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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 30, 2023

Registration No. 333-273372

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

 

AMENDMENT NO. 3

TO

FORM S-1

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER THE

SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

BIOLASE, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   3843   87-0442441
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
  (Primary Standard Industrial
Classification Code Number)
  (IRS Employer
Identification No.)

27042 Towne Centre Drive, Suite 270

Lake Forest, California 92610

(949) 361-1200

(Address, including zip code and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)

 

 

John R. Beaver

President and Chief Executive Officer

BIOLASE, Inc.

27042 Towne Centre Drive, Suite 270

Lake Forest, California 92610

(949) 361-1200

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

 

 

Copies to:

 

Leslie Marlow, Esq.

Patrick J. Egan, Esq.

Melissa Palat Murawsky, Esq.

Hank Gracin, Esq.

Blank Rome LLP

1271 Avenue of the Americas

New York, New York 10020

(212) 885-5000

 

David E. Danovitch, Esq.

Angela Gomes, Esq.

Aaron M. Schleicher, Esq.

Sullivan & Worcester LLP

1633 Broadway

New York, New York 10019

(212) 660-3060

 

 

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: As soon as practicable after this registration statement is declared effective.

If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, check the following box.  ☒

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ☐

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ☐

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer”, “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer      Accelerated filer  
Non-accelerated filer      Smaller reporting company  
     Emerging growth company  

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act.  ☐

 

 

The registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this registration statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.

 

 

 


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SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED AUGUST 30, 2023

 

PROSPECTUS

125,000 Units

Each Unit Consisting of One Share of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock

with a Liquidation Preference of $100.00 and

One Warrant to Purchase One-Half of

One Share of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock

                Shares of Common Stock Underlying the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock

Shares of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock Underlying the Warrants

 

LOGO

BIOLASE, Inc.

 

 

We are offering 125,000 units (“Units”) on a firm commitment basis, with each Unit consisting of one share of our Series J Convertible Redeemable Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share, with a liquidation preference of $100.00 per share (the “Series J Convertible Preferred Stock”), and one warrant to purchase one-half of one (0.50) share of our Series J Convertible Preferred Stock (each, a “Warrant”). The assumed public offering price for each Unit is $60.00. The Units have no stand-alone rights and will not be certificated or issued as stand-alone securities. The Series J Convertible Preferred Stock and Warrants are immediately separable and will be issued separately in this offering. The Warrants offered hereby will be immediately exercisable on the date of issuance and will expire one (1) year from the date of issuance.

The assumed public offering price of $60.00 per Unit reflects the issuance of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock with an original issue discount (“OID”) of 40%. The Series J Convertible Preferred Stock will not have voting rights, except as required by Delaware law and other limited circumstances.

Dividends on the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock shall be paid in-kind (“PIK dividends”) in additional shares of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock based on the stated value of $100.00 per share at an assumed dividend rate of 20.0% per annum (the “Dividend Rate”). The PIK dividends will be paid on a quarterly basis for one year following the issuance of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock payable to holders of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock of record at the close of business on October 31, 2023, January 31, 2024, April 30, 2024 and July 31, 2024 (the “Dividend Record Dates”) at the quarterly dividend rate of 5.0% (the “Quarterly Dividend Rate”). PIK dividends on each share of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock shall be paid three business days after the applicable Dividend Record Date in additional fully paid and nonassessable, registered shares of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock in a number equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (A) the product obtained by multiplying (i) the Quarterly Dividend Rate and (ii) the stated value of $100.00 per share, by (B) the public offering price per Unit (equal to $60.00, based on the assumed public offering price per Unit).

The Series J Convertible Preferred Stock has a term of one (1) year and is convertible at the option of the holder at any time into shares of our common stock at a conversion price that is the closing price of our common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market on the date on which the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part is declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission. The assumed fixed conversion price is $4.63, which assumed conversion price is based on the closing price of our common stock on August 29, 2023, and is subject to adjustment. The Series J Convertible Preferred Stock is redeemable under the circumstances described under “Description of the Securities We Are Offering—Description of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock—Redemption”.

This offering also includes the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock issuable from time to time upon exercise of the Warrants and shares of common stock issuable from time to time upon conversion of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock.

We refer to the shares of our Series J Convertible Preferred Stock, the shares of our common stock issuable upon conversion of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock, the Warrants and the shares of our Series J Convertible Preferred Stock issued or issuable upon exercise of the Warrants, collectively, as the securities.

Our common stock is traded on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “BIOL.” On August 29, 2023, the last reported sale price for our common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market was $4.63 per share. There is no established trading market for the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock or the Warrants and we do not expect a market to develop for the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock or the Warrants. We do not intend to apply to list the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock or the Warrants on the Nasdaq Capital Market or any other national securities exchange or any other nationally recognized trading system.

Investing in our securities involves substantial risks. Please read carefully the section entitled “Risk Factors” beginning on page 14 of this prospectus, as well as the other information included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, before buying any of our securities.

 

     Per Unit      Total  

Public offering price

   $                    $                

Underwriting discounts(1)

   $        $    

Proceeds to us before expenses(2)

   $        $    

 

(1)

We will reimburse the underwriters for certain expenses. See the section of this prospectus entitled “Underwriting” for additional disclosure regarding underwriting discounts, commissions and expenses.

(2)

The amount of offering proceeds to us presented in this table does not give effect to any exercise of the Warrants.

Delivery of the securities is expected to be made on or about                , 2023.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

 

Joint Bookrunners

 

LAKE STREET   MAXIM GROUP LLC

The date of this prospectus is                  , 2023.


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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

You should rely only on the information that we have provided or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, any related free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you and the other information to which we refer you. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different or additional information. We and the underwriters have not authorized anyone to give any information or to represent anything not contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any related free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you. If anyone provides you with different or additional information, you should not rely on it. You should assume that the information in this prospectus or any related free writing prospectus is accurate only as of the date on the cover of the document and that any information we have incorporated by reference is accurate only as of the date of the document incorporated by reference, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus or any related free writing prospectus, or any sale of a security. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.

We urge you to carefully read this prospectus, together with the information incorporated herein by reference as described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”

Persons who come into possession of this prospectus and any applicable free writing prospectus in jurisdictions outside the United States are required to inform themselves about and to observe any restrictions as to this offering and the distribution of this prospectus and any such free writing prospectus applicable to that jurisdiction. See “Underwriting” for additional information on these restrictions.

In this prospectus, unless otherwise specified or the context requires otherwise, we use the terms “BIOLASE,” “Company,” “we,” “us” and “our” or similar references to refer to BIOLASE, Inc., a Delaware corporation, together with its consolidated subsidiaries.

 

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INDUSTRY AND MARKET DATA

Market data and certain industry data and forecasts used throughout this prospectus were obtained from sources we believe to be reliable, including market research databases, publicly available information, reports of governmental agencies and industry publications and surveys. We have relied on certain data from third-party sources, including internal surveys, industry forecasts and market research, which we believe to be reliable based on our management’s knowledge of the industry. Forecasts are particularly likely to be inaccurate, especially over long periods of time. In addition, we do not necessarily know what assumptions regarding general economic growth were used in preparing the third-party forecasts we cite. Statements as to our market position are based on the most currently available data. While we are not aware of any misstatements regarding the industry data presented in this prospectus, our estimates involve risks and uncertainties and are subject to change based on various factors, including those discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” in this prospectus.

 

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PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

This summary contains basic information about us and this offering. Because it is a summary, it does not contain all of the information that you should consider before deciding to invest in our securities. Before you decide to invest in our securities, you should read this entire prospectus carefully, any related free writing prospectus that we have authorized for use in connection with the offering and the documents incorporated by reference herein, including the information included under the heading titled “Risk Factors.” Unless otherwise noted, all share and per share information relating to our common stock in this prospectus has been adjusted to reflect the 1-for-100 2023 Reverse Stock Split (as defined below) effected on July 27, 2023.

Our Company

BIOLASE, Inc. (“BIOLASE” and, together with its consolidated subsidiaries, the “Company,” “we,” “our”, “us” or “its”) is a leading provider of advanced laser systems for the dental industry. We develop, manufacture, market, and sell laser systems that provide significant benefits for dental practitioners and their patients. Our proprietary systems allow dentists, periodontists, endodontists, pediatric dentists, oral surgeons, and other dental specialists to perform a broad range of minimally invasive dental procedures, including cosmetic, restorative, and complex surgical applications. Our laser systems are designed to provide clinically superior results for many types of dental procedures compared to those achieved with drills, scalpels and other conventional instruments. Potential patient benefits include less pain, fewer shots, faster healing, decreased fear and anxiety, and fewer appointments. Potential practitioner benefits include improved patient care and the ability to perform a higher volume and wider variety of procedures.

We offer two categories of laser system products: Waterlase (all-tissue) systems and diode (soft-tissue) systems. Our flagship brand, the Waterlase, uses a patented combination of water and laser energy and is U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) cleared for over 80 clinical indications to perform most procedures currently performed using drills, scalpels, and other traditional dental instruments for cutting soft and hard tissue. For example, Waterlase safely debrides implants without damaging or significantly affecting surface temperature and is an effective, safe solution for preserving sick implants. In addition, Waterlase disinfects root canals more efficiently than some traditional chemical methods. We offer our diode laser systems to perform soft tissue, pain therapy, and cosmetic procedures, including teeth whitening. As of December 31, 2022, we maintained approximately 259 active and 24 pending United States and international patents, with the majority relating to our Waterlase technology. Our patent portfolio is regularly evaluated, and we strategically prioritize our core patents to ensure optimal Intellectual Property coverage while minimizing annual maintenance fees. From 1998 through December 31, 2022, we have sold over 45,500 laser systems in over 80 countries around the world, and we believe that Waterlase iPlus is the world’s best-selling all-tissue dental laser. Since 1998, we have been the global leading innovator, manufacturer, and marketer of dental laser systems.

Our Waterlase systems precisely cut hard tissue, bone, and soft tissue with minimal or no damage to surrounding tissue and dental structures. Our diode systems, which include the Epic system, are designed to complement our Waterlase systems and are used only in soft tissue procedures, pain therapy, hygiene, and cosmetic applications, including teeth whitening. The diode systems, together with our Waterlase systems, offer practitioners a broad product line with a range of features and price points.

We also manufacture and sell consumable products and accessories for our laser systems. Our Waterlase and diode systems use disposable laser tips of differing sizes and shapes, depending on the procedure being performed. We also market flexible fibers and hand pieces that dental practitioners replace at some point after initially purchasing laser systems. For our Epic line of diode laser systems, we sell teeth whitening gel kits. During the quarter ended June 30, 2023, the sale of lasers accounted for approximately 61% of our total sales, and consumables, accessories, and services accounted for approximately 39% of our total sales.

 

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Due to the limitations associated with traditional and alternative dental instruments, we believe there is a large market opportunity for all-tissue dental laser systems that provide superior clinical outcomes, reduce the need to use anesthesia, help reduce trauma, pain, and discomfort associated with dental procedures, and increase patient acceptance for treatment protocols.

Our strategy is to increase awareness and demand for (i) our products among dental practitioners by educating dental practitioners and patients about the clinical benefits of our product suite and (ii) our laser systems among patients by educating patients about the clinical benefits of the Waterlase and diode systems. An important goal of ours is to increase consumables revenue by selling more single-use accessories used by dental practitioners when performing procedures using our dental laser systems. In the short term, we are striving for operating excellence through lean enterprise initiatives, with a specific focus on our sales strategy and cash flow management, coupled with optimizing our engineering capabilities to develop innovative new products.

We also seek to create value through innovation and leveraging existing technologies into adjacent medical applications. We plan to expand our product line and clinical applications by developing enhancements and transformational innovations, including new clinical solutions for dental applications and for other adjacent medical applications. In particular, we believe that our existing technologies can provide significant improvements over existing standards of care in fields including ophthalmology, otolaryngology, orthopedics, podiatry, pain management, aesthetics/dermatology, veterinary, and consumer products. We plan to continue to explore potential collaborations to apply our proprietary laser technologies with expanded FDA-cleared indications to other medical applications in the future.

Our primary marketing message to dental practitioners focuses on the ability of our lasers to resolve dental challenges and deliver improved cash flow, which can be realized with improved patient-reported outcomes. BIOLASE Education is a leader in educating and training dental practitioners in laser dentistry. We believe that, as the community of dental practitioners that use our products expands, BIOLASE Education will continue to deliver innovative and valued educational opportunities by utilizing the latest in learning methodologies and platforms. In addition, the World Clinical Laser Institute conducts and sponsors educational programs internationally on the use of lasers in dentistry. These are intended for dental practitioners, researchers and academicians and include both seminars and hands-on training sessions. BIOLASE has also developed a “Waterlase Academy” for Endodontists, Periodontists, Pediatric specialists and general practitioners, and an Epic Diode Academy for both dental hygienists and dentists. These academies are designed to foster peer-to-peer learning on the appropriate and effective use of our products.

In 2021, we designed, developed, received FDA clearance for and began production of a laser using our proprietary Er,Cr:YSGG laser technology in partnership with EdgeEndo, a leading endodontic company. The EdgePro is a state-of-the-art microfluidic irrigation device designed to clean and disinfect root canals. The partnership with EdgeEndo is our first exclusive OEM agreement.

We had net revenues of $14.3 million and $24.8 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023, respectively, and net revenues of $12.2 million and $22.4 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022, respectively. We had net losses of $4.9 million and $10.7 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023, respectively, and $5.6 million and $10.4 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022, respectively. We had total assets of $39.6 million and $38.2 million as of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively.

For additional information about our Company, please refer to other documents we have filed with the SEC and that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus, as listed under the heading “Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference”.

 

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Recent Developments

Compliance with Nasdaq Listing Requirements/Reverse Stock Split

On January 11, 2023, we received a deficiency letter from the Listing Qualifications Department (the “Staff”) of the Nasdaq Stock Market (“Nasdaq”) notifying us that, for the last 30 consecutive business days, ending on January 10, 2023, the bid price for our common stock had closed below the minimum $1.00 per share requirement for continued inclusion on the Nasdaq Capital Market pursuant to Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(a)(2) (the “Bid Price Rule”). In accordance with Nasdaq rules, we were provided an initial period of 180 calendar days, or until July 10, 2023, to regain compliance with the Bid Price Rule.

On June 8, 2023, we were notified by the Staff of Nasdaq that we did not meet the minimum closing bid price requirement of $1.00 for continued listing, as set forth in the Bid Price Rule, as the Staff has determined that as of June 8, 2023, our common stock had a closing bid price of $0.10 or less for ten consecutive trading days, from May 24, 2023 through June 7, 2023. As a result, the Staff determined to delist our common stock from the Nasdaq Capital Market and to suspend trading of our common stock at the opening of business on June 20, 2023, and file a Form 25-NSE with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). We timely requested a hearing to appeal this determination, which stayed the suspension of our common stock pending the panel’s decision.

We subsequently requested that the Nasdaq Hearings Panel (the “Panel”) grant us a temporary exception to regain compliance with the Bid Price Rule. On July 5, 2023, the Panel granted us an exception until August 11, 2023 to demonstrate bid price compliance subject to us taking the following actions: (i) on July 20, 2023, we shall obtain stockholder approval for a reverse stock split at a ratio that is sufficient to regain and maintain long term compliance with the Bid Price Rule; (ii) on or before July 31, 2023, we shall effect a reverse stock split and, thereafter, maintain a $1.00 closing bid price for a minimum of ten consecutive business days; and (iii) as of August 11, 2023, we have demonstrated compliance with the Bid Price Rule, by evidencing a closing bid price of $1.00 or more per share for a minimum of ten consecutive trading sessions. As of the date of this prospectus, we have not been notified by Nasdaq regarding our status regarding compliance with the Bid Price Rule; however, we will file a Current Report on Form 8-K if and when we receive such notification.

On July 20, 2023, our stockholders approved a proposal at our special meeting of stockholders (the “Special Meeting”) further amending our Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended (the “Certificate of Incorporation”), to effect a reverse stock split of our common stock at a ratio between one-for-two (1:2) and one-for-one hundred (1:100), without reducing the authorized number of our shares of common stock. Following the Special Meeting, our Board of Directors approved a final split ratio of one-for-one hundred (1:100). Following such approval, on July 26, 2023, we filed an amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware to effect the reverse stock split, with an effective time of 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on July 27, 2023 (the “2023 Reverse Stock Split”). Our common stock began trading on Nasdaq on a split-adjusted basis beginning on July 28, 2023. Unless otherwise noted, all share and per share information relating to our common stock in this prospectus has been adjusted to reflect the 1-for-100 2023 Reverse Stock Split.

On August 14, 2023, we received a letter from the Nasdaq Office of General Counsel confirming the decision of the Panel that we currently demonstrate compliance with the requirements for continued listing on The Nasdaq Capital Market.

2023 Public Offerings

On January 12, 2023, we completed an underwritten public offering (the “January 2023 Offering”), pursuant to which we issued, (i) 171,678 shares of our common stock and (ii) pre-funded warrants to purchase 114,035 shares of our common stock with an exercise price of $0.10 per share. We received aggregate gross proceeds from the January 2023 Offering of approximately $9.9 million, before deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and other transaction expenses payable by us. Lake Street Capital Markets, LLC acted as the representative of the underwriters in the January 2023 Offering.

 

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On May 26, 2023, we completed an underwritten public offering (the “May 2023 Offering”) pursuant to which we issued 175,000 units (the “Series H Units”), with each Series H Unit consisting of one share of Series H Convertible Redeemable Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share, with a liquidation preference of $50.00 per share (the “Series H Convertible Preferred Stock”), and one warrant (the “Series H Warrants”) to purchase one-half of one (0.50) share of Series H Convertible Preferred Stock at an exercise price of $26.00 per whole share (on a pre-2023 Reverse Stock Split basis). We received aggregate gross proceeds from the May 2023 Offering of approximately $4.6 million, before deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and other transaction expenses payable by us. Lake Street Capital Markets, LLC and Maxim Group LLC acted as joint bookrunner in the May 2023 Offering.

Series I Preferred Stock

On June 5, 2023, our board of directors (“Board”) declared a dividend of one one-thousandth of a share of Series I Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share (“Series I Preferred Stock”), for each outstanding share of common stock to stockholders of record at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on June 16, 2023 (as calculated on a pre-2023 Reverse Stock Split basis). The outstanding shares of Series I Preferred Stock will vote together with the outstanding shares of our common stock, as a single class, exclusively with respect to a reverse stock split and will not be entitled to vote on any other matter, except to the extent required under the Delaware General Corporation Law. Subject to certain limitations, each outstanding share of Series I Preferred Stock will have 1,000,000 votes per share (or 1,000 votes per one one-thousandth of a share of Series I Preferred Stock). All shares of Series I Preferred Stock that are not present in person or by proxy at the meeting of stockholders held to vote on the reverse stock split as of immediately prior to the opening of the polls at such meeting were automatically redeemed by us. Any outstanding shares of Series I Preferred Stock that were not so redeemed were redeemed automatically upon the effectiveness of the amendment to our Certificate of Incorporation effecting the 2023 Reverse Stock Split.

Summary of the Material and Other Risks Associated with Our Business

Our business is subject to numerous material and other risks and uncertainties that you should be aware of in evaluating our business. These risks include, but are not limited to, the following:

 

   

Management will have broad discretion over the use of the net proceeds from this offering, you may not agree with how we use the proceeds and the proceeds may not be invested successfully.

 

   

You may experience future dilution as a result of future equity offerings and other issuances of our common stock or other securities. In addition, this offering and future equity offerings and other issuances of our common stock or other securities may adversely affect our common stock price.

 

   

There is no public market for the Warrants offered in this offering, which are speculative, and the holders of the Warrants will not have the rights of holders of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock until such Warrants are exercised.

 

   

The market price of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock may be volatile and may fluctuate in a way that is disproportionate to our operating performance.

 

   

The terms of our Series J Convertible Preferred Stock could prohibit us from issuing additional equity because of the significant dilutive effects on our common stock.

 

   

Mandatory redemption obligations may make it more difficult for a party to acquire us or discourage a party from acquiring us.

 

   

We may incur additional indebtedness and obligations to pay dividends on preferred stock, some of which may be senior to the rights of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock.

 

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The Series J Convertible Preferred Stock is a new issue of securities, does not have an established trading market and we do not intend to list the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock on any national securities exchange or other nationally recognized trading system, including the Nasdaq, which may negatively affect its value and your ability to transfer and sell your shares.

 

   

Market interest rates may adversely affect the value of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock.

 

   

The amount of the liquidation preference on the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock is fixed and investors in this offering that receive shares of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock will have no right to receive any greater payment.

 

   

There may be future sales of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock or similar securities, which may adversely affect the market price of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock.

 

   

Raising additional funds through debt or equity financing could be dilutive and may cause the market price of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock to decline.

 

   

The voting rights of holders of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock are limited.

 

   

Dividends or other payments with respect to the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock may be subject to withholding taxes in circumstances where we are not obliged to make gross up payments, and this could result in holders receiving less than expected in such circumstances.

 

   

The Series J Convertible Preferred Stock has not been rated.

 

   

The COVID-19 pandemic has adversely affected, and may continue to adversely affect, our business, results of operations and financial condition.

 

   

There is substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern due to our accumulated deficit, recurring and negative cash flow from operations.

 

   

We have experienced net losses for each of the past several years, and we could experience additional losses and have difficulty achieving profitability in the future.

 

   

We may need to raise additional capital in the future, and if we are unable to secure adequate funds on terms acceptable to us, we could be unable to execute our business plan.

 

   

Dentists and patients have been hesitant in adopting laser technologies, and our inability to overcome this hesitation could limit the market acceptance of our products and our market share.

 

   

Any failure in our efforts to train dental practitioners could result in the misuse of our products, reduce the market acceptance of our products and have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

 

   

If future data proves to be inconsistent with our clinical results or if competitors’ products present more favorable results, our revenues could decline and our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected.

 

   

We could be subject to significant warranty obligations if our products are defective, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

 

   

Product liability claims against us could be costly and could harm our reputation.

 

   

Our manufacturing operations are consolidated primarily in one facility. A disruption at this facility could result in a prolonged interruption of our business and have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

   

If third parties claim that we infringe their intellectual property rights, we could incur liabilities and costs and have to redesign or discontinue selling certain products, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

 

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Changes in government regulation, failure to comply with government regulation or the inability to obtain or maintain necessary government approvals could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

 

   

Our products are subject to recalls and other regulatory actions after receiving FDA clearance or approval.

 

   

Failure to meet Nasdaq’s continued listing requirements could result in the delisting of our common stock, negatively impact the price of our common stock and negatively impact our ability to raise additional capital.

 

   

The trading price of our common stock price has been, and could continue to be, volatile.

Corporate Information

We were originally formed as Societe Endo Technic, SA (“SET”) in 1984 in Marseilles, France, to develop and market various endodontic and laser products. In 1987, SET merged into Pamplona Capital Corp., a public holding company incorporated in Delaware. In 1994, we changed our name to BIOLASE Technology, Inc. and in 2012, we changed our name to BIOLASE, Inc.

Our principal executive offices are located at 27042 Towne Centre Drive, Suite 270, Lake Forest, California 92610. Our telephone number is (949) 361-1200. Additional information can be found on our website, at www.biolase.com, and in our periodic and current reports filed with the SEC. Copies of our current and periodic reports filed with the SEC are available to the public on a website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov, and on our website at www.biolase.com/sec-filings. No portion of our website is incorporated by reference into this prospectus.

 

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THE OFFERING

 

Units offered by us

125,000 Units, each consisting of one share of our Series J Convertible Preferred Stock and one Warrant to purchase one-half of one share (0.5) of our Series J Convertible Preferred Stock. The Units have no stand-alone rights and will not be certificated or issued as stand-alone securities. The Series J Convertible Preferred Stock and Warrants are immediately separable and will be issued separately in this offering.

 

Series J Convertible Preferred Stock - Original Issue Discount

The assumed public offering price of $60.00 per Unit reflects the issuance of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock with an original issue discount (“OID”) of 40% of the Stated Value ($100.00).

 

Series J Convertible Preferred Stock - Maturity Date

The Series J Convertible Preferred Stock matures one (1) year from the original issue date.

 

Series J Convertible Preferred Stock - Conversion Rights

Each share of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock is convertible at the option of the holder at any time into shares of our common stock at a fixed assumed Conversion Price of $4.63, which Conversion Price is subject to adjustment. The assumed Conversion Price is based on the closing price of our common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market on August 29, 2023. The Conversion Price is subject to adjustment for: (i) the payment of stock dividends or other distributions payable in common stock on the outstanding shares of our common stock, excluding the shares of common stock issuable upon the conversion of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock; and (ii) subdivisions and combinations (including by way of a reverse stock split).

 

  The offering also relates to the shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock.

 

  See “Description of the Securities We Are Offering—Description of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock—Conversion”.

 

Series J Convertible Preferred Stock - Mandatory Conversion

If any shares of our Series J Convertible Preferred Stock are outstanding at the end of the one (1) year term, then we shall promptly redeem all of such outstanding shares of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock on a pro rata basis among all of the holders of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock commencing on the one-year anniversary of the original issue date in cash at a price per share of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock equal to the sum of (x) 100% of the Stated Value plus (y) all other amounts due in respect of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock.

 

  See “Description of the Securities We Are Offering—Description of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock—Mandatory Redemption”.

 

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Series J Convertible Preferred Stock - Dividends

The Certificate of Designation shall provide that dividends on the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock shall be paid in-kind (“PIK dividends”) in additional shares of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock based on the stated value of $100.00 per share at an assumed Dividend Rate of 20.0% per annum. The PIK dividends will be paid on a quarterly basis for one year following the issuance of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock payable to holders of the Series J Convertible Preferred of record at the close of business at the end of October 31, 2023, January 31, 2024, April 30, 2024 and July 31, 2024 (each a “Dividend Record Date”) at the quarterly dividend rate of 5.0% (the “Quarterly Dividend Rate”). PIK dividends on each share of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock shall be paid within three business days of each Dividend Record Date in additional fully paid and nonassessable, registered shares of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock in a number equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (A) the product obtained by multiplying (i) the Quarterly Dividend Rate and (ii) the stated value of $100.00 per share, by (B) the public offering price per Unit (equal to $60.00, based on the assumed public offering price set forth on the cover page of the prospectus).

 

  This offering also relates to the shares of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock issuable as PIK dividends and the shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock.

 

  See “Description of the Securities We Are Offering—Description of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock—Dividends”.

 

Series J Convertible Preferred Stock - Limited Voting Rights

Holders of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock will not have any voting rights, except as described below or as otherwise required by law.

 

  In any matter in which the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock may vote (as expressly provided herein or as may be required by law), each share of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock will be entitled to one vote per share. So long as any shares of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock remain outstanding, we will not, without the consent or the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock, given in person or by proxy, either in writing without a meeting or by vote at any meeting called for the purpose:

 

  (i)

alter or change adversely the powers, preferences or rights given to the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock or alter or amend the Certificate of Designation;

 

  (ii)

increase the number of authorized shares of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock; or

 

  (iii)

enter into any agreement with respect to any of the foregoing.

 

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  See “Description of the Securities We Are Offering—Description of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock—Limited Voting Rights”.

 

Series J Convertible Preferred Stock - Liquidation Rights

In the event of the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our affairs, the holders of shares of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock will be entitled to be paid out of our assets legally available for distribution to our stockholders (i.e., after satisfaction of all our liabilities to creditors, if any) and, subject to the rights of holders of any shares of each other class or series of capital stock ranking, as to rights to the distribution of assets upon our voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding-up, senior to the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock, a liquidation preference of $100.00 per share, before any distribution or payment may be made to holders of shares of common stock or any other class or series of our capital stock ranking, as to rights to the distribution of assets upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up, junior to the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock.

 

  See “Description of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock—Liquidation Preference”.

 

Series J Convertible Preferred Stock - Fundamental Transactions

In the event of a Fundamental Transaction (as defined in the Certificate of Designation) and generally including any reorganization, recapitalization or reclassification of our common stock, the sale, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of our assets, our consolidation or merger with or into another person, or the acquisition of more than 50% of our outstanding common stock, the holders of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive upon conversion of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock the kind and amount of securities, cash or other property that the holders would have received had they converted the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock immediately prior to such Fundamental Transaction (without regard to the Beneficial Ownership Limitation).

 

  See “Description of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock—Fundamental Transactions”.

 

Warrants

Each Warrant will have an exercise price of $30.00 (50% of the public offering price per Unit) per one-half of one share of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock, be exercisable for one-half of one (0.5) share of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock, will be immediately exercisable and will expire one year from the date of issuance. No fractional shares will be issued in connection with the exercise of a Warrant. In lieu of fractional shares, we will pay the holder an amount in cash equal to the fractional amount multiplied by the Stated Value. The terms of the Warrants will be governed by a Warrant Agency Agreement, dated as of the closing date of this offering, between us and Computershare Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its

 

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affiliate, Computershare Trust Company, N.A., a federal trust company, and any successor warrant agent under thereunder (collectively, the “Warrant Agent”). To better understand the terms of the Warrants, you should carefully read the “Description of the Securities We are Offering—Warrants” section of this prospectus. You should also read the form of Warrant and form of Warrant Agency Agreement, both of which are filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. This offering also relates to the shares of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants.

 

Common stock outstanding prior to the offering

1,043,752 shares

 

Common stock outstanding immediately after the offering

Approximately 6,621,626 shares based on an assumed conversion price of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock of $4.63 (assuming conversion of all of the shares of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock issued in this Offering, including conversion of the PIK dividend shares and the shares of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock issued upon exercise of the Warrants).

 

Use of proceeds

We estimate that the net proceeds to us from the offering will be approximately $6.5 million (calculated based on an assumed price per Unit of $60.00 per Unit), after deducting the underwriting discount and estimated offering expenses payable by us, and assuming no exercise of Warrants. We intend to use the proceeds of this offering for working capital and for general corporate purposes. See “Use of Proceeds” for a more complete description of the intended use of proceeds from this offering.

 

Nasdaq Stock Market symbol

Our common stock is currently listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “BIOL.” There is no established public trading market for the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock or the Warrants, and we do not expect a market to develop for the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock or Warrants. We do not intend to list the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock or the Warrants on the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC or any other national securities exchange or other nationally recognized trading system. Without an active trading market, the liquidity of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock and the Warrants will be limited.

 

Transfer agent and Warrant agent

The registrar, transfer agent and dividend and redemption price disbursing agent in respect of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock and the warrant agent for the Warrants will be Computershare Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its affiliate, Computershare Trust Company, N.A.

 

Risk factors

Investing in our securities involves substantial risks. Please read carefully the section entitled “Risk Factors” beginning on page 14 of

 

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this prospectus, as well as the other information included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, before buying any of our securities.

 

Form

The Series J Convertible Preferred Stock and the Warrants will be represented by one or more global certificates in definitive, fully registered form deposited with a custodian for, and registered in the name of, a nominee of The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”).

 

Settlement

Delivery of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock and the Warrants offered hereby will be made against payment therefor through the book-entry facilities of the DTC.

 

Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences

For a discussion of certain U.S. federal income tax consequences of purchasing, owning and disposing of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock and Warrants, please see the section entitled “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences.” You should consult your independent tax advisor with respect to the U.S. federal income tax consequences of owning the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock and Warrants in light of your own particular situation and with respect to any tax consequences arising under the laws of any other taxing jurisdiction.

The number of shares of our common stock that will be outstanding immediately after this offering as shown above is based on 1,043,752 shares outstanding as of August 25, 2023, and excludes:

 

   

555 shares of our common stock issuable upon the exercise of stock options, with a weighted-average exercise price of $7,416.82 per share;

 

   

58,451 shares of our common stock issuable upon the settlement of outstanding restricted stock units;

 

   

262,354 shares of our common stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding warrants, with a weighted-average exercise price of $64.34 per share;

 

   

3,499 shares of our common stock that may be issued, at the sole discretion of our board of directors, upon the settlement of outstanding phantom restricted stock units, which may also be settled, at the sole discretion of our board of directors, in cash;

 

   

239 shares of our common stock that may be issued, at the sole discretion of our board of directors, upon the settlement of outstanding stock appreciation rights, which may also be settled, at the sole discretion of our board of directors, in cash;

 

   

44,219 additional shares of our common stock reserved for future issuance under our 2018 Long-Term Incentive Plan; and

 

   

17,883 shares of our common stock issuable upon the conversion of outstanding shares of Series H Convertible Preferred Stock.

Except as otherwise noted, all information in this prospectus assumes:

 

   

the conversion of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock sold in this offering; and

 

   

no exercise of the Warrants issued in connection with this offering.

 

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SUMMARY CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA

The following summary consolidated financial data as of December 31, 2022, and for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, have been derived from our audited consolidated financial statements and the related notes included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 filed with the SEC on March 28, 2023, which is incorporated by reference in this prospectus (the “Form 10-K”). The summary statements of operations data for the three months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022 and the summary balance sheet data as of June 30, 2023 were derived from our unaudited financial statements included in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2023 filed with the SEC on August 10, 2023, which is incorporated by reference in this prospectus (the “Form 10-Q”).

You should read this table in conjunction with “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and our consolidated financial statements and related notes and the other financial and statistical information included in our Form 10-K and Form 10-Q, which are incorporated by reference in this prospectus. See the section in this prospectus entitled “Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference” for more information regarding documents incorporated by reference herein. The summary consolidated financial and other data provided below does not purport to indicate results of operations as of any future date or for any future period.

 

     For the Six Months
Ended June 30,

(unaudited)
    For the Years Ended
December 31,
 
     2023     2022     2022     2021  
     (In thousands, except per share amounts)  

Statement of Operations Data:

        

Net revenues

   $ 24,753     $ 22,401     $ 48,462     $ 39,188  

Gross profit

     9,454       9,870       15,911       16,529  

Loss from operations

     (9,164     (9,260     (25,338     (16,431

Loss before income tax provision

     (10,686     (10,346     (28,525     (16,093

Net loss attributable to common stockholders

   $ (10,717   $ (10,386   $ (28,851   $ (16,704

Net loss per share attributable to common stockholders Basic and Diluted (unaudited)

   $ (24.52   $ (173.82   $ (416.32   $ (282.65

 

     As of June 30, 2023  
     Actual      As Adjusted(1)  
     (unaudited)  
     (in thousands)  

Balance Sheet Data:

     

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 6,930      $ 13,383  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 39,633      $ 46,086  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total term loan, net

   $ 14,002      $ 14,002  

Total mezzanine equity

   $ 720      $ 720  

Total stockholders’ equity

   $ 6,621      $ 6,621  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1)

Reflects, on an as adjusted basis, the impact to assets of the sale and issuance by us of 125,000 Units, each consisting of one share of our Series J Convertible Preferred Stock and one Warrant to purchase one-half of one (0.5) share of our Series J Convertible Preferred Stock in this offering, at an assumed public offering price of $60.00 per Unit (assuming no conversion of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock and no exercise of the Warrants issued in connection with this offering). The as adjusted balance does not include Series J Convertible Redeemable Preferred Stock classified as liability, mezzanine equity or stockholders’ equity due to indeterminate conversion activity to take place upon issuance.

 

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At the 2022 annual meeting of our stockholders (the “2022 Annual Meeting”), our stockholders approved an amendment to our certificate of incorporation to effect a reverse stock split of our common stock at a ratio ranging from one-for-two (1:2) to one-for-twenty-five (1:25), with the final ratio to be determined by our Board. Immediately after the 2022 Annual Meeting, our Board approved a one-for-twenty-five (1:25) reverse stock split of the outstanding shares of our common stock (the “2022 Reverse Stock Split”). On April 28, 2022, we filed an amendment to our certificate of incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware (the “Amendment”) to effect the 2022 Reverse Stock Split, effective as of 11:59 p.m. on April 28, 2022. The Amendment did not change the number of authorized shares of our common stock.

On July 20, 2023, our stockholders approved a proposal at the Special Meeting further amending our Certificate of Incorporation to effect a reverse stock split of our common stock at a ratio between one-for-two (1:2) and one-for-one hundred (1:100), without reducing the authorized number of our shares of common stock. Following the Special Meeting, our Board of Directors approved a final split ratio of one-for-one hundred (1:100). Following such approval, on July 26, 2023, we filed an amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware to effect the 2023 Reverse Stock Split with an effective time of 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on July 27, 2023. Our common stock began trading on Nasdaq on a split-adjusted basis beginning on July 28, 2023. Unless otherwise noted, all share and per share information relating to our common stock in this prospectus has been adjusted to reflect the 1-for-100 2023 Reverse Stock Split. The amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation did not change the number of authorized shares of our common stock.

Net loss per share attributable to common stockholders, basic and diluted, has been derived from our audited financial statements contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021 and reflects herein the shares issued based on the 1-for-100 2023 Reverse Stock Split.

 

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RISK FACTORS

Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the risks described below and all of the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, including the risk factors described in our Form 10-K, our Form 10-Q and any subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and all other information contained or incorporated by reference into this prospectus before deciding whether to purchase the securities offered hereby. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects could be materially and adversely affected by these risks.

Risks Related to This Offering

Our management will have broad discretion over the use of the net proceeds from this offering, you may not agree with how we use the proceeds and the proceeds may not be invested successfully.

Our management will have broad discretion as to the use of the net proceeds from this offering and could use them for purposes other than those contemplated at the time of commencement of this offering. Accordingly, you will be relying on the judgment of our management regarding the use of these net proceeds, and you will not have the opportunity, as part of your investment decision, to assess whether the proceeds are being used appropriately. It is possible that, pending their use, we may invest the net proceeds in a way that does not yield a favorable, or any, return for us. The failure of our management to use such funds effectively could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, operating results and cash flows.

You may experience future dilution as a result of future equity offerings and other issuances of our common stock or other securities. In addition, this offering and future equity offerings and other issuances of our common stock or other securities may adversely affect our common stock price.

In order to raise additional capital, we may in the future offer additional shares of our common stock or other securities convertible into or exchangeable for our common stock at prices that may not be the same as the price per Unit in this offering. We may not be able to sell shares or other securities in any other offering at a price per share that is equal to or greater than the price per Unit paid by the investor in this offering, and investors purchasing shares or other securities in the future could have rights superior to existing stockholders. The price per share at which we sell additional shares of our common stock or securities convertible into common stock in future transactions may be higher or lower than the price per Unit in this offering. You will incur dilution upon exercise of any outstanding stock options, warrants or upon the issuance of shares of common stock under our stock incentive programs. In addition, the sale of securities in this offering, the conversion of the shares of Series H Convertible Preferred Stock that remain outstanding into common stock, the conversion of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock into common stock, the exercise of the Warrants into shares of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock and any future sales of a substantial number of shares of our common stock in the public market, or the perception that such sales may occur, could adversely affect the price of our common stock. As of June 30, 2023, an aggregate of approximately 42,200 shares of common stock were reserved for issuance under our equity incentive plans, approximately 300 of which were subject to options outstanding, 60,300 of which were subject to restricted stock units outstanding or expected to be issued as of that date, 200 stock appreciation rights outstanding and 3,600 phantom restricted stock units outstanding or expected to be issued as of that date. In addition, as of June 30, 2023, approximately 262,400 shares of our common stock were subject to warrants at a weighted-average exercise price of $64.34 per share. In June 2022, 726,660 pre-funded warrants and 1,405,405 warrants were issued; in January 2023, an additional 11,403,571 pre-funded warrants were issued and in May 2023, 175,000 share of Series H Convertible Preferred Stock and 175,000 Series H Warrants to purchase one-half of one (0.50) share of Series H Convertible Preferred Stock were issued (on a pre-2023 Reverse Stock Split basis). To the extent that outstanding warrants or options are exercised or the convertible preferred stock is converted, our existing stockholders could experience dilution. We rely heavily on equity awards to motivate current employees and to attract new employees. The grant of future equity awards by us to our employees and other service providers could further dilute our stockholders’ interests in the Company.

 

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We cannot predict the effect, if any, that market sales of those shares of common stock or the availability of those shares for sale will have on the market price of our common stock.

We need to raise capital in this offering to support our operations. If we are unable to raise capital in this offering, our financial position will be materially adversely impacted.

We have historically experienced losses from operations. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2023, we had a net loss of $4.9 million and $10.7 million, respectively. From our inception through June 30, 2023, we had an accumulated deficit of $306.9 million. We believe that current cash on hand, prior to the receipt of any proceeds from this offering, is not sufficient to fund operations beyond twelve months. If we were to receive net proceeds of approximately $6.5 million from this offering, we believe that the net proceeds from this offering, together with our existing cash and cash equivalents, will meet our capital needs into the second half of 2024. In order to continue our proposed operations beyond that date, we will need to either achieve a significant level of continuing cash flow from operations or raise additional funds through the issuance of equity or debt securities in the public or private markets, or through a collaborative arrangement or sale of assets. Additional financing opportunities may not be available to us, or if available, may not be on favorable terms. The availability of financing opportunities will depend, in part, on market conditions, and the outlook for our business. Any future issuance of equity securities or securities convertible into equity securities could result in substantial dilution to our stockholders, and the securities issued in such a financing could have rights, preferences or privileges senior to those of our common stock. In addition, if we raise additional funds through debt financing, we could be subject to debt covenants that place limitations on our operations. We could not be able to raise additional capital on reasonable terms, or at all, or we could use capital more rapidly than anticipated. If we cannot raise the required capital when needed, we may not be able to satisfy the demands of existing and prospective customers, we could lose revenue and market share and we may have to curtail our capital expenditures. In addition, the report of our independent registered public accounting firm on our financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2022 contains explanatory language that substantial doubt exists about our ability to continue as a going concern. In order for us to continue operations beyond the next 12 months and be able to discharge our liabilities and commitments in the normal course of business, we must increase sales of its products, control or potentially reduce expenses and establish profitable operations in order to generate cash from operations or obtain additional funds when needed. We have no additional committed sources of capital and may find it difficult to raise money on terms favorable to us or at all. The failure to obtain sufficient capital to support our operations could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

There is no public market for the Warrants.

There is no established public trading market for the Warrants offered hereby, and we do not expect a market to develop. In addition, we do not intend to apply to list the Warrants on any national securities exchange or other nationally recognized trading system, including Nasdaq. Without an active market, the liquidity of those securities will be limited.

The Warrants in this offering are speculative in nature.

Following this offering, the market value of the Warrants, if any, is uncertain and there can be no assurance that the market value of the Warrants will equal or exceed their imputed public offering price. In the event that the price of our Series J Convertible Preferred Stock does not exceed the exercise price of the Warrants during the period when such Warrants are exercisable, such Warrants may not have any value. Furthermore, each Warrant will expire one year from its date of issuance.

Holders of the Warrants will not have rights of holders of our shares of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock until such Warrants are exercised.

The Warrants in this offering do not confer any rights of share ownership of our Series J Convertible Preferred Stock on their holders, but rather merely represent the right to acquire shares of our Series J Convertible

 

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Preferred Stock at a fixed price upon exercise thereof. Until holders of Warrants acquire shares of our Series J Convertible Preferred Stock upon exercise of the Warrants holders of Warrants will have no rights with respect to our shares of common stock underlying such Warrants.

The conversion of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock into shares of common stock would dilute the current holders of our common stock. In addition, the exercise or conversion of currently outstanding securities would further dilute holders of our common stock.

These issuance of the approximate additional 5,577,874 shares of our common stock upon conversion of all of the shares of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock issued in this Offering, including conversion of the PIK dividends shares and the shares of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock issued upon exercise of the Warrants, would dilute our stockholders’ ownership interest, which among other things would have the effect of reducing their influence on matters on which our stockholders vote.

Risks Related to the Shares of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock Offered Hereby

The market price of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock may be volatile and may fluctuate in a way that is disproportionate to our operating performance.

The market price of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock may experience substantial volatility as a result of a number of factors, including:

 

   

sales or potential sales of substantial amounts of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock;

 

   

changes in our financial condition or results of operations, such as in earnings, revenues or other measure of company value;

 

   

governmental regulation and legislation;

 

   

increases in prevailing interest rates;

 

   

trading prices of similar securities;

 

   

the annual yield from dividends on the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock as compared to yields on other financial instruments;

 

   

general economic and financial market conditions;

 

   

the financial condition, performance and prospectus of us and our competitors;

 

   

market volatility and business operation changes brought on by pandemics, such as the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak;

 

   

our issuance of additional preferred equity or debt securities; and

 

   

actual or anticipated variations in quarterly operating results of us and our competitors.

Many of these factors are beyond our control. The stock market has historically experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations. These fluctuations often have been unrelated or disproportionate to the operating performance of companies. These broad market and industry factors could reduce the market price of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock, regardless of our actual operating performance.

The terms of our Series J Convertible Preferred Stock could prohibit us from issuing additional equity because of the significant dilutive effects on our common stock.

The Certificate of Designation shall provide that dividends on the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock shall be paid in-kind (“PIK dividends”) in additional shares of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock based on the stated value of $100.00 per share at an assumed annual dividend rate of 20.0% and quarterly dividend rate of 5.0%. The

 

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PIK dividends will be paid on a quarterly basis for one year following the issuance of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock payable to holders of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock of record at the close of business at October 31, 2023, January 31, 2024, April 30, 2024 and July 31, 2024, (each a “Dividend Record Date”) at the quarterly dividend rate of 5.0% (the “Quarterly Dividend Rate”). PIK dividends on each share of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock shall be paid within three business days of each Dividend Record Date in additional fully paid and nonassessable, registered shares of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock in a number equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (A) the product obtained by multiplying (i) the Quarterly Dividend Rate and (ii) the stated value of $100.00 per share, by (B) the public offering price per Unit (equal to $60.00, based on the assumed public offering price set forth on the cover page of the prospectus).

Mandatory redemption obligations may make it more difficult for a party to acquire us or discourage a party from acquiring us.

The mandatory redemption feature of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock may have the effect of discouraging a third party from making an acquisition proposal for us or of delaying, deferring or preventing certain of our change of control transactions under circumstances that otherwise could provide the holders of our common stock and Series J Convertible Preferred Stock with the opportunity to realize a premium over the then-current market price of such stock or that shareholders may otherwise believe is in their best interests.

We may incur additional indebtedness and obligations to pay dividends on preferred stock, some of which may be senior to the rights of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock.

We and our subsidiaries may incur additional indebtedness and obligations to pay cumulative dividends on preferred stock, some of which may be senior to the rights of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock. The terms of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock do not prohibit us or our subsidiaries from incurring additional indebtedness or issuing additional series of preferred stock. Any such indebtedness will in all cases be senior to the rights of holders of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock. We may also issue additional series of preferred stock that contain dividend rights and liquidation preferences that are senior to the rights of holders of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock. Our subsidiaries may also incur indebtedness that is structurally senior to the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock, and we and our subsidiaries could incur indebtedness secured by a lien on our assets, entitling the holders of such indebtedness to be paid first from the proceeds of such assets. If we issue any additional preferred stock that ranks senior or pari passu with the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock, the holders of those shares will be entitled to a senior or ratable share with the holders of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock in any proceeds distributed in connection with our insolvency, liquidation, reorganization or dissolution. This may have the effect of reducing the amount of proceeds paid to the holders of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock.

The Series J Convertible Preferred Stock is a new issue of securities, does not have an established trading market and we do not intend to list the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock on any national securities exchange or other nationally recognized trading system, which may negatively affect its value and your ability to transfer and sell your shares.

The Series J Convertible Preferred Stock is a new issue of securities and currently no market exists for the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock. In addition, we do not intend to apply to list the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock on any national securities exchange or other nationally recognized trading system, including Nasdaq. Without an active market, the liquidity of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock is limited, and investors may be unable to liquidate their investments in the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock or to sell at a price that you consider reasonable. As a result, the liquidity of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock will be limited and a holders ability to transfer or sell the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock and could be adversely affected.

Market interest rates may adversely affect the value of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock.

One of the factors that continues to influence the price of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock will be the dividend yield on the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock (as a percentage of the price of the Series J

 

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Convertible Preferred Stock) relative to market interest rates. An increase in market interest rates may lead prospective purchasers of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock to expect a higher dividend yield, and higher interest rates would likely increase our borrowing costs and potentially decrease funds available for dividends. Accordingly, higher market interest rates could cause the market price of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock to decrease.

The amount of the liquidation preference on the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock is fixed and investors in this offering that receive shares of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock will have no right to receive any greater payment.

The payment due upon liquidation on the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock is fixed at the liquidation preference of $100.00 per share. If, in the case of our liquidation, there are remaining assets to be distributed after payment of this amount, you will have no right to receive or to participate in these amounts. In addition, if the market price of a holder’s Series J Convertible Preferred Stock is greater than the liquidation preference, such holder will have no right to receive the market price from us upon our liquidation.

There may be future sales of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock or similar securities, which may adversely affect the market price of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock.

Subject to the terms of the Certificate of Designations, our certificate of incorporation, as amended, and the DGCL, we are not restricted from issuing additional Series J Convertible Preferred Stock or securities similar to the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock, including any securities that are convertible into or exchangeable for, or that represent the right to receive, Series J Convertible Preferred Stock. Holders of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock have no preemptive rights that entitle holders to purchase their pro rata share of any offering of shares of any class or series. The market price of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock could decline as a result of sales of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock or of other securities made after this offering or the perception that such sales could occur. Because our decision to issue securities in any future offering will depend on market conditions and other factors beyond our control, we cannot predict or estimate the amount, timing or nature of any future offerings. Thus, holders of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock bear the risk of our future offerings reducing the market price of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock and diluting their holdings in the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock.

Raising additional funds through debt or equity financing could be dilutive and may cause the market price of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock to decline. We still may need to raise additional funding which may not be available on acceptable terms, or at all. Failure to obtain additional capital may force us to delay, limit, or terminate our product development efforts or other operations.

To the extent that we raise additional capital through the sale of equity or convertible debt securities, your ownership interest may be diluted, and the terms of these securities may include liquidation or other preferences that adversely affect your rights as a stockholder. Furthermore, any additional fundraising efforts may divert our management from their day-to-day activities, which may adversely affect our ability to develop and commercialize our products and services. We may continue to seek funds through equity or debt financings, collaborative or other arrangements with corporate sources, or through other sources of financing. Additional funding may not be available to us on acceptable terms, or at all. Any failure to raise capital as and when needed, as a result of insufficient authorized shares or otherwise, could have a negative impact on our financial condition and on our ability to pursue our business plans and strategies.

The voting rights of holders of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock are limited and holders of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock will not have the voting rights of holders of our shares of our common stock until such shares of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock are converted into shares of our common stock.

Holders of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock have no voting rights with respect to matters that generally require the approval of voting stockholders and will not have the voting rights that the holders of shares of our

 

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common stock have until the shares of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock are converted into shares of common stock. The limited voting rights of holders of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock include the right to vote as a single class on certain matters that may affect the preference or special rights of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock, as described under “Description of the Securities We Are Offering—Description of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock—Voting Rights”.

Dividends or other payments with respect to the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock may be subject to withholding taxes in circumstances where we are not obliged to make gross up payments, and this could result in holders receiving less than expected in such circumstances.

In the event of certain changes to current tax law that require tax to be withheld from dividends or other payments on the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock, we are not required to make gross up payments in respect of such taxes. This would result in holders of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock receiving less than expected and could materially adversely affect the return on your investment.

The Series J Convertible Preferred Stock has not been rated.

We have not sought to obtain a rating for the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock. However, one or more rating agencies may independently determine to issue such a rating or such a rating, if issued, may adversely affect the market price of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock. In addition, we may elect in the future to obtain a rating for the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock, which could adversely affect the market price of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock. Ratings only reflect the views of the rating agency or agencies issuing the ratings and such ratings could be revised downward, placed on a watch list or withdrawn entirely at the discretion of the issuing rating agency if in its judgment circumstances so warrant. Any such downward revision, placing on a watch list or withdrawal of a rating could have an adverse effect on the market price of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock.

Risks Related to Our Business and Operations

Due to our accumulated deficit, recurring and negative cash flow from operations for the year ended December 31, 2022 and the three and six months ended June 30, 2023, there is substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern.

Our audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2022 and the unaudited consolidated financial statements for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023 were prepared on a going concern basis in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States. The going concern basis assumes that we will continue in operation for the next 12 months and will be able to realize our assets and discharge our liabilities and commitments in the normal course of business. Thus, our consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might be necessary if we are unable to continue as a going concern. Our recurring losses, negative cash flow, need for additional capital, and the uncertainties surrounding our ability to raise such capital raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. For us to continue operations beyond the next 12 months and be able to discharge our liabilities and commitments in the normal course of business, we must sell our products directly to end-users and through distributors, establish profitable operations through increased sales, decrease expenses, generate cash from operations or raise additional funds when needed. Our goal is to improve our financial condition and ultimately improve our financial results by increasing revenues through expanding awareness of the benefits of our dental lasers among dental specialists and general practitioners and reducing expenses. However, if we are unable to do so on a timely basis, we will be required to seek additional capital. In that event, we would seek additional funds through various financing sources, including the sale of our equity and debt securities, however, there can be no guarantees that such funds will be available on commercially reasonable terms, if at all. If we are unable to raise additional capital, increase sales or reduce expenses, we will be unable to continue to fund our operations, develop our products, realize value from our assets, and discharge our liabilities in the normal course of business.

 

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If we become unable to continue as a going concern, we could have to liquidate our assets, and potentially realize significantly less than the values at which they are carried on our financial statements, and stockholders could lose all or part of their investment in our common stock.

The COVID-19 pandemic has adversely affected, and may continue to adversely affect, our business, results of operations and financial condition. In addition, similar risks related to health epidemics and other outbreaks or pandemics may adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.

We face risks related to health epidemics and other outbreaks, including the global outbreak of the novel coronavirus and the disease caused by it, COVID-19. During 2020, the spread of the novel coronavirus led to disruption and volatility in the global capital markets. If such disruption and volatility recurs, there could be an increase to our cost of capital and an adverse effect on our ability to access the capital markets. In addition, efforts to contain the COVID-19 pandemic led to travel restrictions, prohibitions on public gatherings and closures of dental offices and clinics throughout much of Europe and the United States. The ability of our salespeople to call on dental customers during these closures was greatly limited. In addition, most dental shows and workshops scheduled in 2020 were canceled, and many were moved to virtual gatherings in 2021.

We have experienced net losses for each of the past several years, and we could experience additional losses and have difficulty achieving profitability in the future.

We had an accumulated deficit of approximately $306.9 million as of June 30, 2023 and an accumulated deficit of approximately $296.2 million as of December 31, 2022. We recorded net losses of approximately $4.9 million and $10.7 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023, respectively, and net losses of approximately $28.6 million and $16.2 million, for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. In order to achieve profitability, we must increase net revenue through new sales and control our costs. Failure to increase our net revenue and decrease our costs could cause our stock price to decline and could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We are vulnerable to continued global economic uncertainty and volatility in financial markets.

Our business is highly sensitive to changes in general economic conditions as a seller of capital equipment to end users in dental professional practices. Financial markets inside the United States and internationally have experienced extreme disruption in recent times, including, among other things, extreme volatility in security prices, severely diminished liquidity and credit availability, and declining valuations of investments. We believe these disruptions are likely to have an ongoing adverse effect on the world economy. A continued economic downturn and financial market disruptions could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Also, the imposition of economic sanctions on Russia as a result of the conflict in Ukraine could prevent us from performing existing contracts and pursuing new growth opportunities, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We may need to raise additional capital in the future, and if we are unable to secure adequate funds on terms acceptable to us, we could be unable to execute our business plan.

As of the date of this offering, we do not have cash on hand to fund our proposed plan of operations over the next 12 months. In order to continue our proposed operations beyond that date, we will need to either achieve a significant level of continuing cash flow from operations or raise additional funds in addition to those raised in this offering through the issuance of equity or debt securities in the public or private markets, or through a collaborative arrangement or sale of assets. Additional financing opportunities may not be available to us, or if available, may not be on favorable terms. The availability of financing opportunities will depend, in part, on market conditions, and the outlook for our business. Any future issuance of equity securities or securities convertible into equity securities could result in substantial dilution to our stockholders, and the securities issued in such a financing could have rights, preferences or privileges senior to those of our common stock. In addition,

 

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if we raise additional funds through debt financing, we could be subject to debt covenants that place limitations on our operations. We could not be able to raise additional capital on reasonable terms, or at all, or we could use capital more rapidly than anticipated. If we cannot raise the required capital when needed, we may not be able to satisfy the demands of existing and prospective customers, we could lose revenue and market share and we may have to curtail our capital expenditures.

If we are unable to achieve and sustain an adequate level of profitability or obtain sufficient capital in the future, we could have to curtail our capital expenditures. Any curtailment of our capital expenditures could result in a reduction in net revenue, reduced quality of our products, increased manufacturing costs for our products, harm to our reputation, or reduced manufacturing efficiencies and could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Our success depends, in part, on our relationships with, and the efforts of, third-party distributors.

We rely on exclusive and non-exclusive third-party distributors for a portion of our sales in North America and a majority of our sales in countries outside of the U.S. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2023, revenue from distributors outside of the U.S. accounted for approximately 25% and 29% of our total net revenue, respectively. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2023, revenue from distributors outside of the U.S. accounted for approximately 27% and 29% of our total net revenue, respectively. For the two fiscal years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, revenue from distributors outside of the U.S. accounted for approximately 30% and 35% of our total net revenue, respectively. Our distributors have significant discretion in determining the efforts and resources they apply to the sale of our products, and we face significant challenges and risks in expanding, training and managing our third-party distributors, particularly given their geographically dispersed operations. Our distributors may not commit the necessary resources to market and sell our products to the level of our expectations, and, regardless of the resources they commit, they may not be successful. From time to time, we may face competition or pricing pressure from one or more of our non-exclusive distributors in certain geographic areas where those distributors are selling inventory to the same customer base as us. Additionally, most of our distributor agreements can be terminated with limited notice, and we may not be able to replace any terminating distributor in a timely manner or on terms agreeable to us, if at all. If we are not able to maintain our distribution network, if our distribution network is not successful in marketing and selling our products, or if we experience a significant reduction in, cancellation, or change in the size and timing of orders from our distributors, our revenues could decline significantly and lead to an inability to meet operating cash flow requirements, which would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Dentists and patients have been hesitant in adopting laser technologies, and our inability to overcome this hesitation could limit the market acceptance of our products and our market share.

Our dental laser systems represent relatively new technologies in the dental market. Only a small percentage of dentists use lasers to perform dental procedures. Our future success will depend on our ability to increase demand for our products by demonstrating to a broad spectrum of dentists and patients the potential performance advantages of our laser systems over traditional methods of treatment and over competitive laser systems, and our inability to do so could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Historically, we have experienced long sales cycles because dentists have been, and could continue to be, slow to adopt new technologies on a widespread basis. As a result, we generally are required to invest a significant amount of time and resources to educate dentists about the benefits of our products in comparison to competing products and technologies before completing a sale, if any.

 

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Any failure in our efforts to train dental practitioners could result in the misuse of our products, reduce the market acceptance of our products and have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

There is a learning process involved for dental practitioners to become proficient users of our laser systems. It is critical to the success of our sales efforts to adequately train a sufficient number of dental practitioners. Convincing dental practitioners to dedicate the time and energy necessary for adequate training is challenging, and we cannot provide assurance that we will be successful in these efforts. If dental practitioners are not properly trained, they could misuse or ineffectively use our products, or could be less likely to appreciate our laser systems. This could also result in unsatisfactory patient outcomes, patient injury, negative publicity, FDA regulatory action, or lawsuits against us, any of which could negatively affect our reputation and sales of our laser systems.

If future data proves to be inconsistent with our clinical results or if competitors’ products present more favorable results, our revenues could decline and our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected.

If new studies or comparative studies generate results that are not as favorable as our clinical results, our revenues could decline. Additionally, if future studies indicate that our competitors’ products are more effective or safer than ours, our revenues could decline. Furthermore, dental practitioners could choose not to purchase our laser systems until they receive additional published long-term clinical evidence and recommendations from prominent dental practitioners that indicate our laser systems are effective for dental applications.

Our ability to use net operating loss carryforwards could be limited.

Our ability to use our federal and state NOL carryforwards to offset potential future taxable income is dependent upon our generation of future taxable income before the expiration dates of the NOL carryforwards, and we cannot predict with certainty when, or whether we will generate sufficient taxable income to use all our NOL carryforwards. As of December 31, 2022, we had U.S. federal net operating loss carryforwards of $87.6 million. Of the total U.S. federal net operating loss carryforwards as of December 31, 2022, $11.9 million is subject to a 20 year carryover period which will be fully expired by 2038. Losses generated beginning in 2018 will carryover indefinitely. We had state net operating loss carryforwards of $50.3 million as of December 31, 2022. Our net operating loss carryforwards are subject to review and possible adjustment by the taxing authorities. There are no tax examinations currently in progress.

In the future, our ability to utilize our net operating loss carryforwards, tax credits, and built-in items of deduction, including capitalized start-up costs and research and development costs, may be significantly limited due to changes in ownership. These changes in ownership can limit the amount of these tax benefits that can be utilized each year to offset future taxable income.

In general, an ownership change, as defined in IRC Section 382, results from a transaction or series of transactions over a three-year period resulting in an ownership change of more than 50% of the outstanding stock of a company by certain stockholders or public groups. Due to the valuation allowance against deferred tax assets as of December 31, 2022, the net effect of any further limitation will have no impact on results of operations.

We could incur problems in manufacturing our products.

