(a) As of the date of this Agreement, Purchaser’s authorized capital stock consists of (i) 165,000,000 shares, divided into 150,000,000 shares of Purchaser Common Stock and 15,000,000 shares of Purchaser Preferred Stock. As of the close of business on the date of this Agreement, (i) 1,825,119 shares of Purchaser Common Stock were issued and outstanding, (ii) no shares of Purchaser Preferred Stock were issued or outstanding, (iii) 413 shares of Purchaser Common Stock are available for issuance under the Purchaser Equity Plan, not including 6,024 shares issuable pursuant to outstanding unexercised Purchaser Stock Options to purchase shares of Purchaser Common Stock at a weighted average per share exercise price of $129.88, and (iv) Purchaser Warrants to purchase 38,952 shares of Purchaser Common Stock at a weighted average per share exercise price of approximately $71.43 (disregarding any temporary or voluntary reduction in the exercise price thereof, subject to the satisfaction or waiver of certain terms and conditions, that may be in effect as of the date of this Agreement) were issued and outstanding. As of the date of this Agreement, no promissory notes of Purchaser are convertible into shares of Purchaser Common Stock or Purchaser Preferred Stock, or any other securities of Purchaser, except with respect to a promissory note of Purchaser held by the Company.

 

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(b) Except (i) as set forth in Section 4.06(a) of the Purchaser Disclosure Schedule, (ii) to the extent expressly permitted under Section 6.02 (including as required by applicable Law) and as set forth in Section 4.06(a), (x) there are no other outstanding shares of capital stock of Purchaser (subject to any exercise of Purchaser Stock Options or Purchaser Warrants after the date of this Agreement each in accordance with their terms) and (y) there are no outstanding subscriptions, options, warrants, calls, convertible securities, rights of first refusal, preemptive rights, or other similar rights, agreements or commitments (other than this Agreement and the Additional Agreements) relating to the issuance or acquisition of capital stock to which Purchaser or any of its Subsidiaries is a party obligating Purchaser or any of its Subsidiaries to (1) issue, transfer or sell any shares of capital stock or other equity interests of either of Purchaser or any of its Subsidiaries or securities convertible into or exchangeable for such shares or equity interests, (2) grant, extend or enter into any such subscription, option, warrant, call, convertible securities or other similar right, agreement or arrangement, (3) redeem, repurchase or otherwise acquire any such shares of capital stock or other equity interests, or (4) provide an amount of funds to, or make any investment (in the form of a loan, capital contribution or otherwise) in Purchaser or any of its Subsidiaries or any other Person.

 

(c) All outstanding shares of Purchaser Common Stock have been duly authorized and are validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and are not subject to any preemptive rights. All outstanding shares of Purchaser Common Stock, Purchaser Stock Options and Purchaser Warrants were offered, sold and issued in compliance in all material respects with applicable securities Laws and were not issued in violation in any material respect of the Purchaser Organizational Documents.

 

(d) Each outstanding share of capital stock or other equity interests of each Subsidiary of Purchaser is duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, in each case, to the extent such concepts are applicable to such capital stock or other equity interests, and not subject to any preemptive rights.

 

(e) Except for this Agreement and the Additional Agreements and as set forth on Section 4.05(a) of the Purchaser Disclosure Schedule, there are no outstanding contractual obligations of Purchaser or any of its Subsidiaries to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any capital stock of Purchaser, including shares of Purchaser Common Stock or capital stock of any Subsidiary of Purchaser.

 

(f) There are no voting trusts, proxies or similar agreements, arrangements or commitments to which Purchaser or any of its Subsidiaries is a party with respect to the voting of any shares of capital stock or other equity interests of either of Purchaser or any of its Subsidiaries. There are no bonds, debentures, notes or other instruments of indebtedness of Purchaser or any of its Subsidiaries that entitle the holder of such instruments of indebtedness to vote together with stockholders of Purchaser on any matters with respect to Purchaser or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

(g) Section 4.06(g) of the Purchaser Disclosure Schedule sets forth a true, complete and correct list of all Persons who, as of the date of this Agreement, hold Purchaser Stock Options or Purchaser Warrants, indicating, with respect to each such holder, the number of shares of Purchaser Common Stock subject to such Purchaser Stock Option and Purchaser Warrant and the exercise price, the date of grant, the vesting schedule and the expiration date of each Purchaser Stock Option and Purchaser Warrant.

 

Section 4.07 Subsidiaries.

 

(a) Section 4.07(a) of the Purchaser Disclosure Schedule sets forth a complete and accurate list of each Subsidiary of Purchaser. Purchaser has made available to the Company the organizational documents of each such Subsidiary.

 

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(b) Each of the Subsidiaries of Purchaser is wholly owned by Purchaser, directly or indirectly, free and clear of any Liens (other than Permitted Liens). Purchaser does not own, directly or indirectly, any capital stock or other equity securities of, or any other securities convertible or exchangeable into or exercisable for capital stock or other equity securities of, any Person other than the Subsidiaries of Purchaser. Purchaser has not agreed to, is not obligated to make, and is not bound by any Contract under which it may become obligated to make, any future investment in or capital contribution to, any Person other than the Subsidiaries of Purchaser.

 

Section 4.08 [Reserved].

 

Section 4.09 SEC Filings and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

 

(a) Purchaser has filed with or furnished to the SEC each report, statement, schedule, form, certification or other document (including exhibits and all other information incorporated in such documents) or filing required by applicable Law to be filed with or furnished by Purchaser to the SEC. Purchaser has delivered to the Company accurate and complete copies of all reports, statements (including registration and proxy statements), schedules, forms, certifications or other documents (including exhibits and all other information incorporated in such documents) filed by Purchaser with the SEC since January 1, 2022 (the documents referred to in this Section 4.09(a), as they may have been supplemented, modified or amended since the initial filing date and together with all exhibits and information incorporated by reference in such documents, the “Purchaser SEC Reports”), other than such documents that can be obtained on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. No Subsidiary of Purchaser is required to file or furnish any report, statement, schedule, form, registration statement, proxy statement, certification or other document with, or make any other filing with, or furnish any other material to, the SEC.

 

(b) As of its filing date (or, if amended, supplemented, modified or superseded by a filing prior to the date of this Agreement, on the date of such filing), each Purchaser SEC Report complied in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder that are applicable to each such Purchaser SEC Report.

 

(c) As of its filing date (or, if amended, supplemented, modified or superseded by another filing prior to the date of this Agreement, on the date of such filing), each Purchaser SEC Report filed on or prior to the date of this Agreement did not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated in such Purchaser SEC Report or necessary in order to make the statements made in such Purchaser SEC Report, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. Each Purchaser SEC Report that is a registration statement, as amended or supplemented, if applicable, filed pursuant to the Securities Act, as of the date such registration statement, amendment or supplement became effective, did not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated in such Purchaser SEC Report or necessary to make the statements in such Purchaser SEC Report not misleading.

 

(d) As of the date of this Agreement, Purchaser has not received, and there are no outstanding or unresolved comments in, any comment letters received by Purchaser from the SEC with respect to the Purchaser SEC Reports and to Purchaser’s Knowledge, none of the Purchaser SEC Reports have been the subject of any review of, or is the subject of any ongoing review by, the SEC.

 

(e) Neither Purchaser nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to, has any commitment to become a party to, any joint venture, off balance sheet partnership or any similar Contract (including any Contract or arrangement relating to any transaction or relationship between or among the Purchaser and its Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and any unconsolidated Affiliate, including any structured finance, special purpose or limited purpose entity or Person, on the other hand, or any “off balance sheet arrangements” (as defined in Item 303(a) of SEC Regulation S-K)).

 

(f) Except as set forth in Section 4.09(f) of the Purchaser Disclosure Schedule, Purchaser is in compliance in all material respects with all current listing and corporate governance requirements of NYSE American. Purchaser has not received any correspondence from any officials or staff of NYSE American relating to the delisting or maintenance of listing of the Purchaser Common Stock on NYSE American.

 

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Section 4.10 Financial Statements; Internal Controls.

 

(a) The audited consolidated financial statements and unaudited consolidated interim financial statements of Purchaser and its consolidated Subsidiaries included in the Purchaser SEC Reports:

 

(i) complied in all material respects with applicable accounting requirements and the rules and regulations of the SEC;

 

(ii) were prepared in accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis (except as may be indicated in the notes to those financial statements); and

 

(iii) fairly presented in all material respects the consolidated financial position of Purchaser and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of the dates of such financial statements and their consolidated results of operations and cash flows for the periods then ended (subject, in the case of any unaudited interim financial statements, to normal year-end adjustments and the absence of notes). Purchaser maintains and since January 1, 2021, has maintained, disclosure controls and procedures as defined in by Rule 13a-15 under the Exchange Act. Such disclosure controls and procedures are reasonably designed and reasonably effective to ensure that all information (both financial and non-financial) relating to the Purchaser and its Subsidiaries required to be disclosed in Purchaser’s periodic reports under the Exchange Act is made known to the Purchaser’s principal executive officer and its principal financial officer by others within the Purchaser or any of its Subsidiaries, and such disclosure controls and procedures are effective in timely alerting the Purchaser’s principal executive officer and its principal financial officer to such information required to be included in the Purchaser’s periodic reports required under the Exchange Act. Purchaser maintains a system of “internal control over financial reporting” (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act) reasonably sufficient (A) to provide reasonable assurance (1) that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP consistently applied, (2) that transactions are executed only in accordance with the authorization of management, and (3) regarding prevention or timely detection of the unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of Purchaser’s properties or assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements and (B) such that all material information is accumulated and communicated to its management as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. From January 1, 2021, until the date of this Agreement, Purchaser has disclosed to Purchaser’s auditors and the audit committee of the Purchaser Board and made available to the Company and the Sellers prior to the date of this Agreement (x) all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect Purchaser’s or any of its Subsidiaries’ ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information in any material respect and (y) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Purchaser internal control over financial reporting. From January 1, 2021, until the date of this Agreement, to the Knowledge of Purchaser, neither Purchaser nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any written complaint, allegation, assertion or claim regarding the accounting or auditing practices, procedures, methodologies or methods of Purchaser or its Subsidiaries or their respective internal accounting controls.

 

(b) Except as set forth on Section 4.10(b) of the Purchaser Disclosure Schedule, there are no off-balance sheet arrangements to which Purchaser or any of its Subsidiaries is a party.

 

(c) To the Knowledge of Purchaser, Purchaser’s independent registered accounting firm has at all times since the date Purchaser became subject to the applicable provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act been: (i) a registered public accounting firm (as defined in Section 2(a)(12) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act); (ii) “Independent” with respect to Purchaser within the meaning of Regulation S-X under the Exchange Act; and (iii) in compliance with subsections (g) through (l) of Section 10A of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board under the Exchange Act.

 

(d) There have been no formal investigations regarding financial reporting or accounting policies and practices discussed with, reviewed by or initiated at the direction of the chief executive officer, chief financial officer, principal accounting officer, general counsel or similar officer of Purchaser, the Purchaser Board or any committee of the Purchaser Board, other than ordinary course audits or reviews of accounting policies and practices or internal control over financial reporting required by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

 

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(e) Purchaser has not been and is not currently determined to be a “shell company” as defined in Rule 12b-2 promulgated under the Exchange Act.

 

Section 4.11 Undisclosed Liabilities.

 

As of the date of this Agreement, except as set forth in Section 4.11 of the Purchaser Disclosure Schedule, there are no Liabilities of Purchaser or any of its Subsidiaries, individually or in the aggregate, that are required to be recorded or reflected on a balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP, other than:

 

(a) Liabilities reflected or reserved against in the consolidated balance sheet of Purchaser and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of September 30, 2024, or the related footnotes set forth in the Purchaser SEC Reports;

 

(b) Liabilities incurred since September 30, 2024, in the ordinary course of business (none of which is a Liability for tort, breach of contract or environmental Liability);

 

(c) Liabilities incurred in connection with the Transactions or as permitted or contemplated expressly by this Agreement and the Additional Agreements; and

 

(d) Liabilities that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to be material to the Purchaser and its Subsidiaries.

 

Section 4.12 Absence of Certain Changes.

 

Except as otherwise expressly contemplated or required by this Agreement and the Additional Agreements, or as set forth in Section 4.12 of the Purchaser Disclosure Schedule, from December 31, 2023, to the date of this Agreement, (a) the business of Purchaser and each of its Subsidiaries has been conducted, in all material respects, in the ordinary course of business, (b) there has not been any Purchaser Material Adverse Effect and (c) there has not been or occurred any event, condition, action or effect that, if taken after the date of this Agreement, would constitute a breach of Section 6.02.

 

Section 4.13 Litigation.

 

Except as set forth in Section 4.13 of the Purchaser Disclosure Schedule, from December 31, 2023, through the date of this Agreement, (a) there have been no Legal Actions pending or, to the Knowledge of Purchaser, threatened, against the Purchaser or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their assets or properties that would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to be material to the Purchaser and its Subsidiaries and (b) there are no Orders applicable to the Purchaser or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their assets or properties that would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to be material to Purchaser and its Subsidiaries.

 

Section 4.14 Material Contracts.

 

(a) Section 4.14(a) of the Purchaser Disclosure Schedule sets forth a list of each of the following Contracts to which, as of the date of this Agreement, Purchaser or any of its Subsidiaries is a party (each, a “Purchaser Material Contract”):

 

(i) any “material contract” (as such term is defined in Item 601(b)(10) of Regulation S-K of the SEC as determined as of the date of this Agreement);

 

(ii) each Contract (A) not to (or otherwise restricting or limiting the ability of the Purchaser or any of its Subsidiaries to) compete in any line of business or geographic area or (B) to restrict the ability of Purchaser or any of its Subsidiaries to conduct business in any geographic area;

 

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(iii) each Contract (other than any Purchaser Benefit Plan) providing for or resulting in payments by Purchaser or any of its Subsidiaries that exceeded $250,000 in the calendar year ended December 31, 2023, or that is reasonably likely to require, during the remaining term of such Contract, annual payments by Purchaser or any of its Subsidiaries that exceed $250,000;

 

(iv) all Contracts granting to any Person an option or a first refusal, first offer or similar preferential right to purchase or acquire any Purchaser Assets;

 

(v) all material Contracts (A) for the granting or receiving of a license, sublicense or franchise (in each case, including any such Contracts relating to any Intellectual Property) providing for or resulting in a payment in excess of $250,000 per year or (B) under which any Person is obligated to pay or has the right to receive a royalty, license fee, franchise fee or similar payment in which it is reasonably expected to pay or receive a royalty, license fee, franchise fee or similar payment in excess of $250,000, in each case of clause (A) and (B), other than agreements with employees, non-exclusive licenses granted to Purchaser’s or its Subsidiaries’ customers, and non-exclusive licenses to commercially available, off-the-shelf Software that have been granted on standardized, generally available terms;

 

(vi) all partnership, joint venture or other similar agreements or arrangements;

 

(vii) any agreement with any director, officer or stockholder of Purchaser or any Subsidiary thereof that is required to be described under Item 404 of Regulation S-K of the SEC in the Purchaser SEC Reports;

 

(viii) any agreement relating to indebtedness for borrowed money or the deferred purchase price of property (in either case, whether incurred, assumed, guaranteed or secured by any asset), except any such agreement with an aggregate outstanding principal amount not exceeding $1,000,000;

 

(ix) any agreement for the disposition or acquisition by Purchaser or any of its Subsidiaries with material obligations of Purchaser or any of its Subsidiaries (other than confidentiality obligations) remaining to be performed, or material Liabilities of Purchaser or any of its Subsidiaries continuing, after the date of this Agreement, of any material business or any material amount of assets other than in the ordinary course of business;

 

(x) any agreement restricting or limiting the payment of dividends or the making of distributions to stockholders, including intercompany dividends or distributions other than such restrictions or limitations that are required by applicable Law; and

 

(xi) all material agreements with any Governmental Authority.

 

(b) Section 4.14(b) of the Purchaser Disclosure Schedule sets forth all Contracts granting to any Person an option or a first refusal, first offer or similar preferential right to purchase or acquire any material assets of Purchaser, a true and complete copy of which have been made available to the Company.

 

(c) A true and complete copy of each Purchaser Material Contract (including any related amendments) entered into prior to the date of this Agreement has been filed as an exhibit (by reference or otherwise) to the Purchaser Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 filed with the SEC on March 29, 2024, or disclosed by Purchaser in a subsequent Purchaser SEC Report or made available to the Company prior to the date of this Agreement. Each Purchaser Material Contract is a valid and binding agreement of Purchaser or its applicable Subsidiary, except where the failure to be valid and binding would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Purchaser Material Adverse Effect. Except as would not be material to Purchaser, (i) neither Purchaser or such Subsidiary nor, to the Knowledge of Purchaser, any other party, is in breach of or default under any such Purchaser Material Contract, (ii) as of the date of this Agreement, there are no material disputes with respect to any such Purchaser Material Contract and (iii) as of the date of this Agreement, no party under any Purchaser Material Contract has given written notice of its intent to terminate or otherwise seek a material amendment to such Purchaser Material Contract.

 

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Section 4.15 Benefit Plans.

 

(a) Section 4.15(a) of the Purchaser Disclosure Schedule lists all material Purchaser Benefit Plans. For purposes of this Agreement a “Purchaser Benefit Plan” is, whether or not written, (i) any “employee benefit plan” within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA, (ii) any compensation, stock purchase, stock option, equity or equity-based compensation, retention, severance, employment, individual consulting, change-of-control, transaction bonus, bonus, incentive, deferred compensation and other employee benefit plan, agreement, arrangement, program or policy, whether or not subject to ERISA, (iii) any plan, agreement, program or policy providing vacation benefits, medical, dental, vision or prescription benefits, disability or sick leave benefits, life insurance, employee assistance program, supplemental unemployment benefits and post-employment or retirement benefits (including compensation or pension benefits), in each case (A) under which any current or former director, manager, officer, employee or individual independent contractor of Purchaser or any of its Subsidiaries has any right to benefits and for which Purchaser or any of its Subsidiaries has any Liability or (B) that are maintained, sponsored or contributed to by Purchaser or any of its Subsidiaries or to which Purchaser or any of its Subsidiaries makes or is required to make contributions or with respect to which Purchaser or any of its Subsidiaries has any material Liability.

 

(b) With respect to each material Purchaser Benefit Plan, if applicable, Purchaser has made available to the Company true and complete copies of (i) the current plan document and any amendments thereto and for any unwritten plan, a summary of the material terms, (ii) the most recent summary plan description, (iii) the most recent annual report on Form 5500 (including all schedules), (iv) if the Purchaser Benefit Plan is intended to qualify under Section 401(a) of the Code, the most recent determination or opinion letter received from the IRS, and (v) all material non-routine correspondence with respect to any Purchaser Benefit Plan with a Governmental Authority within the last three years.

 

(c) Neither Purchaser nor any of its Subsidiaries maintains, sponsors, or contributes to (or is required to sponsor, maintain, or contribute to), or has within the preceding six years maintained, sponsored or contributed to, or has any Liability, including on account of an ERISA Affiliate, under or with respect to, (i) any “defined benefit plan” (as defined in Section 3(35) of ERISA) that is subject to Section 412 or Section 430 of the Code or Title IV of ERISA, (ii) any “multiemployer plan” (as defined in Section 3(37) of ERISA and 4001(a)(3) of ERISA), (iii) any “multiple employer plan” (within the meaning of Section 210 of ERISA or Section 413(c) of the Code) or that is or has been subject to Section 4063 or 4064 of ERISA, or (iv) any “multiple employer welfare arrangement” (as defined in Section 3(40)(A) of ERISA). Neither Purchaser nor any of its Subsidiaries has any Liability as a result of any time being considered a single employer with any other Person under Section 414 of the Code. No Purchaser Benefit Plan is a voluntary employee benefit association under Section 501(c)(9) of the Code. Neither Purchaser nor any of its Subsidiaries has engaged in any transaction described in Sections 4069 or 4212(c) of ERISA or to which Section 4204 of ERISA applied.

 

(d) Each Purchaser Benefit Plan is in compliance in all material respects with all applicable requirements of ERISA, the Code and other applicable Laws and has been administered in all material respects in accordance with its terms and such Laws. With respect to each Purchaser Benefit Plan that is intended to qualify under Section 401(a) of the Code, (i) such Purchaser Benefit Plan has received a favorable determination or an opinion letter has been issued by the IRS with respect to such qualification, (ii) its related trust has been determined to be exempt from taxation under Section 501(a) of the Code and (iii) to the Knowledge of Purchaser, no event has occurred since the date of such qualification or exemption that would reasonably be expected to adversely affect such qualification or exemption.

 

(e) Neither Purchaser nor any of its Subsidiaries has any Liability with respect to, and no Purchaser Benefit Plan provides, retiree or post-employment health, medical, life insurance or death benefits to current or former employees or other individual service providers of Purchaser or any of its Subsidiaries beyond their retirement or other termination of service, other than coverage mandated by COBRA or Section 4980B of the Code, or any similar state group health plan continuation Law, the premium cost of which is fully paid by such current or former employees or other individual service providers or their dependents. No Purchaser Benefit Plan is maintained (or governed by the Laws) outside of the United States or provides benefits to any service provider who is based or provides substantial services (in whole or in part) outside of the United States.

 

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(f) Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the Additional Agreements nor the consummation of the Transactions, the transactions contemplated thereby or the Merger could (either alone or in combination with another event) (i) result in any payment from the Purchaser or any of its Subsidiaries becoming due, or increase the amount of any compensation due, to any current or former employee, director, manager or individual independent contractor of Purchaser or any of its Subsidiaries, (ii) increase any benefits otherwise payable under any Purchaser Benefit Plan, (iii) result in the acceleration of the time of payment, vesting of any compensation or benefits or forgiveness of indebtedness with respect to any current or former employee, director, manager or individual independent contractor of Purchaser or any of its Subsidiaries, (iv) result in any funding, through a grantor trust or otherwise, of any compensation or benefits to any current or former employee, director, manager or individual independent contractor of Purchaser or any of its Subsidiaries under any Purchaser Benefit Plan or (v) result in any breach or violation of or default under or limit Purchaser’s or the Company’s right to amend, modify or terminate any Purchaser Benefit Plan.

 

(g) Each Purchaser Benefit Plan that constitutes in any part a “nonqualified deferred compensation” (as defined in Section 409A(d)(1) of the Code) has been operated and maintained, in form and operation, in all respects in accordance with Section 409A of the Code and applicable guidance of the Department of Treasury and Internal Revenue Service, and no amount under any such Purchaser Benefit Plan has been, is or is reasonably expected to be subject to any Tax set forth under Section 409A(a)(1)(B) of the Code. No person is entitled to any gross-up, make-whole or other additional payment from Purchaser or any of its Subsidiaries in respect of any Tax (including taxes imposed under Section 4999 or 409A of the Code).

 

(h) Since January 1, 2021, there have been no pending or, to the Knowledge of Purchaser, threatened, material claims, investigations, audits or litigation against or involving any Purchaser Benefit Plan, other than ordinary claims for benefits by participants and beneficiaries.

 

(i) Each Purchaser Benefit Plan can be terminated at any time for any or no reason by Purchaser or any of its Subsidiaries without any past, present or future Liability or obligation to the Purchaser or any of its Subsidiaries (other than solely administrative expenses related to such termination).

 

Section 4.16 Labor Relations.

 

(a) To the Knowledge of Purchaser, since January 1, 2021, (i) no employee of Purchaser or any of its Subsidiaries is or has been represented by a union and no union organizing efforts are currently being, or have been, conducted, (ii) neither Purchaser nor any of its Subsidiaries is or has been a party to, or is currently negotiating any entry into, any collective bargaining agreement or other labor Contract, and (iii) there have been no actual or threatened, strike, picket, work stoppage, work slowdown or other organized labor dispute in respect of Purchaser or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

(b) Each of Purchaser and its Subsidiaries is, and has been since January 1, 2021, in compliance in all material respects with all Laws regarding labor, employment and employment practices, including but not limited to all Laws relating to: (i) the hiring, promotion, assignment and termination of employees (including but not limited to timing and usage of employment applications, drug testing and pre-employment testing); (ii) discrimination; (iii) harassment; (iv) retaliation; (v) equal employment opportunities; (vi) disability; (vii) labor relations; (viii) wages and hours; (ix) the FLSA; (x) hours of work; (xi) payment of wages (including but not limited to the timing of payments, recordkeeping and reporting of wages to employees); (xii) immigration; (xiii) workers’ compensation; (xiv) employee benefits; (xv) background and credit checks; (xvi) working conditions; (xvii) occupational safety and health; (xviii) family and medical leave; (xix) classification of employees; (xx) unfair competition/noncompetition; (xxi) any bargaining or other obligations under the National Labor Relations Act; and (xxii) COVID-19.

 

(c) Neither Purchaser nor any of its Subsidiaries has incurred any material Liability or obligation under the WARN Act that remains unsatisfied.

 

(d) Since January 1, 2021, (i) no allegations of harassment, sexual misconduct or discrimination have been made against any employee with the title of vice president or above (or equivalent title based on role, responsibility or pay grade) of Purchaser or any of its Subsidiaries through Purchaser’s anonymous employee hotline or any formal human resources communication channels at Purchaser or any of its Subsidiaries, and (ii) there are no Legal Actions against Purchaser or any of its Subsidiaries or, to Purchaser’s Knowledge, investigations, pending or threatened related to any allegations of harassment, sexual misconduct or discrimination by any employee with the title of vice president or above (or equivalent title based on role, responsibility or pay grade) of Purchaser or any of its Subsidiaries. Since January 1, 2021, neither Purchaser nor any of its Subsidiaries has entered into any settlement agreements related to allegations of harassment, sexual misconduct or discrimination by any employee with the title of vice president or above (or equivalent title based on role, responsibility or pay grade) of Purchaser or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

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(e) There are no pending or, to Purchaser’s Knowledge, threatened, Legal Actions against Purchaser or any of its Subsidiaries brought by or on behalf of any applicant for employment, any current or former employees or other individual service providers of Purchaser or any of its Subsidiaries, any current or former leased employee, intern, volunteer or “temp” of Purchaser or any of its Subsidiaries, or any person alleging to be a current or former employee, or any group or class of the foregoing, or any Governmental Authority, alleging: (i) violation of any labor or employment Laws; (ii) breach of any collective bargaining agreement; (iii) breach of any express or implied contract of employment; (iv) wrongful termination of employment; or (v) any other discriminatory, wrongful or tortious conduct in connection with any employment relationship, including before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

 

(f) Since January 1, 2021, all individuals who perform or have performed services for Purchaser or any of its Subsidiaries have been properly classified under applicable Law in all material respects (i) as employees or individual independent contractors and (ii) for employees, as an “exempt” employee or a “non-exempt” employee (within the meaning of the FLSA and state Law), and no such individual has been improperly included or excluded from any Purchaser Benefit Plan, and neither Purchaser nor any of its Subsidiaries has notice of any pending or, to Purchaser’s Knowledge, threatened, inquiry or audit from any Governmental Authority concerning any such classifications.

 

(g) Except as disclosed in Section 4.16(g) of the Purchaser Disclosure Schedule, since January 1, 2021, no executive officer has terminated employment with Purchaser, and no executive officer intends to terminate employment with Purchaser except as required under this Agreement.

 

Section 4.17 Taxes.

 

(a) (i) All income and other material Tax Returns required to be filed by or with respect to the Purchaser and its Subsidiaries have been timely filed (taking into account all applicable extensions), and all such Tax Returns are true, complete and correct in all material respects, (ii) Purchaser and its Subsidiaries have fully and timely paid (or have had paid on their behalf) all material Taxes due and payable (whether or not shown to be due on any Tax Return) and have made adequate provision in accordance with GAAP for all material Taxes not yet due and payable in the most recent financial statements contained in the Purchaser SEC Reports, and (iii) Purchaser and its Subsidiaries have complied in all material respects with all applicable Laws relating to the withholding and payment over to the appropriate Governmental Authority of all Taxes required to be withheld by Purchaser and its Subsidiaries.