In order to grow our business, we must expand our manufacturing capabilities to produce the systems and accessories necessary to meet any demand we may experience. We could encounter difficulties in increasing the production of our products, including problems involving production capacity and yields, quality control and assurance, component supply, and shortages of qualified personnel. In addition, before we can begin to expand the commercial manufacture of our products, we must ensure that any such expansion of our manufacturing

 

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facilities, processes, and quality systems, and the manufacture of our laser systems, will comply with FDA regulations governing facility compliance, quality control, and documentation policies and procedures. In addition, our manufacturing facilities are subject to periodic inspections by the FDA, as well as various state agencies and foreign regulatory agencies. From time to time, we could expend significant resources in obtaining, maintaining, and addressing our compliance with these requirements. Our success will depend in part upon our ability to manufacture our products in compliance with the FDA’s Quality System Regulation and other regulatory requirements. We have experienced quality issues with components of our products supplied by third parties, and we could continue to do so. Our future success depends on our ability to manufacture our products on a timely basis with acceptable manufacturing costs, while at the same time maintaining good quality control and complying with applicable regulatory requirements, and an inability to do so could have a material adverse effect on our product sales, cash collections from customers, and our ability to meet operating cash flow requirements, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

We could be subject to significant warranty obligations if our products are defective, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

In manufacturing our products, we depend upon third parties for the supply of various components. Many of these components require a significant degree of technical expertise to design and produce. If we fail to adequately design, or if our suppliers fail to produce components to specification, or to comply with Quality System Regulation, or if the suppliers, or we, use defective materials or workmanship in the manufacturing process, the reliability and performance of our products will be compromised. We have experienced such non-compliance with manufacturing specifications in the past and could continue to experience such non-compliance in the future, which could lead to higher costs and reduced margins.

Our products could contain defects that cannot be repaired easily and inexpensively, and we have experienced in the past and could experience in the future some or all of the following:

 

   

loss of customer orders and delay in order fulfillment;

 

   

damage to our brand reputation;

 

   

increased cost of our warranty program due to product repair or replacement;

 

   

inability to attract new customers;

 

   

diversion of resources from our manufacturing and engineering and development departments into our service department; and

 

   

legal action.

Product liability claims against us could be costly and could harm our reputation.

The sale of dental and medical devices involves the risk of product liability claims against us. Claims could exceed our product liability insurance coverage limits. Our insurance policies are subject to various standard coverage exclusions, including damage to the product itself, losses from recall of our product, and losses covered by other forms of insurance, such as workers compensation. We cannot be certain that we will be able to successfully defend any claims against us, nor can we be certain that our insurance will cover all liabilities resulting from such claims. In addition, we cannot provide assurance that we will be able to obtain such insurance in the future on terms acceptable to us, or at all. Regardless of merit or eventual outcome, any product liability claim brought against us could result in harm to our reputation, decreased demand for our products, costs related to litigation, product recalls, loss of revenue, an increase in our product liability insurance rates, or the inability to secure coverage in the future, and could have a material adverse effect on our business by reducing cash collections from customers and limiting our ability to meet our operating cash flow requirements.

 

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Our suppliers may not supply us with a sufficient amount or adequate quality of materials, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Our business depends on our ability to obtain timely deliveries of materials, components and subassemblies of acceptable quality and in acceptable quantities from third-party suppliers. We generally purchase components and subassemblies from a limited group of suppliers through purchase orders, rather than written supply contracts. Consequently, many of our suppliers have no obligation to continue to supply us on a long-term basis. In addition, our suppliers manufacture products for a range of customers, and fluctuations in demand for the products those suppliers manufacture for others could affect their ability to deliver components for us in a timely manner. Moreover, our suppliers could encounter financial hardships, be acquired, or experience other business events unrelated to our demand for components, which could inhibit or prevent their ability to fulfill our orders and satisfy our requirements.

Certain components of our products, particularly specialized components used in our laser systems, are currently available only from a single source or limited sources. For example, the crystal, fiber and hand pieces used in our Waterlase systems are each supplied by a separate single supplier. Our dependence on single-source suppliers involves several risks, including limited control over pricing, availability, quality, and delivery schedules.

If any of our suppliers cease to provide us with sufficient quantities of our components in a timely manner or on terms acceptable to us, or ceases to manufacture components of acceptable quality, we could incur manufacturing delays and sales disruptions while we locate and engage alternative qualified suppliers, and we might be unable to engage acceptable alternative suppliers on favorable terms. In addition, we could need to reengineer our components, which could require product redesign and submission to the FDA of a 510(k) application, which could significantly delay production. Any interruption or delay in the supply of components or materials, or our inability to obtain components or materials from alternate sources at acceptable prices in a timely manner, could impair our ability to meet the demand of our customers and cause them to cancel orders or switch to competitive procedures. We are continually in the process of identifying and qualifying alternate source suppliers for our key components. There can be no assurance, however, that we will successfully identify and qualify an alternate source supplier for any of our key components or that we could enter into an agreement with any such alternate source supplier on terms acceptable to us, or at all.

We have significant international sales and are subject to risks associated with operating internationally.

International sales comprise a significant portion of our net revenue, and we intend to continue to pursue and expand our international business activities. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2023, international sales accounted for approximately 25% and 29% of our total net revenue, respectively. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2022, international sales accounted for approximately 27% and 29% of our total net revenue, respectively. For the two fiscal years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, international sales accounted for approximately 30% and 35% of our net revenue, respectively. Political, economic and health conditions outside the United States, could make it difficult for us to increase our international revenue or to operate abroad. For example, efforts to contain the outbreak of COVID-19 in Asia and Europe included travel restrictions and closures of dental offices and clinics, significantly adversely impacting our international sales in 2022 and 2021.

In addition, international operations are subject to many inherent risks, which could have a material adverse effect on our revenues and operating cash flow, including among others:

 

   

adverse changes in tariffs and trade restrictions;

 

   

political, social and economic instability and increased security concerns;

 

   

fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates;

 

   

longer collection periods and difficulties in collecting receivables from foreign entities;

 

   

exposure to different legal standards;

 

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transportation delays and difficulties of managing international distribution channels;

 

   

reduced protection for our intellectual property in some countries;

 

   

difficulties in obtaining domestic and foreign export, import and other governmental approvals, permits and licenses, and compliance with foreign laws;

 

   

the imposition of governmental controls;

 

   

unexpected changes in regulatory or certification requirements;

 

   

difficulties in staffing and managing foreign operations; and

 

   

potentially adverse tax consequences and the complexities of foreign value-added tax systems.

We believe that international sales will continue to represent a significant portion of our net revenue, and we intend to expand our international operations further. In international markets where our sales are denominated in U.S. dollars, an increase in the relative value of the dollar against the currency in such markets could indirectly increase the price of our products in those markets and result in a decrease in sales. We do not currently engage in any transactions as a hedge against risks of loss due to foreign currency fluctuations. However, we could do so in the future.

Security breaches of our information technology systems could harm our reputation and customer relationships. Such breaches could subject us to significant reputational, financial, legal, and operational consequences.

We rely on information systems in our business to obtain, rapidly process, analyze and manage data. Any failure by us or our third-party service providers to prevent or mitigate security breaches and improper access to or disclosure of our data could lead to a material disruption of our information systems and loss of business information. In addition, computer malware, viruses, software vulnerabilities, social engineering (predominantly spear phishing attacks), ransomware and general hacking have become more prevalent in the business environment, have occurred on our systems in the past, and may occur on our systems in the future. Such an attack could result in, among other things: the theft, destruction, loss, unavailability, misappropriation or release of confidential data and intellectual property; operational or business delays; cyber extortion; liability for a breach of personal financial and health information belonging to our customers and their patients or to our employees; and damage to our reputation.

Any of these results could have a material adverse effect on our business due to the time and expense to respond to such an attack, recover data, and remediate information system weaknesses, each of which would disrupt our daily business operations. Further, such an attack would expose us to a risk of loss, regulatory investigations, or litigation and possible liability, including under laws that protect the privacy of personal information.

In December 2021, we experienced a cybersecurity attack that caused a brief network disruption and impacted certain systems. We have taken actions to strengthen our existing systems and implement additional prevention measures, but there is no assurance that such actions will be effective.

Our revenue and operating results fluctuate due to seasonality and other factors, so you should not rely on quarter-to-quarter comparisons of our operating results as an indication of our future performance.

Our revenue typically fluctuates from quarter to quarter due to a number of factors, many of which are beyond our control. Revenue in the first quarter typically is lower than average, and revenue in the fourth quarter typically is stronger than average, due to the buying patterns of dental practitioners. We believe that this trend exists because a significant number of dentists purchase their capital equipment towards the end of the calendar year in order to maximize their practice earnings while seeking to minimize their taxes. They often use certain tax incentives, such as accelerated depreciation methods for purchasing capital equipment, as part of their

 

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year-end tax planning. In addition, revenue in the third quarter could be affected by vacation patterns, which can cause revenue to be flat or lower than in the second quarter of the year. Our historical seasonal fluctuations could also be impacted by sales promotions used by large dental distributors that encourage end-of-quarter and end-of-year buying in our industry.

The expenses we incur are based, in large part, on our expectations regarding future net revenue. Since many of our costs are fixed in the short term, we could be unable to reduce expenses quickly enough to avoid losses if we experience a decrease in expected net revenue. Accordingly, you should not rely on quarter-to-quarter comparisons of our operating results as an indication of our future performance.

Litigation against us could be costly and time-consuming to defend and could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We are from time to time involved in various claims, litigation matters and regulatory proceedings incidental to our business, including claims for damages arising out of the use of our products or services and claims relating to intellectual property matters, employment matters, commercial disputes, competition, sales and trading practices, environmental matters, personal injury and insurance coverage. Some of these lawsuits include claims for punitive as well as compensatory damages. The defense of these lawsuits could divert our management’s attention, and we could incur significant expenses in defending these lawsuits. In addition, we could be required to pay damage awards or settlements or become subject to unfavorable equitable remedies. Moreover, any insurance or indemnification rights that we could have may be insufficient or unavailable to protect us against potential loss exposures.

Our manufacturing operations are consolidated primarily in one facility. A disruption at this facility could result in a prolonged interruption of our business and have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Substantially all of our manufacturing operations are located at our facility in Corona, California, which is near known earthquake fault zones. Although we have taken precautions to safeguard our facilities including disaster recovery planning and off-site backup of computer data, a natural disaster such as an earthquake, fire, or flood, could seriously harm our facility and significantly disrupt our operations. Additionally, labor disputes, maintenance requirements, power outages, equipment failures, civil unrest, or terrorist attacks affecting our Corona, California facility could significantly disrupt our operations. Our business interruption insurance coverage may not cover all or any of our losses from natural disasters or other disruptions.

If we lose our key management personnel, or are unable to attract or retain qualified personnel, it could adversely affect our ability to execute our growth strategy.

Our success is dependent, in part, upon our ability to hire and retain management, engineers, marketing and sales personnel and technical, research and other personnel who are in high demand and are often subject to competing employment opportunities. Our success will depend on our ability to retain our current personnel and to attract and retain qualified personnel in the future. Competition for senior management, engineers, marketing and sales personnel and other specialized technicians is intense and we may not be able to retain our personnel. If we lose the services of any executive officers or key employees, our ability to achieve our business objectives could be harmed or delayed, which could have a material adverse effect on our daily operations, operating cash flows, results of operations, and ultimately share price. In general, our officers could terminate their employment at any time without notice for any reason.

Failure to meet covenants in the credit agreements with our debt agreements could result in acceleration of our payment obligations thereunder, and we may not be able to find alternative financing.

Under the Credit Agreement dated November 9, 2018, as amended from time to time, between BIOLASE, Inc. and SWK Funding LLC (“SWK”), we are required to maintain a specified amount of consolidated unencumbered

 

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liquid assets as of the end of each fiscal quarter, and, if we fall below those levels, generate minimum levels of revenue as of the end of each period specified in the Credit Agreement and maintain specified levels of consolidated EBITDA as of the end of each period specified in the Credit Agreement. Our ability to comply with these covenants may be affected by factors beyond our control.

If we fail to comply with the covenants contained in the Credit Agreement or if the Required Lenders (as defined in the Credit Agreement) contend that we have failed to comply with these covenants or any other restrictions, it could result in an event of default under the Credit Agreement, which would permit or, in certain events, require SWK to declare all amounts outstanding thereunder to be immediately due and payable. There can be no assurances that we will be able to repay all such amounts or able to find alternative financing in an event of a default. Even if alternative financing is available in an event of a default under the Credit Agreement, it may be on unfavorable terms, and the interest rate charged on any new borrowings could be substantially higher than the interest rate under the Credit Agreement, thus adversely affecting cash flows, results of operations, and ultimately, our ability to meet operating cash flow requirements.

The restrictive covenants in the Credit Agreement and BIOLASE’s obligation to make debt payments under the Credit Agreement may limit our operating and financial flexibility and may adversely affect the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations.

The Credit Agreement imposes operating and financial restrictions and covenants, which may limit or prohibit our ability to, among other things:

 

   

incur additional indebtedness;

 

   

make investments, including acquisitions;

 

   

create liens;

 

   

make dividends, distributions or other restricted payments;

 

   

effect affiliate transactions;

 

   

enter into mergers, divisions, consolidations or sales of substantially all of our or our subsidiaries’ assets;

 

   

change business activities and issue equity interests; or

 

   

sell material assets (without using the proceeds thereof to repay the obligations under the Credit Agreement).

In addition, we are required to comply with certain financial covenants under the Credit Agreement as described above.

Such restrictive covenants in the Credit Agreement and our repayment obligations under the Credit Agreement could have adverse consequences to us, including:

 

   

limiting our ability to use cash;

 

   

limiting our flexibility in operating our business and planning for, or reacting to, changes in our business and our industry;

 

   

requiring the dedication of a substantial portion of any cash flow from operations to the payment of principal of, and interests on, the indebtedness, thereby reducing the availability of such cash flow to fund our operations, working capital, capital expenditures, future business opportunities and other general corporate purposes;

 

   

restricting us from making strategic acquisitions or causing us to make non-strategic divestitures;

 

   

limiting our ability to obtain additional financing;

 

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limiting our ability to adjust to changing market conditions; and

 

   

placing us at a competitive disadvantage relative to our competitors who are less highly leveraged.

If we fail to comply with the terms of the Credit Agreement and there is an event of default, the creditor(s) may foreclose upon the assets securing our obligations thereunder.

To secure the performance of our obligations under the Credit Agreement, we granted SWK security interests in substantially all of the assets of BIOLASE and certain of our foreign and domestic subsidiaries. Our failure to comply with the terms of the Credit Agreement could result in an event of default thereunder. In that event, SWK will have the option to (and, in certain circumstances, will have the obligation to) foreclose on the assets of BIOLASE and certain of our subsidiaries pledged as collateral under the Credit Agreement or the other documents executed in connection with the Credit Agreement. The foreclosure on the Company’s assets could severely and negatively impact our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

If we fail to comply with the reporting obligations of the Exchange Act and Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, or if we fail to maintain adequate internal control over financial reporting, our business, financial condition and results of operations, and investors’ confidence in us, could be materially and adversely affected.

As a public company, we are required to comply with the periodic reporting obligations of the Exchange Act, including preparing annual reports, quarterly reports and current reports. Our failure to prepare and disclose this information in a timely manner and meet our reporting obligations in their entirety could subject us to penalties under federal securities laws and regulations of NASDAQ expose us to lawsuits, and restrict our ability to access financing on favorable terms, or at all.

In addition, pursuant to Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, we are required to evaluate and provide a management report of our systems of internal control over financial reporting. During the course of the evaluation of our internal control over financial reporting, we could identify areas requiring improvement and could be required to design enhanced processes and controls to address issues identified through this review. This could result in significant delays and costs to us and require us to divert substantial resources, including management time, from other activities.

Any failure to maintain compliance with the requirements of Section 404 on a timely basis could result in the loss of investor confidence in the reliability of our financial statements, which in turn could, negatively impact the trading price of our stock, and adversely affect investors’ confidence in the Company and our ability to access capital markets for financing.

Risks Related to Our Intellectual Property

If the patents that we own or license, or our other intellectual property rights, do not adequately protect our technologies, we could lose market share to our competitors and be unable to operate our business profitably.

Our future success depends, in part, on our ability to obtain and maintain patent protection for our products and technology, to preserve our trade secrets and to operate without infringing the intellectual property of others. We rely on patents to establish and maintain proprietary rights in our technology and products. We currently possess a number of issued patents and patent applications with respect to our products and technology. However, we cannot ensure that any additional patents will be issued, that the scope of any patent protection will be effective in helping us address our competition, or that any of our patents will be held valid if subsequently challenged. It is also possible that our competitors could independently develop similar or more desirable products, duplicate our products, or design products that circumvent our patents. The laws of foreign countries may not protect our products or intellectual property rights to the same extent as the laws of the United States. In addition, there have been recent changes in the patent laws and rules of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, and there could be

 

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future proposed changes that, if enacted, have a significant impact on our ability to protect our technology and enforce our intellectual property rights. If we fail to protect our intellectual property rights adequately, our competitive position could be adversely affected, and there could be a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

If third parties claim that we infringe their intellectual property rights, we could incur liabilities and costs and have to redesign or discontinue selling certain products, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

We face substantial uncertainty regarding the impact that other parties’ intellectual property positions will have on dental and other medical laser applications. The medical technology industry has in the past been characterized by a substantial amount of litigation and related administrative proceedings regarding patents and intellectual property rights. From time to time, we have received, and we expect to continue to receive, notices of claims of infringement, misappropriation, or misuse of other parties’ proprietary rights. Some of these claims could lead to litigation. We may not prevail in any future intellectual property infringement litigation given the complex technical issues and inherent uncertainties in litigation. Any claims, with or without merit, could be time-consuming and distracting to management, result in costly litigation, or cause product shipment delays. Adverse determinations in litigation could subject us to significant liability and could result in the loss of proprietary rights. A successful lawsuit against us could also force us to cease selling or redesign products that incorporate the infringed intellectual property. Additionally, we could be required to seek a license from the holder of the intellectual property to use the infringed technology, and we may not be able to obtain a license on acceptable terms, or at all.

Risks Related to Our Regulatory Environment

Changes in government regulation, failure to comply with government regulation or the inability to obtain or maintain necessary government approvals could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Our products are subject to extensive government regulation, both in the United States and globally in other countries. To clinically test, manufacture, and market products for human use, we must comply with regulations and safety standards set by the FDA and comparable state and foreign agencies. Regulations adopted by the FDA are wide-ranging and govern, among other things, product design, development, manufacture and control testing, labeling control, storage, advertising, marketing, and sales. Generally, products must meet regulatory standards as safe and effective for their intended use before being marketed for human applications. The clearance and approval process is expensive, time-consuming and uncertain. Failure to comply with applicable regulatory requirements of the FDA can result in an enforcement action, which could include a variety of sanctions, including fines, injunctions, civil penalties, recall or seizure of our products, operating restrictions, partial suspension, or total shutdown of production and criminal prosecution. The failure to receive or maintain requisite approvals for the use of our products or processes, or significant delays in obtaining such clearances or approvals, could prevent us from developing, manufacturing and marketing products and services necessary for us to remain competitive.

If we develop new products and applications or make any significant modifications to our existing products or labeling, we will need to obtain additional regulatory clearances or approvals. Any modification that could significantly affect a product’s safety or effectiveness, or that would constitute a change in its intended use, will require a new FDA 510(k) clearance. The FDA requires each manufacturer to make this determination initially, but the FDA can review any such decision and can disagree with a manufacturer’s determination. If the FDA disagrees with a manufacturer’s determination, the FDA can require the manufacturer to cease marketing and/or recall the modified device until 510(k) clearance or Premarket Approval (“PMA”) is obtained. If 510(k) clearance is denied and a PMA application is required, we could be required to submit substantially more data and conduct human clinical testing and would very likely be subject to a significantly longer review period.

 

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Products sold in international markets are also subject to the regulatory requirements of each respective country or region. The regulations of the European Union require that a device have the CE Mark, indicating conformance with European Union laws and regulations before it can be marketed in the European Union. The regulatory international review process varies from country to country. We rely on our distributors and sales representatives in the foreign countries in which we market our products to comply with the regulatory laws of such countries. Failure to comply with the laws of such countries could prevent us from continuing to sell products in such countries. In addition, unanticipated changes in existing regulatory requirements or the adoption of new requirements could impose significant costs and burdens on us, which could increase our operating expenses.

Changes in health care regulations in the U.S. and elsewhere could adversely affect the demand for our products as well as the way in which we conduct our business and operations. For example, in 2010, President Obama signed the Affordable Care Act into law, which included various reforms impacting Medicare coverage and reimbursement, including revision to prospective payment systems, any of which could adversely impact any Medicare reimbursements received by our end-user customers. New legislation may be enacted as President Biden and Congress consider further reform. In addition, as a result of the focus on health care reform, there is risk that Congress could implement changes in laws and regulations governing health care service providers, including measures to control costs, and reductions in reimbursement levels. We cannot be sure that government or private third-party payers will cover and reimburse the procedures using our products, in whole or in part, in the future, or that payment rates will be adequate. If providers cannot obtain adequate coverage and reimbursement for our products, or the procedures in which they are used, our business, results of operations and financial condition could suffer.

Additionally, we may be subject to the Excise Tax (as defined below) included in the Inflation Reduction Act (“IRA”) enacted in August 2022 in connection with redemptions of our common stock, Series H Convertible Preferred Stock and Series J Convertible Preferred Stock. In particular, an excise tax is imposed on “covered corporations” (generally, publicly-traded domestic corporations) equal to 1% of the fair market value of certain stock repurchased after December 31, 2022 (the “Excise Tax”). It is likely that the Excise Tax will generally apply to any redemptions of shares of our Series H Convertible Preferred Stock or common stock after December 31, 2022, and any redemption of shares of our Series I Preferred Stock and Series J Convertible Preferred Stock. The Excise Tax base is reduced by the fair market value of any issuances of the covered corporation’s stock during its taxable year. The fair market value of any of shares our Series H Convertible Preferred Stock and Series J Convertible Preferred Stock or common stock that are redeemed may exceed the fair market value of any of our stock issued during the same taxable year. Consequently, the Excise Tax may reduce the amount of cash we have available to shareholders.

We could be subject to, or otherwise affected by, federal and state health care laws, including fraud and abuse and health information privacy and security laws, and we could face substantial penalties if we are unable to fully comply with such regulations.

We are directly or indirectly, through our customers, subject to extensive regulation by both the federal government and the states and foreign countries in which we conduct our business. If our past or present operations are found to be in violation of governmental laws or regulations to which we or our customers are subject, we may be subject to penalties, including civil, criminal and administrative penalties, damages, fines, disgorgement, individual imprisonment, possible exclusion from participation in federal and state funded healthcare programs, contractual damages, and the curtailment or restricting of our operations, as well as additional reporting obligations and oversight if we become subject to a corporate integrity agreement or other agreement to resolve allegations of non-compliance with these laws. This could harm our ability to operate our business and our financial results. If we are required to obtain permits or licensure under these laws that we do not already possess, we could become subject to substantial additional regulation or incur significant expense. Any penalties, damages, fines, or curtailment or restructuring of our operations could be significant. The risk of potential non-compliance is increased by the fact that many of these laws have not been fully interpreted by

 

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applicable regulatory authorities or the courts, and their provisions are open to a variety of interpretations and additional legal or regulatory change. Any action against us for violation of these laws, even if we successfully defend against it, could cause us to incur significant legal expenses, divert our management’s attention from the operation of our business, damage our reputation and cause a material adverse effect on sales, cash collections, and our ability to meet operating cash flow requirements.

Changes to the reimbursement rates for procedures performed using our products and measures to reduce healthcare costs may adversely impact our business.

Dentists and other health care providers that purchase and use our products may rely on third-party payers, including Medicare, Medicaid, and private payers to cover and reimburse all or part of the cost of the procedures performed using our products. As a result, coverage and reimbursement of the procedures using our products is dependent in part on the policies of these payers. There is a significant trend in the healthcare industry by public and private payers to contain or reduce their costs, including by taking the following steps, among others: decreasing the portion of costs payers will cover, ceasing to provide full payment for certain products or procedures depending on outcomes, or not covering certain products or procedures at all. If payers implement any of the foregoing with respect to our procedures performed using our products, it would have an adverse impact on our revenue and results of operations.

There have been, and likely will continue to be, legislative and regulatory proposals at the foreign, federal and state levels directed at broadening the availability of healthcare and containing or lowering the cost of healthcare. We cannot predict the initiatives that may be adopted in the future. Any reduction in reimbursement rates for dental procedures using our products may adversely affect our customers’ businesses and cause them to enact cost reduction measures, which could result in reduced demand for our product or additional pricing pressures.

We could be exposed to liabilities under the FCPA, and any determination that we violated the FCPA could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

In light of our operations outside the United States, we are subject to the FCPA, which generally prohibits companies and their intermediaries from offering to pay, promising to pay, or authorizing the payment of money or anything of value to non-U.S. officials for the purpose of influencing any act or decision of the foreign official in his/her capacity or to secure any other improper advantage to obtain or retain business. Violation of the anti-bribery provisions of the FCPA can result in criminal fines of up to $2 million and civil penalties of up to $23,011 for each violation. Individuals, including officers, directors, stockholders, and agents of companies, can be subject to a criminal fine of up to $250,000 and imprisonment, in addition to civil penalties of up to $23,011, per violation.

Also, under the alternative fines provision of the FCPA an individual or entity can be fined an amount of up to twice the gross pecuniary gain or loss from a violation. We could be held liable for actions taken by our distributors in violation of the FCPA, even though such partners are foreign companies that may not be subject to the FCPA. Any determination that we violated the FCPA could result in sanctions that could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Product sales or introductions could be delayed or canceled as a result of the FDA regulatory requirements applicable to laser products, dental devices, or both, which could cause our sales or profitability to decline and have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

The process of obtaining and maintaining regulatory approvals and clearances to market a medical device from the FDA and similar regulatory authorities abroad can be costly and time-consuming, and we cannot provide assurance that such approvals and clearances will be granted. Pursuant to FDA regulations, unless exempt, the FDA permits commercial distribution of a new medical device only after the device has received 510(k) clearance or is the subject of an approved PMA. The FDA will clear marketing of a medical device through the

 

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510(k) process if it is demonstrated that the new product is substantially equivalent to other 510(k)-cleared products. The PMA process is more costly, lengthy and uncertain than the 510(k) process, and must be supported by extensive data, including data from preclinical studies, and human clinical trials. Because we cannot provide assurance that any new products, or any product enhancements, that we develop will be subject to the shorter 510(k) clearance process, significant delays in the introduction of any new products or product enhancement could occur. We cannot provide assurance that the FDA will not require a new product or product enhancement to go through the lengthy and expensive PMA process. Delays in obtaining regulatory clearances and approvals could:

 

   

delay or eliminate commercialization of products we develop;

 

   

require us to perform costly additional procedures;

 

   

diminish any competitive advantages that we may attain; and

 

   

reduce our ability to collect revenues or royalties.

Although we have obtained 510(k) clearance from the FDA to market our dental laser systems, we cannot provide assurance that we will not be required to obtain new clearances or approvals for modifications or improvements to our products.

Our marketed products may be used by healthcare practitioners for indications that are not cleared or approved by the FDA. If the FDA finds that we marketed our products in a manner that promoted off-label use, we may be subject to civil or criminal penalties.

Under the United States Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and other laws, we are prohibited from promoting our products for off-label uses. This means that we may not make claims about the use of any of our marketed medical device products outside of their approved or cleared indications, and that our website, advertising, promotional materials and training methods and materials may not promote or encourage unapproved uses. Note, however, that the FDA does not generally restrict healthcare providers from prescribing products for off-label uses (or using products in an off-label manner) in their practice of medicine. Should the FDA determine that our activities constitute the promotion of off-label uses, the FDA could bring action to prevent us from distributing our devices for the off-label use and could impose fines and penalties on us and our executives. In addition, failure to follow FDA rules and guidelines relating to promotion and advertising can result in, among other things, the FDA’s refusal to approve or clear other products in our pipeline, the withdrawal of an approved product from the market, product recalls, fines, disgorgement of profits, operating restrictions, injunctions, or criminal prosecutions. Any of these adverse regulatory actions could result in substantial costs and could significantly and adversely impact our reputation and divert management’s attention and resources, which could have a material adverse effect on our business.

Our products are subject to recalls and other regulatory actions after receiving FDA clearance or approval.

The FDA and similar governmental bodies in other countries have the authority to require the recall of our products in the event of material deficiencies or defects in design or manufacture. A government mandated or voluntary recall by us could occur as a result of component failures, manufacturing errors, or design defects, including errors in labeling or other safety issues. Any recall would divert management’s attention and financial resources and harm our reputation with customers. Any recall involving our laser systems would be particularly harmful to us, because our laser systems comprise such an important part of our portfolio of products. However, any recall could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

If we or our third-party manufacturers fail to comply with the FDA’s QSR, our business would suffer.

We and our third-party manufacturers are required to demonstrate and maintain compliance with the FDA’s QSR. The QSR is a complex regulatory scheme that covers the methods and documentation of the design,

 

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testing, control, manufacturing, labeling, quality assurance, packaging, storage and shipping of our product. The FDA enforces the QSR through periodic unannounced inspections. We anticipate that in the future we will be subject to such inspections. Our failure, or the failure of our third-party manufacturers, to take satisfactory corrective action in response to an adverse QSR inspection could result in enforcement actions, including a public warning letter, a shutdown of our manufacturing operations, a recall of our product, civil or criminal penalties, or other sanctions, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

If our product causes or contributes to a death or a serious injury, or malfunctions in certain ways, we will be subject to medical device reporting regulations, which can result in voluntary corrective actions or agency enforcement actions.

Under the FDA’s medical device reporting regulations, medical device manufacturers are required to report to the FDA information that a device has or may have caused or contributed to a death or serious injury or has malfunctioned in a way that would be likely to cause or contribute to death or serious injury if the malfunction of the device were to recur. If we fail to report these events to the FDA within the required timeframes, or at all, the FDA could take enforcement action against us. Any such adverse event involving our devices could result in future voluntary corrective actions, such as recalls or customer notifications, or agency action, such as inspection or enforcement action. Any corrective action, whether voluntary or involuntary, as well as mounting a defense to a legal action, if one were to be brought, would require the dedication of our time and capital, distract management from operating our business, and could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Risks Related to Our Stock

Failure to meet NASDAQ’s continued listing requirements could result in the delisting of our common stock, negatively impact the price of our common stock and negatively impact our ability to raise additional capital.

On January 11, 2023, we received a deficiency letter from the Listing Qualifications Department (the “Staff”) of the Nasdaq Stock Market (“Nasdaq”) notifying us that, for the last 30 consecutive business days, ending on January 10, 2023, the bid price for our common stock had closed below the minimum $1.00 per share requirement for continued inclusion on the Nasdaq Capital Market pursuant to Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(a)(2) (the “Bid Price Rule”). In accordance with Nasdaq rules, we were provided an initial period of 180 calendar days, or until July 10, 2023 (the “Compliance Date”), to regain compliance with the Bid Price Rule

On June 8, 2023, we were notified by the Staff of Nasdaq that we did not meet the minimum closing bid price requirement of $1.00 for continued listing, as set forth in the Bid Price Rule, as the Staff has determined that as of June 8, 2023, the Company’s securities had a closing bid price of $0.10 or less for ten consecutive trading days, from May 24, 2023 through June 7, 2023. As such, the Staff has determined to delist the Company’s common stock from the Nasdaq Capital Market and to suspend trading of the common stock at the opening of business on June 20, 2023, and file a Form 25-NSE with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We timely requested a hearing to appeal this determination, which stayed the suspension of our common stock pending the panel’s decision.

We subsequently requested the Panel grant us a temporary exception to regain compliance with the Bid Price Rule. On July 5, 2023, the Panel granted us an exception until August 11, 2023 to demonstrate bid price compliance subject to us taking the following actions: (i) on July 20, 2023, we shall obtain stockholder approval for a reverse stock split at a ratio that is sufficient to regain and maintain long term compliance with the Bid Price Rule; (ii) on or before July 31, 2023, we shall effect a reverse stock split and, thereafter, maintain a $1.00 closing bid price for a minimum of ten consecutive business days; and (iii) as of August 11, 2023, we have demonstrated compliance with the Bid Price Rule, by evidencing a closing bid price of $1.00 or more per share for a minimum of ten consecutive trading sessions.

 

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On July 20, 2023, our stockholders approved a proposal at the Special Meeting further amending our Certificate of Incorporation to effect a reverse stock split of our common stock at a ratio between one-for-two (1:2) and one-for-one hundred (1:100), without reducing the authorized number of our shares of common stock. Following the Special Meeting, our Board of Directors approved a final split ratio of one-for-one hundred (1:100). Following such approval, on July 26, 2023, we filed an amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware to effect the 2023 Reverse Stock Split, with an effective time of 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on July 27, 2023. Our common stock began trading on Nasdaq on a split-adjusted basis beginning on July 28, 2023. Unless otherwise noted, all share and per share information relating to our common stock in this prospectus has been adjusted to reflect the 1-for-100 2023 Reverse Stock Split.

On August 14, 2023, we received a letter from the Nasdaq Office of General Counsel confirming the decision of the Panel that we currently demonstrate compliance with the requirements for continued listing on The Nasdaq Capital Market.

Our stock price has been, and could continue to be, volatile.

There has been significant volatility in the market price and trading volume of equity securities, which may be unrelated to the financial performance of the companies issuing the securities. These broad market fluctuations could negatively affect the market price of our stock. The market price and volume of our common stock could fluctuate, and in the past has fluctuated, more dramatically than the stock market in general. During the 12 months ended August 29, 2023, the market price of our common stock has ranged from a high of $387.00 per share to a low of $4.63 per share. Stockholders may not be able to resell their shares at or above the price they paid for them due to fluctuations in the market price of our stock caused by changes in our operating performance or prospects or other factors. Some factors, in addition to the other risk factors identified above, that could have a significant effect on our stock market price include, but are not limited to, the following:

 

   

actual or anticipated fluctuations in our operating results or future prospects;

 

   

our announcements or our competitors’ announcements of new products;

 

   

the public’s reaction to our press releases, our other public announcements and our filings with the SEC;

 

   

strategic actions by us or our competitors, such as acquisitions or restructurings;

 

   

new laws or regulations or new interpretations of existing laws or regulations applicable to our business;

 

   

changes in accounting standards, policies, guidance, interpretations, or principles;

 

   

changes in our growth rates or our competitors’ growth rates;

 

   

developments regarding our patents or proprietary rights or those of our competitors;

 

   

our inability to raise additional capital as needed;

 

   

concerns or allegations as to the safety or efficacy of our products;

 

   

changes in financial markets or general economic conditions;

 

   

sales of stock by us or members of our management team, our Board, our significant stockholders, or certain institutional stockholders; and

 

   

changes in stock market analyst recommendations or earnings estimates regarding our stock, other comparable companies or our industry generally.

Because we do not intend to pay cash dividends, our stockholders will benefit from an investment in our securities only if they appreciate in value.

We intend to retain our future earnings, if any, to finance the expansion of our business and do not expect to pay any cash dividends in the foreseeable future. As a result, the success of an investment in our securities will

 

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depend entirely upon any future appreciation. There is no guarantee that our securities will appreciate in value or even maintain the price at which our stockholders purchased their shares.

If securities or industry analysts do not publish research or publish inaccurate or unfavorable research about our business, our share price and trading volume could decline.

The trading market for our common stock will depend on the research and reports that securities or industry analysts publish about us or our business. We do not have any control over these analysts. There can be no assurance that analysts will cover us or provide favorable coverage. If one or more of the analysts who cover us downgrade our stock or change their opinion of our stock, our share price would likely decline. If one or more of these analysts cease coverage of the Company or fail to regularly publish reports on the Company, we could lose visibility in the financial markets, which could cause our share price or trading volume to decline.

 

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CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus and the documents that we incorporate herein by reference contain “forward-looking statements,” as defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Exchange Act that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions, which could cause actual results to differ materially from management’s expectations. Such forward-looking statements include statements, predictions or expectations regarding market opportunities, our plans for future products and services and enhancements of existing products and services, future market growth and our anticipated growth strategies, future demand for improved dental care and dental laser equipment, expansion of our international operations, compliance with laws and regulatory requirements, the impact of cost-saving measures and future decreases in expenses, statements regarding the effects of seasonality on revenue, anticipated cash needs, capital requirements and capital expenditures, needs for additional financing, anticipated use of proceeds from debt or equity financing, use of working capital, plans to explore potential collaborations, potential acquisitions of products and technologies, effects of engineering and development efforts, plans to expand our field sales force, the development of distributor relationships, our ability to attract customers, the adequacy of our facilities, products and solutions from competitors, our ability to maintain product quality standards, protection of patents and other technology, the ability of third-party payers to pay for costs of our products, limitations on capital expenditures, critical accounting policies and the impact of recent accounting pronouncements, recording tax benefits or other financial items in the future, plans, strategies, expectations or objectives of management for future operations, our financial condition or prospects and any other statement that is not historical fact. Forward-looking statements are identified by the use of words such as “may,” “might,” “will,” “intend,” “should,” “could,” “can,” “would,” “continue,” “expect,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “predict,” “outlook,” “potential,” “plan,” “seek,” and similar expressions and variations or the negatives of these terms or other comparable terminology.

Forward-looking statements are based on the expectations, estimates, projections, beliefs and assumptions of our management based on information available to management as of the date on which such forward-looking statement was made, all of which are subject to change. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that are difficult to predict and could cause actual results to differ materially from those stated or implied by our forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to:

 

   

substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern;

 

   

the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the actions taken to contain it;

 

   

losses that we have experienced for each of the past three years;

 

   

global economic uncertainty and volatility in financial markets;

 

   

inability to raise additional capital on terms acceptable to us;

 

   

our relationships with, and the efforts of, third-party distributors;

 

   

failure in our efforts to train dental practitioners or to overcome the hesitation of dentists and patients to adopt laser technologies;

 

   

inconsistencies between future data and our clinical results;

 

   

competition from other companies, including those with greater resources;

 

   

our inability to successfully develop and commercialize enhanced or new products that remain competitive with products or alternative technologies developed by others;

 

   

the inability of our customers to obtain third-party reimbursement for their use of our products; limitations on our ability to use net operating loss carryforwards;

 

   

problems in manufacturing our products;

 

   

warranty obligations if our products are defective;

 

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adverse publicity regarding our technology or products;

 

   

adverse events to our patients during the use of our products, regardless of whether caused by our products;

 

   

issues with our suppliers, including the failure of our suppliers to supply us with a sufficient amount or adequate quality of materials;

 

   

rapidly changing standards and competing technologies;

 

   

our inability to effectively manage and implement our growth strategies;

 

   

risks associated with operating in international markets, including potential liabilities under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act;

 

   

breaches of our information technology systems;

 

   

seasonality;

 

   

litigation, including the failure of our insurance policies to cover certain expenses relating to litigation and our inability to reach a final settlement related to certain litigation;

 

   

disruptions to our operations at our primary manufacturing facility;

 

   

loss of our key management personnel or our inability to attract or retain qualified personnel;

 

   

risks and uncertainties relating to acquisitions, including difficulties integrating acquired businesses successfully into our existing operations and risks of discovering previously undisclosed liabilities;

 

   

failure to meet covenants in the Credit Agreement, dated as of November 9, 2018, (as amended from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), by and between BIOLASE and SWK Funding, LLC;

 

   

interest rate risk, which could result in higher expense in the event of interest rate increases;

 

   

obligations to make debt payments under the Credit Agreement;

 

   

risks of foreclosure triggered by an event of default under the Credit Agreement;

 

   

failure to comply with the reporting obligations of the Exchange Act and Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended, or maintain adequate internal control over financial reporting;

 

   

climate change initiatives;

 

   

failure of our intellectual property rights to adequately protect our technologies and potential third-party claims that our products infringe their intellectual property rights;

 

   

changes in government regulation or the inability to obtain or maintain necessary governmental approvals;

 

   

our failure to comply with existing or new laws and regulations, including fraud and abuse and health information privacy and securities laws;

 

   

changes in the regulatory requirements of the Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) applicable to laser products, dental devices or both;

 

   

recall or other regulatory action concerning our products after receiving FDA clearance or approval;

 

   

our failure to comply with continued listing requirements of the Nasdaq Capital Market; and

 

   

risks relating to ownership of our common stock, including high volatility and dilution.

Further information about factors that could materially affect the Company, including our results of operations, financial condition and stock price, is contained under the heading “Risk Factors” in this prospectus and in the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements to reflect changed assumptions, the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events, new information, changes to future results over time or otherwise.

 

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USE OF PROCEEDS

We estimate that the net proceeds to us from this offering will be approximately $6.5 million, after deducting the underwriting discount and estimated offering expenses payable by us, based on an assumed offering price of $60.00 per Unit. These estimates exclude the proceeds, if any, from the exercise of the Warrants issued in connection with this offering. If all of the Warrants offered in this offering were sold and exercised for cash, we would receive additional net proceeds of approximately $3.75 million. If 50% of the Warrants offered in this offering were sold and exercised for cash, we would receive additional net proceeds of approximately $1.875 million. We cannot predict when or if these Warrants will be exercised. It is possible that these Warrants may expire and may never be exercised.

We intend to use the proceeds of this offering for working capital and for general corporate purposes. We may temporarily invest the net proceeds in short-term, interest-bearing instruments or other investment-grade securities.

The precise amount and timing of the application of such net proceeds will depend upon our funding requirements and the availability and cost of other funds. Our Board and management will have considerable discretion in the application of the net proceeds from this offering, and it is possible that we may allocate the proceeds differently than investors in the offering may desire or that we may fail to maximize the return on these proceeds. You will be relying on the judgment of our management with regard to the use of proceeds from this offering, and you will not have the opportunity, as part of your investment decision, to assess whether the proceeds are being used appropriately.

A $6.00 increase (decrease) in the assumed public offering price of $60.00 per Unit would increase (decrease) the expected net proceeds to us from this offering by approximately $700,000, assuming that the number of Units offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same and after deducting the estimated underwriting discount and estimated offering expenses payable by us and excluding the proceeds, if any, from the conversion of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock and the exercise of the Warrants issued pursuant to this offering.

Similarly, a 12,500 Unit increase or decrease in the number of Units offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, would increase or decrease the net proceeds to us by approximately $700,000, assuming the assumed public offering price of $60.00 per Unit remains the same, and after deducting the estimated underwriting discount and estimated offering expenses payable by us, and excluding the proceeds, if any, from the conversion of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock and the exercise of the Warrants issued pursuant to this offering.

 

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DIVIDEND POLICY

We have not declared or paid dividends to common stockholders since inception and do not plan to pay cash dividends in the foreseeable future to common stockholders. We currently intend to retain earnings, if any, to finance our growth.

Dividends on the Series H Convertible Preferred Stock are paid in-kind (“Series H PIK dividends”) in additional shares of Series H Convertible Preferred Stock based on the stated value of $50.00 per share at an assumed dividend rate of 20.0%. The Series H PIK dividends will be a one-time payment payable to holders of the Series H Convertible Preferred Stock of record at the close of business on the one-year anniversary of the original issue date.

Dividends on the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock will be paid in-kind (“PIK dividends”) in additional shares of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock based on the stated value of $100.00 per share at an assumed dividend rate of 20.0% per annum. The PIK dividends will be paid on a quarterly basis for one year following the issuance of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock payable to holders of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock of record at the close of business at the end of October 31, 2023, January 31, 2024, April 30, 2024 and July 31, 2024.

 

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CAPITALIZATION

The following table sets forth our consolidated cash and cash equivalents and capitalization as of June 30, 2023:

 

   

on an actual basis;

 

   

on an as adjusted basis to give effect to the sale by us of 125,000 Units in this offering at an assumed public offering price of $60.00 per Unit, after deducting the estimated underwriting discount and estimated offering expenses, and assuming no conversion of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock and no exercise of the Warrants issued in connection with this offering.

You should read the following table in conjunction with the sections entitled “Use of Proceeds” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” included elsewhere in this prospectus and our unaudited consolidated financial statements and related notes included in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2023, incorporated herein by reference. In addition, the following table gives effect to the 1-for-100 2023 Reverse Stock Split.

 

     As of June 30, 2023  
     Actual
(unaudited)
    As
Adjusted(1)
 
     (in thousands except per
share data)
 

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 6,930     $ 13,383  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Debt, including current portion:

    

Loans

   $ 14,800     $ 14,800  

Discount and debt issuance costs on term loan

     (798     (798
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total long term debt, net

     14,002       14,002  

Series H Convertible Redeemable Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share; 370 authorized, 12 shares issued and outstanding actual and as adjusted

     720       720  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Series J Convertible Redeemable Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share; 260 authorized, 0 shares issued and outstanding, actual and 125 shares issued and outstanding, as adjusted

     —         —    

Stockholders’ equity:

    

Common stock, par value $0.001 per share; 180,000 shares authorized, 1,019 shares issued and outstanding, actual and as adjusted

     1       1  

Additional paid-in capital

     314,119       314,119  

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

     (614     (614

Accumulated deficit

     (306,885     (306,885
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total stockholders’ equity

     6,621       6,621  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total capitalization

   $ 21,343     $ 21,343  

 

(1)

As adjusted balance does not include Series J Convertible Redeemable Preferred Stock classified as liability, mezzanine equity or stockholders’ equity due to indeterminate conversion activity to take place upon issuance.

A $6.00 increase (decrease) in the assumed public offering price of $60.00 per Unit would increase (decrease) the expected net proceeds to us from this offering by approximately $700,000, assuming that the number of Units offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same and after deducting the estimated underwriting discount and estimated offering expenses payable by us and excluding the proceeds, if any, from the conversion of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock and the exercise of the Warrants issued pursuant to this offering.

 

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Similarly, a 12,500 Unit increase or decrease in the number of Units offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, would increase or decrease the net proceeds to us by approximately $700,000, assuming the assumed public offering price of $60.00 per Unit remains the same, and after deducting the estimated underwriting discount and estimated offering expenses payable by us, and excluding the proceeds, if any, from the conversion of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock and the exercise of the Warrants issued pursuant to this offering.

The number of shares of common stock outstanding immediately after this offering is based on 1,018,665 shares outstanding as of June 30, 2023 and excludes:

 

   

555 shares of our common stock issuable upon the exercise of stock options, with a weighted-average exercise price of $7,416.82 per share;

 

   

60,326 shares of our common stock issuable upon the settlement of outstanding restricted stock units;

 

   

262,354 shares of our common stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding warrants, with a weighted-average exercise price of $64.34 per share;

 

   

3,633 shares of our common stock that may be issued, at the sole discretion of our board of directors, upon the settlement of outstanding phantom restricted stock units, which may also be settled, at the sole discretion of our board of directors, in cash;

 

   

239 shares of our common stock that may be issued, at the sole discretion of our board of directors, upon the settlement of outstanding stock appreciation rights, which may also be settled, at the sole discretion of our board of directors, in cash; and

 

   

42,211 additional shares of our common stock reserved for future issuance under our 2018 Long-Term Incentive Plan.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF THE SECURITIES WE ARE OFFERING

Units

We are offering 125,000 Units in this offering at the assumed public offering price of $60.00 per Unit. Each Unit includes one share of our Series J Convertible Preferred Stock and one Warrant to purchase one-half of one (0.5) share of our Series J Convertible Preferred Stock at an exercise price equal to $30.00 per one-half of one share of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock, which is 50% of the public offering price of the Units. Our Units will not be certificated and the shares of our Series J Convertible Preferred Stock and Warrants consisting of such Units are immediately separable and will be issued separately in this offering. We are also registering the shares of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock issuable as PIK Dividends, the shares of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants and the shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock. These securities are being issued pursuant to an underwriting agreement between us and the representatives of the underwriters. You should review the underwriting agreement, the form of Certificate of Designation establishing the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock, the form of Warrant, and the Warrant Agency Agreement, each of which are filed, or will be filed, as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, for a complete description of the terms and conditions applicable to the Units, the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock and the Warrants.

Series J Convertible Preferred Stock

The following describes the material terms of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock. This is not a complete description and is subject to, and entirely qualified by reference to applicable provisions of our Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws and the Certificate of Designation establishing the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock, which are filed with the SEC as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, as well as the relevant portions of Delaware law.

Pursuant to our Certificate of Incorporation, we are authorized to issue 1,000,000 shares of our preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share. As of the date of this prospectus, there are 125,000 shares designated as Series I Preferred Stock, of which 85,000 shares are issued and outstanding, and 370,000 shares designated as Series H Convertible Preferred Stock, of which 12,000 shares are issued and outstanding. In connection with this offering, our board of directors will designate approximately 260,000 of these shares of preferred stock as the “Series J Convertible Redeemable Preferred Stock”, pursuant to a Certificate of Designation of Preferences, Rights and Limitations (the “Certificate of Designation”) that sets forth the terms of such Series J Convertible Preferred Stock, with a liquidation preference of $100.00 per share, which final number of designated shares will be based on the actual number of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock issued in connection with this offering.

In addition, subject to the limitations described herein, we may issue additional preferred stock from time to time in one or more series, each with such designation, powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions applicable to any of those rights, including dividend rights, voting rights, conversion or exchange rights, terms of redemption and liquidation preferences, as the Board (or a duly authorized committee of the Board) may determine prior to the time of such issuance.

Listing

There is no established trading market for the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock or the Warrants and we do not expect an active trading market to develop for the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock or Warrants. In addition, we do not intend to apply to list the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock or the Warrants on any national securities exchange or other nationally recognized trading system, including Nasdaq.

 

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Transfer Agent and Register

The transfer agent and register for the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock is Computershare Trust Company, N.A. (the “Transfer Agent”). The Transfer Agent’s address is 250 Royall Street, Canton, Massachusetts 02021. The Series J Convertible Preferred Stock will be issued and maintained in book-entry form registered in the name of the nominee, The Depository Trust Company. See “—Book - Entry Procedures” below.

Maturity

The Series J Convertible Preferred Stock matures one (1) year from the original issue date.

Ranking and Liquidation Preference

Upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Company, whether voluntary or involuntary, prior and in preference to the common stock, holders of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive out of the assets available for distribution to stockholders an amount equal in cash to 100% of the aggregate Stated Value of $100.00 per share (the “Stated Value”) of all shares of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock held by such holder, and any other fees then due and owing thereon under the Certificate of Designation, and no more, and if the assets of the Company shall be insufficient to pay in full such amounts, then the entire assets to be distributed to the holders shall be ratably distributed among the holders in accordance with the respective amounts that would be payable on such shares if all amounts payable thereon were paid in full.

Dividends

The Certificate of Designation shall provide that dividends on the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock shall be paid in-kind (“PIK dividends”) in additional shares of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock based on the stated value of $100.00 per share at an assumed annual dividend rate of 20.0% and a quarterly dividend rate of 5.0% (the “Quarterly Dividend Rate”). The PIK dividends will be paid on a quarterly basis for one year following the issuance of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock payable to holders of the Series J Convertible Preferred of record at the close of business at the end of October 31, 2023, January 31, 2024, April 30, 2024 and July 31, 2024 (each a “Dividend Record Date”) at the Quarterly Dividend Rate. PIK dividends on each share of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock shall be paid three business days after each Dividend Record Date in additional fully paid and nonassessable, registered shares of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock in a number equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (A) the product obtained by multiplying (i) the Quarterly Dividend Rate and (ii) the stated value of $100.00 per share, by (B) the public offering price per Unit (equal to $60.00, based on the assumed public offering price set forth on the cover page of the prospectus).

Conversion

The Series J Convertible Preferred Stock is convertible at any time at the option of the holder. Except as provided below, the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock is not convertible into or exchangeable for any other securities or property.

Conversion at Option of Holder

Each share of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock is convertible into shares of our common stock at an assumed conversion price of $4.63 per share of our common stock (the “Conversion Price”), which Conversion Price is subject to adjustment and is based on the closing price of our common stock on August 29, 2023.

Holders shall effect conversions of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock by providing us a conversion notice (a “Notice of Conversion”), duly completed and executed. The Notice of Conversion must specify the number of shares of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock then held by the holder and the number of such shares which the

 

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holder is converting. To effect conversions of shares of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock, a holder shall not be required to surrender the certificate(s), if any, representing the shares of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock to us unless all of the shares of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock represented thereby are so converted, in which case such holder shall deliver the certificate representing such shares of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock promptly following the conversion date at issue. Shares of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock converted into our shares of common stock shall be canceled and shall not be reissued.

If, at any time while the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock is outstanding: we (A) pay a stock dividend or otherwise make a distribution or distributions payable in shares of our common stock or any other Common Stock Equivalents (as defined in the Certificate of Designation) (which, for avoidance of doubt, shall not include any shares of common stock issued by us upon conversion of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock, or payment of a dividend on the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock) with respect to the then outstanding shares of common stock; (B) subdivide outstanding shares of common stock into a larger number of shares; (C) combine (including by way of a reverse stock split) outstanding shares of common stock into a smaller number of shares or (D) issue, in the event of a reclassification of shares of the common stock, any shares of our capital stock, which we refer to collectively as the “Anti-Dilution Provisions”, then the Conversion Price shall be multiplied by a fraction of which the numerator shall be the number of shares of common stock (excluding any treasury shares) outstanding immediately before such event and of which the denominator shall be the number of shares of common stock outstanding immediately after such event (excluding any treasury shares). Any adjustment made as a result of the Anti-Dilution Provisions shall become effective immediately after the record date for the determination of shareholders entitled to receive such dividend or distribution and shall become effective immediately after the effective date in the case of a subdivision or combination. All calculations will be made to the nearest cent or the nearest 1/100th of a share, as the case may be. For purposes of the Anti-Dilution Provisions, 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) issued and outstanding.

Whenever the Conversion Price is adjusted pursuant to any Anti-Dilution Provision, we will promptly deliver to each holder of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock a notice setting forth the Conversion Price after such adjustment and setting forth a brief statement of the facts requiring such adjustment. Notwithstanding the foregoing in no event may the Conversion Price be less than the par value per share of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock.

Obligations Absolute

Subject to holder’s right to rescind a notice of conversion, our obligation to issue and deliver the shares of common stock upon conversion of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock in accordance with its terms are absolute and unconditional, irrespective of any action or inaction by a holder to enforce the same, any waiver or consent with respect to any provision hereof, the recovery of any judgment against any Person or any action to enforce the same, or any setoff, counterclaim, recoupment, limitation or termination, or any breach or alleged breach by such holder or any other Person of any obligation to us or any violation or alleged violation of law by such holder or any other Person, and irrespective of any other circumstance which might otherwise limit our obligation to such holder in connection with the issuance of such shares of common stock. If we fail to deliver to a holder shares of common stock upon conversion by the Share Delivery Date (as defined in the Certificate of Designation) applicable to such conversion, we shall pay to such holder, in cash, as liquidated damages and not as a penalty, for each $250 of Stated Value of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock being converted, $2.50 per Trading Day (increasing to $5 per Trading Day on the third Trading Day after the Share Delivery Date and increasing to $10 per Trading Day on the sixth Trading Day after the Share Delivery Date) for each Trading Day after the Share Delivery Date until such Conversion Shares are delivered or Holder rescinds such conversion.

 

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Buy-In on Failure to Timely Deliver Certificates Upon Conversion

If we fail to deliver to a holder the applicable certificate or certificates or to effect a delivery via DWAC, as applicable, by the Share Delivery Date (other than a failure caused by incorrect or incomplete information provided by the holder to us), and if after such Share Delivery Date the holder is required by its brokerage firm to purchase (in an open market transaction or otherwise), or the holder’s brokerage firm otherwise purchases, shares of common stock to deliver in satisfaction of a sale by such holder of the Conversion Shares which the holder was entitled to receive upon the conversion relating to such Share Delivery Date (a “Buy-In”), then we are obligated to (A) pay in cash to the holder (in addition to any other remedies available to or elected by the holder) the amount by which (x) the holder’s total purchase price (including any brokerage commissions) for the shares of common stock so purchased exceeds (y) the product of (1) the aggregate number of shares of common stock that such holder was entitled to receive from the conversion at issue multiplied by (2) the actual sale price at which the sell order giving rise to such purchase obligation was executed (including any brokerage commissions) and (B) at the option of the holder, either reissue (if surrendered) the shares of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock equal to the number of shares of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock submitted for conversion or deliver to the holder the number of shares of common stock that would have been issued if we had timely complied with our delivery requirements. For example, if a holder purchases shares of common stock having a total purchase price of $11,000 to cover a Buy-In with respect to an attempted conversion of shares of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock with respect to which the actual sale price (including any brokerage commissions) giving rise to such purchase obligation was a total of $10,000 under clause (A) of the immediately preceding sentence, we would be required to pay such holder $1,000. The holder shall provide us written notice, within three Trading Days after the occurrence of a Buy-In, indicating the amounts payable to such holder in respect of such Buy-In together with applicable confirmations and other evidence reasonably requested by us. Nothing herein shall limit a holder’s right to pursue any other remedies available to it hereunder, at law or in equity including, without limitation, a decree of specific performance and/or injunctive relief with respect our failure to timely deliver certificates representing shares of common stock upon conversion of the shares of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock as required pursuant to the terms hereof; provided, however, that the holder shall not be entitled to both (i) require the reissuance of the shares of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock submitted for conversion for which such conversion was not timely honored and (ii) receive the number of shares of common stock that would have been issued if we had timely complied with applicable delivery requirements.

Reservation of Shares Issuable Upon Conversion

We have agreed that we will at all times reserve and keep available out of our authorized and unissued shares of common stock for the sole purpose of issuance upon conversion of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock, free from preemptive rights or any other actual contingent purchase rights of Persons other than the holders of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock, not less than such aggregate number of shares of the common stock as shall be issuable upon the conversion of all outstanding shares of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock. We have further agreed that all shares of common stock that shall be so issuable shall, upon issue, be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid, nonassessable and free and clear of all liens and other encumbrances.

Beneficial Ownership Limitation

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, we shall not effect any conversion of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock, and a Holder shall not have the right to convert any portion of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock, to the extent that, after giving effect to the conversion set forth on the applicable Notice of Conversion, such Holder (together with such Holder’s Affiliates, and any Persons acting as a group together with such Holder or any of such Holder’s Affiliates (such Persons, “Attribution Parties”)) would beneficially own in excess of the Beneficial Ownership Limitation (as defined below). For purposes of the foregoing sentence, the number of shares of common stock beneficially owned by such Holder and its Affiliates and Attribution Parties shall include the number of shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock with respect to which such determination is being made, but shall exclude the number of shares of common

 

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stock which are issuable upon (i) conversion of the remaining, unconverted Series J Convertible Preferred Stock beneficially owned by such Holder or any of its Affiliates or Attribution Parties and (ii) exercise or conversion of the unexercised or unconverted portion of any other of our securities subject to a limitation on conversion or exercise analogous to the limitation contained herein (including, without limitation, the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock) beneficially owned by such Holder or any of its Affiliates or Attribution Parties. Except as set forth in the preceding sentence, for purposes of this section, beneficial ownership shall be calculated in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. To the extent that the limitation contained in this section applies, the determination of whether the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock is convertible (in relation to other securities owned by such Holder together with any Affiliates and Attribution Parties) and of how many shares of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock are convertible shall be in the sole discretion of such Holder, and the submission of a Notice of Conversion shall be deemed to be such Holder’s determination of whether the shares of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock may be converted (in relation to other securities owned by such Holder together with any Affiliates and Attribution Parties) and how many shares of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock are convertible, in each case subject to the Beneficial Ownership Limitation. To ensure compliance with this restriction, each Holder will be deemed to represent to us each time it delivers a Notice of Conversion that such Notice of Conversion has not violated the restrictions set forth in this section and we shall have no obligation to verify or confirm the accuracy of such determination. In addition, a determination as to any group status as contemplated above shall be determined in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. For purposes of this section, in determining the number of outstanding shares of common stock, a Holder may rely on the number of outstanding shares of common stock as stated in the most recent of the following: (i) our most recent periodic or annual report filed with the Commission, as the case may be, (ii) a more recent public announcement by us or (iii) a more recent written notice by us or the Transfer Agent setting forth the number of shares of common stock outstanding. Upon the written or oral request (which may be via email) of a Holder, we within one (1) Trading Day confirm orally and in writing to such Holder the number of shares of common stock then outstanding. In any case, the number of outstanding shares of common stock shall be determined after giving effect to the conversion or exercise of our securities, including the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock, by such Holder or its Affiliates or Attribution Parties since the date as of which such number of outstanding shares of common stock was reported. The “Beneficial Ownership Limitation” shall be 4.99% (or, upon election by a Holder prior to the issuance of any shares of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock, 9.99%) of the number of shares of the common stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to the issuance of shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock held by the applicable Holder. A Holder, upon notice to us, may increase or decrease the Beneficial Ownership Limitation provisions of this section applicable to its Series J Convertible Preferred Stock; provided, that the Beneficial Ownership Limitation shall not in any event exceed 9.99% of the number of shares of the common stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to the issuance of shares of common stock upon conversion of this Series J Convertible Preferred Stock held by the Holder and the provisions of this section shall continue to apply. Any such increase will not be effective until the 61st day after such notice is delivered to us and shall only apply to such Holder and no other Holder. The Beneficial Ownership Limitation shall not be waived by us or the Holder and upon issuance of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock by us, and the purchase thereof by the Holder, each of us and the Holder shall be deemed to acknowledge such limitation and to agree not to waive it. The provisions of this section shall be construed and implemented in a manner otherwise than in strict conformity with the terms of this section to correct this section (or any portion hereof) which may be defective or inconsistent with the intended Beneficial Ownership Limitation contained herein or to make changes or supplements necessary or desirable to properly give effect to such limitation. The limitations contained in this Section shall apply to a successor holder of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock.