 

(b) (i) There are no outstanding agreements extending or waiving the statutory period of limitations applicable to any claim for, or the period for the collection, assessment or reassessment of, any material Taxes due from Purchaser and its Subsidiaries for any taxable period and no request for any such waiver or extension is currently pending, (ii) no audit is pending or threatened in writing with respect to any material Taxes due from or with respect to Purchaser and its Subsidiaries, (iii) no claim in writing has been made by any Governmental Authority in a jurisdiction where Purchaser and its Subsidiaries do not file Tax Returns that it is or may be subject to taxation by that jurisdiction, and (iv) all material deficiencies for Taxes asserted or assessed in writing against Purchaser or any of its Subsidiaries have been fully and timely paid or properly reflected under GAAP in the most recent financial statements contained in the Purchaser SEC Reports.

 

(c) There are no Liens for Taxes upon the assets or properties of Purchaser and its Subsidiaries, except for Permitted Liens.

 

(d) Neither Purchaser nor its Subsidiaries has participated in any listed transaction within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 1.6011-4(b) (or any similar provision of state, local or non-U.S. Tax Law).

 

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(e) Purchaser has not been a “controlled corporation” or a “distributing corporation” in any distribution occurring during the two-year period ending on the date of this Agreement that was purported or intended to be governed by Section 355 of the Code.

 

(f) Neither Purchaser nor its Subsidiaries has any Liability for the Taxes of any Person (other than either Purchaser and its Subsidiaries) under Treasury Regulation Section 1.1502-6 (or any similar provision of state, local, or foreign Law), as a transferee, successor, by Contract (other than pursuant to customary provisions in any ordinary course Contract, the principal purpose of which does not relate to Taxes) or otherwise.

 

(h) The unpaid Taxes of Purchaser do not exceed the reserves therefor (other than any reserve for deferred Taxes established to reflect timing differences between book and Tax income) set forth in the most recent financial statements contained in the Purchaser SEC Reports. Since December 31, 2021, Purchaser has not incurred any material Tax liability outside the ordinary course of business.

 

(i) Neither Purchaser nor any of its Subsidiaries has taken any action that could reasonably be expected to prevent the Transactions from qualifying for the Intended Tax Treatment. To the Knowledge of Purchaser, there are no facts or circumstances, other than any facts and circumstances to the extent that such facts and circumstances exist or arise as a result of or related to any act or omission occurring after the date of this Agreement of the Company or any of its Affiliates not contemplated by this Agreement and the Additional Agreements, that could reasonably be expected to prevent the Transactions from qualifying for the Intended Tax Treatment.

 

(j) Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Section 4.17 shall be construed as a representation or warranty with respect to the amount, availability or usability of any net operating loss, capital loss, Tax basis, Tax asset, Tax accounting method, Tax filing position or Tax attribute in any Tax period, or portion thereof, beginning on or after Closing Date. This Section 4.17 and Section 4.15 set forth the sole and exclusive representations and warranties regarding Tax matters of Purchaser.

 

Section 4.18 Environmental Matters.

 

(a) Purchaser and its Subsidiaries are in compliance and for the past three years have complied with all applicable Environmental Laws, in all material respects;

 

(b) Purchaser and its Subsidiaries possess all material Permits required under Environmental Laws necessary for their respective operations as currently conducted, and are in compliance with such Permits, which are, and through the Closing Date shall remain, in full force and effect;

 

(c) Neither Purchaser nor any Subsidiary of Purchaser has received any notice or request for information from any Governmental Authority or other Third Party related to any actual or alleged Liability under Environmental Law, including any investigatory, remedial or corrective obligations or otherwise pertaining to Hazardous Substances;

 

(d) To the Knowledge of Purchaser, no condition exists on any property owned or operated by Purchaser and its Subsidiaries or any other location, in each case, that has given rise to, or would reasonably be expected to give rise to, any Liability for Purchaser or any of its Subsidiaries relating to environmental or Hazardous Substances matters or Environmental Laws; and

 

(e) To the Knowledge of Purchaser, the Transactions and the Merger do not require notice to, or approval from, any Governmental Authority under any Environmental Law.

 

Section 4.19 Intellectual Property.

 

(a) Purchaser and its Subsidiaries own, are licensed to use, pursuant to valid, enforceable and binding Contracts, or otherwise have the right to use all Intellectual Property used, held for use or necessary for the operation of the business of the Purchaser and its Subsidiaries (collectively, the “Purchaser Intellectual Property”) free and clear of all Liens (other than Permitted Liens), except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Purchaser Material Adverse Effect. Section 4.19(a) of the Purchaser Disclosure Schedule sets forth a true and complete list of the following that are owned or purported to be owned by either Purchaser or any of its Subsidiaries: (i) patents and patent applications; (ii) registered trademarks and applications therefor; (iii) registered copyrights and applications therefor; and (iv) domain name registrations ((i) - (iv), the “Purchaser Registered IP”). Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Purchaser Material Adverse Effect, the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the Additional Agreements by Purchaser do not, and the consummation by Purchaser of the Transactions and the consummation of the Merger will not, encumber, impair or extinguish any of the Purchaser Intellectual Property.

 

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(b) Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Purchaser Material Adverse Effect, none (i) of the Purchaser Intellectual Property owned or purported to be owned by Purchaser or any of its Subsidiaries (“Purchaser Owned Intellectual Property”) (A) has been adjudged invalid or unenforceable in whole or in part, or (B) is the subject of any cancellation or reexamination proceeding or any other proceeding challenging its ownership, use, registrability, validity and enforceability, and (ii) to the Knowledge of Purchaser, all Purchaser Registered IP is subsisting, in full force and effect, and, to the Knowledge of Purchaser, valid and enforceable, and all renewal fees and other maintenance fees have been paid. There exist no material contractual restrictions on the disclosure, use, license or transfer of any Purchaser Owned Intellectual Property.

 

(c) (i) To the Knowledge of Purchaser, the conduct of the business of Purchaser and its Subsidiaries does not infringe upon, misappropriate or otherwise violate, and has not, since January 1, 2021 infringed upon, misappropriated, or otherwise violated, the Intellectual Property rights of any Third Party, (ii) no Legal Action is pending, asserted in writing, or, to the Knowledge of Purchaser, threatened against Purchaser or any of its Subsidiaries that the conduct of the business of Purchaser or any of its Subsidiaries infringes upon, misappropriates or otherwise violates the Intellectual Property rights of any Third Party and (iii) to the Knowledge of Purchaser, no Person is infringing upon, misappropriating or otherwise violating, or has, since January 1, 2021, infringed upon, misappropriated, or otherwise violated, any Intellectual Property owned by Purchaser or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

(d) Purchaser and its Subsidiaries have taken reasonable steps in accordance with normal industry practice to maintain and protect the confidentiality of all Purchaser Intellectual Property that is material to the business of Purchaser and its Subsidiaries and the value of which is contingent upon confidentiality being maintained. Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Purchaser Material Adverse Effect, none of the Purchaser Owned Intellectual Property that is material to the business of Purchaser and its Subsidiaries and the value of which is contingent upon confidentiality being maintained, has been disclosed other than to Third Parties that are bound by customary, written confidentiality agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice and that are valid and enforceable.

 

(e) Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Purchaser Material Adverse Effect, all Persons who have contributed, developed or conceived any Purchaser Owned Intellectual Property have done so pursuant to a valid and enforceable Contract (subject to enforceability exceptions for bankruptcy and insolvency and subject to principles of equity) that protects the confidential information of Purchaser and its Subsidiaries and assigns to Purchaser (or one of its Subsidiaries, as applicable) exclusive ownership of the Person’s contribution, development or conception, other than Intellectual Property excluded by Law or non-assignable moral rights.

 

(f) Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Purchaser Material Adverse Effect, (i) Purchaser and its Subsidiaries have sufficient rights to use all of the Software, including middleware, databases, and systems, information technology equipment, and associated documentation used or held for use in connection with the operation of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries used or held for use in connection with the operation of the business of Purchaser and its Subsidiaries (the “Purchaser IT Assets”), (ii) in each case, the Purchaser IT Assets operate and perform in all material respects in accordance with their documentation and functional specifications and are sufficient or configurable to effectively perform all operations necessary for the current operation of the business of Purchaser and its Subsidiaries, and all Purchaser IT Assets are owned or licensed under valid licenses and operated by and are under the control of Purchaser and its Subsidiaries, (iii) the Purchaser IT Assets have not materially malfunctioned or failed in the past three years and, to the Knowledge of Purchaser, do not contain any viruses, bugs, faults or other devices or effects that (A) enable or assist any Person to access without authorization or disable or erase the Purchaser IT Assets, or (B) otherwise materially adversely affect the functionality of the Purchaser IT Assets, (iv) Purchaser and its Subsidiaries have taken commercially reasonable steps to provide for the remote-site back-up of data and information critical to the conduct of the business of Purchaser and its Subsidiaries and have in place commercially reasonable disaster recovery and business continuity plans, procedures and facilities, (v) no Person has gained unauthorized access to any Purchaser IT Assets in the past three years, (vi) Purchaser and its Subsidiaries have maintained, continue to maintain, and caused their vendors to maintain, safeguards, security measures and procedures against the unauthorized access, disclosure, destruction, loss, or alteration of customer data or information (including any personal or device-specific information) in its possession or control that comply with any applicable contractual and legal requirements and meet industry standards, and (vii) Purchaser and its Subsidiaries have in place with the third-party owners and operators of all data centers that provide services related to the business of Purchaser and its Subsidiaries written agreements that ensure that such Third Parties adhere to and are in compliance with commercially reasonable standards and requirements.

 

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Section 4.20 Real Property; Personal Property.

 

(a) Section 4.20(a) of the Purchaser Disclosure Schedule sets forth a true and complete list of the address of each owned and leased Purchaser Real Property. Purchaser and its Subsidiaries have good and marketable title to, or have a valid and enforceable right to use or a valid and enforceable leasehold interest in, all real property (including all buildings, fixtures and other improvements) used by the business of Purchaser and its Subsidiaries (the “Purchaser Real Property”) and the ownership of or leasehold interest in any Purchaser Real Property is not subject to any Lien (except in all cases for Permitted Liens). Neither Purchaser nor any of its Subsidiaries have leased, subleased, licensed, sublicensed or otherwise granted to any Person the right to use or occupy any Purchaser Real Property or any portion of Purchaser Real Property, there are no outstanding options, rights of first offer or rights of first refusal to purchase any Purchaser Real Property or any portion of or interest, and neither Purchaser nor any of its Subsidiaries are parties to any Contract to sell, transfer, or encumber any Purchaser Real Property.

 

(b) Each of the leases, subleases and other agreements under which Purchaser or any of its Subsidiaries use or occupy or have the right to use or occupy, now or in the future, any Purchaser Real Property (the “Purchaser Real Property Leases”) is valid and binding (except as may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditor’s rights, and to general equitable principles). No termination event or breach or default on the part of each of Purchaser or its Subsidiaries exists under any Purchaser Real Property Lease and no event has occurred or circumstance exists which, with the delivery of notice, the passage of time or both, would constitute such a termination event or breach or default under any Purchaser Real Property Lease. Neither Purchaser nor any of its Subsidiaries have collaterally assigned or granted any other security interest in any Purchaser Real Property Lease or any interest therein. Purchaser has made available to the Company and the Sellers true and complete copies of each Purchaser Real Property Lease document (including all amendments, extensions, renewals, guaranties and other agreements with respect thereto).

 

(c) Purchaser and its Subsidiaries have good and marketable title to, or a valid and enforceable leasehold interest in, all Purchaser Assets.

 

(d) None of Purchaser’s or any of its Subsidiaries’ ownership of or leasehold interest in any such Purchaser Assets is subject to any Liens (except in all cases for Permitted Liens).

 

Section 4.21 Permits; Compliance with Law.

 

(a) Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Purchaser Material Adverse Effect, Purchaser and its Subsidiaries is in possession of all material Permits necessary for each of Purchaser and its Subsidiaries to own, lease and operate their respective properties and assets or to carry on their respective business as it is now being conducted (collectively, the “Purchaser Permits”). All such Purchaser Permits are in full force and effect in all material respects and no revocation, termination, suspension or cancellation of any of the Purchaser Permits is pending or, to the Knowledge of Purchaser, has been threatened in writing, against Purchaser or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

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(b) Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Purchaser Material Adverse Effect, Purchaser and each of its Subsidiaries has at all times since January 1, 2021, been in compliance in all material respects with (i) all Laws applicable to Purchaser or such Subsidiary or by which any of the Purchaser Assets is bound and (ii) all Laws applicable to, and the terms and conditions of, any Purchaser Permits.

 

Section 4.22 Certain Business Practices.

 

(a) Neither Purchaser nor its Subsidiaries, nor any of their respective directors, managers or officers or, to the Knowledge of Purchaser, any employee, agent, or representative thereof, has in the past three years offered, paid, promised to pay, or authorized the payment of any money or any other thing of value to any Person (i) with the intention of inducing improper conduct on the part of the recipient, (ii) acceptance of which would violate the policies of the recipient’s employer or cause the recipient to breach a duty owed to his or her employer, or (iii) to otherwise secure an undue or improper advantage for the Purchaser or its Subsidiaries in violation of any Anti-Corruption Law.

 

(b) Neither the Purchaser nor its Subsidiaries, nor any of their respective directors, managers or officers or, to the Knowledge of Purchaser, any employee, agent, or representative thereof in the past three years (i) has been or is a Sanctioned Person, (ii) has (acting for or on behalf of Purchaser or its Subsidiaries) transacted business with or for the benefit of a Sanctioned Person or otherwise violated applicable Sanctions, or (iii) committed a violation of any applicable Ex-Im Law.

 

(c) The operations of Purchaser and its Subsidiaries have been and are conducted in compliance with applicable Anti-Money Laundering Laws, including any financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements, and Purchaser’s books and records fairly and accurately reflect, in reasonable detail, their transactions and disposition of assets consistent with the requirements of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended.

 

(d) To the Knowledge of Purchaser, neither Purchaser nor its Subsidiaries has been, in the last three years, the subject of any allegation, voluntary disclosure, investigation, prosecution or enforcement action related to any Anti-Corruption Laws, Sanctions, or Ex-Im Laws.

 

Section 4.23 Regulatory Matters.

 

(a) (i) Purchaser and its Subsidiaries currently conduct, and have at all times since January 1, 2021, conducted, their respective business in compliance in all material respects with all Laws applicable to their respective operations, activities or services and any Orders to which they are a party or are subject, including any settlement agreements or corporate integrity agreements, (ii) except for routine matters arising in the ordinary course of business, neither Purchaser nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any written notice, citation, suspension, revocation, limitation, warning, or request for repayment or refund issued by a Governmental Authority that alleges or asserts that Purchaser or any of its Subsidiaries has violated any Laws or that requires or seeks to adjust, modify or alter Purchaser’s or any of its Subsidiary’s operations, activities, services or financial condition that has not been fully and finally resolved to the Governmental Authority’s satisfaction without further Liability to Purchaser and its Subsidiaries and (iii) there are no restrictions imposed by any Governmental Authority upon Purchaser’s or any of its Subsidiaries’ business, activities or services that would restrict or prevent Purchaser or any of its Subsidiaries from operating as it currently operates.

 

(b) Purchaser and each of its Subsidiaries and, to the Knowledge of Purchaser, all of their respective directors, officers, managers, agents and employees, are in compliance in all material respects with, and Purchaser and each of its Subsidiaries have compliance programs including policies and procedures reasonably designed to cause Purchaser and its Subsidiaries and their respective directors, managers, officers, agents and employees to be in compliance in all material respects with, to the extent applicable, all Laws.

 

Section 4.24 Takeover Statutes.

 

The Purchaser Board has taken all necessary action to ensure that the restrictions on business combinations that are set forth in the NRS, and any other similar Law applicable to Purchaser, will not apply to this Agreement, the Transactions, the Additional Agreements and the transactions contemplated thereby and the Merger, including by approving this Agreement, the Additional Agreements and the Ancillary Agreements to which Purchaser is a party. There is no stockholder rights plan, “poison pill” anti-takeover plan or other similar plan, device or arrangement to which Purchaser or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which they are bound with respect to any capital stock of Purchaser or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

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Section 4.25 Transactions with Affiliates.

 

Except as disclosed in the Purchaser SEC Reports or Section 4.25 of the Purchaser Disclosure Schedule, from the date of filing on March 29, 2024 of the Purchaser Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 through the date hereof, no event has occurred that would be required to be reported by Purchaser pursuant to Item 404 of Regulation S-K and there are no transactions, arrangements or Contracts between Purchaser or any of its Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and any stockholder, officer, director, manager or Affiliate of Purchaser, on the other hand, other than employment relationships, equity arrangements and compensation, benefits, travel advances and employee loans in the ordinary course of business.

 

Section 4.26 Insurance.

 

Purchaser and its Subsidiaries are covered by valid and currently effective insurance policies and all premiums payable under such policies have been duly paid to date. Neither Purchaser nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any written notice of default or cancellation of any such policy. All material fire and casualty, general Liability, business interruption, product Liability, and sprinkler and water damage insurance policies maintained by or on behalf of Purchaser or any of its Subsidiaries (“Purchaser Insurance Policies”) provide adequate coverage for all normal risks incident to the business of Purchaser and its Subsidiaries and their respective properties and assets, except for any such failures to maintain Purchaser Insurance Policies that, individually or in the aggregate, are not reasonably be expected to have a Purchaser Material Adverse Effect.

 

Section 4.27 Valid Issuance.

 

The shares of Purchaser Common Stock and Purchaser Preferred Stock to be issued in connection with this Agreement will, when issued in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

 

Section 4.28 Brokers.

 

Except as disclosed in Section 4.28 of the Purchaser Disclosure Schedule, no broker, finder, adviser or investment banker is entitled to any brokerage, success, finder’s or other similar fee or commission in connection with the Transactions based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of Purchaser or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

Section 4.29 Shell Company Status.

 

Purchaser is not, and has never been, an issuer identified in Rule 144(i)(1)(i) of the Securities Act.

 

Section 4.30 Listing and Maintenance Requirements.

 

Except as disclosed in Section 4.30 of the Purchaser Disclosure Schedule, the Purchaser Common Stock is registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act, and Purchaser has taken no action designed to, or that to its Knowledge is likely to have the effect of, terminating the registration of the Purchaser Common Stock under the Exchange Act nor has Purchaser received any notification that the SEC is contemplating terminating such registration. Except as disclosed in the Purchaser SEC Reports, Purchaser has not, in the 12 months preceding the date hereof, received notice from NYSE American that Purchaser is not in compliance with the listing or maintenance requirements of NYSE American.

 

Section 4.31 No Additional Representations or Warranties.

 

Except as otherwise expressly provided in Article III (as modified by the Company Disclosure Schedule), Purchaser hereby expressly disclaims and negates, any other express or implied representation or warranty whatsoever (whether at Law or in equity) with respect to the Sellers, the Company, their Affiliates, and any matter relating to any of them, including their affairs, the condition, value or quality of the assets, liabilities, financial condition or results of operations, or with respect to the accuracy or completeness of any other information made available to Purchaser, its respective Affiliates or any of their respective Representatives by, or on behalf of, Purchaser, and any such representations or warranties are expressly disclaimed. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, except as expressly set forth in this Agreement, Purchaser hereby acknowledges and agrees that none of the Sellers, the Company nor any other Person on behalf of the Sellers or the Company has made or makes any representation or warranty, whether express or implied, with respect to any projections, forecasts, estimates or budgets made available to Purchaser, its Affiliates or any of their respective Representatives of future revenues, future results of operations (or any component thereof), future cash flows or future financial condition (or any component thereof) of the Company (including the reasonableness of the assumptions underlying any of the foregoing), whether or not included in any management presentation or in any other information made available to Purchaser, its respective Affiliates or any of their respective Representatives or any other Person, and that any such representations or warranties are expressly disclaimed.

 

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ARTICLE V. REPRESENTATION AND WARRANTIES OF THE SELLERS

 

Except as set forth in the in the corresponding sections of the disclosure schedule to this Agreement to be delivered by the Sellers to the Company and Purchaser on the date hereof (the “Seller Disclosure Schedule”) (each of which qualifies representations, warranties or covenants set forth in the correspondingly numbered Section of this Agreement and any other representations, warranties or covenants where its relevance as an exception to (or disclosure for purposes of) such other representations, warranties or covenants is reasonably apparent on the face of the disclosure), or as set forth below, each Seller hereby represents and warrants to the Purchaser as follows:

 

Section 5.01 Purchase Entirely for Own Account. The Seller understands and acknowledges that this Agreement is made with the Seller in reliance upon the Seller’s representations to Purchaser, which by execution of this Agreement the Seller hereby confirms, that the Purchaser Stock Consideration to be issued to the Seller pursuant to Section 1.01 will be acquired by the Seller for investment purposes only for the Seller’s own account, not as a nominee or agent, and not with a view to the resale or distribution of any part thereof, and that the Seller does not have a present intention of selling, granting any participation in, or otherwise distributing the same. By executing this Agreement, the Seller represents that he does not have any contract, undertaking, agreement or arrangement with any Person to sell, transfer or grant participations to such Person or to any third Person, with respect to the Purchaser Stock Consideration.

 

Section 5.02 Capacity; Enforceability. The Seller is at least 21 years of age and has the full right, power and authority, and is of sufficient legal capacity, to enter into and deliver this Agreement and each Ancillary Agreement to which he is a party, to carry out his obligations hereunder and thereunder and to consummate the Transactions and the transactions contemplated thereby. This Agreement and each Ancillary Agreement to which the Seller is a party has been duly executed and delivered by the Seller and constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Seller, enforceable against the Seller in accordance with its terms and conditions (except as the enforceability may be limited by (except as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditor’s rights, and to general equitable principles), and the execution and delivery by the Seller of this Agreement and each Ancillary Agreement to which he is a party, and the performance by the Seller of its obligations hereunder and thereunder, do not and will not (i) violate or a conflict with (A) the terms of any agreement or instrument to which the Seller is a party or by which he is bound and/or (B) any statute, regulation, law, order, writ, injunction, judgment, or decree to which the Seller is subject, or (ii) require any authorization or approval under or pursuant to any of the foregoing that have not been obtained.

 

Section 5.03 Ownership of Sellers’ Shares.

 

(a) Gibbons represents that he is, as of the date hereof, the sole and exclusive record and beneficial owner of the Sellers’ Shares set forth below his name on the signature page of this Agreement under the caption “Number of Sellers’ Shares” (the “Gibbons Shares”), representing 9.3% of the outstanding shares of Company Common Stock and 50% of the outstanding shares of Company Preferred Stock, free and clear of all Liens (other than Permitted Liens), that no other Person has, or is entitled to, any right with respect to any of the Gibbons Shares, and that, upon consummation of the Transactions, Purchaser will acquire good and valid legal and beneficial title to all of the Gibbons Shares, free and clear of all Liens, other than restrictions on transfer imposed by federal and state securities laws.

 

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(b) Nicolas Link represents that he is, as of the date hereof, the sole and exclusive record and beneficial owner of the Sellers’ Shares set forth below his name on the signature page of this Agreement under the caption “Number of Sellers’ Shares” (the “Link Shares”), representing 9.3% of the outstanding shares of Company Common Stock and 50% of the outstanding shares of Company Preferred Stock, free and clear of all Liens (other than Permitted Liens), that no other Person has, or is entitled to, any right with respect to any of the Link Shares, and that, upon consummation of the Transactions, Purchaser will acquire good and valid legal and beneficial title to all of the Link Shares, free and clear of all Liens, other than restrictions on transfer imposed by federal and state securities laws.

 

(c) The Sellers’ Shares constitute, in the aggregate 99.13% of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company.

 

Section 5.04 Reliance Upon Seller Representations. The Seller understands that the issuance of the Purchaser Stock Consideration has not been registered under the Securities Act on the ground that the sale provided for in this Agreement and the issuance of the Purchaser Stock Consideration hereunder is exempt from registration under the Securities Act pursuant to Regulation D promulgated thereunder or another exemption from registration under the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws.

 

Section 5.05 Receipt of Information. The Seller believes that he has received all the information that he considers necessary or appropriate for deciding whether to invest in the Purchaser Stock Consideration. The Seller further represents that he has had an opportunity to ask questions and receive answers from Purchaser regarding the terms and conditions of the acquisition of the Purchaser Stock Consideration and the business, properties, prospects, and financial condition Purchaser, the Company and their Affiliates and to obtain additional information (to the extent Purchaser and its Affiliates possessed such information or could acquire it without unreasonable effort or expense) necessary to verify the accuracy of any information furnished to the Seller or to which the Seller had access. The foregoing, however, does not limit or modify the representations and warranties of Purchaser in Article IV or the rights of the Seller to rely thereon.

 

Section 5.06 Investment Experience. The Seller confirms that he has the knowledge and experience in financial and business matters such that he is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of acquisition of the Purchaser Stock Consideration and of making an informed investment decision and understands that (i) investment in and acquisition of the Purchaser Stock Consideration is suitable only for an investor that is able to bear the economic consequences of losing such investor’s entire investment, (ii) the acquisition of the Purchaser Stock Consideration to be received by the Seller hereunder is a speculative investment which involves a high degree of risk of loss of the entire investment, and (iii) there are substantial restrictions on the transferability of the Purchaser Stock Consideration and, accordingly, it may not be possible for the Seller to liquidate his investment in case of emergency.

 

Section 5.07 Accredited Seller Status. The Seller is an “accredited investor” as such term is defined in Rule 501 promulgated under the Securities Act.

 

Section 5.08 Restricted Securities. The Seller understands that a limited market currently exists for the resale of the Purchaser Stock Consideration and it may not be possible to sell the Purchaser Stock Consideration outside of the sale of all of the stock or assets of Purchaser. Purchaser has no present intention of undertaking any such sale and no assurance can be given that any such sale will occur in the near-term future or at all.

 

Section 5.09 Non-Contravention. Except as set forth on Schedule 5.09 of the Seller Disclosure Schedule, the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Seller and the consummation of the Transactions do not and will not (a) contravene or conflict with, or result in any material violation or breach of, any Law applicable to the Seller (b) result in any violation, termination, acceleration of any material obligation, cancellation or material breach of, or constitute a default (with or without notice or lapse of time or both) or require any notice or consent under, any Contracts to which the Seller is a party or (c) result in the creation of any Liens (other than Permitted Liens) upon the Sellers’ Shares owned by the Seller except, in the case of clauses (a), (b), and (c), as would not prevent, or materially impair or delay, the ability of the Seller to consummate the Transactions or otherwise perform any of their obligations under this Agreement.

 

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Section 5.10 No Additional Representation or Warranties. Except as specifically provided in this Agreement, neither the Seller nor any of the Seller’s Affiliates have made, or are making, any representation or warranty whatsoever to Purchaser or any of its Affiliates and, except in the case of fraud, no such party shall be liable in respect of the accuracy or completeness of any information or documents (including any projections on the future performance of the businesses of the Company) provided to Purchaser or any of its Affiliates.

 

Article Vi. COVENANTS

 

Section 6.01 Conduct of Business of the Company.

 

During the Restricted Period, except (i) as expressly contemplated or permitted by this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement, (ii) as set forth in Section 6.01 of the Company Disclosure Schedule, (iii) as required by Law, or (iv) as consented to in writing by Purchaser, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed, the Company shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, use reasonable best efforts to (A) conduct its operations in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice in all material respects and (B) maintain and preserve intact in all material respects its business organization, the Company Assets, the Company Permits and the Company Real Property, retain the services of its current officers and employees (it being understood that no material increases in any compensation or benefits, including any incentive, retention or similar compensation shall be made in respect thereof except to the extent such increase is required in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice) and preserve material business relationships with its customers, suppliers, agents, employees and other Persons. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, and except (1) as otherwise expressly contemplated or permitted by this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement, (2) as set forth in Section 6.01 of the Company Disclosure Schedule, (3) as required by applicable Law, or (4) as consented to in writing by Purchaser, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed, during the Restricted Period the Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, take any of the following actions:

 

(a) Organizational Documents. Amend any of the Company Organizational Documents or any of the comparable organizational documents of any of the Company’s Subsidiaries (including partnership agreements and limited liability company agreements) in any material respect;

 

(b) Dividends. Make, declare or pay any dividend or distribution on any shares of its capital stock, other than dividends, distributions and intercompany debt settlements by wholly-owned Subsidiaries of the Company in the ordinary course of business and any dividends required to be declared, paid or accrued on the Company Preferred Stock;

 

(c) Capital Stock. (i) Adjust, split, combine or reclassify its capital stock, (ii) redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire, directly or indirectly, any shares of its capital stock or any securities convertible or exchangeable into or exercisable for any shares of its capital stock, (iii) issue, deliver or sell any additional shares of its capital stock or any securities convertible or exchangeable into or exercisable for any shares of its capital stock or such securities (other than pursuant to the exercise of Convertible Securities of the Company outstanding as of the date of this Agreement and in accordance with their terms), or (iv) enter into any Contract with respect to the sale, voting, registration or repurchase of its capital stock;

 

(d) Indebtedness; Guarantees. Incur, assume or guarantee any indebtedness for borrowed money other than (i) pursuant to any indebtedness instrument outstanding as of the date of this Agreement and made available to Purchaser or (ii) pursuant to equipment financing in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice not in excess of $250,000;

 

(e) Tax. File any material amended Tax Return, settle any material Tax claim or assessment, surrender in writing any right to claim a material refund of Taxes, consent to (or request) any extensions or waiver of the limitation period applicable to any material Tax claim or assessment, or enter into any “closing agreement” within the meaning of Section 7121 of the Code (or any similar provision of state, local, or non-U.S. Law) or any voluntary disclosure agreement with any Governmental Authority, in each case, with respect to a material amount of Taxes;

 

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(f) Accounting. Materially change its accounting policies or procedures or any of its methods of reporting income, deductions or other items for material accounting purposes or revalue any of its material assets, in each case, other than as required by changes in GAAP or applicable Law or as may be reasonably necessary to comply with GAAP or applicable Law after the date of this Agreement;

 

(g) Dispositions. Sell, lease, exclusively license, transfer, pledge, encumber, grant or dispose of any Company Assets, including any Intellectual Property rights and the capital stock of Subsidiaries of the Company, that are material to the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, other than (i) in connection with products or services offered or provided in the ordinary course of business, (ii) in connection with the financing of capital equipment, (iii) the disposition of used, obsolete or excess equipment in the ordinary course of business, (iv) expirations of Company Registered IP in accordance with the applicable statutory term, grants of non-exclusive licenses of Company Owned Intellectual Property, or dispositions of non-material Company Owned Intellectual Property, or (v) transactions among the Company and any of its Subsidiaries;

 

(h) Acquisitions. Acquire by merger, consolidation, acquisition of equity interests or assets, or otherwise, any business, any material assets or properties, or any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture or other business organization or division of such business organization;

 

(i) Contracts. (i) Enter into any Contract that if in effect as of the date of this Agreement would be a Company Material Contract or Company Real Property Lease, other than in the ordinary course of business (unless such Contract would otherwise be prohibited under this Section 6.01), (ii) enter into any Contract that would limit or otherwise restrict the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their successors from engaging or competing in any line of business or in any geographic area in any material respect, (iii) terminate, cancel or request any material change in or waive any material rights under any Company Material Contract or Company Real Property Lease other than the expiration of any Company Material Contract or Company Real Property Lease in accordance with its terms, or (iv) terminate, amend or waive any provisions of any confidentiality or standstill agreements in place with any Third Party;

 

(j) Loans. (i) Make any loans, advances or capital contributions to (other than business advances in the ordinary course of business), or investments in, any other Person (including any of its officers, directors, employees, agents or consultants), other than by the Company or a wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company to, or in, the Company or any of its wholly owned Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business or (ii) make any material change in the Company’s existing borrowing or lending arrangements for or on behalf of such Persons;

 

(k) Legal Actions. Commence, initiate, waive, release, assign, settle or compromise any Legal Action, or enter into any settlement agreement or other understanding or agreement with any Governmental Authority (other than in the case of this clause, entry into commercial agreements not relating to a dispute with such Governmental Authority in the ordinary course of business), relating to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, other than any such waiver, release, assignment, settlement or compromise with a Person that is not a Governmental Authority that is limited only to the payment of money or other form of value that, collectively in respect of such waiver, release, assignment, settlement or compromise, is not in excess of $100,000 individually or in the aggregate (excluding any amounts paid or payable by an insurance provider);

 

(l) Affiliate Transactions. Enter into or amend any arrangement or Contract with any Affiliate, director, officer or stockholder of the Company that would reasonably be expected to materially delay or prevent the consummation of the Transactions or the Merger;

 

(m) Inhibiting Transactions. Take any action that would reasonably be expected to result in any of the conditions to the Transactions set forth in Article VII of this Agreement not being satisfied or satisfaction of those conditions being materially delayed;

 

(n) Compensation and Benefits. Except (i) as otherwise provided in Section 6.01(k) of the Company Disclosure Schedule or (ii) in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice (it being understood and agreed, for the avoidance of doubt, that in no event shall the exception in this clause (ii) be deemed or construed as permitting the Company to take any action that is not permitted by any other provision of this Section 6.01), (A) materially increase the compensation or benefits payable or to become payable to any current or former employee of the Company or any directors or officers, (B) grant any equity or equity-based incentive award, retention, severance or termination pay or change in control or transaction bonus to any current or former Company Employee or any directors or officers, (C) renew or enter into or amend any new employment or severance agreement with any current or former Company Employee or any directors or officers, (D) establish, adopt, enter into, materially amend or terminate any Company Benefit Plan or any employee benefit plan, agreement, policy or program that, if in effect on the date of this Agreement, would be a Company Benefit Plan, (E) enter into, terminate, amend or negotiate any collective bargaining agreement or other agreement or Contract with any labor organization, works council, trade union, labor association or other employee representative, (F) implement any employee layoffs that could trigger any Liability or notice requirements under the WARN Act or (G) take any action to accelerate the vesting, payment, or funding of any compensation or benefits to any current or former Company Employee or any directors or officers, except, in each case, to the extent required by applicable Law or this Agreement; or

 

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(o) Related Actions. Agree in writing or otherwise enter into a binding agreement to do any of the foregoing.

 

Section 6.02 Conduct of Business of Purchaser.

 

During the Restricted Period, except (i) as expressly contemplated or permitted by this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement, (ii) as set forth in Section 6.02 of the Purchaser Disclosure Schedule, (iii) as required by Law, or (iv) as consented to in writing by the Company, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed, the Purchaser shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, use reasonable best efforts to (A) conduct its operations in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice in all material respects and (B) maintain and preserve intact in all material respects its business organization, the Purchaser Assets, the Purchaser Permits and Purchaser Real Property, retain the services of its current officers and employees (it being understood that no material increases in any compensation, including any incentive, retention or similar compensation shall be made in respect thereof except to the extent such increase is required in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice) and preserve material business relationships with its customers, suppliers, agents, employees and other Persons. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, and except (1) as otherwise expressly contemplated or permitted by this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement, (2) as set forth in Section 6.02 of the Purchaser Disclosure Schedule, (3) as required by applicable Law, or (4) as consented to in writing by the Company, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed, during the Restricted Period Purchaser shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, take any of the following actions:

 

(a) Organizational Documents. Amend, or seek approval from the stockholders of Purchaser to amend, any of the Purchaser Organizational Documents or any of the comparable organizational documents of any of Purchaser’s Subsidiaries (including partnership agreements and limited liability company agreements);

 

(b) Dividends. Make, declare or pay any dividend or distribution on any shares of its capital stock other than dividends, distributions and intercompany debt settlements by wholly owned Subsidiaries of Purchaser in the ordinary course of business;

 

(c) Capital Stock. (i) except as may be necessary to satisfy any applicable continued listing requirements of any stock exchange on which the Purchaser Common Stock is listed or any initial listing requirements of any stock exchange to which Purchaser has applied for listing of the Purchaser Common Stock, adjust, split, combine or reclassify its capital stock, (ii) except with respect to that certain warrant issued to FirstFire Global Opportunities Fund, LLC, dated May 16, 2024, redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire, directly or indirectly, any shares of its capital stock or any securities convertible or exchangeable into or exercisable for any shares of its capital stock, (iii) except with respect to that certain At The Market Offering Agreement, dated December 2, 2024, by and between Purchaser and H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC, as sales agent and pursuant to the prospectus contained in the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (SEC File No. 333-283559) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on December 2, 2024 and declared effective by the SEC on December 5, 2024 (the “ATM Form S-3”), or any issuance that may be a Purchaser Financing (as defined below), issue, deliver or sell any additional shares of its capital stock or any securities convertible or exchangeable into or exercisable for any shares of its capital stock or such securities (other than pursuant to the exercise of Convertible Securities of Purchaser outstanding as of the date of this Agreement and in accordance with their terms), or (iv) except with respect to any Purchaser Financing, enter into any Contract with respect to the sale, voting, registration or repurchase of its capital stock other than the Registration Statement;

 

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(d) Indebtedness; Guarantees. Incur, assume or guarantee any indebtedness for borrowed money, other than (i) pursuant to any indebtedness instrument outstanding as of the date of this Agreement and made available to the Company and the Sellers, (ii) pursuant to promissory notes issued in connection with any permitted acquisition by Purchaser, which acquisition is made pursuant to the terms set forth in Section 6.02(h), and (iii) indebtedness under any other promissory note taken individually, provided that all such promissory notes in the aggregate do not exceed $1,000,000;

 

(e) Tax. Make or change or rescind any material Tax election, file any material amended Tax Return, change or adopt any material method of Tax accounting, settle any material Tax claim or assessment, surrender any right to claim a material refund of Taxes, consent to (or request) any extensions or waiver of the limitation period applicable to any material Tax claim or assessment, enter into any “closing agreement” within the meaning of Section 7121 of the Code (or any similar provision of state, local, or non-U.S. Law) or any voluntary disclosure agreement with any Governmental Authority, in each case, with respect to a material amount of Taxes, or incur any Taxes outside of the ordinary course of business;

 

(f) Accounting. Materially change its accounting policies or procedures or any of its methods of reporting income, deductions or other items for material accounting purposes or revalue any of its material assets, in each case, other than as required by changes in GAAP or applicable Law or as may be reasonably necessary to comply with GAAP or applicable Law after the date of this Agreement;

 

(g) Dispositions. Except as otherwise provided in Section 6.02(g) of the Purchaser Disclosure Schedule, sell, lease, exclusively license, transfer, pledge, encumber, grant or dispose of any Purchaser Assets, including any Intellectual Property rights and the capital stock of Subsidiaries of Purchaser, that are material to Purchaser and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, other than (i) in connection with products or services offered or provided in the ordinary course of business, (ii) the disposition of used, obsolete or excess equipment in the ordinary course of business, (iii) expirations of Purchaser Registered IP in accordance with the applicable statutory term, grants of non-exclusive licenses of Purchaser Owned Intellectual Property, or dispositions of non-material Purchaser Owned Intellectual Property, in each case in the ordinary course of business, or (iv) transactions among the Purchaser and any of its Subsidiaries;

 

(h) Acquisitions. Except as set forth on Section 6.02(h) of the Purchaser Disclosure Schedule, acquire by merger, consolidation, acquisition of equity interests or assets, or otherwise, any business, any material assets or properties, or any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture or other business organization or division of such business organization;

 

(i) Contracts. (i) Enter into any Contract that if in effect as of the date of this Agreement would be a Purchaser Material Contract or Purchaser Real Property Lease, other than in the ordinary course of business (unless such Contract would otherwise be prohibited under this Section 6.02), (ii) enter into any Contract that would limit or otherwise restrict Purchaser or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their successors from engaging or competing in any line of business or in any geographic area in any material respect, (iii) terminate, cancel or request any material change in or waive any material rights under any Purchaser Material Contract or Purchaser Real Property Lease other than the expiration of any Purchaser Material Contract or Purchaser Real Property Lease in accordance with its terms in the ordinary course of business (unless such action would otherwise be prohibited under this Section 6.02), or (iv) terminate, amend or waive any provisions of any confidentiality or standstill agreements in place with any Third Parties;

 

(j) Loans. (i) Make any loans, advances or capital contributions to (other than business advances in the ordinary course of business), or investments in, any other Person (including any of its officers, directors, managers, employees, agents or consultants), other than by Purchaser or a wholly owned Subsidiary of Purchaser to, or in, Purchaser or any of its wholly owned Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business or (ii) make any material change in Purchaser’s or any of its Subsidiaries’ existing borrowing or lending arrangements for or on behalf of such Persons;

 

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(k) Legal Actions. Commence, initiate, waive, release, assign, settle or compromise any Legal Action, or enter into any settlement agreement or other understanding or agreement with any Governmental Authority (other than in the case of this clause, entry into commercial agreements not relating to a dispute with such Governmental Authority in the ordinary course of business), relating to Purchaser or any of its Subsidiaries;

 

(l) Affiliate Transactions. Enter into or amend any arrangement or Contract with any Affiliate, director, manager, officer or stockholder that would reasonably be expected to materially delay or prevent the consummation of the Transactions or the Merger or that would be required to be described under Item 404 of Regulation S-K of the SEC;

 

(m) Inhibiting Transactions. Take any action that would reasonably be expected to result in any of the conditions to the Transactions set forth in Article VII not being satisfied or satisfaction of those conditions being materially delayed; or

 

(n) Compensation and Benefits. Except (i) as otherwise provided in Section 6.02(n) of the Purchaser Disclosure Schedule or (ii) in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice (it being understood and agreed, for the avoidance of doubt, that in no event shall the exception in this clause (ii) be deemed or construed as permitting Purchaser or any of its Subsidiaries to take any action that is not permitted by any other provision of this Section 6.02), (A) materially increase the compensation or benefits payable or to become payable to any current or former Purchaser Employee or any directors, managers or officers, (B) grant any equity or equity-based incentive award, retention, severance or termination pay or change in control or transaction bonus to any current or former Purchaser Employee or any directors, managers or officers, (C) renew or enter into or amend any new employment or severance agreement with any current or former Purchaser Employee or any directors, managers or officers, (D) establish, adopt, enter into, materially amend or terminate any Purchaser Benefit Plan or any employee benefit plan, agreement, policy or program that, if in effect on the date of this Agreement, would be a Purchaser Benefit Plan, (E) enter into, terminate, amend or negotiate any collective bargaining agreement or other agreement or Contract with any labor organization, works council, trade union, labor association or other employee representative, (F) implement any employee layoffs that could trigger any Liability or notice requirements under the WARN Act or (G) take any action to accelerate the vesting, payment, or funding of any compensation or benefits to any current or former Purchaser Employee or any directors, managers or officers, except, in each case, to the extent required by applicable Law, this Agreement or any Additional Agreement or in terms of any Purchaser Benefit Plan in effect on the date of this Agreement and set forth on Section 6.02(n) of the Purchaser Disclosure Schedule that has been made available to the Company and the Sellers as of the date of this Agreement;

 

(o) Related Actions. Agree in writing or otherwise enter into a binding agreement to do any of the foregoing.

 

Section 6.03 Access to Information; Confidentiality.

 

(a) Through the Restricted Period, the Company shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to, (i) provide to Purchaser and its Representatives access to at reasonable times upon prior notice the officers, employees, properties, books and records of the Company and its Subsidiaries, and (ii) furnish promptly such information concerning the Company and its Subsidiaries as Purchaser or its Representatives may reasonably request.

 

(b) Through the Restricted Period, Purchaser shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to, (i) provide to the Sellers, the Company and their respective Representatives access to at reasonable times upon prior notice the officers, employees, properties, books and records of Purchaser and its Subsidiaries, and (ii) furnish promptly such information concerning Purchaser and its Subsidiaries as the Sellers, the Company or their respective Representatives may reasonably request.

 

(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither Purchaser nor the Company, or their respective Subsidiaries, shall be required to provide such access if it reasonably determines that such access would (i) materially disrupt or impair the ordinary course business or operations of Purchaser or the Company, as applicable, or any of its Subsidiaries, (ii) violate any legally-binding obligation with respect to confidentiality, non-disclosure or privacy, (iii) constitute a violation of any applicable Law or (iv) result in the disclosure of any trade secrets of Third Parties. Nothing in this Agreement shall require the Company or Purchaser or any of their respective Subsidiaries to disclose information to the extent such information would result in a waiver of attorney-client privilege, work product doctrine or similar privilege or violate any confidentiality obligation of such Party (provided, however, that such Party shall use reasonable best efforts to permit such disclosure to be made in a manner consistent with the protection of such privilege or to obtain any consent required to permit such disclosure to be made without violation of such confidentiality obligations, as applicable).

 

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(d) Purchaser, Sellers and the Company shall comply with and shall use their reasonable best efforts to cause their respective Representatives to comply with all of their respective obligations under the Confidentiality Agreement with respect to the information disclosed under this Section 6.03.

 

Section 6.04 Purchaser Financing. Purchaser shall use commercially reasonable efforts to raise, and the Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to assist Purchaser in raising, at least $2.0 million of funding through a private placement or public offering of its securities (the “Purchaser Financing”) as soon as possible after the date hereof. The net proceeds of the Purchaser Financing will be equally split between Purchaser and the Company and each of them shall use such proceeds for its operations and, in the case of Purchaser, to pay down its indebtedness and other liabilities such that there will be no material liabilities of Purchaser remaining at the time of the Preferred Stock Conversion. In order to split the net proceeds of the Purchaser Financing as described above, Purchaser shall make loans of one-half of the net proceeds (or such lesser amount as agreed to by the Parties) to the Company, which loans shall be (i) forgiven upon the Preferred Stock Conversion or (ii) repaid if the Transactions are unwound in accordance with Section 6.08 or if this Agreement is otherwise terminated in accordance with its terms. Purchaser and the Company shall cooperate to structure such allocation of proceeds and the use of such proceeds on a mutually agreeable basis. The term “Purchaser Financing” shall not include the offering of securities pursuant to an at the market offering under the ATM Form S-3 or any similar at the market offering, which proceeds will be used to pay down Purchaser’s indebtedness and other liabilities such that there will be no material liabilities of Purchaser remaining at the time of the Preferred Stock Conversion.

 

Section 6.05 Purchaser SEC Filings. Purchaser will use its commercially reasonable efforts to (a) file or furnish to the SEC all reports, statements, schedules, forms, certifications and other documents or filings that it is that it is required by applicable Law to file or furnish with the SEC during the Restricted Period (the “Future SEC Reports”), (b) ensure that, as of its filing date (or, if amended, supplemented, modified or superseded by a filing prior to the date of this Agreement, on the date of such filing), each such Future SEC Report (i) complies, in all material respects, with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder that are applicable to such Future SEC Report and (ii) does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated in such Future SEC Report or necessary in order to make the statements made in such Future SEC Report, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, and (c) with respect to each such Future SEC Report that is a registration statement, as amended or supplemented, if applicable, filed pursuant to the Securities Act, as of the date that such registration statement, amendment or supplement becomes effective, does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated in such Future SEC Report or necessary to make the statements in such Future SEC Report not misleading.

 

Section 6.06 Purchaser Operating Subsidiary.

 

(a) Prior to the Closing, Purchaser shall organize a wholly-owned operating subsidiary (the “Purchaser Operating Subsidiary”) and, as soon as reasonably practicable, but in no case less than 20 Business days, after the Closing, Purchaser shall contribute all of its legacy assets to the Purchaser Operating Subsidiary, and the business of Purchaser as conducted immediately prior to the Closing shall thereafter be conducted solely through the Purchaser Operating Subsidiary.

 

(b) Subsequent to the Closing, the Company and Purchaser shall complete the Merger.

 

(c) From and after the Closing, the Purchaser Board shall authorize the Persons set forth on Schedule 6.06(c) of the Purchaser Disclosure Schedule with authority to manage and oversee the day-to-day management and operations of the Purchaser Operating Subsidiary.

 

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(d) Notwithstanding Section 6.06(c) above, pursuant to Section 1.05(b) hereof, immediately following the Closing, Daniel Nelson shall become the chief executive officer of the Purchaser Operating Subsidiary.

 

Section 6.07 Registration Statement for Merger; Resale Registration Statement.

 

(a) The Company shall promptly provide to Purchaser such information concerning the Company, the Sellers, the Additional Sellers, and the Company’s stockholders as is either required by the federal securities Laws or reasonably requested by Purchaser for inclusion in the Proxy Statement. Promptly after the receipt by Purchaser from the Company of all such information, Purchaser shall prepare and file with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-4 relating to (i) the registration of the offer and sale of the shares of Purchaser Common Stock to be issued to the stockholders of the Company in the Merger and (ii) if permitted by Form S-4 and the related rules and regulations of the SEC, the registration of the offer and sale by (A) the Sellers of the shares of Purchaser Common Stock constituting the Common Stock Consideration and the shares of Purchaser Common Stock into which the shares of Purchaser Preferred Stock constituting the Preferred Stock Consideration are convertible, (B) the Additional Sellers of the shares of Purchaser Common Stock into which the shares of preferred stock of Purchaser issued pursuant to the Additional Agreements are convertible, and (C) the Advisor of the shares of Purchaser Common Stock into which the shares of Purchaser Preferred Stock issued pursuant to Section 3.02 are convertible, and containing the Proxy Statement (including all amendments and supplements thereto, the “Registration Statement”). The Company shall provide to Purchaser all information in its possession, including certificates or other statements, concerning the Company as may be reasonably requested by Purchaser in connection with the Registration Statement and shall otherwise reasonably assist and cooperate with Purchaser in the preparation of the Registration Statement and resolution of any comments referred to below; provided, however, that Purchaser shall (1) provide the Company with a reasonable opportunity to review and comment on any drafts of the Registration Statement and related correspondence and filings and (2) include in such drafts, correspondence and filings all comments reasonably proposed by the Company. Purchaser shall, if required by the SEC, include a written opinion in the Registration Statement, dated as of such date as may be required by the SEC in connection with the filing of the Registration Statement, to the effect that the Merger will qualify as a plan of reorganization for purposes of Section 354, 361 and 368 of the Code and Treasury Regulations Section 1.368-2(g) and 1.368-3(a).

 

(b) Purchaser and the Company shall comply with all applicable provisions of and rules under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, and all applicable Laws of the State of Delaware and the State of Nevada, and Nasdaq rules, in the preparation, filing and distribution of the Registration Statement and the Proxy Statement (or any amendment or supplement thereto), as applicable, the solicitation of proxies pursuant to the Proxy Statement and the calling and holding of the Purchaser Stockholders Meeting. Without limiting the foregoing, Purchaser shall use its reasonable best efforts to ensure that the Registration Statement, at the time it is initially filed with the SEC, at each time at which it is amended, and on the date on which the Registration Statement is declared effective by the SEC (the “Registration Statement Effective Date”), and the Proxy Statement, on the date it is first distributed to stockholders of the Company and the Purchaser and on the date of the Purchaser Stockholders Meeting, (i) complies in all material respects with the applicable rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC and (ii) does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements contained in such document, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading (provided, that Purchaser shall not be responsible for the accuracy or completeness of any information provided by or on behalf of the Company expressly for inclusion in the Proxy Statement or the Registration Statement). The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to ensure that the information relating to the Company that has been supplied by or on behalf of the Company for inclusion in the Proxy Statement or the Registration Statement, as applicable, (i) complies in all material respects with the applicable provisions of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations thereunder and (ii) does not, with respect to the Registration Statement, at the time it is initially filed with the SEC, at each time at which it is amended, or on the Registration Statement Effective Date and, with respect to the Proxy Statement, on the date that the Proxy Statement (or any amendment or supplement thereto) is first distributed to stockholders of the Company and the Purchaser or on the date of the Purchaser Stockholders Meeting, does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements contained in such document, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. If at any time prior to the effective time of the Merger, a change in the information relating to the Company or any other information furnished by Purchaser or the Company for inclusion in the Proxy Statement that would make the preceding sentence incorrect should be discovered by Purchaser or the Company, as applicable, such Party shall promptly notify the other Parties of such change or discovery and an appropriate amendment or supplement describing such information shall be promptly filed with the SEC and, to the extent required by Law, disseminated to Purchaser’s and the Company’s stockholders. In connection therewith, Purchaser and the Company shall instruct their respective employees, counsel, financial advisors, auditors and other authorized Representatives to reasonably cooperate with Purchaser as relevant if required to achieve the foregoing.

 

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(c) Purchaser, with the assistance of the Company, shall use its reasonable best efforts to (i) respond to any comments on the Registration Statement or requests for additional information from the SEC as soon as practicable after receipt of any such comments or requests, (ii) cause the Registration Statement to be declared effective by the SEC as promptly as practicable following its filing with the SEC, (iii) in consultation with the Company, set a record date for the Purchaser Stockholders Meeting, and (iv) cause the Proxy Statement to be mailed to the stockholders of Purchaser and of the Company (other than the Sellers and the Additional Sellers) as promptly as practicable after the Registration Statement Effective Date.

 

(d) No filing of, or amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement will be made by Purchaser without the approval of the Company (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed). Purchaser will promptly advise the Company, after it receives notice thereof, of the time when the Registration Statement has become effective or any supplement or amendment has been filed, of the issuance of any stop order, of the suspension of the qualification of the Purchaser Common Stock to be issued in connection with the Merger for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or of any request by the SEC for amendment of the Registration Statement or comments thereon and responses thereto or requests by the SEC for additional information. Each of Purchaser and the Company shall cooperate and mutually agree upon (such agreement not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) any response to comments of the SEC or its staff with respect to the Registration Statement and any amendment to the Registration Statement filed in response thereto.

 

(e) The Registration Statement shall include the Purchaser Board Recommendation and the recommendation of the Purchaser Board that Purchaser’s stockholders approve the Merger (if the Parties determine that approval of the Merger by Purchaser’s stockholders is required).

 

(f) Purchaser shall also use its reasonable best efforts to obtain, and the Company shall reasonably cooperate in good faith with Purchaser to assist Purchaser in obtaining, all necessary state securities law or “blue sky” permits and approvals necessary to consummate the Transactions and the Merger.

 

(g) If Form S-4 and the related rules and regulations of the SEC related thereto do not permit the inclusion of the shares of Purchaser Common Stock described in Section 6.07(a)(ii) (the “Seller Registrable Securities”), then upon the written request of both Sellers, the Purchaser shall file with the SEC as soon as practicable following such request, but in any event within sixty (60) days, a registration statement on an appropriate form (the “Resale Registration Statement”) covering the Seller Registrable Securities and shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Resale Registration Statement to be declared effective by the SEC as soon as practicable after its filing.

 

Section 6.08 Purchaser Stockholders Approval; Unwind.