Subsequent Rights Offerings

In addition to any Anti-Dilution Adjustments described above, if at any time we grant, issue or sell any Common Stock Equivalents or rights to purchase stock, warrants, securities or other property pro rata to the record holders of common stock or any class thereof (the “Purchase Rights”), then the Holder will be entitled to acquire, upon

 

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the terms applicable to such Purchase Rights, the aggregate Purchase Rights which the Holder could have acquired if the Holder had held the number of shares of common stock acquirable upon complete conversion of such Holder’s Series J Convertible Preferred Stock (without regard to any limitations on exercise hereof, including without limitation, the Beneficial Ownership Limitation) immediately before the date on which a record is taken for the grant, issuance or sale of such Purchase Rights, or, if no such record is taken, the date as of which the record holders of shares of common stock are to be determined for the grant, issue or sale of such Purchase Rights (provided, however, that, to the extent that the Holder’s right to participate in any such Purchase Right would result in the Holder exceeding the Beneficial Ownership Limitation, then the Holder shall not be entitled to participate in such Purchase Right to such extent (or beneficial ownership of such shares of common stock as a result of such Purchase Right to such extent) and such Purchase Right to such extent shall be held in abeyance for the Holder until such time, if ever, as its right thereto would not result in the Holder exceeding the Beneficial Ownership Limitation).

Pro Rata Distributions. During such time as the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock is outstanding, if we declare or make any dividend or other distribution of our assets (or rights to acquire its assets) to holders of common stock, by way of return of capital or otherwise (including, without limitation, any distribution of cash, stock or other securities, property or options by way of a dividend, spin off, reclassification, corporate rearrangement, scheme of arrangement or other similar transaction) ( a “Distribution”), then, in each such case, the Holder shall be entitled to participate in such Distribution to the same extent that the Holder would have participated therein if the Holder had held the number of shares of common stock acquirable upon complete conversion of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock (without regard to any limitations on conversion hereof, including without limitation, the Beneficial Ownership Limitation) immediately before the date of which a record is taken for such Distribution, or, if no such record is taken, the date as of which the record holders of shares of our common stock are to be determined for the participation in such Distribution (provided, however, that, to the extent that the Holder’s right to participate in any such Distribution would result in the Holder exceeding the Beneficial Ownership Limitation, then the Holder shall not be entitled to participate in such Distribution to such extent (or in the beneficial ownership of any shares of common stock as a result of such Distribution to such extent) and the portion of such Distribution shall be held in abeyance for the benefit of the Holder until such time, if ever, as its right thereto would not result in the Holder exceeding the Beneficial Ownership Limitation).

Fundamental Transactions

In the event of a Fundamental Transaction (as defined in the Certificate of Designation) and generally including any reorganization, recapitalization or reclassification of our common stock, the sale, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of our properties or assets, our consolidation or merger with or into another person, or the acquisition of more than 50% of our outstanding common stock, the holders of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive upon conversion of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock the kind and amount of securities, cash or other property that the holders would have received had they converted the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock immediately prior to such Fundamental Transaction (without regard to the Beneficial Ownership Limitation).

Mandatory Redemption

If any shares of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock are outstanding at the end of the one (1) year term, then we shall promptly redeem all of such outstanding shares of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock on a pro rata basis among all of the Holders of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock commencing on the one-year anniversary of the original issue date in cash at a price per Series J Convertible Preferred Share equal to the sum of (x) 100% of the Stated Value plus (y) all other amounts due in respect of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock (if any).

Limited Voting Rights

Holders of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock will not have any voting rights, except as described below or as otherwise required by law.

 

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In any matter in which the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock may vote (as expressly provided herein or as may be required by law), each share of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock will be entitled to one vote per share. So long as any shares of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock remain outstanding, the Company will not, without the consent or the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock, given in person or by proxy, either in writing without a meeting or by vote at any meeting called for the purpose:

 

   

alter or change adversely the powers, preferences or rights given to the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock or alter or amend the Series J Certificate of Designation;

 

   

increase the number of authorized shares of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock; or

 

   

enter into any agreement with respect to any of the foregoing.

The rules and procedures for calling and conducting any meeting of the holders of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock (including, without limitation, the fixing of a record date in connection therewith), the solicitation and use of proxies at such a meeting, the obtaining of written consents and any other aspect or matter with regard to such a meeting or such consents shall be governed by any rules the Board (or a duly authorized committee of the Board), in its discretion, may adopt from time to time, which rules and procedures shall conform to the requirements of the Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws, applicable law and any national securities exchange or other trading facility on which the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock may be listed or traded at the time.

Holders of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock will not have any voting rights with respect to, and the consent of the holders of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock is not required for, the taking of any corporate action, including any merger or consolidation involving the Company or a sale of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets, regardless of the effect that such merger, consolidation or sale may have upon the powers, preferences, voting power or other rights or privileges of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock, except as described above.

No Preemptive Rights

No holders of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock will, as holders of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock, have any preemptive rights to purchase or subscribe for the common stock or any other security.

Exclusion of Other Rights

The shares of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock do not have any voting powers, preferences or relative, participating, optional or other special rights, or qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, other than as set forth in the Certificate of Designation or in our Certificate of Incorporation.

Registration; Transfer

Pursuant to the terms of the Certificate of Designation, the Company is obligated to maintain an effective registration statement covering: (a) the issuance of shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock and (b) the issuance of additional shares of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock pursuant to our obligation to pay PIK dividends, in each case, until such time as no Series J Convertible Preferred Stock (and no Warrants exercisable for shares of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock) remain outstanding, unless there is available an exemption from, or a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act that covers the issuance of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock and the shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of such shares of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock.

 

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Book-Entry Procedures

DTC will act as securities depositary for the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock offered hereunder. With respect to the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock offered hereunder, we will issue one or more fully registered global securities certificates in the name of DTC or DTC’s nominee. These certificates will represent the total aggregate number of shares of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock. We will deposit these certificates with DTC or a custodian appointed by DTC. We will not issue certificates to you for the shares of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock that you purchase, unless DTC’s services are discontinued as described below.

Title to book-entry interests in the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock will pass by book-entry registration of the transfer within the records of DTC in accordance with its procedures. Book-entry interests in the securities may be transferred within DTC in accordance with procedures established for these purposes by DTC. Each person owning a beneficial interest in shares of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock must rely on the procedures of DTC and the participant through which such person owns its interest to exercise its rights as a holder of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock.

DTC has advised us that it is a limited-purpose trust company organized under the New York Banking Law, a member of the Federal Reserve System, a “clearing corporation” within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code and a “clearing agency” registered under the provisions of Section 17A of the Exchange Act. DTC holds securities that its participants (“Direct Participants”) deposit with DTC. DTC also facilitates the settlement among Direct Participants of securities transactions, such as transfers and pledges in deposited securities through electronic computerized book-entry changes in Direct Participants’ accounts, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of securities certificates. Direct Participants include securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations, and certain other organizations. Access to the DTC system is also available to others such as securities brokers and dealers, including the placement agent, banks and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Direct Participant, either directly or indirectly (“Indirect Participants”). The rules applicable to DTC and its Direct and Indirect Participants are on file with the SEC.

When you purchase shares of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock within the DTC system, the purchase must be by or through a Direct Participant. The Direct Participant will receive a credit for the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock on DTC’s records. You will be considered to be the “beneficial owner” of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock. Your beneficial ownership interest will be recorded on the Direct Participants and Indirect Participants’ records, but DTC will have no knowledge of your individual ownership. DTC’s records reflect only the identity of the Direct Participants to whose accounts shares of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock are credited.

You will not receive written confirmation from DTC of your purchase. The Direct Participants or Indirect Participants through whom you purchased the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock should send you written confirmations providing details of your transactions, as well as periodic statements of your holdings. The Direct Participants and Indirect Participants are responsible for keeping an accurate account of the holdings of their customers like you.

Transfers of ownership interests held through Direct Participants and Indirect Participants will be accomplished by entries on the books of Direct Participants and Indirect Participants acting on behalf of the beneficial owners.

The laws of some states may require that specified purchasers of securities take physical delivery of shares of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock in definitive form. These laws may impair the ability to transfer beneficial interests in the global certificates representing the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock.

Conveyance of notices and other communications by DTC to Direct Participants, by Direct Participants to Indirect Participants, and by Direct Participants and Indirect Participants to beneficial owners will be governed by arrangements among them, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in effect from time to time.

 

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We understand that, under DTC’s existing practices, in the event that we request any action of the holders, or an owner of a beneficial interest in a global security, such as you, desires to take any action that a holder is entitled to take under our Certificate of Incorporation (including the Certificate of Designation designating the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock), DTC would authorize the Direct Participants holding the relevant shares to take such action, and those Direct Participants and any Indirect Participants would authorize beneficial owners owning through those Direct Participants and Indirect Participants to take such action or would otherwise act upon the instructions of beneficial owners owning through them.

Any redemption notices with respect to the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock will be sent to DTC or its nominee. If less than all of the outstanding shares of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock are being redeemed, DTC will reduce each Direct Participant’s holdings of shares of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock in accordance with its procedures.

In those instances where a vote is required, neither DTC nor its nominee will consent or vote with respect to the shares of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock. Under its usual procedures, DTC would mail an omnibus proxy to us as soon as possible after the record date. The omnibus proxy assigns DTC’s or its nominee’s consenting or voting rights to those Direct Participants whose accounts the shares of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock are credited to on the record date, which are identified in a listing attached to the omnibus proxy.

Dividends on the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock are made directly to DTC (or its successor, if applicable). DTC’s practice is to credit participants’ accounts on the relevant payment date in accordance with their respective holdings shown on DTC’s records unless DTC has reason to believe that it will not receive payment on that payment date.

Payments by Direct Participants and Indirect Participants to beneficial owners will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is the case with securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in “street name.” These payments will be the responsibility of the participant and not of DTC, us or any agent of ours. DTC may discontinue providing its services as securities depositary with respect to the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock at any time by giving reasonable notice to us. Additionally, we may decide to discontinue the book-entry only system of transfers with respect to the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock. In that event, we will print and deliver certificates in fully registered form for the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock. If DTC notifies us that it is unwilling to continue as securities depositary, or it is unable to continue or ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act and a successor depositary is not appointed by us within 90 days after receiving such notice or becoming aware that DTC is no longer so registered, we will issue the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock in definitive form, at our expense, upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, such global security.

According to DTC, the foregoing information with respect to DTC has been provided to the financial community for informational purposes only and is not intended to serve as a representation, warranty or contract modification of any kind.

Global Clearance and Settlement Procedures

Initial settlement for the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock will be made in immediately available funds. Secondary market trading among DTC’s participants occurs in the ordinary way in accordance with DTC’s rules and will be settled in immediately available funds using DTC’s Same-Day Funds Settlement System.

Direct Registration System

The Series J Convertible Preferred Stock will be registered in book-entry form through the Direct Registration System (the “DRS”). The DRS is a system administered by DTC pursuant to which the depositary may register the ownership of uncertificated shares, which ownership shall be evidenced by periodic statements issued by the

 

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depositary to the holders of shares of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock entitled thereto. This direct registration form of ownership allows investors to have securities registered in their names without requiring the issuance of a physical stock certificate, eliminates the need for you to safeguard and store certificates and permits the electronic transfer of securities to effect transactions without transferring physical certificates.

Common Stock

The material terms of our common stock are described under the caption “Description of Capital Stock” in this prospectus.

Warrants

Warrants Included in the Units

The following summary of certain terms and provisions of the Warrants offered hereby is not complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by, the provisions of the form of Warrant Agency Agreement between us and the Warrant Agent, and the form of Warrant, both of which are filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. Prospective investors should carefully review the terms and provisions set forth in form of Warrant Agency Agreement, including the annexes thereto, and the form of Warrant.

The Warrants will be issued in registered form under a Warrant Agency Agreement between us and Computershare Inc. and its affiliate, Computershare Trust Company, N.A., together serving as warrant agent (the “Warrant Agent”). The Warrants shall initially be represented only by one or more global warrants deposited with the Warrant Agent, as custodian on behalf of The Depository Trust Company (DTC) and registered in the name of Cede & Co., a nominee of DTC, or as otherwise directed by DTC.

Exercisability. The Warrants are exercisable at any time after their original issuance and at any time up to the date that is one year after their original issuance. The Warrants will be exercisable, at the option of each holder, in whole or in part by delivering to us a duly executed exercise notice and, by payment in full in immediately available funds for the number of shares of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock purchased upon such exercise. The Warrants will not include a cashless exercise feature. No fractional shares will be issued in connection with the exercise of a Warrant. In lieu of fractional shares, we will pay the holder an amount in cash equal to the fractional amount multiplied by the Stated Value of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock. Accordingly, a holder of the Warrants is entitled to exercise a number of Warrants that would solely result in the holder receiving one or more whole shares of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock. If we fail to deliver to a holder the applicable certificate or certificates or to effect a delivery via DWAC, as applicable, (other than certain specified failures ) and the holder is required by its brokerage firm to purchase (in an open market transaction or otherwise), or the holder’s brokerage firm otherwise purchases, shares of common stock to deliver in satisfaction of a sale by such holder of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock which the holder anticipated receiving upon such exercise, then we shall (A) pay in cash to the holder the amount, if any, by which (x) the holder’s total purchase price (including brokerage commissions, if any) for the shares of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock so purchased exceeds (y) the amount obtained by multiplying (1) the number of shares of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock that we were required to deliver to the holder in connection with the exercise at issue times (2) the price at which the sell order giving rise to such purchase obligation was executed, and (B) at the option of the holder, either reinstate the portion of the Warrant and equivalent number of shares of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock for which such exercise was not honored (in which case such exercise shall be deemed rescinded) or deliver to the holder the number of shares of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock that would have been issued had we timely complied with its exercise and delivery obligations hereunder.

Exercise Limitation. A holder will not have the right to exercise any portion of the Warrant if the holder (together with its affiliates) would beneficially own in excess of 4.99% of the number of shares of our common stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to the exercise, as such percentage ownership is determined in accordance with the terms of the Warrants. However, any holder may increase or decrease such percentage to any other percentage not in excess of 9.99%, provided that any increase in such percentage shall not be effective until 61 days following notice from the holder to us.

 

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Exercise Price. The exercise price per Warrants is $30.00 to purchase one-half of one shares of our Series J Convertible Preferred Stock, which is 50% of the public offering price per Unit. The exercise price is subject to appropriate adjustment in the event of certain stock dividends and distributions, stock splits, stock combinations, reclassifications or similar events affecting our common stock and also upon any distributions of assets, including cash, stock or other property to our stockholders.

Adjustments. If, at any time while the Warrants are outstanding: we (A) pay a stock dividend or otherwise make a distribution or distributions payable in shares of our Series J Convertible Preferred Stock (which, for avoidance of doubt, shall not include any shares of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock issued by us upon exercise of the Warrants and shall not include any of the PIK dividends to be paid to holders of shares of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock); (B) subdivide outstanding shares of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock into a larger number of shares; (C) combine (including by way of a reverse stock split) outstanding shares of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock into a smaller number of shares or (D) issue, in the event of a reclassification of shares of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock, any shares of our capital stock, which we refer to collectively as the “Anti-Dilution Provisions”, then the number of shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants shall be proportionately adjusted such that the aggregate Exercise Price of the Warrants shall remain unchanged.

Subsequent Rights Offerings. In addition to any adjustments pursuant to the paragraph above, if at any time that a Warrant is outstanding we grant, issue or sell any Preferred Stock Equivalents (as defined in the Warrant) or rights to purchase shares, warrants, securities or other property pro rata to all of the record holders of the Series J Preferred Stock (the “Purchase Rights”), then the Holder or the Warrant will be entitled to acquire, upon the terms applicable to such Purchase Rights, the aggregate Purchase Rights which the Holder could have acquired if the Holder had held the number of shares of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock acquirable upon complete exercise of this Warrant (without regard to any limitations on exercise hereof, including without limitation, the Beneficial Ownership Limitation) immediately before the date on which a record is taken for the grant, issuance or sale of such Purchase Rights, or, if no such record is taken, the date as of which the record holders of shares of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock are to be determined for the grant, issue or sale of such Purchase Rights.

Pro Rata Distributions. During such time as a Warrant is outstanding, if we shall declare or make any dividend or other distribution of our assets (or rights to acquire our assets) to holders of shares of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock, by way of return of capital or otherwise (including, without limitation, any distribution of cash, share or other securities, property or options by way of a dividend, spin off, reclassification, corporate rearrangement, scheme of arrangement or other similar transaction) (except to the extent an adjustment was already made pursuant to the second preceding paragraph ) (a “Distribution”), at any time after the issuance of the Warrants, then, in each such case, the Holder shall be entitled to participate in such Distribution to the same extent that the Holder would have participated therein if the Holder had held the number of shares of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock acquirable upon complete exercise of the Warrant immediately before the date of which a record is taken for such Distribution, or, if no such record is taken, the date as of which the record holders of shares of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock are to be determined for the participation in such Distribution. Any Distribution or Distributions to be paid to any holder of shares of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock arising as a result of our obligation to issue PIK dividends on the Series J Preferred Stock pursuant to the Certificate of Designation, shall be held in trust for the benefit of such holder of shares of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock holding the Warrant at the time of exercise of the Warrant, and paid to such holder only upon such exercise.

Transferability. Subject to applicable laws, the Warrants may be offered for sale, sold, transferred or assigned without our consent.

No Listing. There is no established public trading market for the Warrants and we do not expect a market to develop. In addition, we do not intend to apply for listing of the Warrants on any securities exchange or trading system, including the Nasdaq. Without an active market, the liquidity of the Warrants will be limited.

 

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Warrant Agent; Global Certificate. The Warrants will be issued in registered form under a Warrant Agency Agreement between us and the Warrant Agent, Computershare Inc. and its affiliate, Computershare Trust Company, N.A. The Warrants shall initially be represented only by one or more global warrants deposited with the Warrant Agent, as custodian on behalf of The Depository Trust Company (DTC) and registered in the name of Cede & Co., a nominee of DTC, or as otherwise directed by DTC.

Fundamental Transactions. In the event of a “fundamental transaction,” as defined in the Warrants and generally including any reorganization, recapitalization or reclassification of our common stock, the sale, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of our properties or assets, our consolidation or merger with or into another person, the acquisition of more than 50% of our outstanding common stock, or any person or group becoming the beneficial owner of 50% of the voting power represented by our outstanding common stock, the holders of the Warrants will be entitled to receive upon exercise of the Warrants the kind and amount of securities, cash or other property that the holders would have received had they exercised the Warrants immediately prior to such fundamental transaction.

Registration; Transfer. Pursuant to the terms of the Warrants, we are obligated to maintain an effective registration statement covering the issuance of the shares of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock upon exercise of the Warrants and the shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of such shares of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock until such time as no Warrants remain outstanding, unless there is available an exemption from, or a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act that covers the issuance of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock and the shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of such shares of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock.

Rights as a Stockholder. Except as otherwise provided in the Warrants or by virtue of such holder’s ownership of our common stock, the holder of a Warrant does not have the rights or privileges of a holder of our common stock, including any voting rights, until the holder exercises the Warrant and converts the shares of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock received upon such exercise into shares of common stock.

Governing Law. The Warrants are governed by New York law.

 

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PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS

As of August 25, 2023, there was no person, entity or group known to the Company to be the beneficial owner of more than five percent (5%) of the outstanding shares of our common stock or Series H Preferred Stock based on a review of publicly available statements of beneficial ownership filed with the SEC and Company records.

The following table sets forth the beneficial ownership of shares of our common stock as of August 25, 2023, and as adjusted to reflect the sale of the securities offered by us in this offering (assuming no conversion of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock and no exercise of Warrants), by (i) each current director and director nominee, (ii) each named executive officer and (iii) all current directors and executive officers as a group. The persons named in the table have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares of our common stock shown as beneficially owned by them, subject to community property laws, where applicable. Percentage ownership is based on 1,043,752 shares of our common stock outstanding as of August 25, 2023. Shares underlying stock options or warrants exercisable within 60 days of August 25, 2023 are deemed outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of the person or persons holding such options or warrants, but are not deemed outstanding for computing the percentage ownership of any other persons.

Except as otherwise indicated, the address of each of the persons in this table is c/o BIOLASE, Inc., 27042 Towne Centre Drive, Suite 270 Lake Forest, California 92610.

 

Name

   Shares
of
Common
Stock
   

 

     Percentage
of
Common
Stock
Beneficially
Owned
Before this
Offering
     Percentage
of
Common
Stock
Beneficially
Owned
After this
Offering
 

John R. Beaver

     189 (1)         *      *

Jonathan T. Lord, M.D.

     1,186 (2)         *      *

Kathleen T. O’Loughlin, D.D.S.

     39 (3)         *      *

Jess Roper

     182 (4)         *      *

Martha Somerman, D.D.S.

     39 (5)         *      *

Carol Gomez Summerhays, D.D.S.

     39          *      *

Kenneth P. Yale, D.D.S., J.D.

     409          *      *

Jennifer Bright

     161          *      *

Steve Sandor

     205          *      *

All current directors and executive officers as a group (9 persons)

     2,449          *        *  

 

*

Represents less than 1%.

(1)

Includes vested options to purchase 66 shares of our common stock. Excludes 5,556 RSUs contributed into the Company’s deferred compensation plan.

(2)

Includes vested options to purchase 253 shares of our common stock.

(3)

Includes vested options to purchase 39 shares of our common stock. Excludes 409 RSUs contributed into the Company’s deferred compensation plan.

(4)

Includes vested options to purchase 119 shares of our common stock. Excludes 491 RSUs contributed into the Company’s deferred compensation plan.

(5)

Includes vested options to purchase 39 shares of our common stock. Excludes 422 RSUs contributed into the Company’s deferred compensation plan.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

The following summary description sets forth some of the general terms and provisions of our capital stock. Because this is a summary description, it does not contain all of the information that may be important to you. For a more detailed description of our capital stock, you should refer to the applicable provisions of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”) and our charter and bylaws. Copies of our Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended (our “Charter”), and our Eighth Amended and Restated Bylaws (our “Bylaws”) are included as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.

Our Authorized Capital Stock

Under our Charter, we are authorized to issue 180,000,000 shares of our common stock, par value $0.001 per share, and 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share. Our Board has designated (i) 370,000 of these shares of preferred stock as the Series H Convertible Redeemable Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share, with a liquidation preference of $50.00 per share and (ii) 125,000 of these shares of preferred stock as the Series I Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share.

As of August 25, 2023, there were 1,043,770 shares of our common stock issued and 1,043,752 shares outstanding, held by approximately 12 stockholders of record. In addition, as of August 25, 2023, 262,354 shares were subject to outstanding warrants to purchase shares of our common stock, 555 shares were subject to outstanding options to purchase shares of our common stock, 239 shares were subject to outstanding stock appreciation rights, 58,451 shares were subject to settlement of unvested restricted stock units and 3,499 shares were subject to outstanding phantom restricted stock units. As of August 25, 2023, there were 5,000 shares of our Series H Convertible Preferred Stock issued and outstanding, 67,500 shares of Series H Convertible Preferred Stock subject to outstanding Series H Warrants and no shares of our Series I Preferred Stock were issued and outstanding.

Common Stock

Voting Rights. Holders of our common stock are entitled to one vote per share. Except as required by the DGCL, our Charter or our Bylaws, matters will generally be decided by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority in voting power of the shares of capital stock present in person or represented by proxy at a meeting and entitled to vote on the subject matter. Our Bylaws provide that each of our directors is elected by the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast with respect to such director in uncontested elections. In a contested election, each of our directors is elected by an affirmative vote of a plurality of the votes cast by the shares represented and entitled to vote with respect to the election of such director. A “contested election” is defined in our Bylaws as an election with respect to which, as of the record date for the meeting at which directors are to be elected, the number of nominees exceeds the number of directors to be elected at such meeting. Vacancies on our Board may be filled by an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the remaining members of our Board or at a meeting of the stockholders in the manner set forth above.

Dividend Rights. Subject to any preferential rights of any outstanding shares of our preferred stock to receive dividends before any dividends may be paid on our common stock, the holders of our common stock will be entitled to share ratably in any dividends that may be declared by our Board out of funds legally available for the payment of dividends. Our ability to pay dividends on our common stock will be limited by restrictions on our ability to pay dividends or make distributions to our stockholders and on the ability of our subsidiaries to pay dividends or make distributions to us, in each case, under the terms of our current, and any future, agreements governing our indebtedness.

Other Rights. Each holder of our common stock is subject to, and may be adversely affected by, the rights of the holders of any series of preferred stock that our Board may designate and we may issue in the future. Holders of our common stock have no preemptive, conversion or other rights to subscribe for additional shares. Our

 

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common stock does not carry any redemption rights or any preemptive rights enabling a holder to subscribe for, or receive shares of, any class of our common stock or any other securities convertible into shares of any class of our common stock.

Liquidation Rights. Subject to any preferential rights of any outstanding shares of our preferred stock, in the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, holders of our common stock are entitled to share ratably in the assets remaining after payment of liabilities and the liquidation preferences of any outstanding preferred stock.

Standstill Agreements. Pursuant to (1) a standstill agreement with Jack W. Schuler, Renate Schuler and the Schuler Family Foundation (collectively, the “Schuler Parties”), dated November 10, 2015 (as amended on August 1, 2016 and November 9, 2017, the “Schuler Standstill Agreement”), and (2) a standstill agreement with Larry N. Feinberg, Oracle Partners, L.P., Oracle Institutional Partners, L.P., Oracle Ten Fund Master, L.P., Oracle Associates, LLC and Oracle Investment Management, Inc. (collectively, the “Oracle Parties”) dated November 10, 2015 (as amended on August 1, 2016 and November 9, 2017, the “Oracle Standstill Agreement” and, together with the Schuler Standstill Agreement, the “Standstill Agreements”), each of the Schuler Parties and the Oracle Parties agreed with respect to itself and its associates and affiliates (i) not to purchase or acquire any shares of our common stock if such a purchase would result in aggregate beneficial ownership by it and its affiliates and associates in excess of 41% of the issued and outstanding shares of our common stock and (ii) not to sell, transfer or otherwise convey shares of our common stock (or warrants or other rights to acquire shares of our common stock) to anyone who will immediately thereafter beneficially own shares in excess of 20% of the issued and outstanding shares of our common stock, as a result of such transfer and other transfers from third parties.

Preferred Stock

Our Charter authorizes our Board to provide for the issuance of shares of up to 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock in one or more series without further authorization from stockholders. Prior to issuance of shares of each series, our Board is required by the DGCL and our Charter to fix the designation, powers, preferences and rights of the shares of such series and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof. As of the date of this prospectus, we had 17,883 shares Series H Convertible Preferred Stock shares of the outstanding. No other shares of preferred stock were outstanding as of the date of this prospectus.

Series H Convertible Preferred Stock

Maturity. The Series H Convertible Preferred Stock matures two (2) years from the original issue date.

Ranking and Liquidation Preference. Upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Company, whether voluntary or involuntary, prior and in preference to the common stock, holders of the Series H Convertible Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive out of the assets available for distribution to stockholders an amount equal in cash to 100% of the aggregate stated value of $50.00 per share (the “Series H Stated Value”) of all shares of Series H Convertible Preferred Stock held by such holder, and any other fees then due and owing thereon under the certificate of designation establishing the Series H Convertible Preferred Stock (the “Series H Certificate of Designation”), and no more, and if the assets of the Company shall be insufficient to pay in full such amounts, then the entire assets to be distributed to the holders shall be ratably distributed among the holders in accordance with the respective amounts that would be payable on such shares if all amounts payable thereon were paid in full.

Dividends. The Series H Certificate of Designation provides that dividends on the Series H Convertible Preferred Stock shall be paid in-kind (“Series H PIK dividends”) in additional shares of Series H Convertible Preferred Stock based on the Series H Stated Value of $50.00 per share at the dividend rate of 20.0% (the “Series H Dividend Rate”). The Series H PIK dividends will be a one-time payment payable to holders of the Series H Convertible Preferred of record at the close of business on the one-year anniversary of the original issuance date

 

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(the “Series H Dividend Record Date”). Series H PIK dividends on each share of Series H Convertible Preferred Stock shall be paid three business days after the Series H Dividend Record Date in additional fully paid and nonassessable, registered shares of Series H Convertible Preferred Stock in a number equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (A) the product obtained by multiplying (i) the Series H Dividend Rate and (ii) the stated value of $50.00 per share, by (B) $26.00.

Conversion. The Series H Convertible Preferred Stock is convertible at any time at the option of the holder. Except as provided below, the Series H Convertible Preferred Stock is not convertible into or exchangeable for any other securities or property.

Conversion at Option of Holder. Each share of Series H Convertible Preferred Stock is convertible into shares of our common stock at the conversion price of $13.98 per share of our common stock (the “Series H Conversion Price”), which Series H Conversion Price is subject to adjustment and is based on the closing price of our common stock on May 23, 2023.

Holders shall effect conversions of the Series H Convertible Preferred Stock by providing us a conversion notice (a “Series H Notice of Conversion”), duly completed and executed. The Series H Notice of Conversion must specify the number of shares of Series H Convertible Preferred Stock then held by the holder and the number of such shares which the holder is converting. To effect conversions of shares of Series H Convertible Preferred Stock, a holder shall not be required to surrender the certificate(s), if any, representing the shares of Series H Convertible Preferred Stock to us unless all of the shares of Series H Convertible Preferred Stock represented thereby are so converted, in which case such holder shall deliver the certificate representing such shares of Series H Convertible Preferred Stock promptly following the conversion date at issue. Shares of Series H Convertible Preferred Stock converted into our shares of common stock shall be canceled and shall not be reissued.

If, at any time while the Series H Convertible Preferred Stock is outstanding: we (A) pay a stock dividend or otherwise make a distribution or distributions payable in shares of our common stock or any other Common Stock Equivalents (as defined in the Series H Certificate of Designation) (which, for avoidance of doubt, shall not include any shares of common stock issued by us upon conversion of the Series H Convertible Preferred Stock, or payment of a dividend on the Series H Convertible Preferred Stock) with respect to the then outstanding shares of common stock; (B) subdivide outstanding shares of common stock into a larger number of shares; (C) combine (including by way of a reverse stock split) outstanding shares of common stock into a smaller number of shares or (D) issue, in the event of a reclassification of shares of the common stock, any shares of our capital stock, which we refer to collectively as the “Anti-Dilution Provisions”, then the Series H Conversion Price shall be multiplied by a fraction of which the numerator shall be the number of shares of common stock (excluding any treasury shares) outstanding immediately before such event and of which the denominator shall be the number of shares of common stock outstanding immediately after such event (excluding any treasury shares). Any adjustment made as a result of the Anti-Dilution Provisions shall become effective immediately after the record date for the determination of shareholders entitled to receive such dividend or distribution and shall become effective immediately after the effective date in the case of a subdivision or combination. All calculations will be made to the nearest cent or the nearest 1/100th of a share, as the case may be. For purposes of the Anti-Dilution Provisions, 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) issued and outstanding. Whenever the Series H Conversion Price is adjusted pursuant to any Anti-Dilution Provision, we will promptly deliver to each holder of Series H Convertible Preferred Stock a notice setting forth the Series H Conversion Price after such adjustment and setting forth a brief statement of the facts requiring such adjustment. Notwithstanding the foregoing in no event may the Series H Conversion Price be less than the par value per share of Series H Convertible Preferred Stock.

Obligations Absolute. Subject to holder’s right to rescind a notice of conversion, our obligation to issue and deliver the shares of common stock upon conversion of Series H Convertible Preferred Stock in accordance with its terms are absolute and unconditional, irrespective of any action or inaction by a holder to enforce the same,

 

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any waiver or consent with respect to any provision hereof, the recovery of any judgment against any Person or any action to enforce the same, or any setoff, counterclaim, recoupment, limitation or termination, or any breach or alleged breach by such holder or any other Person of any obligation to us or any violation or alleged violation of law by such holder or any other Person, and irrespective of any other circumstance which might otherwise limit our obligation to such holder in connection with the issuance of such shares of common stock. If we fail to deliver to a holder shares of common stock upon conversion by the Share Delivery Date (as defined in the Series H Certificate of Designation) applicable to such conversion, we shall pay to such holder, in cash, as liquidated damages and not as a penalty, for each $250 of Series H Stated Value of Series H Convertible Preferred Stock being converted, $2.50 per Trading Day (as defined in the Series H Certificate of Designation) (increasing to $5 per Trading Day on the third Trading Day after the Share Delivery Date and increasing to $10 per Trading Day on the sixth Trading Day after the Share Delivery Date) for each Trading Day after the Share Delivery Date until such Conversion Shares (as defined in the Series H Certificate of Designation) are delivered or holder rescinds such conversion.

Buy-In on Failure to Timely Deliver Certificates Upon Conversion. If we fail to deliver to a holder the applicable certificate or certificates or to effect a delivery via DWAC, as applicable, by the Share Delivery Date (other than a failure caused by incorrect or incomplete information provided by the holder to us), and if after such Share Delivery Date the holder is required by its brokerage firm to purchase (in an open market transaction or otherwise), or the holder’s brokerage firm otherwise purchases, shares of common stock to deliver in satisfaction of a sale by such holder of the Conversion Shares which the holder was entitled to receive upon the conversion relating to such Share Delivery Date (a “Buy-In”), then we are obligated to (A) pay in cash to the holder (in addition to any other remedies available to or elected by the holder) the amount by which (x) the holder’s total purchase price (including any brokerage commissions) for the shares of common stock so purchased exceeds (y) the product of (1) the aggregate number of shares of common stock that such holder was entitled to receive from the conversion at issue multiplied by (2) the actual sale price at which the sell order giving rise to such purchase obligation was executed (including any brokerage commissions) and (B) at the option of the holder, either reissue (if surrendered) the shares of Series H Convertible Preferred Stock equal to the number of shares of Series H Convertible Preferred Stock submitted for conversion or deliver to the holder the number of shares of common stock that would have been issued if we had timely complied with our delivery requirements. For example, if a holder purchases shares of common stock having a total purchase price of $11,000 to cover a Buy-In with respect to an attempted conversion of shares of Series H Convertible Preferred Stock with respect to which the actual sale price (including any brokerage commissions) giving rise to such purchase obligation was a total of $10,000 under clause (A) of the immediately preceding sentence, we would be required to pay such holder $1,000. The holder shall provide us written notice, within three Trading Days after the occurrence of a Buy-In, indicating the amounts payable to such holder in respect of such Buy-In together with applicable confirmations and other evidence reasonably requested by us. Nothing herein shall limit a holder’s right to pursue any other remedies available to it hereunder, at law or in equity including, without limitation, a decree of specific performance and/or injunctive relief with respect our failure to timely deliver certificates representing shares of common stock upon conversion of the shares of Series H Convertible Preferred Stock as required pursuant to the terms hereof; provided, however, that the holder shall not be entitled to both (i) require the reissuance of the shares of Series H Convertible Preferred Stock submitted for conversion for which such conversion was not timely honored and (ii) receive the number of shares of common stock that would have been issued if we had timely complied with applicable delivery requirements.

Reservation of Shares Issuable Upon Conversion. We have agreed that we will at all times reserve and keep available out of our authorized and unissued shares of common stock for the sole purpose of issuance upon conversion of the Series H Convertible Preferred Stock, free from preemptive rights or any other actual contingent purchase rights of Persons other than the holders of the Series H Convertible Preferred Stock, not less than such aggregate number of shares of the common stock as shall be issuable upon the conversion of all outstanding shares of Series H Convertible Preferred Stock. We have further agreed that all shares of common stock that shall be so issuable shall, upon issue, be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid, nonassessable and free and clear of all liens and other encumbrances.

 

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Beneficial Ownership Limitation. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, we shall not effect any conversion of the Series H Convertible Preferred Stock, and a Holder shall not have the right to convert any portion of the Series H Convertible Preferred Stock, to the extent that, after giving effect to the conversion set forth on the applicable Series H Notice of Conversion, such Holder (together with such Holder’s Affiliates, and any Persons acting as a group together with such Holder or any of such Holder’s Affiliates (such Persons, “Series H Attribution Parties”)) would beneficially own in excess of the Beneficial Ownership Limitation (as defined below). For purposes of the foregoing sentence, the number of shares of common stock beneficially owned by such Holder and its Affiliates and Series H Attribution Parties shall include the number of shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of the Series H Convertible Preferred Stock with respect to which such determination is being made, but shall exclude the number of shares of common stock which are issuable upon (i) conversion of the remaining, unconverted Series H Convertible Preferred Stock beneficially owned by such Holder or any of its Affiliates or Series H Attribution Parties and (ii) exercise or conversion of the unexercised or unconverted portion of any other of our securities subject to a limitation on conversion or exercise analogous to the limitation contained herein (including, without limitation, the Series H Convertible Preferred Stock) beneficially owned by such Holder or any of its Affiliates or Series H Attribution Parties. Except as set forth in the preceding sentence, for purposes of this section, beneficial ownership shall be calculated in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. To the extent that the limitation contained in this section applies, the determination of whether the Series H Convertible Preferred Stock is convertible (in relation to other securities owned by such Holder together with any Affiliates and Series H Attribution Parties) and of how many shares of Series H Convertible Preferred Stock are convertible shall be in the sole discretion of such Holder, and the submission of a Series H Notice of Conversion shall be deemed to be such Holder’s determination of whether the shares of Series H Convertible Preferred Stock may be converted (in relation to other securities owned by such Holder together with any Affiliates and Series H Attribution Parties) and how many shares of the Series H Convertible Preferred Stock are convertible, in each case subject to the Beneficial Ownership Limitation. To ensure compliance with this restriction, each Holder will be deemed to represent to us each time it delivers a Series H Notice of Conversion that such Series H Notice of Conversion has not violated the restrictions set forth in this section and we shall have no obligation to verify or confirm the accuracy of such determination. In addition, a determination as to any group status as contemplated above shall be determined in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. For purposes of this section, in determining the number of outstanding shares of common stock, a Holder may rely on the number of outstanding shares of common stock as stated in the most recent of the following: (i) our most recent periodic or annual report filed with the Commission, as the case may be, (ii) a more recent public announcement by us or (iii) a more recent written notice by us or the Transfer Agent setting forth the number of shares of common stock outstanding. Upon the written or oral request (which may be via email) of a Holder, we within one (1) Trading Day confirm orally and in writing to such Holder the number of shares of common stock then outstanding. In any case, the number of outstanding shares of common stock shall be determined after giving effect to the conversion or exercise of our securities, including the Series H Convertible Preferred Stock, by such Holder or its Affiliates or Series H Attribution Parties since the date as of which such number of outstanding shares of common stock was reported. The “Beneficial Ownership Limitation” shall be 4.99% (or, upon election by a Holder prior to the issuance of any shares of Series H Convertible Preferred Stock, 9.99%) of the number of shares of the common stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to the issuance of shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of Series H Convertible Preferred Stock held by the applicable Holder. A Holder, upon notice to us, may increase or decrease the Beneficial Ownership Limitation provisions of this section applicable to its Series H Convertible Preferred Stock; provided, that the Beneficial Ownership Limitation shall not in any event exceed 9.99% of the number of shares of the common stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to the issuance of shares of common stock upon conversion of this Series H Convertible Preferred Stock held by the Holder and the provisions of this section shall continue to apply. Any such increase will not be effective until the 61st day after such notice is delivered to us and shall only apply to such Holder and no other Holder. The Beneficial Ownership Limitation shall not be waived by us or the Holder and upon issuance of the Series H Convertible Preferred Stock by us, and the purchase thereof by the Holder, each of us and the Holder shall be deemed to acknowledge such limitation and to agree not to waive it. 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than in strict conformity with the terms of this section to correct this section (or any portion hereof) which may be defective or inconsistent with the intended Beneficial Ownership Limitation contained herein or to make changes or supplements necessary or desirable to properly give effect to such limitation. The limitations contained in this Section shall apply to a successor holder of Series H Convertible Preferred Stock.

Subsequent Rights Offerings. In addition to any Anti-Dilution Adjustments described above, if at any time we grant, issue or sell any Common Stock Equivalents or rights to purchase stock, warrants, securities or other property pro rata to the record holders of common stock or any class thereof (the “Series H Purchase Rights”), then the Holder will be entitled to acquire, upon the terms applicable to such Series H Purchase Rights, the aggregate Series H Purchase Rights which the Holder could have acquired if the Holder had held the number of shares of common stock acquirable upon complete conversion of such Holder’s Series H Convertible Preferred Stock (without regard to any limitations on exercise hereof, including without limitation, the Beneficial Ownership Limitation) immediately before the date on which a record is taken for the grant, issuance or sale of such Series H Purchase Rights, or, if no such record is taken, the date as of which the record holders of shares of common stock are to be determined for the grant, issue or sale of such Series H Purchase Rights (provided, however, that, to the extent that the Holder’s right to participate in any such Purchase Right would result in the Holder exceeding the Beneficial Ownership Limitation, then the Holder shall not be entitled to participate in such Purchase Right to such extent (or beneficial ownership of such shares of common stock as a result of such Purchase Right to such extent) and such Purchase Right to such extent shall be held in abeyance for the Holder until such time, if ever, as its right thereto would not result in the Holder exceeding the Beneficial Ownership Limitation).

Pro Rata Distributions. During such time as the Series H Convertible Preferred Stock is outstanding, if we declare or make any dividend or other distribution of our assets (or rights to acquire its assets) to holders of common stock, by way of return of capital or otherwise (including, without limitation, any distribution of cash, stock or other securities, property or options by way of a dividend, spin off, reclassification, corporate rearrangement, scheme of arrangement or other similar transaction) ( a “Series H Distribution”), then, in each such case, the Holder shall be entitled to participate in such Series H Distribution to the same extent that the Holder would have participated therein if the Holder had held the number of shares of Common Stock acquirable upon complete conversion of the Series H Convertible Preferred Stock (without regard to any limitations on conversion hereof, including without limitation, the Beneficial Ownership Limitation) immediately before the date of which a record is taken for such Series H Distribution, or, if no such record is taken, the date as of which the record holders of shares of our common stock are to be determined for the participation in such Series H Distribution (provided, however, that, to the extent that the Holder’s right to participate in any such Series H Distribution would result in the Holder exceeding the Beneficial Ownership Limitation, then the Holder shall not be entitled to participate in such Series H Distribution to such extent (or in the beneficial ownership of any shares of Common Stock as a result of such Series H Distribution to such extent) and the portion of such Series H Distribution shall be held in abeyance for the benefit of the Holder until such time, if ever, as its right thereto would not result in the Holder exceeding the Beneficial Ownership Limitation).

Fundamental Transactions. In the event of a Fundamental Transaction (as defined in the Series H Certificate of Designation) and generally including any reorganization, recapitalization or reclassification of our common stock, the sale, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of our properties or assets, our consolidation or merger with or into another person, or the acquisition of more than 50% of our outstanding common stock, the holders of the Series H Convertible Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive upon conversion of the Series H Convertible Preferred Stock the kind and amount of securities, cash or other property that the holders would have received had they converted the Series H Convertible Preferred Stock immediately prior to such Fundamental Transaction (without regard to the Beneficial Ownership Limitation).

Mandatory Redemption. If any shares of Series H Convertible Preferred Stock are outstanding at the end of the two (2) year term, then we shall promptly redeem all of such outstanding shares of Series H Convertible Preferred Stock on a pro rata basis among all of the Holders of Series H Convertible Preferred Stock

commencing on the two-year anniversary of the original issue date in cash at a price per Series H Convertible

 

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Preferred Share equal to the sum of (x) 100% of the Series H Stated Value plus (y) all other amounts due in respect of the Series H Convertible Preferred Stock (if any).

Limited Voting Rights. Holders of the Series H Convertible Preferred Stock will not have any voting rights, except as described below or as otherwise required by law.

In any matter in which the Series H Convertible Preferred Stock may vote (as expressly provided herein or as may be required by law), each share of Series H Convertible Preferred Stock will be entitled to one vote per share. So long as any shares of Series H Convertible Preferred Stock remain outstanding, the Company will not, without the consent or the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of Series H Convertible Preferred Stock, given in person or by proxy, either in writing without a meeting or by vote at any meeting called for the purpose:

 

   

alter or change adversely the powers, preferences or rights given to the Series H Convertible Preferred Stock or alter or amend the Series H Certificate of Designation;

 

   

increase the number of authorized shares of Series H Convertible Preferred Stock; or

 

   

enter into any agreement with respect to any of the foregoing

The rules and procedures for calling and conducting any meeting of the holders of the Series H Convertible Preferred Stock (including, without limitation, the fixing of a record date in connection therewith), the solicitation and use of proxies at such a meeting, the obtaining of written consents and any other aspect or matter with regard to such a meeting or such consents shall be governed by any rules the Board (or a duly authorized committee of the Board), in its discretion, may adopt from time to time, which rules and procedures shall conform to the requirements of our Charter, Bylaws, applicable law and any national securities exchange or other trading facility on which the Series H Convertible Preferred Stock may be listed or traded at the time.

Holders of the Series H Convertible Preferred Stock will not have any voting rights with respect to, and the consent of the holders of the Series H Convertible Preferred Stock is not required for, the taking of any corporate action, including any merger or consolidation involving the Company or a sale of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets, regardless of the effect that such merger, consolidation or sale may have upon the powers, preferences, voting power or other rights or privileges of the Series H Convertible Preferred Stock, except as described above.

No Preemptive Rights. No holders of the Series H Convertible Preferred Stock will, as holders of Series H Convertible Preferred Stock, have any preemptive rights to purchase or subscribe for the common stock or any other security.

Exclusion of Other Rights. The shares of the Series H Convertible Preferred Stock do not have any voting powers, preferences or relative, participating, optional or other special rights, or qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, other than as set forth in the Series H Certificate of Designation or in our Charter.

Registration; Transfer. Pursuant to the terms of the Series H Certificate of Designation, the Company is obligated to maintain an effective registration statement covering: (a) the issuance of shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of the Series H Convertible Preferred Stock and (b) the issuance of additional shares of Series H Convertible Preferred Stock pursuant to our obligation to pay Series H PIK dividends, in each case, until such time as no Series H Convertible Preferred Stock (and no Warrants exercisable for shares of Series H Convertible Preferred Stock) remain outstanding, unless there is available an exemption from, or a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act that covers the issuance of the Series H Convertible Preferred Stock and the shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of such shares of Series H Convertible Preferred Stock.

 

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Anti-Takeover Provisions of Delaware Law and Our Governing Documents

Delaware Law

We are incorporated in the State of Delaware. As a result, we are subject to Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, which prohibits a Delaware corporation from engaging in any business combination with any interested stockholder for a period of three years after the time that such stockholder became an interested stockholder, with the following exceptions:

 

   

before such time, the board of directors of the corporation approved either the business combination or the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder;

 

   

upon consummation of the transaction which resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, the interested stockholder owned at least 85% of the voting stock of the corporation outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding for purposes of determining the voting stock outstanding (but not the outstanding voting stock owned by the interested stockholder) those shares owned (1) by persons who are directors and also officers and (2) employee stock plans in which employee participants do not have the right to determine confidentially whether shares held subject to the plan will be tendered in a tender or exchange offer; or

 

   

at or subsequent to such time, the business combination is approved by the board of directors and authorized at an annual or special meeting of the stockholders, and not by written consent, by the affirmative vote of at least 66 2/3% of the outstanding voting stock that is not owned by the interested stockholder.

In general, Section 203 defines a “business combination” to include the following:

 

   

any merger or consolidation involving the corporation or a direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the corporation and the interested stockholder;

 

   

any sale, lease, mortgage, pledge transfer, or other disposition of the assets of the corporation or direct or indirect majority-owned a subsidiary of the corporation to or with the interested stockholder, which assets have an aggregate value equal to 10% or more of the fair value of the assets on a consolidated basis or the aggregate market value of the outstanding stock of the corporation;

 

   

subject to certain exceptions, any transaction that results in the issuance or transfer by the corporation or a direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the corporation of any stock of the corporation or subsidiary to the interested stockholder;

 

   

any transaction involving the corporation or direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the corporation that has the effect of increasing the proportionate share of the stock or any class or series of the corporation or the subsidiary beneficially owned by the interested stockholder; or

 

   

the receipt by the interested stockholder of the benefit of any loans, advances, guarantees, pledges or other financial benefits by or through the corporation or direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the corporation.

In general, under Section 203 defines an “interested stockholder” include an entity or person (other than the corporation any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the corporation) who, together with the person’s affiliates and associates, beneficially owns, 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the corporation. A Delaware corporation may “opt out” of these provisions with an express provision in its certificate of incorporation. Since we have not opted out of Section 203, Section 203 may discourage or prevent mergers or other takeover or change of control attempts of us.

Undesignated Preferred Stock

The ability to authorize undesignated preferred stock makes it possible for our Board to issue one or more series of preferred stock with voting or other rights or preferences. Thus, our Board could authorize the issuance of

 

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shares of preferred stock that have priority over our common stock with respect to dividends or rights upon liquidation or with terms and conditions that could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a transaction or a change of control of our Company that might involve a premium price for holders of our common stock or otherwise be in their best interests.

Requirements for Advance Notification of Stockholder Nominations and Proposals

Our Bylaws establish advance notice procedures with respect to stockholder proposals and the nomination of candidates for election as directors, other than nominations made by or at the direction of the Board or a committee of the Board.

Stockholder Action by Written Consent; Special Meetings of Stockholders

Our stockholders may take action by written consent in lieu of a meeting as provided in our Bylaws. Our Bylaws provide that certain procedures, including notifying the Board and awaiting a record date, must be followed for stockholders to act by written consent. A special meeting of our stockholders may be called only by our Board, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or the President. A special meeting may also be called at the request of stockholders holding a majority of the aggregate number of shares of capital stock of the Company issued and outstanding and entitled to vote at that meeting (subject to certain timeliness and content requirements of the demand).

Amendment of Charter and Bylaws

Our Charter may be amended by the affirmative vote of a majority of the aggregate number of shares of each class of our capital stock issued and outstanding after a resolution of our Board declaring the advisability of such amendment has been adopted in accordance with Delaware law. Our Bylaws may be amended by the affirmative vote of a majority of the aggregate number of shares of each class of our capital stock issued and outstanding (and entitled to vote on the subject matter) present in person or represented by proxy at a meeting of stockholders provided that notice thereof is stated in the written notice of the meeting. Our Bylaws may also be amended by a majority of the Board in accordance with Delaware law and our Charter, except that certain sections of our Bylaws (including but not limited to certain provisions regarding special meetings, voting, officers and approval of securities issuances) require either the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the persons then serving as directors on the Board or our stockholders.

Forum Selection

Unless the Board acting on behalf of the Company selects an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (or, if the Court of Chancery does not have jurisdiction, another state court located within the State of Delaware or, if no court located within the State of Delaware has jurisdiction, the federal district court for the District of Delaware) shall be the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Company, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any of our directors, officers or other employees to the Company or our stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim against the Company or any of our directors, officers or other employees arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL, our Charter or our Bylaws or (iv) any action asserting a claim against the Company or any of our directors, officers or other employees governed by the internal affairs doctrine of the State of Delaware.

Stock Exchange Listing

Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “BIOL.” No active trading market currently exists for the Series H Convertible Preferred Stock. We do not intend to apply to list the Series H Convertible Preferred Stock on any national securities exchange or other nationally recognized trading system, including Nasdaq.

 

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Transfer Agent and Registrar

The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is Computershare Trust Company, N.A. The registrar, transfer agent and dividend and redemption price disbursing agent in respect of the Series H Convertible Preferred Stock is Computershare Trust Company, N.A. The warrant agent for the Warrants is Computershare Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its affiliate, Computershare Trust Company, N.A.

 

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MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES

The following is a summary of certain U.S. federal income tax considerations relevant to the purchase, ownership, disposition and conversion of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock and the ownership and disposition of our common stock received upon conversion of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock as well as the purchase, ownership, disposition and exercise of the Warrants. The following summary is based upon the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), Treasury Regulations and judicial and administrative authority, all of which are subject to change, possibly with retroactive effect, or to different interpretations. We have not sought any ruling from the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) or opinion of counsel with respect to the statements made and conclusions reached in this summary, and there can be no assurance that the IRS or a court will agree with these summary statements and conclusions.

This summary does not address all aspects of U.S. federal income taxation that may be relevant to an investor’s decision to purchase shares of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock, nor any tax consequences arising under U.S. federal estate or gift tax laws or under the laws of any state, locality or foreign jurisdiction. This summary also does not address the Medicare tax on certain investment income or the tax consequences that may be applicable to special classes of investors including, but not limited to, tax-exempt organizations, qualified foreign pension funds, insurance companies, banks or other financial institutions, partnerships or other pass-through entities or holders of interests therein, dealers in securities or currency, persons liable for the alternative minimum tax, U.S. expatriates and former long-term U.S. residents, traders in securities that elect to use a mark-to-market method of accounting for their securities holdings, regulated investment companies, real estate investment trusts, “controlled foreign corporations,” “passive foreign investment companies,” common trust funds, certain trusts, hybrid entities, U.S. holders whose “functional currency” is not the U.S. dollar, foreign governments or international organizations and persons that will hold our Series J Convertible Preferred Stock or common stock as a position in a “straddle,” “conversion transaction” or other risk reduction transaction.

This summary is limited to taxpayers who will hold our Series J Convertible Preferred Stock and our common stock received upon conversion of our Series J Convertible Preferred Stock as “capital assets” (generally, property held for investment). We cannot assure you that a change in the law will not significantly alter the tax consequences that we describe in this discussion.

If a partnership (including an entity or arrangement treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) holds our Series J Convertible Preferred Stock or common stock, the tax treatment of a partner in the partnership will generally depend upon the status of the partner and upon the activities of the partnership. Accordingly, we urge partnerships (including entities and arrangements treated as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes) that hold our Series J Convertible Preferred Stock and partners in such partnerships to consult their tax advisors.

Tax reform legislation informally known as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Tax Act”) was enacted in the United States on December 22, 2017. The Tax Act makes major changes to the Code, including a number of provisions that may affect the taxation of holders. Legislative, regulatory, or administrative changes could be enacted or promulgated at any time, either prospectively or with retroactive effect, and may adversely affect the Company and/or its shareholders.

The discussion in this summary is addressed to a holder of our Units, Warrants, Series J Convertible Preferred Stock or common stock received in respect thereof that is a U.S. holder or non-U.S. holder for U.S. federal income tax purposes. You are a “U.S. holder” if you are a beneficial owner of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock or common stock and you are, for U.S. federal income tax purposes:

 

   

An individual citizen or resident of the United States, including an alien individual who is a lawful permanent resident of the United States or who meets the “substantial presence” test under Section 7701(b) of the Code;

 

   

a corporation, or other entity taxable as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, that was created or organized in or under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia;

 

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an estate whose income is subject to U.S. federal income tax regardless of its source; or

 

   

a trust (i) whose administration is subject to the primary supervision of a U.S. court and which has one or more U.S. persons who have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust or (ii) which has made a valid election to be treated as a U.S. person.

A “non-U.S. Holder” is a beneficial holder of our Units, Warrants, Series J Convertible Preferred Stock or common stock received in respect thereof who or that is neither a U.S. holder nor a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

We urge each prospective investor to consult with its own tax adviser as to the U.S. federal, state, local, foreign and any other tax consequences, including the implications of the Tax Act, of the purchase, ownership, conversion and disposition of our Units, Series J Convertible Preferred Stock and of the ownership and disposition of our common stock received upon conversion of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock as well as the purchase, ownership, disposition, and exercise of the Warrants.

General Treatment of Units

There is no authority directly addressing the treatment, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, of instruments with terms substantially the same as the Units and, therefore, their treatment is not entirely clear. The acquisition of a Unit should be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as the acquisition of one share of our Series J Convertible Preferred Stock and one Warrant to acquire one-half of one share of our Series J Convertible Preferred Stock. We intend to treat the acquisition of a Unit in this manner and, by purchasing a Unit, you agree to adopt such treatment for tax purposes. Each holder of a Unit must allocate the purchase price paid by such holder for such Unit between the share of our Series J Convertible Preferred Stock and one Warrant to acquire one-half of one share of our Series J Convertible Preferred Stock based on their respective relative fair market values. A holder’s initial tax basis in the one share of our Series J Convertible Preferred Stock and one Warrant to acquire one-half of one share of our Series J Convertible Preferred Stock included in each Unit should equal the portion of the purchase price of the Unit allocated thereto. The separation of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock and Warrant constituting a Unit should not be a taxable event for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

The foregoing treatment of the Units and a holder’s purchase price allocation are not binding on the IRS or the courts. Because there is no authority that directly addresses instruments that are similar to the Units, no assurance can be given that the IRS or the courts will agree with the characterization described above or the discussion below. Each prospective investor is urged to consult its tax advisors regarding the U.S. federal, state, local and any foreign tax consequences of an investment in a Unit (including alternative characterizations of a Unit and its components). The following discussion is based on the assumption that the characterization of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock and Warrant and the allocation described above are respected for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

U.S. Holders

Consequences to U.S. Holders of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock or Common Stock

Distributions in General. Distributions with respect to our Series J Convertible Preferred Stock and our common stock (other than certain stock distributions with respect to our Series J Convertible Preferred Stock and common stock) will be treated as dividends to the extent of our current or accumulated earnings and profits, as determined under the Code. To the extent that the amount of distributions with respect to our Series J Convertible Preferred Stock or common stock exceeds our current and accumulated earnings and profits, such excess will be treated first as a tax-free return of capital to the extent of (and in reduction of) the U.S. holder’s adjusted tax basis in such Series J Convertible Preferred Stock or common stock, as the case may be, on a share-by-share basis, and thereafter as capital gain. Such gain will be long-term capital gain provided that the U.S. holder has held such

 

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Series J Convertible Preferred Stock or common stock, as the case may be, for more than one year as of the time of the distribution. For a discussion of a U.S. holder’s tax basis and holding period in respect of our common stock received with respect to our Series J Convertible Preferred Stock, see below under “Common Stock Distributions on the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock” and “Conversion of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock into Common Stock.”

Subject to certain exceptions for short-term and hedged positions and dividends that a holder elects to treat as “investment income,” distributions constituting dividend income received by non-corporate U.S. holders in respect of our Series J Convertible Preferred Stock or common stock will be subject to a reduced U.S. federal income tax rate if such dividends are treated as “qualified dividend income” for U.S. federal income tax purposes. If a dividend received by a non-corporate U.S. holder that qualifies for the rate reduction for “qualified dividend income” is an “extraordinary dividend” within the meaning of Section 1059 of the Code, such non-corporate U.S. holder would be required to treat any losses on the sale of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock as long-term capital loss to the extent of such “extraordinary dividend,” irrespective of such holder’s holding period for the stock.

Subject to holding period and other requirements, distributions on our Series J Convertible Preferred Stock and common stock constituting dividend income paid to U.S. holders that are U.S. corporations are subject to tax at ordinary corporate rates, but will qualify for the dividends received deduction. However, any distribution (or the portion of any distribution) that exceeds our current and accumulated earnings and profits will not be eligible for the dividends received deduction. A U.S. holder should consult its own tax adviser regarding the availability of the reduced U.S. federal income tax rate applicable to “qualified dividend income” or the dividends received deduction, as applicable, in the light of its particular circumstances.

Investors that are U.S. corporations that receive an “extraordinary dividend” within the meaning of Section 1059 of the Code in respect of our Series J Convertible Preferred Stock or common stock generally would be required to reduce their basis in our Series J Convertible Preferred Stock or common stock (but not below zero) by the portion of the dividend that is not taxed because of the dividends received deduction. To the extent the non-taxed portion of such dividend exceeds the corporate investor’s stock basis, such investor must treat such excess as gain from the sale or exchange of our Series J Convertible Preferred Stock or common stock for the taxable year in which such dividend is received.

Series J Convertible Preferred Stock Distributions and Common Stock Distributions on the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock. If the Company pays a distribution on the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock in the form of common stock or Series J Convertible Preferred Stock, such distribution will be taxable for U.S. federal income tax purposes in the same manner as distributions described above under “Distributions in General.” The amount of such distribution will equal the fair market value on the distribution date of the common stock or Series J Convertible Preferred Stock, as the case may be, distributed to a U.S. holder on that date. A U.S. holder’s tax basis in such distributed common stock or Series J Convertible Preferred Stock will equal the fair market value of such common stock or Series J Convertible Preferred Stock, as the case may be, on the distribution date, and such U.S. holder’s holding period for such common stock or Series J Convertible Preferred Stock will begin on the day following the distribution date.

Sale or Other Disposition. A U.S. holder will generally recognize capital gain or loss on a sale or exchange of our Series J Convertible Preferred Stock (other than pursuant to a conversion into common stock) or common stock equal to the difference between the amount realized upon the sale or exchange (not including any proceeds attributable to any dividends in arrears, which generally will be taxable as described above under “Distributions in General”) and the U.S. holder’s adjusted tax basis in the shares sold or exchanged. Such capital gain or loss will be long-term capital gain or loss if the U.S. holder’s holding period for the shares sold or exchanged is more than one year. Long-term capital gains of non-corporate taxpayers generally are subject to a reduced rate of taxation. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations.