 

(a) In connection with the Purchaser Stockholders Meeting, Purchaser shall nominate individuals for election to the Purchaser Board in accordance with Section 1.05. As promptly as practicable following the Registration Statement Effective Date and after reasonable consultation with the Company, Purchaser shall duly call, convene and hold a special meeting of the holders of the Purchaser Common Stock (the “Purchaser Stockholders Meeting”), to be held on a date no later than 45 days after the Registration Statement Effective Date (the “Initial Purchaser Stockholder Meeting Deadline”), unless otherwise required by applicable Laws, in accordance with Delaware law and the Purchaser Organizational Documents, and (ii) as promptly as practicable after the mailing of the Proxy Statement, Purchaser shall solicit proxies from the holders of Purchaser Common Stock to vote in accordance with the recommendation of the Purchaser Board (the “Purchaser Stockholder Approval”) with respect to (i) the Preferred Stock Conversion in compliance with all applicable Laws and regulations, including, but not limited to, the rules and regulations of Nasdaq, (ii) the Amended Purchaser Charter, (iii) the election of directors in accordance with Section 1.05(a), (iv) if the Parties determine that approval of the Merger by Purchaser’s stockholders is required, the Merger, (v) the adjournment of such meeting as permitted by this Section 6.08(a), and (vi) any other proposal or proposals that Purchaser reasonably deems necessary or desirable to consummate the Transactions and the Merger (the “Purchaser Proposals”). Purchaser shall use its best efforts to obtain the Purchaser Stockholder Approval by the Initial Purchaser Stockholder Meeting Deadline, including, without limitation, by causing (x) the Purchaser Board not to withdraw the Purchaser Board Recommendation, (y) its officers and directors who hold shares of Purchaser Common Stock to be present at the Purchaser Stockholders Meeting for quorum purposes and (z) such officers and directors to vote their respective shares of Purchaser Common Stock in accordance with the Purchaser Board Recommendation; provided, however, for the avoidance of doubt, Purchaser may postpone or adjourn the Purchaser Stockholders Meeting: (A) with the consent of the Company; (B) for the absence of a quorum; or (C) to allow reasonable additional time (not to exceed 20 days) for the filing and distribution of any supplemental or amended disclosure with respect to the Transactions or the Merger that the Purchaser Board has determined in good faith (after consultation with its outside legal counsel) is necessary under applicable Laws and for such supplemental or amended disclosure to be disseminated to and reviewed by Purchaser’s stockholders prior to the Purchaser Stockholders Meeting. Prior to the mailing of the Registration Statement, Purchaser shall be entitled to engage a proxy solicitor that is reasonably satisfactory to the Company and the Sellers, and Purchaser shall keep the Company and the Sellers reasonably informed regarding its solicitation efforts and proxy tallies following the mailing of the Proxy Statement.

 

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(b) If, despite Purchaser’s reasonable best efforts, the Purchaser Stockholder Approval is not obtained by the Initial Purchaser Stockholder Meeting Deadline, Purchaser shall, during the period beginning on the Initial Purchaser Stockholder Meeting Deadline and continuing for 180 days thereafter (the “Extended Purchaser Meeting Deadline”), cause one or more additional Purchaser Stockholders Meetings (each an “Additional Purchaser Stockholders Meeting”) to be held so as to obtain the Purchaser Stockholder Approval. If, despite Purchaser’s reasonable best efforts, the Purchaser Stockholder Approval is not obtained by the Extended Purchaser Meeting Deadline, then, no less than 15 calendar days after the Extended Purchaser Meeting Deadline, Purchaser shall repurchase the Purchaser Stock Consideration from the Sellers. In exchange for the repurchase of the Purchaser Stock Consideration under this Section 6.08(b), Purchaser shall transfer and assign, or caused to be transferred and assigned, back to each Seller the number of Sellers’ Shares set forth below such Seller’s signature on the signature page hereto under the caption “Number of Sellers’ Shares.”

 

(c) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, from and after the date hereof until (i) the date on which the shares of Purchaser Preferred Stock issued under this Agreement and any Additional Agreements convert into shares of Purchaser Common Stock, (ii) the date on which the Purchaser repurchases the Purchaser Stock Consideration from the Sellers in exchange for the Sellers’ Shares in accordance with Section 6.08(b), and (iii) the date, if any, on which this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Article VIII, whichever is earlier (such period of time, the “Restricted Period”), Purchaser hereby covenants and agrees that it will not, without the prior written consent of both of the Sellers, directly or indirectly sell, transfer, convey, mortgage, pledge, assign or in any way further encumber or alienate the Sellers’ Shares acquired by Purchaser pursuant to this Agreement.

 

Section 6.09 Maintenance of NYSE American Listing until Closing; Transfer to Nasdaq at Closing.

 

(a) Purchaser shall use reasonable best efforts to ensure that the existing shares of Purchaser Common Stock shall have been continually listed on NYSE American as of and from the date of this Agreement through the Closing Date. Purchaser has filed an initial listing application with Nasdaq. Purchaser, the Sellers and the Company shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to respond to any questions or comments of the staff of Nasdaq and shall use commercially reasonable efforts to pursue the transfer of the Purchaser from NYSE American to Nasdaq on the Closing Date. Purchaser shall take all steps necessary to cause the Purchaser Common Stock being issued in connection with the Transactions to be approved for listing (subject to notice of issuance) on Nasdaq to be approved for issuance (subject to official notice of issuance) at the Closing pursuant to Nasdaq rules and regulations.

 

 

Section 6.10 Directors’ and Officers’ Indemnification and Insurance.

 

(a) From the Closing Date through the sixth anniversary of the Closing Date, Purchaser shall indemnify any present or former director, manager or officer of Purchaser or the Company, or their respective Subsidiaries (the “Indemnified Parties”) against all claims, losses, Liabilities, damages, judgments, fines and reasonable fees, costs and expenses, including attorneys’ fees and disbursements (collectively, “Costs”), incurred in connection with any Legal Action arising out of or pertaining to the fact that the Indemnified Party is or was a director, manager or officer of Purchaser, the Company or their respective Subsidiaries, whether asserted or claimed prior to, at or after the Closing, in each case, to the fullest extent permitted under applicable Law. Each Indemnified Party will be entitled to advancement of Costs incurred in the defense of any such Legal Action from Purchaser upon receipt by Purchaser from the Indemnified Party of a request therefor; provided that any such Person to whom Costs are advanced provides an undertaking to Purchaser, to the extent then required by the Delaware General Corporation Law or the Nevada Revised Statutes, as applicable, to repay such advances if it is ultimately determined that such Person is not entitled to indemnification. Purchaser shall cooperate with the Indemnified Party in the defense of any such Legal Action and Purchaser shall not settle, compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment in any Legal Action pending or threatened in writing to which an Indemnified Party is a party and in respect of which indemnification could be sought by such Indemnified Party under this Section 6.10, unless such settlement, compromise or consent includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified Party from all liability arising out of such Legal Action or such Indemnified Party otherwise consents in writing.

 

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(b) The provisions presently set forth in the Purchaser Organizational Documents with respect to indemnification, advancement of Costs and exculpation of present and former directors and officers of Purchaser shall not be amended, modified or repealed for a period of six years from the Closing Date in a manner that would adversely affect the rights of individuals who, at or prior to the Closing, were officers or directors of Purchaser. The certificate of incorporation and bylaws of Purchaser (including after the Merger) shall contain, and Purchaser shall cause its certificate of incorporation and bylaws to so contain, provisions no less favorable with respect to indemnification, advancement of Costs and exculpation of present and former directors and officers as those presently set forth in the Purchaser Organizational Documents.

 

(c) From and after the Closing, (i) Purchaser shall fulfill and honor in all respects the obligations of the Company to its Indemnified Parties as of immediately prior to the Closing pursuant to any indemnification provisions under the Company Organizational Documents and pursuant to any indemnification agreements between the Company and such Indemnified Parties, with respect to claims arising out of matters occurring at or prior to the Closing, and (ii) Purchaser shall fulfill and honor in all respects the obligations of Purchaser to its Indemnified Parties as of immediately prior to the Closing pursuant to any indemnification provisions under the Purchaser Organizational Documents and pursuant to any indemnification agreements between Purchaser and such Indemnified Parties, with respect to claims arising out of matters occurring at or prior to the Closing.

 

(d) From and after the Closing, Purchaser shall continue to maintain directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies on terms and conditions and with coverage limits at least as beneficial to the Purchaser as its current policies and that are customary for U.S. public companies similarly situated to Purchaser and shall cause such policies to cover the officers and directors of the Company from and after the Closing.

 

(e) The covenants contained in this Section 6.10 are intended to be for the benefit of, and shall be enforceable by, each of the Indemnified Parties and their respective heirs and legal representatives and shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which an Indemnified Party is entitled, whether pursuant to Law, Contract or otherwise. For the avoidance of doubt, the Indemnified Parties and their respective heirs and legal representatives shall be third-party beneficiaries with respect to the covenants contained in this Section 6.10. From and after the Closing, Purchaser shall pay all Costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, that are incurred by any Indemnified Party in enforcing the indemnity and other obligations provided in this Section 6.10, except to the extent that it is ultimately determined by a Governmental Authority with valid jurisdiction that such Indemnified Party is not entitled to be indemnified pursuant to this Agreement.

 

(f) In the event that Purchaser or any of its successors or assigns (i) consolidates with or merges into any other Person and shall not be the continuing or surviving corporation or entity of such consolidation or merger or (ii) transfers or conveys all or substantially all of its properties and assets to any Person, then, and in each such case, Purchaser shall take all necessary action so that the successors or assigns of Purchaser shall succeed to the obligations set forth in this Section 6.10.

 

Section 6.11 Reasonable Best Efforts.

 

Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement and in accordance with applicable Law (but subject, for the avoidance of doubt, to Section 6.12, which sets forth the exclusive obligations of the Parties with respect to the subject matter of such section), each of the Parties shall, and shall use reasonable best efforts to cause its Affiliates to, use its reasonable best efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions and to do, or cause to be done, all things necessary, proper or advisable to ensure that the conditions applicable to such Party set forth in Article VII are satisfied and to consummate the Transactions as promptly as practicable in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, including without limitation using its reasonable best efforts to (a) execute and deliver to each other such other documents, and do such other acts and things, as one or more other Parties may reasonably request for the purpose of consummating the Transactions and the Merger and (b) ensure that its representations and warranties remain true and correct in all material respects through the Closing Date.

 

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Section 6.12 Consents; Filings; Further Action.

 

(a) Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, Purchaser, the Sellers and the Company shall (and shall cause their respective Subsidiaries to) each use their reasonable best 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 Parties in doing all things necessary, proper or advisable under applicable Laws to (i) make any necessary filings promptly after the signing of this Agreement and obtain all necessary actions, waivers, registrations, permits, authorizations, Orders, consents and approvals from Governmental Authorities, the expiry or early termination of any applicable waiting periods, and make all necessary registrations and filings (including filings with Governmental Authorities, if any) and take all steps as may be reasonably necessary to obtain an approval or waiver from, or to avoid an action or proceeding by, any Governmental Authorities, in order to consummate the Transactions, obtain the Purchaser Stockholder Approval, effect the Preferred Stock Conversion, and consummate the Merger as promptly as practicable and in any event prior to the Termination Date and (ii) deliver required notices or any necessary additional instruments to, and obtain required consents, waivers or any additional instruments necessary from, any Third Parties in order to consummate the Transactions, obtain the Purchaser Stockholder Approval, effect the Preferred Stock Conversion, and consummate the Merger as promptly as practicable.

 

(b) Subject to applicable Laws and the requirements of applicable Governmental Authorities, Purchaser, the Sellers and the Company and their respective counsel shall (i) cooperate in good faith with each other in connection with any filing or submission with a Governmental Authority in connection with the Transactions, the Preferred Stock Conversion, and the Merger and in connection with any related investigation or other inquiry by or before a Governmental Authority, including any proceeding initiated by a private Person, (ii) to the extent legally permissible, have the right to review in advance, and each shall consult the other on, any material filing made with, or written materials to be submitted to, any Governmental Authority in connection with the Transactions, the Preferred Stock Conversion, and the Merger and of any material communication received or given in connection with any proceeding by a private Person, in each case regarding any of the Transactions, the Preferred Stock Conversion, and the Merger, (iii) promptly inform each other of any material communication (or any other material correspondence or memoranda) received from, or given to, the U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, NYSE American, Nasdaq, OTC Markets Group, Inc., The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, or any other Governmental Authority and (iv) where legally permissible, promptly furnish each other with copies of all correspondence, filings and substantive written communications between them or their Subsidiaries or Affiliates, on the one hand, and any Governmental Authority or its respective staff, on the other hand, with respect to the Transactions, the Preferred Stock Conversion, and the Merger. In furtherance of the foregoing and subject to applicable Laws and the requirements of Governmental Authorities, Purchaser and the Company shall (with respect to any in-person discussion or meeting, remote video meeting or substantive telephonic discussion or meeting) provide to the other and its counsel with reasonable advance notice of and the opportunity to participate in any material discussion or meeting with any Governmental Authority in respect of any filing, investigation or other inquiry in connection with the Transactions, the Preferred Stock Conversion, and the Merger. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 6.12(b), Purchaser, Sellers and the Company may, as each deems advisable and necessary, (x) reasonably designate any competitively sensitive material provided to the other under this Section 6.12 as “Antitrust Counsel Only Material” and (y) redact materials to be provided to the other Party as necessary to comply with contractual arrangements, to address good faith legal privilege or confidentiality concerns, to comply with applicable Law, or to remove references concerning the valuation of Purchaser or the Company and their respective Subsidiaries.

 

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(c) In furtherance of the undertakings under this Section 6.12, the Sellers and Purchaser and the Company, along with their respective Subsidiaries, shall use their reasonable best efforts to obtain clearance under any applicable Antitrust Laws so as to enable the Parties to consummate the Transactions as promptly as practicable, and in any event prior to the Termination Date, which shall include using reasonable best efforts to propose, negotiate, commit to and effect, by consent decree, hold separate order or otherwise, the sale, divestiture, disposition, license or other disposition of such of its and its Subsidiaries’ assets, properties or businesses or of the assets, properties or businesses, and enter into such other arrangements, as are necessary or advisable in order to avoid the entry of, and the commencement of litigation seeking the entry of, or to effect the dissolution of, any injunction, temporary restraining order or other Order in any proceeding by a Governmental Authority or any other Person under applicable Antitrust Laws, that would otherwise have the effect of preventing or materially delaying the consummation of the Transactions. Purchaser shall not, unless requested to do so by the Company or the Sellers, commit to or effect any action contemplated in the immediately preceding sentence.

 

(d) Each of Purchaser, on the one hand, and the Company and the Sellers, on the other hand, shall consult with the other and consider in good faith the views of the other with respect to the appropriate strategy relating to any matters relating to the Antitrust Laws, including with respect to any filings, notifications, submissions and communications with or to any Governmental Authority and the nature and timing of any divestitures or other remedial undertakings, if any, made for purposes of securing any required approvals under the Antitrust Laws; provided that, notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement to the contrary, the Company shall, on behalf of the Parties, control and direct all aspects of the Parties’ efforts with respect to applicable Antitrust Laws and any authorization, consent, notice or approval to be obtained from a Governmental Authority or Third Party with respect to the Transactions, including having principal responsibility for devising, implementing, and making the final determination as to such appropriate strategy, and shall have the right, in its sole discretion, to determine the nature and timing of any such divestitures or other remedial undertakings to the extent any such divestitures or other remedial undertakings would be conditioned upon and only be effective after the Closing. Purchaser shall cooperate in good faith with the Company in the Parties’ efforts to obtain any clearance, approval, waiver or expiry or early termination of any applicable waiting periods with respect to any Antitrust Laws.

 

(e) Purchaser, on the one hand, and the Company, on the other, shall each be responsible for and pay one-half of the filing fees payable to any Governmental Authorities in connection with any filings made pursuant to Antitrust Laws.

 

Section 6.13 Public Announcements.

 

The Parties shall consult with each other before issuing any press release or otherwise making any public statements or other public communication about this Agreement, any Ancillary Agreement or any of the Transactions or the Merger. No Party shall issue any such press release or make any such public statement prior to such consultation and any such release or public statement or other public communication shall be subject to the prior mutual approval of Purchaser, the Sellers and the Company (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed by either Party), except to the extent required by applicable Law, the NYSE American rules or, if applicable, the Nasdaq rules, in which case that Party shall use its reasonable best efforts to consult with the other Parties before issuing any such release or making any such public statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, without the prior consent of the others, a Party may (a) communicate with its respective customers, vendors, suppliers, financial analysts, investors and members of the media in a manner consistent with its past practice in compliance with applicable Law to the extent such communications consist of information included in a press release or other document previously approved for external distribution by the other, (b) issue public statements or disseminate information to the extent solely related to the operation of the business of such Party and (c) make any proposed release or statement to the extent that any such proposed release or statement is substantially equivalent to the information that has previously been made public without breach of the obligation under this Section 6.13. Purchaser and the Company will issue a joint press release announcing the execution of this Agreement, and Purchaser will file with the SEC a Current Report on Form 8-K within four Business Days after the date of execution of this Agreement announcing its entry into this Agreement.

 

Section 6.14 Fees and Expenses.

 

Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, whether or not the Transactions are consummated, all expenses (including those payable to Representatives) incurred by any Party or on its behalf in connection with this Agreement, the Ancillary Agreements and the Transactions (“Expenses”) shall be paid by the Party incurring those Expenses. For the avoidance of doubt, the Company will not have any liability with respect to any Expenses of Purchaser and the Purchaser shall not have any liability with respect to any Expenses of the Company or the Sellers.

 

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Section 6.15 Takeover Statutes.

 

From the date of this Agreement through the Closing (or if earlier, the date on which this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Article VIII), if any takeover statute is or becomes applicable to this Agreement or any of the Transactions, each of Purchaser and the Company shall use their respective reasonable best efforts (a) to ensure that this Agreement and the Transactions may be consummated as promptly as practicable upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement and (b) to otherwise act to eliminate or minimize the effects of such takeover statute.

 

Section 6.16 Notification of Certain Matters.

 

The Company and the Sellers shall give prompt notice to Purchaser, and Purchaser shall give prompt notice to the Company and the Sellers, of (a) the occurrence of any event known to it or him that would reasonably be expected to, individually or in the aggregate, cause to be unsatisfied in any material respect at any time prior to the Closing any condition, with respect to Purchaser, set forth in Sections 7.01 and 7.02, and with respect to the Sellers, set forth in Sections 7.01 or 7.03 or (b) any action, suit, proceeding, inquiry or known investigation pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, the Sellers or Purchaser, threatened, that questions or challenges the validity of this Agreement or the ability of any Party to consummate the Transactions or the Merger; provided, however, that the delivery of any notice pursuant to this Section 6.16 shall not limit or otherwise affect the remedies available under this Agreement to the Party receiving such notice nor shall the Party giving such notice be prejudiced with respect to any such matters solely by virtue of having given such notice.

 

Section 6.17 Certain Litigation.

 

(a) Purchaser shall assume the control and defense at its sole expense of all stockholder litigation against Purchaser, any of its Subsidiaries or any of the directors, managers or officers of Purchaser or its Subsidiaries, in each case, arising out of or in connection with this Agreement, the Ancillary Agreements or the Transactions (collectively, the “Stockholder Litigation (Purchaser)”); provided, however, that (i) Purchaser shall promptly as practicable notify the Company and the Sellers of such Stockholder Litigation (Purchaser) and (ii) Purchaser shall keep the Company and the Sellers reasonably informed with respect to the status of such Stockholder Litigation (Purchaser). The Company shall assume the control and defense at its sole expense of all stockholder litigation against the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any of the directors or officers of the Company or its Subsidiaries, in each case, arising out of or in connection with this Agreement, the Ancillary Agreements or the Transactions (collectively, the “Stockholder Litigation (Company)”); provided, however, that (i) the Company shall promptly as practicable notify Purchaser of such Stockholder Litigation (Company) and (ii) the Company shall keep Purchaser reasonably informed with respect to the status of such Stockholder Litigation (Company).

 

(b) Purchaser shall obtain the prior written consent of the Company (which shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) before entering into any settlement, understanding or other agreement relating to such Stockholder Litigation (Purchaser). The Company shall obtain the prior written consent of Purchaser (which shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) before entering into any settlement, understanding or other agreement relating to such Stockholder Litigation (Company).

 

(c) Each Party shall cooperate, and cause its Affiliates to cooperate, in the defense of any Stockholder Litigation (Purchaser) or any Stockholder Litigation (Company) and shall furnish or cause to be furnished such records, information and testimony, and attend, at each Party’s own expense, such conferences, discovery proceedings, hearings, trials or appeals, as may be reasonably requested in connection with such Stockholder Litigation (Purchaser) or such Stockholder Litigation (Company).

 

Section 6.18 Post-Closing Business Operations.

 

(a) The Parties agree that, during the Restricted Period, Purchaser will structure its business operations so that the Purchaser Operating Subsidiary and the Company will be operated as separate subsidiaries of Purchaser, with the business of Purchaser as conducted immediately prior to the Closing conducted through the Purchaser Operating Subsidiary and the business of the Company as conducted immediately prior to the Closing operating through the Company as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Purchaser, with each of the Purchaser Operating Subsidiary and the Company responsible for their own respective management, operations, and financial accounting. In this regard, the Purchaser Board shall delegate James Gibbons as the Chief Executive Officer of the Company and the other executive officers of the Company with the full authority to manage and oversee the day-to-day management and operations of the Company during the Restricted Period.

 

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(b) Boards of Directors of Purchaser Operating Subsidiary. Purchaser shall take all necessary actions so that, from and after the time immediately following the Closing, the board of directors of the Purchaser Operating Subsidiary consists of the same individuals as are then serving on the Purchaser Board.

 

(c) Company Board.

 

(i)In accordance with Section 1.05(c), the persons serving on the Company Board immediately prior to the Closing shall continue to do so during the Restricted Period. Purchaser agrees that, in connection with any election of directors of the Company during the Restricted Period, it will vote all shares of Company Common Stock and Company Preferred Stock for the election of the persons serving as directors immediately prior to such election, and that during the Restricted Period it will not vote its shares of Company Common Stock and Company Preferred Stock in favor of removal of any director of the Company or for any director nominee of the Company without the prior written consent of the Sellers, such consent not to be unreasonably delayed, conditioned or withheld.

 

(ii)From and after the date that is 15 days after the Purchaser Stockholder Approval is obtained, Purchaser and the Company shall take all necessary actions so that the Company Board consists of the same individuals as are then serving on the Purchaser Board.

 

Section 6.19 Tax Matters.

 

From the date hereof until the Closing Date, Purchaser shall be responsible for preparing and filing, or causing to be prepared and timely filed, all Tax Returns of Purchaser that are required to be filed after the date hereof but on or prior to the Closing Date. All Tax Returns described in this Section 6.19 shall be prepared in a manner consistent with past practice (unless otherwise required by applicable Law or this Agreement). Purchaser shall pay any Taxes reflected on such Tax Returns described in this Section 6.19.

 

Section 6.20 Amended Purchaser Charter.

 

Within three Business Days of obtaining the Purchaser Stockholder Approval, Purchaser shall duly amend and restate its certificate of incorporation to be in the form of the Amended Purchaser Charter by filing the Amended Purchaser Charter with the Delaware Secretary of State.

 

Section 6.21 Company Information.

 

Within fifteen (15) days of the date hereof, the Company shall have provided to Purchaser such information concerning the Company, the Sellers, the Additional Sellers, and the Company’s stockholders as is either required by the federal securities Laws or reasonably requested by Purchaser for incorporation by reference into the ATM Form S-3.

 

Article VII. CONDITIONS

 

Section 7.01 Conditions to Each Party’s Obligation to Consummate the Transactions.

 

The respective obligation of each Party to effect, or cause to be effected, the Transactions is subject to the satisfaction on or before the Closing of each of the following conditions, unless waived in writing by each of Purchaser, the Sellers and the Company:

 

(a) Approvals. The Parties shall have received (i) all approvals of any Governmental Authority necessary to consummate the Transactions, including, but not limited to, the expiration or termination of the waiting period under the HSR Act, if applicable, (ii) all approvals required by Nasdaq for the initial listing of the Purchaser Common Stock on the Nasdaq and the transfer of the Purchaser’s listing from NYSE American to Nasdaq and (iii) all consents, waivers or any additional instruments from any Third Parties necessary in order to consummate the Transactions. For the avoidance of doubt, the Closing is conditioned, among other things, upon the initial listing of the Purchaser Common Stock on the Nasdaq and the Parties agree that the closing shall not occur unless such Nasdaq listing is obtained.

 

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(b) No Orders. There shall not have been enacted, promulgated or made effective after the date of this Agreement any Law or Orders by a Governmental Authority of competent jurisdiction that enjoins or otherwise prohibits or makes illegal, or any Legal Action by any Governmental Authority seeking to enjoin or prohibit or make illegal, consummation of the Transactions and there shall not be in effect any injunction (whether temporary, preliminary or permanent) by any Governmental Authority of competent jurisdiction that enjoins or otherwise prohibits consummation of the Transactions.

 

Section 7.02 Conditions to Obligations of Purchaser.

 

The obligations of Purchaser to effect, or cause to be effected, the Transactions are also subject to the satisfaction on or before the Closing of the following conditions, unless waived in writing by Purchaser:

 

(a) Representations and Warranties.

 

(i) Each of the representations and warranties of the Company set forth in Sections 3.06(a), (b) and (e) (Capitalization) shall be true and correct in all respects (except for (A) any inaccuracies that individually or in the aggregate are de minimis or (B) to the extent any such representation and warranty expressly speaks as of a specified date, in which case, subject to the qualifications as set forth in the preceding clause (A), as of such date) as of the Closing as though then made on such date;

 

(ii) Each of the representations and warranties of the Company set forth in Section 3.01 (Organization and Power), Section 3.04 (Corporate Authorization), Section 3.06 (Capitalization) (other than subsections (a), and (b) and (e)), and Section 3.24 (Brokers) (A) that are not qualified by references to “material” or any other materiality qualifications shall be true and correct in all material respects as of the Closing as though made on such date (except to the extent any such representation and warranty expressly speaks as of a specified date, in which case as of such date) and (B) that are qualified by references to “material” or any other materiality qualifications shall be true and correct in all respects as of the Closing as though made on such date (except to the extent any such representation and warranty expressly speaks as of a specified date, in which case as of such date);

 

(iii) The remaining representations and warranties of the Company contained in Article III (Representations and Warranties of the Company) shall be true and correct, in each case as of the Closing as though made on such date (except to the extent any such representation and warranty expressly speaks as of a specified date, in which case as of such date), except where the failure of any such representations and warranties to be so true and correct (without regard to any materiality, in all material respects, Company Material Adverse Effect, or similar qualifications set forth in any such representation or warranty) would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect; and

 

(iv) The representations and warranties of the Sellers contained in Article IV (Representations and Warranties of the Sellers) shall be true and correct, in each case as of the Closing as though made on such date (except to the extent any such representation and warranty expressly speaks as of a specified date, in which case as of such date), except where the failure of any such representations and warranties to be so true and correct would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to prevent, or materially impair or delay, the ability of the Sellers to consummate the Transactions or otherwise perform any of their obligations under this Agreement.

 

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(b) Performance of Obligations. The Company and each of the Sellers shall have performed in all material respects all obligations and covenants required to be performed by it or him at or before the Closing under this Agreement.

 

(c) Absence of Company Material Adverse Effect. There shall not have been a Company Material Adverse Effect.

 

(d) Officer’s Certificate. Purchaser shall have received a certificate, signed by an executive officer of the Company, certifying as to the matters set forth in Section 7.02(a)(i) through (iii), Section 7.02(b) (solely with respect to the Company) and Section 7.02(c).

 

(e) Seller’s Certificates. Purchaser shall have received a certificate, signed by each Seller, certifying as to the matters set forth in Section 7.02(a)(iv) and Section 7.02(b) (solely with respect to such Seller).

 

(f) Good Standing Certificate. Purchaser shall have received a certificate of good standing of the Company, certified as of a recent date by the Secretary of State of the State of Nevada. 

 

(g) Lock-Up Agreements. Each director and officer of the Company and each Seller shall have executed and delivered to Purchaser the Lock-Up Agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto.