 

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Conversion of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock into Common Stock. As a general rule, a U.S. holder will not recognize any gain or loss in respect of the receipt of common stock upon the conversion of our Series J Convertible Preferred Stock into common stock. Cash received in lieu of a fractional share of common stock will generally be treated as a payment in a taxable exchange for such fractional share, and gain or loss will be recognized on the receipt of cash in an amount equal to the difference between the amount of cash received and the amount of adjusted tax basis in the stock that is allocable to the fractional share.

The adjusted tax basis of common stock received on conversion will equal the adjusted tax basis of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock converted (reduced by the portion of adjusted tax basis allocated to any fractional shares of common stock exchanged for cash, as described above), and the holding period of such common stock received on conversion will generally include the period during which the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock was held by the U.S. holder prior to conversion. A U.S. holder’s tax basis in a fractional share will be determined by allocating such holder’s tax basis in the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock between the common stock such U.S. holder receives upon conversion and the fractional share in accordance with their respective fair market values.

If a U.S. holder exercises its right to convert the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock into shares of common stock after a regular record date but before the Dividend Record Date, then upon conversion, the U.S. holder generally will be required to pay to us in cash an amount equal to the portion of such dividend attributable to the current monthly dividend period. In this case, the U.S. holder will be entitled to receive the dividend payment on the corresponding Dividend Record Date. A U.S. holder should consult its own tax adviser with respect to the treatment of such cash payment and the subsequent receipt of such dividend payment.

Adjustment of Conversion Price. The conversion price of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock is subject to adjustment under certain circumstances pursuant to the Anti-Dilution Provisions. Treasury Regulations promulgated under Section 305 of the Code would treat a U.S. holder of our Series J Convertible Preferred Stock as having received a constructive distribution includable in such U.S. holder’s income in the manner described under “Distributions in General,” above, if and to the extent that certain adjustments (or failures to make adjustments) in the conversion price increase the proportionate interest of the U.S. holder in our assets or earnings and profits. For example, a decrease in the conversion price to reflect a taxable dividend to holders of common stock will generally give rise to a deemed taxable dividend to the holders of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock to the extent of an allocable portion of our current and accumulated earnings and profits. Thus, under certain circumstances, U.S. holders may recognize income in the event of a constructive distribution even though they may not receive any cash or property. Adjustments to the conversion price made pursuant to a bona fide reasonable adjustment formula that has the effect of preventing dilution in the interest of the U.S. holders of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock (other than an adjustment in respect of a taxable dividend on the common stock), however, generally will not be considered to result in a constructive dividend distribution.

Redemption of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock. If we redeem our Series J Convertible Preferred Stock solely in exchange for common stock, the tax consequences to a U.S. holder would be as described above under “—Conversion of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock into Common Stock” (except that any common stock received in respect of dividends in arrears generally will be taxable as described above under “Distributions in General”).

If we redeem our Series J Convertible Preferred Stock solely in exchange for cash, the redemption would be treated as a sale or exchange if the redemption (i) results in a meaningful reduction in the U.S. holder’s interest in us or (ii) results in a complete termination of the U.S. holder’s entire equity interest in us (in either case, within the meaning of Section 302(b) of the Code). If the redemption qualifies as a sale under one of these rules, the tax consequences to a U.S. holder would be as described above under “Sale or other disposition.” If the redemption does not qualify as a sale for tax purposes under the rules described above, the amount of cash received by a U.S. holder would be treated as described above under “Distributions in General.”

 

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If we redeem our Series J Convertible Preferred Stock in exchange for a combination of cash and common stock, a U.S. holder could not recognize a loss but would recognize gain equal to the lesser of (i) the excess of the sum of the fair market value of the common stock and the amount of cash received (not including any proceeds attributable to any dividends in arrears, which generally will be taxable as described above under “Distributions in General”) over the U.S. holder’s adjusted tax basis in the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock redeemed, and (ii) the amount of cash received by the U.S. holder (not including any proceeds attributable to any dividends in arrears, which generally will be taxable as described above under “Distributions in General”). The character of such gain is uncertain. If the redemption results in a meaningful reduction in the U.S. holder’s interest in us (within the meaning of Section 302(b) of the Code), then the gain would be capital gain that is taxed as described above under “—Sale or other disposition.” If the redemption does not qualify as a sale for tax purposes under one of these rules, the gain recognized by you would be treated as described above under “Distributions in General.” The initial adjusted tax basis of common stock received by a U.S. holder upon redemption will be equal to the U.S. holder’s aggregate adjusted tax basis in the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock redeemed, reduced by the amount of any cash received (other than cash attributable to accrued but unpaid dividends), and increased by the amount of gain, if any, recognized. The holding period for the shares of common stock received by the U.S. holder upon redemption of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock generally will include the U.S. holder’s holding period in the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock redeemed, except that the holding period of any common stock received with respect to dividends in arrears will commence on the day after the date of receipt.

Exercise or Expiration of Warrants

A U.S. holder will not recognize income, gain or loss on the exercise of a Warrant. A U.S. holder’s tax basis in the one-half of one share of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock received upon the exercise of a Warrant will equal the sum of (i) the initial tax basis of the Warrant exercised (as determined pursuant to the rules discussed above under “General Treatment of Units”) and (ii) the exercise price of the Warrant. The U.S. holder’s holding period for the one-half of one share of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock received upon exercise of a Warrant will begin on the day after such exercise (or possibly on the date of exercise) and will not include the period during which the U.S. holder held the Warrant.

If a Warrant is allowed to lapse unexercised, a U.S. holder generally will recognize a capital loss equal to such holder’s tax basis in the Warrant. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to significant limitations.

Constructive Distributions on Our Warrants

Under Section 305 of the Code, an adjustment to the number of shares of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock that will be issued on the exercise of our Warrants, or an adjustment to the exercise price of such Warrants, may be treated as a constructive distribution to a U.S. holder of the Warrants if, and to the extent that, such adjustment has the effect of increasing such U.S. holder’s proportionate interest in our “earnings and profits” or assets, depending on the circumstances of such adjustment (for example, if such adjustment is to compensate for a distribution of cash or other property to holders of our common stock). Adjustments to the exercise price of a Warrant made pursuant to a bona fide reasonable adjustment formula that has the effect of preventing dilution of the interest of the holder of the Warrant should generally not result in a constructive distribution. Any constructive distributions generally would be subject to the tax treatment described above under “Distributions in General.”

Sale, Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Warrants

Upon the sale, exchange, or other taxable disposition of Warrants, a U.S. holder will recognize gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount realized upon the disposition and the U.S. holder’s tax basis in the Warrants sold or exchanged.

 

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Any gain or loss generally will be capital gain or loss, and will be long-term capital gain or loss if the U.S. holder’s holding period for the Warrants exceeded one year at the time of the disposition. Certain U.S. holders (including individuals) are currently eligible for preferential rates of U.S. federal income taxation in respect of long-term capital gains. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to significant limitations.

Information Reporting and Backup Withholding

In general, information reporting requirements may apply to distributions (whether actual or constructive) paid to a U.S. holder on our Series J Convertible Preferred Stock, common stock or Warrants, and to the proceeds of the sale, exchange or other disposition of our Series J Convertible Preferred Stock, common stock and Warrants, unless the U.S. holder is an exempt recipient. Backup withholding will apply to such payments if the U.S. holder fails to provide a taxpayer identification number, a certification of exempt status or has been notified by the IRS that it is subject to backup withholding (and such notification has not been withdrawn). Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules will be allowed as a refund or a credit against a U.S. holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability provided the required information is timely furnished to the IRS.

U.S. holders are urged to consult their own tax advisers regarding the application of backup withholding in their particular circumstances and the availability of and procedure for obtaining an exemption from backup withholding under current Treasury Regulations.

Non-U.S. Holders

Consequences to Non-U.S. holders of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock or Common Stock

Distributions. Generally, distributions (including any constructive distributions taxable as dividends as described below and any cash paid upon a conversion that is treated as a dividend) treated as dividend income and paid to a non-U.S. holder with respect to our Series J Convertible Preferred Stock or our common stock will be subject to a 30% U.S. withholding tax, or such lower rate as may be specified by an applicable tax treaty. Any dividends paid on our Series J Convertible Preferred Stock in shares of our common stock or Series J Convertible Preferred Stock, as the case may be, and taxed as dividend income as described above under “U.S. Holders—Consequences to U.S. Holders of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock or Common stock—Series J Convertible Preferred Stock Distributions and Common Stock Distributions on the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock” will be subject to withholding tax in the same manner as described in the previous sentence. Any required withholding tax might be satisfied by the withholding agent through a sale of a portion of the shares you receive as a dividend or might be withheld from cash dividends or sales proceeds subsequently paid or credited to you. To receive the benefit of a reduced treaty rate, a non-U.S. holder must provide the applicable withholding agent with an IRS Form W-8BEN, IRS Form W-8BEN-E, or other appropriate version of IRS Form W-8 certifying qualification for the reduced rate. Special certification and other requirements apply to certain non-U.S. holders that are pass-through entities rather than corporations or individuals.

Dividends that are effectively connected with a trade or business carried on by a non-U.S. holder within the United States, and, to the extent an applicable tax treaty provides, attributable to a permanent establishment maintained by the non-U.S. holder in the United States, will generally be subject to U.S. federal income tax on a net basis at the individual or corporate rates generally applicable to U.S. holders, but will not be subject to U.S. withholding tax if certain certification requirements are satisfied. You can generally meet the certification requirements by providing a properly executed IRS Form W-8ECI or appropriate substitute form to the applicable withholding agent. A non-U.S. holder that is a corporation may also be subject to a “branch profits tax” at a 30% rate (or such lower rate as may be specified by an applicable tax treaty) on its “effectively connected earnings and profits,” subject to certain adjustments, which will include effectively connected dividends.

 

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A non-U.S. holder of our Series J Convertible Preferred Stock or common stock may obtain a refund of any excess amounts withheld under these rules if the non-U.S. holder is eligible for a reduced rate of United States withholding tax and an appropriate claim for refund is timely filed with the IRS.

Sale or Other Disposition. Subject to the discussion under “Information Reporting and Backup Withholding,” a non-U.S. holder generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income or withholding tax on any gain realized on the sale, exchange or other taxable disposition (other than a redemption) of our Series J Convertible Preferred Stock or our common stock unless:

 

   

the gain is effectively connected with a trade or business conducted by the non-U.S. holder in the United States and, if required by an applicable tax treaty, is attributable to a permanent establishment or fixed base maintained by such non-U.S. holder in the United States);

 

   

the non-U.S. holder is an individual who is present in the United States for a period or periods aggregating 183 days or more during the calendar year in which the sale or disposition occurs and certain other conditions are met; or

 

   

our common stock constitutes a “United States real property interest” by reason of our status as a “United States real property holding corporation” (“USRPHC”) for U.S. federal income tax purposes at any time during the five-year period ending on the date of such disposition or, if shorter, the non-U.S. holder’s holding period for its shares of common stock or Series J Convertible Preferred Stock, as applicable, and one of the circumstances below applies to you.

A non-U.S. holder whose gain is described in the first bullet point above will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the gain derived from the sale in the same manner as a U.S. person, unless an applicable tax treaty provides otherwise. If such non-U.S. holder is a foreign corporation, it may also be subject to a branch profits tax (at a 30% rate or such lower rate as specified by an applicable tax treaty) on its effectively connected earnings and profits attributable to such gain, as adjusted for certain items. A non-U.S. holder described in the second bullet point above will be subject to a 30% U.S. federal income tax (or such lower rate as may be specified by an applicable tax treaty) on the gain derived from the sale, which may be offset by certain U.S.-source capital losses.

With respect to the third bullet point above, we are not, and do not expect to be for the foreseeable future, a USRPHC (and the remainder of this discussion assumes we are not and will not be a USRPHC).

Conversion of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock into Common Stock. You generally will not recognize any gain or loss by reason of receiving common stock upon conversion of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock, except gain or loss will be recognized with respect to any cash received in lieu of fractional shares, which may be subject to U.S. federal income tax, as discussed above in “Sale or other disposition.”

Adjustment of Conversion Price. As described above under “Consequences to U.S. Holders of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock or Common Stock—Adjustment of Conversion Price,” adjustments in the conversion price (or failures to adjust the conversion price) that result in an increase in the proportionate interest of a non-U.S. holder in our assets or earnings and profits could result in deemed distributions to the non-U.S. holder that are taxed as described under “Distributions.” It is possible that any withholding tax on such a deemed distribution might be satisfied by the withholding agent through a sale of a portion of the shares you receive as a dividend or might be withheld from cash dividends, shares of our common stock or sale proceeds subsequently paid or credited to you.

Redemption of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock. If we redeem our Series J Convertible Preferred Stock solely in exchange for common stock, the tax consequences to a non-U.S. holder would be as described above under “U.S. Holders—Conversion of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock into Common Stock” (except that any common stock received in respect of dividends in arrears generally will be taxable as described above under “Distributions”).

 

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If we redeem our Series J Convertible Preferred Stock solely in exchange for cash, the redemption would be treated as a sale or exchange if the redemption results in a meaningful reduction in the non-U.S. holder’s interest in us, or results in a complete termination of the non-U.S. holder’s entire equity interest in us (in each case, within the meaning of Section 302(b) of the Code). If the redemption qualifies as a sale under one of these rules, the tax consequences to a non-U.S. holder would be as described above under “Sale or other disposition.” If the redemption does not qualify as a sale for tax purposes under the rules described above, the amount of cash received by a non-U.S. holder would be treated as described above under “Distributions.”

If we redeem our Series J Convertible Preferred Stock in exchange for a combination of cash and common stock, a non-U.S. holder would recognize gain (but not loss) equal to the lesser of (i) the excess of the sum of the fair market value of the common stock and the amount of cash received (not including any proceeds attributable to any dividends in arrears, which generally will be taxable as described above under “Distributions”) over the non-U.S. holder’s adjusted tax basis in the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock redeemed, and (ii) the amount of cash received by the non-U.S. holder (not including any proceeds attributable to any dividends in arrears, which generally will be taxable as described above under “Distributions”).

The tax treatment of any such gain to non-U.S. holders is uncertain. If the redemption results in a meaningful reduction in the non-U.S. holder’s interest in us (in either case, within the meaning of Section 302(b) of the Code), then the gain generally would be taxed only as described above under “Sale or other disposition.” If the redemption does not qualify as a sale for tax purposes under one of these rules, the gain generally would be treated as described above under “Distributions.” Because the characterization of a redemption of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock in exchange for common stock is uncertain and is determined on a holder-by-holder basis, it is possible that a withholding agent would withhold on the cash proceeds received.

Exercise or Expiration of Common Warrants

In general, a non-U.S. holder will not be required to recognize income, gain or loss upon the exercise of a Warrant by payment of the exercise price.

The expiration of a Warrant will be treated as if the non-U.S. holder sold or exchanged the Warrant and recognized a capital loss equal to the non-U.S. holder’s basis in the Warrant. A non-U.S. holder will not be able to utilize a loss recognized upon expiration of a Warrant against the non-U.S. holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, however, unless the loss (i) is effectively connected with the non-U.S. holder’s conduct of a trade or business within the United States (and, if an income tax treaty applies, is attributable to a “permanent establishment” or “fixed base” in the United States) or (ii) is treated as a U.S. source loss and the non-U.S. holder is present in the United States 183 days or more in the taxable year of disposition and certain other conditions are met.

Constructive Distributions on Our Warrants

As described above under “U.S. Holders—Constructive Distributions on our Warrants,” an adjustment to the Warrants could result in a constructive distribution to a non-U.S. holder, which would be treated as described under “Distributions” above. Any resulting withholding tax attributable to deemed dividends would be collected from other amounts payable or distributable to the non-U.S. holder. Non-U.S. holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the proper treatment of any adjustments to the Warrants.

 

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Sale, Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Our Warrants

In general, a non-U.S. holder will not be subject to any U.S. federal income tax on any gain realized upon such holder’s sale, exchange or other taxable disposition of shares of our Warrants unless:

 

   

the gain is effectively connected with the non-U.S. holder’s conduct of a U.S. trade or business and, if an applicable income tax treaty so provides, is attributable to a “permanent establishment” or a “fixed base” maintained by such non-U.S. holder in the United States, in which case the non-U.S. holder generally will be taxed on such gain at the graduated U.S. federal income tax rates applicable to U.S. holders and, if the non-U.S. holder is a foreign corporation, the branch profits tax described above in “Non-U.S. Holders—Distributions” also may apply to such gain;

 

   

the non-U.S. holder is a nonresident alien individual who is present in the United States for 183 days or more in the taxable year of the taxable disposition and certain other conditions are met, in which case the non-U.S. holder will be subject to a 30% tax (or such lower rate as may be specified by an applicable income tax treaty between the United States and such holder’s country of residence) on the net gain derived from the taxable disposition, which may be offset by certain U.S. source capital losses of the non-U.S. holder, if any; or

 

   

we are, or have been, at any time during the five-year period preceding such taxable disposition (or the non-U.S. holder’s holding period, if shorter) a “U.S. real property holding corporation,” unless shares of our capital stock is regularly traded on an established securities market and the non-U.S. holder holds no more than 5% of such outstanding capital stock, directly or indirectly, during the shorter of the 5-year period ending on the date of the taxable disposition or the period that the non-U.S. holder held such capital stock. Generally, a corporation is a U.S. real property holding corporation only if the fair market value of its U.S. real property interests equals or exceeds 50% of the sum of the fair market value of its worldwide real property interests plus its other assets used or held for use in a trade or business. Although there can be no assurance, we do not believe that we are, or have been, a U.S. real property holding corporation, or that we are likely to become one in the future. No assurance can be provided that our capital stock will be regularly traded on an established securities market for purposes of the rules described above.

Information Reporting and Backup Withholding. Payment of dividends (including constructive dividends), and the tax withheld with respect thereto, is subject to information reporting requirements. These information reporting requirements apply regardless of whether withholding was reduced or eliminated by an applicable tax treaty or withholding was not required because the dividends were effectively connected with a trade or business in the United States conducted by the non-U.S. holder. Copies of the information returns reporting such dividends and withholding may also be made available under the provisions of an applicable tax treaty or agreement with the tax authorities in the country in which the non-U.S. holder resides. U.S. backup withholding will generally apply to the payment of dividends to non-U.S. holders unless such non-U.S. holders furnish to the payor a Form W-8BEN or Form W-8BEN-E (or other applicable form) or otherwise establish an exemption.

Payment by a U.S. office of a broker of the proceeds of a sale of our Warrants, Series J Convertible Preferred Stock or common stock is subject to both backup withholding and information reporting unless the non-U.S. holder, or beneficial owner thereof, as applicable, certifies that it is a non-U.S. holder on Form W-8BEN or Form W-8BEN-E (or other suitable substitute or successor form), or otherwise establishes an exemption. Subject to certain exceptions, backup withholding and information reporting generally will not apply to a payment of proceeds from the sale of our Warrants, Series J Convertible Preferred Stock or common stock if such sale is effected through a foreign office of a broker, provided that the broker does not have certain U.S. connections.

Any amount withheld under the backup withholding rules from a payment to a non-U.S. holder is allowable as a credit against such holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability (if any), which may entitle the holder to a refund if in excess of such liability, provided that the holder timely provides the required information to the IRS. Non-U.S.

 

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holders are urged to consult their own tax advisers regarding the application of backup withholding in their particular circumstances and the availability of and procedure for obtaining an exemption from backup withholding under current Treasury Regulations.

FATCA. Sections 1471 to 1474 of the Code (such sections, and the Treasury Regulations and administrative guidance issued thereunder, commonly referred to as “FATCA”) impose a 30% U.S. withholding tax on certain “withholdable payments” made to a “foreign financial institution” or a “non-financial foreign entity.” “Withholdable payments” include payments of dividends. In general, if a holder is a “foreign financial institution” (which includes investment entities such as hedge funds and private equity funds), the 30% withholding tax will apply to withholdable payments made to such holder, unless such holder enter into an agreement with the U.S. Department of Treasury to collect and provide substantial information regarding its U.S. account holders, including certain account holders that are foreign entities with U.S. owners. If such holder is a “non-financial foreign entity,” FATCA also generally will impose a withholding tax of 30% on withholdable payments made to such holder unless the holder provide the withholding agent with a certification that it does not have any “substantial United States owners” or a certification identifying its direct and indirect substantial United States owners. Intergovernmental agreements between the United States and a holder’s resident country may modify some of the foregoing requirements. While withholding described in this paragraph would have applied also to payments of gross proceeds from the sale or other disposition of our securities on or after January 1, 2019, proposed Treasury Regulations eliminate such withholding on payments of gross proceeds entirely. Taxpayers generally may rely on these proposed Treasury Regulations until final Treasury regulations are issued.

Non-U.S. holders should consult their own tax advisers with respect to the U.S. federal income tax consequences of FATCA on their ownership and disposition of Warrants, Series J Convertible Preferred Stock and common stock.

Excise Tax

We may be subject to the Excise Tax (as defined below) included in the Inflation Reduction Act (“IRA”) enacted in August 2022 in connection with redemptions of our common stock or Series J Convertible Preferred Stock after December 31, 2022. In particular, an excise tax is imposed on “covered corporations” (generally, publicly-traded domestic corporations) equal to 1% of the fair market value of certain stock repurchased after December 31, 2022 (the “Excise Tax”). It is likely that the Excise Tax will generally apply to any redemptions of shares our Series J Convertible Preferred Stock or common stock after December 31, 2022. The Excise Tax base is reduced by the fair market value of any issuances of the covered corporation’s stock during its taxable year. The fair market value of any of shares our Series J Convertible Preferred Stock or common stock that are redeemed may exceed the fair market value of any of our stock issued during the same taxable year. Consequently, the Excise Tax may reduce the amount of cash we have available to shareholders.

The preceding discussion of material U.S. federal income tax considerations is for informational purposes only. It is not tax advice. Prospective investors should consult their own tax advisors regarding the particular U.S. federal, state, local and non-U.S. tax consequences of purchasing, holding and disposing of our Units, Series J Convertible Preferred Stock, common stock or Warrants, including the consequences of any proposed changes in applicable laws.

 

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UNDERWRITING

We will enter into an underwriting agreement with Lake Street Capital Markets, LLC (“Lake Street”) and Maxim Group LLC, as representatives of the underwriters named below, pursuant to which, subject to certain terms and conditions therein, each of the underwriters named below has severally agreed to purchase, and we have agreed to sell, the number of securities set forth opposite the name of such underwriter:

 

Underwriters

   Number
of Units
 

Lake Street Capital Markets, LLC

  

Maxim Group LLC

  

Total

     125,000  
  

 

 

 

This offering is being conducted on a firm commitment basis. The underwriters are obligated to take and pay for all the securities offered by this prospectus if any such securities are taken.

Discounts, Commissions and Expenses

The underwriters propose to offer the securities purchased pursuant to the underwriting agreement to the public at the public offering price set forth on the cover page of this prospectus and to certain dealers at that price less a concession not in excess of $         per Unit. After this offering, the public offering price and concession may be changed by the underwriters. No such change will change the amount of proceeds to be received by us as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus.

In connection with the sale of securities to be purchased by the underwriters, the underwriters will be deemed to have received compensation in the form of underwriting discounts. The underwriters’ discount will be 6.5% of the gross proceeds of this offering, or $         per Unit, based on the assumed public offering price per Unit set forth on the cover page of this prospectus.

We estimate that the total expenses of this offering, excluding the underwriting discount, will be approximately $560,000 and are payable by us. We have agreed to reimburse the underwriters for certain of their expenses in an amount up to $125,000, which reimbursement is included in the total estimated expenses of this offering of $560,000.

The following table shows the underwriting discount payable to the underwriters by us in connection with this offering:

 

     Per Unit      Total  

Public offering price

   $                    $                

Underwriting discounts and commissions to be paid by us

   $        $    

Indemnification

Pursuant to the underwriting agreement, we have agreed to indemnify the underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribute to payments that the underwriters or such other indemnified parties may be required to make in respect of those liabilities.

Lock-Up Agreements

We have agreed not to, subject to certain exceptions, (i) offer, pledge, issue, sell, contract to sell, lend or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of our common stock or any securities

 

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convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for our common stock; (ii) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of shares of our common stock; or (iii) file any registration statement with the SEC relating to this offering of any shares of our common stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of our common stock, other than with respect to the registration of shares of our common stock to be issued under an equity incentive plan, without the prior written consent of the representatives for a period of 90 days following the date of this prospectus (the “Lock-Up Period”). This consent may be given at any time. These restrictions on future issuances are subject to exceptions for (i) the filing by the Company of a registration statement on Form S-4 or a registration statement on Form S-8 or a successor form thereto with respect to securities pursuant to any stock option, stock bonus or other stock plan or arrangement or the proposal or authorization of any increase in the Company’s authorized capital stock, (ii) the issuance of securities sold in this offering, and the issuance of securities upon the conversion or exercise of securities sold in this offering, (iii) the issuance of shares of our common stock upon the exercise of outstanding options or warrants or the vesting of outstanding restricted stock units, (iv) the issuance of employee stock options not exercisable during the Lock-Up Period and the grant or forfeiture of restricted stock awards or restricted stock units pursuant to our equity incentive plans or other arrangements described in this prospectus or the documents incorporated by reference herein and (v) the issuance of securities issued pursuant to certain acquisitions or strategic transactions not primarily for the purpose of raising capital.

In addition, our directors and executive officers have entered into lock-up agreements with the underwriters. Under these agreements, these individuals have agreed, subject to certain specified exceptions, not to sell or transfer any shares of common stock or securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for our shares of common stock during the Lock-Up Period, without first obtaining the written consent of the representatives. Specifically, these individuals have agreed, in part, not to:

 

  (1)

offer, pledge, announce the intention to sell, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, make any short sale or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of our common stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of our common stock (including without limitation, our common stock which may be deemed to be beneficially owned by the undersigned in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC and securities which may be issued upon exercise of a stock option or warrant), whether now owned or hereafter acquired (the “Undersigned’s Securities”);

 

  (2)

enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the Undersigned’s Securities;

 

   

whether any such transaction described in clause (1) or (2) above is to be settled by delivery of our common stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise;

 

  (3)

make any demand for or exercise any right with respect to the registration of any shares of our common stock or any security convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for our common stock; or

 

  (4)

publicly announce or disclose the intention to do any of the foregoing.

Electronic Distribution

This prospectus may be made available in electronic format on websites or through other online services maintained by the underwriters or by their affiliates. In those cases, prospective investors may view offering terms online and prospective investors may be allowed to place orders online. Other than this prospectus in electronic format, the information on the underwriters’ website or our website and any information contained in any other websites maintained by the underwriters or by us is not part of this prospectus or the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, has not been approved or endorsed by us or the underwriters in their capacity as underwriters, and should not be relied upon by investors.

 

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Discretionary Accounts

The underwriters do not intend to confirm sales of the securities to any accounts over which they have discretionary authority.

Other Relationships

The underwriters and their affiliates may in the future provide various investment banking and other financial services for us and our affiliates for which they may in the future receive customary fees.

In connection with the January 2023 Offering, we issued, (i) 171,678 shares of our common stock and (ii) pre-funded warrants to purchase 114,035 shares of our common stock with an exercise price of $0.10 per share. We received aggregate gross proceeds from the January 2023 Offering of approximately $9.9 million, before deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and other transaction expenses payable by us. Lake Street Capital Markets, LLC acted as the representative of the underwriters in the January 2023 Offering. In connection with the January 2023 Offering, we entered into an underwriting agreement, dated January 9, 2023, with Lake Street, as the representative of the underwriters named therein, and on the closing of such offering on January 12, 2023 the underwriters received compensation of 6.5% of the $9.9 million of gross proceeds of the offering, as well as payment of certain expenses.

In connection with the May 2023 Offering, we issued 175,000 Series H Units, with each Series H Unit consisting of one share of Series H Convertible Preferred Stock and one Series H Warrant to purchase one-half of one (0.50) share of Series H Convertible Preferred Stock at an exercise price of $2,600.00 per whole share. We received aggregate gross proceeds from the May 2023 Offering of approximately $4.5 million, before deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and other transaction expenses payable by us. Lake Street Capital Markets, LLC and Maxim Group LLC acted as joint bookrunners in the May 2023 Offering. In connection with the May 2023 Offering, we entered into an underwriting agreement, dated May 24, 2023, with Lake Street, as the representative of the underwriters named therein, and on the closing of such offering on May 26, 2023, the underwriters received compensation of 6.5% of the $4.5 million of gross proceeds of the offering, as well as payment of certain expenses.

Offer Restrictions Outside the United States

Other than in the United States, no action has been taken by us or the underwriters that would permit a public offering of the securities offered by this prospectus in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required. The securities offered by this prospectus may not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, nor may this prospectus or any other offering material or advertisements in connection with the offer and sale of any such securities be distributed or published in any jurisdiction, except under circumstances that will result in compliance with the applicable rules and regulations of that jurisdiction. Persons into whose possession this prospectus comes are advised to inform themselves about and to observe any restrictions relating to this offering and the distribution of this prospectus. This prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities offered by this prospectus in any jurisdiction in which such an offer or a solicitation is unlawful.

Selling Restrictions

Notice to prospective investors in the United Kingdom

In relation to the United Kingdom, no securities have been offered or will be offered to the public in the United Kingdom prior to the publication of a prospectus in relation to the securities which has been approved by the competent authority in the United Kingdom, except that offers of securities may be made to the public in the United Kingdom at any time under the following exemptions under the Prospectus Regulation:

 

  i.

to any legal entity which is a qualified investor as defined under the Prospectus Regulation;

 

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  ii.

to fewer than 150 natural or legal persons (other than qualified investors as defined in the Prospectus Regulation), subject to obtaining the prior consent of the underwriters; or

 

  iii.

in any other circumstances falling within Article 1(4) of the Prospectus Regulation;

provided that no such offer of shares shall require the issuer or any underwriter to publish a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Regulation or supplement a prospectus pursuant to Article 23 of the Prospectus Regulation and each person who initially acquires any securities or to whom any offer is made will be deemed to have represented, acknowledged and agreed to and with each of the underwriters and us that it is a “qualified investor” within the meaning of Article 2(e) of the Prospectus Regulation. In the case of any securities being offered to a financial intermediary as that term is used in the Prospectus Regulation, each such financial intermediary will be deemed to have represented, acknowledged and agreed that the securities acquired by it in the offer have not been acquired on a non-discretionary basis on behalf of, nor have they been acquired with a view to their offer or resale to, persons in circumstances which may give rise to an offer of any securities to the public other than their offer or resale in the United Kingdom to qualified investors as so defined or in circumstances in which the prior consent of the underwriters have been obtained to each such proposed offer or resale.

For the purposes of this provision, the expression an “offer to the public” in relation to any securities in the United Kingdom means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and any securities to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe for any securities, and the expression “Prospectus Regulation” means Regulation (EU) 2017/1129. References to the Prospectus Regulation includes, in relation to the United Kingdom, the Prospectus Regulation as it forms part of United Kingdom domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018.

In addition, in the United Kingdom, this prospectus is being distributed only to, and is directed only at, and any offer subsequently made may only be directed at persons who are “qualified investors” (as defined in the Prospectus Regulation) (i) who have professional experience in matters relating to investments falling within Article 19 (5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005, as amended, or the Order and/or (ii) who are high net worth companies (or persons to whom it may otherwise be lawfully communicated) falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order, all such persons together being referred to as “relevant persons” or otherwise in circumstances which have not resulted and will not result in an offer to the public of the securities in the United Kingdom within the meaning of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000.

Any person in the United Kingdom that is not a relevant person should not act or rely on the information included in this prospectus or use it as basis for taking any action. In the United Kingdom, any investment or investment activity that this prospectus relates to may be made or taken exclusively by relevant persons.

Notice to prospective investors in Canada

The securities may be sold only to purchasers purchasing, or deemed to be purchasing, as principal that are accredited investors, as defined in National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions or subsection 73.3(1) of the Securities Act (Ontario), and are permitted clients, as defined in National Instrument 31-103 Registration Requirements, Exemptions and Ongoing Registrant Obligations. Any resale of the securities must be made in accordance with an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the prospectus requirements of applicable securities laws.

Securities legislation in certain provinces or territories of Canada may provide a purchaser with remedies for rescission or damages if this prospectus (including any amendment thereto) contains a misrepresentation, provided that the remedies for rescission or damages are exercised by the purchaser within the time limit prescribed by the securities legislation of the purchaser’s province or territory. The purchaser should refer to any applicable provisions of the securities legislation of the purchaser’s province or territory for particulars of these rights or consult with a legal advisor.

 

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Pursuant to section 3A.3 of National Instrument 33-105 Underwriting Conflicts (NI 33-105), the underwriters are not required to comply with the disclosure requirements of NI 33-105 regarding underwriter conflicts of interest in connection with this offering.

Notice to prospective investors in Australia

This prospectus:

 

 

does not constitute a disclosure document or a prospectus under Chapter 6D.2 of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), or the Corporations Act;

 

 

has not been, and will not be, lodged with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, or ASIC, as a disclosure document for the purposes of the Corporations Act and does not purport to include the information required of a disclosure document for the purposes of the Corporations Act; and

 

 

may only be provided in Australia to select investors who are able to demonstrate that they fall within one or more of the categories of investors, available under section 708 of the Corporations Act, or the Exempt Investors.

The securities may not be directly or indirectly offered for subscription or purchased or sold, and no invitations to subscribe for or buy the securities may be issued, and no draft or definitive offering memorandum, advertisement or other offering material relating to any securities may be distributed in Australia, except where disclosure to investors is not required under Chapter 6D of the Corporations Act or is otherwise in compliance with all applicable Australian laws and regulations. By submitting an application for the securities, you represent and warrant to us that you are an Exempt Investor.

As any offer of securities under this prospectus will be made without disclosure in Australia under Chapter 6D.2 of the Corporations Act, the offer of those securities for resale in Australia within 12 months may, under section 707 of the Corporations Act, require disclosure to investors under Chapter 6D.2 if none of the exemptions in section 708 applies to that resale. By applying for the securities, you undertake to us that you will not, for a period of 12 months from the date of issue of the securities, offer, transfer, assign or otherwise alienate those securities to investors in Australia except in circumstances where disclosure to investors is not required under Chapter 6D.2 of the Corporations Act or where a compliant disclosure document is prepared and lodged with ASIC.

Notice to prospective investors in the British Virgin Islands

The securities are not being, and may not be offered to the public or to any person in the British Virgin Islands for purchase or subscription by or on behalf of us. The securities may be offered to companies incorporated under the BVI Business Companies Act, 2004 (British Virgin Islands), or BVI Companies, but only where the offer will be made to, and received by, the relevant BVI Company entirely outside of the British Virgin Islands. This prospectus has not been, and will not be, registered with the Financial Services Commission of the British Virgin Islands. No registered prospectus has been or will be prepared in respect of the securities for the purposes of the Securities and Investment Business Act, 2010 or the Public Issuers Code of the British Virgin Islands.

Notice to prospective investors in Israel

In the State of Israel, this prospectus shall not be regarded as an offer to the public to purchase the securities under the Israeli Securities Law, 5728-1968, which requires a prospectus to be published and authorized by the Israel Securities Authority, if it complies with certain provisions of Section 15 of the Israeli Securities Law, 5728-1968, including, inter alia, if: (i) the offer is made, distributed or directed to not more than 35 investors, subject to certain conditions, or the Addressed Investors; or (ii) the offer is made, distributed or directed to certain qualified investors defined in the First Addendum of the Israeli Securities Law, 5728-1968, subject to certain conditions, or the Qualified Investors. The Qualified Investors shall not be taken into account in the count

 

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of the Addressed Investors and may be offered to purchase securities in addition to the 35 Addressed Investors. The company has not and will not take any action that would require it to publish a prospectus in accordance with and subject to the Israeli Securities Law, 5728-1968. We have not and will not distribute this prospectus or make, distribute or direct an offer to subscribe for the securities to any person within the State of Israel, other than to Qualified Investors and up to 35 Addressed Investors. Qualified Investors may have to submit written evidence that they meet the definitions set out in of the First Addendum to the Israeli Securities Law, 5728-1968. In particular, we may request, as a condition to be offered common stock, that Qualified Investors will each represent, warrant and certify to us and/or to anyone acting on our behalf: (i) that it is an investor falling within one of the categories listed in the First Addendum to the Israeli Securities Law, 5728-1968; (ii) which of the categories listed in the First Addendum to the Israeli Securities Law, 5728-1968 regarding Qualified Investors is applicable to it; (iii) that it will abide by all provisions set forth in the Israeli Securities Law, 5728-1968 and the regulations promulgated thereunder in connection with the offer of the securities; (iv) that the securities that it will be issued are, subject to exemptions available under the Israeli Securities Law, 5728-1968: (a) for its own account; (b) for investment purposes only; and (c) not issued with a view to resale within the State of Israel, other than in accordance with the provisions of the Israeli Securities Law, 5728-1968; and (v) that it is willing to provide further evidence of its Qualified Investor status. Addressed Investors may have to submit written evidence in respect of their identity and may have to sign and submit a declaration containing, inter alia, the Addressed Investor’s name, address and passport number or Israeli identification number.

LEGAL MATTERS

Blank Rome LLP, New York, New York will pass upon the validity of the securities being registered by the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. Sullivan & Worcester, LLP, New York, New York, is acting as counsel to the underwriters in connection with certain legal matters related to this offering.

EXPERTS

The consolidated financial statements and schedule of BIOLASE, Inc. as of December 31, 2022 and 2021 and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2022 incorporated by reference into this prospectus and in the registration statement have been so incorporated in reliance upon the report of BDO USA, LLP (n/k/a BDO USA, P.C.), an independent registered accounting firm, incorporated herein by reference, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting. The report on the consolidated financial statements contains an explanatory paragraph regarding our ability to continue as a going concern.

INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE

The SEC allows us to incorporate by reference into this prospectus the information contained in other documents we file with the SEC, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. Any statement contained in any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus shall be deemed to be modified or superseded, for purposes of this prospectus, to the extent that a statement contained in or omitted from this prospectus, or in any other subsequently filed document that also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus, modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below which have been filed by us and any future filings we make with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (other than current reports furnished under Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of Form 8-K and exhibits filed on such form that are related to such items unless such Form 8-K expressly provides to the contrary) subsequent to (i) the date of the filing of the registration statement

 

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of which this prospectus forms a part and prior to effectiveness of the registration statement and (ii) the date of this prospectus and before the termination or completion of the offering of the securities covered by this prospectus:

 

  1.

Our Annual Report on Form 10-K, for the year ended December 31, 2022, as filed with the SEC on March 28, 2023;

 

  2.

Our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2023, as filed with the SEC on May 11, 2023, and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, for the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2023, as filed with the SEC on August 10, 2023;

 

  3.

Our Current Reports on Form 8-K, as filed with the SEC on January 5, 2023, January 12, 2023, May 3, 2023, May  26, 2023, June  6, 2023, June  13, 2023, June  23, 2023, July  26, 2023 and August 15, 2023;

 

  4.

The information specifically incorporated by reference into our Annual Report on Form 10-K from our Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A, as filed with the SEC on March 29, 2023;

 

  5.

Our Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A, as filed with the SEC on June 21, 2023; and

 

  6.

The description of the common stock contained in our Registration Statement on Form 8-A, as filed with the SEC on October 30, 1991, as updated by Exhibit 4.1 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, together with any subsequent amendment or report filed with the SEC for the purpose of updating this description.

Upon written or oral request, we will provide without charge to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom a copy of the prospectus is delivered a copy of the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus (other than exhibits to such documents unless such exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference in this prospectus). You may request a copy of these filings, at no cost, by writing or telephoning us at the following address: BIOLASE, Inc., 27042 Towne Centre Drive, Suite 270, Lake Forest, California 92610, Attention: Investor Relations, telephone: (949) 361-1200. You may also access these documents on our website at www.biolase.com.

Information on any BIOLASE, Inc. website, any subsection, page, or other subdivision of any BIOLASE, Inc. website, or any website linked to by content on any BIOLASE, Inc. website, is not part of this prospectus and you should not rely on that information unless that information is also in this prospectus or incorporated by reference in this prospectus.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We are subject to the informational requirements of the Exchange Act and in accordance therewith file reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. Our filings are available to the public over the Internet at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov, as well as at our website at www.biolase.com.

Information on any BIOLASE, Inc. website, any subsection, page, or other subdivision of any BIOLASE, Inc. website, or any website linked to by content on any BIOLASE, Inc. website, is not part of this prospectus and you should not rely on that information unless that information is also in this prospectus or incorporated by reference in this prospectus.

 

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125,000 Units

Each Unit Consisting of One Share of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock

with a Liquidation Preference of $100.00 and

One Warrant to Purchase One-Half of

One Share of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock

            Shares of Common Stock Underlying the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock

Shares of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock Underlying the Warrants

 

LOGO

BIOLASE, Inc.

 

Prospectus

 

 

 

LAKE STREET   MAXIM GROUP LLC

 

 

                    , 2023

 

 

 

 


Table of Contents

PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

 

Item 13.

Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.

The following table sets forth the estimated costs and expenses, other than underwriting discounts and commissions, payable by the Company in connection with the offering of the securities being registered. All of the amounts shown are estimates except for the SEC registration fee and the FINRA filing fee.

 

     Amount to
be paid
 

SEC registration fee

   $ 2,646  

FINRA filing fee

     4,100  

Legal fees and expenses

     430,000  

Accounting fees and expenses

     60,000  

Printing and engraving expenses

     30,000  

Warrant agent fees

    
15,000
 

Transfer agent and registrar fees

     15,000  

Miscellaneous fees and expenses

     3,258  
  

 

 

 

Total

   $ 560,000  
  

 

 

 

 

Item 14.

Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”) authorizes and empowers a Delaware corporation to indemnify its directors, officers, employees and agents against liabilities incurred in connection with, and related expenses resulting from, any claim, action or suit brought against any such person as a result of his or her relationship with the corporation, provided that such persons acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in, and not opposed to, the best interests of the corporation in connection with the acts or events on which such claim, action or suit is based. Section 145 of the DGCL also authorizes corporations to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of such persons so indemnified. The finding of either civil or criminal liability on the part of such person in connection with such acts or events is not necessarily determinative of the question of whether such person has met the required standard of conduct and is, accordingly, entitled to be indemnified.

Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL enables a corporation in its certificate of incorporation or an amendment thereto to eliminate or limit the personal liability of a director to the corporation or its stockholders of monetary damages for violations of the directors’ fiduciary duty of care, except (i) for any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or that involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) pursuant to Section 174 of the DGCL (providing for liability of directors for unlawful payment of dividends or unlawful stock purchases or redemptions) or (iv) for any transaction from which a director derived an improper personal benefit.

The Company’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended (the “charter”), provides that, to the extent permitted by applicable law, the registrant’s directors shall not be personally liable to the registrant or its stockholders for monetary damages for any breach of fiduciary duty as directors of the registrant. The charter eliminates the personal liability of directors to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL. The Company’s Eighth Amended and Restated Bylaws (the “bylaws”) provide that each person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is involved in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that he or she, or a person of whom he or she is the legal representative, is or was a director or officer of the registrant shall be indemnified and held harmless by the registrant to the fullest extent authorized by the DGCL, against all costs, charges, expenses, liabilities and losses

 

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(including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes or penalties and amounts paid or to be paid in settlement) reasonably incurred or suffered by such person in connection therewith, and such indemnification shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director or officer and shall inure to the benefit of his or her heirs, executors and personal or legal representatives. The Company has also obtained liability insurance for its officers and directors and has entered into indemnification agreements with its directors and officers.

The foregoing statements are subject to the provisions of Sections 145 and 102(b)(7) of the DGCL, the Company’s bylaws and the Company’s charter, which bylaws and charter have been filed as exhibits to this registration statement.

The underwriting agreement provides for indemnification by the underwriters of the Company and its officers and directors, and by the Company of the underwriters, for certain liabilities arising under the Securities Act or otherwise in connection with the offering.

 

Item 15.

Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities.

In June 2022, the Company issued warrants to purchase 1,405,405 shares of the Company’s common stock, with an exercise price of $4.625 per share (on a pre-2023 Reverse Stock Split basis). The warrants were issued in a private placement in connection with a registered direct offering of 678,745 shares of the Company’s common stock and pre-funded warrants to purchase 726,660 shares of the Company’s common stock with an exercise price of $0.001 per share (on a pre-2023 Reverse Stock Split basis). The combined purchase price for one share of the Company’s common stock and one warrant was $4.625 and the combined purchase price for one pre-funded warrant and one warrant was $4.624 (on a pre-2023 Reverse Stock Split basis). The Company received aggregate gross proceeds in the offerings of approximately $6.5 million. The warrants and the shares of the Company’s common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants were offered pursuant to the exemption from registration provided in Section 4(a)(2) under the Securities Act and Rule 506(b) promulgated thereunder.

In June 2020, the Company issued warrants to purchase 432,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, with an exercise price of $12.88 per share (on a pre-2023 Reverse Stock Split basis). The warrants were issued in a private placement in connection with a registered direct offering of 432,000 shares of the Company’s common stock (on a pre-2023 Reverse Stock Split basis). The combined purchase price for one share of the Company’s common stock and one warrant was $16.00 (on a pre-2023 Reverse Stock Split basis). The Company received aggregate gross proceeds in the offerings of approximately $6.9 million. The warrants and the shares of the Company’s common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants were offered pursuant to the exemption from registration provided in Section 4(a)(2) under the Securities Act and Rule 506(b) promulgated thereunder.

 

Item 16.

Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules.

The exhibits to this registration statement are listed in the Exhibit Index to this registration statement, which immediately precedes the Signature Page and which Exhibit Index is hereby incorporated by reference.

 

Item 17.

Undertakings.

(a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

(i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;

(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not

 

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exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and

(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;

Provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(ii) and (a)(1)(iii) of this section do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.

(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

(5) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser each prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) as part of a registration statement relating to an offering, other than registration statements relying on Rule 430B or other than prospectuses filed in reliance on Rule 430A (§ 230.430A of this chapter), shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the date it is first used after effectiveness. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such first use, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such date of first use.

(6) That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities: the undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:

(i) Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;

(ii) Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;

(iii) The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and

(iv) Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.

(b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to section 13(a) or section 15(d) of

 

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the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(h) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

(i) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that:

(1) For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b) (1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this registration statement as of the time it was declared effective.

(2) For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

                           Incorporated by Reference  
Exhibit  

Description

  Filed
Herewith
  Form    Period
Ending/Date
of Report
     Exhibit    Filing
Date
 
1.1   Form of Underwriting Agreement   X           
2.1   Membership Interest Purchase Agreement, dated as of September  22, 2022, by and among BIOLASE, Inc., Med-Fiber LLC and Alexei Tchapyjnikov     10-Q      09/30/2022      2.1      11/20/2022  
3.1.1   Restated Certificate of Incorporation, including, (i)  Certificate of Designations, Preferences and Rights of 6% Redeemable Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock of the Registrant; (ii)  Certificate of Designations, Preferences and Rights of Series A 6% Redeemable Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock of the Registrant; (iii)  Certificate of Correction Filed to Correct a Certain Error in the Certificate of Designation of the Registrant; and (iv) Certificate of Designations of Series B Junior Participating Cumulative Preferred Stock of the Registrant     S-1,

Amendment

No. 1

     12/23/2005      3.1      12/23/2005  

 

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                           Incorporated by Reference  
Exhibit  

Description

  Filed
Herewith
  Form    Period
Ending/Date
of Report
     Exhibit    Filing
Date
 
3.1.2   Amendment to Restated Certificate of Incorporation     8-K      05/10/2012      3.1      05/16/2012  
3.1.3   Second Amendment to Restated Certificate of Incorporation     8-A/A      11/04/2014      3.1.3      11/04/2014  
3.1.4   Third Amendment to Restated Certificate of Incorporation     S-3      07/21/2017      3.4      07/21/2017  
3.1.5   Fourth Amendment to Restated Certificate of Incorporation     8-K      05/10/2018      3.1      05/11/2018  
3.1.6   Fifth Amendment to Restated Certificate of Incorporation     8-K      05/28/2020      3.1      06/01/2020  
3.1.7   Sixth Amendment to Restated Certificate of Incorporation     8-K      04/28/2022      3.1      04/28/2022  
3.1.8   Certificate of Designation of Series G Preferred Stock     8-A      03/03/2022      3.1      03/03/2022  
3.1.9   Certificate of Elimination of Series D, Series E and Series F Preferred Stock of the Registrant     8-K      03/01/2022      3.3      03/03/2022  
3.1.10   Certificate of Elimination of Series G Preferred Stock     8-K      06/08/2022      3.1      06/08/2022  
3.1.11   Certificate of Designation of Preferences, Rights and Limitations of Series H Convertible Redeemable Preferred Stock, dated May  25, 2023     8-K      05/24/2023      3.1      05/26/2023  
3.1.12   Certificate of Designation of the Series I Preferred Stock of the Company, dated June 5, 2023     8-K      06/05/2023      3.1      06/06/2023  
3.1.13   Form of Certificate of Designation of the Series J Convertible Redeemable Preferred Stock   X           
3.1.14   Seventh Amendment to Restated Certificate of Incorporation     8-K      07/26/2023      3.1      07/26/2023  
3.2   Eighth Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Registrant, adopted on March 1, 2022     8-K      03/01/2022      3.1      03/03/2022  
4.1   Form of Common Stock Certificate     S-3      06/03/2002      4.1      06/03/2002  
4.2   Form of Warrant to Purchase Series J Convertible Redeemable Preferred Stock   X           
4.3   Form of Warrant Agency Agreement   X           
5.1   Opinion of Blank Rome LLP   X           
10.1   2002 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended     DEF14A      05/06/2016      A      04/07/2016  

 

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                           Incorporated by Reference  
Exhibit  

Description

  Filed
Herewith
  Form    Period
Ending/Date
of Report
     Exhibit    Filing
Date
 
10.2   Form of Stock Option Agreement under the 2002 Stock Incentive Plan (attached as Exhibit A to the Notice of Grant of Stock Option under the 2002 Stock Incentive Plan – Discretionary Option Grant Program)     10-K      12/31/2004      10.26      07/19/2005  
10.3   Form of Option Award Notice for California Employees under the 2002 Stock Incentive Plan     10-Q      09/30/2015      10.2      11/06/2015  
10.4   Form of Option Award Notice for Non-California Employees under the 2002 Stock Incentive Plan     10-Q      09/30/2015      10.3      11/06/2015  
10.5   Form of Option Award Notice for Non-Employee Directors under the 2002 Stock Incentive Plan     10-Q      09/30/2015      10.4      11/06/2015  
10.6   Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Notice for Non-Employee Directors under the 2002 Stock Incentive Plan     10-Q      09/30/2015      10.5      11/06/2015  
10.7   2018 Long-Term Incentive Plan     DEF14A      05/09/2018      A      04/05/2018  
10.8   First Amendment to 2018 Long-Term Incentive Plan     DEF14A      09/21/2018      B      08/24/2018  
10.9   Second Amendment to 2018 Long-Term Incentive Plan     DEF14A      05/15/2019      A      04/10/2019  
10.10   Third Amendment to 2018 Long-Term Incentive Plan     DEF14A      05/13/2020      A      04/23/2020  
10.11   Fourth Amendment to 2018 Long-Term Incentive Plan     DEF14A      05/26/2021      A      04/19/2021  
10.12   Form of Restricted Stock Unit—Phantom Award Notice and Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement for Employees     10-Q      09/30/2021      10.1      11/10/2021  
10.13   Form of Restricted Stock Unit—Phantom Award Notice and Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement for Non-Employee Directors      10-Q      09/30/2021      10.2      11/10/2021  
10.14   Restricted Stock Unit—Phantom Award Notice and Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement, dated July  21, 2021, by and between the Registrant and John R. Beaver      10-Q      09/30/2021      10.3      11/10/2021  
10.15   Form of Stock Appreciation Rights Award Notice and Stock Appreciation Rights Agreement for Non-Employee Directors     10-Q      09/30/2021      10.4      11/10/2021  
10.16   Lease dated February 4, 2020 by and between the Registrant and Foothill Corporate I MT, LLC     10-K      12/31/2019      10.12      03/30/2020  

 

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Table of Contents
                           Incorporated by Reference  
Exhibit  

Description

  Filed
Herewith
  Form    Period
Ending/Date
of Report
     Exhibit    Filing
Date
 
10.17   Lease dated January 22, 2020 by and between the Registrant and Green River Properties, LLC     10-K      12/31/2019      10.13      03/30/2020  
10.18   Form of Indemnification Agreement between the Registrant and its officers and directors     10-Q      09/30/2005      10.1      11/09/2005  
10.19   Form of Stock Option Agreement for inducement grants made to John R. Beaver on September 30, 2017     8-K      09/30/2017      10.1      10/03/2017  
10.20   Letter Agreement Amending Employment with John Beaver, dated April 12, 2020     10-Q      03/31/2020      10.10      05/08/2020  
10.21   Credit Agreement dated as of November 9, 2018, by and between the Registrant and SWK Funding LLC     10-Q      09/30/2018      10.6      11/14/2018  
10.22   Letter Agreement, dated as of August 20, 2019, by and between the Registrant and SWK Funding LLC     S-1      09/04/2019      10.28      09/05/2019  
10.23   Tenth Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated as of December 30, 2022, by and between the Registrant and SWK LLC     8-K      12/30/2022      10.1      01/05/2023  
21.1   Subsidiaries of the Registrant     10-K      12/31/2021      21.1      03/17/2022  
23.1   Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, BDO USA, P.C.   X           
23.2   Consent of Blank Rome LLP (contained in Exhibit 5.1)   X           
24.1   Power of Attorney     S-1      07/21/2023      24.1      07/21/2023  
107   Filing Fee Table   X           

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant has duly caused this Amendment No. 3 to the registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Lake Forest, State of California, on August 30, 2023.

 

BIOLASE, INC.

 

By:

 

/S/ JOHN R. BEAVER

 

John R. Beaver

 

President and Chief Executive Officer

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Amendment No. 3 to the registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Signature

  

Title

 

Date

/S/ JOHN R. BEAVER

John R. Beaver

   Director, President and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer)   August 30, 2023

/S/ JENNIFER BRIGHT

Jennifer Bright

   Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)   August 30, 2023

*

Dr. Jonathan T. Lord

   Director   August 30, 2023

*

Dr. Kathleen T. O’Loughlin

   Director   August 30, 2023

*

Jess Roper

   Director   August 30, 2023

*

Dr. Martha Somerman

   Director   August 30, 2023

*

Dr. Carol Gomez Summerhays

   Director   August 30, 2023

*

Dr. Kenneth P. Yale

   Director   August 30, 2023

 

*By:  

/s/ John R. Beaver

John R. Beaver
Attorney-in-fact

 

II-8

Exhibit 1.1

BIOLASE, INC.

FORM OF UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

[●], 2023

Lake Street Capital Markets, LLC

920 Second Avenue South, Suite 700

Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402

and

Maxim Group LLC

405 Lexington Avenue

New York, New York 10174

As Representatives of the

Several underwriters, if any, named in Schedule I hereto

Ladies and Gentlemen:

The undersigned, BIOLASE, INC., a company incorporated under the laws of Delaware (collectively with its subsidiaries and affiliates, including, without limitation, all entities disclosed or described in the Registration Statement (as defined below) as being subsidiaries or affiliates of BIOLASE, INC., the “Company”), hereby confirms its agreement (this “Agreement”) with the several underwriters (such underwriters, including the Representatives (as defined below), the “Underwriters” and each an “Underwriter”) named in Schedule I hereto for which Lake Street Capital Markets, LLC and Maxim Group LLC are acting as representatives to the several Underwriters (in such capacity, each a “Representative” and if there are no Underwriters other than the Representatives, references to multiple Underwriters shall be disregarded and the term Representatives as used herein shall have the same meaning as Underwriters) on the terms and conditions set forth herein.

It is understood that you will act as the Representatives for the Underwriters in the offering and sale of the Firm Securities in accordance with this Agreement.

ARTICLE I.

DEFINITIONS

1.1 Definitions. In addition to the terms defined elsewhere in this Agreement, for all purposes of this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings set forth in this Section 1.1:

Action” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.1(k).

Affiliate” means with respect to any Person, any other Person that, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls or is controlled by or is under common control with such Person as such terms are used in and construed under Rule 405 under the Securities Act.

Board of Directors” means the board of directors of the Company.

Business Day” means any day except any Saturday, any Sunday, any day which is a federal legal holiday in the United States or any day on which banking institutions in the State of New York are authorized or required by law or other governmental action to close.

Closing” means the closing of the purchase and sale of the Firm Securities pursuant to Section 2.1.

Closing Date” means the hour and the date on the Trading Day on which all conditions precedent to (i) the Underwriters’ obligations to pay the Firm Unit Purchase Price and (ii) the Company’s obligations to deliver the Firm Securities, in each case, have been satisfied or waived, but in no event later than 10:00 a.m. (New York City time) on the third (3rd) Trading Day following the date hereof or at such earlier time as shall be agreed upon by the Representatives and the Company.


Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

Commission” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

Common Stock” means the common stock of the Company, par value $0.001 per share, and any other class of securities into which such securities may hereafter be reclassified or changed.

Common Stock Equivalents” means any securities of the Company or the Subsidiaries which would entitle the holder thereof to acquire at any time Common Stock, including, without limitation, any debt, preferred stock, right, option, warrant or other instrument that is at any time convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for, or otherwise entitles the holder thereof to receive, Common Stock.

Company Counsel” means Blank Rome LLP, 1271 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10020.

Dividend Shares” means dividends payable in shares of Series J Preferred Stock on the Firm Preferred Shares and Preferred Warrant Shares as provided for in the Series J Certificate of Designation and shares of Series J Preferred Stock issued to holders of Preferred Warrants pursuant to Section 3(d) of the Preferred Warrant, if applicable.

Effective Date” means the date and time as of which the Registration Statement became effective, or is deemed to have become effective by the Commission, in accordance with the rules and regulations under the Securities Act.

Employee Benefit Plan” means any “employee benefit plan” within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA, including, without limitation, all stock purchase, stock option, stock-based severance, employment, change-in-control, medical, disability, fringe benefit, bonus, incentive, deferred compensation, employee loan and all other employee benefit plans, agreements, programs, policies or other arrangements, whether or not subject to ERISA, under which (1) any current or former employee, director or independent contractor of the Company or its subsidiaries has any present or future right to benefits and which are contributed to, sponsored by or maintained by the Company or any of its subsidiaries or (2) the Company or any of its subsidiaries has had or has any present or future obligation or liability.

ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.

ERISA Affiliate” means any member of the Company’s controlled group as defined in Code Section 414(b), (c), (m) or (o).

Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

Execution Date” shall mean the date on which the parties execute and enter into this Agreement.

FINRA” means the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.

Firm Preferred Shares” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.1(a)(i).

Firm Securities” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.1(a)(ii).

Firm Unit” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.1(a).

Firm Unit Purchase Price” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.1(b), which aggregate purchase price shall be net of underwriting discounts and commissions.

Firm Preferred Warrant” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.1(a)(ii).


Firm Preferred Warrant Share” means the shares of Series J Preferred Stock issuable upon exercise of a Firm Preferred Warrant.

Foreign Benefit Plan” means any Employee Benefit Plan established, maintained or contributed to outside of the United States of America or which covers any employee working or residing outside of the United States.

GAAP” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.1(i).

General Disclosure Package” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.1(f).

Indebtedness” means (a) any liabilities for borrowed money or amounts owed in excess of $100,000 (other than trade accounts payable incurred in the ordinary course of business), (b) all guaranties, endorsements and other contingent obligations in respect of indebtedness of others, whether or not the same are or should be reflected in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet (or the notes thereto), except guaranties by endorsement of negotiable instruments for deposit or collection or similar transactions in the ordinary course of business; and (c) the present value of any lease payments in excess of $100,000 due under leases required to be capitalized in accordance with GAAP.

Liens” means a lien, charge, pledge, security interest, encumbrance, right of first refusal, preemptive right or other restriction.

Lock-Up Agreements” means the lock-up agreements that are delivered on the date hereof by each of the Company’s officers and directors and the other stockholders set forth on Schedule II hereto, in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto.

Material Adverse Effect” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.1(b).

Offering” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.1(c).

Person” means an individual or corporation, partnership, trust, incorporated or unincorporated association, joint venture, limited liability company, joint stock company, government (or an agency or subdivision thereof) or other entity of any kind.

Preferred Stock” means the preferred stock of the Company, par value $0.001 per share.

Preferred Stock Equivalents” means any securities of the Company or the Subsidiaries which would entitle the holder thereof to acquire at any time shares of Preferred Stock, including, without limitation, any debt, preferred shares, right, option, warrant or other instrument that is at any time convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for, or otherwise entitles the holder thereof to receive, shares of Preferred Stock.

Preferred Warrants” means, collectively, the Preferred Stock Purchase Warrants delivered to the Underwriters in accordance with Section 2.1(a)(ii), which Preferred Warrants shall be immediately exercisable for one half (0.5) of one share of Series J Preferred Stock at an exercise price of $[30.00] per whole share and shall have a term of exercise equal to one (1) year, in the form of Exhibit B attached hereto.

Preferred Warrant Shares” means the shares of Series J Preferred Stock issuable upon exercise of the Preferred Warrants.

Preliminary Prospectus” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.1(f).

Proceeding” means an action, claim, suit, investigation or proceeding (including, without limitation, an informal investigation or partial proceeding, such as a deposition), whether commenced or threatened.

Prospectus” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.1(f).


Registration Statement” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.1(f).

Required Approvals” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.1(e).

Rule 144” means Rule 144 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended or interpreted from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having substantially the same purpose and effect as such Rule.

Rule 424” means Rule 424 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended or interpreted from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having substantially the same purpose and effect as such Rule.