 

(h) Employment Agreements. The persons listed on Schedule 7.02(h) shall have entered into with Purchaser, Purchaser Operating Subsidiary and/or the Company, as applicable, role definition, engagement agreements, employment agreements, employee retention instruments, and/or or similar Contracts, to be effective post-Closing, in a form reasonably satisfactory to Purchaser.

 

(i) Financial Projections. The Company shall have provided to Purchaser the Company’s cash flow forecasts and working budgets for the 12 months following the Closing Date.

 

(j) Listing. The shares of Purchaser Common Stock have been approved for listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market and neither the Company nor the Sellers shall have taken any action designed to, or likely to have the effect of, not listing the shares of Purchaser Common Stock onto the Nasdaq Capital Market, and the Purchaser shall not have received any notification that the Nasdaq Capital Market is contemplating withholding approval of the listing of the Purchaser Common Stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market.

 

(k) Receipt of Other Deliverables. Purchaser shall have received each of the agreements, instruments, and other documents set forth in Section 1.04(b).

 

Section 7.03 Conditions to Obligations of the Sellers.

 

The obligation of the Sellers to effect, or cause to be effected, the Transactions, is also subject to the satisfaction on or before the Closing of the following conditions, unless waived in writing by the Sellers:

 

(a) Representations and Warranties.

 

(i) Each of the representations and warranties of the Purchaser set forth in Sections 4.06(a), (b) and (g) (Capitalization) shall be true and correct in all respects (except for (A) any inaccuracies that individually or in the aggregate would not reasonably be expected to be Material or (B) to the extent any such representation and warranty expressly speaks as of a specified date, in which case, subject to the qualifications as set forth in the preceding clause (A), as of such date) as of the Closing as though then made on such date;

 

(ii) each of the representations and warranties of the Purchaser set forth in Section 4.01 (Organization and Power), Section 4.04 (Corporate Authorization), Section 4.06 (Capitalization) (other than subsections (a) and (b) and (g)), Section 4.24 (Takeover Statutes), and Section 4.28 (Brokers) shall be true and correct in all respects as of the Closing as though made on such date (except to the extent any such representation and warranty expressly speaks as of a specified date, in which case as of such date), except where the failure of any such representations and warranties to be so true and correct would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to be Material; and

 

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(iii) the remaining representations and warranties of Purchaser contained in Article IV (Representations and Warranties of Purchaser) shall be true and correct in all respects, in each case as of the Closing as though made on such date (except to the extent any such representation and warranty expressly speaks as of a specified date, in which case as of such date), except where the failure of any such representations and warranties to be so true and correct would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to be Material.

 

(b) Performance of Obligations Purchaser shall have performed in all material respects all obligations and covenants required to be performed by it at or before the Closing under this Agreement.

 

(c) Absence of Purchaser Material Adverse Effect. There shall not have been a Purchaser Material Adverse Effect.

 

(d) Financial Projections. Purchaser shall have provided to the Company and the Sellers Purchaser’s cash flow forecasts and working budgets for the 12 months following the Closing Date.

 

(e) Officer’s Certificate. The Company shall have received a certificate, signed by an executive officer of Purchaser, certifying as to the matters set forth in Section 7.03(a), Section 7.03(b), Section 7.03(c) and Section 7.03(d).

 

(f) Listing. The shares of Purchaser Common Stock have been approved for listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market and the Purchaser shall not have taken any action designed to, or likely to have the effect of, not listing the shares of Purchaser Common Stock onto the Nasdaq Capital Market, nor shall the Purchaser have received any notification that the Nasdaq Capital Market is contemplating withholding approval of the listing of the Purchaser Common Stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market.

 

(g) Concurrent Transaction. The transactions set forth on Section 6.02(g) of the Purchaser Disclosure Schedule shall have been consummated or terminated.

 

(h) Good Standing Certificate. The Company shall have received a certificate of good standing of Purchaser, certified as of a recent date by the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware.

 

(i) Removal of Rights of First Refusal. Any rights of first refusal or similar rights enforceable against Purchaser pursuant to any Contract to which Purchaser is a party shall have been waived or terminated.

 

(j) Due Diligence. The Company and the Sellers shall be satisfied with their respective due diligence of Purchaser.

 

(k) NOBO List. The Company shall have received a non-objecting beneficial owners list from the Purchaser.

 

(l) Satisfaction of Purchaser Liabilities. The Company and the Sellers shall have received evidence that the Purchaser has satisfied all indebtedness for borrowed money of the Purchaser and has satisfied all material liabilities of the Company, including all accounts payables owed to financial advisors, service providers and others.

 

(m) Purchaser Lock-Up. The Purchaser shall have received and delivered to the Company an executed Purchaser Lock-Up Agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto from each director and officer of Purchaser.

 

(n) Purchaser Preferred Stock Certificate of Designation. The Purchaser Preferred Stock Certificate of Designation shall have been filed with the Delaware Secretary of State and become effective.

 

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(o) Employment Agreements. The persons listed on Schedule 7.03(o) shall have entered into with the Company and/or Purchaser, as applicable, role definition, engagement agreements, employment agreements, employee retention instruments, and/or or similar Contracts, to be effective post-Closing, in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Company and the Sellers.

 

(p) Receipt of Other Deliverables. The Company shall have received each of the agreements, instruments, and other documents set forth in Section 1.04(a).

 

Section 7.04 Frustration of Closing Conditions.

 

Neither the Company and the Sellers, on the one hand, nor Purchaser, on the other hand, may rely, either as a basis for not consummating the Transactions or for terminating this Agreement and abandoning the Transactions, on the failure of any condition set forth in Section 7.01, Section 7.02 or Section 7.03, as the case may be, to be satisfied if such failure was principally caused by such Party’s breach of any provision of this Agreement or failure to use the efforts to consummate the Transactions, as required by and subject to this Agreement.

 

Article VIII. TERMINATION, AMENDMENT AND WAIVER

 

Section 8.01 Termination by Mutual Consent; Automatic Termination.

 

(a) This Agreement may be terminated at any time before the Closing by mutual written consent of Purchaser, the Sellers and the Company.

 

(b) This Agreement shall automatically terminate upon Purchaser’s repurchase of the Purchaser Stock Consideration from the Sellers pursuant to Section 6.08(b).

 

Section 8.02 Termination by Any of Purchaser, the Sellers or the Company.

 

This Agreement may be terminated by any of the Purchaser, the Sellers or the Company at any time before the end of the Restricted Period, by written notice from such Party to the other Parties:

 

(a) if the Closing has not occurred on or before the thirtieth (30th) day following the date of this Agreement (the “Termination Date”), except that the right to terminate this Agreement under this Section 8.02(a) shall not be available to any Party who is then in material breach of this Agreement and such breach shall have proximately caused the failure to consummate the Transactions on or before the Termination Date; or

 

(b) if any Law or Order is enacted, issued, promulgated or entered by a Governmental Authority of competent jurisdiction (including NYSE American or Nasdaq) that permanently enjoins or otherwise prohibits the consummation of the Transactions and (in the case of any Order) such Order has become final and non-appealable.

 

Section 8.03 Termination by the Company or the Sellers.

 

This Agreement may be terminated and the Transactions abandoned by the Company or the Sellers at any time before the Closing:

 

(a) if Purchaser breaches any of its representations, warranties, covenants or agreements contained in this Agreement, which breach (i) would give rise to the failure to satisfy the conditions set forth in Section 7.01 or Section 7.03 at the Closing and (ii) such breach cannot be or has not been cured by the Termination Date; provided, however, that the Company shall not have the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 8.03(a) if the Company is then in breach of any of its representations, warranties, covenants or agreements contained in this Agreement that would result in the conditions precedent to Closing set forth in Section 7.01 or Section 7.02 not being satisfied; or

 

(b) if all of the conditions set forth in Section 7.01 and Section 7.02 have been satisfied (other than any condition the failure of which to be satisfied has been principally caused by the breach of this Agreement by Purchaser or any of its Affiliates and conditions that, by their nature, are to be satisfied at Closing and which are, at the time of termination, capable of being satisfied) and the Purchaser has failed to fulfill its obligations and agreements contained in this Agreement to consummate the Closing following written notice of such satisfaction from the Company and the Sellers and that the Company and the Sellers are ready, willing and able to consummate the Closing.

 

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Section 8.04 Termination by Purchaser.

 

This Agreement may be terminated and the Transactions abandoned by Purchaser at any time before the Closing:

 

(a) if the Company or either Seller breaches any of its representations, warranties, covenants or agreements contained in this Agreement, which breach (i) would give rise to the failure to satisfy the conditions set forth in Section 7.01 or Section 7.02 at the Closing and (ii) such breach cannot be or has not been cured by the Termination Date; provided, however, that Purchaser shall not have the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 8.04 if Purchaser is then in breach of any of its representations, warranties, covenants or agreements contained in this Agreement that would result in the conditions precedent to Closing set forth in Section 7.01 or Section 7.03 not to be satisfied; or

 

(b) if all of the conditions set forth in Section 7.01 and Section 7.03 have been satisfied (other than any condition the failure of which to be satisfied has been principally caused by the breach of this Agreement by the Company, a Seller or any of their Affiliates and conditions that, by their nature, are to be satisfied at Closing and which are, at the time of termination, capable of being satisfied) and the Company or one or both Sellers has failed to fulfill its, his or their obligations and agreements contained in this Agreement to consummate the Closing following written notice of such satisfaction from Purchaser and that Purchaser is ready, willing and able to consummate the Closing; or

 

(c) the Company breaches Section 6.21 of this Agreement.

 

Section 8.05 Effect of Termination.

 

If this Agreement is validly terminated pursuant to this Article VIII, except as set forth in this Section 8.05, it shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, become void and of no further force and effect, with no Liability (except as provided in Section 8.06) on the part of any Party (or any stockholder, Affiliates or Representative of such Party), except that, if such termination results from (a) fraud or (b) the willful and material (i) failure of any Party to perform its covenants, obligations or agreements contained in this Agreement or (ii) breach by any Party of its representations or warranties contained in this Agreement, then such Party shall be liable for any damages incurred or suffered by the other Parties as a result of such failure or breach. The provisions of Section 6.03(d) (Confidentiality), Section 6.14 (Fees and Expenses), this Section 8.05 (Effect of Termination), Section 8.06 (Fees and Expenses Following Termination) and Article IX (Miscellaneous) shall survive any valid termination of this Agreement.

 

Section 8.06 Fees and Expenses Following Termination.

 

All Expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement, the Ancillary Agreements, and the Transactions shall be paid in accordance with the provisions of Section 6.14.

 

ARTICLE IX SURVIVAL; INDEMNIFICATION

 

Section 9.01 Survival.

 

(a) The covenants, representations and warranties and any other agreement contemplated in this Agreement agreed to by the Company shall survive until the earlier of (i) the Preferred Stock Conversion; or (ii) a period of 24 months following the Closing Date, except for the representations and warranties contained in Section 3.01 (Organization and Power), Section 3.06 (Capitalization), and Section 3.15 (Taxes), which shall survive until the expiration of the applicable statute of limitations; provided, however, that such survival period shall not apply to claims to the extent involving fraud, willful misconduct or intentional misrepresentation on the part of the Company.

 

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(b) The covenants, representations and warranties and any other agreement contemplated by this Agreement agreed to by Purchaser shall survive until the earlier of (i) the Preferred Stock Conversion; or (ii) for a period of 24 months from the Closing Date, except for representations and warranties contained in Section 4.01 (Organization and Power), Section 4.04 (Corporate Authorization), Section 4.06 (Capitalization), and Section 4.28 (Brokers), which will continue in full force and effect until the expiration of the applicable statute of limitations; provided, however, that such survival period shall not apply to claims to the extent involving fraud, willful misconduct or intentional misrepresentation on the part of Purchaser.

 

(c) The covenants, representation and warranties and any other agreement contemplated by this Agreement agreed to by the Sellers shall survive until the earlier of (i) the Preferred Stock Conversion; or (ii) for a period of 24 months from the Closing Date, except for representations and warranties contained in Section 5.02 (Capacity; Enforceability); Section 5.03 (Ownership of Sellers’ Shares); and Section 5.07 (Accredited Seller Status), which will continue in full force and effect until the expiration of the applicable statute of limitations; provided, however, that such survival period shall not apply to claims to the extent involving fraud, willful misconduct or intentional misrepresentation on the part of the Sellers.

 

Section 9.02 Indemnification by the Sellers.

 

(a) Subject to the provisions and limitations of this Article IX, from and after the Closing Date, each Seller, severally and not jointly, shall indemnify and hold harmless Purchaser and its Affiliates (the “Purchaser Indemnified Parties”) and the Company and its Affiliates (other than the Sellers) (the “Company Indemnified Parties”) and the other Seller (in each case a “Seller Indemnified Party” and, together with the Purchaser Indemnified Parties and the Company Indemnified Parties, the “Indemnified Parties”) from and against any and all claims, liabilities, damages, losses, demands, obligations, deficiencies, costs, and expenses of any nature whatsoever, including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees, accountants’ fees, and all costs of investigation, and other expenses of defending any actions or claims, amounts of judgment and amounts paid in settlement, whether or not involving a Third Party Claim (collectively referred to as the “Damages”), suffered by an Indemnified Party resulting from, arising out of or based upon (without duplication) (i) any inaccuracy in or breach of any of the representations or warranties made by the Seller in this Agreement or in any Ancillary Agreement to which he is a party or (ii) any breach or non-fulfillment of any covenants, agreements or obligation of the Sellers set forth in this Agreement or in any Ancillary Agreement to which he is a party (each claim for indemnification made by an Indemnified Party pursuant to this Article IX, a “Claim”).

 

(b) The Indemnified Parties shall not be entitled to assert any Claim for indemnification pursuant to this Section 9.02 for Claims for indemnification with time restrictions under Section 9.01(c) after the dates provided in ‎Section 9.01(a); provided, however, that if on or prior to such date a Notice of Claim (as defined below) shall have been provided pursuant to Section 9.05 hereof for such indemnification, the Indemnified Parties shall continue to have the right to be indemnified with respect to such indemnification claim until such claim for indemnification has been satisfied or otherwise resolved as provided in this Article IX.

 

Section 9.03 Indemnification by the Company

 

(a) Subject to the provisions of this Article IX, from and after the Closing Date, the Company shall indemnify and hold harmless the Seller Indemnified Parties and the Purchaser Indemnified Parties from and against any and all Damages suffered by the Seller Indemnified Parties and the Purchaser Indemnified Parties resulting from, arising out of or based upon (without duplication) (i) any inaccuracy in or breach of any of the representations or warranties made by the Company in this Agreement or in any Ancillary Agreement to which the Company is a party or (ii) any breach or non-fulfillment of any covenants, agreements or obligations of the Company set forth herein or in any Ancillary Agreement to which the Company is a party.

 

(b) None of the Seller Indemnified Parties or the Purchaser Indemnified Parties shall be entitled to assert any claim for indemnification pursuant to this Section 9.03 after the dates provided in Section 9.01(a); provided, however, that if on or prior to such date a Notice of Claim shall have been given pursuant to Section 9.05 for such indemnification, such Indemnified Parties shall continue to have the right to be indemnified with respect to such indemnification claim until such claim for indemnification has been satisfied or otherwise resolved as provided in this Article IX.

 

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Section 9.04 Indemnification by Purchaser

 

(a) Subject to the provisions of this Article IX, from and after the Closing Date, Purchaser shall indemnify and hold harmless the Seller Indemnified Parties and the Company Indemnified Parties from and against any and all Damages suffered by the Seller Indemnified Parties and the Company Indemnified Parties resulting from, arising out of or based upon (without duplication) (i) any inaccuracy in or breach of any of the representations or warranties made by Purchaser in this Agreement or in any Ancillary Agreement to which Purchaser is a party or (ii) any breach or non-fulfillment of any covenants, agreements or obligations of Purchaser set forth herein or in any Ancillary Agreement to which Purchaser is a party.

 

(b) None of the Seller Indemnified Parties or the Company Indemnified Parties shall be entitled to assert any claim for indemnification pursuant to this Section 9.04 after the dates provided in Section 9.01(b); provided, however, that if on or prior to such date a Notice of Claim shall have been given pursuant to Section 9.05 for such indemnification, such Indemnified Parties shall continue to have the right to be indemnified with respect to such indemnification claim until such claim for indemnification has been satisfied or otherwise resolved as provided in this Article IX.

 

Section 9.05 Indemnification Procedures.

 

(a) Upon obtaining knowledge of any claim or demand that has given rise to a Claim under Section 9.02, Section 9.03 or Section 9.04, the Indemnified Party or Parties shall give written notice (“Notice of Claim”) of such Claim to the applicable indemnifying party (each, an “Indemnifying Party”). In each case, such Notice of Claim shall specify in reasonable detail such information as the Indemnified Parties may have with respect to such Claim (including copies of any summons, complaint or other pleading which may have been served on such party and any written claim, demand, invoice, billing or other document evidencing or asserting the same); provided, however, that, subject to the limitations set forth in Section 9.01, Section 9.02, Section 9.03 and Section 9.04, no failure or delay by the party giving the Notice of Claim shall reduce or otherwise affect the obligation of the Indemnifying Party unless and to the extent the Indemnifying Party is thereby prejudiced.

 

(b) Within 30 Business Days of receiving a Notice of Claim, the Indemnifying Party may object to such Claim, stating in reasonable detail the bases for such objection. Any objection to a Notice of Claim must be signed by one or more representatives of the Indemnifying Party or its counsel and shall set forth in reasonable detail the items as to which disagreement exists (the “Disputed Matters”). If an objection is delivered, the Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party shall negotiate in good faith to resolve in writing any Disputed Matters.

 

(c) If any lawsuit or other action is filed or instituted against any of the Indemnified Parties with respect to a matter subject to indemnity hereunder (a “Third Party Claim”), notice thereof (a “Third Party Notice”) shall be given to the Indemnifying Party as promptly as practicable (and in any event within 15 calendar days after the service of the citation or summons). Subject to the limitations set forth in Section 9.01, Section 9.02, Section 9.03 and Section 9.04, the failure of the Indemnified Parties to give timely notice hereunder shall not affect rights to indemnification hereunder, except to the extent the Indemnifying Party has actually been prejudiced as a result. After receipt of a Third Party Notice, if the Indemnifying Party provides evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Party that it has the ability to pay the amounts claimed in the Third Party Claim and that the Third Party Claim relates to a matter for which indemnification is proper under this Agreement, the Indemnifying Party shall be entitled, if it so elects, (i) to take control of the defense and investigation of such Third Party Claim, (ii) to employ and engage attorneys of its own choice to handle and defend the Third Party Claim (the selection of such attorneys to be subject to approval of the Indemnified Party, such approval not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), at the Indemnifying Party’s cost, risk and expense, and (iii) to compromise or settle such Third Party Claim; provided, however, that such Third Party Claim shall not be compromised or settled without the written consent of the Indemnified Party, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed. The Indemnified Party shall, and shall cause its Affiliates to, cooperate in all reasonable respects with the Indemnifying Party and such attorneys in the investigation, trial and defense of such lawsuit or action and any appeal arising therefrom for which the Indemnifying Party has assumed the defense; and the Indemnified Party may, at the Indemnified Party’s own cost, participate in the investigation, trial and defense of such lawsuit or action and any appeal arising therefrom. The Parties shall also cooperate with each other in any notifications to insurers. If the Indemnifying Party fails to assume the defense of such claim within 30 calendar days after receipt of the Third Party Notice (or within such shorter period of time as may be necessary to prudently defend such claim), the Indemnified Party against which such claim has been asserted will (upon delivering notice to such effect to the Indemnifying Party) have the right to undertake the defense, compromise or settlement of such claim and the Indemnifying Party shall have the right to participate therein at the Indemnifying Party’s cost; provided, however, that such claim shall not be compromised or settled without the written consent of the Indemnifying Party, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed. In the event the Indemnified Party assumes the defense of the claim, the Indemnified Party will keep the Indemnifying Party informed (including, as necessary, updates from counsel) of the progress of any such defense, compromise or settlement, when and as reasonably requested by the Indemnifying Party. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Indemnifying Party shall not be entitled to assume control of such defense (unless otherwise agreed to in writing by the Indemnified Party) and shall pay the fees and expenses of counsel retained by the Indemnified Party to the extent such underlying claim is indemnifiable under this Article IX if (A) the Claim relates to or arises in connection with any criminal or quasi criminal proceeding, action, indictment, allegation or investigation, (B) the claim seeks an injunction or equitable or other non-monetary relief against the Indemnified Party, (C) the Indemnified Party reasonably believes that there exists or could arise a conflict of interest that, under applicable principles of legal ethics, could prohibit a single lawyer or law firm from representing both the Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party in such claim or action, and such conflict has not been timely waived upon petition by the Indemnified Party, (D) the Indemnifying Party failed or is failing to vigorously prosecute or defend such claim, or (E) the Indemnified Party reasonably believes that the Damages relating to the claim would exceed the maximum amount that such Indemnified Party would then be entitled to recover under the applicable provisions of Article IX.

 

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(d) All Claims by Indemnified Parties shall be net of any insurance proceeds actually received as a result of the matter for which indemnification is claimed.

 

(e) Once Damages are agreed to by the Indemnifying Party or finally adjudicated to be payable pursuant to this Article IX, the Indemnifying Party shall satisfy its obligations within 15 Business Days of such agreement or final, non-appealable adjudication by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account designated by such Indemnified Party.

 

Section 9.06 Exclusive Remedy.

 

The rights of the Indemnified Parties under this Article IX shall be the exclusive remedy of such Indemnified Parties with respect to Claims resulting from any breach by the Indemnifying Parties of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement contained in this Agreement; provided, however, that this Section 9.06 is not intended in any way to limit or restrict the right of any Party to separately seek equitable remedies, including injunctive relief or to pursue a claim for fraud or other non-waivable rights of action.

 

Section 9.07 Mitigation.

 

The Party seeking indemnification under this ‎Article IX shall (a) to the extent required by applicable Law, use commercially reasonable efforts to mitigate any Damages which form the basis of a Claim hereunder and (b) use commercially reasonable efforts to seek recovery from available insurance policies in respect of the Damages which form the basis of a Claim hereunder; provided, that in no event shall the Indemnified Party be required to commence or threaten litigation against any third party in respect of such recovery or take any other action if it would reasonably be expected to be detrimental to such Party. In the event an Indemnified Party receives insurance proceeds after having received payment from (or on behalf of) an Indemnifying Party pursuant to this Article IX, then to the extent such insurance proceeds were not taken into account in determining the amount of Damages required to be paid by the Indemnifying Party to such Indemnified Party, the Indemnified Party shall refund to the Indemnifying Party up to the lesser of (i) the amount of such insurance proceeds so received and (ii) the amount of the indemnification payment received by the Indemnified Party from the Indemnifying Party with respect thereto pursuant to this ‎Article IX, in each case after deducting therefrom the amount of any costs or expenses incurred in procuring such recovery (including any applicable premium adjustments), net of any Taxes imposed on the Indemnified Party that arise from having received amounts under the applicable insurance policies; provided that the amount the Indemnified Party is required to refund pursuant to this sentence shall not exceed the amount by which the indemnification payment actually paid to the Indemnified Party in respect of such Damages pursuant to this ‎Article IX would have been reduced pursuant to this ‎Section 9.07 had such recovery been received prior to the date of such indemnification payment.

 

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Section 9.08 Tax Treatment.

 

All amounts paid with respect to indemnity claims under this Agreement shall be treated by the parties hereto for all Tax purposes as adjustments to the Purchase Price, unless otherwise required by Law.

 

Article X. MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 10.01 Certain Definitions.

 

For purposes of this Agreement:

 

(a) “Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by or is under common control with, such first Person. For the purposes of this definition, “control” (including, with correlative meanings, the terms “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common control with”), when used with respect to any Person, means the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by Contract or otherwise.

 

(b) “Ancillary Agreements” means, collectively, the Purchaser Preferred Stock Certificate of Designation, the Seller Lock-Up Agreements, the Purchaser Lock-Up Agreements and any other agreements, documents or certificates entered into or delivered pursuant hereto or thereto.

 

(c) “Anti-Corruption Laws” means the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 (as amended), the United Kingdom Bribery Act 2010, and any other applicable anti-bribery or anti-corruption Law.

 

(d) “Anti-Money Laundering Laws” means any applicable laws, regulations or orders relating to anti-money laundering, counter-terrorist financing, or record-keeping and reporting requirements in any jurisdiction in which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is located or conducting business including, but not limited to, the UK Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, the Money Laundering Control Act of 1986, the Bank Secrecy Act of 1970, and the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001 (as amended and updated).

 

(e) “Antitrust Laws” means the HSR Act, the Federal Trade Commission Act, the Sherman Act, the Clayton Act, and any applicable foreign antitrust Laws and all other applicable Laws that are designed or intended to prohibit, restrict or regulate actions having the purpose or effect of monopolization or restraint of trade or lessening of competition through merger or acquisition.

 

(f) “Business Day” means any day other than Saturday, Sunday or a day on which commercial banks in New York, New York are authorized or required by Law to close, and shall consist of the time period from 12:01 a.m. through 12:00 midnight New York City time.

 

(g) “Company Assets” means any material assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

(h) “Company Incorporation Date” means September 30, 2010.

 

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(i) “Company Material Adverse Effect” means any change, event, violation, inaccuracy, effect or circumstance (each, an “Effect”) that, individually or in the aggregate with any one or more other Effects, would reasonably be expected to (i) result in a material adverse effect on the business, assets, Liabilities, results of operations or financial condition of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole or (ii) prevent, or materially impair or delay the ability of the Company to consummate the Transactions or otherwise perform any of its obligations under this Agreement; provided, however, solely with respect to clause (i), no Effect (by itself or when aggregated or taken together with any and all other Effects) resulting from, arising out of, attributable to, or related to any of the following shall be deemed to be or constitute a “Company Material Adverse Effect,” and no Effect (by itself or when aggregated or taken together with any and all other such Effects) resulting from, arising out of, attributable to, or related to any of the following shall be taken into account when determining whether a “Company Material Adverse Effect” has occurred or may, would or could occur: (A) general economic conditions (or changes in such conditions) in the United States or any other country or region in the world, or conditions in the global economy generally; (B) conditions (or changes in such conditions) in the securities markets, credit markets, currency or cryptocurrency markets or other financial markets in the United States or any other country or region in the world; (C) conditions (or changes in such conditions) in the industries in which the Company and its Subsidiaries conduct business; (D) changes in political conditions in the United States or any other country or region in the world or acts of war, sabotage or terrorism (including any escalation or general worsening of any such acts of war, sabotage or terrorism) in the United States or any other country or region in the world; (E) earthquakes, hurricanes, tsunamis, tornadoes, floods, mudslides, wild fires or other natural disasters, weather conditions and other force majeure events in the United States or any other country or region in the world; (F) pandemics, epidemics or disease outbreaks or any escalation or worsening of any of the foregoing (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any effect resulting from, arising out of or otherwise related to COVID-19 (including any impact of any associated shutdown, shelter in place or non-essential business order or other similar measures mandated or recommended by any applicable Governmental Authority)); (G) the announcement of this Agreement or the pendency or consummation of the Transactions, including, in any such case, the impact on relationships, contractual or otherwise, with customers, suppliers, vendors, lenders, investors, licensors, licensees, venture partners or employees (other than, in each case, for purposes of any representation or warranty set forth in Section 3.03 or Section 3.05); (H) changes in Law or other legal or regulatory conditions, or the interpretation of such Law or regulatory conditions, or changes in GAAP or other accounting standards (or the interpretation of such standards), or that result from any action taken for the purpose of complying with any of the foregoing; (I) any actions taken or failure to take action, in each case, to which Purchaser has expressly requested or consented to, or compliance with the terms of, or the taking of any action required or contemplated by, this Agreement, or the failure to take any action prohibited by this Agreement; or (L) the impact on the Company of any action taken by, or at the request of, Purchaser including, any breach of this Agreement by Purchaser; provided, further, that any Effect relating to or arising out of or resulting from any change or event referred to in clauses (A) through (F) or (H) above may constitute, and be taken into account in determining the occurrence of, a Company Material Adverse Effect if and only to the extent that such change or event has a disproportionate impact on the Company and its Subsidiaries as compared to other participants that operate in the industry in which the Company and its Subsidiaries operate.