SEC Reports” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.1(i).

Securities” means the Firm Securities, the Dividend Shares, the Preferred Warrant Shares, and shares of Common Stock underlying the Firm Preferred Shares, Preferred Warrant Shares and Dividend Shares.

Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

Series J Certificate of Designation” means the Certificate of Designation of Preferences, Rights and Limitations of Series J Convertible Redeemable Preferred Stock of the Company.

Series J Preferred Stock” means Series J Convertible Redeemable Preferred Stock of the Company, par value $0.001 per share, issued and issuable pursuant to the Series J Certificate of Designation and (ii) any capital stock into which such Series J Convertible Redeemable Preferred Stock shall have been changed or any share capital resulting from a reclassification of such Series J Convertible Redeemable Preferred Stock.

Subsidiary” means any subsidiary of the Company and shall, where applicable, also include any direct or indirect subsidiary of the Company formed or acquired after the date hereof.

S&W” means Sullivan & Worcester, LLP, with offices at 1633 Broadway, New York, New York 10019, counsel to the Underwriters.

Trading Day” means a day on which the principal Trading Market is open for trading.

Trading Market” means any of the following markets or exchanges on which the Common Stock is listed or quoted for trading on the date in question: the NYSE American, the Nasdaq Capital Market, the Nasdaq Global Market, the Nasdaq Global Select Market or the New York Stock Exchange (or any successors to any of the foregoing).

Transaction Documents” means this Agreement and all exhibits and schedules hereto, the Preferred Warrants, the Warrant Agency Agreement, the Lock-Up Agreements, the Series J Certificate of Designation and any other documents or agreements executed in connection with the transactions contemplated hereunder.

Transfer Agent” means Computershare Trust Company, N.A., the current transfer agent of the Company, and any successor transfer agent of the Company.

ARTICLE II.

PURCHASE AND SALE

2.1 Closing.

(a) Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, the Company agrees to sell in the aggregate [●] units (the “Firm Units”), each Firm Unit consisting of (i) one share of Series J Preferred Stock and (ii) one Preferred Warrant exercisable to purchase one-half (0.5) of one share of Series J Preferred Stock, and each Underwriter agrees to purchase, severally and not jointly, at the Closing, the following securities of the Company included in the Firm Units:


(i) the number of shares of Series J Preferred Stock (the “Firm Preferred Shares”) set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter on Schedule I hereof; and

(ii) the number of Preferred Warrants (the “Firm Preferred Warrants” and, together with the Firm Preferred Shares, the “Firm Securities”), set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter on Schedule I hereof.

(b) The aggregate purchase price for the Firm Securities shall equal the amount set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter on Schedule I hereto (the “Firm Unit Purchase Price”).

(c) On the Closing Date, each Underwriter shall deliver or cause to be delivered to the Company, via wire transfer, immediately available funds equal to such Underwriter’s Firm Unit Purchase Price and the Company shall deliver to, or as directed by, such Underwriter its respective Firm Securities and the Company shall deliver the other items required pursuant to Section 2.4 deliverable at the Closing. Upon satisfaction of the covenants and conditions set forth in Sections 2.4 and 2.5, the Closing shall occur at the offices of S&W or such other location as the Company and Representatives shall mutually agree. The Firm Securities are to be offered initially to the public at the offering price set forth on the cover page of the Prospectus (the “Offering”).

(d) The Company acknowledges and agrees that, with respect to any Notice(s) of Exercise (as defined in the Preferred Warrants) delivered by a Holder (as defined in the Preferred Warrants) on or prior to 12:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the Closing Date, which Notice(s) of Exercise may be delivered at any time after the time of execution of this Agreement, the Company shall deliver the Preferred Warrant Shares (as defined in the Preferred Warrants) subject to such notice(s) to the Holder by 4:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the Closing Date. The Company acknowledges and agrees that the Holders are third-party beneficiaries of this covenant of the Company.

(e) The Preferred Warrants shall be issued pursuant to, and shall have the rights and privileges set forth in, a warrant agency agreement, dated on or before the Closing Date, by and among Computershare Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Computershare”), and its affiliate Computershare Trust Company, N.A., a federally chartered trust company (together with Computershare, the “Warrant Agent”),, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C (the “Warrant Agency Agreement”).

2.2 [Reserved].

2.3 [Reserved].

2.4 Deliveries. The Company shall deliver or cause to be delivered to each Underwriter (if applicable) the following:

(a) At the Closing Date, the Firm Preferred Shares, which shares shall be delivered via The Depository Trust Company Deposit or Withdrawal at Custodian system for the accounts of the several Underwriters;

(b) At the Closing Date, the Firm Preferred Warrants, which Firm Preferred Warrants shall be delivered via The Depository Trust Company Deposit or Withdrawal at Custodian system for the accounts of the several Underwriters;

(c) [Reserved];

(d) At the Closing Date, legal opinions of Company Counsel addressed to the Underwriters, including, without limitation, a negative assurance letter, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives;

(e) [Reserved];

(f) Contemporaneously herewith, a cold comfort letter, respectively, from BDO USA, LLP (n/k/a BDO USA, P.C.), the former independent registered public accounting firm of the Company, and Macias Gini & O’Connell LLP,


the current independent registered public accounting firm of the Company, addressed to the Underwriters and in form and substance satisfactory in all respects to the Representatives dated as of the date of this Agreement and a bring-down letter dated as of the Closing Date;

(g) On the Closing Date, the duly executed and delivered Officer’s Certificate, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives;

(h) [On the Closing Date, the duly executed and delivered Chief Financial Officer’s Certificate, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives];

(i) On the Closing Date, the duly executed and delivered Secretary’s Certificate, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives;

(j) Contemporaneously herewith, the duly executed and delivered Lock-Up Agreements; and

(k) Such other certificates, opinions or documents as the Underwriters may reasonably request.

2.5 Closing Conditions. The respective obligations of each Underwriter hereunder in connection with the Closing are subject to the following conditions being met:

(a) the accuracy in all material respects when made and on the date in question of the representations and warranties of the Company contained herein (unless as of a specific date therein, in which case they shall be true and correct only as of such date) (other than representations and warranties of the Company already qualified by materiality, which shall be true and correct in all respects);

(b) all obligations, covenants and agreements of the Company required to be performed at or prior to the date in question shall have been performed;

(c) the delivery by the Company of the items set forth in Section 2.4 of this Agreement;

(d) the Registration Statement shall be effective on the date of this Agreement and the Closing Date, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall have been issued and no proceedings for that purpose shall have been instituted or shall be pending or contemplated by the Commission and any request on the part of the Commission for additional information shall have been complied with to the reasonable satisfaction of the Representatives;

(e) by the Execution Date, if required by FINRA, the Underwriters shall have received a notice of no objections from FINRA as to the amount of compensation allowable or payable to and the terms and arrangements for acting as the Underwriters as described in the Registration Statement;

(f) [Reserved]; and

(g) prior to and on the Closing Date: (i) there shall have been no material adverse change or development involving a prospective material adverse change in the condition or prospects or the business activities, financial or otherwise, of the Company from the latest dates as of which such condition is set forth in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package (as defined in Section 3.1(f) below) and the Prospectus; (ii) no action suit or proceeding, at law or in equity, shall have been pending or threatened against the Company or any Affiliate of the Company before or by any court or federal or state commission, board or other administrative agency wherein an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding may materially adversely affect the business, operations, prospects or financial condition or income of the Company, except as set forth in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus; (iii) no stop order applicable to the Company shall have been issued under the Securities Act and no proceedings therefor shall have been initiated or threatened by the Commission; (iv) the Company has not incurred any material liabilities or obligations, direct or contingent, nor has it entered into any material transactions not in the ordinary course of business, other than pursuant to this Agreement and the transactions referred to herein; (v) the Company has not paid or declared any dividends or other distributions of any kind on any class of its capital stock other than the payment of the Dividend Shares; (vi) the Company has not altered its method of accounting; and (vii)


the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto shall contain all material statements which are required to be stated therein in accordance with the Securities Act and the rules and regulations thereunder and shall conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, and neither the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package nor the Prospectus nor any amendment or supplement thereto shall contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

If any of the conditions specified in this Section 2.5 shall not have been fulfilled when and as required by this Agreement, or if any of the certificates, opinions, written statements or letters furnished to the Representatives or to Representatives’ counsel pursuant to this Section 2.5 shall not be reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Representatives and to Representatives’ counsel, all obligations of the Underwriters hereunder may be cancelled by the Representatives at, or at any time prior to, the consummation of the Closing. Notice of such cancellation shall be given to the Company in writing or orally. Any such oral notice shall be confirmed promptly thereafter in writing.

ARTICLE III.

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

3.1 Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company represents and warrants to the Underwriters as of the Execution Date and as of the Closing Date as follows:

(a) Subsidiaries. All of the direct and indirect Subsidiaries of the Company are described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus to the extent necessary. The Company owns, directly or indirectly, all of its capital stock or other equity interests of each Subsidiary free and clear of any Liens, charges, security interests, encumbrances, rights of first refusal, preemptive rights or other restrictions, and all of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of each Subsidiary are validly issued and are fully paid, non-assessable and free of preemptive and similar rights to subscribe for or purchase securities.

(b) Organization and Qualification. The Company and each of the Subsidiaries is an entity duly incorporated or otherwise organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, with the requisite power and authority to own and use its properties and assets and to carry on its business as currently conducted. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is in violation nor default of any of the provisions of its respective certificate or articles of incorporation, bylaws or other organizational or charter documents. Each of the Company and the Subsidiaries is duly qualified to conduct business and is in good standing as a foreign corporation or other entity in each jurisdiction in which the nature of the business conducted or property owned by it makes such qualification necessary, except where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing, as the case may be, could not have or reasonably be expected to result in: (i) a material adverse effect on the legality, validity or enforceability of any Transaction Document, (ii) a material adverse effect on the results of operations, assets, business, or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Company and the Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or (iii) a material adverse effect on the Company’s ability to perform in any material respect on a timely basis its obligations under any Transaction Document (any of (i), (ii) or (iii), a “Material Adverse Effect”) and no Proceeding has been instituted in any such jurisdiction revoking, limiting or curtailing or seeking to revoke, limit or curtail such power and authority or qualification.

(c) Authorization; Enforcement. The Company has the requisite corporate power and authority to enter into and to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and each of the other Transaction Documents to which it is a party and otherwise to carry out its obligations hereunder and thereunder. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and each of the other Transaction Documents by the Company and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby have been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of the Company and no further action is required by the Company, the Board of Directors or the Company’s stockholders in connection herewith or therewith other than in connection with the Required Approvals. This Agreement and each other Transaction Document to which the Company is a party has been (or upon delivery will have been) duly executed by the Company and, when delivered in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof, will constitute the valid and binding obligation of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except (i) as limited by general equitable principles and applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general application affecting enforcement of creditors’ rights generally, (ii) as limited by laws relating to the availability of specific performance, injunctive relief or other equitable remedies and (iii) insofar as indemnification and contribution provisions may be limited by applicable law.


(d) No Conflicts. The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents to which it is a party, the issuance and sale of the Securities and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby do not and will not (i) conflict with or violate any provision of the Company’s or any Subsidiary’s certificate or articles of incorporation, bylaws or other organizational or charter documents, or (ii) conflict with, or constitute a default (or an event that with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default) under, result in the creation of any Lien upon any of the properties or assets of the Company or any Subsidiary, or give to others any rights of termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation (with or without notice, lapse of time or both) of, any agreement, credit facility, debt or other instrument (evidencing a Company or Subsidiary debt or otherwise) or other understanding to which the Company or any Subsidiary is a party or by which any property or asset of the Company or any Subsidiary is bound or affected, or (iii) subject to the Required Approvals, conflict with or result in a violation of any law, rule, regulation, order, judgment, injunction, decree or other restriction of any court or governmental authority to which the Company or a Subsidiary is subject (including federal and state securities laws and regulations), or by which any property or asset of the Company or a Subsidiary is bound or affected; except in the case of each of clauses (ii) and (iii), such as could not have or reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(e) Filings, Consents and Approvals. The Company is not required to obtain any consent, waiver, authorization or order of, give any notice to, or make any filing or registration with, any court or other federal, state, local or other governmental authority or other Person in connection with the execution, delivery and performance by the Company of the Transaction Documents, other than: (i) the filing with the Commission of the Prospectus, (ii) such filings as are required to be made under applicable state securities laws and (iii) application(s) to each applicable Trading Market for the listing of the shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Firm Preferred Shares, Preferred Warrant Shares, Dividend Shares, for trading thereon in the time and manner required thereby (collectively, the “Required Approvals”).

(f) Registration Statement. The Company has filed with the Commission the Registration Statement, including any related Preliminary Prospectus or Prospectuses, for the registration of the Securities under the Securities Act, which Registration Statement has been prepared by the Company in conformity with the requirements of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission under the Securities Act. The registration of the Series J Preferred Stock under the Exchange Act has been declared effective by the Commission on or prior to and is effective on the date hereof. Copies of such Registration Statement and of each amendment thereto, if any, including the related Preliminary Prospectuses, heretofore filed by the Company with the Commission have been delivered to the Underwriters. The term “Registration Statement” means such registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-273372), as amended, as of the relevant Effective Date, including financial statements, all exhibits and any information deemed to be included or incorporated by reference therein, including any information deemed to be included pursuant to Rule 430A or Rule 430B of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, as applicable. If the Company files a registration statement to register a portion of the Securities and relies on Rule 462(b) of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations thereunder for such registration statement to become effective upon filing with the Commission (the “Rule 462 Registration Statement”), then any reference to the “Registration Statement” shall be deemed to include the Rule 462 Registration Statement, as amended from time to time. The term “Preliminary Prospectus” as used herein means a preliminary prospectus as contemplated by Rule 430 or Rule 430A of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations thereunder as included at any time as part of, or deemed to be part of or included in, the Registration Statement. The term “Prospectus” means the final prospectus in connection with this Offering as first filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations thereunder or, if no such filing is required, the form of final prospectus included in the Registration Statement at the Effective Date, except that if any revised prospectus or prospectus supplement shall be provided to the Representatives by the Company for use in connection with the Securities which differs from the Prospectus (whether or not such revised prospectus or prospectus supplement is required to be filed by the Company pursuant to Rule 424(b)), the term “Prospectus” shall also refer to such revised prospectus or prospectus supplement, as the case may be, from and after the time it is first provided to the Representatives for such use. Any reference herein to the terms “amend”, “amendment” or “supplement” with respect to the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include: (i) the filing of any document under the Exchange Act after the Effective Date, the date of such Preliminary Prospectus or the date of the Prospectus, as the case may be, which is


incorporated therein by reference, and (ii) any such document so filed. All references in this Agreement to the Registration Statement, a Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, or any amendments or supplements to any of the foregoing shall be deemed to include any copy thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval System (“EDGAR”). The term “General Disclosure Package” means, collectively, the Permitted Free Writing Prospectus(es) (as defined below) issued at or prior to the date hereof, the most recent preliminary prospectus related to this Offering, and the information included on Schedule I hereto.

(g) Issuance of Securities. The Firm Preferred Shares, Preferred Warrant Shares and Dividend Shares to be issued on the Closing Date are duly authorized and, when issued and paid for, to the extent applicable, in accordance with the applicable Transaction Documents, will be duly and validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, free and clear of all Liens imposed by the Company. The Preferred Warrants have been duly authorized by the Company and, when executed and delivered by the Company against payment therefor pursuant to this Agreement, will be valid and binding agreements of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms. The Company has reserved from its duly authorized capital stock the maximum number of shares of Series J Preferred Stock issuable pursuant to this Agreement, the Series J Certificate of Designation and the Preferred Warrants and the maximum number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the shares of Series J Preferred Stock issued in connection with the Offering. The Securities are not or will not be subject to the preemptive rights of any holders of any security of the Company or similar contractual rights granted by the Company. All corporate action required to be taken for the authorization, issuance and sale of the Securities has been duly and validly taken. The Securities conform in all material respects to all statements with respect thereto contained in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

(h) Capitalization. The capitalization of the Company as of the date hereof is as set forth in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. Except as set forth in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Company has not issued any capital stock since its most recently filed periodic report under the Exchange Act, other than pursuant to the exercise of employee stock options under the Company’s stock option plans, the issuance of shares of Common Stock to employees pursuant to the Company’s employee stock purchase plans and pursuant to the conversion and/or exercise of Common Stock Equivalents outstanding as of the date of the most recently filed periodic report under the Exchange Act. No Person has any right of first refusal, preemptive right, right of participation, or any similar right to participate in the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents, except such rights which have been waived prior to the date hereof. Except (i) as a result of the purchase and sale of the Securities, (ii) pursuant to the exercise of employee stock options and under the Company’s employee stock purchase plans, the issuance of shares of Common Stock to employees under the Company’s employee stock purchase plans and pursuant to conversion and/or exercise of Common Stock Equivalents outstanding as of the date of the Company’s most recently filed SEC Report, or (iii) as otherwise set forth in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there are no outstanding options, warrants, scrip rights to subscribe to, calls or commitments of any character whatsoever relating to, or securities, rights or obligations convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for, or giving any Person any right to subscribe for or acquire, any shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock or the capital stock of any Subsidiary, or contracts, commitments, understandings or arrangements by which the Company or any Subsidiary is or may become bound to issue additional shares of Common Stock, Common Stock Equivalents, Preferred Stock, or Preferred Stock Equivalents or the capital stock of any Subsidiary. The issuance and sale of the Securities and the issuance of securities upon the conversion or exercise of the Securities will not obligate the Company or any Subsidiary to issue shares of Series J Preferred Stock or other securities to any Person (other than the Underwriters). The Company does not have any stock appreciation rights or “phantom stock” plans or agreements or any similar plan or agreement. All of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, have been issued in compliance with all federal and state securities laws, and none of such outstanding shares was issued in violation of any preemptive rights or similar rights to subscribe for or purchase securities. The authorized shares of the Company conform in all material respects to all statements relating thereto contained in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. The Series J Preferred Stock conforms in all material respects to the description thereof contained in each of the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, and will entitle the holders thereof to the rights and benefits provided therein and in the Series J Certificate of Designation. The offers and sales of the Company’s securities were at all relevant times either registered under the Securities Act and the applicable state securities or Blue Sky laws or, based in part on the representations and warranties of the purchasers, exempt from such registration requirements. No further approval or authorization of any stockholder, the Board of Directors or others is required for the issuance and sale of the Securities. There are no


stockholders agreements, voting agreements or other similar agreements with respect to the Company’s capital stock to which the Company is a party or, to the knowledge of the Company, between or among any of the Company’s stockholders. All requisite approvals, including approvals of the Trading Market, were obtained.

(i) SEC Reports; Financial Statements. The Company has filed all reports, schedules, forms, statements and other documents required to be filed by the Company under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, including pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) thereof, for the two years preceding the date hereof (or such shorter period as the Company was required by law or regulation to file such material) (the foregoing materials, including the exhibits thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein, together with the Prospectus, being collectively referred to herein as the “SEC Reports”). As of their respective dates, the SEC Reports complied in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, as applicable, and none of the SEC Reports, when filed, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The Company is not and has never been an issuer subject to Rule 144(i) under the Securities Act. The financial statements of the Company included in the SEC Reports comply in all material respects with applicable accounting requirements and the rules and regulations of the Commission with respect thereto as in effect at the time of filing. Such financial statements have been prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis during the periods involved (“GAAP”), except as may be otherwise specified in such financial statements or the notes thereto and except that unaudited financial statements may not contain all footnotes required by GAAP, and fairly present in all material respects the financial position of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of and for the dates thereof and the results of operations and cash flows for the periods then ended, subject, in the case of unaudited statements, to normal, immaterial, year-end audit adjustments. The agreements and documents described in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus, the General Disclosure Package, the Prospectus, and the SEC Reports conform in all material aspects to the descriptions thereof contained therein and there are no agreements or other documents required by the Securities Act and the rules and regulations thereunder to be described in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus, the General Disclosure Package, the Prospectus or the SEC Reports or to be filed with the Commission as exhibits to the Registration Statement, that have not been so described or filed. Each agreement or other instrument (however characterized or described) to which the Company is a party or by which it is or may be bound or affected and (i) that is referred to in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package, the Prospectus or the SEC Reports, or (ii) is material to the Company’s business, has been duly authorized and validly executed by the Company, is in full force and effect in all material respects and is enforceable against the Company and, to the Company’s knowledge, the other parties thereto, in accordance with its terms, except (x) as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, (y) as enforceability of any indemnification or contribution provision may be limited under the federal and state securities laws, and (z) that the remedy of specific performance and injunctive and other forms of equitable relief may be subject to the equitable defenses and to the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefore may be brought. None of such agreements or instruments has been assigned by the Company, and neither the Company nor, to the best of the Company’s knowledge, any other party is in default thereunder and, to the best of the Company’s knowledge, no event has occurred that, with the lapse of time or the giving of notice, or both, would constitute a default thereunder. To the best of the Company’s knowledge, performance by the Company of the material provisions of such agreements or instruments will not result in a violation of any existing applicable law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree of any governmental agency or court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its assets or businesses, including, without limitation, those relating to environmental laws and regulations.

(j) Material Changes; Undisclosed Events, Liabilities or Developments. Since the date of the latest audited financial statements included within the SEC Reports, except as specifically disclosed in a subsequent SEC Report filed prior to the date hereof or except with respect to the Offering, (i) there has been no event, occurrence or development that has had or that could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, (ii) the Company has not incurred any liabilities (contingent or otherwise) other than (A) trade payables and accrued expenses incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice and (B) liabilities not required to be reflected in the Company’s financial statements pursuant to GAAP or disclosed in filings made with the Commission, (iii) the Company has not altered its method of accounting in any material respect, (iv) the Company has not declared or made any dividend or distribution of cash or other property to its stockholders or purchased, redeemed or made any agreements to purchase or redeem any shares of its capital stock and (v) the Company has not issued any equity securities to any officer, director or Affiliate, except pursuant to existing Company stock option plans and employee


stock purchase plans, and except for the issuance of Common Stock Equivalents as disclosed in the SEC Reports. The Company does not have pending before the Commission any request for confidential treatment of information. Except for the issuance of the Securities contemplated by this Agreement, no event, liability, fact, circumstance, occurrence or development has occurred or exists with respect to the Company or its Subsidiaries or their respective businesses, prospects, properties, operations, assets or financial condition that would be required to be disclosed by the Company under applicable securities laws at the time this representation is made or deemed made that has not been publicly disclosed at least one Trading Day prior to the date that this representation is made. Unless otherwise disclosed in an SEC Report filed prior to the date hereof, the Company has not: (i) issued any securities or incurred any liability or obligation, direct or contingent, for borrowed money; or (ii) declared or paid any dividend or made any other distribution on or in respect to its capital stock. There are no statutes, regulations, contracts or documents that are required to be described in the Registration Statement, in the General Disclosure Package and in the Prospectus or required to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement by the Securities Act or by the rules and regulations thereunder that have not been so described or filed.

(k) Litigation. There are no actions, suits, inquiries, notices of violation, proceedings or investigations pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against or affecting the Company, any Subsidiary or any of their respective properties before or by any court, arbitrator, governmental or administrative agency or regulatory authority (federal, state, county, local or foreign) (collectively, an “Action”) which (i) adversely affects or challenges the legality, validity or enforceability of any of the Transaction Documents or the Securities or (ii) could, if there were an unfavorable decision, have or reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary, nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any director or officer thereof, is or has been the subject of any Action involving a claim of violation of or liability under federal or state securities laws or a claim of breach of fiduciary duty. To the knowledge of the Company, there has not been, and there is not pending or threatened, any investigation by the Commission involving the Company or any current or former director or officer of the Company. There are no Actions required to be disclosed in the SEC Reports that have not been disclosed. The Commission has not issued any stop order or other order suspending the effectiveness of any registration statement filed by the Company or any Subsidiary under the Exchange Act or the Securities Act.

(l) Labor Matters. No labor problem or dispute with the employees of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries exists or is threatened or imminent, and the Company is not aware of any existing or imminent labor disturbance by the employees of any of its or its subsidiaries’ principal suppliers, contractors or customers, that could have a Material Adverse Effect.

(m) Compliance. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary: (i) is in default under or in violation of (and no event has occurred that has not been waived that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would result in a default by the Company or any Subsidiary under), nor has the Company or any Subsidiary received notice of a claim that it is in default under or that it is in violation of, any indenture, loan or credit agreement or any other agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it or any of its properties is bound (whether or not such default or violation has been waived), (ii) is in violation of any judgment, decree or order of any court, arbitrator or other governmental authority or (iii) is or has been in violation of any statute, rule, ordinance or regulation of any governmental authority, including without limitation all foreign, federal, state and local laws relating to taxes, environmental protection, occupational health and safety, product quality and safety and employment and labor matters, except in each case as would not have or reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(n) Environmental Laws. The Company and its Subsidiaries (i) are in compliance with all federal, state, local and foreign laws relating to pollution or protection of human health or the environment (including ambient air, surface water, groundwater, land surface or subsurface strata), including laws relating to emissions, discharges, releases or threatened releases of chemicals, pollutants, contaminants, or toxic or hazardous substances or wastes (collectively, “Hazardous Materials”) into the environment, or otherwise relating to the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport or handling of Hazardous Materials, as well as all authorizations, codes, decrees, demands, or demand letters, injunctions, judgments, licenses, notices or notice letters, orders, permits, plans or regulations, issued, entered, promulgated or approved thereunder (“Environmental Laws”); (ii) have received all permits licenses or other approvals required of them under applicable Environmental Laws to conduct their respective businesses; and (iii) are in compliance with all terms and conditions of any such permit, license or approval where in each clause (i), (ii) and (iii), the failure to so comply would be reasonably expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.


(o) Regulatory Permits. The Company and the Subsidiaries possess all licenses, certificates, authorizations, approvals, clearances, consents, registrations, and permits issued by the appropriate federal, state, local or foreign regulatory authorities applicable to the Company (“Applicable Laws”) necessary to conduct their respective businesses as described in the SEC Reports, except where the failure to possess such permits would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect (each, an “Authorization”), and neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any Authorization or the noncompliance with any ordinance, law, rule or regulation applicable to the Company. The disclosures in the Registration Statement concerning the effects of federal, state, local and all foreign regulation on the Company’s business as currently contemplated are correct in all material respects. The Company is and has been in material compliance with any term of any such Authorizations, except for any violations which would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company has not received notice of any claim, action, suit, proceeding, hearing, enforcement, investigation, arbitration or other action from any governmental authority or body or third party alleging that any product, operation or activity is in violation of any Applicable Laws or Authorizations or has any knowledge that any such entity or third party is considering any such claim, litigation, arbitration, action, suit, investigation or proceeding, nor, to the Company’s knowledge, has there been any material noncompliance with or violation of any Applicable Laws by the Company that could reasonably be expected to require the issuance of any such communication or result in an investigation, corrective action, or enforcement action by any governmental body or entity.

(p) Title to Assets. The Company and the Subsidiaries have good and marketable title in fee simple to all real property owned by them and good and marketable title in all personal property owned by them that is material to the business of the Company and the Subsidiaries, in each case free and clear of all Liens, except for (i) Liens as do not materially affect the value of such property and do not materially interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property by the Company and the Subsidiaries and (ii) Liens for the payment of federal, state or other taxes, for which appropriate reserves have been made therefor in accordance with GAAP and, the payment of which is neither delinquent nor subject to penalties.

(q) Intellectual Property.

(i) To the knowledge of the Company, the Company and each of its Subsidiaries owns or has the right to use pursuant to a valid, binding and enforceable written license or other legally enforceable right, all Intellectual Property (as defined below) necessary for the conduct of the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ businesses as now conducted and as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus to be conducted (the “Company IP”), except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. “Intellectual Property” means all patents, patent applications, trade and service marks, trade and service mark registrations, trade names, copyrights, licenses, inventions, trade secrets, domain names, technology, know-how and other intellectual property of the Company and its subsidiaries.

(ii) To the knowledge of the Company, there is no infringement, misappropriation or violation by third parties of any Company IP. There is no pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened, action, suit, proceeding or claim by others challenging the Company’s or its Subsidiaries’ rights in or to any Company IP, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The Intellectual Property owned by the Company and its Subsidiaries, and to the knowledge of the Company, the Intellectual Property licensed to the Company and its Subsidiaries, has not been adjudged invalid or unenforceable, in whole or in part, and there is no pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened action, suit, proceeding or claim by others challenging the validity or scope of any Company IP, and the Company is unaware of any facts which would form a reasonable basis for any such claim.

(iii) To the Company’s knowledge, no employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is in or has ever been in material violation of any term of any employment contract, patent disclosure agreement, invention assignment agreement, non-competition agreement, non-solicitation agreement, nondisclosure agreement or any restrictive covenant to or with a former employer where the basis of such violation relates to such employee’s employment with the Company or any of its subsidiaries or actions undertaken by the employee while employed with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.


(iv) The Company and its Subsidiaries have taken reasonable security measures to protect the secrecy, confidentiality and value of the Company IP, except where failure to do so would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(v) All patent applications owned by the Company or its Subsidiaries and filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (the “PTO”) or any foreign or international patent authority that have resulted in patents or currently pending applications that describe inventions necessary to conduct the business of the Company or its Subsidiaries as now conducted or as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus to be conducted (collectively, the “Company Patent Applications”) have been or were duly and properly filed.

(vi) The Company and its Subsidiaries have complied with their duty of candor and disclosure to the PTO for the Company Patent Applications. To the Company’s knowledge, there are no facts required to be disclosed to the PTO that were not disclosed to the PTO and which would preclude the grant of a patent for the Company Patent Applications. The Company has no knowledge of any facts which would preclude it or its applicable subsidiary from having clear title to the Company Patent Applications that have been identified by the Company as being exclusively owned by the Company or one of its Subsidiaries.

(r) Insurance. The Company and the Subsidiaries are insured by insurers of recognized financial responsibility against such losses and risks and in such amounts as are prudent and customary in the businesses in which the Company and the Subsidiaries are engaged, including, but not limited to, directors and officers insurance coverage. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has any reason to believe that it will not be able to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business without a significant increase in cost.

(s) Transactions With Affiliates and Employees. None of the officers or directors of the Company or any Subsidiary and, to the knowledge of the Company, none of the employees of the Company or any Subsidiary is presently a party to any transaction with the Company or any Subsidiary (other than for services as employees, officers and directors), including any contract, agreement or other arrangement providing for the furnishing of services to or by, providing for rental of real or personal property to or from, providing for the borrowing of money from or lending of money to or otherwise requiring payments to or from, any officer, director or such employee or, to the knowledge of the Company, any entity in which any officer, director, or any such employee has a substantial interest or is an officer, director, trustee, stockholder, member or partner, in each case in excess of $120,000 other than for (i) payment of salary or consulting fees for services rendered, (ii) reimbursement for expenses incurred on behalf of the Company and (iii) other employee benefits, including stock option agreements under any stock option plan of the Company.

(t) Sarbanes-Oxley; Internal Accounting Controls; Disclosure Controls. The Company and its Subsidiaries maintain a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain accountability for assets; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences. The Company’s internal control over financial reporting is effective and none of the Company, its board of directors and audit committee is aware of any “significant deficiencies” or “material weaknesses” (each as defined by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board) in its internal control over financial reporting, or any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees of the Company and its subsidiaries who have a significant role in the Company’s internal controls; and since the end of the latest audited fiscal year, there has been no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (whether or not remediated) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. The Board of Directors has, subject to the exceptions, cure periods and the phase in periods specified in the applicable stock exchange rules (“Exchange Rules”), validly appointed an audit committee to oversee internal accounting controls whose composition satisfies the applicable requirements of the Exchange Rules and the Board of Directors and/or the audit committee has adopted a charter that satisfies the requirements of the Exchange Rules. The Company is in compliance with all applicable provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder. The Company has established and maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14 under the Exchange Act) and such controls and procedures


are effective in ensuring that material information relating to the Company, including its subsidiaries, is made known to the principal executive officer and the principal financial officer. The Company has utilized such controls and procedures in preparing and evaluating the disclosures in the Registration Statement, in the General Disclosure Package and in the Prospectus.

(u) Certain Fees. Except as set forth in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, no brokerage or finder’s fees or commissions are or will be payable by the Company, any Subsidiary or Affiliate of the Company to any broker, financial advisor or consultant, finder, placement agent, investment banker, bank or other Person with respect to the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents. There are no other arrangements, agreements or understandings of the Company or, to the Company’s knowledge, any of its stockholders that may affect the Underwriters’ compensation, as determined by FINRA. Other than payments to the Underwriters for this Offering’, the Company has not made and has no agreements, arrangements or understanding to make any direct or indirect payments (in cash, securities or otherwise) to: (i) any person, as a finder’s fee, consulting fee or otherwise, in consideration of such person raising capital for the Company or introducing to the Company persons who raised or provided capital to the Company; (ii) any FINRA member; or (iii) any person or entity that has any direct or indirect affiliation or association with any FINRA member, within the 180-day period preceding the initial filing of the Registration Statement through the 60-day period after the Effective Date. None of the net proceeds of the Offering will be paid by the Company to any participating FINRA member or its affiliates, except as specifically authorized herein.

(v) Investment Company. The Company is not, and is not an Affiliate of, and immediately after receipt of payment for the Firm Securities will not be or be an Affiliate of, an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. The Company shall conduct its business in a manner so that it will not become an “investment company” subject to registration under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

(w) Registration Rights. No Person has any right to cause the Company or any Subsidiary to effect the registration under the Securities Act of any securities of the Company or any Subsidiary, other than those rights that have been disclosed in the Registration Statement or have been waived or satisfied.

(x) Listing and Maintenance Requirements. The Series J Preferred Stock is currently eligible for electronic transfer through the Depository Trust Company or another established clearing corporation and the Company is current in payment of the fees of the Depository Trust Company (or such other established clearing corporation) in connection with such electronic transfer. Except as previously disclosed to counsel for the Underwriters or as set forth in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, to the knowledge of the Company, no beneficial owners of the Company’s capital stock who, together with their associated persons and affiliates, hold in the aggregate 10% or more of such capital stock, have any direct or indirect association or affiliate with a FINRA member.

(y) Application of Takeover Protections. The Company and the Board of Directors have taken or prior to the Closing Date will have taken all necessary action within its power, if any, in order to render inapplicable any control share acquisition, business combination, poison pill (including any distribution under a rights agreement) or other similar anti-takeover provision under the Company’s articles of incorporation (or similar charter documents) or the laws of its state of incorporation that is or would become applicable as a result of the Underwriters and the Company fulfilling their obligations or exercising their rights under the Transaction Documents.

(z) Disclosure; 10b-5. The Registration Statement (and any further documents to be filed with the Commission) contains all exhibits and schedules as required by the Securities Act. Each of the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, if any, at the time it became effective, complied in all material respects with the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and the applicable rules and regulations under the Securities Act and did not and, as amended or supplemented, if applicable, will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading. The Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, each as of its respective date, comply in all material respects with the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and the applicable rules and regulations. The Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, did not and will not contain as of the date thereof any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, except for any statements in or omissions from the Prospectus based upon and in


conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter, it being understood that such information furnished by any Underwriter shall consist of the Underwriters’ Information (as defined below). As of its date and the date hereof, the General Disclosure Package did not and does not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, except for any statements in or omissions from the General Disclosure Package based upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter, it being understood that such information furnished by any Underwriter shall consist of the Underwriters’ Information. The SEC Reports, when they were filed with the Commission, conformed in all material respects to the requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, as applicable, and the applicable rules and regulations, and none of such documents, when they were filed with the Commission, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein (with respect to the SEC Reports incorporated by reference in the Prospectus), in light of the circumstances under which they were made not misleading; and any further documents so filed and incorporated by reference in the Prospectus, when such documents are filed with the Commission, will conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Exchange Act and the applicable rules and regulations, as applicable, and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made not misleading. No post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement reflecting any facts or events arising after the date thereof which represent, individually or in the aggregate, a fundamental change in the information set forth therein is required to be filed with the Commission. There are no documents required to be filed with the Commission in connection with the transaction contemplated hereby that (x) have not been filed as required pursuant to the Securities Act or (y) will not be filed within the requisite time period. There are no contracts or other documents required to be described in the Preliminary Prospectus or Prospectus, or to be filed as exhibits or schedules to the Registration Statement, which have not been described or filed as required. The press releases disseminated by the Company during the twelve months preceding the date of this Agreement taken as a whole do not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made and when made, not misleading.

(aa) No Integrated Offering. Neither the Company, nor any of its Affiliates, nor any Person acting on its or their behalf has, directly or indirectly, made any offers or sales of any security or solicited any offers to buy any security, under circumstances that would cause this offering of the Securities to be integrated with prior offerings by the Company for purposes of any applicable shareholder approval provisions of any Trading Market on which any of the securities of the Company are listed or designated.

(bb) Solvency. Based on the consolidated financial condition of the Company as of the Closing Date, after giving effect to the receipt by the Company of the proceeds from the sale of the Firm Securities hereunder, (i) the fair saleable value of the Company’s assets exceeds the amount that will be required to be paid on or in respect of the Company’s existing debts and other liabilities (including known contingent liabilities) as they mature, (ii) the Company’s assets do not constitute unreasonably small capital to carry on its business as now conducted and as proposed to be conducted including its capital needs taking into account the particular capital requirements of the business conducted by the Company, consolidated and projected capital requirements and capital availability thereof, and (iii) the current cash flow of the Company, together with the proceeds the Company would receive, were it to liquidate all of its assets, after taking into account all anticipated uses of the cash, would be sufficient to pay all amounts on or in respect of its liabilities when such amounts are required to be paid. The Company does not intend to incur debts beyond its ability to pay such debts as they mature (taking into account the timing and amounts of cash to be payable on or in respect of its debt). The Company has no knowledge of any facts or circumstances which lead it to believe that it will file for reorganization or liquidation under the bankruptcy or reorganization laws of any jurisdiction within one year from the Closing Date. The SEC Reports sets forth as of the date hereof all outstanding secured and unsecured Indebtedness of the Company or any Subsidiary, or for which the Company or any Subsidiary has commitments. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is in default with respect to any Indebtedness.

(cc) Tax Status. Except as would not reasonably be expected to result, individually or in the aggregate, in a Material Adverse Effect, each of the Company and its Subsidiaries (i) has made or filed all United States federal, state and local income and all foreign income and franchise tax returns, reports and declarations required by any jurisdiction to which it is subject, (ii) has paid all taxes and other governmental assessments and charges that are material in amount, shown or determined to be due on such returns, reports and declarations and (iii) has set aside on its books provision reasonably adequate for the payment of all material taxes for periods subsequent to the periods to


which such returns, reports or declarations apply. There are no unpaid taxes in any material amount claimed to be due by the taxing authority of any jurisdiction, and the officers of the Company or of any Subsidiary know of no basis for any such claim. The provisions for taxes payable, if any, shown on the financial statements filed with or as part of the Registration Statement are sufficient for all accrued and unpaid taxes, whether or not disputed, and for all periods to and including the dates of such consolidated financial statements. The term “taxes” mean all federal, state, local, foreign, and other net income, gross income, gross receipts, sales, use, ad valorem, transfer, franchise, profits, license, lease, service, service use, withholding, payroll, employment, excise, severance, stamp, occupation, premium, property, windfall profits, customs, duties or other taxes, fees, assessments, or charges of any kind whatsoever, together with any interest and any penalties, additions to tax, or additional amounts with respect thereto. The term “returns” means all returns, declarations, reports, statements, and other documents required to be filed in respect to taxes.

(dd) Anti-Bribery and Anti-Money Laundering Laws. Each of the Company, its Subsidiaries, and, to the knowledge of the Company, its affiliates and any of their respective officers, directors, supervisors, managers, agents or employees, has not violated, its participation in the Offering will not violate, and the Company and each of its Subsidiaries has instituted and maintains policies and procedures designed to ensure continued compliance with, each of the following laws: applicable anti-bribery laws, including but not limited to, any applicable law, rule, or regulation of any locality, including but not limited to any law, rule, or regulation promulgated to implement the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions, signed December 17, 1997, including the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, the U.K. Bribery Act 2010, or any other applicable law, rule or regulation of similar purposes and scope, or applicable anti-money laundering laws, including but not limited to, applicable federal, state, international, foreign or other laws, regulations or government guidance regarding anti-money laundering, including, without limitation, Title 18 U.S. Code Section 1956 and 1957, the Patriot Act, the Bank Secrecy Act, and international anti-money laundering principles or procedures by an intergovernmental group or organization, such as the Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering, of which the United States is a member and with which designation the United States representative to the group or organization continues to concur, all as amended, and any executive order, directive, or regulation pursuant to the authority of any of the foregoing, or any orders or licenses issued thereunder.

(ee) Accountants. To the knowledge of the Company, BDO USA, LLP (n/k/a BDO USA, P.C.), the former independent registered public accounting firm of the Company, which has expressed its opinions with respect to the audited financial statements (which term as used in this Agreement includes the related notes thereto) of the Company filed with the Commission as part of the Registration Statement and included in the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, is an independent registered public accounting firm as required by the Securities Act and the Exchange Act. To the knowledge of the Company, Macias Gini & O’Connell LLP, the current independent registered public accounting firm of the Company, is an independent registered public accounting firm as required by the Securities Act and the Exchange Act.

(ff) Stock Options. The description of the Company’s stock option, stock bonus and other stock incentive plans or similar incentive plans and compensation arrangements (the “Company Stock Plans”), and the options or other rights granted thereunder (collectively, the “Awards”), set forth in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus presents accurately and fairly in all material respects the information required to be shown with respect to such plans, arrangements and Awards. Each grant of an Award (A) was duly authorized no later than the date on which the grant of such Award was by its terms to be effective by all necessary corporate action, including, as applicable, approval by the board of directors of the Company (or a duly constituted and authorized committee thereof) and any required stockholder approval by the necessary number of votes or written consents, and the award agreement governing such grant (if any) was duly executed and delivered by each party thereto and (B) was made in accordance with the terms of the applicable Company Stock Plan, and all applicable laws and regulatory rules or requirements, including all applicable federal securities laws. No Award under any of the Company Stock Plans has been backdated. The Company has not knowingly granted, and there is no and has been no Company policy or practice to knowingly grant, stock options prior to, or otherwise knowingly coordinate the grant of stock options with, the release or other public announcement of material information regarding the Company or its Subsidiaries or their financial results or prospects.


(gg) Office of Foreign Assets Control.

(i) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries, nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any director, officer, employee, agent, affiliate or representative of the Company or its Subsidiaries, is an individual or entity that is, or is owned or controlled by an individual or entity that is:

(1) the subject of any sanctions administered or enforced by the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, Her Majesty’s Treasury, or other relevant sanctions authority (collectively, “Sanctions”), nor

(2) located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is the subject of Sanctions (including, without limitation, the Crimea Region of the Ukraine, Burma/Myanmar, Cuba, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Sudan and Syria).

(ii) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries will, directly or indirectly, use the proceeds of the offering, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other individual or entity:

(1) to fund or facilitate any activities or business of or with any individual or entity or in any country or territory that, at the time of such funding or facilitation, is the subject of Sanctions; or

(2) in any other manner that will result in a violation of Sanctions by any individual or entity (including any individual or entity participating in the offering, whether as underwriter, advisor, investor or otherwise).

(iii) For the past five years, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has knowingly engaged in, and is not now knowingly engaged in, any dealings or transactions with any individual or entity, or in any country or territory, that at the time of the dealing or transaction is or was the subject of Sanctions.

(hh) U.S. Real Property Holding Corporation. The Company is not and has never been a U.S. real property holding corporation within the meaning of Section 897 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the Company shall so certify upon request of any of the Representatives.

(ii) Bank Holding Company Act. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates is subject to the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended (the “BHCA”) and to regulation by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the “Federal Reserve”). Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates owns or controls, directly or indirectly, five percent (5%) or more of the outstanding shares of any class of voting securities or twenty-five percent (25%) or more of the total equity of a bank or any entity that is subject to the BHCA and to regulation by the Federal Reserve. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates exercises a controlling influence over the management or policies of a bank or any entity that is subject to the BHCA and to regulation by the Federal Reserve.

(jj) D&O Questionnaires. To the Company’s knowledge, all information contained in the questionnaires most recently completed by each of the Company’s directors and officers is true and correct in all respects and the Company has not become aware of any information which would cause the information disclosed in such questionnaires become inaccurate and incorrect.

(kk) [Reserved].

(ll) Effect of Certificates. Any certificate signed by any duly authorized officer of the Company and delivered to the Representatives or S&W shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Company to the Underwriters as to the matters covered thereby.

(mm) Board of Directors. The qualifications of the persons serving as board members and the overall composition of the Board of Directors comply with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules promulgated thereunder applicable to the Company and the rules of the Trading Market. At least one member of the Board of Directors qualifies as a “financial expert” as such term is defined under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules promulgated thereunder and the rules of the Trading Market. In addition, at least a majority of the persons serving on the Board of Directors qualify as “independent” as defined under the rules of the Trading Market.


(nn) ERISA and Employee Benefits Matters. (A) To the knowledge of the Company, no “prohibited transaction” as defined under Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code and not exempt under ERISA Section 408 and the regulations and published interpretations by the United States Department of Labor thereunder has occurred with respect to any Employee Benefit Plan. At no time has the Company or any ERISA Affiliate, maintained, sponsored, participated in, contributed to or has or had any liability or obligation in respect of any Employee Benefit Plan subject to Part 3 of Subtitle B of Title I of ERISA, Title IV of ERISA, or Section 412 of the Code or any “multiemployer plan” as defined in Section 3(37) of ERISA or any multiple employer plan for which the Company or any ERISA Affiliate has incurred or could incur liability under Section 4063 or 4064 of ERISA. No Employee Benefit Plan provides or promises, or at any time provided or promised, retiree health, life insurance, or other retiree welfare benefits except as may be required by the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended, or similar state law. Each Employee Benefit Plan is and has been operated in material compliance with its terms and all applicable laws, including but not limited to ERISA and the Code and, to the knowledge of the Company, no event has occurred (including a “reportable event” as such term is defined in Section 4043 of ERISA) and no condition exists that would subject the Company or any ERISA Affiliate to any material tax, fine, lien, penalty or liability imposed by ERISA, the Code or other applicable law. Each Employee Benefit Plan intended to be qualified under Code Section 401(a) is so qualified and has a favorable determination or opinion letter from the IRS upon which it can rely, and any such determination or opinion letter remains in effect and has not been revoked; to the knowledge of the Company, nothing has occurred since the date of any such determination or opinion letter that is reasonably likely to adversely affect such qualification; (B) with respect to each Foreign Benefit Plan, such Foreign Benefit Plan (1) if intended to qualify for special tax treatment, meets, in all material respects, the requirements for such treatment, and (2) if required to be funded, is funded to the extent required by applicable law, and with respect to all other Foreign Benefit Plans, adequate reserves therefor have been established on the accounting statements of the applicable Company or subsidiary; (C) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has any obligations under any collective bargaining agreement with any union and no organization efforts are underway with respect to employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries.

(oo) Privacy and Data Protection. The Company has operated its business in a manner compliant in all material respects with all United States federal, state, local and non-United States privacy, data security and data protection laws and regulations applicable to the Company’s collection, use, transfer, protection, disposal, disclosure, handling, storage and analysis of personal data. The Company has been and is in compliance in all material respects with internal policies and procedures designed to ensure the integrity and security of the data collected, handled or stored in connection with its business. The Company has taken commercially reasonable steps to maintain the confidentiality of its personally identifiable information, protected health information, consumer information and other confidential information of the Company and any third parties in its possession (“Sensitive Company Data”). The tangible or digital information technology systems (including computers, screens, servers, workstations, routers, hubs, switches, networks, data communications lines, technical data and hardware), software and telecommunications systems used or held for use by the Company (the “Company IT Assets”) are in all material respects adequate and operational for, in accordance with their documentation and functional specifications, the business of the Company as now operated and as currently proposed to be conducted as described in the Registration Statement, in the General Disclosure Package and in the Prospectus. The Company has used commercially reasonable efforts to establish, and has established, commercially reasonable disaster recovery and security plans, procedures and facilities for the business consistent with industry standards and practices in all material respects, including, without limitation, for the Company IT Assets and data held or used by or for the Company. To the Company’s knowledge, the Company has not suffered or incurred any security breaches, compromises or incidents with respect to any Company IT Asset or Sensitive Company Data, except such breaches, compromises or incidents that have not, singly or in the aggregate, resulted in a Material Adverse Effect; and there has been no unauthorized or illegal use of or access to any Company IT Asset or Sensitive Company Data by any unauthorized third party, except where such unauthorized or illegal use or access would not reasonably be expected to, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company has not been required to notify any individual of any information security breach, compromise or incident involving Sensitive Company Data.

(pp) Compliance with Occupational Laws. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries (A) is in compliance with any and all applicable foreign, federal, state and local laws, rules, regulations, treaties, statutes and codes


promulgated by any and all appropriate federal, state, or local governmental authorities (including pursuant to the Occupational Health and Safety Act) relating to the protection of human health and safety in the workplace (“Occupational Laws”); (B) has received all permits, licenses or other approvals required of it under applicable Occupational Laws to conduct its business as currently conducted; and (C) is in compliance with all terms and conditions of such permit, license or approval, except, with respect to the foregoing clauses (A), (B), and (C), as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. No action, proceeding, revocation proceeding, writ, injunction or claim is pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries relating to Occupational Laws, and the Company does not have knowledge of any facts, circumstances or developments relating to its operations or cost accounting practices that could reasonably be expected to form the basis for or give rise to such actions, suits, investigations or proceedings.

(qq) Statistical Information. Any third-party statistical and market-related data included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus are based on or derived from sources that the Company believes to be reliable.

(rr) Forward-looking Statements. No forward-looking statement (within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act) contained in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus has been made or reaffirmed without a reasonable basis or has been disclosed other than in good faith.

(ss) Continued Business. No supplier, customer, distributor or sales agent of the Company or its Subsidiaries have notified the Company or its Subsidiaries that it intends to discontinue or decrease the rate of business done with the Company or its Subsidiaries, except where such discontinuation or decrease has not resulted in and could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(tt) Prior Sale of Securities. Except as set forth in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Company has not sold or issued any securities of the Company during the six-month period preceding the date hereof, including any sales pursuant to Rule 144A under, or Regulations D or S of the Securities Act, other than shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to employee benefit plans, stock option plans or other employee compensation plans or pursuant to outstanding preferred stock, options, rights or warrants or other outstanding convertible securities.

ARTICLE IV.

OTHER AGREEMENTS OF THE PARTIES

4.1 Amendments to Registration Statement. The Company has delivered, or will as promptly as practicable deliver, to the Underwriters complete conformed copies of the Registration Statement and of each consent and certificate of experts, as applicable, filed as a part thereof, and conformed copies of the Registration Statement (without exhibits), the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, and the General Disclosure Package in such quantities and at such places as an Underwriter reasonably requests. Neither the Company nor any of its directors and officers has distributed and none of them will distribute, prior to the Closing Date, any offering material in connection with the offering and sale of the Securities other than the Prospectus, the General Disclosure Package and the Registration Statement. The Company shall not file any such amendment or supplement to which the Representatives shall reasonably object in writing.

4.2 Federal Securities Laws.

(a) Compliance. During the time when a Prospectus is required to be delivered under the Securities Act, the Company will use its best efforts to comply with all requirements imposed upon it by the Securities Act and the rules and regulations thereunder and the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, as from time to time in force, so far as necessary to permit the continuance of sales of or dealings in the Securities in accordance with the provisions hereof and the Prospectus. If at any time when a Prospectus relating to the Securities is required to be delivered under the Securities Act, any event shall have occurred as a result of which, in the opinion of counsel for the Company or counsel for the Underwriters, the Prospectus, as then amended or supplemented, includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the


statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or if it is necessary at any time to amend the Prospectus to comply with the Securities Act, the Company will notify the Underwriters promptly and prepare and file with the Commission, subject to Section 4.1 hereof, an appropriate amendment or supplement in accordance with Section 10 of the Securities Act.

(b) Exchange Act Registration. For a period of two years from the Execution Date, the Company will use its best efforts to maintain the registration of the Common Stock under the Exchange Act. The Company will not deregister the Common Stock under the Exchange Act without the prior written consent of the Representatives; provided, however, that this provision does not prevent a sale, merger, acquisition or similar transaction involving the Company.

(c) Free Writing Prospectuses. The Company represents and agrees that it has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Firm Securities that would constitute an issuer free writing prospectus, as defined in Rule 433 of the rules and regulations under the Securities Act, without the prior written consent of the Representatives. Any such free writing prospectus consented to by the Representatives is herein referred to as a “Permitted Free Writing Prospectus.” The Company represents that it will treat each Permitted Free Writing Prospectus as an “issuer free writing prospectus” as defined in rule and regulations under the Securities Act, and has complied and will comply with the applicable requirements of Rule 433 of the Securities Act, including timely Commission filing where required, legending and record keeping.

4.3 Delivery to the Underwriters of Prospectuses. The Company will deliver to the Underwriters, without charge, from time to time during the period when the Prospectus is required to be delivered under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act such number of copies of each Prospectus as the Underwriters may reasonably request and, as soon as the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement thereto becomes effective, deliver to you two original executed Registration Statements, including exhibits, and all post-effective amendments thereto and copies of all exhibits filed therewith or incorporated therein by reference and all original executed consents of certified experts.

4.4 Effectiveness and Events Requiring Notice to the Underwriters. The Company will use its best efforts to cause the Registration Statement to remain effective with a current prospectus covering: (A)(i) the issuance of shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of Series J Preferred Stock and (ii) the issuance of additional shares of Series J Preferred Stock pursuant to, or arising as a result of, the Company’s obligation to pay dividends pursuant to the Series J Certificate of Designation or terms of the Preferred Warrants and (B) the issuance of the Preferred Warrant Shares upon exercise of the Preferred Warrants, in each case, until such time as set forth in Series J Certificate of Designation and/or Preferred Warrant, as applicable, and will notify the Underwriters immediately and confirm the notice in writing: (i) of the effectiveness of the Registration Statement and any amendment thereto; (ii) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order or of the initiation, or the threatening, of any proceeding for that purpose; (iii) of the issuance by any state securities commission of any proceedings for the suspension of the qualification of the Securities for offering or sale in any jurisdiction or of the initiation, or the threatening, of any proceeding for that purpose; (iv) of the mailing and delivery to the Commission for filing of any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or Prospectus; (v) of the receipt of any comments or request for any additional information from the Commission; and (vi) of the happening of any event during the period described in this Section 4.4 that, in the judgment of the Company, makes any statement of a material fact made in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus untrue or that requires the making of any changes in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. If the Commission or any state securities commission shall enter a stop order or suspend such qualification at any time, the Company will make every reasonable effort to obtain promptly the lifting of such order.

4.5 Review of Financial Statements. For a period of two (2) years from the Execution Date, the Company, at its expense, shall cause its regularly engaged independent registered public accountants to review (but not audit) the Company’s financial statements for each of the first three fiscal quarters prior to the announcement of quarterly financial information; provided, however, that this provision does not prevent a sale, merger, acquisition or similar transaction involving the Company.


4.6 Reports to the Underwriters; Expenses of the Offering.

(a) Periodic Reports, etc. For a period of two years from the Execution Date, the Company will furnish or make available to the Underwriters copies of such financial statements and other periodic and special reports as the Company from time to time furnishes generally to holders of any class of its securities and also promptly furnish or make available to the Underwriters: (i) a copy of each periodic report the Company shall be required to file with the Commission; (ii) a copy of every press release and every news item and article with respect to the Company or its affairs which was released by the Company; (iii) a copy of each Form 8-K prepared and filed by the Company; and (iv) a copy of each registration statement filed by the Company under the Securities Act. Documents filed with the Commission pursuant to its EDGAR system shall be deemed to have been delivered to the Underwriters pursuant to this Section.

(b) Transfer Sheets. For a period of two years from the Execution Date, the Company shall retain the Transfer Agent or a transfer and registrar agent acceptable to the Representatives in respect to the Common Stock and Series J Preferred Stock and will furnish to the Underwriters at the Company’s sole cost and expense such transfer sheets of the Company’s Common Stock and Series J Preferred Stock as an Underwriter may reasonably request, including the daily and monthly consolidated transfer sheets of the Transfer Agent and the DTC; provided, however, that this provision does not prevent a sale, merger, acquisition or similar transaction involving the Company.

(c) Trading Reports. For a period of one year from the Execution Date, the Company shall provide to the Underwriters, at the Company’s expense, such reports published by the Trading Market relating to price and trading of such securities, as the Underwriters shall reasonably request.

(d) General Expenses Related to the Offering. (i) The Company hereby agrees to pay on the Closing Date all expenses incident to the performance of the obligations of the Company under this Agreement, including, but not limited to: (a) all filing fees and communication expenses relating to the registration of the Securities to be sold in the Offering with the Commission; (b) all FINRA Public Offering Filing System fees associated with the review of the Offering by FINRA; all fees and expenses relating to the listing of the securities issued pursuant to the Transaction Documents on the Trading Market and such other stock exchanges as the Company and the Representatives together determine; (c) all fees, expenses and disbursements relating to the registration or qualification of such Securities under the “blue sky” securities laws of such states and other foreign jurisdictions as the Representatives may reasonably designate; (d) the costs of all mailing and printing of the underwriting documents (including, without limitation, the Underwriting Agreement, any Blue Sky Surveys and, if appropriate, any Agreement Among Underwriters, any agreements with Selected Dealers, Underwriters’ Questionnaire and Power of Attorney), Registration Statements, Prospectuses and all amendments, supplements and exhibits thereto and as many preliminary and final Prospectuses as the Representatives may reasonably deem necessary; (e) the costs of preparing, printing and delivering the Securities; (f) fees and expenses of the Transfer Agent for the Securities (including, without limitation, any fees required for same-day processing of any instruction letter delivered by the Company); (g) stock transfer and/or stamp taxes, if any, payable upon the transfer of securities from the Company to the Underwriters; (h) the fees and expenses of the Company’s accountants and legal counsel; (i) the fees and expenses of the Underwriters’ legal counsel and other agents and representatives; (j) the Underwriters’ costs of mailing prospectuses to prospective investors; (k) all fees, expenses and disbursements relating to background checks of the Company’s officers and directors; (l) the fees and expenses associated with the Underwriters’ use of i-Deal’s book-building, prospectus tracking and compliance software (or other similar software) for the Offering; and (m) the Company’s actual “road show” expenses for the Offering. All of the reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses as identified above and any expenses paid on behalf of the Underwriters, in connection with this Offering, shall not exceed $125,000 in the aggregate. The Underwriters may also deduct from the net proceeds of the Offering payable to the Company on the Closing Date, all out-of-pocket fees, expenses and disbursements (including legal fees and expenses) of the Underwriters incurred as a result of providing services related to the Offering to be paid by the Company to the Underwriters up the maximum specified in the preceding sentence.

4.7 Application of Net Proceeds. The Company will apply the net proceeds from the Offering received by it in a manner consistent with the application described under the caption “Use of Proceeds” in the Prospectus.

4.8 Delivery of Earnings Statements to Security Holders. The Company will make generally available to its security holders as soon as practicable, but not later than the first day of the fifteenth full calendar month following the Execution Date, an earnings statement (which need not be certified by independent public or independent certified


public accountants unless required by the Securities Act or the rules and regulations under the Securities Act, but which shall satisfy the provisions of Rule 158(a) under Section 11(a) of the Securities Act) covering a period of at least twelve consecutive months beginning after the Execution Date. For the avoidance of doubt, documents filed with the Commission pursuant to its EDGAR system that contain the earnings statements required by this Section 4.8 shall be deemed to have been delivered to security holders and satisfy the requirements of this Section 4.8

4.9 Stabilization. Neither the Company, nor, to its knowledge, any of its employees, directors or shareholders (without the consent of the Representatives) has taken or will take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that has constituted or that might reasonably be expected to cause or result in, under the Exchange Act, or otherwise, stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities.

4.10 [Reserved].

4.11 Accountants. For a period of two (3) years from the Effective Date, the Company shall continue to retain an independent registered public accounting firm. The Underwriters acknowledge that Macias Gini & O’Connell LLP is acceptable to the Underwriters.

4.12 FINRA. The Company shall advise the Underwriters (who shall make an appropriate filing with FINRA) if it is aware that any officer, director, 10% or greater shareholder of the Company or Person that received the Company’s unregistered equity securities in the past 180 days is or becomes an affiliate or associated person of a FINRA member firm prior to the earlier of the termination of this Agreement or the conclusion of the distribution of the Offering.

4.13 No Fiduciary Duties. The Company acknowledges and agrees that the Underwriters’ responsibility to the Company is solely contractual and commercial in nature, based on arms-length negotiations and that neither the Underwriters nor their affiliates or any selected dealer shall be deemed to be acting in a fiduciary capacity, or otherwise owes any fiduciary duty to the Company or any of its affiliates in connection with the Offering and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the Company acknowledges that the Underwriters may have financial interests in the success of the Offering that are not limited to the difference between the price to the public and the purchase price paid to the Company by the Underwriters for the shares and the Underwriters have no obligation to disclose, or account to the Company for, any of such additional financial interests. The Company hereby waives and releases, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims that the Company may have against the Underwriters with respect to any breach or alleged breach of fiduciary duty.

4.14 Legends. The shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Series J Preferred Stock, the Preferred Warrant Shares issuable upon exercise of the Preferred Warrants, and the Dividend Shares shall be issued free of all restrictive legends.

4.15 Board Composition and Board Designations. The Company shall ensure that: (i) the qualifications of the persons serving as board members and the overall composition of the Board of Directors comply with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules promulgated thereunder and with the listing requirements of the Trading Market and (ii) if applicable, at least one member of the Board of Directors qualifies as a “financial expert” as such term is defined under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules promulgated thereunder.

4.16 Securities Laws Disclosure; Publicity. At the request of the Representatives, by 9:00 a.m. (New York City time) on the date hereof, or, if this Agreement is executed after 9:00 a.m. (New York City time) by the time reasonably requested by the Representatives, the Company shall issue a press release disclosing the material terms of the Offering. The Company and the Representatives shall consult with each other in issuing any press releases with respect to the Offering, and neither the Company nor any Underwriter shall issue any such press release nor otherwise make any such public statement without the prior consent of the Company, with respect to any other press release of such Underwriter, or without the prior consent of such Underwriter, with respect to any press release of the Company, which consent shall not unreasonably be withheld or delayed, except if such disclosure is required by law, in which case the disclosing party shall promptly provide the other party with prior notice of such public statement or communication. The Company will not issue press releases or engage in any other publicity, without the Representatives’ prior written consent, for a period ending at 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the first business day following the 40th day following the Closing Date, other than normal and customary releases issued in the ordinary course of the Company’s business.


4.17 Shareholder Rights Plan. No claim will be made or enforced by the Company or, with the consent of the Company, any other Person, that any Underwriter of the Securities is an “Acquiring Person” under any control share acquisition, business combination, poison pill (including any distribution under a rights agreement) or similar anti-takeover plan or arrangement in effect or hereafter adopted by the Company, or that any Underwriter of Securities could be deemed to trigger the provisions of any such plan or arrangement, by virtue of receiving Securities except if and to the extent required by applicable law.

4.18 Reservation of Capital Stock.

(a) As of the date hereof, the Company has reserved and the Company shall continue to reserve and keep available at all times, free of preemptive rights, a sufficient number of shares of Series J Preferred Stock for the purpose of enabling the Company to issue shares of Series J Preferred Stock pursuant to the Transaction Documents.

(b) As of the date hereof, the Company has reserved and the Company shall continue to reserve and keep available at all times, free of preemptive rights, a sufficient number of shares of Common Stock for the purpose of enabling the Company to issue shares of Common Stock upon any conversion of Series J Preferred Stock.

4.19 Listing of Common Stock. The Company agrees to use its best efforts to maintain the trading of the Common Stock on the Trading Market for at least two (2) years after the Closing Date; provided, however, that this provision does not prevent a sale, merger, acquisition or similar transaction involving the Company.

4.20 [Reserved].

4.21 Company Lock Up. The Company will not, without the prior written consent of the Representatives, from the date of execution of this Agreement and continuing to and including the date 90 days after the date of the Registration Statement (the “Lock-Up Period”), (A) offer, pledge, announce the intention to sell, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of Common Stock, Series J Preferred Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock or Series J Preferred Stock; or (B) enter into any swap or other agreement that transfers, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the Common Stock or Series J Preferred Stock, whether any such transaction described in clause (A) or (B) above is to be settled by delivery of Common Stock, Series J Preferred Stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise; or (C) file any registration statement with the Commission relating to the offering of any shares of Common Stock, Series J Preferred Stock or any securities convertible into or excisable or exchangeable for Common Stock or Series J Preferred Stock; except, in each case, for (i) the filing by the Company of a registration on Form S-4 or a registration statement on Form S-8 or a successor form thereto with respect to Common Stock or other securities pursuant to any stock option, stock bonus or other stock plan or arrangement or the proposal or authorization of any increase in the Company’s authorized capital stock, (ii) the issuance of the Securities as contemplated by this Agreement, (iii) issuances of shares of Common Stock or Series J Preferred Stock upon the exercise, settlement or conversion of options, restricted stock units, warrants or convertible securities disclosed as outstanding in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, (iv) the issuance of employee stock options, restricted stock units, or other similar equity awards not exercisable or settleable during the Lock-Up Period pursuant to the Company’s stock option, stock bonus and other stock plans or arrangements, (v) securities issued pursuant to acquisitions or strategic transactions approved by the Board of Directors, provided that such securities are issued as “restricted securities” (as defined in Rule 144) and carry no registration rights that require or permit the filing of any registration statement in connection therewith during the Lock-Up Period, but not including such a transaction in which the Company is issuing securities primarily for the purpose of raising capital. The Company agrees not to accelerate the vesting of any option or other similar equity award or warrant or the lapse of any repurchase right prior to the expiration of the Lock-Up Period.

4.22 Capital Changes. Until sixty (60) days after the Closing Date, the Company shall not undertake a reverse or forward stock split or reclassification of the Series J Preferred Stock or Common Stock without the prior written consent of the Representatives, unless a reverse stock split is required to comply with the rules and regulations of the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC.


4.23 Research Independence. The Company acknowledges that each Underwriter’s research analysts and research departments, if any, are required to be independent from their respective investment banking divisions and are subject to certain regulations and internal policies, and that such Underwriter’s research analysts may hold and make statements or investment recommendations and/or publish research reports with respect to the Company and/or the offering that differ from the views of its investment bankers. The Company hereby waives and releases, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims that the Company may have against such Underwriter with respect to any conflict of interest that may arise from the fact that the views expressed by their independent research analysts and research departments may be different from or inconsistent with the views or advice communicated to the Company by such Underwriter’s investment banking divisions. The Company acknowledges that each Representative is a full service securities firm and as such from time to time, subject to applicable securities laws, may effect transactions for its own account or the account of its customers and hold long or short position in debt or equity securities of the Company.

4.24. [Reserved].

ARTICLE V.

DEFAULT BY UNDERWRITERS

If on the Closing Date, any Underwriter shall fail to purchase and pay for the portion of the Firm Securities, which such Underwriter has agreed to purchase and pay for on such date (otherwise than by reason of any default on the part of the Company), the Representatives, or if a Representative is the defaulting Underwriter, the non-defaulting Underwriters, shall use their reasonable efforts to procure within 36 hours thereafter one or more of the other Underwriters, or any others, to purchase from the Company such amounts as may be agreed upon and upon the terms set forth herein, the Firm Securities, which the defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters failed to purchase. If during such 36 hours the Representatives shall not have procured such other Underwriters, or any others, to purchase the Firm Securities, agreed to be purchased by the defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters, then (a) if the aggregate number of Firm Securities with respect to which such default shall occur does not exceed 10% of the Firm Securities covered hereby, the other Underwriters shall be obligated, severally, in proportion to the respective numbers of Firm Securities, which they are obligated to purchase hereunder, to purchase the Firm Securities, which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters failed to purchase, or (b) if the aggregate number of Firm Securities with respect to which such default shall occur exceeds 10% of the Firm Securities covered hereby, the Company or the Representatives will have the right to terminate this Agreement without liability on the part of the non-defaulting Underwriters or of the Company except to the extent provided in Article VI hereof. In the event of a default by any Underwriter or Underwriters, as set forth in this Article V, the Closing Date may be postponed for such period, not exceeding seven days, as the Representatives, or if a Representative is the defaulting Underwriter, the non-defaulting Underwriters, may determine in order that the required changes in the Prospectus or in any other documents or arrangements may be effected. The term “Underwriter” includes any person substituted for a defaulting Underwriter. Any action taken under this Section shall not relieve any defaulting Underwriter from liability in respect of any default of such Underwriter under this Agreement.

ARTICLE VI.

INDEMNIFICATION

6.1 Indemnification of the Underwriters. The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, its affiliates, the directors, officers, employees and agents of such Underwriter and each person, if any, who controls such Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act from and against any and all losses, claims, liabilities, expenses and damages (including any and all investigative, legal and other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with, and any amount paid in settlement of, any action, suit or proceeding between any of the indemnified parties and any indemnifying parties or between any indemnified party and any third party, or otherwise, or any claim asserted), to which they, or any of them, may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or other federal or state statutory law or regulation, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, liabilities, expenses or damages arise out of or are based on (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto),


including the information deemed to be a part of the Registration Statement at the time of effectiveness and at any subsequent time pursuant to Rules 430A and 430B of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, as applicable, or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or (ii) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any preliminary prospectus, any preliminary prospectus supplement, any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing) or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading or (iii) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any materials or information provided to investors by, or with the approval of, the Company in connection with the marketing of the offering of the Securities, including any roadshow or investor presentations made to investors by the Company (whether in person or electronically) (collectively, Marketing Materials”) or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, that the Company shall not be liable to the extent that such loss, claim, liability, expense or damage is based on any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance on and in conformity with Underwriters’ Information. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability that the Company might otherwise have. For all purposes of this Agreement, the information set forth in the Prospectus in the “Price Stabilization, Short Positions and Penalty Bids” and “Electronic Distribution” sections under the caption “Underwriting” constitutes the only information (the “Underwriters’ Information”) relating to the Underwriters furnished in writing to the Company by the Underwriters through the Representatives specifically for inclusion in the preliminary prospectus, the Registration Statement or the Prospectus. With respect to any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in the General Disclosure Package, the indemnity agreements contained in this Section 6.1 shall not inure to the benefit of any Underwriter Indemnified Party to the extent that any loss, liability, claim, damage or expense of such Underwriter Indemnified Party results from the fact that a copy of the Prospectus was not given or sent to the person asserting any such loss, liability, claim, damage at or prior to written confirmation of sale of the Firm Securities to such person as required by the Securities Act, and if the untrue statement or omission had been corrected in the Prospectus, unless the failure to deliver the Prospectus was a result of non-compliance by the Company with its obligations under Section 4.3 hereof.

6.2 Indemnification of the Company. Each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its affiliates, the directors, officers, employees and agents of the Company and each other person or entity, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, against any losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses whatsoever, as incurred (including but not limited to reasonable attorneys’ fees and any and all reasonable expenses whatsoever, incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever, and any and all amounts paid in settlement of any claim or litigation), joint or several, to which they or any of them may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement at the time of effectiveness and at any subsequent time pursuant to Rules 430A and 430B of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations thereunder , any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement to any of them, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that any such loss, liability, claim, damage or expense (or action in respect thereof) arises out of or is based upon any such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made therein in reliance upon the Underwriters’ Information; provided, however, that in no case shall any Underwriter be liable or responsible for any amount in excess of the underwriting discount and commissions applicable to the Firm Securities purchased by such Underwriter hereunder.

6.3 Indemnification Procedures. Any party that proposes to assert the right to be indemnified under this Section 6 shall, promptly after receipt of notice of commencement of any action against such party in respect of which a claim is to be made against an indemnifying party or parties under this Section 6, notify each such indemnifying party of the commencement of such action, enclosing a copy of all papers served, but the omission so to notify such indemnifying party shall not relieve the indemnifying party from any liability that it may have to any indemnified party under the foregoing provisions of this Section 6 unless, and only to the extent that, such omission results in the forfeiture of substantive rights or defenses by the indemnifying party. If any such action is brought against any indemnified party and it notifies the indemnifying party of its commencement, the indemnifying party will be entitled


to participate in and, to the extent that it elects by delivering written notice to the indemnified party promptly after receiving notice of the commencement of the action from the indemnified party, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense of the action, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party, and after notice from the indemnifying party to the indemnified party of its election to assume the defense, the indemnifying party will not be liable to the indemnified party for any legal or other expenses except as provided below and except for the reasonable out-of-pocket costs of investigation subsequently incurred by the indemnified party in connection with the defense. The indemnified party will have the right to employ its own counsel in any such action, but the fees, expenses and other charges of such counsel will be at the expense of such indemnified party unless (i) the employment of counsel by the indemnified party has been authorized in writing by one of the indemnifying parties in connection with the defense of such action, (ii) the indemnified party has reasonably concluded (based on advice of counsel) that there may be legal defenses available to it or other indemnified parties that are different from or in addition to those available to the indemnifying party, (iii) the indemnified party has reasonably concluded that a conflict or potential conflict exists (based on advice of counsel to the indemnified party) between the indemnified party and the indemnifying party (in which case the indemnifying party shall not have the right to direct the defense of such action on behalf of the indemnified party), (iv) the indemnifying party does not diligently defend the action after assumption of the defense, or (v) the indemnifying party has not in fact employed counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party to assume the defense of such action within a reasonable time after receiving notice of the commencement of the action, in each of which cases the reasonable fees, disbursements and other charges of counsel shall be at the expense of the indemnifying party or parties. It is understood that the indemnifying party or parties shall not, in connection with any proceeding or related proceedings in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the reasonable fees, disbursements and other charges of more than one separate firm admitted to practice in such jurisdiction at any one time for all such indemnified party or parties. All such fees, disbursements and other charges shall be reimbursed by the indemnifying party promptly as they are incurred. An indemnifying party shall not be liable for any settlement of any action or claim effected without its written consent (which consent will not be unreasonably withheld or delayed). No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of each indemnified party, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment in any pending or threatened claim, action or proceeding relating to the matters contemplated by this Section 6 (whether or not any indemnified party is a party thereto), unless (x) such settlement, compromise or consent (i) includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising or that may arise out of such claim, action or proceeding and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party, and (y) the indemnifying party confirms in writing its indemnification obligations hereunder with respect to such settlement, compromise or judgment. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if at any time an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel, such indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of the nature contemplated by Section 6(a) effected without its written consent if (A) such settlement is entered into more than 45 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request, (B) such indemnifying party shall have received notice of the terms of such settlement at least 30 days prior to such settlement being entered into and (iii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed such indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement.

6.4 Contribution. In order to provide for just and equitable contribution in circumstances in which the indemnification provided for in the foregoing paragraphs of this Section 6 is applicable in accordance with its terms but for any reason is held to be unavailable, the Company and the Underwriters shall contribute to the total losses, claims, liabilities, expenses and damages (including any investigative, legal and other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with, and any amount paid in settlement of, any action, suit or proceeding or any claim asserted, but after deducting any contribution received by the Company from persons other than the Underwriters, such as persons who control the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act, officers of the Company who signed the Registration Statement and directors of the Company, who may also be liable for contribution), to which the Company and the Underwriter may be subject in such proportion as shall be appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other from the offering of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement. The relative benefits received by the Company and the Underwriters shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as (x) the total proceeds from the Offering (net of underwriting discount and commissions but before deducting expenses) received by the Company bears to (y) the underwriting discount and commissions received by the Underwriters, in each case as set forth in the table on the cover page of the Prospectus. If, but only if, the allocation provided by the foregoing sentence is not permitted by applicable law, the allocation of contribution shall be made in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in the foregoing sentence but also the relative fault of the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other, with respect to the statements


or omissions which resulted in such loss, claim, liability, expense or damage, or action in respect thereof, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations with respect to such offering. Such relative fault shall be determined by reference to whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company or the Underwriters, the intent of the parties and their relative knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contributions pursuant to this Section 6.4 were to be determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) which does not take into account the equitable considerations referred to herein. The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the loss, claim, liability, expense or damage, or action in respect thereof, referred to above in this Section 6.4 shall be deemed to include, for purpose of this Section 6.4, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 6.4, no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the underwriting discounts and commissions received by it. No person found guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. For purposes of this Section 6.4, any person who controls a party to this Agreement within the meaning of the Securities Act will have the same rights to contribution as that party, and each officer of the Company who signed the Registration Statement will have the same rights to contribution as the Company, and each director, officer, employee, counsel or agent of an Underwriter will have the same rights to contribution as such Underwriter, subject in each case to the provisions hereof. Any party entitled to contribution, promptly after receipt of notice of commencement of any action against such party in respect of which a claim for contribution may be made under this Section 6.4, will notify any such party or parties from whom contribution may be sought, but the omission so to notify will not relieve the party or parties from whom contribution may be sought from any other obligation it or they may have under this Section 6.4. The obligations of the Underwriters to contribute pursuant to this Section 6.4 are several in proportion to the respective number of Securities to be purchased by each of the Underwriters hereunder and not joint. No party will be liable for contribution with respect to any action or claim settled without its written consent (which consent will not be unreasonably withheld).

6.5 Survival. The indemnity and contribution agreements contained in this Section 6 and the representations and warranties of the Company contained in this Agreement shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of (i) any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or any controlling Person thereof, (ii) acceptance of any of the Securities and payment therefor or (iii) any termination of this Agreement.

ARTICLE VII.

MISCELLANEOUS

7.1 Termination.

(a) Termination Right. The Representatives shall have the right to terminate this Agreement at any time prior to any Closing Date, (i) if any domestic or international event or act or occurrence has materially disrupted, or in their opinion will in the immediate future materially disrupt, general securities markets in the United States; or (ii) if trading on any Trading Market shall have been suspended or materially limited, or minimum or maximum prices for trading shall have been fixed, or maximum ranges for prices for securities shall have been required by FINRA or by order of the Commission or any other government authority having jurisdiction, or (iii) if the United States shall have become involved in a new war or an increase in major hostilities, which will, in the Representatives’ opinion, make it inadvisable to proceed with the delivery of the Securities or (iv) if a banking moratorium has been declared by a New York State or federal authority, or (v) if a moratorium on foreign exchange trading has been declared which materially adversely impacts the United States securities markets, or (vi) if the Company shall have sustained a material loss by fire, flood, accident, hurricane, earthquake, theft, sabotage or other calamity or malicious act which, whether or not such loss shall have been insured, will, in the Representatives’ opinion, make it inadvisable to proceed with the delivery of the Securities, or (vii) if the Company is in material breach of any of its representations, warranties or covenants hereunder, or (viii) if the Representatives shall have become aware after the date hereof of such a material adverse change in the conditions or prospects of the Company, or such adverse material change in general market conditions as in the Representatives’ judgment would make it impracticable to proceed with the offering, sale and/or delivery of the Securities or to enforce contracts made by the Underwriters for the sale of the Securities.


(b) Expenses. In the event this Agreement shall be terminated pursuant to Section 7.1(a), within the time specified herein or any extensions thereof pursuant to the terms herein, the Company shall be obligated to pay to the Representatives their actual and accountable out-of-pocket expenses related to the transactions contemplated herein then due and payable up to $125,000 (provided, however, that such expense cap in no way limits or impairs the indemnification and contribution provisions of this Agreement).

(c) Indemnification. Notwithstanding any contrary provision contained in this Agreement, any election hereunder or any termination of this Agreement, and whether or not this Agreement is otherwise carried out, the provisions of Article VI shall not be in any way effected by such election or termination or failure to carry out the terms of this Agreement or any part hereof.

7.2 Entire Agreement. The Transaction Documents, together with the exhibits and schedules thereto, any Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, contain the entire understanding of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof and supersede all prior agreements and understandings, oral or written, with respect to such matters, which the parties acknowledge have been merged into such documents, exhibits and schedules.

7.3 Notices. Any and all notices or other communications or deliveries required or permitted to be provided hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed given and effective on the earliest of: (a) the date of transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via facsimile at the facsimile number or e-mail attachment at the email address set forth on the signature pages attached hereto at or prior to 5:30 p.m. (New York City time) on a Trading Day, (b) the next Trading Day after the date of transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via facsimile at the facsimile number or e-mail attachment at the e-mail address as set forth on the signature pages attached hereto on a day that is not a Trading Day or later than 5:30 p.m. (New York City time) on any Trading Day, (c) the second (2nd ) Trading Day following the date of mailing, if sent by U.S. nationally recognized overnight courier service or (d) upon actual receipt by the party to whom such notice is required to be given. The address for such notices and communications shall be as set forth on the signature pages attached hereto.

7.4 Amendments; Waivers. No provision of this Agreement may be waived, modified, supplemented or amended except in a written instrument signed, in the case of an amendment, by the Company and the Representatives. No waiver of any default with respect to any provision, condition or requirement of this Agreement shall be deemed to be a continuing waiver in the future or a waiver of any subsequent default or a waiver of any other provision, condition or requirement hereof, nor shall any delay or omission of any party to exercise any right hereunder in any manner impair the exercise of any such right.

7.5 Headings. The headings herein are for convenience only, do not constitute a part of this Agreement and shall not be deemed to limit or affect any of the provisions hereof.

7.6 Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties and their successors and permitted assigns.

7.7 Governing Law. All questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation of the Transaction Documents shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York, without regard to the principles of conflicts of law thereof. Each party agrees that all legal proceedings concerning the interpretations, enforcement and defense of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and any other Transaction Documents (whether brought against a party hereto or its respective affiliates, directors, officers, shareholders, partners, members, employees or agents) shall be commenced exclusively in the state and federal courts sitting in the City of New York. Each party hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts sitting in the City of New York, Borough of Manhattan for the adjudication of any dispute hereunder or in connection herewith or with any transaction contemplated hereby or discussed herein (including with respect to the enforcement of any of the Transaction Documents), and hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert in any action, suit or proceeding, any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of any such court, that such suit, action or proceeding is improper or is an inconvenient venue for such proceeding. Each party hereby irrevocably waives personal service of process and consents to process being served in any such suit,


action or proceeding by mailing a copy thereof via registered or certified mail or overnight delivery (with evidence of delivery) to such party at the address in effect for notices to it under this Agreement and agrees that such service shall constitute good and sufficient service of process and notice thereof. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit in any way any right to serve process in any other manner permitted by law. If either party shall commence an action or proceeding to enforce any provisions of the Transaction Documents, then, in addition to the obligations of the Company under Article VI, the prevailing party in such action, suit or proceeding shall be reimbursed by the other party for its reasonable attorneys’ fees and other costs and expenses incurred with the investigation, preparation and prosecution of such action or proceeding.

7.8 Survival. The representations and warranties contained herein shall survive the Closing Date and the delivery of the Securities.

7.9 Execution. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, all of which when taken together shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when counterparts have been signed by each party and delivered to each other party, it being understood that the parties need not sign the same counterpart. In the event that any signature is delivered by facsimile transmission or by e-mail delivery of a “.pdf” format data file, such signature shall create a valid and binding obligation of the party executing (or on whose behalf such signature is executed) with the same force and effect as if such facsimile or “.pdf” signature page were an original thereof.

7.10 Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions set forth herein shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated, and the parties hereto shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to find and employ an alternative means to achieve the same or substantially the same result as that contemplated by such term, provision, covenant or restriction. It is hereby stipulated and declared to be the intention of the parties that they would have executed the remaining terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions without including any of such that may be hereafter declared invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable.

7.11 Remedies. In addition to being entitled to exercise all rights provided herein or granted by law, including recovery of damages, the Underwriters and the Company will be entitled to specific performance under the Transaction Documents. The parties agree that monetary damages may not be adequate compensation for any loss incurred by reason of any breach of obligations contained in the Transaction Documents and hereby agree to waive and not to assert in any action for specific performance of any such obligation the defense that a remedy at law would be adequate.

7.12 Saturdays, Sundays, Holidays, etc. If the last or appointed day for the taking of any action or the expiration of any right required or granted herein shall not be a Business Day, then such action may be taken or such right may be exercised on the next succeeding Business Day.

7.13 Construction. The parties agree that each of them and/or their respective counsel have reviewed and had an opportunity to revise the Transaction Documents and, therefore, the normal rule of construction to the effect that any ambiguities are to be resolved against the drafting party shall not be employed in the interpretation of the Transaction Documents or any amendments thereto. In addition, each and every reference to share prices and shares of Series J Preferred Stock in any Transaction Document shall be subject to adjustment for reverse and forward stock splits, stock dividends, stock combinations and other similar transactions of the Series J Preferred Stock that occur after the date of this Agreement.

7.14 WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. IN ANY ACTION, SUIT, OR PROCEEDING IN ANY JURISDICTION BROUGHT BY ANY PARTY AGAINST ANY OTHER PARTY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY, THE PARTIES EACH KNOWINGLY AND INTENTIONALLY, TO THE GREATEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, HEREBY ABSOLUTELY, UNCONDITIONALLY, IRREVOCABLY AND EXPRESSLY WAIVE FOREVER ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY.

(Signature Pages Follow)


If the foregoing correctly sets forth the understanding between the Underwriters and the Company, please so indicate in the space provided below for that purpose, whereupon this letter shall constitute a binding agreement among the Company and the several Underwriters in accordance with its terms.

Very truly yours,

 

BIOLASE, INC.
By:  

 

  Name: John R. Beaver
  Title: President and Chief Executive Officer
Address for Notice:
27042 Towne Centre Drive, Suite 270
Lake Forest, California 92610
Email: jbeaver@biolase.com
Attention: Chief Executive Officer
Copy to:

Blank Rome LLP

1271 Avenue of the Americas

New York, NY 10020
Email: leslie.marlow@blankrome.com
Attention: Leslie Marlow
Accepted by the Representatives, acting for themselves and as Representatives of the Underwriters named on Schedule I hereto, as of the date first above written:
LAKE STREET CAPITAL MARKETS, LLC
By:  

 

  Name: Michael Townley
  Title: Head of Investment Banking
Address for Notice:
920 Second Ave. South, Suite 700
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402
Email: mike.townley@lakestreetcm.com
Attention: Michael Townley
MAXIM GROUP LLC
By:  

 

  Name: Clifford A. Teller
 

Title: Executive Managing Director,

Investment Banking

Address for Notice:
405 Lexington Avenue
New York, New York 100174
Email:
Attention: Clifford A. Teller
Copy to:

Sullivan & Worcester LLP

1633 Broadway

New York, New York 10019
Email: ddanovitch@sullivanlaw.com, aschleicher@sullivanlaw.com
Attention: David E. Danovitch, Aaron M. Schleicher


SCHEDULE I

SCHEDULE OF UNDERWRITERS

 

Underwriters

   Firm Unit
Purchase
Price to
Underwriters
     Total Amount of
Underwriting
Discount
     Total Number of
Firm Preferred
Shares to be
Purchased
     Total Number of
Firm Preferred
Warrants to be
Purchased
 

Lake Street Capital Markets, LLC

   $ [●]      $ [●]        [●]        [●]  

Maxim Group LLC

   $ [●]      $ [●]        [●]        [●]  

TOTAL

   $ []      $ []        []        []  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

The price of each Firm Unit to the public is $[●].

The Conversion Price of each share of Series J Preferred Stock is $[●].

The Exercise Price of each Preferred Warrant is $[●] per whole share.


SCHEDULE II

List of Lock-Up Parties1

Individuals

 

   

John R. Beaver

 

   

Jennifer Bright

 

   

Steven Sandor

 

   

Jonathan T. Lord, M.D.

 

   

Kathleen T. O’Loughlin, D.D.S.

 

   

Jess Roper

 

   

Martha Somerman, D.D.S.

 

   

Carol Gomez Summerhays, D.D.S.

 

   

Kenneth Yale, D.D.S., J.D.

 

1 

NTD: Company/Company Counsel to confirm.


Exhibit A

Form of Lock-Up Agreement

Date:                     

Lake Street Capital Markets, LLC

920 Second Avenue South, Suite 700

Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402

Ladies and Gentlemen:

As an inducement to Lake Street Capital Markets, LLC and Maxim Group LLC to execute an underwriting agreement (the Underwriting Agreement) as representatives (the Representatives) of the several underwriters named therein, for a public offering (the Offering) of certain securities (the Securities) of Biolase, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and any successor (by merger or otherwise) thereto (the Company), the undersigned hereby agrees that without, in each case, the prior written consent of the Representatives (which consent may be withheld in their sole discretion) during the period specified in the second succeeding paragraph (the Lock-Up Period), the undersigned will not without the prior consent of the Representatives:

 

  (1)

offer, pledge, announce the intention to sell, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, make any short sale or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the Common Stock), any shares of the Company’s preferred stock of the Company, par value $0.001 per share (the Preferred Stock), or any securities convertible into, exercisable or exchangeable for or that represent the right to receive Common Stock or Preferred Stock, as applicable (including without limitation, Common Stock which may be deemed to be beneficially owned by the undersigned in accordance with the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) and securities which may be issued upon exercise of a stock option or warrant) whether now owned or hereafter acquired (the Undersigneds Securities);

 

  (2)

enter into any swap or other agreement that transfers, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the Undersigned’s Securities,

whether any such transaction described in clause (1) or (2) above is to be settled by delivery of Common Stock, Preferred Stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise;

 

  (3)

make any demand for or exercise any right with respect to, the registration of any Common Stock, Preferred Stock or any security convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock or Preferred Stock; or

 

  (4)

publicly announce or disclose the intention to do any of the foregoing.

The undersigned agrees that the foregoing restrictions preclude the undersigned from engaging in any hedging or other transaction which is designed to or which reasonably could be expected to lead to or result in a sale or disposition of the Undersigned’s Securities even if such securities would be disposed of by someone other than the undersigned. Such prohibited hedging or other transactions would include without limitation any short sale or any purchase, sale or grant of any right (including without limitation any put or call option) with respect to any of the Undersigned’s Securities or with respect to any security that includes, relates to, or derives any significant part of its value from, such securities.

The Lock-Up Period will commence on the date of this Lock-Up Agreement and continue and include the date that is ninety (90) days after the date of the final prospectus used to sell the Securities in the Offering pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the undersigned may transfer the Undersigned’s Securities:


  (i)

as a bona fide gift or gifts;

 

  (ii)

to any trust for the direct or indirect benefit of the undersigned or the immediate family of the undersigned;

 

  (iii)

by operation of law, such as pursuant to a qualified domestic order or in connection with a divorce settlement;

 

  (iv)

if the undersigned is a corporation, partnership, limited liability company, trust or other business entity (x) to another corporation, partnership, limited liability company, trust or other business entity that is a direct or indirect affiliate (as defined in Rule 405 promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended) of the undersigned or (y) as distributions of shares of Common Stock, Preferred Stock or any security convertible into or exercisable for Common Stock or Preferred Stock, as applicable, to limited partners, limited liability company members, trust beneficiaries or stockholders of the undersigned;

 

  (v)

if the undersigned is a trust, to the beneficiary of such trust;

 

  (vi)

by testate succession or intestate succession;

 

  (vii)

to the Company pursuant to any contractual arrangement that provides for the repurchase of the undersigned’s shares of Common Stock, Preferred Stock or such other securities by the Company or in connection with the termination of the undersigned’s employment or other service relationship with the Company;

 

  (viii)

to the Company as forfeitures to satisfy tax withholding obligations of the undersigned in connection with the vesting or exercise of equity awards currently outstanding pursuant to the Company’s equity incentive plans or outstanding warrants or pursuant to the exercise, including by “net” exercise, of any options to acquire shares of Common Stock or the conversion of any convertible security into Common Stock described in the prospectus relating to the Offering or issued pursuant to an equity plan described in the Prospectus, it being understood that any such shares of Common Stock received by the undersigned upon such exercise or conversion shall be subject to the restrictions set forth in this Lock-Up Agreement;

provided, in the case of clauses (i) through (vi), that (a) such transfer shall not involve a disposition for value, (b) the transferee agrees in writing with the Representatives to be bound by the terms of this Lock-Up Agreement and (c) no filing by any party under Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act), shall be required or shall be made voluntarily in connection with such transfer (other than a Form 4 or Form 5 required to be filed under the Exchange Act if the undersigned is subject to Section 16 reporting with respect to the Company under the Exchange Act, provided, however, that if such Form 4 or Form 5 is filed during the Lock-Up Period, such Form 4 or Form 5 shall indicate by footnote disclosure or otherwise that such Form 4 or Form 5 relates to a repurchase of Common Stock or Preferred Stock by the Company in connection with the termination of the undersigned’s employment with the Company or a forfeiture to satisfy tax withholding obligations, as applicable, and that any shares of Common Stock, Preferred Stock and other securities subject to the Lock-Up Agreement that continue to be held by the undersigned remain subject to the terms of the Lock-Up Agreement.

For purposes of this Lock-Up Agreement, “immediate family” shall mean any relationship by blood, marriage, domestic partnership or adoption, not more remote than first cousin.

In addition, the foregoing restrictions shall not apply to:

 

  A.

the exercise, conversion or exchange (including by means of a cashless exercise) of stock options granted pursuant to the Company’s equity incentive plans or any warrants, rights or other convertible securities outstanding on the date hereof; provided that such restrictions shall apply to any of the Undersigned’s Securities issued upon such exercise, conversion or exchange;

 

  B.

the establishment of any contract, instruction or plan (a Plan) that satisfies all of the requirements of Rule 10b5-1(c)(1)(i)(B) under the Exchange Act; provided that no sales of the Undersigned’s Securities shall be made pursuant to such a Plan prior to the expiration of the Lock-Up Period, and such a Plan may only be established if no public announcement of the establishment or existence thereof and no filing with the SEC or other regulatory authority in respect thereof or transactions


  thereunder or contemplated thereby, by the undersigned, the Company or any other person, shall be required, and no such announcement or filing is made voluntarily, by the undersigned, the Company or any other person, prior to the expiration of the Lock-Up Period;

 

  C.

transfers of Common Stock pursuant to a Plan that satisfies all of the requirements of Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act and that is in effect as of the date of the Underwriting Agreement (and any related filings in connection with such sale or disposition that are required under the Exchange Act; provided that any such filings shall indicate by footnote disclosure or otherwise (1) that such sale or disposition was made in connection with a Plan and (2) the date such Plan was entered into);

 

  D.

transactions related to shares of Common Stock, Preferred Stock or other securities acquired in open market transactions after the completion of the Offering or to shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock acquired in the Offering; provided that no filing under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act shall be required or shall be voluntarily made during the Lock-Up Period in connection with subsequent sales of Common Stock, Preferred Stock or other securities acquired in such open market transactions; or

 

  E.

transfers of shares of Common Stock, Preferred Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock or Preferred Stock, as applicable, pursuant to any bona fide third party tender offer, merger, consolidation or other similar transaction made to all holders of the Company’s capital stock involving a change of control of the Company which is approved by the Company’s Board of Directors (including, without limitation, the entering into any lock-up, voting or similar agreement pursuant to which the undersigned may agree to transfer, sell, tender or otherwise dispose of Common Stock, Preferred Stock or other such securities in connection with such transaction, or vote any Common Stock, Preferred Stock or other such securities in favor of any such transaction); provided, that in the event such tender offer, merger, consolidation or other such transaction is not completed, the Undersigned’s Securities shall remain subject to the terms of this Lock-Up Agreement.

In furtherance of the foregoing, the Company and its transfer agent and registrar are hereby authorized to decline to make any transfer of shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock, as applicable, if such transfer would constitute a violation or breach of this Lock-Up Agreement.

The undersigned hereby represents and warrants that the undersigned has full power and authority to enter into this Lock-Up Agreement and that upon request, the undersigned will execute any additional documents necessary to ensure the validity or enforcement of this Lock-Up Agreement. All authority herein conferred or agreed to be conferred and any obligations of the undersigned shall be binding upon the successors, assigns, heirs or personal representatives of the undersigned.

The undersigned understands that the undersigned shall be released from all obligations under this Lock-Up Agreement if (a) the Company notifies the Representatives that it does not intend to proceed with the Offering, (b) the Underwriting Agreement does not become effective, or if the Underwriting Agreement (other than the provisions thereof which survive termination) shall terminate or be terminated prior to payment for and delivery of the Securities to be sold thereunder or (c) the Offering is not completed by September 30, 2023.

The undersigned understands that the Representatives are entering into the Underwriting Agreement and proceeding with the Offering in reliance upon this Lock-Up Agreement and entered into this Lock-Up Agreement in order to induce you to participate in the Offering and for other good and valuation consideration.

This Lock-Up Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York, without regard to conflict of law principles thereof. The undersigned irrevocably (i) submits to the jurisdiction of the state courts located in the State of New York, for the purpose of any suit, action, or other proceeding arising out of this Lock-Up Agreement (each a “Proceeding”), (ii) agrees that all claims in respect of any Proceeding may be heard and determined in any such court, (iii) waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any immunity from jurisdiction of any such court or from any legal process therein, (iv) agrees not to commence any Proceeding other than in such courts, and (v) waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claim that such Proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum.

[Signature page follows.]


Very truly yours,

 

Printed Name of Holder

 

Signature

 

Printed Name and Title of Person Signing

(if signing as custodian, trustee, or on behalf of an entity)


Exhibit B

Form of Preferred Warrant


Exhibit C

Form of Warrant Agency Agreement

Exhibit 3.1.13

CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION OF PREFERENCES,

RIGHTS AND LIMITATIONS

OF

SERIES J CONVERTIBLE REDEEMABLE PREFERRED STOCK

PURSUANT TO SECTION 151 OF THE

DELAWARE GENERAL CORPORATION LAW

The undersigned, John R. Beaver, does hereby certify that:

 

        1.      He is the Chief Executive Officer of BIOLASE, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Corporation”).
        2.      The Corporation is authorized to issue 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share, of which no shares are issued and outstanding.
        3.      The following resolutions were duly adopted by the board of directors of the Corporation (the “Board of Directors”):

WHEREAS, the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation (the “Certificate of Incorporation”), provides for a class of its authorized stock known as preferred stock, consisting of 1,000,000 shares, $0.001 par value per share, issuable from time to time in one or more series;

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors is authorized by resolution to provide for the issuance of preferred stock in one or more series, and to establish from time to time the number of shares to be included in each such series, and to fix the designation, powers, preferences and rights of the shares of each such series and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof; and

WHEREAS, it is the desire of the Board of Directors, pursuant to its authority as described above, to fix the rights, preferences, restrictions and other matters relating to a series of the preferred stock, which shall consist of [        ] shares of the preferred stock which the Corporation has the authority to issue.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Directors does hereby provide for the issuance of a series of preferred stock to be designated “Series J Convertible Redeemable Preferred Stock” and does hereby fix and determine the designation, powers, preferences and rights of the shares of each such series and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof as follows:

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

Affiliate” means any Person that, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls or is controlled by or is under common control with a Person, as such terms are used in and construed under Rule 405 of the Securities Act.

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

Attribution Parties” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(d).

Beneficial Ownership Limitation” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(d).

 

1


Business Day” means any day except any Saturday, any Sunday, any day which is a federal legal holiday in the United States or any day on which banking institutions in the State of New York are authorized or required by law or other governmental action to close.

Buy-In” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(c)(iv).

Certificate of Designation” means this Certificate of Designation of Preferences, Rights and Limitations of Series J Preferred Stock.

Commission” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

Common Stock” means the Corporation’s common stock, $0.001 par value per share, and stock of any other class or series of securities into which such securities may hereafter be reclassified as or converted or otherwise changed into shares of the Corporation’s common stock, $0.001 par value per share.

Common Stock Equivalents” means any securities of the Corporation or the Subsidiaries which 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 Amount” means the sum of the Stated Value at issue and all accrued and unpaid dividends at issue.

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

Conversion Price” 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 J Preferred Stock in accordance with the terms hereof.

Convertible Securities” means any stock or other security (other than Options) that is at any time and under any circumstances, directly or indirectly, convertible into, exercisable or exchangeable for, or which otherwise entitles the holder thereof to acquire, any Common Stock.

Corporation’s Mandatory Redemption Price” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9(a).

Distribution” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(c).

Dividends” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(a).

Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

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

Holder” shall have the meaning given such term in Section 2.

Liquidation” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.

Mandatory Redemption” shall have the meaning given such term in Section 9(a).

 

2


Mandatory Redemption Date” shall have the meaning given such term in Section 9(a).

Mandatory Redemption Share Amount” shall have the meaning given such term in Section 9(a).

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

Options” means any rights, warrants or options to subscribe for or purchase Common Stock or Convertible Securities.

Original Issue Date” means the initial closing date of the offering of Series J Preferred Stock to be issued and sold to the underwriters pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, the issuance of additional shares of Series J Preferred Stock pursuant to the Corporation’s obligation to issue the Dividend, the issuance of additional shares of Series J Preferred Stock upon exercise of the Warrants, or otherwise, shall not create a new Original Issue Date with respect to such additional shares of Series J Preferred Stock issued.

Person” means an individual or corporation, partnership, trust, incorporated or unincorporated association, joint venture, limited liability company, joint stock company, government (or an agency or subdivision thereof) or other entity of any kind.

Purchase Price” means the purchase price of $[            ] for each share of Series J Preferred Stock.

Purchase Rights” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(b).

Quarterly Dividend Rate” means five percent (5.00%).

Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

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

Share Delivery Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(c)(i).

Standard Settlement Period” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(c)(i).

Stated Value” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.

Subsidiary” means any subsidiary of the Corporation.

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

Term” shall mean one (1) year from the Original Issue Date (meaning the Term shall end on [            ], 2024) unless all the securities are either redeemed or converted into Conversion Shares in accordance with the provisions hereof.

Trading Day” means, as applicable, (x) with respect to all price or trading volume determinations relating to the Common Stock, any day on which the Common Stock is traded on the Trading Market, or, if the Trading Market is not the principal trading market for the Common Stock, then on the principal securities exchange or securities market on which the Common Stock is then traded, provided that “Trading Day” shall not include any day on which the Common Stock is scheduled to trade on such exchange or market for less than 4.5 hours or any day that the Common Stock is suspended from trading during the final

 

3


hour of trading on such exchange or market (or if such exchange or market does not designate in advance the closing time of trading on such exchange or market, then during the hour ending at 4:00:00 p.m., New York time) unless such day is otherwise designated as a Trading Day in writing by the Holder or (y) with respect to all determinations other than price determinations relating to the Common Stock, any day on which the New York Stock Exchange (or any successor thereto) is open for trading of securities.

Trading Market” means any of the following markets or exchanges on which the Common Stock is listed or quoted for trading on the date in question: the NYSE American, the Nasdaq Capital Market, the Nasdaq Global Market, the Nasdaq Global Select Market, or the New York Stock Exchange (or any successors to any of the foregoing).

Transfer Agent” means Computershare Trust Company, N.A., and any successor transfer agent of the Corporation.

Underwriting Agreement” means the underwriting agreement, dated as of [•], 2023, by and between the Corporation, Lake Street Capital Markets, LLC and Maxim Group, LLC, as representatives of the underwriters named therein, as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time in accordance with its terms.

Warrants” shall mean the one-year warrants issued pursuant to the Corporation’s registration statement filed with the Commission on Form S-1, as amended (File No. 333-273372), or any successor or replacement therefor.

Section 2. Designation, Amount and Par Value. The series of preferred stock shall be designated as “Series J Convertible Redeemable Preferred Stock” (the “Series J Preferred Stock”) and the number of shares of such series shall be [___] (which shall not be subject to increase without the written consent of the holders of a majority of the then outstanding shares of the Series J Preferred Stock (each, a “Holder” and collectively, the “Holders”)). Each share of Series J Preferred Stock shall have a par value of $0.001 per share and a stated value equal to $50.00 (as adjusted for any stock splits, stock dividends, recapitalizations, or similar transaction with respect to the Series J Preferred Stock, the “Stated Value”).

Section 3. Dividends. Dividends on each share of Series J Preferred Stock shall be payable only out of funds legally available therefor and only if there is adequate surplus under Section 170 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, to holders of record at the close of business on October 31, 2023, January 31, 2024, April 30, 2024 and July 31, 2024 (each, a “Dividend Record Date”). Dividends on each share of Series J Preferred Stock shall be paid on the date that is three (3) Business Days after the applicable Dividend Record Date in additional fully paid and nonassessable, registered shares of Series J Preferred Stock in a number equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (A) the product obtained by multiplying (i) the Quarterly Dividend Rate and (ii) the Stated Value, by (B) the Purchase Price.

Section 4. Voting Rights.

(a) Except as otherwise provided herein or as otherwise required by the Delaware General Corporation Law, the Series J Preferred Stock shall have no voting rights. However, as long as any shares of Series J Preferred Stock are outstanding, the Corporation shall not, without the affirmative vote of the Holders of a majority of the then outstanding shares of the Series J Preferred Stock, (b) alter or change adversely the powers, preferences or rights given to the Series J Preferred Stock or alter or amend this Certificate of Designation, (c) increase the number of authorized shares of Series J Preferred Stock, or (d) enter into any agreement with respect to any of the foregoing. For all matters on which the Series J Preferred Stock may vote, each share of Series J Preferred Stock will be entitled to one vote per share.

 

4


Section 5. Liquidation. Upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary (a “Liquidation”), prior and in preference to the Common Stock, the Holders shall be entitled to receive out of the assets available for distribution to stockholders an amount equal in cash to 100% of the aggregate Stated Value of all shares of Series J Preferred Stock held by such Holder, plus any other fees then due and owing thereon under this Certificate of Designation, and no more, and if the assets of the Corporation shall be insufficient to pay in full such amounts, then the entire assets to be distributed to the Holders shall be ratably distributed among the Holders in accordance with the respective amounts that would be payable on such shares if all amounts payable thereon were paid in full. The preference set forth in this Section 5 with respect to distributions to the Series J Preferred Stock upon a Liquidation shall apply mutatis mutandis to any distributions to be made upon the consummation of a Fundamental Transaction. The Corporation shall mail written notice of any such Liquidation or Fundamental Transaction not less than 45 days prior to the payment date stated therein, to each Holder. To the extent necessary, the Corporation shall cause such actions to be taken by each of its Subsidiaries so as to enable, to the maximum extent permitted by law, the proceeds of a Liquidation to be distributed to the Holders in accordance with this Section 5. All the preferential amounts to be paid to the Holders under this Section 5 shall be paid or set apart for payment before the payment or setting apart for payment of any amount for, or the distribution of any Liquidation funds of the Corporation to the holders of shares of the Common Stock in connection with a Liquidation as to which this Section 5 applies.

Section 6. Conversion.

(a) Conversions at Option of Holder. Subject to Section 6(d), each share of Series J Preferred Stock shall be convertible after its issuance, at any time and from time to time from and after the Original Issue Date, at the option of the Holder thereof, into that number of shares of Common Stock determined by dividing the Stated Value of such share of Series J Preferred Stock by the Conversion Price. Holders shall effect conversions by delivering to the Corporation a conversion notice in the form attached hereto as Annex A (a “Notice of Conversion”). Each Notice of Conversion shall specify the number of shares of Series J Preferred Stock to be converted, the number of shares of Series J Preferred Stock owned prior to the conversion at issue, the number of shares of Series J Preferred Stock owned subsequent to the conversion at issue and the date on which such conversion is to be effected, which date may not be prior to the date the applicable Holder delivers such Notice of Conversion to the Corporation (such date, the “Conversion Date”). If no Conversion Date is specified in a Notice of Conversion, the Conversion Date shall be as of the close of business on the Business Day that such Notice of Conversion is delivered to the Corporation, or if such day is not a Business Day or if the Notice of Conversion is delivered after regular business hours, the next Business Day. No ink-original Notice of Conversion shall be required, nor shall any medallion guarantee (or other type of guarantee or notarization) of any Notice of Conversion form be required. The calculations and entries set forth in the Notice of Conversion shall control in the absence of manifest or mathematical error. From and after the Conversion Date, until presented for transfer or exchange, certificates (if in certificated form) that previously represented shares of Series J Preferred Stock shall represent, in lieu of the number of shares of Series J Preferred Stock previously represented by such certificate (if in certificated form), the number of shares of Series J Preferred Stock, if any, previously represented by such certificate (if in certificated form) that were not converted pursuant to the Notice of Conversion, plus the number of shares of Conversion Shares into which the shares of Series J Preferred Stock previously represented by such certificate (if in certificated form) were converted. To effect conversions of shares of Series J Preferred Stock, a Holder shall not be required to surrender the certificate(s), if any, representing the shares of Series J Preferred Stock to the Corporation unless all of the shares of Series J Preferred Stock represented thereby are so converted, in which case such Holder shall deliver the certificate representing such shares of Series J Preferred Stock promptly following the Conversion Date at issue. Shares of Series J Preferred Stock converted into Common Stock shall be canceled and shall not be reissued. Without limiting the rights and remedies of a holder of Series J Preferred Stock hereunder and without limiting the right of a Holder to deliver a Notice of Conversion to the

 

5


Corporation, a holder whose interest in the shares of Series J Preferred Stock is a beneficial interest in certificate(s) representing the shares of Series J Preferred Stock held in book-entry form through DTC (or another established clearing corporation performing similar functions), shall effect conversions made pursuant to this Section 6(a) by delivering to DTC (or such other clearing corporation, as applicable) the appropriate instruction form for conversion, complying with the procedures to effect conversions that are required by DTC (or such other clearing corporation, as applicable).

(b) Conversion Price. The conversion price for the Series J Preferred Stock shall equal $[__] per share, subject to adjustment herein (the “Conversion Price”).

(c) Mechanics of Conversion.

 

  i.

Delivery of Conversion Shares Upon Conversion. Not later than the earlier of (i) two (2) Trading Days and (ii) the number of Trading Days comprising the Standard Settlement Period (as defined below) after each Conversion Date (the “Share Delivery Date”), the Corporation shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the converting Holder the number of Conversion Shares being acquired upon the conversion of the Series J Preferred Stock. The Corporation shall cause such Conversion Shares to be issued free of such restrictive legends and trading legends. The Corporation shall use its reasonable best efforts to deliver the Conversion Shares required to be delivered by the Corporation under this Section 6 electronically through the Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) or another established clearing corporation performing similar functions. As used herein, “Standard Settlement Period” means the standard settlement period, expressed in a number of Trading Days, on the Corporation’s primary Trading Market with respect to the Common Stock as in effect on the date of delivery of the Notice of Conversion. Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to any Notice(s) of Conversion delivered by 12:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the Original Issue Date, the Corporation agrees to deliver the Conversion Shares subject to such notice(s) by 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the Original Issue Date and the Original Issue Date shall be the Share Delivery Date for purposes hereunder. In addition, notwithstanding the foregoing, following its satisfaction of the applicable Exercise Conditions (as defined in the Warrant), a holder of a Warrant may convert the shares of Series J Preferred Stock subject to the Notice of Exercise (as defined in the Warrant) pursuant to the terms in the Warrant into Conversion Shares pursuant to this Certificate of Designation by simultaneously delivering a Notice of Conversion to the Corporation hereunder, and upon the delivery of said Notice of Conversion, the Corporation shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the converting Holder the applicable number of Conversion Shares subject to the Notice of Conversion by the Share Delivery Date.

 

  ii.

Failure to Deliver Conversion Shares. If, in the case of any Notice of Conversion, such Conversion Shares are not delivered to or as directed by the applicable Holder by the Share Delivery Date, the Holder shall be entitled to elect by written notice to the Corporation at any time on or before its receipt of such Conversion Shares, to rescind such Conversion, in which event the Corporation shall promptly return to the Holder any original Series J Preferred Stock certificate delivered to the Corporation and the Holder shall promptly return to the Corporation the Conversion Shares issued to such Holder pursuant to the rescinded Notice of Conversion.

 

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  iii.

Obligation Absolute; Partial Liquidated Damages. Subject to Section 6(d), the Corporation’s obligation to issue and deliver the Conversion Shares upon conversion of Series J Preferred Stock in accordance with the terms hereof are absolute and unconditional, irrespective of any action or inaction by a Holder to enforce the same, any waiver or consent with respect to any provision hereof, the recovery of any judgment against any Person or any action to enforce the same, or any setoff, counterclaim, recoupment, limitation or termination, or any breach or alleged breach by such Holder or any other Person of any obligation to the Corporation or any violation or alleged violation of law by such Holder or any other Person, and irrespective of any other circumstance, which might otherwise limit such obligation of the Corporation to such Holder in connection with the issuance of such Conversion Shares; provided, however, that such delivery shall not operate as a waiver by the Corporation of any such action that the Corporation may have against such Holder. In the event a Holder shall elect to convert any or all of the Stated Value of its Series J Preferred Stock, the Corporation may not refuse conversion based on any claim that such Holder or anyone associated or affiliated with such Holder has been engaged in any violation of law, agreement or for any other reason, other than pursuant to Section 6(d), unless an injunction from a court, on notice to Holder, restraining and/or enjoining conversion of all or part of the Series J Preferred Stock of such Holder shall have been sought and obtained, and the Corporation posts a surety bond for the benefit of such Holder in the amount of 150% of the Stated Value of the Series J Preferred Stock which is subject to the injunction, which bond shall remain in effect until the completion of arbitration/litigation of the underlying dispute and the proceeds of which shall be payable to such Holder to the extent it obtains judgment. In the absence of such injunction, subject to Section 6(d), the Corporation shall issue Conversion Shares and, if applicable, cash, upon a properly noticed conversion. If the Corporation fails to deliver to a Holder such Conversion Shares pursuant to Section 6(c)(i) by the Share Delivery Date applicable to such conversion, other than pursuant to Section 6(d), the Corporation shall pay to such Holder, in cash, as liquidated damages and not as a penalty, for each $250 of Stated Value of Series J Preferred Stock being converted, $2.50 per Trading Day (increasing to $5 per Trading Day on the third Trading Day after the Share Delivery Date and increasing to $10 per Trading Day on the sixth Trading Day after the Share Delivery Date) for each Trading Day after the Share Delivery Date until such Conversion Shares are delivered or Holder rescinds such conversion. Nothing herein shall limit a Holder’s right to pursue actual damages for the Corporation’s failure to deliver Conversion Shares within the period specified herein and such Holder shall have the right to pursue all remedies available to it hereunder, at law or in equity including, without limitation, a decree of specific performance and/or injunctive relief. The exercise of any such rights shall not prohibit a Holder from seeking to enforce damages pursuant to any other Section hereof or under applicable law.

 

  iv.

Compensation for Buy-In on Failure to Timely Deliver Conversion Shares Upon Conversion. In addition to any other rights available to the Holder, if the Corporation fails for any reason to deliver to a Holder the applicable Conversion Shares by the Share Delivery Date pursuant to Section 6(c)(i), and if after such Share Delivery Date such Holder is required by its brokerage firm to purchase (in an open market transaction or otherwise), or the Holder’s brokerage firm otherwise purchases, shares of Common Stock to deliver in satisfaction of a

 

7


  sale by such Holder of the Conversion Shares which such Holder was entitled to receive upon the conversion relating to such Share Delivery Date (a “Buy-In”), then the Corporation shall (A) pay in cash to such Holder (in addition to any other remedies available to or elected by such Holder) the amount, if any, by which (x) such Holder’s total purchase price (including any brokerage commissions) for the Common Stock so purchased exceeds (y) the product of (1) the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock that such Holder was entitled to receive from the conversion at issue multiplied by (2) the actual sale price at which the sell order giving rise to such purchase obligation was executed (including any brokerage commissions) and (B) at the option of such Holder, either reissue (if surrendered) the shares of Series J Preferred Stock equal to the number of shares of Series J Preferred Stock submitted for conversion (in which case, such conversion shall be deemed rescinded) or deliver to such Holder the number of shares of Common Stock that would have been issued if the Corporation had timely complied with its delivery requirements under Section 6(c)(i). For example, if a Holder purchases shares of Common Stock having a total purchase price of $11,000 to cover a Buy-In with respect to an attempted conversion of shares of Series J Preferred Stock with respect to which the actual sale price of the Conversion Shares (including any brokerage commissions) giving rise to such purchase obligation was a total of $10,000 under clause (A) of the immediately preceding sentence, the Corporation shall be required to pay such Holder $1,000. The Holder shall provide the Corporation written notice indicating the amounts payable to such Holder in respect of the Buy-In and, upon request of the Corporation, evidence of the amount of such loss. Nothing herein shall limit a Holder’s right to pursue any other remedies available to it hereunder, at law or in equity including, without limitation, a decree of specific performance and/or injunctive relief with respect to the Corporation’s failure to timely deliver the Conversion Shares upon conversion of the shares of Series J Preferred Stock as required pursuant to the terms hereof.

 

  v.

Reservation of Shares Issuable Upon Conversion. From and after the Original Issue Date and until no shares of Series J Preferred Stock remain outstanding, 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 J Preferred Stock as herein provided, free from preemptive rights or any other actual contingent purchase rights of Persons other than the Holder (and the other holders of the Series J Preferred Stock), not less than 100% of the aggregate number of shares of the Common Stock as shall be issuable (taking into account any adjustments under Section 7) upon the conversion of the then outstanding shares of Series J Preferred Stock and the payment of any and all Dividends payable to the Holders. 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 non-assessable.

 

  vi.

Fractional Shares. No fractional shares or scrip representing fractional shares shall be issued upon the conversion of the Series J Preferred Stock. As to any fraction of a share which the Holder would otherwise be entitled to purchase upon such conversion, the Corporation shall pay a cash adjustment in respect of such final fraction in an amount equal to such fraction multiplied by the Conversion Price. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, but consistent with the provisions of this subsection with respect to fractional Conversion Shares, nothing shall prevent any Holder from converting fractional shares of Series J Preferred Stock.

 

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  vii.

Transfer Taxes and Expenses. The issuance of Conversion Shares on conversion of the Series J 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 J 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 same-day processing of any Notice of Conversion and all fees to DTC (or another established clearing corporation performing similar functions) required for same-day electronic delivery of the Conversion Shares.

(d) Beneficial Ownership Limitation. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, the Corporation shall not effect any conversion of the Series J Preferred Stock, and a Holder shall not have the right to convert any portion of the Series J Preferred Stock, to the extent that, after giving effect to the conversion set forth on the applicable Notice of Conversion, such Holder (together with such Holder’s Affiliates, and any Persons acting as a group together with such Holder or any of such Holder’s Affiliates (such Persons, “Attribution Parties”)) would beneficially own in excess of the Beneficial Ownership Limitation (as defined below). For purposes of the foregoing sentence, the number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by such Holder and its Affiliates and Attribution Parties shall include the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Series J Preferred Stock with respect to which such determination is being made, but shall exclude the number of shares of Common Stock which are issuable upon (i) conversion of the remaining, unconverted Series J Preferred Stock beneficially owned by such Holder or any of its Affiliates or Attribution Parties and (ii) exercise or conversion of the unexercised or unconverted portion of any other securities of the Corporation subject to a limitation on conversion or exercise analogous to the limitation contained herein (including, without limitation, the Series J Preferred Stock) beneficially owned by such Holder or any of its Affiliates or Attribution Parties. Except as set forth in the preceding sentence, for purposes of this Section 6(d), beneficial ownership shall be calculated in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. To the extent that the limitation contained in this Section 6(d) applies, the determination of whether the Series J Preferred Stock is convertible (in relation to other securities owned by such Holder together with any Affiliates and Attribution Parties) and of how many shares of Series J Preferred Stock are convertible shall be in the sole discretion of such Holder, and the submission of a Notice of Conversion shall be deemed to be such Holder’s determination of whether the shares of Series J Preferred Stock may be converted (in relation to other securities owned by such Holder together with any Affiliates and Attribution Parties) and how many shares of the Series J Preferred Stock are convertible, in each case subject to the Beneficial Ownership Limitation. To ensure compliance with this restriction, each Holder will be deemed to represent to the Corporation each time it delivers a Notice of Conversion that such Notice of Conversion has not violated the restrictions set forth in this Section 6(d) and the Corporation shall have no obligation to verify or confirm the accuracy of such determination. In addition, a determination as to any group status as contemplated above shall be determined in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. For purposes of this Section 6(d), in determining the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock, a Holder may rely on the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock as stated in the most recent of the following: (i) the Corporation’s most recent periodic or annual report filed with the Commission, as the case may be, (ii) a more recent public announcement by the Corporation or (iii) a more recent written notice by the Corporation or the Transfer Agent setting forth the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding. Upon the written or oral request (which may be via email) of a Holder, the Corporation shall within one (1) Trading Day confirm orally and in writing to such Holder the number of shares of Common Stock then outstanding. In any case, the number of outstanding

 

9


shares of Common Stock shall be determined after giving effect to the conversion or exercise of securities of the Corporation, including the Series J Preferred Stock, by such Holder or its Affiliates or Attribution Parties since the date as of which such number of outstanding shares of Common Stock was reported. The “Beneficial Ownership Limitation” shall be 4.99% (or, upon election by a Holder prior to the issuance of any shares of Series J Preferred Stock, 9.99%) of the number of shares of the Common Stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to the issuance of shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of Series J Preferred Stock held by the applicable Holder. A Holder, upon notice to the Corporation, may increase or decrease the Beneficial Ownership Limitation provisions of this Section 6(d) applicable to its Series J Preferred Stock; provided, that the Beneficial Ownership Limitation shall not in any event exceed 9.99% of the number of shares of the Common Stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to the issuance of shares of Common Stock upon conversion of this Series J Preferred Stock held by the Holder and the provisions of this Section 6(d) shall continue to apply. Any such increase will not be effective until the 61st day after such notice is delivered to the Corporation and shall only apply to such Holder and no other Holder. The Beneficial Ownership Limitation shall not be waived by the Corporation or the Holder and upon issuance of the Series J Preferred Stock by the Corporation, and the purchase thereof by the Holder, each of the Corporation and the Purchaser shall be deemed to acknowledge such limitation and to agree not to waive it. The provisions of this Section 6(d) shall be construed and implemented in a manner otherwise than in strict conformity with the terms of this Section 6(d) to correct this Section (or any portion hereof) which may be defective or inconsistent with the intended Beneficial Ownership Limitation contained herein or to make changes or supplements necessary or desirable to properly give effect to such limitation. The limitations contained in this Section shall apply to any successor or assign of a Holder.

Section 7. Certain Adjustments.

(a) Stock Dividends and Stock Splits. If the Corporation, at any time while the Series J Preferred Stock is outstanding: (i) pays a stock dividend or otherwise makes a distribution that is 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 J 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 Price 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, in the case of a subdivision, combination or re-classification, shall become effective immediately after the effective date of such subdivision, combination or re-classification. Notwithstanding the foregoing in no event may the Conversion Price be less than the par value per share of Series J Preferred Stock.