 

(j) “Confidentiality Agreement” means that certain non-disclosure agreement, dated as of July 9, 2024, by and between Purchaser and the Company.

 

(k) “Contract” means any written or oral contract, agreement, indenture, note, bond, loan, lease, sublease, mortgage, license, sublicense, obligation or other binding arrangement.

 

(l) “Convertible Securities” means the Company’s or Purchaser’s outstanding other securities exchangeable or convertible into shares of their respective common stock, including preferred stock or options.

 

(m) “COVID-19” means the Coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2 or COVID-19, and all related strains, mutations or variations, including any resurgence or any evolutions or mutations of COVID-19 and/or related or associated epidemics, pandemics, disease outbreaks or public health emergencies.

 

(n) “Environmental Laws” means all Laws relating to (i) pollution, contamination, protection of the environment or health and safety (regarding Hazardous Substances), (ii) emissions, discharges, disseminations, releases or threatened releases of Hazardous Substances into the environment, including air (indoor or outdoor), surface water, groundwater, soil, land surface or subsurface, buildings, facilities, real or personal property or fixtures or (iii) the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport or handling of, or exposure to, Hazardous Substances. “Environmental Laws” includes the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, 42 U.S.C. § 9601 et seq., the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. § 1251 et seq., the Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. § 7401 et seq., the Toxic Substances Control Act, 15 U.S.C. § 2601 et seq., the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, 7 U.S.C. § 136 et seq., the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, 33 U.S.C. § 2701 et seq., the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986, 42 U.S.C. § 11001 et seq., the Safe Drinking Water Act, 42 U.S.C. § 300f et seq., the Endangered Species Act, 16 U.S.C. § 1531 et seq., the Solid Waste Disposal Act, as amended by the Resource Conservation and Control Act, 42 U.S.C. § 6901 et seq. and all applicable analogous state or local statutes or ordinances.

 

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(o) “ERISA Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) that is treated as a single employer with such Person within the meaning of Section 4001 of ERISA or Sections 414(b), (c), (m) or (o) of the Code.

 

(q) “Ex-Im Laws” means all applicable Laws, rules and regulations relating to export, re-export, transfer or import controls (including the Export Administration Regulations administered by the U.S. Department of Commerce, and customs and import Laws administered by U.S. Customs and Border Protection).

 

(r) “Governmental Authority” means (i) any federal, state, local, foreign or international government or governmental authority, regulatory or administrative agency, governmental or quasi-governmental commission, department, board, bureau, agency or instrumentality, court, tribunal, arbitrator, arbitral body (public or private) or other similar authority; (ii) any political subdivision of any of the foregoing; and (iii) any regulatory body exercising authority over an applicable Person comparable to any of the foregoing, or any instrumentality of any of the foregoing.

 

(s) “Hazardous Substances” means any material, substance, chemical, waste, product, derivative, compound, mixture, solid, liquid, mineral, or gas, in each case, whether naturally occurring or manmade, that is defined or regulated as hazardous, acutely hazardous, toxic, or words of similar import or regulatory effect under any Environmental Law, including but not limited to any petroleum or petroleum-derived products, radon, radioactive materials or wastes, asbestos in any form, lead or lead-containing materials, urea formaldehyde foam insulation, polychlorinated biphenyls, mold, and perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances.

 

(t) “HSR Act” means the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended.

 

(u) “Independent Accountant” means in the event of a conflict, an independent public accounting firm selected in Purchaser’s reasonable discretion which has no prior relationship with either a Seller, the Company or Purchaser.

 

(v) “Intellectual Property” means all intellectual property and other similar proprietary rights in any jurisdiction throughout the world, including any and all (i) inventions (whether or not patentable), invention disclosures, patents and patent applications (including divisionals, provisionals, continuations, continuations-in-part, and renewal applications), and any renewals, extensions, or reissues; (ii) trademarks, service marks, trade dress, logos, slogans, trade names, assumed names, corporate names, domain names and other source identifiers, including all registrations and applications for registration of the foregoing, and all goodwill associated with any of the foregoing; (iii) copyrights (including all registrations and applications for registration), copyrightable subject matter, original works of authorship, and moral rights; (iv) rights in Software, (v) trade secrets, including confidential and proprietary information and know-how (including processes, formulae, techniques, methods, algorithms, data, databases, designs, drawings, specifications, and material proprietary customer and business data); and (vi) rights to sue and recover and retain damages, costs and attorneys’ fees for the past, present and future infringement, misappropriation or other violation of any of the foregoing.

 

(w) “Knowledge” means, when used with respect to Purchaser or the Company, the knowledge of the Persons set forth in Section 10.01(w) of the Purchaser Disclosure Schedule or the Company Disclosure Schedule, respectively, in each case, after reasonable inquiry of the direct reports of such individual, which requires the reasonable inquiry of a Person having operational and management knowledge of each applicable Subsidiary.

 

(x) “Law” means any federal, state, national, material local or municipal or other law, statute, act, ordinance, code, regulation or rule of any Governmental Authority, and any Orders.

 

(y) “Liens” means any mortgages, deeds of trust, liens, pledges, security interests, capital leases, subleases, licenses, covenants, claims, hypothecations, options, rights of first offer or refusal, charges or other encumbrances in respect of any property or asset.

 

(z) “Material” means an Effect that would reasonably be expected to result in a cost of more than $250,000 on the business, assets, Liabilities, results of operations or financial condition of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

 

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(aa) “Nasdaq” means The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC.

 

(bb) “NYSE American” means the NYSE American LLC.

 

(cc) “Orders” means any orders, decisions, judgments, writs, injunctions, or decrees issued by any court, agency or other Governmental Authority.

 

(dd) “Purchaser Assets” means any material assets of Purchaser or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

(ee) “Purchaser Employee” each individual who is an employee, independent contractor or other individual service provider of Purchaser and its Subsidiaries.

 

(ff) “Purchaser Equity Plan” means the Signing Day Sports, Inc. Amended and Restated 2022 Equity Incentive Plan.

 

(gg) “Purchaser Material Adverse Effect” means any Effect that, individually or in the aggregate with any one or more other Effects, would reasonably be expected to (i) result in a material adverse effect on the business, assets, Liabilities, results of operations or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Purchaser and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole or (ii) prevent, or materially impair or delay, the ability of Purchaser to consummate the Transactions or otherwise perform any of its obligations under this Agreement; provided, however, solely with respect to clause (i), no Effect (by itself or when aggregated or taken together with any and all other Effects) directly resulting from, arising out of, attributable to, or related to any of the following shall be deemed to be or constitute a “Purchaser Material Adverse Effect,” and no Effect (by itself or when aggregated or taken together with any and all other such Effects) directly resulting from, arising out of, attributable to, or related to any of the following shall be taken into account when determining whether a “Purchaser Material Adverse Effect” has occurred or may, would or could occur: (A) general economic conditions (or changes in such conditions) in the United States or any other country or region in the world, or conditions in the global economy generally; (B) conditions (or changes in such conditions) in the securities markets, credit markets, currency markets or other financial markets in the United States or any other country or region in the world; (C) conditions (or changes in such conditions) in the industries in which Purchaser and its Subsidiaries conduct business; (D) changes in political conditions in the United States or any other country or region in the world or acts of war, sabotage or terrorism (including any escalation or general worsening of any such acts of war, sabotage or terrorism) in the United States or any other country or region in the world; (E) earthquakes, hurricanes, tsunamis, tornadoes, floods, mudslides, wild fires or other natural disasters, weather conditions and other force majeure events in the United States or any other country or region in the world; (F) pandemics, epidemics or disease outbreaks or any escalation or worsening of any of the foregoing (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any effect resulting from, arising out of or otherwise related to COVID-19 (including any the impact of any associated shutdown, shelter in place or non-essential business order or other similar measures mandated or recommended by any applicable Governmental Authority)); (G) the announcement of this Agreement or the pendency or consummation of the Transactions, including, in any such case, the impact on relationships, contractual or otherwise, with customers, suppliers, vendors, lenders, investors, licensors, licensees, venture partners or employees (other than, in each case, for purposes of any representation or warranty set forth in Section 4.03 or Section 4.05); (H) changes in Law or other legal or regulatory conditions, or the interpretation of such changes, or changes in GAAP or other accounting standards (or the interpretation of such changes), or that result from any action taken for the purpose of complying with any of the foregoing; (I) any actions taken or failure to take action, in each case, to which the Company has expressly requested or consented to, or compliance with the terms of, or the taking of any action required or contemplated by, this Agreement, or the failure to take any action prohibited by this Agreement; (J) any failure by Purchaser or any of its Subsidiaries to meet any internal or external projections or forecasts or any decline in the price of Purchaser Common Stock (but excluding, in each case, the underlying causes of such failure or decline, as applicable, which may themselves constitute or be taken into account in determining whether there has been, or would be, a Purchaser Material Adverse Effect); or (K) the impact on Purchaser of any action taken by, or at the request of, the Company, including any breach of this Agreement by the Company; provided, further, that any Effect relating to or arising out of or resulting from any change or event referred to in clauses (A) through (F) or (H) above may constitute, and be taken into account in determining the occurrence of, a Purchaser Material Adverse Effect if and only to the extent that such change or event has a disproportionate impact on Purchaser and its Subsidiaries as compared to other participants that operate in the industry in which Purchaser and its Subsidiaries operate.

 

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(hh) “Purchaser Stock Option” means an option to purchase shares of Purchaser Common Stock issued by Purchaser pursuant to the Purchaser Equity Plan.

 

(ii) “Purchaser RSU” means a restricted stock unit award issued by Purchaser pursuant to the Purchaser Equity Plan that provides for the issuance of shares of Purchaser Common Stock upon vesting.

 

(jj) “Purchaser Warrant” means a warrant issued by Purchaser to purchase shares of Purchaser Common Stock.

 

(kk) “Permitted Liens” means (i) statutory Liens for Taxes, assessments or other charges by Governmental Authorities not yet due and payable or the amount or validity of which is being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings, and for which adequate reserves have been maintained in accordance with GAAP, (ii) mechanics’, materialmen’s, carriers’, workmen’s, warehouseman’s, repairmen’s, landlords’ and similar Liens granted or which arise in the ordinary course of business which are not yet due and payable or the amount or validity of which is being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings, and for which adequate reserves have been maintained in accordance with GAAP, (iii) zoning, entitlement, building and other land use Liens applicable to real property which are not violated by the current use, occupancy or operation of such real property, (iv) covenants, conditions, restrictions, easements and similar matters of record affecting title to any real property which would do not materially impair the value, current use, occupancy or operation of such real property, (v) Liens arising under worker’s compensation, unemployment insurance, social security, retirement and similar Laws, (vi) Liens on goods in transit incurred pursuant to documentary letters of credit, (vii) non-exclusive, non-perpetual licenses of Intellectual Property granted by the applicable Party, and (viii) such other Liens that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to (A) with respect to Purchaser, result in a Purchaser Material Adverse Effect, or (B) with respect to the Company, result in a Company Material Adverse Effect.

 

(ll) “Person” means any natural person, corporation, company, partnership, association, limited liability company, limited partnership, limited liability partnership, trust or other legal entity or organization, including a Governmental Authority.

 

(mm) “Proxy Statement” means the proxy statement/prospectus that shall constitute a proxy statement of Purchaser relating to the matters to be submitted to the stockholders of Purchaser at the Purchaser Stockholders Meeting including all amendments or supplements thereto.

 

(nn) “Representatives” means, when used with respect to any Person, the directors, officers, employees, consultants, accountants, legal counsel, investment bankers or other financial advisors, agents and other representatives of such Person.

 

(oo) “Sanctioned Person” means any Person who is the target of Sanctions, including by virtue of being: (a) listed on any Sanctions-related list of designated or blocked Persons; (b) a Governmental Authority of, resident in, or organized under the Laws of a country or territory that is the target of comprehensive Sanctions (as of the date of this Agreement, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, and the Crimea region and so-called Donetsk People’s Republic and Luhansk People’s Republic in Ukraine); or (c) 50% or more owned or controlled by any of the foregoing.

 

(pp) “Sanctions” means trade, economic and financial sanctions Laws, regulations, embargoes, and restrictive measures, including those administered, enacted or enforced by (i) the United States (including the Department of Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control), (ii) the European Union and its member states, (iii) the United Nations or (iv) His Majesty’s Treasury.

 

(qq) “Software” means all computer software (in object code or source code format), libraries, data and databases, and related specifications, documentation and materials.

 

(rr) “Subsidiary” means, when used with respect to any Person, any other Person that such Person directly or indirectly owns or has the power to vote or control more than 50% of the voting stock or other interests the holders of which are generally entitled to vote for the election of the board of directors or other applicable governing body of such other Person.

 

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(ss) “Tax Returns” means any and all reports, returns, declarations, claims for refund, elections, disclosures, estimates, information reports or returns or statements required to be supplied to a Governmental Authority in connection with Taxes, including any schedule, attachment or amendment to all reports, returns, declarations, claims for refund, elections, disclosures, estimates, information reports or returns or statements required to be supplied to a Governmental Authority in connection with Taxes.

 

(tt) “Taxes” means any and all federal, state, provincial, local, foreign and other taxes, levies, fees, imposts, duties, and similar governmental charges (including any interest, fines, assessments, penalties or additions to tax imposed in connection or with respect to the foregoing) including (x) taxes imposed on, or measured by, income, franchise, profits or gross receipts, and (y) ad valorem, value added, capital gains, sales, goods and services, use, real or personal property, capital stock, license, branch, payroll, estimated withholding, employment, social security (or similar), unemployment, compensation, escheat, abandoned and unclaimed property, utility, severance, production, excise, stamp, occupation, premium, windfall profits, transfer and gains taxes, and customs duties.

 

(uu) “Third Party” means, with respect to the Company, any Person or group other than the Company and its Affiliates and, with respect to Purchaser, any Person or group other than the Purchaser and its Affiliates.

 

Section 10.02 Interpretation.

 

Unless the express context otherwise requires, as used in this Agreement:

 

(a) terms defined in the singular shall have a comparable meaning when used in the plural, and vice versa;

 

(b) the terms “Dollars” and “$” mean U.S. dollars;

 

(c) references to a specific Section, Subsection, Recital, Schedule or Exhibit shall refer, respectively, to Sections, Subsections, Recitals, Schedules or Exhibits of this Agreement;

 

(d) wherever the word “include,” “includes” or “including” is used in this Agreement, it shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation”;

 

(e) references to any gender shall include each other gender or neuter;

 

(f) references to any Person shall include such Person’s heirs, executors, personal representatives, administrators, successors and assigns; provided, however, that nothing contained in this Section 10.02 is intended to authorize any assignment or transfer not otherwise permitted by this Agreement;

 

(g) references to a Person in a particular capacity or capacities shall exclude such Person in any other capacity;

 

(h) with respect to the determination of any period of time, (i) the word “from” means “from and including” and the words “to” and “until” each means “to but excluding” and (ii) time is of the essence;

 

(i) the word “or” shall be disjunctive but not exclusive;

 

(j) references to any Law or Order shall be deemed to refer to such Law or Order as amended, modified, codified, reenacted, supplemented or superseded in whole or in part and in effect from time to time, and also to all rules and regulations promulgated under such Law or Order;

 

(k) references to any Contract means such Contract as amended, supplemented or modified (including by any waiver) in accordance with the terms of such Contract;

 

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(l) the headings contained in this Agreement are intended solely for convenience and shall not affect the rights of the Parties;

 

(m) references to a number of days refer to calendar days unless Business Days are specified, in which case, if the last day for the giving of any notice or the performance of any act required or permitted under this Agreement is a day that is not a Business Day, then the time for the giving of such notice or the performance of such action shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day;

 

(n) references to “ordinary course of business” shall refer to ordinary course of business consistent with past practice; and

 

(o) references to documents, instruments, or agreements means such document, instrument or agreement as amended or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with the terms of such agreement, document or instrument, and if applicable, this Agreement.

 

Section 10.03 Reserved

 

Section 10.04 Governing Law.

 

This Agreement and all matters arising out of or relating to this Agreement, the Transactions and the Merger (including its interpretation, construction, performance and enforcement) shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the Law of the State of New York, without giving effect to any choice or conflict of law provision or rule that would cause the application of Laws of any jurisdictions other than those of the State of New York.

 

Section 10.05 Submission to Jurisdiction; Service.

 

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, each Party hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits, for itself or himself and its or his property, to the exclusive jurisdiction of the federal courts located in the State of New York (collectively with any appellate courts thereof, the “Courts”), in any action, suit or proceeding directly or indirectly arising out of or relating to this Agreement, the Transactions or the Merger or to interpret, apply or enforce this Agreement, the Transactions or the Merger or for recognition or enforcement of any judgment relating thereto, and each Party hereby irrevocably and unconditionally (a) agrees not to commence any such action, suit or proceeding except in such Courts, (b) agrees that any claim in respect of any such action, suit or proceeding may be heard and determined in such Courts, (c) waives any objection which it or he may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any such action, suit or proceeding in such Courts, and (d) waives the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of any such action, suit or proceeding in such Courts. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, each Party agrees that a final judgment in any such action, suit or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by action, suit or proceeding on the judgment or in any other manner provided by Law. Each Party irrevocably consents to service of process in the manner provided for notices in Section 10.07 or in any other manner permitted by applicable Law.

 

Section 10.06 Waiver of Jury Trial.

 

EACH PARTY HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, THE TRANSACTIONS OR THE MERGER OR TO INTERPRET, APPLY OR ENFORCE THIS AGREEMENT, THE TRANSACTIONS OR THE MERGER OR FOR RECOGNITION OR ENFORCEMENT OF A JUDGMENT RELATING THERETO IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT ISSUES, AND THEREFORE, IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY SUCH ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING.

 

EACH PARTY HEREBY CERTIFIES AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT (A) NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF ANY ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER, (B) SUCH PERSON HAS CONSIDERED THE IMPLICATION OF THIS WAIVER, (C) SUCH PERSON MAKES THIS WAIVER VOLUNTARILY AND (D) SUCH PERSON HAS BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATION OF THIS SECTION 10.06.

 

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Section 10.07 Notices. All notices and other communications required or otherwise provided under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be addressed as follows (or at such other address for a Party as shall be specified by like notice):

 

If to Purchaser, to:

 

c/o Signing Day Sports, Inc.

Attention: Chief Executive Officer

Telephone: 480-220-6814

Email: danny.nelson@signingdaysports.com

 

with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:

 

Bevilacqua PLLC

1050 Connecticut Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20036

Attention: Louis A. Bevilacqua

Email: lou@bevilacquapllc.com

 

If to Sellers, to:

 

James Gibbons

Telephone: +971 (0) 55 355 0558

Email: James@swifty.global

 

with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:

 

If to the Company, to:

 

Dear Cashmere Group Holding Company

Attention: James Gibbons, CEO

Telephone: +971 (0) 55 355 0558

Email: James@swifty.global

 

with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:

 

Lucosky Brookman LLP

101 Wood Avenue South, 5th Floor

Woodbridge, NJ 08830

Attention: Joseph Lucosky; Christopher Haunschild

Email: jlucosky@lucbro.com; chaunschild@lucbro.com

 

All such notices or communications shall be deemed to have been delivered and received (a) if delivered in person, on the day of such delivery, (b) if by electronic mail, on the day on which such electronic mail was sent and duly delivered, (c) if by certified or registered mail (return receipt requested), postage prepaid, on the third Business Day after mailing or (d) if by reputable overnight delivery service, on the first Business Day after mailing.

 

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Section 10.08 Amendment.

 

This Agreement may be amended or modified in whole or part, only if such amendment or modification is in writing and signed by Purchaser, the Sellers and the Company.

 

Section 10.09 Extension; Waiver.

 

At any time before the Preferred Stock Conversion, the Purchaser, on the one hand, and the Company and the Sellers, on the other hand, may (a) extend the time for the performance of any of the obligations of the other Party, (b) waive any inaccuracies in the representations and warranties of the other Party contained in this Agreement or in any document delivered under this Agreement, or (c) subject to applicable Law, waive compliance with any of the covenants or conditions contained in this Agreement. Any agreement on the part of a Party to any extension or waiver shall be valid only if set forth in an instrument in writing signed by such Party granting the waiver or extension. The failure of any Party to assert any of its rights under this Agreement or otherwise shall not constitute a waiver of such rights.

 

Section 10.10 Entire Agreement.

 

This Agreement (and its exhibits), the Company Disclosure Schedule, the Purchaser Disclosure Schedule, the certificates delivered under this Agreement, any other Ancillary Agreements and the Confidentiality Agreement contain all of the terms, conditions and representations and warranties agreed to by the Parties relating to the subject matter of this Agreement and supersede all prior or contemporaneous agreements, negotiations, correspondence, undertakings, understandings, representations and warranties, both written and oral, among the Parties with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement, including, without limitation, the Binding Term Sheet, dated September 18, 2024, as amended on November 16, 2024. No representation, warranty, inducement, promise, understanding or condition not set forth in such documents has been made or relied upon by any of the Parties.

 

Section 10.11 No Third-Party Beneficiaries.

 

Except as provided in Section 6.10 (Directors’ and Officers’ Indemnification and Insurance), this Agreement shall be for the sole benefit of the Parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns and is not intended, nor shall be construed, to give any Person, other than the Parties and their respective successors and assigns, any legal or equitable right, benefit or remedy of any nature whatsoever by reason this Agreement.

 

Section 10.12 Severability.

 

The provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed severable and the invalidity or unenforceability of any provision shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the other provisions of this Agreement. If any provision of this Agreement, or the application of that provision to any Person or any circumstance, is invalid or unenforceable, (a) a suitable and equitable provision shall be substituted for that provision in order to carry out, so far as may be valid and enforceable, the intent and purpose of the invalid or unenforceable provision and (b) the remainder of this Agreement and the application of that provision to other Persons or circumstances shall not be affected by such invalidity or unenforceability, nor shall such invalidity or unenforceability affect the validity or enforceability of that provision, or the application of that provision, in any other jurisdiction. Upon such a determination, the Parties shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the Parties as closely as possible in a reasonably acceptable manner so that the Transactions may be consummated as originally contemplated to the fullest extent possible.

 

Section 10.13 Rules of Construction.

 

The Parties have participated jointly in negotiating and drafting this Agreement with the benefit of outside legal counsel. If an ambiguity or a question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement shall be construed as if drafted jointly by the Parties, and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring any Party by virtue of the authorship of any provision of this Agreement. Subject to and without limiting the introductory language to Article III, Article IV and Article V each Party has or may have set forth information in the Company Disclosure Schedule, the Purchaser Disclosure Schedule and the Seller Disclosure Schedule, as applicable, in a section of such disclosure schedule that corresponds to the section of this Agreement to which it relates. The fact that any item of information is disclosed in the Company Disclosure Schedule, the Purchaser Disclosure Schedule, or the Seller Disclosure Schedule shall not constitute an admission by the Company, Purchaser, or the Sellers, respectively, that such item is material, that such item has had or would have a Company Material Adverse Effect or a Purchaser Material Adverse Effect, as the case may be, or that the disclosure of such be construed to mean that such information is required to be disclosed by this Agreement.

 

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Section 10.14 Assignment.

 

This Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the Parties and their permitted successors and assigns. No Party may assign or delegate, all or any portion of its rights or Liabilities under this Agreement without the prior written consent of the other Parties, and any attempted or purported assignment or delegation in violation of this Section 10.14 shall be null and void.

 

Section 10.15 Remedies.

 

No failure or delay on the part of any Party in the exercise of any right under this Agreement shall impair such right or be construed to be a waiver of, or acquiescence in, any breach of any representation, warranty or agreement within, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right preclude any other or further exercise of any other right. All rights and remedies existing under this Agreement are cumulative to, and not exclusive of, any rights or remedies otherwise available except as otherwise provided in Section 10.16, the exercise by a Party of any one remedy shall not preclude the exercise by it of any other remedy to the extent permitted.

 

Section 10.16 Specific Performance.

 

The Parties acknowledge and agree that irreparable injury would occur if any of the provisions of this Agreement are not performed in accordance with their specific terms or are otherwise breached, and further agree that, (a) monetary damages to a Party caused by the non-occurrence of the Closing or another Party’s failure to perform the covenants and other agreements set forth herein that are to be performed after the Closing, including damages related to reputational harm, customer or employee losses, increased costs, harm to the Company’s or Purchaser’s business, as applicable, and/or a reduction in the actual or perceived value of the Company or Purchaser, as applicable, or any of their direct or indirect Subsidiaries, would be difficult or impossible to calculate, (b) the provisions of Article IX are not intended to and do not adequately compensate a Party for the harm that would result from a breach by another Party, and will not be construed to diminish or otherwise impair in any respect a Party’s right to an injunction, specific performance or other equitable relief, and (c) the right of specific performance is an integral part of this Agreement and without that right the Parties would not have entered into this Agreement. Further, it is explicitly agreed that each Party shall, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, have the right to an injunction, specific performance or other equitable relief with respect to the other Parties’ obligations to consummate the Transactions and to perform the covenants and other agreements set forth herein that are to be performed after the Closing. It is further agreed that the Parties shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions, specific performance or other equitable relief to prevent breaches or threatened breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions of this Agreement in the Courts and the Parties waive any requirement for the posting of any bond or similar collateral in connection with any such equitable relief to the fullest extent permitted by Law. Each Party agrees that it or he will not oppose the granting of an injunction or specific performance on the basis that (i) the injured Party has an adequate remedy at law or (ii) an award of specific performance is not an appropriate remedy for any reason at law or equity. The equitable remedies described in this ‎Section 10.16 shall be in addition to, and not in lieu of, any other remedies at law or in equity that the Parties to this Agreement may elect to pursue.

 

Section 10.17 Counterparts; Effectiveness.

 

This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each such counterpart being deemed to be an original instrument, and all such counterparts shall together constitute the same agreement. The exchange of copies of this Agreement and signature pages by email in .pdf or .tif format (including any electronic signature complying with the U.S. ESIGN Act of 2000, e.g., www.docusign.com), or by any other electronic means intended to preserve the original graphic and pictorial appearance of a document, or by combination of such means, shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Agreement as to the Parties and may be used in lieu of the original Agreement for all purposes. Such execution and delivery shall be considered valid, binding and effective for all purposes.

 

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Section 10.18 Non-Recourse.

 

This Agreement may only be enforced against the named Parties. All legal proceedings, Legal Actions, obligations, losses, damages, claims or causes of action (whether in contract, in tort, in law or in equity, or granted by statute whether by or through attempted piercing of the corporate, limited partnership or limited liability company veil or otherwise) that may be based upon, arise under, out or by reason of, be connected with, or relate in any manner to (a) this Agreement or any of the Ancillary Agreements, (b) the negotiation, execution or performance of this Agreement or any of the Ancillary Agreements (including any representation or warranty made in connection with, or as an inducement to, this Agreement or any of the Ancillary Agreements), (c) any breach or violation of this Agreement (including the failure of any representation and warranty to be true or accurate) or any of the Ancillary Agreements, and (d) any failure of the Transactions or the Ancillary Agreements, in the case of clauses (a) and (b), may be made only against (and are those solely of) the Persons that are expressly named as parties to this Agreement, and the Confidentiality Agreement, and then only to the extent of the specific obligations of such Persons set forth in this Agreement, or the Confidentiality Agreement, as applicable. In furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing, and notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, each Party covenants, agrees and acknowledges that (except to the extent named as a party, the Confidentiality Agreement, and then only to the extent of the specific obligations of such parties set forth in this Agreement, or the Confidentiality Agreement, as applicable) no recourse under this Agreement, any related document or any documents or instruments delivered in connection with this Agreement or any related document shall be had against any Company Affiliate or Purchaser Affiliate, whether in contract, tort, equity, law or granted by statute whether by or through attempted piercing of the corporate, limited partnership or limited liability company veil or otherwise.