(b) Subsequent Rights Offerings. In addition to any adjustments pursuant to Section 7(a) above, if at any time the Corporation grants, issues or sells any Common Stock Equivalents or rights to purchase stock, warrants, securities or other property pro rata to the record holders of Common Stock or any class thereof (the “Purchase Rights”), then the Holder will be entitled to acquire, upon the terms applicable to such Purchase Rights, the aggregate Purchase Rights which the Holder could have acquired if the Holder had held the number of shares of Common Stock acquirable upon complete conversion of such Holder’s Series J Preferred Stock (without regard to any limitations on exercise hereof, including without limitation, the Beneficial Ownership Limitation) immediately before the record date for the grant, issuance or sale of such Purchase Rights, or, if no such record date is established, the date as of which the record holders of shares of Common Stock are to be determined for the grant, issue or sale of such Purchase Rights (provided, however, that, to the extent that the Holder’s right to participate in any such Purchase Right would result in

 

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the Holder exceeding the Beneficial Ownership Limitation, then the Holder shall not be entitled to participate in such Purchase Right to such extent (or beneficial ownership of such shares of Common Stock as a result of such Purchase Right to such extent) and such Purchase Right to such extent shall be held in abeyance for the Holder until such time, if ever, as its right thereto would not result in the Holder exceeding the Beneficial Ownership Limitation).

(c) Distributions. During such time as the Series J Preferred Stock is outstanding, if the Corporation declares or makes any dividend or other distribution of its assets (or rights to acquire its assets) to holders of Common Stock, by way of return of capital or otherwise (including, without limitation, any distribution of cash, stock or other securities, property or options by way of a dividend, spin off, reclassification, corporate rearrangement, scheme of arrangement or other similar transaction) (a “Distribution”), then, in each such case, the Holder shall be entitled to participate in such Distribution to the same extent that the Holder would have participated therein if the Holder had held the number of shares of Common Stock acquirable upon complete conversion of the Series J Preferred Stock (without regard to any limitations on conversion hereof, including without limitation, the Beneficial Ownership Limitation) immediately before the record date for such Distribution, or, if no such record date is established, the date as of which the record holders of shares of Common Stock are to be determined for the participation in such Distribution (provided, however, that, to the extent that the Holder’s right to participate in any such Distribution would result in the Holder exceeding the Beneficial Ownership Limitation, then the Holder shall not be entitled to participate in such Distribution to such extent (or in the beneficial ownership of any shares of Common Stock as a result of such Distribution to such extent) and the portion of such Distribution shall be held in abeyance for the benefit of the Holder until such time, if ever, as its right thereto would not result in the Holder exceeding the Beneficial Ownership Limitation).

(d) Fundamental Transaction. If, at any time while the Series J 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 (other than a merger to bring about a reincorporation under applicable state law and Section 368(a)(1)(F) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, (ii) the Corporation (and all of its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole), 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 at least 50% 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 (each a “Fundamental Transaction”), then, upon any subsequent conversion of the Series J Preferred Stock, the Holder shall have the right to receive, for each Conversion Share that would have been issuable upon such conversion immediately prior to the occurrence of such Fundamental Transaction (without regard to any limitation in Section 6(d) on the conversion of the Series J Preferred Stock), the number of shares of Common Stock of the successor or acquiring corporation or of the Corporation, if it is the surviving corporation, and any additional consideration (the “Alternate Consideration”) receivable as a result of such Fundamental Transaction by a holder of the number of shares of Common Stock for which the Series J Preferred Stock is convertible immediately prior to such Fundamental Transaction (without regard to any limitation in Section 6(d) on the conversion of the Series J Preferred Stock). For purposes of any such conversion, the determination of the Conversion Price shall be appropriately adjusted to apply to such Alternate Consideration based on the amount of Alternate Consideration issuable in respect of one share of Common Stock in such Fundamental Transaction, and the

 

11


Corporation shall apportion the Conversion Price among the Alternate Consideration in a reasonable manner reflecting the relative value of any different components of the Alternate Consideration. If holders of Common Stock are given any choice as to the securities, cash or property to be received in a Fundamental Transaction, then the Holder shall be given the same choice as to the Alternate Consideration it receives upon any conversion of the Series J 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 in accordance with the provisions of this Section 7(d) pursuant to written agreements in customary 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 J Preferred Stock a security of the Successor Entity evidenced by a written instrument substantially similar in form and substance to the Series J 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 J Preferred Stock (without regard to any limitations on the conversion of the Series J Preferred Stock) prior to such Fundamental Transaction, and with a conversion price which applies the conversion price hereunder to such shares of capital stock (but taking into account the relative value of the shares of Common Stock pursuant to such Fundamental Transaction and the value of such shares of capital stock, such number of shares of capital stock and such conversion price being for the purpose of protecting the economic value of the Series J Preferred Stock immediately prior to the consummation of such Fundamental Transaction), and which is reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Holder. Upon the occurrence of any such Fundamental Transaction, the Successor Entity shall succeed to, and be substituted for (so that from and after the date of such Fundamental Transaction, the provisions of this Certificate of Designation 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 with the same effect as if such Successor Entity had been named as the Corporation herein.

(e) [Reserved].

(f) [Reserved].

(g) 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.

(h) Notice of Holders.

 

  i.

Adjustment to Conversion Price. Whenever the Conversion Price is adjusted pursuant to any provision of this Section 7, the Corporation shall promptly deliver to each Holder by facsimile or email a notice setting forth the Conversion Price after such adjustment and setting forth a brief statement of the facts requiring such adjustment.

 

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  ii.

Notice to Allow Conversion by Holder. If (A) the Corporation shall declare a dividend (or any other distribution in whatever form) on the Common Stock, (B) the Corporation shall declare a special nonrecurring cash dividend on or a redemption of the Common Stock, (C) the Corporation shall authorize the granting to all holders of the Common Stock of rights or warrants to subscribe for or purchase any shares of capital stock of any class or of any rights, (D) the approval of any stockholders of the Corporation shall be required in connection with any reclassification of the Common Stock, any consolidation or merger to which the Corporation is a party, any sale or transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Corporation (and all of its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole), or any compulsory share exchange whereby the Common Stock is converted into other securities, cash or property or (E) the Corporation shall authorize the voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation, then, in each case, the Corporation shall cause to be filed at each office or agency maintained for the purpose of conversion of the Series J Preferred Stock, and shall cause to be delivered by email to each Holder at its last email address as it shall appear upon the stock books of the Corporation, at least twenty (20) calendar days prior to the applicable record or effective date hereinafter specified, a notice stating (x) the date on which a record is to be taken for the purpose of such dividend, distribution, redemption, rights or warrants, or if a record is not to be taken, the date as of which the holders of the Common Stock of record to be entitled to such dividend, distributions, redemption, rights or warrants are to be determined or (y) the date on which such reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, transfer or share exchange is expected to become effective or close, and the date as of which it is expected that holders of the Common Stock of record shall be entitled to exchange their shares of the Common Stock for securities, cash or other property deliverable upon such reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, transfer or share exchange, provided that the failure to deliver such notice or any defect therein or in the delivery thereof shall not affect the validity of the corporate action required to be specified in such notice. To the extent that any notice provided hereunder constitutes, or contains, material, non-public information regarding the Corporation or any of the Subsidiaries, the Corporation shall simultaneously file such notice with the Commission pursuant to a Current Report on Form 8-K. The Holder shall remain entitled to convert the Conversion Amount of the Series J Preferred Stock (or any part hereof) during the 20-day period commencing on the date of such notice through the effective date of the event triggering such notice except as may otherwise be expressly set forth herein.

Section 8. Covenants. As long as any shares of Series J Preferred Stock or Warrants remain outstanding:

(a) the Corporation is obligated to maintain an effective registration statement under the Securities Act covering: (a) the issuance of shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Series J Preferred Stock and (b) the issuance of additional shares of Series J Preferred Stock pursuant to the Corporation’s obligation to pay Dividends, in each case, unless there is available an exemption from, or a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act that would allow the issuance of the Series J Preferred Stock and the Conversion Shares without registration.

Section 9. Redemption

(a) Mandatory Redemption. If any shares of Series J Preferred are outstanding at the end of the Term, then the Corporation shall promptly redeem all of such outstanding shares of Series J Preferred Stock on a pro rata basis among all of the Holders of Series J Preferred Stock commencing on the one-year anniversary of the Original Issue Date (“Mandatory Redemption Date”) in cash at a price per share of Series J Preferred Stock equal to the sum of (x) the Stated Value plus (y) all accrued and unpaid Dividends and (z) all other

 

13


amounts due in respect of the Series J Preferred Stock (the “Corporation’s Mandatory Redemption Price”). On the Mandatory Redemption Date, the Corporation shall pay the Corporation’s Mandatory Redemption Price, subject to any adjustment pursuant to the immediately preceding sentence, to the Holders of Series J Preferred Stock on a pro rata basis. If a Mandatory Redemption Date is not a Business Day, then the Corporation’s Mandatory Redemption Price shall be due and payable on the Business Day immediately following such Mandatory Redemption Date. The Corporation shall pay the Corporation’s Mandatory Redemption Price due under this Section 9(a) to the Holders in cash. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the shares of Series J Preferred Stock are issued in book-entry form through DTC or any other similar facility, notice of redemption may be given to the holders of Series J Preferred Stock at such time and in any manner permitted by such facility. The Corporation covenants and agrees that it will honor all Notices of Conversion tendered up until the Mandatory Redemption Share Amount is paid in full.

(b) [Reserved].

(c) [Reserved].

(d) [Reserved].

(e) [Reserved].

(f) [Reserved].

(g) [Reserved].

(h) [Reserved].

(i) [Reserved].

(j) General. Notwithstanding anything to the foregoing contained herein, on the Mandatory Redemption Date, the Corporation shall redeem, on a pro rata basis in accordance with the number of shares of Series J Preferred Stock owned by each Holder, that number of outstanding shares of Series J Preferred Stock which the Corporation is obligated to redeem pursuant to this Section 9. If on the Mandatory Redemption Date, Delaware law governing distributions to stockholders prevents the Corporation from redeeming all shares of Series J Preferred Stock to be redeemed, the Corporation shall ratably redeem the maximum number of shares of Series J Preferred Stock that it may redeem consistent with such law, until all shares which the Corporation is obligated to redeem pursuant to this Section 9 are redeemed. At any time thereafter when additional funds of the Corporation are legally available for the redemption of such shares of Series J Preferred Stock, if any, which the Corporation is then obligated to redeem, such funds shall be used, within five (5) Business Days, to redeem the balance of such shares, or such portion thereof for which funds are then legally available, on the basis set forth above. If on the Mandatory Redemption Date, any cash payment to be made pursuant to this Section 9 is not made, then the Holder may provide to the Corporation written notice within five (5) Business Days of such date that it desires to retain its shares of Series J Preferred Stock that have not been redeemed for cash and sell the shares of Series J Preferred Stock to a third party and in the event the Corporation receives such notice from a Holder it shall honor the request or, if no such notice is sent, then the Corporation shall pay to the Holder the unpaid cash redemption payment in duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable shares of Common Stock in accordance with this Section 9.

Section 10. Miscellaneous.

(a) Notices. Any and all notices or other communications or deliveries to be provided by the Holders hereunder including, without limitation, any Notice of Conversion, shall be in writing and delivered personally, by facsimile or email attachment, or sent by a nationally recognized overnight courier service, addressed to the Corporation, at 27042 Towne Centre Drive, Suite 270, Lake Forest, California 92610 Attention: John R. Beaver, Chief Executive Officer, email address: jbeaver@biolase.com, or such other email address or address as the Corporation may specify for such purposes by notice to the Holders

 

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delivered in accordance with this Section 10. Any and all notices or other communications or deliveries to be provided by the Corporation hereunder shall be in writing and delivered personally, by email attachment, or sent by a nationally recognized overnight courier service addressed to each Holder at the email address or address of such Holder appearing on the books of the Corporation, or if no such email address or address appears on the books of the Corporation, such email address or address as the Holder may specify. Any notice or other communication or deliveries hereunder shall be deemed given and effective on the earliest of (i) the time of transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via email attachment at the email address set forth in this Section prior to 5:30 p.m. (New York City time) on any date, (ii) the next Trading Day after the time of transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via email attachment at the email address set forth in this Section on a day that is not a Trading Day or later than 5:30 p.m. (New York City time) on any Trading Day, (iii) the second Trading Day following the date of mailing, if sent by a 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) Lost or Mutilated Preferred Stock Certificate. If a Holder’s Series J Preferred Stock certificate (if in certificated form) 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 J 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 (which shall not include the posting of any bond).

(c) 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.

(d) 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.

(e) 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.

(f) Status of Converted or Redeemed Preferred Stock. If any shares of Series J Preferred Stock shall be converted, redeemed or reacquired by the Corporation, such shares may not be reissued and shall automatically be retired and canceled and shall resume the status of authorized but unissued shares of preferred stock.

(g) Certificates. The Corporation may at its option issue shares of the Series J Preferred Stock without certificates. If DTC or its nominee is the registered owner of the Series J Preferred Stock, the following provisions of this Section 10 shall apply. If and as long as DTC or its nominee is the registered owner of the Series J Preferred Stock, DTC or its nominee, as the case may be, shall be considered the sole owner and holder of all such shares of the Series J Preferred Stock of which DTC or its nominee is the registered owner for all purposes under the instruments governing the rights and obligations of holders of shares of the Series J Preferred Stock. If DTC discontinues providing its services as securities depositary with respect to the shares of the Series J Preferred Stock, or if DTC ceases to be registered as a clearing agency under the Exchange Act, in the event that a successor securities depositary is not obtained within ninety (90) days, the Corporation shall either print and deliver certificates for the shares of the Series J Preferred Stock or provide for the direct registration of the Series J Preferred Stock with the Transfer Agent. If the Corporation decides to discontinue the use of the system of book-entry-only transfers through DTC (or a successor securities depositary), the Corporation shall print certificates for the shares of the Series J Preferred Stock and deliver such certificates to DTC or shall provide for the direct registration of the Series J Preferred Stock with the Transfer Agent. Except in the limited circumstances referred to above, owners of beneficial interests in the Series J Preferred Stock of which DTC or its nominee is the registered owner:

(i) shall not be entitled to have such Series J Preferred Stock registered in their names;

 

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(ii) shall not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of securities certificates in exchange for beneficial interests in the Series J Preferred Stock; and

(iii) shall not be considered to be owners or holders of the shares of the Series J Preferred Stock for any purpose under the instruments governing the rights and obligations of holders of shares of the Series J Preferred Stock.

*********************

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Certificate this [●]th day of [●], 2023.

 

    

Name:   John R. Beaver
Title:   Chief Executive Officer

 

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ANNEX A

NOTICE OF CONVERSION

(TO BE EXECUTED BY THE REGISTERED HOLDER IN ORDER TO CONVERT SHARES OF SERIES J PREFERRED STOCK)

The undersigned hereby elects to convert the number of shares of Series J Convertible Redeemable Preferred Stock indicated below into shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Common Stock”), of BIOLASE, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Corporation”), according to the conditions hereof, as of the date written below. If shares of Common Stock are to be issued in the name of a Person other than the undersigned, the undersigned will pay all transfer taxes payable with respect thereto. No fee will be charged to the Holders for any conversion, except for any such transfer taxes.

Conversion calculations:

Date to Effect Conversion:

Number of shares of Series J Preferred Stock owned prior to Conversion:

Number of shares of Series J Preferred Stock to be Converted:

Stated Value of shares of Series J Preferred Stock to be Converted:

Number of shares of Common Stock to be Issued:

Applicable Conversion Price:

Number of shares of Series J Preferred Stock subsequent to Conversion:

Address for Delivery:

Or

DWAC Instructions:

Broker no:

Account no:

 

HOLDER
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

18

Exhibit 4.2

FORM OF PREFERRED STOCK PURCHASE WARRANT

BIOLASE, INC.

 

Preferred Warrant Shares:                 Initial Exercise Date:             , 2023
   Issuance Date:             , 2023

THIS PREFERRED STOCK PURCHASE WARRANT (the “Warrant”) certifies that, for value of $0.001 received by the Company,              or its assigns (the “Holder”) is entitled, upon the terms and subject to the limitations on exercise and the conditions hereinafter set forth, at any time on or after             , 2023 (the “Initial Exercise Date”) and prior to 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on             , 2024 (the “Termination Date”) but not thereafter, to subscribe for and purchase from BIOLASE, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), up to              shares of Series J Preferred Stock (as subject to adjustment hereunder, the “Preferred Warrant Shares”). The purchase price of one-half of one (0.5) share of Series J Preferred Stock under this Warrant shall be equal to the Exercise Price, as defined in Section 2(b). This Warrant shall initially be issued and maintained in the form of a security held in book-entry form and the Depository Trust Company or its nominee (“DTC”) shall initially be the sole registered holder of this Warrant, subject to a Holder’s right to elect to receive a Warrant in certificated form pursuant to the terms of the Warrant Agency Agreement, in which case this sentence shall not apply. This Warrant is being issued pursuant to those certain Underwriting Agreement (as defined herein) and Warrant Agency Agreement (the “Warrant Agent Agreement”), dated as of             , 2023, between the Company and Computershare Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its affiliate, Computershare Trust Company, N.A., a federal trust company, and any successor warrant agent under thereunder (collectively, the “Warrant Agent”).

Section 1. Definitions. In addition to the terms defined elsewhere in this Warrant, the following terms have the meanings indicated in this Section 1.

Affiliate” means any Person that, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls or is controlled by or is under common control with a Person, as such terms are used in and construed under Rule 405 under the Securities Act.

Business Day” means any day except any Saturday, any Sunday, any day which is a federal legal holiday in the United States or any day on which banking institutions in the State of New York are authorized or required by law or other governmental action to close.

Commission” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

Common Stock” means the common stock of the Company, par value $0.001 per share, and any other class or series of securities into which such securities may hereafter be reclassified as or converted or otherwise changed into shares of the Company’s common stock, $0.001 par value per share.

Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

Fundamental Transaction” means (i) the Company, directly or indirectly, in one or more related transactions effects any merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another Person, (ii) the Company (and all of its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole), 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

 

1


of related transactions, (iii) any, direct or indirect, purchase offer, tender offer or exchange offer (other than a stock split whether by the Company or another Person) is completed pursuant to which holders of shares 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 shares of Common Stock or 50% or more of the voting power of the Common Stock of the Company, (iv) the Company, directly or indirectly, in one or more related transactions effects any reclassification, reorganization or recapitalization (other than a stock split) of the Common Stock or any compulsory share exchange pursuant to which the Common Stock is effectively converted into or exchanged for other securities, cash or property, or (v) the Company, directly or indirectly, in one or more related transactions consummates a share purchase agreement or other business combination (including, without limitation, a reorganization, recapitalization (other than a stock split), spin-off, merger or scheme of arrangement) with another Person or group of Persons whereby such other Person or group acquires 50% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock or 50% or more of the voting power of the Common Stock of the Company.

Person” means an individual or corporation, partnership, trust, incorporated or unincorporated association, joint venture, limited liability company, joint stock company, government (or an agency or subdivision thereof) or other entity of any kind.

Preferred Stock” means the preferred stock of the Company, par value $0.001 per share.

Preferred Stock Equivalents” means any securities of the Company or the Subsidiaries which would entitle the holder thereof to acquire at any time shares of Series J Preferred Stock, including, without limitation, any debt, preferred shares, right, option, warrant or other instrument that is at any time convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for, or otherwise entitles the holder thereof to receive, shares of Preferred Stock, other than shares of Series J Preferred Stock payable in-kind as dividends pursuant to the Series J Certificate of Designations.

Registration Statement” means the Company’s registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-273372).

Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

Series J Certificate of Designation” means the Certificate of Designation of Preferences, Rights and Limitations of Series J Preferred Stock of the Company.

Series J Preferred Stock” means Series J Convertible Redeemable Preferred Stock of the Company, par value $0.001 per share, issued and issuable pursuant to the Series J Certificate of Designation and (ii) any capital stock into which such Series J Convertible Redeemable Preferred Stock shall have been changed or any share capital resulting from a reclassification of such Series J Convertible Redeemable Preferred Stock.

Subsidiary” means any subsidiary of the Company, which is actively engaged in a trade or business, and shall, where applicable, also include any direct or indirect subsidiary of the Company formed or acquired after the date hereof.

Successor Entity” means the Person (or, if so elected by the Holder, the Parent Entity) formed by, resulting from or surviving any Fundamental Transaction or the Person (or, if so elected by the Holder, the Parent Entity) with which such Fundamental Transaction shall have been entered into.

Trading Day” means a day on which the Common Stock is traded on a Trading Market.

 

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Trading Market” means any of the following markets or exchanges on which the Common Stock is listed or quoted for trading on the date in question: the NYSE American, the Nasdaq Capital Market, the Nasdaq Global Market, the Nasdaq Global Select Market or the New York Stock Exchange (or any successors to any of the foregoing).

Transfer Agent” means Computershare Trust Company, N.A., the current transfer agent of the Company, and any successor transfer agent of the Company.

Underwriting Agreement” means that certain underwriting agreement, dated [•], 2023, between the Company and Lake Street Capital Markets, LLC, as representative of the underwriters named therein, as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time in accordance with its terms.

Section 2. Exercise.

a) Exercise of Warrant. Subject to the provisions of Section 2(e) hereof, exercise of the purchase rights represented by this Warrant may be made, in whole or in part, at any time or times on or after the Initial Exercise Date and prior to 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the Termination Date by delivery to the Warrant Agent and the Company of a duly executed PDF copy submitted by e-mail (or e-mail attachment) of the Notice of Exercise in the form annexed hereto (the “Notice of Exercise”). Within the earlier of (i) two (2) Trading Days and (ii) the number of Trading Days comprising the Standard Settlement Period (as defined in Section 2(d)(i) herein) following the date of exercise as aforesaid, the Holder shall deliver the aggregate Exercise Price for the Preferred Warrant Shares specified in the applicable Notice of Exercise by wire transfer or cashier’s check drawn on a United States bank. Neither the Company nor the Warrant Agent shall have any obligation to inquire with respect to or otherwise confirm the authenticity of the signature(s) contained on any Notice of Exercise nor the authority of the person so executing such Notice of Exercise. No ink original Notice of Exercise shall be required nor shall any medallion guarantee (or other type of guarantee or notarization) of any Notice of Exercise be required. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Holder shall not be required to physically surrender this Warrant to the Company or the Warrant Agent until the Holder has subscribed for all of the Preferred Warrant Shares available hereunder and the Warrant has been exercised in full, in which case, the Holder shall surrender this Warrant to the Warrant Agent for cancellation within three (3) Trading Days after the date on which the final Notice of Exercise is delivered to the Company. Partial exercises of this Warrant resulting in subscriptions for a portion of the total number of Preferred Warrant Shares available hereunder shall have the effect of lowering the outstanding number of Preferred Warrant Shares issuable hereunder in an amount equal to the applicable number of Preferred Warrant Shares subscribed for. The Holder and the Warrant Agent shall maintain records showing the number of Preferred Warrant Shares subscribed for and the date of such purchase. The Company shall deliver to the Holder and Warrant Agent any objection to any Notice of Exercise within one (1) Business Day of receipt of such notice. The Holder and any assignee, by acceptance of this Warrant, acknowledge and agree that, by reason of the provisions of this paragraph, following the purchase for a portion of the Preferred Warrant Shares hereunder, the number of Preferred Warrant Shares available for purchase hereunder at any given time may be less than the amount stated on the face hereof.

Notwithstanding the foregoing in this Section 2(a), a holder whose interest in this Warrant is a beneficial interest in certificate(s) representing this Warrant held in book-entry form through DTC (or another established clearing corporation performing similar functions), shall effect exercises made pursuant to this Section 2(a) by delivering to DTC (or such other clearing corporation, as applicable) the appropriate instruction form for exercise, complying with the procedures to effect exercise that are required by DTC (or such other clearing corporation, as applicable), subject to a Holder’s right to elect to receive a Warrant in certificated form pursuant to the terms of the Warrant Agency Agreement, in which case this sentence shall not apply.

 

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b) Exercise Price. The exercise price per one-half of one (0.5) share of Series J Preferred Stock under this Warrant shall be $[___], subject to adjustment hereunder (the “Exercise Price”).

c) [Reserved].

d) Mechanics of Exercise.

i. Delivery of Preferred Warrant Shares Upon Exercise. The Company shall cause the Preferred Warrant Shares purchased hereunder to be transmitted by the Transfer Agent to the Holder by crediting the account of the Holder’s or its designee’s balance account with DTC through its Deposit or Withdrawal at Custodian system (“DWAC”) if the Company is then a participant in such system and there is an effective registration statement permitting the issuance of the Preferred Warrant Shares to the Holder, and otherwise by physical delivery of a certificate, registered in the Company’s share register in the name of the Holder or its designee, for the number of Preferred Warrant Shares to which the Holder is entitled pursuant to such exercise to the address specified by the Holder in the Notice of Exercise by the date that is the earliest of (i) two (2) Trading Days after the delivery to the Company and the Warrant Agent of the Notice of Exercise, provided that payment of the aggregate Exercise Price is received by the Warrant Agent one (1) Trading Day prior to such second Trading Day after the delivery of the Notice of Exercise, (ii) one (1) Trading Day after delivery of the aggregate Exercise Price to the Warrant Agent and (iii) the number of Trading Days comprising the Standard Settlement Period after the delivery to the Company and Warrant Agent of the Notice of Exercise, provided that payment of the aggregate Exercise Price is received by the Warrant Agent one (1) Trading Day prior to such second Trading Day after the delivery of the Notice of Exercise (such date, the “Warrant Share Delivery Date” and such conditions, the “Exercise Conditions”). For the purposes of Regulation SHO under the Exchange Act, upon delivery of the Notice of Exercise, the Holder shall be deemed for all corporate purposes to have become the holder of record of the Preferred Warrant Shares with respect to which this Warrant has been exercised, irrespective of the date of delivery of the Preferred Warrant Shares, provided that payment of the aggregate Exercise Price is received within the earlier of (i) two (2) Trading Days and (ii) the number of Trading Days comprising the Standard Settlement Period following delivery of the Notice of Exercise. If the Company fails for any reason to deliver or cause the delivery to the Holder the Preferred Warrant Shares subject to a Notice of Exercise by the Warrant Share Delivery Date, the Company shall pay to the Holder, in cash, as liquidated damages and not as a penalty, for each $1,000 of Preferred Warrant Shares subject to such exercise (based on the stated value of the Series J Preferred Stock, as set forth in the Series J Certificate of Designation), $10.00 per Trading Day (increasing to $20.00 per Trading Day on the fifth Trading Day after the Warrant Share Delivery Date) for each Trading Day after such Warrant Share Delivery Date until such Preferred Warrant Shares are delivered or the Holder rescinds such exercise; provided, however, that the Holders may convert the Preferred Warrant Shares into shares of Common Stock in accordance with the terms of the Series J Certificate of Designation at any time, at the option of the Holder, following its satisfaction of the applicable Exercise Conditions (such conversion, a “Forced Conversion”). In the event of a Forced Conversion, the liquidated damages referred to in the preceding sentence shall cease to accrue under this Warrant on the date that shares of Common Stock are delivered to the Holder pursuant to the Series J Certificate of Designation. The Company agrees to maintain a transfer agent that is a participant in the FAST program so long as this Warrant remains outstanding and exercisable. As used herein, “Standard Settlement Period” means the standard settlement period, expressed in a number of Trading Days, on the Company’s primary Trading Market as in effect on the date of delivery of the Notice of Exercise. In addition, notwithstanding the foregoing, a Holder may convert the shares of Series J Preferred Stock subject to the Notice of Exercise into Conversion Shares (as defined in the Series J Certificate of Designation) pursuant to the Series J Certificate of Designation by simultaneously delivering the Notice of Exercise and a Notice of Conversion (as defined in the Series J Certificate of Designation) to the Company thereunder, and upon the delivery of said Notice of Conversion, the Company shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the converting Holder the applicable number of Conversion Shares subject to the Notice of Conversion by the Share Delivery Date (as defined in the Series J Certificate of Designation).

 

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ii. Delivery of New Warrants Upon Exercise. If this Warrant shall have been exercised in part, the Company shall, at the request of a Holder and upon surrender of this Warrant certificate, at the time of delivery of the Preferred Warrant Shares, cause the Warrant Agent to deliver to the Holder a new Warrant evidencing the rights of the Holder to subscribe for the unsubscribed for Preferred Warrant Shares called for by this Warrant, which new Warrant shall in all other respects be identical with this Warrant.

iii. Rescission Rights and Forced Conversion. If the Company fails to cause the Transfer Agent to transmit to the Holder the Preferred Warrant Shares pursuant to Section 2(d)(i) by the Warrant Share Delivery Date, then the Holder will have the right to rescind such exercise or effect a Forced Conversion by delivering written notice to the Company at any time prior to the delivery of such Preferred Warrant Shares (in which case any liquidated damages payable under Section 2(d)(i) shall no longer be payable).

iv. Compensation for Buy-In on Failure to Timely Deliver Preferred Warrant Shares Upon Exercise. In addition to any other rights available to the Holder, if the Company fails to cause the Transfer Agent to transmit to the Holder the Preferred Warrant Shares in accordance with the provisions of Section 2(d)(i) above pursuant to an exercise on or before the Warrant Share Delivery Date (so long as the Company has provided wire transfer instructions to the Holder on Company letterhead signed by an executive officer of the Company, other than as a result of failure of the Holder to timely deliver the aggregate Exercise Price or a failure that is solely due to any action or inaction by the Holder with respect to such exercise), and if after such date the Holder is required by its broker to purchase (in an open market transaction or otherwise) or the Holder’s brokerage firm otherwise purchases, shares of Series J Preferred Stock to deliver in satisfaction of a sale by the Holder of the Preferred Warrant Shares which the Holder anticipated receiving upon such exercise (a “Buy-In”), then the Company shall (A) pay in cash to the Holder the amount, if any, by which (x) the Holder’s total purchase price (including brokerage commissions, if any) for the shares of Series J Preferred Stock so purchased exceeds (y) the amount obtained by multiplying (1) the number of Preferred Warrant Shares that the Company was required to deliver to the Holder in connection with the exercise at issue times (2) the price at which the sell order giving rise to such purchase obligation was executed, and (B) at the option of the Holder, either reinstate the portion of the Warrant and equivalent number of Preferred Warrant Shares for which such exercise was not honored (in which case such exercise shall be deemed rescinded) or deliver to the Holder the number of shares of Series J Preferred Stock that would have been issued had the Company timely complied with its exercise and delivery obligations hereunder. For example, if the Holder purchases shares of Series J Preferred Stock having a total purchase price of $11,000 to cover a Buy-In with respect to an attempted exercise of this Warrant to subscribe for shares of Series J Preferred Stock with an aggregate exercise price giving rise to such purchase obligation of $10,000, under clause (A) of the immediately preceding sentence the Company shall be required to pay the Holder $1,000. The Holder shall provide the Company written notice indicating the amounts payable to the Holder in respect of the Buy-In and, upon request of the Company, evidence of the amount of such loss. Nothing herein shall limit a Holder’s right to pursue any other remedies available to it hereunder, at law or in equity including, without limitation, a decree of specific performance and/or injunctive relief with respect to the Company’s failure to timely deliver shares of Series J Preferred Stock upon exercise of the Warrant as required pursuant to the terms hereof.

v. No Fractional Shares or Scrip. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained in this Warrant, the Company shall not be required to issue any fraction of a Preferred Warrant Shares or scrip representing fractional shares of Preferred Warrant Shares upon the exercise of this Warrant. As to any fraction of a share which the Holder would otherwise be entitled to purchase upon such exercise, the Company shall pay a cash adjustment in respect of such final fraction in an amount equal to such fraction multiplied by the stated value of the Series J Preferred Stock, as set forth in the Series J Certificate of Designation. Accordingly, a Holder is entitled to exercise a number of Warrants that would solely result in the Holder receiving one or more whole Warrant Shares.

 

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vi. Charges, Taxes and Expenses. Issuance of Preferred Warrant Shares shall be made without charge to the Holder for any issue or transfer tax or other incidental expense in respect of the issuance of such Preferred Warrant Shares, all of which taxes and expenses shall be paid by the Company, and such Preferred Warrant Shares shall be issued in the name of the Holder or in such name or names as may be directed by the Holder; provided, however, that in the event that Preferred Warrant Shares are to be issued in a name other than the name of the Holder, this Warrant when surrendered for exercise shall be accompanied by the Assignment Form attached hereto duly executed by the Holder and the Company may require, as a condition thereto, the payment of a sum sufficient to reimburse it for any transfer tax incidental thereto; and (ii) the Company shall use its best efforts to pay, or procure payment of issue or stamp taxes levied in connection with the issuance of the Warrant or Preferred Warrant Shares to the Holder (“Relevant Taxes”). The Holder agrees to cooperate with the Company and provide all necessary and reasonable information and documentation to the Company in a timely manner (and in any event within 10 Business Days of request) to enable the Company to procure payment of any Relevant Taxes and facilitate the making of any necessary filings in respect of Relevant Taxes required to be made within applicable time limits. The Company shall not be liable for any Relevant Taxes or any penalty, fine, surcharge, interest, charge, cost or other similar imposition arising in respect of Relevant Taxes to the extent that such amount arises or is increased as a result of any failure by a Holder to timely provide the Company with any information or documentation reasonably requested pursuant to this Section 2(d)(vi). The Company shall pay all Transfer Agent fees required for processing of any Notice of Exercise and all fees to DTC (or another established clearing corporation performing similar functions) required for electronic delivery of the Preferred Warrant Shares.

vii. Closing of Books. The Company will not close its stockholder books or records in any manner which prevents the timely exercise of this Warrant, pursuant to the terms hereof.

e) [Reserved].

f) [Reserved].

Section 3. Certain Adjustments.

a) Share Dividends and Splits. If the Company, at any time while this Warrant is outstanding: (i) pays a share dividend or otherwise makes a distribution or distributions on its Series J Preferred Stock or any other security of the Company that may be converted into Series J Preferred Stock (which, for avoidance of doubt, shall not include any shares of Series J Preferred Stock issued by the Company upon exercise of this Warrant and shall not include any of the dividends to be paid to holders of shares of Series J Preferred Stock pursuant to Section 3 of the Series J Preferred Stock Certificate of Designation), (ii) subdivides outstanding shares of Series J Preferred Stock into a larger number of shares, (iii) combines (including by way of reverse share split) outstanding shares of Series J Preferred Stock into a smaller number of shares, or (iv) issues by reclassification of shares of Series J Preferred Stock any share capital of the Company, then in each case the Exercise Price shall be multiplied by a fraction of which the numerator shall be the number of shares of Series J Preferred Stock (excluding treasury shares, if any) outstanding immediately before such event and of which the denominator shall be the number of shares of Series J Preferred Stock outstanding immediately after such event, and the number of shares issuable upon exercise of this Warrant shall be proportionately adjusted such that the aggregate Exercise Price of this Warrant shall remain unchanged. Any adjustment made pursuant to this Section 3(a) shall become effective immediately after the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to receive such dividend or distribution and, in the case of a subdivision, combination or re-classification, shall become effective immediately after the effective date of such subdivision, combination or re-classification.

b) [Reserved].

 

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c) Subsequent Rights Offerings. In addition to any adjustments pursuant to Section 3(a) above, if at any time that this Warrant is outstanding the Company grants, issues or sells any Preferred Stock Equivalents or rights to purchase shares, warrants, securities or other property pro rata to all of the record holders of the Series J Preferred Stock (the “Purchase Rights”), then the Holder will be entitled to acquire, upon the terms applicable to such Purchase Rights, the aggregate Purchase Rights which the Holder could have acquired if the Holder had held the number of shares of Series J Preferred Stock acquirable upon complete exercise of this Warrant (without regard to any limitations on exercise hereof, including without limitation, the Beneficial Ownership Limitation) immediately before the record date for the grant, issuance or sale of such Purchase Rights, or, if no such record date is established, the date as of which the record holders of shares of Series J Preferred Stock are to be determined for the grant, issue or sale of such Purchase Rights.

d) Pro Rata Distributions. During such time as this Warrant is outstanding, if the Company shall declare or make any dividend or other distribution of its assets (or rights to acquire its assets) to holders of shares of Series J Preferred Stock, by way of return of capital or otherwise (including, without limitation, any distribution of cash, share or other securities, property or options by way of a dividend, spin off, reclassification, corporate rearrangement, scheme of arrangement or other similar transaction) (except to the extent an adjustment was already made pursuant to Section 3(a)) (a “Distribution”), at any time after the issuance of this Warrant, then, in each such case, the Holder shall be entitled to participate in such Distribution to the same extent that the Holder would have participated therein if the Holder had held the number of shares of Series J Preferred Stock acquirable upon complete exercise of this Warrant immediately before the record date for such Distribution, or, if no such record date is established, the date as of which the record holders of shares of Series J Preferred Stock are to be determined for the participation in such Distribution. Any Distribution or Distributions to be paid to any Holder under this Section 3(d) arising as a result of the Company’s obligation to issue in-kind dividends on the Series J Preferred Stock pursuant to the Certificate of Designation, shall be held in trust for the benefit of the Holder holding the Warrant at the time of exercise of the Warrant, and paid to such Holder only upon such exercise.

e) Fundamental Transaction.

i. Fundamental Transactions. If, at any time while this Warrant is outstanding, a Fundamental Transaction occurs, the Company shall cause any Successor Entity in a Fundamental Transaction in which the Company is not the survivor to assume in writing all of the obligations of the Company under this Warrant in accordance with the provisions of this Section 3(e) pursuant to written agreements prior to such Fundamental Transaction, including agreements to deliver to the Holder, at the Holder’s option, in exchange for this Warrant a security of the Successor Entity evidenced by a written instrument substantially similar in form and substance to this Warrant, including, without limitation, which is exercisable for a corresponding number of shares of capital stock equivalent to the shares of Series J Preferred Stock acquirable and receivable upon exercise of this Warrant prior to such Fundamental Transaction, and with an exercise price which applies the exercise price hereunder to such shares of capital stock (but taking into account the relative value of the shares of Series J Preferred Stock pursuant to such Fundamental Transaction and the value of such shares of capital stock, such adjustments to the number of shares of capital stock and such exercise price being for the purpose of protecting the economic value of this Warrant immediately prior to the consummation of such Fundamental Transaction). 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 Warrant referring to the “Company” shall refer instead to the Successor Entity), and may exercise every right and power of the Company and shall assume all of the obligations of the Company under this Warrant with the same effect as if such Successor Entity had been named as the Company herein. In addition to and not in substitution for any other rights hereunder, prior to the consummation of each Fundamental Transaction pursuant to which holders of shares of Common Stock are entitled to receive securities or other assets with

 

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respect to or in exchange for shares of Common Stock (a “Corporate Event”), the Company shall make appropriate provision to ensure that the Holder will thereafter have the right to receive upon an exercise of this Warrant and conversion of the underlying Preferred Warrant Shares at any time after the consummation of the applicable Fundamental Transaction but prior to the Expiration Date, in lieu of the shares of the Common Stock (or other securities, cash, assets or other property) issuable upon the exercise of the Warrant and conversion of the underlying Preferred Warrant Shares prior to such Fundamental Transaction, such shares of stock or securities which the Holder would have been entitled to receive upon the happening of the applicable Fundamental Transaction had this Warrant been exercised and converted into Preferred Warrant Shares immediately prior to the applicable Fundamental Transaction (without regard to any limitations on the exercise of this Warrant).

ii. The Company shall instruct the Warrant Agent in writing to mail, by first class mail, postage prepaid, to each Holder, written notice of the execution of any such amendment, supplement or agreement with the Successor Entity. Any supplemented or amended agreement entered into by the Successor Entity shall provide for adjustments, which shall be as nearly equivalent as may be practicable to the adjustments provided for in this Section 3(e). The Warrant Agent shall have no duty, responsibility or obligation to determine the correctness of any provisions contained in such agreement or such notice, including but not limited to any provisions relating either to the kind or amount of securities or other property receivable upon exercise of warrants or with respect to the method employed and provided therein for any adjustments, and shall be entitled to rely conclusively for all purposes upon the provisions contained in any such agreement. The provisions of this Section 3(e) shall similarly apply to successive reclassifications, changes, consolidations, mergers, sales and conveyances of the kind described above.

f) Calculations. All calculations under this Section 3 shall be made by the Company to the nearest cent or the nearest 1/100th of a share, as the case may be. For purposes of this Section 3, the number of shares of Series J Preferred Stock deemed to be issued and outstanding as of a given date shall be the sum of the number of shares of Series J Preferred Stock (excluding treasury shares, if any) issued and outstanding.

g) Notice to Holder.

i. Adjustment to Exercise Price. Whenever the Exercise Price is adjusted pursuant to any provision of this Section 3, the Company shall promptly deliver to the Holder and to the Warrant Agent by facsimile or email a notice setting forth the Exercise Price after such adjustment and any resulting adjustment to the number of Preferred Warrant Shares and setting forth a brief statement of the facts requiring such adjustment; provided, however, that the Company may satisfy the notice requirement with respect to the Holder (but not the Warrant Agent) in this Section 3(g) by filing such information with the Commission on its EDGAR system pursuant to a Current Report on Form 8-K or Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q or Annual Report on Form 10-K.

ii. Notice to Allow Exercise by Holder. If (A) the Company shall declare a dividend (or any other distribution in whatever form other than a stock split) on the Series J Preferred Stock, except for any recurring cash dividend, (B) the Company shall declare a special nonrecurring cash dividend on or a redemption of the Series J Preferred Stock (excluding any granting or issuance of rights to all of the Company’s stockholders pursuant to a stockholder rights plan), (C) the Company shall authorize the granting to all holders of the Series J Preferred Stock rights or warrants to subscribe for or purchase any shares of capital stock of any class or of any rights, (D) the approval of any stockholders of the Company shall be required in connection with any reclassification of the Series J Preferred Stock other than a reverse stock split, any consolidation or merger to which the Company (and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole) is a party, any sale or transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, or any compulsory share exchange whereby the Series J Preferred Stock is converted into other securities, cash or property, or (E) the Company shall authorize the voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the

 

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affairs of the Company, then, in each case, the Company shall cause to be delivered by facsimile or email to the Holder at its last facsimile number or email address as it shall appear upon the Warrant Register of the Company, at least five (5) calendar days prior to the applicable record or effective date hereinafter specified, (unless such information is filed with the Commission on its EDGAR system in which case a notice shall not be required) a notice stating (x) the date on which a record is to be taken for the purpose of such dividend, distribution, redemption, rights or warrants, or if a record is not to be taken, the date as of which the holders of the Series J Preferred Stock of record to be entitled to such dividend, distributions, redemption, rights or warrants are to be determined or (y) the date on which such reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, transfer or share exchange is expected to become effective or close, and the date as of which it is expected that holders of the Series J Preferred Stock of record shall be entitled to exchange their shares of Series J Preferred Stock for securities, cash or other property deliverable upon such reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, transfer or share exchange; provided that the failure to deliver such notice or any defect therein or in the delivery thereof shall not affect the validity of the corporate action required to be specified in such notice. To the extent that any notice provided in this Warrant constitutes, or contains, material, non-public information regarding the Company or any of the Subsidiaries, the Company shall simultaneously file such notice with the Commission pursuant to a Current Report on Form 8-K. The Holder shall remain entitled to exercise this Warrant during the period commencing on the date of such notice to the effective date of the event triggering such notice except as may otherwise be expressly set forth herein.

Section 4. Transfer of Warrant.

a) Transferability. This Warrant and all rights hereunder are transferable, in whole or in part, upon surrender of this Warrant at the office of the Warrant Agent designated for such purpose, together with a written assignment of this Warrant substantially in the form attached hereto properly completed and duly executed by the Holder or its agent or attorney and funds sufficient to pay any transfer taxes payable upon the making of such transfer accompanied by reasonable evidence of authority of the party making such request that may be required by the Warrant Agent including but not limited to, the signature guarantee of a guarantor institution which is a participant in a signature guarantee program approved by the Securities Transfer Association. Upon such surrender and, if required, such payment, the Company shall execute and deliver a new Warrant or Warrants in the name of the assignee or assignees, as applicable, and in the denomination or denominations specified in such instrument of assignment, and shall issue to the assignor a new Warrant evidencing the portion of this Warrant not so assigned, and this Warrant shall promptly be cancelled. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Holder shall not be required to physically surrender this Warrant to the Company unless the Holder has assigned this Warrant in full, in which case, the Holder shall surrender this Warrant to the Company within three (3) Trading Days of the date on which the Holder delivers an assignment form to the Company assigning this Warrant in full. The Warrant, if properly assigned in accordance herewith, may be exercised by a new holder for the purchase of Preferred Warrant Shares without having a new Warrant issued.

b) New Warrants. If this Warrant is not held in global form through DTC, this Warrant may be divided or combined with other Warrants upon presentation hereof at the aforesaid office of the Company, together with a written notice specifying the names and denominations in which new Warrants are to be issued, signed by the Holder or its agent or attorney. Subject to compliance with Section 4(a) herein and Section 2.1.5 of the Warrant Agreement, as to any transfer which may be involved in such division or combination, the Company shall execute and deliver a new Warrant or Warrants in exchange for the Warrant or Warrants to be divided or combined in accordance with such notice. All Warrants issued on transfers or exchanges shall be dated the Issuance Date and shall be identical with this Warrant except as to the number of Preferred Warrant Shares issuable pursuant thereto.

 

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c) Warrant Register. The Warrant Agent shall register this Warrant, upon records to be maintained by the Warrant Agent for that purpose (the “Warrant Register”), in the name of the record Holder hereof from time to time. The Company and the Warrant Agent may deem and treat the registered Holder of this Warrant as the absolute owner hereof for the purpose of any exercise hereof or any distribution to the Holder, and for all other purposes, absent actual notice to the contrary. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall prevent the Warrant Agent or any agent of the Warrant Agent from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by DTC or any other depository governing the exercise of the rights of a holder of a beneficial interest in any Warrant. The rights of beneficial owners in a Warrant held in global shall be exercised by the Holder or a Participant (as defined in the Warrant Agency Agreement) through the depository’s system, except to the extent expressly set forth in the Warrant Agency Agreement.

Section 5. Registration Statement. Following the Issuance Date, the Company is obligated to maintain an effective registration statement on Form S-1 (or other appropriate form) with the Commission covering the issuance of the Preferred Warrant Shares and shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of Preferred Warrant Shares until such time as no Warrants remain outstanding, unless there is available an exemption from, or a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act that covers the issuance of Preferred Warrant Shares and shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of Preferred Warrant Shares.

Section 6. Miscellaneous.

a) No Rights as Stockholder Until Exercise; No Settlement in Cash. This Warrant does not entitle the Holder to any voting rights, dividends or other rights as a stockholder of the Company prior to the exercise hereof as set forth in Section 2(d)(i), except as expressly set forth in Section 3.

b) Loss, Theft, Destruction or Mutilation of Warrant. The Company covenants that upon receipt by the Company and the Warrant Agent of an affidavit of loss reasonably satisfactory to the Company and the Warrant Agent evidencing the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of this Warrant or any share certificate relating to the Preferred Warrant Shares, and in case of loss, theft or destruction, of indemnity or security reasonably satisfactory to it and the Warrant Agent, and upon surrender and cancellation of such Warrant or share certificate, if mutilated, the Company will make and deliver a new Warrant or share certificate of like tenor and dated as of such cancellation, in lieu of such Warrant or share certificate.

c) Saturdays, Sundays, Holidays, etc. If the last or appointed day for the taking of any action or the expiration of any right required or granted herein shall not be a Trading Day, then, such action may be taken or such right may be exercised on the next succeeding Trading Day.

d) Authorized Shares. The Company covenants that, during the period the Warrant is outstanding, it will reserve a sufficient number of shares of authorized and unissued Series J Preferred Stock to provide for the issuance of securities upon the exercise of any subscription rights under this Warrant plus all dividends to be paid on any shares of Series J Preferred Stock outstanding. The Company further covenants that its issuance of this Warrant shall constitute full authority to its officers who are charged with the duty of issuing the necessary Preferred Warrant Shares upon the exercise of the subscription rights under this Warrant. The Company will take all such reasonable action as may be necessary to assure that such securities may be issued as provided herein without violation of any applicable law or regulation, or of any requirements of the Trading Market upon which the Common Stock may be listed. The Company covenants that all Preferred Warrant Shares which may be issued upon the exercise of the subscription rights represented by this Warrant will, upon exercise of the subscription rights represented by this Warrant and payment of the Exercise Price for such Preferred Warrant Shares in accordance herewith, be duly

 

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authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and free from all taxes, liens and charges created by the Company in respect of the issue thereof (other than taxes in respect of any transfer occurring contemporaneously with such issue). Except and to the extent as waived or consented to by the holders of a majority of the then outstanding Warrants (based on the number of Preferred Warrant Shares underlying such Warrants), the Company shall not by any action, including, without limitation, amending its certificate of incorporation or through any reorganization, transfer of assets, consolidation, merger, dissolution, issue or sale of securities or any other voluntary action, avoid or seek to avoid the observance or performance of any of the terms of this Warrant, but will at all times in good faith assist in the carrying out of all such terms and in the taking of all such actions as may be necessary or appropriate to protect the rights of the Holder as set forth in this Warrant against impairment. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company will (i) not increase the par value of any Preferred Warrant Shares above the amount payable therefor upon such exercise immediately prior to such increase in par value, (ii) take all such action as may be necessary or appropriate in order that the Company may validly and legally issue fully paid and nonassessable Preferred Warrant Shares upon the exercise of this Warrant, and (iii) use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain all such authorizations, exemptions or consents from any public regulatory body having jurisdiction thereof, as may be, necessary to enable the Company to perform its obligations under this Warrant. Before taking any action which would result in an adjustment in the number of Preferred Warrant Shares for which this Warrant is exercisable or in the Exercise Price, the Company shall obtain all such authorizations or exemptions thereof, or consents thereto, as may be necessary from any public regulatory body or bodies having jurisdiction thereof.

e) Governing Law. All questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation of this Warrant shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York, without regard to the principles of conflicts of law thereof.

f) Jurisdiction. Each party agrees that all legal proceedings concerning the interpretations, enforcement and defense of the transactions contemplated by this Warrant (whether brought against a party hereto or their respective affiliates, directors, officers, stockholders, partners, members, employees or agents) shall be commenced exclusively in the state and federal courts sitting in the City of New York. Each party hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts sitting in the City of New York, Borough of Manhattan for the adjudication of any dispute hereunder or in connection herewith or with any transaction contemplated hereby or discussed herein, and hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert in any suit, action or proceeding, any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of any such court, that such suit, action or proceeding is improper or is an inconvenient venue for such proceeding. Each party hereby irrevocably waives, 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 Warrant. As between a Holder and the Company, (i) each party irrevocably waives personal service of process and consents to process being served in any such suit, action or proceeding by mailing a copy thereof via registered or certified mail or overnight delivery (with evidence of delivery) to such party at the address in effect for notices to it under this Warrant and agrees that such service shall constitute good and sufficient service of process and notice thereof, (nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit in any way any right to serve process in any other manner permitted by law), and (ii) if either party shall commence an action, suit or proceeding to enforce any provisions of this Warrant, the prevailing party in such action, suit or proceeding shall be reimbursed by the other party for their reasonable attorneys’ fees and other costs and expenses incurred with the investigation, preparation and prosecution of such action or proceeding. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this paragraph shall limit or restrict the federal district court in which a Holder may bring a claim under the federal securities laws.

g) Restrictions. The Holder acknowledges that the Preferred Warrant Shares issuable upon the exercise of this Warrant, if not registered, will have restrictions upon resale imposed by state and federal securities laws.

 

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h) Nonwaiver and Expenses. No course of dealing or any delay or failure to exercise any right hereunder on the part of Holder shall operate as a waiver of such right or otherwise prejudice the Holder’s rights, powers or remedies. Without limiting any other provision of this Warrant, if the Company willfully and knowingly fails to comply with any provision of this Warrant, which results in any material damages to the Holder, the Company shall pay to the Holder such amounts as shall be sufficient to cover any costs and expenses including, but not limited to, reasonable attorneys’ fees, including those of appellate proceedings, incurred by the Holder in collecting any amounts due pursuant hereto or in otherwise enforcing any of its rights, powers or remedies hereunder.

i) Notices. Any and all notices or other communications or deliveries to be provided by the Holders hereunder including, without limitation, any Notice of Exercise, shall be in writing and delivered personally, by facsimile, e-mail (other than to the Warrant Agent) or sent by a nationally recognized overnight courier service, addressed to:

BIOLASE, Inc.

27042 Towne Centre Drive, Suite 270

Lake Forest, California 92610

Attention: John R. Beaver

Email: jbeaver@biolase.com

Computershare Inc. and Computershare Trust Company, N.A.,

150 Royall Street,

Canton, MA 02021,

Attention: Client Services;

or such other facsimile number, email address or address as the Company may specify for such purposes by notice to the Holders. Any and all notices or other communications or deliveries to be provided by the Company hereunder shall be in writing and delivered personally, by facsimile or e-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 Warrant Agent. Any notice or other communication or deliveries hereunder shall be deemed given and effective on the earliest of (a) the time of transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via facsimile at the facsimile number or e-mail (or e-mail attachment) at the email address set forth on the signature pages attached hereto at or prior to 5:30 p.m. (New York City time) on a Trading Day, (b) the next Trading Day after the date of transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via facsimile at the facsimile number or e-mail (or e-mail attachment) at the e-mail address as set forth on the signature pages attached hereto on a day that is not a Trading Day or later than 5:30 p.m. (New York City time) on any Trading Day, (c) the second (2nd) Trading Day following the date of mailing, if sent by U.S. nationally recognized overnight courier service or (d) upon actual receipt by the party to whom such notice is required to be given. To the extent that any notice provided hereunder constitutes, or contains, material, non-public information regarding the Company or any Subsidiaries, the Company shall simultaneously file such notice with the Commission pursuant to a Current Report on Form 8-K.

j) Limitation of Liability. No provision hereof, in the absence of any affirmative action by the Holder to exercise this Warrant to purchase Preferred Warrant Shares, and no enumeration herein of the rights or privileges of the Holder, shall give rise to any liability of the Holder for the purchase price of any shares of Series J Preferred Stock or as a stockholder of the Company, whether such liability is asserted by the Company or by creditors of the Company.

k) Remedies. The Holder, in addition to being entitled to exercise all rights granted by law, including recovery of damages, will be entitled to specific performance of its rights under this Warrant. The

 

12


Company agrees that monetary damages would not be adequate compensation for any loss incurred by reason of a breach by it of the provisions of this Warrant and hereby agrees to waive and not to assert the defense in any action for specific performance that a remedy at law would be adequate.

l) Successors and Assigns. Subject to applicable securities laws, this Warrant and the rights and obligations evidenced hereby shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors and permitted assigns of the Company and the successors and permitted assigns of Holder. The provisions of this Warrant are intended to be for the benefit of any Holder from time to time of this Warrant and shall be enforceable by the Holder or holder of Preferred Warrant Shares.

m) Amendment. This Warrant may be modified or amended or the provisions hereof waived with the written consent of the Company, on the one hand, and the Holders of a majority of the Preferred Warrant Shares underlying the Warrants of the Company issued on the Closing Date that are outstanding as of such date.

n) Severability. Wherever possible, each provision of this Warrant shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Warrant shall be prohibited by or invalid under applicable law, such provision shall be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or invalidity, without invalidating the remainder of such provisions or the remaining provisions of this Warrant.

o) Headings. The headings used in this Warrant are for the convenience of reference only and shall not, for any purpose, be deemed a part of this Warrant.

p) Warrant Agency Agreement. This Warrant is issued subject to the Warrant Agency Agreement. To the extent any provision of this Warrant conflicts with the express provisions of the Warrant Agency Agreement, the provisions of this Warrant shall govern and be controlling; provided, however, that all provisions with respect to the rights, duties, obligations, protections, immunities and liability of the Warrant Agent only shall be determined and interpreted solely by the provisions of the Warrant Agency Agreement.

********************

(Signature Page Follows)

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Warrant to be executed by its officer thereunto duly authorized as of the date first above indicated.

 

BIOLASE, INC.
By:  

 

Name:   John Beaver
Title:   Chief Executive Officer

Dated: [            ], 2023

Countersigned:

 

COMPUTERSHARE INC. and

COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY, N.A.,

jointly as Warrant Agent

By:  

 

   

Name:

Title:

 

14


NOTICE OF EXERCISE

 

TO:   

COMPUTERSHARE INC. and COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY, N.A.

BIOLASE, INC.

(1) The undersigned hereby elects to purchase              Preferred Warrant Shares of the Company pursuant to the terms of the attached Warrant (only required if exercised in full), and tenders herewith payment of the exercise price in full, together with all applicable transfer taxes, if any.

(2) Payment shall take the form of lawful money of the United States.

(3) Please issue said Preferred Warrant Shares in the name of the undersigned or in such other name as is specified below:

The Preferred Warrant Shares shall be delivered to the following DWAC Account Number:

 

DTC number:      

 

 
Account name:  

 

 
Account number:      

 

 

[SIGNATURE OF HOLDER]

Name of Investing Entity:  

 

Signature of Authorized Signatory of Investing Entity:  

 

Name of Authorized Signatory:  

 

Title of Authorized Signatory:  

 

Date:  

 

 

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EXHIBIT B

ASSIGNMENT FORM

(To assign the foregoing Warrant, execute this form and supply required information. Do not use this form to purchase shares.)

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the foregoing Warrant and all rights evidenced thereby are hereby assigned to

 

Name:   

 

     (Please Print)
Address:   

    

     (Please Print)
Phone Number:   
Email Address:   
Dated:                              ,                
Holder’s Signature:                                
Holder’s Address:                                

(Holder’s signature must conform in all respects to the name of the Holder and must bear a signature guarantee by an Eligible Guarantor Institution (as that term is defined in Rule 17Ad-15 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended).

 

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Exhibit 4.3

WARRANT AGENCY AGREEMENT

WARRANT AGENCY AGREEMENT (this “Warrant Agency Agreement”) dated as of [____], 2023 (the “Issuance Date”) between BIOLASE, Inc., a company incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “Company”), and Computershare Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Computershare”), and its affiliate Computershare Trust Company, N.A., a federally chartered trust company (together with Computershare, the “Warrant Agent”).

WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms of that certain underwriting agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”), dated [____], 2023, by and between the Company and Lake Street Capital Markets, LLC, as representative of the underwriters, the Company is engaged in a public offering (the “Offering”) of (i) [____] units (the “Units”), with each Unit consisting of (A) one share of the Company’s J Convertible Redeemable Preferred Stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Series J Convertible Preferred Stock”), and (B) one warrant (each a “Preferred Warrant” and collectively, the “Preferred Warrants”) to purchase one-half of one share (0.5) of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock, (ii) the shares of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock issuable upon exercise of the Preferred Warrants (the “Preferred Warrant Shares”), (iii) the shares of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock issuable upon the payment in-kind of dividends (“PIK Dividends”), and (iv) the shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Common Stock”), issuable upon conversion of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock (the “Conversion Shares”).

WHEREAS, the Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) a Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-273372) (as the same may be amended from time to time, the “Registration Statement”), for the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), of the Units, the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock, the Preferred Warrants, the Preferred Warrant Shares, the PIK Dividends and the Conversion Shares, and such Registration Statement was declared effective on [____], 2023;

WHEREAS, on [____], 2023, the Company filed with the Delaware Secretary of State a Certificate of Designation of Preferences, Rights and Limitations (the “Certificate of Designation”) that sets forth the terms of such J Convertible Preferred Stock, which includes a liquidation preference of $100.00 per share (“Stated Value”);

WHEREAS, the Company desires the Warrant Agent to act on behalf of the Company, and the Warrant Agent is willing to so act, in accordance with the terms set forth in this Warrant Agency Agreement in connection with the issuance, registration, transfer, exchange and exercise of the Preferred Warrants;

WHEREAS, the Company desires to provide for the provisions of the Preferred Warrants, the terms upon which they shall be issued and exercised, and the respective rights, limitation of rights, and immunities of the Company, the Warrant Agent, and the holders of the Preferred Warrants, as applicable; and

WHEREAS, all acts and things have been done and performed which are necessary to make the Preferred Warrants the valid, binding and legal obligations of the Company, and to authorize the execution and delivery of this Warrant Agency Agreement.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:

1. Appointment of Warrant Agent. The Company hereby appoints the Warrant Agent to act as agent for the Company with respect to the Preferred Warrants in accordance with the express terms and conditions hereof, and the Warrant Agent hereby accepts such appointment and agrees to perform the same in accordance with the express terms and conditions set forth in this Warrant Agency Agreement (and no implied terms or conditions).

 

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2. Warrants. The Preferred Warrants shall be registered securities in book-entry form and shall initially be evidenced by a global certificate in the form of Exhibit A (the “Global Certificate”) attached to this Warrant Agency Agreement, which shall be deposited on behalf of the Company with a custodian for The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) and registered in the name of Cede & Co., a nominee of DTC. If DTC subsequently ceases to make its book-entry settlement system available for the Preferred Warrants, the Company shall instruct the Warrant Agent regarding making other arrangements for book-entry settlement. In the event that the Preferred Warrants are not eligible for, or it is no longer necessary to have the Preferred Warrants available in, book-entry form, the Company shall instruct the Warrant Agent to provide written instructions to DTC to deliver to the Warrant Agent for cancellation the Global Certificate or Certificates, and the Company shall instruct the Warrant Agent to deliver to DTC separate certificates evidencing Warrants (“Definitive Certificates” and, together with the Global Certificate, “Preferred Warrant Certificates”) registered as requested through the DTC system. The Definitive Certificates, together with the form of election to purchase shares of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock (the “Notice of Exercise”) and the form of assignment to be printed on the reverse thereof, shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit B attached hereto.

2.1. Issuance and Registration of Preferred Warrants.

2.1.1. Warrant Register. The Warrant Agent shall maintain books (“Warrant Register”) for the registration of original issuance and the registration of transfer of the Preferred Warrants.