 

Section 10.19 Conflicts and Privilege Company Counsel.

 

(a) Each Party hereby agrees, on its own behalf and on behalf of its stockholders, directors, officers, employees and affiliates, that Lucosky Brookman LLP (“LB”) may serve as counsel to the Company in connection with the negotiation, preparation, execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Additional Agreements, and the Ancillary Agreements and the consummation of the Transactions and the Merger and that, following consummation of the Transactions, LB may serve as counsel to any Seller Indemnifying Party, any Company stockholder or any stockholder, director, officer, employee or affiliate of any Seller Indemnifying Party or any stockholder of the Company in any action, suit or proceeding directly or indirectly arising out of or relating to this Agreement, the Additional Agreements, the Ancillary Agreements, the Transactions or the Merger or to interpret, apply or enforce this Agreement, the Additional Agreements, the Ancillary Agreements, the Transactions or the Merger or for recognition or enforcement of any judgment relating thereto or any other matter, notwithstanding such representation (or continued representation) of the Company and each of the Parties hereby consents thereto and waives any conflict of interest arising therefrom, and each of the Parties shall cause any of its respective Affiliates to consent to waive any conflict of interest arising from such representation to the fullest extent permitted by Law.

 

(b) Purchaser further agrees that, as to all communications among LB, the Company, the Sellers or the Company’s stockholders that relate in any way to this Agreement, the Ancillary Agreements, the Transactions or the Merger, the attorney-client privilege and the expectation of client confidence belongs to the relevant Seller Indemnifying Party or the Company’s stockholders and may be controlled by such Seller Indemnifying Party or the Company’s stockholders and shall not pass to or be claimed by Purchaser.

 

Section 10.20 Conflicts and Privilege Purchaser Counsel.

 

(a) Each of the parties to this Agreement hereby agrees, on its own behalf and on behalf of its stockholders, directors, officers, employees and affiliates, that Bevilacqua PLLC (“BPLLC”) may serve as counsel to Purchaser in connection with the negotiation, preparation, execution and delivery of this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements and the consummation of the Transactions and the Merger, and that, following consummation of the Transactions and the Merger, BPLLC may serve as counsel to any Purchaser Indemnified Party, any Purchaser Stockholder or any stockholder, director, officer, employee or affiliate of any Purchaser Indemnified Party or any Purchaser Stockholder in any action, suit or proceeding directly or indirectly arising out of or relating to this Agreement, the Ancillary Agreements, the Transactions or the Merger or to interpret, apply or enforce this Agreement, the Ancillary Agreements, the Transactions or the Merger or for recognition or enforcement of any judgment relating thereto or any other matter, notwithstanding such representation (or continued representation) of Purchaser and each of the Parties to this Agreement hereby consents thereto and waives any conflict of interest arising therefrom, and each of such Parties shall cause any of its respective Affiliates to consent to waive any conflict of interest arising from such representation to the fullest extent permitted by Law.

 

(b) The Company and each of the Sellers further agrees that, as to all communications among BPLLC, Purchaser, the Purchaser Indemnified Parties or the Purchaser Stockholders that relate in any way to this Agreement, the Ancillary Agreements, the Transactions or the Merger, the attorney-client privilege and the expectation of client confidence belongs to the relevant Purchaser Indemnified Parties or Purchaser Stockholders and may be controlled by such Purchaser Indemnified Parties or Purchaser Stockholders and shall not pass to or be claimed by the Company or the Sellers.

 

[Signature Pages Follow]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first above written.

 

  PURCHASER
   
  Signing Day Sports, Inc.
   
  By: /s/ Daniel Nelson
  Name:  Daniel Nelson
  Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

  SELLERS
   
  James Gibbons
      
  /s/ James Gibbons

 

 

Number of Sellers’ Shares:

 

5,000,000 shares of Company Common Stock

24,999,950 shares of Series A Preferred Stock  

   
  Nicolas Link
            
  /s/ Nicolas Link

 

  Number of Sellers’ Shares:
   
  5,000,000 shares of Company Common Stock
  24,999,950 shares of Series A Preferred Stock  

 

  COMPANY
   
  Dear Cashmere Group Holding Company
   
  By: /s/ James Gibbons 
  Name:  James Gibbons
  Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

[Signature Page to Stock Purchase Agreement]

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT A

 

Form of Seller Lock-Up Agreement

 

[See attached]

 

 

 

 

 

 

LOCK-UP AGREEMENT

 

This LOCK-UP AGREEMENT (this “Lock-Up Agreement”) is made and entered into as of [__], 2025, by and between Signing Day Sports, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and the undersigned holder of shares of the Company’s common stock (the “Holder” and, together with the Company, the “Parties”). For all purposes of this Agreement, “Holder” includes any affiliate or controlling person of Holder, and any other agent, representative or other person with whom Holder is acting in concert. All terms used but not defined in this Lock-Up Agreement shall have the same meanings as set forth in the Purchase Agreement (as defined below).

 

W I T N E S S E T H:

 

WHEREAS, the Parties are entering into this Lock-Up Agreement pursuant to that certain Stock Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”), dated as of January 28, 2025, by and among the Company, Dear Cashmere Group Holding Company, a Nevada Corporation (“Swifty”), the Holder and [James Gibbons/Nicolas Link], an individual residing in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (“[Gibbons/Link]”) (together with the Holder, the “Sellers” and each a “Seller”), pursuant to which, and subject to the terms and conditions set forth therein, the Company agreed to acquire from Sellers and Sellers agreed to sell to the Company, 99.13% of the issued and outstanding shares of common stock of Swifty;

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, the Holder received [__] shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”) and [__] shares of the Company’s preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share] (the “Preferred Stock”), which shares of Preferred Stock are convertible into Common Stock (collectively, the “Lock-Up Securities”); and

 

WHEREAS, as a condition and inducement to the willingness of the Company to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement, the Holder has agreed to certain transfer restrictions with respect to the Lock-Up Securities held by the Holder immediately following the Closing Date (as defined in the Purchase Agreement).

 

NOW THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the sufficiency and receipt of which consideration is hereby acknowledged, the Holder and the Company hereby agree as follows:

 

1. Lock-Up Period. The Holder agrees that, from the Closing Date until the date that is three (3) calendar months from the date thereof (such period, the “Lock-Up Period”), the Holder shall be subject to the lock-up restrictions set forth in Section 2 below. 

 

2. Lock-Up Restriction.

 

(a) Lock-Up. Subject to Section 3 of this Lock-Up Agreement, during the Lock-Up Period, the Holder will not offer, sell, contract to sell, or otherwise transfer of (or enter into any transaction which is designed to, or might reasonably be expected to, result in the sale, transfer or disposition (whether by actual or effective economic sale or disposition due to cash settlement or otherwise) by the Holder or any affiliate of the Holder or any person in privity with the Holder or any affiliate of the Holder), directly or indirectly, including the filing (or participation in the filing) of a registration statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in respect of, or establish or increase a put equivalent position or liquidate or decrease a call equivalent position within the meaning of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), with respect to the Lock-Up Securities, unless such transaction is a Permitted Disposition (as defined below).

 

A-1

 

 

A “Permitted Disposition” shall include the following: (a) transfers of Lock-Up Securities to a trust for the benefit of the undersigned or as a bona fide gift, by will or intestacy or to a family member or trust for the benefit of a family member of the undersigned (for purposes of this lock-up agreement, “family member” means any relationship by blood, marriage or adoption, not more remote than first cousin); (b) transfers of Lock-Up Securities to a charity or educational institution; (c) transfers of the Lock-Up Securities by the Holder upon the prior written consent of the Company; provided that in the case of any transfer pursuant to the foregoing clauses (a) - (c), (i) any such transfer shall not involve a disposition for value, (ii) each transferee shall sign and deliver to the Company a lock-up agreement substantially in the form of this Lock-Up Agreement and (iii) no filing under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act shall be required or shall be voluntarily made, or (d) a pledge or hypothecation of the Lock-Up Securities as collateral for indebtedness.

 

(b) Stop Orders. The Holder further acknowledges and agrees that the Company is authorized to, and the Company agrees to, place “stop orders” on its books to prevent any transfer of any Lock-Up Securities of the Company held by the Holder in violation of this Lock-Up Agreement. The Company agrees not to allow any transaction to occur that is inconsistent with this Lock-Up Agreement.

 

3. Leak-Out.

 

(a) Notwithstanding anything in this Lock-Up Agreement to the contrary, the Holder shall be permitted to effect open market sales of its Lock-Up Securities on any trading day during the Lock-Up Period so long as the aggregate number of shares of Lock-Up Securities sold by the Holder during any trading day during the Lock-Up Period does not exceed 10% of the total shares of the Company that were publicly traded on a nationally recognized securities exchange during the trading day immediately preceding the date of any such sale of Lock-Up Securities.

 

(b) The Holder shall not engage in an investment strategy based upon selling any Lock-Up Securities, whether equity, debt or otherwise, “short,” while the Lock-Up Securities covered hereby remain unsold, and the Holder shall not “short” the Lock-Up Securities while any Lock-Up Securities owned by the Holder remain unsold.

 

(c) Except as otherwise provided herein (or by operation of law), any shares of Common Stock covered hereby shall be sold by the Holder in “broker’s transactions” and in compliance with the “manner of sale” requirements as those terms are defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, during the Leak-Out Period.

 

4. Miscellaneous.

 

(a) At any time, and from time to time, after the signing of this Lock-Up Agreement, the Holder will execute such additional instruments and take such action as may be reasonably requested by the Company to carry out the intent and purposes of this Lock-Up Agreement.

 

(b) This Lock-Up Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York without regard to principles of conflicts of laws. Any action brought by either Party against the other concerning the transactions contemplated by this Lock-Up Agreement shall be brought only in the federal courts located in the State of New York. The Parties hereby irrevocably waive any objection to jurisdiction and venue of any action instituted hereunder and shall not assert any defense based on lack of jurisdiction or venue or based on forum non conveniens. The Parties hereto and to any other agreements referred to herein or delivered in connection herewith agree to submit to the in personam jurisdiction of such courts and hereby irrevocably waive trial by jury. The prevailing party shall be entitled to recover from the other party its reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs. In the event that any provision of this Lock-Up Agreement or any other agreement delivered in connection herewith is invalid or unenforceable under any applicable statute or rule of law, then such provision shall be deemed inoperative to the extent that it may conflict therewith and shall be deemed modified to conform with such statute or rule of law. Any such provision which may prove invalid or unenforceable under any law shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of any agreement.

 

A-2

 

 

(c) Any and all notices or other communications given under this Lock-Up Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given on (i) the date of delivery, if delivered in person to the addressee, (ii) the next business day if sent by overnight courier, or (iii) three (3) days after mailing, if mailed within the continental United States, postage prepaid, by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, to the party entitled to receive same, at his or its address set forth below:

 

If to the Company, to:

 

c/o Signing Day Sports, Inc.

Attention: Chief Executive Officer

8355 East Hartford Rd., Suite 100

Scottsdale, Arizona 85255

Telephone: 480-220-6814

Email: danny.nelson@signingdaysports.com

 

with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:

 

Bevilacqua PLLC

1050 Connecticut Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20036

Attention: Louis A. Bevilacqua

Email: lou@bevilacquapllc.com

 

If to Holder, to:

 

[Name]

[Address]

Telephone:

Email: [______]

 

with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:

 

[Lucosky Brookman LLP

101 Wood Avenue South, 5th Floor

Iselin, New Jersey 08830

Attn: Joseph Lucosky; Christopher Haunschild

Email: jlucosky@lucbro.com; chaunschild@lucbro.com]

 

(d) The restrictions on transfer described in this Lock-Up Agreement are in addition to and cumulative with any other restrictions on transfer otherwise agreed to by the Holder or to which the Holder is subject to by applicable law.

 

(e) This Lock-Up Agreement shall not be assigned in whole or in part, without the prior written consent of the other Party. Except as otherwise provided herein, this Lock-Up Agreement shall be binding upon Holder, its legal representatives, and permitted successors and assigns.

 

(f) This Lock-Up Agreement may be executed and delivered in two or more counterparts (including by means of facsimile or electronic mail), each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

 

(g) The Company agrees not to take any action or allow any act to be taken which would be inconsistent with this Lock-Up Agreement.

 

(h) The terms and provisions of this Lock-Up Agreement may only be amended by a written instrument signed by the Company and the Holder.

 

[-signature page follows-]

 

A-3

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the Parties hereto have executed this Lock-Up Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

  HOLDER:
   
  [____________]    
     
  By:                      
  Name:   
  Title:  

 

  COMPANY:
     
  SIGNING DAY SPORTS, INC.
     
  By:  
  Name:  Daniel Nelson
  Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT B

 

Form of Purchaser Lock-Up Agreement

 

[See attached]

 

 

 

 

 

 

LOCK-UP AGREEMENT

 

This LOCK-UP AGREEMENT (this “Lock-Up Agreement”) is made and entered into as of [__], 2025, by and between Signing Day Sports, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and the undersigned holder of shares of the Company’s common stock (the “Holder” and, together with the Company, the “Parties”). For all purposes of this Agreement, “Holder” includes any affiliate or controlling person of Holder, and any other agent, representative or other person with whom Holder is acting in concert. All terms used but not defined in this Lock-Up Agreement shall have the same meanings as set forth in the Purchase Agreement (as defined below).

 

W I T N E S S E T H:

 

WHEREAS, the Parties are entering into this Lock-Up Agreement pursuant to that certain Stock Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”), dated as of January 28, 2025, by and among the Company, Dear Cashmere Group Holding Company, a Nevada Corporation (“Swifty”), the Holder and [James Gibbons/Nicolas Link], an individual residing in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (“[Gibbons/Link]”) (together with the Holder, the “Sellers” and each a “Seller”), pursuant to which, and subject to the terms and conditions set forth therein, the Company agreed to acquire from Sellers and Sellers agreed to sell to the Company, 99.13% of the issued and outstanding shares of common stock of Swifty;

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, the Holder received [__] shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”) and [__] shares of the Company’s preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share] (the “Preferred Stock”), which shares of Preferred Stock are convertible into Common Stock (collectively, the “Lock-Up Securities”); and

 

WHEREAS, as a condition and inducement to the willingness of the Company to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement, the Holder has agreed to certain transfer restrictions with respect to the Lock-Up Securities held by the Holder immediately following the Closing Date (as defined in the Purchase Agreement).

 

NOW THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the sufficiency and receipt of which consideration is hereby acknowledged, the Holder and the Company hereby agree as follows:

 

1. Lock-Up Period. The Holder agrees that, from the Closing Date until the date that is three (3) calendar months from the date thereof (such period, the “Lock-Up Period”), the Holder shall be subject to the lock-up restrictions set forth in Section 2 below.

 

2. Lock-Up Restriction.

 

(a) Lock-Up. Subject to Section 3 of this Lock-Up Agreement, during the Lock-Up Period, the Holder will not offer, sell, contract to sell, or otherwise transfer of (or enter into any transaction which is designed to, or might reasonably be expected to, result in the sale, transfer or disposition (whether by actual or effective economic sale or disposition due to cash settlement or otherwise) by the Holder or any affiliate of the Holder or any person in privity with the Holder or any affiliate of the Holder), directly or indirectly, including the filing (or participation in the filing) of a registration statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in respect of, or establish or increase a put equivalent position or liquidate or decrease a call equivalent position within the meaning of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), with respect to the Lock-Up Securities, unless such transaction is a Permitted Disposition (as defined below).

 

B-1

 

 

A “Permitted Disposition” shall include the following: (a) transfers of Lock-Up Securities to a trust for the benefit of the undersigned or as a bona fide gift, by will or intestacy or to a family member or trust for the benefit of a family member of the undersigned (for purposes of this lock-up agreement, “family member” means any relationship by blood, marriage or adoption, not more remote than first cousin); (b) transfers of Lock-Up Securities to a charity or educational institution; (c) transfers of the Lock-Up Securities by the Holder upon the prior written consent of the Company; provided that in the case of any transfer pursuant to the foregoing clauses (a) - (c), (i) any such transfer shall not involve a disposition for value, (ii) each transferee shall sign and deliver to the Company a lock-up agreement substantially in the form of this Lock-Up Agreement and (iii) no filing under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act shall be required or shall be voluntarily made, or (d) a pledge or hypothecation of the Lock-Up Securities as collateral for indebtedness.

 

(b) Stop Orders. The Holder further acknowledges and agrees that the Company is authorized to, and the Company agrees to, place “stop orders” on its books to prevent any transfer of any Lock-Up Securities of the Company held by the Holder in violation of this Lock-Up Agreement. The Company agrees not to allow any transaction to occur that is inconsistent with this Lock-Up Agreement.

 

3. Leak-Out.

 

(a) Notwithstanding anything in this Lock-Up Agreement to the contrary, the Holder shall be permitted to effect open market sales of its Lock-Up Securities on any trading day during the Lock-Up Period so long as the aggregate number of shares of Lock-Up Securities sold by the Holder during any trading day during the Lock-Up Period does not exceed 10% of the total shares of the Company that were publicly traded on a nationally recognized securities exchange during the trading day immediately preceding the date of any such sale of Lock-Up Securities.

 

(b) The Holder shall not engage in an investment strategy based upon selling any Lock-Up Securities, whether equity, debt or otherwise, “short,” while the Lock-Up Securities covered hereby remain unsold, and the Holder shall not “short” the Lock-Up Securities while any Lock-Up Securities owned by the Holder remain unsold.

 

(c) Except as otherwise provided herein (or by operation of law), any shares of Common Stock covered hereby shall be sold by the Holder in “broker’s transactions” and in compliance with the “manner of sale” requirements as those terms are defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, during the Leak-Out Period.

 

4. Miscellaneous.

 

(a) At any time, and from time to time, after the signing of this Lock-Up Agreement, the Holder will execute such additional instruments and take such action as may be reasonably requested by the Company to carry out the intent and purposes of this Lock-Up Agreement.

 

(b) This Lock-Up Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York without regard to principles of conflicts of laws. Any action brought by either Party against the other concerning the transactions contemplated by this Lock-Up Agreement shall be brought only in the federal courts located in the State of New York. The Parties hereby irrevocably waive any objection to jurisdiction and venue of any action instituted hereunder and shall not assert any defense based on lack of jurisdiction or venue or based on forum non conveniens. The Parties hereto and to any other agreements referred to herein or delivered in connection herewith agree to submit to the in personam jurisdiction of such courts and hereby irrevocably waive trial by jury. The prevailing party shall be entitled to recover from the other party its reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs. In the event that any provision of this Lock-Up Agreement or any other agreement delivered in connection herewith is invalid or unenforceable under any applicable statute or rule of law, then such provision shall be deemed inoperative to the extent that it may conflict therewith and shall be deemed modified to conform with such statute or rule of law. Any such provision which may prove invalid or unenforceable under any law shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of any agreement.

 

B-2

 

 

(c) Any and all notices or other communications given under this Lock-Up Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given on (i) the date of delivery, if delivered in person to the addressee, (ii) the next business day if sent by overnight courier, or (iii) three (3) days after mailing, if mailed within the continental United States, postage prepaid, by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, to the party entitled to receive same, at his or its address set forth below:

 

If to the Company, to:

 

c/o Signing Day Sports, Inc.

Attention: Chief Executive Officer

8355 East Hartford Rd., Suite 100

Scottsdale, Arizona 85255

Telephone: 480-220-6814

Email: danny.nelson@signingdaysports.com

 

with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:

 

Bevilacqua PLLC

1050 Connecticut Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20036

Attention: Louis A. Bevilacqua

Email: lou@bevilacquapllc.com

 

If to Holder, to:

 

[Name]

[Address]

Telephone:

Email: [______]

 

with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:

 

[Lucosky Brookman LLP

101 Wood Avenue South, 5th Floor

Iselin, New Jersey 08830

Attn: Joseph Lucosky; Christopher Haunschild

Email: jlucosky@lucbro.com; chaunschild@lucbro.com]

 

(d) The restrictions on transfer described in this Lock-Up Agreement are in addition to and cumulative with any other restrictions on transfer otherwise agreed to by the Holder or to which the Holder is subject to by applicable law.

 

(e) This Lock-Up Agreement shall not be assigned in whole or in part, without the prior written consent of the other Party. Except as otherwise provided herein, this Lock-Up Agreement shall be binding upon Holder, its legal representatives, and permitted successors and assigns.

 

(f) This Lock-Up Agreement may be executed and delivered in two or more counterparts (including by means of facsimile or electronic mail), each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

 

(g) The Company agrees not to take any action or allow any act to be taken which would be inconsistent with this Lock-Up Agreement.

 

(h) The terms and provisions of this Lock-Up Agreement may only be amended by a written instrument signed by the Company and the Holder.

 

[-signature page follows-]

 

B-3

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the Parties hereto have executed this Lock-Up Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

  HOLDER:
   
  [____________]    
     
  By:                         
  Name:   
  Title:  

 

  COMPANY:
     
  SIGNING DAY SPORTS, INC.
     
  By:   
  Name:  Daniel Nelson 
  Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT C

 

Form of Purchaser Preferred Stock Certificate of Designation

 

[See attached]

 

 

 

 

 

 

CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION

OF

SERIES A CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK

OF

SIGNING DAY SPORTS, INC.

 

Pursuant to Section 151 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, Signing Day Sports, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “Corporation”), in accordance with the provisions of Section 103 thereof, does hereby submit the following:

 

WHEREAS, the Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, dated February 27, 2024, as amended by the Certificate of Amendment of Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, dated November 14, 2024 (as such may be amended, modified or restated from time to time, the “Certificate of Incorporation”) authorizes the issuance of up to 15,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Corporation (“Preferred Stock”) in one or more series, and expressly authorizes the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “Board”), subject to limitations prescribed by law, to provide, out of the unissued shares of Preferred Stock, for series of Preferred Stock, and, with respect to each such series, to establish and fix the number of shares to be included in any series of Preferred Stock and the designation, rights, preferences, powers, restrictions, and limitations of the shares of such series; and

 

WHEREAS it is the desire of the Board to establish and fix the number of shares to be included in a new series of Preferred Stock and the designation, rights, preferences, and limitations of the shares of such new series.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board does hereby provide for the issue of a series of Preferred Stock and does hereby in this Certificate of Designation (the “Certificate of Designation”) establish and fix and herein state and express the designation, rights, preferences, powers, restrictions, and limitations of such series of Preferred Stock as follows:

 

1. Definitions. For the purposes hereof, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

 

Additional Agreements” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble to the Stock Purchase Agreement.

 

Additional Sellers” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble to the Stock Purchase Agreement.

 

C-1

 

 

Alternate Consideration” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(b).

 

Automatic Conversion” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(a).

 

Board” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

 

Business Day” means a day on which the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading and which is not a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which banks in New York City are authorized or required by law to close.

 

Certificate of Designation” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

 

Certificate of Incorporation” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

 

Closing Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.02 of the Stock Purchase Agreement.

 

Common Stock” means the common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Corporation.

 

Common Stock Equivalents” means any securities of the Corporation that would 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.

 

Conversion” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(c)(ii).

 

Conversion Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(a).

 

Conversion Ratio” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(b).

 

Conversion Shares” means, collectively, the shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock in accordance with the terms hereof.

 

Converted Stock” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(a).

 

Corporation” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

 

Extended Purchaser Meeting Deadline” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.08(b) of the Stock Purchase Agreement.

 

Fundamental Transaction” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(b).

 

Holder” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.

 

C-2

 

 

Liquidation” means any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation’s affairs, whether voluntary or involuntary; provided, however, that none of (i) a consolidation or merger of the Corporation with one or more Persons, individually or in a series of transactions, (ii) a sale, lease or transfer of all or substantially all of the Corporation’s assets or (iii) a statutory share exchange shall be deemed to be a Liquidation.

 

New York Courts” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9(d).

 

Nasdaq” means The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC.

 

Person” means any natural person, corporation, limited liability company, unlimited liability company, limited partnership, general partnership, limited liability partnership, association, joint venture, trust, or other organization, irrespective of whether it is a legal entity, and any government or agency or political subdivision thereof.

 

Preferred Stock” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

 

Redemption Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8(b).

 

Redemption Event” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8(a).

 

Redemption Notice” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8(b).

 

Seller Holder” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8(a).

 

Sellers” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble to the Stock Purchase Agreement.

 

Sellers’ Shares” shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals to the Stock Purchase Agreement.

 

Series A Preferred Stock” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.

 

Stockholder Approval” means such approval as may be required by the applicable rules and regulations of Nasdaq or other securities exchange or quotation system if applicable, including, without limitation, Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(d), as may be required for the Corporation to effect such issuance from the stockholders of the Corporation with respect to the transactions contemplated by the Stock Purchase Agreement, the Additional Agreements and the Ancillary Agreements (as defined in the Stock Purchase Agreement), including the issuance of all of the shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock in excess of 19.99% of the issued and outstanding Common Stock on the date of the Stock Purchase Agreement.

 

Stock Purchase Agreement” means the Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of January 28, 2025, by and among Dear Cashmere Group Holding Company, a Nevada corporation, the Corporation, James Gibbons, and Nicolas Link, as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time in accordance with its terms.

 

Successor Entity” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(b).

 

Transfer Agent” means Securities Transfer Corporation, or such other agent or agents of the Corporation as may be designated by the Board or its duly authorized designees as the transfer agent, registrar, and dividend disbursing agent for the Series A Preferred Stock.

 

C-3

 

 

2. Designation and Number of Shares. There shall be a series of Preferred Stock that shall be designated as the “Series A Convertible Preferred Stock” (the “Series A Preferred Stock”) and the number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock constituting such series shall be 25,000 (which shall not be subject to increase without the written consent of all of the holders of outstanding Series A Preferred Stock (each, a “Holder” and collectively, the “Holders”)). Each share of Series A Preferred Stock shall be identical in all respects to every other share of Series A Preferred Stock.

 

3. Dividends. Except for stock dividends or distributions for which adjustments are to be made pursuant to Section 7, Holders, as such, shall not be entitled to receive dividends of any kind on the Shares.

 

4. Rank; Liquidation.

 

(a) The Series A Preferred Stock shall rank on parity with the Common Stock as to distributions of assets upon Liquidation, whether voluntarily or involuntarily.

 

(b) Upon Liquidation, the Holders shall be entitled to receive out of the assets, whether capital or surplus, of the Corporation the same amount that a Holder would receive if the Series A Preferred Stock were fully converted (disregarding for such purposes any conversion limitations hereunder) to Common Stock immediately prior to such Liquidation, which amount shall be paid pari passu with all holders of Common Stock. The Corporation shall mail written notice of any such Liquidation, not less than 45 days prior to the payment date stated therein, to each Holder.

 

5. Voting Rights. The Series A Preferred Stock will have no voting rights except (a) as expressly required by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware and (b) with respect to amendments to this Certificate of Designation or the Certificate of Incorporation that adversely affect the terms of the Series A Preferred Stock (including amendments authorizing or effecting any issuance of capital stock or other equity securities of the Corporation that are senior to or pari passu with the Series A Preferred Stock with respect to dividends, liquidation preference or redemption rights), in which event the Holders of a majority of the then-outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be required to approve or consent in writing to such amendments.

 

6. Conversion.

 

(a) Automatic Conversion on Stockholder Approval. Effective as of 5:00 p.m. Eastern time on the later of the date of the Stockholder Approval or the clearance of the initial listing application filed by the Corporation with Nasdaq pursuant to Section 2.01(b) of the Stock Purchase Agreement (the “Conversion Date”), each share of Series A Preferred Stock then outstanding shall automatically convert into the number of shares of Common Stock equal to the Conversion Ratio (the “Automatic Conversion”). The Corporation shall inform each Holder of the occurrence of the Automatic Conversion within three Business Days of the Automatic Conversion. The shares of Series A Preferred Stock that are converted in the Automatic Conversion are referred to as the “Converted Stock”. The Conversion Shares shall be issued as follows:

 

i. Converted Stock that is registered in book entry form shall be automatically cancelled upon the Automatic Conversion and converted into the corresponding Conversion Shares, which Conversion Shares shall be issued in book entry form and without any action on the part of the Holders and shall be delivered to the Holders on the Conversion Date.

 

C-4

 

 

ii. Converted Stock that is issued in certificated form shall be deemed converted into the corresponding Conversion Shares on the date of the Automatic Conversion and the Holder’s rights as a holder of such shares of Converted Stock shall cease and terminate on such date, excepting only the right to receive the Conversion Shares upon the Holder tendering to the Corporation (or its designated agent) the stock certificate(s) (duly endorsed) representing such certificated Converted Stock.

 

iii. Notwithstanding the cancellation of the Converted Stock upon the Automatic Conversion, Holders of Converted Stock shall continue to have any remedies provided herein or otherwise available at law or in equity to such Holder because of a failure by the Corporation to comply with the terms of this Certificate of Designation. In all cases, the Holder shall retain all of its rights and remedies for the Corporation’s failure to convert the Converted Stock.

 

(b) Conversion Ratio. The “Conversion Ratio” for each share of Series A Preferred Stock shall be one thousand (1,000) shares of Common Stock issuable upon the conversion of each share of Series A Preferred Stock (corresponding to a ratio of 1,000:1), subject to adjustment in accordance with Section 7.

 

(c) Mechanics of Conversion.

 

i. Reservation of Shares Issuable Upon Conversion. The Corporation covenants that it will at all times reserve and keep available out of its authorized and unissued shares of Common Stock for the sole purpose of issuance upon conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock as herein provided, free from preemptive rights or any other actual contingent purchase rights of Persons other than the Holders, not less than such aggregate number of shares of the Common Stock as shall (subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Stock Purchase Agreement) be issuable (taking into account the adjustments of Section 7) upon the conversion of the then outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock. The Corporation covenants that all shares of Common Stock that shall be so issuable shall, upon issue, be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Corporation shall not be required to reserve shares as aforesaid until the Stockholder Approval has been obtained for the issuance of those shares of Common Stock being so reserved.

 

ii. Fractional Shares. No fractional shares or scrip representing fractional shares shall be issued upon the conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock into shares of Common Stock (the “Conversion”). As to any fraction of a share that the Holder would otherwise be entitled to purchase upon such conversion, the Corporation shall round up to the next whole share.

 

iii. Transfer Taxes and Expenses. The issuance of Conversion Shares on conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock shall be made without charge to any Holder for any documentary stamp or similar taxes that may be payable in respect of the issue or delivery of such Conversion Shares, provided that the Corporation shall not be required to pay any tax that may be payable in respect of any transfer involved in the issuance and delivery of any such Conversion Shares upon conversion in a name other than that of the Holders of such shares of Series A Preferred Stock and the Corporation shall not be required to issue or deliver such Conversion Shares unless or until the Person or Persons requesting the issuance thereof shall have paid to the Corporation the amount of such tax or shall have established to the satisfaction of the Corporation that such tax has been paid. The Corporation shall pay all Transfer Agent fees required for processing of the Conversion and all fees to the Depository Trust Company (or another established clearing corporation performing similar functions) required for electronic delivery of the Conversion Shares.

 

C-5

 

 

7. Certain Adjustments.

 

(a) Stock Dividends and Stock Splits. If the Corporation, at any time while the Series A Preferred Stock is outstanding, (i) pays a stock dividend or otherwise makes a distribution or distributions payable in shares of Common Stock on shares of Common Stock or any other Common Stock Equivalents (which, for avoidance of doubt, shall not include any shares of Common Stock issued by the Corporation upon conversion of, or payment of a dividend on, the Series A Preferred Stock), (ii) subdivides outstanding shares of Common Stock into a larger number of shares, (iii) combines (including by way of a reverse stock split) outstanding shares of Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, or (iv) issues, in the event of a reclassification of shares of the Common Stock, any shares of capital stock of the Corporation, then the Conversion Ratio shall be multiplied by a fraction of which the numerator shall be the number of shares of Common Stock (excluding any treasury shares of the Corporation) outstanding immediately before such event, and of which the denominator shall be the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event. Any adjustment made pursuant to this Section 7(a) shall become effective immediately after the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to receive such dividend or distribution and shall become effective immediately after the effective date in the case of a subdivision, combination or re classification.

 

(b) Fundamental Transaction. If, at any time while the Series A Preferred Stock is outstanding, (i) the Corporation, directly or indirectly, in one or more related transactions effects any merger or consolidation of the Corporation with or into another Person, (ii) the Corporation, directly or indirectly, effects any sale, lease, license, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of its assets in one or a series of related transactions, (iii) any, direct or indirect, purchase offer, tender offer or exchange offer (whether by the Corporation or another Person) is completed pursuant to which holders of Common Stock are permitted to sell, tender or exchange their shares for other securities, cash or property and has been accepted by the holders of 50% or more of the outstanding Common Stock, (iv) the Corporation, directly or indirectly, in one or more related transactions effects any reclassification, reorganization or recapitalization of the Common Stock or any compulsory share exchange pursuant to which the Common Stock is effectively converted into or exchanged for other securities, cash or property, or (v) the Corporation, directly or indirectly, in one or more related transactions consummates a stock or share purchase agreement or other business combination (including, without limitation, a reorganization, recapitalization, spin-off 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) (each a “Fundamental Transaction”), then, upon any subsequent conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock, the Holder shall have the right to receive, in lieu of the right to receive Conversion Shares, for each Conversion Share that would have been issuable upon such conversion immediately prior to the occurrence of such Fundamental Transaction, the same kind and amount of securities, cash or property as it would have been entitled to receive upon the occurrence of such Fundamental Transaction if it had, immediately prior to such Fundamental Transaction, converted the Series A Preferred Stock immediately prior to such Fundamental Transaction (the “Alternate Consideration”) receivable as a result of such Fundamental Transaction by a holder of the number of shares of Common Stock for which the Series A Preferred Stock is convertible immediately prior to such Fundamental Transaction. For purposes of any such conversion, the determination of the Conversion Ratio shall be appropriately adjusted to apply to such Alternate Consideration based on the amount of Alternate Consideration issuable in respect of one share of Common Stock in such Fundamental Transaction, and the Corporation shall adjust the Conversion Price in a reasonable manner reflecting the relative value of any different components of the Alternate Consideration. If holders of Common Stock are given any choice as to the securities, cash or property to be received in a Fundamental Transaction, then the Holder shall be given the same choice as to the Alternate Consideration it receives upon any conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock following such Fundamental Transaction. To the extent necessary to effectuate the foregoing provisions, any successor to the Corporation or surviving entity in such Fundamental Transaction shall file a new Certificate of Designation with the same terms and conditions and issue to the Holders new preferred stock consistent with the foregoing provisions and evidencing the Holders’ right to convert such preferred stock into Alternate Consideration. The Corporation shall cause any successor entity in a Fundamental Transaction in which the Corporation is not the survivor (the “Successor Entity”) to assume in writing all of the obligations of the Corporation under this Certificate of Designation and the other Ancillary Agreements in accordance with the provisions of this Section 7(b) pursuant to written agreements in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Holder and approved by the Holder (without unreasonable delay) prior to such Fundamental Transaction and shall, at the option of the Holder, deliver to the Holder in exchange for the Series A Preferred Stock a security of the Successor Entity evidenced by a written instrument substantially similar in form and substance to the Series A Preferred Stock which is convertible for a corresponding number of shares of capital stock of such Successor Entity (or its parent entity) equivalent to the shares of Common Stock acquirable and receivable upon conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock prior to such Fundamental Transaction, and with a conversion ratio which applies the conversion ratio hereunder to such shares of capital stock (but taking into account the relative value of the shares of Common Stock pursuant to such Fundamental Transaction and the value of such shares of capital stock, such number of shares of capital stock and such conversion ratio being for the purpose of protecting the economic value of the Series A Preferred Stock immediately prior to the consummation of such Fundamental Transaction), and that is reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Holder. Upon the occurrence of any such Fundamental Transaction, the Successor Entity shall succeed to, and be substituted for (so that from and after the date of such Fundamental Transaction, the provisions of this Certificate of Designation, the Stock Purchase Agreement, the Additional Agreements and the other Ancillary Agreements referring to the “Corporation” shall refer instead to the Successor Entity), and may exercise every right and power of the Corporation and shall assume all of the obligations of the Corporation under this Certificate of Designation, the Stock Purchase Agreement, the Additional Agreements and the other Ancillary Agreements with the same effect as if such Successor Entity had been named as the Corporation herein.

 

C-6

 

 

(c) Calculations. All calculations under this Section 7 shall be made to the nearest cent or the nearest 1/100th of a share, as the case may be. For purposes of this Section 7, the number of shares of Common Stock deemed to be issued and outstanding as of a given date shall be the sum of the number of shares of Common Stock (excluding any treasury shares of the Corporation) issued and outstanding.

 

8. Redemption.

 

(a) If the Stockholder Approval has not been obtained by the date of the Extended Purchaser Meeting Deadline, then a redemption event (“Redemption Event”) shall be deemed to have occurred on the date of the Extended Purchaser Meeting Deadline, and the Corporation shall, subject to applicable law, be required to repurchase all of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock held by each of the Sellers and each of the Additional Sellers (“Seller Holder”) as provided in this Section 8.

 

(b) Within five Business Days after a Redemption Event, the Corporation shall deliver a written notice (the “Redemption Notice”) to each Seller Holder at the address last shown on the records of the Corporation, notifying each Seller Holder of the redemption that is to be effected, and the date on which the redemption of the Series A Preferred Stock shall occur (which day (the “Redemption Date”) must be within 15 Business Days after the Redemption Event). On the Redemption Date, the Corporation shall transfer to each Seller Holder the number of Sellers’ Shares (or equivalent term with respect to the Additional Agreements) set forth below such Seller Holder’s signature on the signature page to the Stock Purchase Agreement or the applicable Additional Agreement, as applicable, under the caption “Number of Sellers’ Shares” (or equivalent caption with respect to the Additional Agreements) and, upon such Seller Holder’s receipt of such amount, the Series A Preferred Stock theretofore held by such Seller Holder shall no longer be outstanding.

 

9. Miscellaneous.

 

(a) Notices. Any and all notices or other communications or deliveries to be provided by the Holders shall be in writing and delivered by a nationally recognized overnight courier service, addressed to the Corporation at 8355 East Hartford Rd., Suite 100, Scottsdale, AZ 85255, attention: Chief Executive Officer, or such other address as the Corporation may specify for such purposes by notice to the Holders delivered in accordance with this Section 9(a). Any and all notices or other communications or deliveries to be provided by the Corporation hereunder shall be in writing and delivered by facsimile, by electronic mail, or sent by a nationally recognized overnight courier service, addressed to each Holder at the facsimile number, e-mail address or address of such Holder appearing on the books of the Corporation, or if no such facsimile number, email address or address appears on the books of the Corporation, at the principal place of business of such Holder. Any notice or other communication or deliveries hereunder shall be deemed given and effective on the earliest of (i) the date of transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via facsimile or electronic mail prior to 5:30 p.m. (New York City time) on any date, (ii) the next Business Day after the date of transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via facsimile or electronic mail on a day that is not a Business Day or later than 5:30 p.m. (New York City time) on any Business Day, (iii) the second Business Day following the date of mailing, if sent by U.S. nationally recognized overnight courier service, or (iv) upon actual receipt by the party to whom such notice is required to be given.

 

(b) Book-Entry; Certificates. The Series A Preferred Stock will be issued in book-entry form; provided that, if a Holder requests that such Holder’s shares of Series A Preferred Stock be issued in certificated form, the Corporation will instead issue a stock certificate to such Holder representing such Holder’s shares of Series A Preferred Stock. To the extent that any shares of Series A Preferred Stock are issued in book-entry form, references herein to “certificates” shall instead refer to the book-entry notation relating to such shares.

 

(c) Lost or Mutilated Series A Preferred Stock Certificate. If a Holder’s Series A Preferred Stock certificate shall be mutilated, lost, stolen or destroyed, the Corporation shall execute and deliver, in exchange and substitution for and upon cancellation of a mutilated certificate, or in lieu of or in substitution for a lost, stolen or destroyed certificate, a new certificate for the shares of Series A Preferred Stock so mutilated, lost, stolen or destroyed, but only upon receipt of evidence of such loss, theft or destruction of such certificate, and of the ownership hereof reasonably satisfactory to the Corporation.

 

C-7

 

 

(d) Governing Law. All questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation of this Certificate of Designation shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to the principles of conflict of laws thereof. All legal proceedings concerning the interpretation, enforcement and defense of the transactions contemplated by any of the Ancillary Agreements (whether brought against a party hereto or its respective Affiliates, directors, officers, stockholders, employees or agents) shall be commenced in the federal courts located in the State of New York (the “New York Courts”). The Corporation and each Holder hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the New York Courts for the adjudication of any dispute hereunder or in connection herewith or with any transaction contemplated hereby or discussed herein (including with respect to the enforcement of any of the Ancillary Agreements), 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 such New York Courts, or such New York Courts are improper or inconvenient venue for such proceeding. The Corporation and each Holder hereby irrevocably waives personal service of process and consents to process being served in any such suit, action or proceeding by mailing a copy thereof via registered or certified mail or overnight delivery (with evidence of delivery) to such party at the address in effect for notices to it under this Certificate of Designation and agrees that such service shall constitute good and sufficient service of process and notice thereof. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit in any way any right to serve process in any other manner permitted by applicable law. The Corporation and each Holder hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and all right to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or relating to this Certificate of Designation or the transactions contemplated hereby. If the Corporation or any Holder shall commence an action or proceeding to enforce any provisions of this Certificate of Designation, then the prevailing party in such action or proceeding shall be reimbursed by the other party for its attorneys’ fees and other costs and expenses incurred in the investigation, preparation and prosecution of such action or proceeding.

 

(e) Waiver. Any waiver by the Corporation or a Holder of a breach of any provision of this Certificate of Designation shall not operate as or be construed to be a waiver of any other breach of such provision or of any breach of any other provision of this Certificate of Designation or a waiver by any other Holders. The failure of the Corporation or a Holder to insist upon strict adherence to any term of this Certificate of Designation on one or more occasions shall not be considered a waiver or deprive that party (or any other Holder) of the right thereafter to insist upon strict adherence to that term or any other term of this Certificate of Designation on any other occasion. Any waiver by the Corporation or a Holder must be in writing.

 

(f) Severability. If any provision of this Certificate of Designation is invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the balance of this Certificate of Designation shall remain in effect, and if any provision is inapplicable to any Person or circumstance, it shall nevertheless remain applicable to all other Persons and circumstances. If it shall be found that any interest or other amount deemed interest due hereunder violates the applicable law governing usury, the applicable rate of interest due hereunder shall automatically be lowered to equal the maximum rate of interest permitted under applicable law.

 

(g) Next Business Day. Whenever any payment or other obligation hereunder shall be due on a day other than a Business Day, such payment shall be made on the next succeeding Business Day.

 

(h) Headings. The headings contained herein are for convenience only, do not constitute a part of this Certificate of Designation and shall not be deemed to limit or affect any of the provisions hereof.

 

(i) Status of Converted or Redeemed Series A Preferred Stock. Shares of Series A Preferred Stock may only be issued pursuant to the Stock Purchase Agreement or the Additional Agreements, as the same may be amended by the parties thereto from time to time. If any shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be converted, redeemed or reacquired by the Corporation, such shares shall resume the status of authorized but unissued shares of Preferred Stock and shall no longer be designated as Series A Preferred Stock.

 

[signature page follows]

 

C-8

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Certificate of Designation, which shall be made effective pursuant to the Certificate of Incorporation, is executed by the undersigned this ____ day of _____________, 2025.

 

  Signing Day Sports, Inc.
   
  By:                       
  Name: 
  Title:  

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 99.1

 

 

 

Signing Day Sports Executes Stock Purchase Agreement to Acquire Majority of Capital Stock of Dear Cashmere Group Holding Company d/b/a Swifty Global

 

Expected acquisition of Swifty Global would contribute strong historical financials and significant growth potential

 

SCOTTSDALE, Arizona, January 29, 2025 (NewMediaWire)- Signing Day Sports, Inc. (“Signing Day Sports” or the “Company”) (NYSE American: SGN), the developer of the Signing Day Sports app and platform to aid high school athletes in the recruitment process, today announced the signing of a Stock Purchase Agreement (SPA) to acquire 99.13% of the issued and outstanding capital stock of Dear Cashmere Group Holding Company (OTC: DRCR), doing business as Swifty Global.

 

Swifty Global is a global online sports and casino technologies company with a track record of revenue growth and profitability.

 

Swifty Global’s strengths and growth strategies are expected to contribute significantly to the Company’s growth potential, including:

 

Strong Financial Performance: Swifty Global achieved revenues of over $128 million and a net profit of approximately $2.44 million for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, despite significant investments of nearly $3.1 million in software development and licensing.

 

Global Expansion Targeting High Growth Markets: Swifty Global continues to expand its international gambling operations with significant growth opportunities on the horizon. This strategy aligns with the shared vision of both companies to target high-growth markets as a core component of our long-term strategy.

 

Rapid Development of New Revenue Generating Technologies: Swifty Global plans to offer data feed services for the online sports gambling industry in the near future. These services are currently expensive and limited in choice, as many sports, such as boxing, have until recently had limited or no live data feed available to allow real-time betting. The Signing Day Sports team has significant experience working with critical sports datapoints and creating sports measurement technologies, which could assist Swifty Global in developing this revenue stream.

 

Daniel Nelson, CEO of Signing Day Sports, commented, “We are thrilled to announce the signing of the SPA with Swifty Global, which reflects the shared vision and collaboration between our organizations. I extend my sincere appreciation to James Gibbons and Nick Link for their exceptional efforts throughout this process. We see the SPA as a significant step toward accelerated expansion, enabling us to leverage Swifty Global’s cutting-edge SaaS technology to enhance operational efficiency, reduce costs by over 50%, and accelerate product development. Together, we expect to increase user growth, retention, and new revenue opportunities while expanding into emerging markets across Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. Together, we are confident in our ability to build a stronger company, committed to innovation, positioned for global expansion, and powered by cutting-edge technology—delivering exceptional value to our shareholders and clients.”

 

 

 

 

“Following the closing of the SPA, Swifty Global will operate as a subsidiary of Signing Day Sports, with its financial results fully integrated into our operations. Signing Day Sports’ pre-closing business will likewise operate within a subsidiary of Signing Day Sports.”

 

James Gibbons, CEO of Swifty Global commented, “The Swifty Global team has worked extremely hard, demonstrating exceptional diligence and discipline in building an outstanding business with a solid foundation. We are excited about the future and look forward to working together to achieve great things.”

 

Terms of the Transaction

 

At the closing of the acquisition under the SPA, Signing Day Sports will acquire from James Gibbons and Nicolas Link (the “Sellers”) the common stock and preferred stock of Swifty Global held by them constituting 99.13% of the issued and outstanding capital stock of Swifty Global. Additional sellers holding Swifty Global common stock or preferred stock may enter into substantially identical agreements with Signing Day Sports and also sell their Swifty Global capital stock to Signing Day Sports, which would increase the aggregate percentage of Swifty Global acquired by Signing Day Sports.  

 

At the closing, the Sellers will receive a number of shares of Signing Day Sports common stock that is equal to 19.99% of the issued and outstanding common stock of Signing Day Sports as of the date of the SPA. The balance of the shares that Signing Day Sports must issue to the sellers will be in the form of convertible preferred stock that will have no voting or dividend rights until shareholder approval of conversion and the clearance of an initial listing application with The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”). Signing Day Sports legacy shareholders are expected to retain approximately 8.24% of the post-transaction company’s shares, with the remaining approximately 91.76% being issued to the sellers and the other stockholders of DRCR, based on the number of shares of Signing Day Sports common stock outstanding as of the date of the SPA, subject to adjustment as described below.

 

At the closing, James Gibbons will become the Chief Executive Officer of Signing Day Sports and remain the Chief Executive Officer of Swifty Global. Signing Day Sports management will remain the management of the Signing Day Sports subsidiary that will be established in connection with the acquisition. One Signing Day Sports executive director will resign, and Mr. Gibbons will be elected to the Signing Day Sports board.

 

After the closing, Signing Day Sports will consolidate Swifty Global’s financial statements and operate Swifty Global as a subsidiary. Signing Day Sports’ existing assets will be contributed into a newly formed subsidiary.

 

2

 

 

After the closing, Signing Day Sports will hold a shareholder meeting to, among other things, approve the conversion of the preferred stock issued to the Sellers into common stock, and elect a new board of directors of Signing Day Sports. If the stockholders approve the proposals, the Sellers’ Signing Day Sports preferred stock will convert into 19,782,720 shares of Signing Day Sports common stock. In addition, the board will continue to consist of five members, consisting of one board member nominated by Signing Day Sports, two independent directors and one executive director nominated by Swifty Global’s pre-closing board, and one independent director jointly nominated by both Signing Day Sports and Swifty Global jointly.

 

Signing Day Sports and Swifty Global will also seek all necessary stockholder, regulatory, and stock exchange consents or approvals, in order for Signing Day Sports to acquire the remaining outstanding equity ownership of Swifty Global not acquired from the Sellers under the SPA or additional stock purchase agreements through a merger of Swifty Global into Signing Day Sports or a wholly-owned subsidiary of Signing Day Sports (the “Merger”). Signing Day Sports will file a registration statement on Form S-4 relating to, among other things, the registration of the offer and sale of the shares of Signing Day Sports common stock to be issued to the stockholders of Swifty Global in the Merger.

 

Both Signing Day Sports and Swifty Global will collectively seek to raise at least $2.0 million in financing as soon as possible, with the proceeds split equally. These funds will be used for the operations of each of Signing Day Sports and Swifty Global, and the payment of outstanding liabilities of Signing Day Sports, such that there will be no material liabilities of Signing Day Sports remaining at the time of the conversion of the preferred stock.  If, at the effective time of the Merger, Signing Day Sports has any indebtedness for borrowed money or liabilities in excess of $150,000 relating to the period prior to the closing, then Signing Day Sports will issue to the legacy stockholders of Swifty Global, including the Sellers, as soon as practicable following the closing of the Merger, a number of shares of Signing Day Sports common stock equal to the aggregate Signing Day Sports liabilities divided by the Applicable Price Per Share (as defined in the SPA).

 

Both Signing Day Sports and Swifty Global will complete due diligence before the closing under the SPA. The closing is subject to the satisfaction or waiver of closing conditions, including, without limitation, conditional approval from Nasdaq of an initial listing application that has been filed with such exchange, and no assurance can be given that the closing will occur, or that post-closing requirements for the acquisition will be met.  From and after the closing, Signing Day Sports is expected to commence trading on the Nasdaq.

 

The sellers and the officers and directors of Signing Day Sports will be subject to a three-month lock-up period following the closing.

 

The SPA contains provisions for termination, representations, warranties, covenants, and mutual indemnification provisions.

 

Advisors to the transaction include Maxim Group LLC, which is serving as exclusive financial advisor to Swifty Global. Lucosky Brookman LLP is serving as counsel to Swifty Global. Bevilacqua PLLC is serving as counsel to Signing Day Sports. 

 

A copy of the SPA will be filed as an exhibit to a current report on Form 8-K to be filed by Signing Day Sports with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on or about the date of this press release. All parties desiring details regarding the terms and conditions of the proposed acquisition are urged to review that Form 8-K and the exhibits attached thereto, which will be available at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. 

 

3

 

 

Signing Day Sports

 

Signing Day Sports’ mission is to help student-athletes achieve their goal of playing college sports. Signing Day Sports’ app allows student-athletes to build their Signing Day Sports’ recruitment profile, which includes information college coaches need to evaluate and verify them through video technology. The Signing Day Sports app includes a platform to upload a comprehensive data set including video-verified measurables (such as height, weight, 40-yard dash, wingspan, and hand size), academic information (such as official transcripts and SAT/ACT scores), and technical skill videos (such as drills and mechanics that exemplify player mechanics, coordination, and development). For more information about Signing Day Sports, go to https://bit.ly/SigningDaySports.

 

Swifty Global

 

Swifty Global is a technology company operating out of London, New York and Dubai developing ground-breaking technology solutions in the gambling and betting sector. Swifty Global aims to drive shareholder value through accelerated innovation and enhanced usability of the products it develops. With licenses spanning several jurisdictions, Swifty Global has successfully brought to market a suite of offerings. This includes the company’s proprietary swipe betting sports prediction application, as well as its traditional sportsbook and casino gaming platform. For more information about Swifty Global, go to https://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/DRCR/profile.

Forward-Looking Statements

 

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” that are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, contained in this press release are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release may be identified by the use of words such as “may,” “could,” “will,” “should,” “would,” “expect,” “plan,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” “project” or “continue” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. These statements are only predictions. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements because they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, including without limitation, the Company’s ability to complete the acquisition of Swifty Global and integrate its business, the ability of the Company, the Sellers, and Swifty Global to obtain all necessary consents and approvals in connection with the acquisition, including Nasdaq clearance of an initial listing application in connection with the acquisition, obtain stockholder approval of the matters to be voted on at a stockholders’ meeting to approve matters required to be approved in connection with the SPA, the Company’s ability to obtain sufficient funding to maintain operations and develop additional services and offerings, market acceptance of the Company’s current products and services and planned offerings, competition from existing online and retail offerings or new offerings that may emerge, impacts from strategic changes to the Company’s business on its net sales, revenues, income from continuing operations, or other results of operations, the Company’s ability to attract new users and customers, increase the rate of subscription renewals, and slow the rate of user attrition, the Company’s ability to retain or obtain intellectual property rights, the Company’s ability to adequately support future growth, the Company’s ability to comply with user data privacy laws and other current or anticipated legal requirements, and the Company’s ability to attract and retain key personnel to manage its business effectively. These risks, uncertainties and other factors are described more fully in the section titled “Risk Factors” in the Company’s periodic reports which are filed with the SEC. These risks, uncertainties and other factors are, in some cases, beyond our control and could materially affect results. If one or more of these risks, uncertainties or other factors become applicable, or if our underlying assumptions prove to be incorrect, actual events or results may vary significantly from those implied or projected by the forward-looking statements. No forward-looking statement is a guarantee of future performance. Forward-looking statements contained in this announcement are made as of this date, and the Company undertakes no duty to update such information except as required under applicable law.

 

Investor Contact:

 

Crescendo Communications, LLC

212-671-1020

SGN@crescendo-ir.com

 

4

 

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Cover
Jan. 28, 2025
Cover [Abstract]  
Document Type 8-K
Amendment Flag false
Document Period End Date Jan. 28, 2025
Entity File Number 001-41863
Entity Registrant Name SIGNING DAY SPORTS, INC.
Entity Central Index Key 0001898474
Entity Tax Identification Number 87-2792157
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code DE
Entity Address, Address Line One 8355 East Hartford Rd.
Entity Address, Address Line Two Suite 100
Entity Address, City or Town Scottsdale
Entity Address, State or Province AZ
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code 85255
City Area Code 480
Local Phone Number 220-6814
Written Communications false
Soliciting Material false
Pre-commencement Tender Offer false
Pre-commencement Issuer Tender Offer false
Title of 12(b) Security Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share
Trading Symbol SGN
Security Exchange Name NYSEAMER
Entity Emerging Growth Company true
Elected Not To Use the Extended Transition Period false

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