2.1.2. Issuance of Preferred Warrants. Upon the initial issuance of the Preferred Warrants, the Warrant Agent shall issue the Global Certificates and deliver the Preferred Warrants in the DTC book-entry settlement system in accordance with written instructions delivered to the Warrant Agent by the Company. Ownership of beneficial interests in the Preferred Warrants shall be shown on, and the transfer of such ownership shall be effected through, records maintained (i) by DTC and (ii) by institutions that have accounts with DTC (each, a “Participant”). A Holder has the right to elect at any time or from time to time a Preferred Warrant Exchange (as defined below) pursuant to a Preferred Warrant Certificate Request Notice (as defined below). Upon written notice by a Holder to the Warrant Agent and the Company for the exchange of some or all of such Holder’s Preferred Warrants held in book-entry form for a Definitive Certificate evidencing the same number of Preferred Warrants, which request shall be in the form attached hereto as Annex A (such notice, the “Preferred Warrant Certificate Request Notice” and the date of delivery of such Preferred Warrant Certificate Request Notice by the Holder, the “Preferred Warrant Certificate Request Notice Date” and the actual surrender upon delivery by the Holder of a number of Preferred Warrants in the DTC book-entry settlement system for the same number of Preferred Warrants evidenced by a Definitive Certificate, a “Preferred Warrant Exchange”), the Warrant Agent shall, as promptly as practicable, effect the Preferred Warrant Exchange and the Company shall promptly issue and deliver (or cause to be delivered) to the Holder a Definitive Certificate for such number of Preferred Warrants in the name set forth in the Preferred Warrant Certificate Request Notice. Such Definitive Certificate shall be dated the original issue date of the Preferred Warrants and shall be executed manually or by facsimile signature by an authorized signatory of the Company and shall be in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B. In connection with a Preferred Warrant Exchange, the Company agrees to deliver, or to direct the Warrant Agent to deliver, the Definitive Certificate to the Holder within three (3) Trading Days of the Preferred Warrant Certificate Request Notice pursuant to the delivery instructions in the Preferred Warrant Certificate Request Notice (“Preferred Warrant Certificate Delivery Date”). If the Company fails for any reason to

 

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deliver or cause the delivery to the Holder the Definitive Certificate subject to the Preferred Warrant Certificate Request Notice by the Preferred Warrant Certificate Delivery Date, the Company shall pay to the Holder, in cash, as liquidated damages and not as a penalty, for each $1,000 of Preferred Warrant Shares evidenced by such Definitive Certificate (based on the Stated Value of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock, as set forth in the Certificate of Designation), of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock on the Preferred Warrant Certificate Request Notice Date), $10 per Trading Day (increasing to $20 per Trading Day on the fifth Trading Day after the Preferred Warrant Share Delivery Date) for each Trading Day after such Preferred Warrant Certificate Delivery Date until such Definitive Certificate is delivered or, prior to delivery of such Preferred Warrant Certificate, the Holder rescinds such Preferred Warrant Exchange. Notwithstanding the forgoing, the Warrant Agent shall not, in any event, be subject to, or responsible for, liquidated damages or any “buy-in” penalties or any other amounts payable or paid to any Holder or any other Person for any failure or delay to deliver the Definitive Certificate as aforesaid. In addition, the Company shall indemnify and hold harmless the Warrant Agent against any claims made against the Warrant Agent for any such failure. The Company covenants and agrees that, upon the date of delivery of the Preferred Warrant Certificate Request Notice, the Holder shall be deemed to be the holder of the Definitive Certificate and, notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, the Definitive Certificate shall be deemed for all purposes to contain all of the terms and conditions of the Preferred Warrants evidenced by such Definitive Certificate and the terms of this Warrant Agency Agreement. A party requesting a Preferred Warrant Exchange must provide to the Warrant Agent any evidence of authority that may reasonably be required by the Warrant Agent, including but not limited to, a signature guarantee.

2.1.3. Beneficial Owner; Holder. Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer of any Preferred Warrant, the Company and the Warrant Agent shall deem and treat the person in whose name that Preferred Warrant shall be registered on the Warrant Register (the “Holder”) as the absolute owner of such Preferred Warrant for purposes of any exercise thereof, and for all other purposes, and neither the Company nor the Warrant Agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall prevent the Company, the Warrant Agent or any agent of the Company or the Warrant Agent from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by DTC governing the exercise of the rights of a holder of a beneficial interest in any Preferred Warrant. The rights of beneficial owners in a Preferred Warrant evidenced by the Global Certificate shall be exercised by the Holder or a Participant through the DTC system, except to the extent set forth herein or in the Global Certificate.

2.1.4. Execution. The Preferred Warrant Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the Company by any authorized officer of the Company (an “Authorized Officer”), which need not be the same authorized signatory for all of the Preferred Warrant Certificates, either manually or by facsimile signature. The Preferred Warrant Certificates shall be countersigned, either manually or by facsimile signature, by an authorized signatory of the Warrant Agent, which need not be the same signatory for all of the Preferred Warrant Certificates, and no Preferred Warrant Certificate shall be valid for any purpose unless so countersigned. In case any Authorized Officer of the Company that signed any of the Preferred Warrant Certificates ceases to be an Authorized Officer of the Company before countersignature by the Warrant Agent and issuance and delivery by the Company, such Preferred Warrant Certificates, nevertheless, may be countersigned by the Warrant Agent, issued and delivered with the same force and effect as though the person who signed such Preferred Warrant Certificates had not ceased to be such officer of the Company; and any Preferred Warrant Certificate may be signed on behalf of the Company by any other person who, at the actual date of the execution of such Preferred Warrant Certificate, shall be an Authorized Officer of the Company authorized to sign such Preferred Warrant Certificate, although at the date of the execution of this Warrant Agency Agreement any such person was not such an Authorized Officer.

 

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2.1.5. Registration of Transfer. Subject to the provisions of the Preferred Warrants, at any time prior to 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the Termination Date (as defined below), a transfer of any Preferred Warrants may be registered and any Preferred Warrant Certificate or Preferred Warrant Certificates may be split up, combined or exchanged for another Preferred Warrant Certificate or Preferred Warrant Certificates evidencing the same number of Preferred Warrants as the Preferred Warrant Certificate or Preferred Warrant Certificates surrendered. Any Holder desiring to register the transfer of Preferred Warrants or to split up, combine or exchange any Preferred Warrant Certificate shall make such request in writing delivered to the Warrant Agent, and shall surrender to the Warrant Agent the Preferred Warrant Certificate or Preferred Warrant Certificates evidencing the Preferred Warrants the transfer of which is to be registered or that is or are to be split up, combined or exchanged together with any required form of assignment and certificate duly executed and properly completed by such Holder at the office or offices of the Warrant Agent designated for such purpose and, in the case of registration of transfer, shall provide a signature guarantee (a “signature guarantee”) from an eligible guarantor institution participating in a signature guarantee program approved by the Securities Transfer Association and such other documentation as the Warrant Agent may reasonably request. Thereupon, the Warrant Agent shall countersign and deliver to the person entitled thereto a Preferred Warrant Certificate or Preferred Warrant Certificates, as the case may be, as so requested. The Company and the Warrant Agent may require payment, by the Holder requesting a registration of transfer of Preferred Warrants or a split-up, combination or exchange of a Preferred Warrant Certificate (but, for purposes of clarity, not upon the exercise of the Preferred Warrants and issuance of Preferred Warrant Shares to the Holder), of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with such registration of transfer, split-up, combination or exchange, together with reimbursement to the Company and the Warrant Agent of all reasonable expenses incidental thereto. The Warrant Agent shall not have any duty or obligation to take any action under any section of this Warrant Agreement that requires the payment of taxes and/or charges unless and until it is satisfied that all such payments have been made.

2.1.6. Loss, Theft and Mutilation of Warrant Certificates. Upon receipt by the Company and the Warrant Agent of evidence reasonably satisfactory to them of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of a Preferred Warrant Certificate, which evidence shall include an affidavit of loss, or in the case of mutilated certificates, the certificate or portion thereof remaining, and, in case of loss, theft or destruction, of indemnity or security in customary form and amount satisfactory to the Warrant Agent, and satisfaction of any other reasonable requirements, and reimbursement to the Company and the Warrant Agent of all reasonable expenses incidental thereto, and upon surrender to the Warrant Agent and cancellation of the Preferred Warrant Certificate if mutilated, the Company shall make and deliver a new Warrant Certificate of like tenor to the Warrant Agent for countersignature and delivery to the Holder in lieu of the Preferred Warrant Certificate so lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated. The Warrant Agent may charge the Holder an administrative fee for processing the replacement of lost Warrant Certificates, which shall be charged only once in instances where a single surety bond obtained covers multiple certificates. The Warrant Agent may receive compensation from the surety companies or surety agents for administrative services provided to them.

2.1.7. Proxies. The Holder of a Preferred Warrant may grant proxies or otherwise authorize any person, including the Participants and beneficial holders that may own interests through the Participants, to take any action that a Holder is entitled to take under this Warrant Agency Agreement or the Preferred Warrants; provided, however, that at all times that Preferred Warrants are evidenced by a Global Certificate, exercise of those Warrants shall be effected on their behalf by Participants through DTC in accordance the procedures administered by DTC.

2.1.8. Opinion of Counsel. On or prior to the execution of this Warrant Agency Agreement, the Company shall provide the Warrant Agent with an opinion of counsel to set up a reserve of Preferred Warrant Shares for the outstanding Preferred Warrants. The opinion shall state that all Preferred Warrants

 

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or Preferred Warrant Shares, as applicable, are (a) registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), or are exempt from such registration, and all appropriate state securities law filings have been made with respect to the warrants or shares or alternatively, that the securities are “covered securities” under Section 18 of the Securities Act; and (b) validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

3. Terms and Exercise of Preferred Warrants.

3.1. Exercise Price. Each Preferred Warrant shall entitle the Holder, subject to the provisions of the applicable Preferred Warrant Certificate and of this Warrant Agency Agreement, to purchase from the Company the number of shares of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock, stated therein, at the exercise price of $60.00 per whole share (or $30.00 per one-half of one (0.5) share), subject to the subsequent adjustments provided by Section 4 hereof and Section 3 of the Preferred Warrant Certificates. The term “Exercise Price” as used in this Warrant Agency Agreement refers to the price per share at which shares of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock, may be purchased at the time a Preferred Warrant is exercised.

3.2. Duration of Preferred Warrants. The Preferred Warrants have a one-year term and may be exercised only during the period (“Exercise Period”) commencing on or after [____], 2023 and ending on 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on [____], 2024 (the “Termination Date”). Each Preferred Warrant not exercised before 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the Termination Date shall become void, and, subject to Sections 7.11 and 9.5 hereof, all rights thereunder and all rights in respect thereof under this Warrant Agency Agreement shall cease at the close of business on the Termination Date.

3.3. Exercise of Preferred Warrants.

3.3.1. Exercise and Payment. (a) Subject to the provisions of this Warrant Agency Agreement, a Holder of a Definitive Certificate may exercise Preferred Warrants evidenced by such Definitive Certificate by delivering to the Warrant Agent and the Company, a duly executed facsimile copy or PDF copy submitted by e-mail (or e-mail attachment) of the Notice of Exercise in the form annexed to the Preferred Warrant Certificate. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Warrant Agency Agreement, a holder whose interest in a Preferred Warrant is a beneficial interest in a Global Certificate held in book-entry form through DTC (or another established clearing corporation performing similar functions), shall effect exercises by delivering to DTC (or such other clearing corporation, as applicable) the appropriate instruction form for exercise, complying with the procedures to effect exercise that are required by DTC (or such other clearing corporation, as applicable). Any Holder exercising a Preferred Warrant shall deliver payment of the Exercise Price pursuant to Section 2(a) and Section 2(b) of the Preferred Warrant Certificate set forth in Exhibit B attached hereto. The Warrant Agent shall forward funds received for Preferred Warrant exercises by the fifth Business Day of the following month after such funds are received by the Warrant Agent by wire transfer to an account designated by the Company. The Company acknowledges that the bank accounts maintained by the Warrant Agent in connection with the services provided under this Warrant Agency Agreement will be in Computershare’s name, as agent for the Company, and that the Warrant Agent may receive investment earnings in connection with the investment at Warrant Agent risk and for its benefit of funds (the “Funds”) held in those accounts from time to time. Until paid pursuant to the terms of this Warrant Agency Agreement, Computershare will hold the Funds through such accounts in: deposit accounts of commercial banks with Tier 1 capital exceeding $1 billion or with an average rating above investment grade by S&P (LT Local Issuer Credit Rating), Moody’s (Long Term Rating) and Fitch Ratings, Inc. (LT Issuer Default Rating) (each as reported by Bloomberg Finance L.P.). Computershare shall have no responsibility or liability for any diminution of the Funds that may result from any deposit made by Computershare in accordance with this paragraph, including any losses resulting from a default by any bank, financial institution or other third party. Computershare may from time to time receive interest, dividends or other earnings in connection with such deposits. Computershare shall not be obligated to pay such interest, dividends or earnings to the Company, any holder or any other party. If either the Exercise

 

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Note or the Exercise price relating to an exercise are received or deemed to be received after the Termination Date, the exercise thereof will be null and void and any funds delivered to the Company will be returned to the Holder or Participant, as the case may be, as soon as practicable. In no event will interest accrue on any funds deposited with the Company in respect of an exercise or attempted exercise of the Preferred Warrants. (b) The Preferred Warrants shall cease to be exercisable and shall terminate and become void and callable as set forth in the applicable Preferred Warrant Certificate. The Company hereby instructs the Warrant Agent to record cost basis for newly issued shares in a manner to be subsequently communicated by the Company in writing to the Warrant Agent.

3.3.2. Issuance of Preferred Warrant Shares.

(a) The Warrant Agent shall, as promptly as practicable following the date of exercise of any Preferred Warrant, advise the Company (to the extent known the Warrant Agent) and the transfer agent and registrar for the Company’s Series J Convertible Preferred Stock, which on the date hereof is Computershare Trust Company, N.A (the “Transfer Agent”), in respect of (i) the number of Preferred Warrant Shares indicated on the Notice of Exercise as issuable upon such exercise with respect to such exercised Warrants, (ii) the instructions of the Holder or Participant, as the case may be, provided to the Warrant Agent with respect to the delivery of the Preferred Warrant Shares and the number of Preferred Warrants that remain. outstanding after such exercise, and (iii) such other information as the Company or the Transfer Agent shall reasonably request.

(b) Upon the Warrant Agent’s receipt, at or prior to the Close of Business on the Termination Date set forth in a Preferred Warrant Certificate, of the executed Notice of Exercise, accompanied by payment of the Exercise Price pursuant to Section 2(a) and 2(b) of the Preferred Warrant Certificate set forth in Exhibit B attached hereto, the Warrant Agent shall cause the Preferred Warrant Shares underlying such Preferred Warrant to be delivered by the Transfer Agent to or upon the order of the Holder of such Preferred Warrant, registered in such name or names as may be designated by such Holder, no later than the Preferred Warrant Share Delivery Date. If the Company is then a participant in DTC’s Deposit or Withdrawal at Custodian (“DWAC”) system and there is an effective registration statement permitting the issuance of the Preferred Warrant Shares to or resale of the Preferred Warrant Shares by Holder, then the Company shall cause the Preferred Warrant Shares purchased hereunder to be transmitted by the Transfer Agent to the Holder by crediting the account of the Holder’s or its designee’s account with DTC through its Deposit or Withdrawal at Custodian system.

3.3.3. Valid Issuance. All Preferred Warrant Shares issued by the Company upon the proper exercise of a Preferred Warrant in conformity with this Warrant Agency Agreement shall be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

3.3.4. No Fractional Shares or Scrip. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained in this Agreement or the Preferred Warrant, the Company shall not be required to issue any fraction of a Preferred Warrant Share or scrip representing fractional shares upon the exercise of the Preferred Warrant. As to any fraction of a share which the Holder would otherwise be entitled to purchase upon such exercise, pay a cash adjustment in respect of such final fraction in an amount equal to such fraction multiplied by the Stated Value of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock, as set forth in the Series J Certificate of Designation. Accordingly, a holder of a Preferred Warrant is entitled to exercise a number of Preferred Warrants that would result solely in the holder receiving one or more whole Preferred Warrant Shares. Prior to paying an adjustment in cash in respect of a fractional interest, the Company shall first provide to Computershare an initial funding of one thousand dollars ($1,000) for the purpose of issuing cash in lieu of fractional shares. From time to time thereafter, Computershare may request additional funding to cover fractional payments. Computershare shall have no obligation to make fractional payments unless the Company shall have provided the necessary funds to pay in full all amounts due and payable with respect thereto.

3.3.5. Charges, Taxes, and Expenses. Issuance of Preferred Warrant Shares shall be made without charge to the Holder for any issue or transfer tax or other incidental expense in respect of the

 

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issuance of such Preferred Warrant Shares, all of which taxes and expenses shall be paid by the Company, and such Preferred Warrant Shares shall be issued in the name of the Holder or in such name or names as may be directed by the Holder; provided, however, that in the event that Preferred Warrant Shares are to be issued in a name other than the name of the Holder, the Preferred Warrant when surrendered for exercise shall be accompanied by the Assignment Form attached to the Preferred Warrant properly completed and duly executed by the Holder and accompanied by a signature guarantee and the Company may require, as a condition thereto, the payment of a sum sufficient to reimburse it for any transfer tax incidental thereto; and (the Company shall use its best efforts to pay, or procure payment of issue or stamp taxes levied in connection with the issuance of the Preferred Warrant or Preferred Warrant Shares to the Holder (“Relevant Taxes”). The Holder agrees to cooperate with the Company and provide all necessary and reasonable information and documentation to the Company in a timely manner (and in any event within 10 Business Days of request) to enable the Company to procure payment of any Relevant Taxes and facilitate the making of any necessary filings in respect of Relevant Taxes required to be made within applicable time limits. The Company shall not be liable for any Relevant Taxes or any penalty, fine, surcharge, interest, charge, cost or other similar imposition arising in respect of Relevant Taxes to the extent that such amount arises or is increased as a result of any failure by a Holder to timely provide the Company with any information or documentation reasonably requested pursuant to Section 2(d)(vi) of the Preferred Warrant Certificate set forth in Exhibit B attached hereto. The Company shall pay all Transfer Agent fees required for processing of any Notice of Exercise and all fees to DTC (or another established clearing corporation performing similar functions) required for electronic delivery of the Preferred Warrant Shares.

3.3.6. Date of Issuance. The Company will treat an exercising Holder as a beneficial owner of the Preferred Warrant Shares as of the date of exercise of any Preferred Warrant, except that, if such date of exercise is a date when the stock transfer books of the Company are closed, such person shall be deemed to have become the holder of such shares at the open of business on the next succeeding date on which the stock transfer books are open.

3.3.7. [Reserved].

3.3.8. [Reserved].

3.3.9. Disputes. In the case of a dispute as to the determination of the Exercise Price or the arithmetic calculation of the number of Preferred Warrant Shares issuable in connection with any exercise, the Company shall promptly deliver to the Holder the number of Preferred Warrant Shares that are not disputed.

4. Adjustments. The Exercise Price, the number of shares of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock covered by each Preferred Warrant and the number of Preferred Warrants outstanding are subject to adjustment from time to time as provided in Section 3 of the Preferred Warrant Certificate set forth in Exhibit B attached hereto. The Company hereby agrees that it will provide the Warrant Agent with reasonable notice of any such adjustments. The Warrant Agent shall have no obligation under any Section of this Agreement to determine whether an event resulting in any such adjustment has occurred or to calculate any of the adjustments set forth herein. All Preferred Warrants originally issued by the Company subsequent to any adjustment made to the Exercise Price pursuant to the Warrant shall evidence the right to purchase, at the adjusted Exercise Price, the number of shares of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock, purchasable from time to time hereunder upon exercise of the Preferred Warrants, all subject to further adjustment as provided herein. Whenever the Exercise Price or the number of Preferred Warrant Shares issuable upon the exercise of each Preferred Warrant is adjusted, the Company shall (a) promptly prepare a certificate setting forth the Exercise Price of each Preferred Warrant as so adjusted and the increase or decrease, if any, in the number of Preferred Warrant Shares purchasable at such price upon the exercise of a Preferred Warrant, and a brief statement of the facts accounting for such adjustment, (b) promptly file with the Warrant Agent and with

 

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the Transfer Agent a copy of such certificate and (c) instruct the Warrant Agent to send a brief summary thereof to each Holder of a Preferred Warrant. If the Company requests the Warrant Agent to send such notices, it shall provide the Warrant Agent with a draft notice to be used for this purpose. The Warrant Agent shall be entitled to rely conclusively on, and shall be fully protected in relying on, any certificate, notice or instructions provided by the Company with respect to any adjustment of the Exercise Price or the number of shares issuable upon exercise of a Preferred Warrant, or any related matter, and the Warrant Agent shall not be liable for any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it in accordance with any such certificate, notice or instructions or pursuant to this Warrant Agency Agreement. The Warrant Agent shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any such adjustment unless and until it shall have received written notice thereof from the Company.

5. Restrictive Legends; Fractional Warrants. In the event that a Preferred Warrant Certificate surrendered for transfer bears a restrictive legend, the Warrant Agent shall not register that transfer until the Warrant Agent has received an opinion of counsel for the Company stating that such transfer may be made and indicating whether the Preferred Warrants must also bear a restrictive legend upon that transfer. The Company shall not issue fractions of Preferred Warrants or distribute a Global Certificate or Warrant Certificates that evidence fractional Warrants. Whenever any fractional Warrant would otherwise be required to be issued or distributed, the actual issuance or distribution shall be paid via a cash adjustment as set forth in Section 3.3.4 of this Agreement. The Warrant Agent shall not be required to effect any registration of transfer or exchange which will result in the transfer of or delivery of a Preferred Warrant Certificate for a fraction of a Preferred Warrant. The Company shall not issue fractions of shares of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock upon exercise of Preferred Warrants or distribute stock certificates that evidence fractional shares of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock. Whenever any fraction of a share of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock would otherwise be required to be issued or distributed, the actual issuance or distribution in respect thereof shall be made in accordance with Section 2(d)(v) of the Preferred Warrant Certificate attached hereto as Exhibit B.

6. Other Provisions Relating to Rights of Holders of Preferred Warrants.

6.1. No Rights as Stockholder. Except as otherwise specifically provided herein and in accordance with the Preferred Warrant Certificates, a Holder, solely in his, her or its capacity as a holder of Preferred Warrants, shall not be entitled to vote or receive dividends or be deemed the holder of share capital of the Company for any purpose, nor shall anything contained in this Warrant Agency Agreement be construed to confer upon a Holder, solely in its capacity as the registered holder of Preferred Warrants, any of the rights of a shareholder of the Company or any right to vote, give or withhold consent to any corporate action (whether any reorganization, issue of stock, reclassification of share capital, consolidation, merger, conveyance or otherwise), receive notice of meetings, receive dividends or subscription rights or rights to participate in new issues of shares, or otherwise, prior to the issuance to the Holder of the Preferred Warrant Shares which it is then entitled to receive upon the due exercise of Preferred Warrants.

6.2. Reservation of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock. The Company shall at all times reserve and keep available a number of its authorized but unissued shares of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock pursuant to this Agreement and Section 6(d) of the Preferred Warrant Certificate attached hereto as Exhibit B.

7. Conditions of the Warrant Agent’s Obligations. The Warrant Agent accepts its obligations herein set forth upon the express terms and conditions hereof, including the following to all of which the Company agrees and to all of which the rights hereunder of the Holders from time to time shall be subject:

7.1. Compensation and Indemnification. The Company agrees promptly to pay the Warrant Agent the compensation set forth in a mutually agreed upon fee schedule executed on or before the date hereof for all services rendered by the Warrant Agent and on demand of the Warrant Agent to reimburse the Warrant

 

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Agent for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses (including reasonable counsel fees) and other disbursements incurred in the preparation, delivery, negotiation, amendment, administration and execution of this Warrant Agency Agreement and the exercise and performance of its duties hereunder. The Company covenants and agrees to indemnify and to hold harmless the Rights Agent against, any and all loss, liability, damage, judgment, fine, penalty, claim, demand, settlement, cost or expense (including, without limitation, the reasonable and documented fees and expenses of legal counsel) that may be paid, incurred or suffered by it, or which it may become subject, without gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct on the part of the Warrant Agent (which gross negligence, bad faith, or willful misconduct must be determined by a final, non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction), for any action taken, suffered, or omitted to be taken by the Warrant Agent in connection with the execution, acceptance, administration, exercise and performance of its duties under this Warrant Agency Agreement, including the reasonable and documented costs and expenses of defending against any claim of liability arising therefrom, directly or indirectly, or enforcing its rights hereunder. The Warrant Agent shall not be liable for the Company’s failure to timely deliver Preferred Warrant Shares pursuant to the terms of the Preferred Warrants, nor shall the Warrant Agent be liable for any liquidated damages or any other damages associated therewith.

7.2. Agent for the Company. In acting under this Warrant Agency Agreement and in connection with the Preferred Warrant Certificates, the Warrant Agent is acting solely as agent of the Company and does not assume any obligations or relationship of agency or trust for or with any of the Holders of Warrant Certificates or beneficial owners of Warrants.

7.3. Counsel. The Warrant Agent may consult with counsel satisfactory to it, which may include counsel for the Company, and the advice or opinion of such counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection to the Warrant Agent, and the Warrant Agent shall have no liability for or in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in the absence of bad faith and in accordance with the advice or opinion of such counsel.

7.4. Documents. From time to time, Company may provide Warrant Agent with instructions concerning the services performed by the Warrant Agent hereunder. The Warrant Agent and its agents and subcontractors shall be protected and shall incur no liability for or in respect of any action taken or omitted to be taken, suffered by it in reliance upon any Preferred Warrant Certificate, notice, direction, consent, certificate, affidavit, statement or other paper or document reasonably believed by it to be genuine and to have been presented or signed by the proper parties. The Warrant Agent shall not be held to have notice of any change of authority of any person, until receipt of written notice thereof from Company.

7.5. Certain Transactions. The Warrant Agent, and its officers, directors and employees, may become the owner of, or acquire any interest in, Warrants, with the same rights that it or they would have if it were not the Warrant Agent hereunder, and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, it or they may engage or be interested in any financial or other transaction with the Company and may act on, or as depositary, trustee or agent for, any committee or body of Holders of Warrant Securities or other obligations of the Company as freely as if it were not the Warrant Agent hereunder. Nothing in this Warrant Agency Agreement shall be deemed to prevent the Warrant Agent from acting as trustee under any indenture to which the Company is a party. Nothing herein shall preclude the Warrant Agent from acting in any other capacity for the Company or for any other legal entity.

7.6. No Liability for Interest. Unless otherwise agreed with the Company, the Warrant Agent shall have no liability for interest on any monies at any time received by it pursuant to any of the provisions of this Warrant Agency Agreement or of the Preferred Warrant Certificates.

7.7. No Liability for Invalidity. The Warrant Agent shall not be under any responsibility in respect of the validity of this Warrant Agency Agreement or the execution and delivery hereof (except the due

 

9


execution hereof by the Warrant Agent) or in respect of the validity or execution of any Preferred Warrant Certificate (except its countersignature thereof); nor shall it be responsible for any breach by the Company of any covenant or condition contained in this Warrant Agency Agreement or in any Preferred Warrant Certificate; nor shall it be responsible for the adjustment of the Exercise Price or the making of any change in the number of shares of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock required under the provisions of Section 4 (Adjustments) or Sections 5 and 3.3.4 regarding fractional shares or responsible for the manner, method or amount of any such change or the ascertaining of the existence of facts that would require any such adjustment or change (except with respect to the exercise of Preferred Warrants evidenced by Preferred Warrant Certificates after actual notice of any adjustment of the Exercise Price); nor shall it by any act hereunder be deemed to make any representation or warranty as to the authorization or reservation of any shares of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock to be issued pursuant to this Warrant Agency Agreement or any Preferred Warrant Certificate or as to whether any shares of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock will, when issued, be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

7.8. No Responsibility for Representations. The Warrant Agent shall not be responsible for any of the recitals, statement of facts or representations herein or in the Preferred Warrant Certificates (except as to the Warrant Agent’s countersignature thereon), all of which are made solely by the Company.

7.9. No Implied Obligations. The Warrant Agent shall be obligated to perform only such duties as are herein and in the Preferred Warrant Certificates specifically set forth and no implied duties or obligations shall be read into this Warrant Agency Agreement or the Preferred Warrant Certificates against the Warrant Agent. The Warrant Agent shall not be under any obligation to take any action hereunder which may tend to involve it in any expense or liability, the payment of which within a reasonable time or adequate indemnification is not, in its reasonable opinion, assured to it. The Warrant Agent shall not be accountable or under any duty or responsibility for the use by the Company of any of the Preferred Warrant Certificates authenticated by the Warrant Agent and delivered by it to the Company pursuant to this Warrant Agency Agreement or for the application by the Company of the proceeds of the Preferred Warrant Certificates. The Warrant Agent shall have no duty or responsibility in case of any default by the Company in the performance of its covenants or agreements contained herein or in the Preferred Warrant Certificates or in the case of the receipt of any written demand from a Holder of a Preferred Warrant Certificate with respect to any action or default by the Company, including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, any duty or responsibility to initiate or attempt to initiate any proceedings at law.

7.10. Signature Guarantee. A party requesting transfer of Preferred Warrants or the Preferred Warrant Shares must provide any evidence of authority that may be required by the Warrant Agent, including but not limited to, a signature guarantee from an eligible guarantor institution participating in a signature guarantee program approved by the Securities Transfer Association.

7.11. Survival. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, the rights and obligations of the parties set forth in this Section 7 shall survive the exercise or expiration of the Preferred Warrants, the termination of this Warrant Agency Agreement and the resignation, replacement or removal of the Warrant Agent.

7.12. Limitation of Liability. Neither party to this Warrant Agency Agreement shall be liable to the other party for any consequential, indirect, special or incidental damages under any provisions of this Warrant Agency Agreement or for any consequential, indirect, punitive, special or incidental damages arising out of any act or failure to act hereunder even if that party has been advised of or has foreseen the possibility of such damages. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, the Warrant Agent’s aggregate liability during any term of this Warrant Agency Agreement with respect to, arising from, or arising in connection with this Warrant Agency Agreement, or from all services provided or omitted to be provided under this Warrant Agency Agreement, whether in contract, or in tort, or otherwise,

 

10


is limited to, and shall not exceed, the amounts paid hereunder by the Company to Warrant Agent as fees and charges, but not including reimbursable expenses, during the twelve (12) months immediately preceding the event for which recovery from Warrant Agent is being sought.

8. Purchase or Consolidation or Change of Name of Warrant Agent.

8.1. Any Person into which the Warrant Agent or any successor Warrant Agent may be merged or with which it may be consolidated, or any Person resulting from any merger or consolidation to which the Warrant Agent or any successor Warrant Agent shall be party, or any Person succeeding to the corporate trust, stock transfer or shareholder services business of the Warrant Agent or any successor Warrant Agent, shall be the successor to the Warrant Agent under this Warrant Agency Agreement without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto, provided that such Person would be eligible for appointment as a successor Warrant Agent under the provisions of Section 9 of this Warrant Agency Agreement. In case at the time such successor Warrant Agent shall succeed to the agency created by this Warrant Agency Agreement any of the Preferred Warrant Certificates shall have been countersigned but not delivered, any such successor Warrant Agent may adopt the countersignature of the predecessor Warrant Agent and deliver such Preferred Warrant Certificates so countersigned; and in case at that time any of the Preferred Warrant Certificates shall not have been countersigned, any successor Warrant Agent may countersign such Preferred Warrant Certificates either in the name of the predecessor Warrant Agent or in the name of the successor Warrant Agent; and in all such cases such Preferred Warrant Certificates shall have the full force provided in the Preferred Warrant Certificates and in this Warrant Agency Agreement.

8.2. In case at any time the name of the Warrant Agent shall be changed and at such time any of the Preferred Warrant Certificates shall have been countersigned but not delivered, the Warrant Agent may adopt the countersignature under its prior name and deliver Warrant Certificates so countersigned; and in case at that time any of the Preferred Warrant Certificates shall not have been countersigned, the Warrant Agent may countersign such Preferred Warrant Certificates either in its prior name or in its changed name; and in all such cases such Preferred Warrant Certificates shall have the full force provided in the Preferred Warrant Certificates and in this Warrant Agency Agreement.

9. Duties of Warrant Agent. The Warrant Agent undertakes the duties and obligations imposed by this Warrant Agency Agreement upon the following express terms and conditions (and no implied duties or obligations shall be read into this Warrant Agency Agreement against the Warrant Agent), by all of which the Company, by its acceptance hereof, shall be bound:

9.1. Whenever in the performance of its duties under this Warrant Agency Agreement, the Warrant Agent shall deem it necessary or desirable that any fact or matter be proved or established by the Company prior to taking or suffering any action hereunder, such fact or matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by a certificate signed by the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, General Counsel or Secretary of the Company; and such certificate shall be full authentication to the Warrant Agent and the Warrant Agent shall be fully protected and shall no incur no liability for any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it under the provisions of this Warrant Agency Agreement in reliance upon such certificate in the absence of bad faith.

9.2. Subject to the limitation set forth in Section 7.12 of this Warrant Agency Agreement, the Warrant Agent shall be liable hereunder only for its own gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct (which gross negligence, bad faith, or willful misconduct must be determined by a final, non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction).

 

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9.3. The Warrant Agent is hereby authorized to accept instructions with respect to the performance of its duties hereunder from the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, General Counsel or Secretary of the Company, and to apply to such officers for advice or instructions with respect to any matter arising in connection with the services to be performed by the Warrant Agent under this Warrant Agency Agreement, and it shall not be liable and shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company for any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it in the absence of bad faith in accordance with instructions of any such officer, provided Warrant Agent carries out such instructions without gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct (which gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct must be determined by a final, non-appealable judgement of a court of competent jurisdiction).

9.4. The Warrant Agent may execute and exercise any of the rights or powers hereby vested in it or perform any duty hereunder either itself or by or through its attorney or agents, and the Warrant Agent shall not be answerable or accountable for any act, default, neglect or misconduct of any such attorney or agents or for any loss to the Company resulting from any such act, default, neglect or misconduct, provided reasonable care was exercised in the selection and continued employment thereof.

9.5. This Section 9 shall survive the exercise or expiration of the Preferred Warrants, the termination of this Warrant Agency Agreement and the resignation, replacement or removal of the Warrant Agent.

10. Change of Warrant Agent. The Warrant Agent, or any successor to it hereafter appointed, may resign and be discharged from its duties under this Warrant Agency Agreement upon 30 days’ notice in writing sent to the Company, and in the event that the Warrant Agent or one of its affiliates is not also the transfer agent for the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock, to each transfer agent of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock known to the Warrant Agent, and to the Holders of record of the Preferred Warrant Certificates. In the event the transfer agency relationship in effect between the Company and the Warrant Agent terminates, the Warrant Agent will be deemed to have resigned automatically and be discharged from its duties under this Warrant Agency Agreement as of the effective date of such termination, and the Company shall be responsible for sending any required notice. The Company may remove the Warrant Agent or any successor Warrant Agent upon 30 days’ notice in writing, sent to the Warrant Agent or successor Warrant Agent, as the case may be, and to each transfer agent of the Common Stock, and to the Holders of the Preferred Warrant Certificates. If the Warrant Agent shall resign or be removed or shall otherwise become incapable of acting, the Company shall appoint a successor to the Warrant Agent. If the Company shall fail to make such appointment within a period of 30 days after such removal or after it has been notified in writing of such resignation or incapacity by the resigning or incapacitated Warrant Agent or by the Holder of a Preferred Warrant Certificate (who shall, with such notice, submit his Warrant Certificate for inspection by the Company), then the Holder of any Preferred Warrant Certificate may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a new Warrant Agent, provided that, for purposes of this Warrant Agency Agreement, the Company shall be deemed to be the Warrant Agent until a new warrant agent is appointed. Any successor Warrant Agent, whether appointed by the Company or by such a court, shall be an entity organized and doing business under the laws of the United States or of a state thereof, in good standing, which is authorized under such laws to exercise stock transfer powers and is subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authority and which has at the time of its appointment as Warrant Agent a combined capital and surplus (together with its affiliates) of at least $50,000,000. After appointment, the successor Warrant Agent shall be vested with the same powers, rights, duties and responsibilities as if it had been originally named as Warrant Agent without further act or deed; but the predecessor Warrant Agent shall deliver and transfer to the successor Warrant Agent any property at the time held by it hereunder and execute and deliver, at the expense of the Company, any further assurance, conveyance, act or deed necessary for such purpose without assumption of any liability on the part of the former Warrant Agent. Not later than the effective date of any such appointment,

 

12


the Company shall file notice thereof in writing with the predecessor Warrant Agent and each transfer agent of the Common Stock, and mail or other deliver a notice thereof in writing to the Holders of the Preferred Warrant Certificates. However, failure to give any notice provided for in this Section 9, or any defect therein, shall not affect the legality or validity of the resignation or removal of the Warrant Agent or the appointment of the successor Warrant Agent, as the case may be.

11. Issuance of New Warrant Certificates. Notwithstanding any of the provisions of this Warrant Agency Agreement or of the Preferred Warrants to the contrary, the Company may, at its option, issue new Preferred Warrant Certificates evidencing Preferred Warrants in such form as may be approved by its Board of Directors to reflect any adjustment or change in the Exercise Price per share and the number or kind or class of shares of stock or other securities or property purchasable under the several Preferred Warrant Certificates made in accordance with the provisions of this Warrant Agency Agreement.

12. Notices. Notices or demands authorized by this Warrant Agency Agreement to be given or made (i) by the Warrant Agent or by the Holder of any Preferred Warrant Certificate to or on the Company, (ii) subject to the provisions of Section 10, by the Company or by the Holder of any Preferred Warrant Certificate to or on the Warrant Agent or (iii) by the Company or the Warrant Agent to the Holder of any Preferred Warrant Certificate, shall be deemed given (a) on the date delivered, if delivered personally, (b) when deposited with Federal Express or another recognized overnight courier, if sent by Federal Express or another recognized overnight courier, (c) when mailed with postage prepaid, if mailed by registered or certified mail (return receipt requested), and (d) the date of transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via facsimile (with confirmation) or email attachment (other than to the Warrant Agent) at or prior to 5:30 p.m. (New York City time) on a Business Day and (e) the next Business Day after the date of transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via facsimile (with confirmation) or email attachment (other than to the Warrant Agent) on a day that is not a Business Day or later than 5:30 p.m. (New York City time) on any Business Day, in each case to the parties at the following addresses (or at such other address for a party as shall be specified by like notice):

12.1. Notice Information.

If to the Company, to:

BIOLASE, Inc.

27042 Towne Centre Drive, Suite 270

Lake Forest, California 92610

Attention: John R. Beaver

Chief Executive Officer

Email: jbeaver@biolase.com

If to the Warrant Agent, to:

Computershare Inc.

Computershare Trust Company N.A.

150 Royall Street

Canton, Massachusetts 02021

Attention: Client Services

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, for any notice delivered by email to be deemed given or made, such notice must be followed by notice sent by overnight courier service to be delivered on the next business day following such email, unless the recipient of such email has acknowledged via return email receipt of such email.

 

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12.2. If to the Holder of any Preferred Warrant Certificate, to the address of such Holder as shown on the registry books of the Company. Any notice required to be delivered by the Company to the Holder of any Preferred Warrant may be given by the Warrant Agent on behalf of the Company. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Warrant Agency Agreement, where this Warrant Agency Agreement provides for notice of any event to a Holder of any Preferred Warrant, such notice shall be sufficiently given if given to the Depositary (or its designee) pursuant to the procedures of the Depositary or its designee.

13. Supplements and Amendments.

13.1. The Company and the Warrant Agent may from time to time supplement or amend this Warrant Agency Agreement without the approval of any Holders of Preferred Warrants in order to: (a) add to the covenants and agreements of the Company for the benefit of the Holders of the Preferred Warrants or to surrender any rights or power reserved to or conferred upon the Company in this Warrant Agency Agreement; or (b) to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any provision contained herein which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provisions herein, or to make any other provisions with regard to matters or questions arising hereunder which the Company and the Warrant Agent may deem necessary or desirable; provided that such addition or surrender or such change shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of the Preferred Warrants in any material respect.

13.2. In addition to the foregoing, with the consent of Holders of Warrants entitled, upon exercise thereof, to receive not less than a majority of the shares of Preferred Warrant Shares issuable thereunder, the Company and the Warrant Agent may modify this Warrant Agency Agreement for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Warrant Agency Agreement or modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of the Warrants; providedhowever, that no modification of the terms (including but not limited to the adjustments described in Section 4) upon which the Warrants are exercisable or reducing the percentage required for consent to modification of this Warrant Agency Agreement may be made without the consent of the Holder of each outstanding Warrant affected thereby. As a condition precedent to the Warrant Agent’s execution of any amendment, the Company shall deliver to the Warrant Agent a certificate from a duly authorized officer of the Company that states that the proposed amendment complies with the terms of this Section 13. Notwithstanding anything in this Warrant Agent Agreement to the contrary, the Warrant Agent shall not be required to execute any amendment to this Warrant Agent Agreement that it has determined would adversely affect its own rights, duties, obligations or immunities under this Warrant Agent Agreement. No amendment to this Warrant Agent Agreement shall be effective unless duly executed by the Warrant Agent.

14. Successors. All covenants and provisions of this Warrant Agency Agreement by or for the benefit of the Company or the Warrant Agent shall bind and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns hereunder.

15. Benefits of this Warrant Agency Agreement. Nothing in this Warrant Agency Agreement shall be construed to give any Person other than the Company, the Holders of Preferred Warrants and the Warrant Agent any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Warrant Agency Agreement; but this Warrant Agency Agreement shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the Company, the Warrant Agent and the Holders of the Preferred Warrants.

16. Governing Law. This Warrant Agency Agreement and each Preferred Warrant issued hereunder shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York without giving effect to the conflicts of law principles thereof. The Company hereby agrees that any action, proceeding or claim against it arising out of or relating in any way to this Warrant Agency Agreement shall be brought and enforced in the courts of the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern

 

14


District of New York, and the appellate courts thereof, and irrevocably submits to such jurisdiction, which jurisdiction shall be exclusive. The Company hereby waives any objection to such exclusive jurisdiction and that such courts represent an inconvenience forum.

17. Severability. This Warrant Agency Agreement shall be deemed severable, and the invalidity or unenforceability of any term or provision hereof shall not affect the validity or enforceability of this Warrant Agency Agreement or of any other term or provision hereof. Furthermore, in lieu of any such invalid or unenforceable term or provision, the parties hereto intend that there shall be added as a part of this Warrant Agency Agreement a provision as similar in terms to such invalid or unenforceable provision as may be possible and be valid and enforceable. If an invalid or unenforceable provision shall affect the rights, immunities, liabilities, duties or obligations of the Warrant Agent, the Warrant Agent shall be entitled to resign immediately upon written notice to the Company.

18. Force Majeure. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Warrant Agent will not be liable for any delays or failures in performance resulting from acts beyond its reasonable control including, without limitation, acts of God, pandemics, epidemics, terrorist acts, shortage of supply, breakdowns or malfunctions, interruptions or malfunction of computer facilities, or loss of data due to power failures or mechanical difficulties with information storage or retrieval systems, labor difficulties, war, or civil unrest.

19. Confidentiality. The Warrant Agent and the Company agree that all books, records, information and data pertaining to the business of the other party, including inter alia, personal, non-public Holder information, which are exchanged or received pursuant to the negotiation or the carrying out of this Warrant Agency Agreement including the compensation for services performed hereunder shall remain confidential, and shall not be voluntarily disclosed to any other person, except as may be required by law, including, without limitation, pursuant to subpoenas from state or federal government authorities (e.g., in divorce and criminal actions).

20. Miscellaneous Provisions.

20.1. Further Assurances. The Company shall perform, execute, acknowledge and deliver or cause to be performed, executed, acknowledged and delivered all such further and other acts, instruments and assurances as may reasonably be required by the Warrant Agent for the carrying out or performing by any party of the provisions of this Warrant Agency Agreement.

20.2. Examination of the Warrant Agreement. A copy of this Warrant Agency Agreement shall be available at all reasonable times at the office of the Warrant Agent designated for such purpose for inspection by any Holder. Prior to such inspection, the Warrant Agent may require any such holder to provide reasonable evidence of its interest in the Preferred Warrants.

20.3. Counterparts. This Warrant Agency Agreement may be executed in any number of original, facsimile or electronic counterparts and each of such counterparts shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.

20.4. Effect of Headings. The Section headings herein are for convenience only and are not part of this Warrant Agency Agreement and shall not affect the interpretation thereof.

21. Certain Definitions. As used herein, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

21.1. “Business Day” means any day except any Saturday, any Sunday, any day which is a federal legal holiday in the United States or any day on which banking institutions in the State of New York are authorized or required by law or other governmental action to close.

 

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21.2. “Preferred Warrant Share Delivery Date” means the date that is the earliest of (i) two (2) Trading Days after the delivery to the Company and the Warrant Agent of the Notice of Exercise, provided that payment of the aggregate Exercise Price is received by the Warrant Agent one (1) Trading Day prior to such second Trading Day after the delivery of the Notice of Exercise, (ii) one (1) Trading Day after delivery of the aggregate Exercise Price to the Warrant Agent and (iii) the number of Trading Days comprising the Standard Settlement Period after the delivery to the Company and Warrant Agent of the Notice of Exercise, provided that payment of the aggregate Exercise Price is received by the Warrant Agent one (1) Trading Day prior to such second Trading Day after the delivery of the Notice of Exercise.

21.3. “Standard Settlement Period” means the standard settlement period, expressed in a number of Trading Days, on the Company’s primary Trading Market with respect to the Common Stock as in effect on the date of delivery of the Notice of Exercise.

21.4. “Trading Day” means any day on which the Common Stock is traded on the Trading Market.

21.5 “Trading Market” means any of the following markets or exchanges on which the Common Stock is listed or quoted for trading on the date in question: the NYSE American, the Nasdaq Capital Market, the Nasdaq Global Market, the Nasdaq Global Select Market or the New York Stock Exchange (or any successors to any of the foregoing).

[Signature Page to Follow]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Warrant Agency Agreement has been duly executed by the parties hereto as of the day and year first above written.

 

BIOLASE, INC.
By:  

 

  Name: John R. Beaver
  Title: Chief Executive Officer

COMPUTERSHARE INC. and COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY, N.A.,

as the Warrant Agent

By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

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ANNEX A

PREFERRED WARRANT CERTIFICATE REQUEST NOTICE

To: Computershare Trust Company, N.A., as Warrant Agent for BIOLASE, Inc. (the “Company”)

The undersigned Holder of Preferred Stock Purchase Warrants (“Preferred Warrants”) in the form of Global Certificates issued by the Company hereby elects to receive a Definitive Certificate evidencing the Preferred Warrants held by the Holder as specified below:

 

1.

Name of Holder of Preferred Warrants in form of Global Certificates:

 

2.

Name of Holder in Definitive Certificate (if different from name of Holder of Preferred Warrants in form of Global Certificates):

 

3.

Number of Preferred Warrants in name of Holder in form of Global Certificates: ______________________________________________________________

 

4.

Number of Preferred Warrants for which Definitive Certificate shall be issued: ______________________________________________________________

 

5.

Number of Preferred Warrants in name of Holder in form of Global Certificates after issuance of Definitive Certificate, if any: ___________

 

6.

Definitive Certificate shall be delivered to the following address:

 

                        

 

                        

 

                        

 

                        

The undersigned hereby acknowledges and agrees that, in connection with this Preferred Warrant Exchange and the issuance of the Definitive Certificate, the Holder is deemed to have surrendered the number of Preferred Warrants in form of Global Certificates in the name of the Holder equal to the number of Preferred Warrants evidenced by the Definitive Certificate.

[SIGNATURE OF HOLDER]

 

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Name of Investing Entity:

 

Signature of Authorized Signatory of Investing Entity:

 

Name of Authorized Signatory:

 

Title of Authorized Signatory:

 

Date:

 

 

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EXHIBIT A

[FORM OF GLOBAL WARRANT CERTIFICATE OF

WARRANT TO PURCHASE SERIES J CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK]

[UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (“DTC”), TO ISSUER OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE, OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE, OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.]

 

Certificate No.: 1    CUSIP No.: [_______]
Number of Preferred Warrants: [____]    Issue Date: [_______]

BIOLASE, INC.

GLOBAL WARRANT CERTIFICATE

NOT EXERCISABLE AFTER [____], 2024

This certifies that CEDE & CO., or its registered assigns, is the registered owner of the number of Warrants set forth above (the “Preferred Warrants”). Each Preferred Warrant entitles its registered holder to purchase from BIOLASE, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), at any time prior to 5:00 P.M. (New York City time) on [____], 2024, one half of one (0.5) share of Series J Convertible Redeemable Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Company (each, a “Preferred Warrant Share” and collectively, the “Preferred Warrant Shares”), at an exercise price of $60.00 per share (or $30.00 per one-half of one (0.5) share), subject to possible adjustments as provided in the Warrant Agency Agreement (as defined below) and the Preferred Warrant Certificate in the form of Exhibit A attached to this Global Warrant Certificate (the “Preferred Warrant Certificate”).

The terms and conditions of the Preferred Warrants and the rights and obligations of the holder of this Global Warrant Certificate are set forth in the Preferred Warrant Certificate and the Warrant Agency Agreement, dated as of [____], 2023 (the “Warrant Agency Agreement”) between the Company and Computershare Trust Company, N.A. and Computershare Inc. (jointly, the “Warrant Agent”), which Preferred Warrant Certificate and Warrant Agency Agreement are each hereby incorporated by reference in and made a part of this Global Warrant Certificate. A copy of the Warrant Agency Agreement is available for inspection during business hours at the office of the Warrant Agent. Defined terms used in this Global Warrant Certificate but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Preferred Warrant Certificate or Warrant Agency Agreement. In the event of any discrepancy or inconsistency between the terms and conditions of the Preferred Warrant Certificate and the Warrant Agency Agreement, the terms and conditions of the Preferred Warrant Certificate shall prevail, govern and control.

The Company and the Warrant Agent may deem and treat the registered Holder(s) hereof as the absolute owner(s) of this Global Warrant Certificate (notwithstanding any notation of ownership or other writing hereon made by anyone), for the purpose of any exercise hereof, of any distribution to the holder(s) hereof, and for all other purposes, and neither the Company nor the Warrant Agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary. Neither the Preferred Warrants nor this Global Warrant Certificate entitles any holder hereof to any rights of a holder of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock.

 

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This Global Warrant Certificate shall not be valid or obligatory for any purpose until it shall have been countersigned by an authorized signatory of the Warrant Agent.

[Signature Page Follows]

 

21


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Global Warrant Certificate to be duly executed as of the date first written above.

 

BIOLASE, INC.
By:  

 

 

Name: John R. Beaver

Title: Chief Executive Officer

Dated: [______], 2023

Countersigned:

COMPUTERSHARE INC. and COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY, N.A.,

jointly as Warrant Agent

 

By:  

 

 

Name:

Title:

 

22


Exhibit A to Global Warrant Certificate

Preferred Warrant Certificate

(ATTACHED)

 

23


EXHIBIT B

FORM OF DEFINITIVE WARRANT CERTIFICATE OF

WARRANT TO PURCHASE SERIES J CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK

(ATTACHED)

 

24

Exhibit 5.1

 

LOGO

1271 Avenue of the Americas | New York, NY 10020

blankrome.com

August 30, 2023                                

BIOLASE, Inc.

27042 Towne Centre Drive, Suite 270

Lake Forest, California 92610

 

Re:

BIOLASE, Inc. Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-273372)

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as U.S. securities counsel to BIOLASE, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the preparation and filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), of a Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-273372) (as amended through the date hereof, the “Registration Statement”) relating to the registration by the Company of (i) up to $7,500,000 of units (“Units”), with each Unit consisting of (A) one share of the Company’s Series J Convertible Redeemable Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Series J Convertible Preferred Stock”), (B) one warrant (each, a “Warrant” and collectively, the “Warrants”) to purchase one-half of one (0.50) share of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock, (C) the shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Common Stock”), issuable upon conversion of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock (the “Conversion Shares”) and (D) the shares of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants (the “Warrant Shares”). The Warrants are being issued pursuant to the terms of that certain warrant agency agreement (the “Warrant Agency Agreement”) to be entered into by and among the Company, Computershare Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Computershare”), and its affiliate Computershare Trust Company, N.A., a federally chartered trust company (together with Computershare, the “Warrant Agent”), the form of which Warrant Agency Agreement has been, or will be, filed as Exhibit 4.3 to the Registration Statement.

The Company is also registering under the Registration Statement shares of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock (“PIK Dividend Shares”) that will be issued as paid in-kind dividends (“PIK dividends”) and the shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock issued as PIK dividends (the “PIK Conversion Shares”). The Units, the shares of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock and the Warrants are to be sold by the Company pursuant to an underwriting agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) to be entered into by and between the Company, Lake Street Capital Markets, LLC and Maxim Group LLC, as representatives of the several underwriters named therein, the form of which has been, or will be, filed as Exhibit 1.1 to the Registration Statement.

In our capacity as counsel to the Company, we have examined the original or certified copies of such records of the Company and such agreements, certificates of public officials, certificates of officers or representatives of the Company and others, and such other documents as we deem relevant and necessary as a basis for the opinions hereinafter expressed, including, but not limited to, the Company’s restated certificate of incorporation, as amended (the “Certificate of Incorporation”), including the Certificate of Designation of Preferences, Rights and Limitations of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock (the “Certificate of Designation”), the Warrants and the Warrant Agency Agreement. In such examination we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures on original documents and the conformity to original documents of all copies submitted to us as conformed or photostat copies. As to various questions of fact material to such opinions, we have relied upon statements or certificates of officials and representatives of the Company and others.

 

Blank Rome LLP  |  blankrome.com


LOGO

BIOLASE, Inc.

August 30, 2023

Page 2

 

With regard to our opinions concerning the Warrants, and in certain cases concerning the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock as described below, constituting valid and binding obligations of the Company:

 

  1.

Our opinions are subject to, and may be limited by, (a) applicable bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance, debtor and creditor, and similar laws which relate to or affect creditors’ rights generally, and (b) general principles of equity (including, without limitation, concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing) regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law.

 

  2.

Our opinions are subject to the qualification that the availability of specific performance, an injunction or other equitable remedies is subject to the discretion of the court before which the request is brought.

 

  3.

We express no opinion as to any provision of the Warrants or the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock that: (a) provides for liquidated damages, buy-in damages, monetary penalties, prepayment or make-whole payments or other economic remedies to the extent such provisions may constitute unlawful penalties, (b) relates to advance waivers of claims, defenses, rights granted by law, or notice, opportunity for hearing, evidentiary requirements, statutes of limitations, trial by jury, or procedural rights, (c) restricts non-written modifications and waivers, (d) provides for the payment of legal and other professional fees where such payment is contrary to law or public policy, (e) relates to exclusivity, election or accumulation of rights or remedies, (f) authorizes or validates conclusive or discretionary determinations, or (g) provides that provisions of the Warrants are severable to the extent an essential part of the agreed exchange is determined to be invalid and unenforceable.

 

  4.

We express no opinion as to whether a state court outside of the State of New York or a federal court of the United States would give effect to the choice of New York law or jurisdiction provided for in the Warrants.

Based upon the foregoing, it is our opinion that:

 

  1.

When the Units are issued and delivered and paid for (i) in accordance with the terms of the Underwriting Agreement, (ii) in accordance with and in the manner described in the Registration Statement, and (iii) in accordance with the resolutions adopted by the Company, the Units will be legally binding obligations of the Company enforceable in accordance with their terms.

 

  2.

When the shares of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock are issued, delivered and paid for (i) in accordance with the terms of the Underwriting Agreement, (ii) in accordance with and in the manner described in the Registration Statement, and (iii) in accordance with the resolutions adopted by the Company, the shares of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

 

  3.

When the Warrants are issued, delivered and paid for (i) in accordance with the terms of the Underwriting Agreement, (ii) in accordance with and in the manner described in the Registration Statement, (iii) in accordance with the resolutions adopted by the Company and (iv) in accordance with the terms of the Warrants and the Warrant Agency Agreement, the Warrants will be legally binding obligations of the Company enforceable in accordance with their terms.

 

  4.

When the Conversion Shares are issued and delivered upon conversion of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock (i) in accordance with the terms of the Underwriting Agreement, (ii) in accordance with and in the manner described in the Registration Statement, (iii) in accordance with the resolutions adopted by the Company, and (iv) in accordance with the terms of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock, the Certificate of Incorporation and the Certificate of Designation, and assuming a sufficient number of authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock is available for issuance when the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock is converted, the Conversion Shares will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

 

Blank Rome LLP  |  blankrome.com


LOGO

BIOLASE, Inc.

August 30, 2023

Page 3

 

  5.

When the Warrant Shares are issued, delivered and paid for and upon valid exercise thereof and against receipt of the exercise price therefor (i) in accordance with the terms of the Underwriting Agreement, (ii) in accordance with and in the manner described in the Registration Statement, (iii) in accordance with the resolutions adopted by the Company, and (iv) in accordance with the terms of the Warrants and the Warrant Agency Agreement, and assuming a sufficient number of authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock is available for issuance when the Warrants are exercised, the Warrant Shares will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

 

  6.

When the PIK Dividend Shares are issued and delivered (i) in accordance with the terms of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock, the Certificate of Incorporation and the Certificate of Designation, (ii) in accordance with and in the manner described in the Registration Statement, (iii) in accordance with the resolutions adopted by the Company, the PIK Dividend Shares, and (iv) if, as and when lawfully declared as dividends by the Board of Directors of the Company, the PIK Dividend Shares will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

 

  7.

When the PIK Conversion Shares are issued and delivered upon conversion of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock (i) in accordance with the terms of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock, the Certificate of Incorporation and the Certificate of Designation, (ii) in accordance with and in the manner described in the Registration Statement, and (iii) in accordance with the resolutions adopted by the Company, and assuming a sufficient number of authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock is available for issuance when the Series H Convertible Preferred Stock is converted, the PIK Conversion Shares will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

We are opining solely on all applicable statutory provisions of Delaware corporate law, including the rules and regulations underlying those provisions, all applicable provisions of the Delaware Constitution and all applicable judicial and regulatory determinations. This opinion is limited to the laws of the State of Delaware as in effect on the date hereof and as to the Warrants constituting valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, the laws of the State of New York as in effect on the date hereof and we express no opinion with respect to the laws of any other jurisdiction. We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement. We also hereby consent to the use of our name as your counsel under “Legal Matters” in the Prospectus constituting part of the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not thereby concede that we come within the categories of persons whose consent is required by the Securities Act or the General Rules and Regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

Very truly yours,

/s/ BLANK ROME

BLANK ROME LLP

 

Blank Rome LLP  |  blankrome.com

Exhibit 23.1

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

BIOLASE, Inc.

Lake Forest, California

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Prospectus constituting a part of this Registration Statement of our report dated March 28, 2023, relating to the consolidated financial statements and schedule of BIOLASE, Inc. appearing in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022. Our report on the consolidated financial statements contains an explanatory paragraph regarding the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.

We also consent to the reference to us under the caption “Experts” in the Prospectus.

 

/s/ BDO USA, P.C.

Costa Mesa, California

August 30, 2023

Exhibit 107

Calculation of Filing Fee Tables

FORM S-1

(Form Type)

BIOLASE, INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

Table 1: Newly Registered and Carry Forward Securities

 

    

Security

Type

 

Security

Class

Title

 

Fee

Calculation

Rule

 

Amount

Registered

 

Proposed

Maximum

Offering

Price Per

Unit

 

Maximum

Aggregate

Offering

Price (1)(2)

 

Fee

Rate

 

Amount of

Registration

Fee

Newly Registered Securities
Fees to be paid   Equity  

Units consisting of (i) Series J Convertible Redeemable

Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share, and

(ii) Warrants to purchase shares of

Series J Convertible

Redeemable Preferred Stock(2)

  457(o)   —     —     $7,500,000   $0.00011020   $826.50
Fees to be paid   Equity  

Shares of Series J Convertible Redeemable Preferred Stock, included as part of the Units

  457(i)   —     —     —     —     —  
Fees to be paid   Equity  

Warrants to purchase shares of Series J Convertible Preferred Stock, included as part of the Units

  457(i)   —     —     —     —     —  
Fees to be paid   Equity  

Shares of Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share, issuable upon conversion of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock included in the Units

  457(i)   —     —     —     —     —  
Fees to be paid   Equity  

Shares of Series J Convertible Redeemable Preferred Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants included in the Units

  457(i)   —         $3,750,000   $0.00011020   $413.30
Fees to be paid   Equity  

Shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of Series J Convertible Redeemable Preferred Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants(3)

  457(i)   —     —     —     —     —  
Fees to be paid   Equity  

Shares of Series J Convertible Redeemable Preferred

Stock issuable as pay in-kind (PIK) dividends(2)

  457(o)   —     —     —     —     —  
Fees To be paid   Equity  

Shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock issued as PIK dividends

  457(i)   —     —     —     —     —  

                     

  Total Offering Amounts        $11,250,000   $0.00011020   $1,239.800
    Total Fees Previously Paid                $2,646
    Total Fee Offsets                —  
    Net Fee Due                —  (5)

 

(1)

Pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), there are also being registered such indeterminate number of additional securities as may be issued to prevent dilution resulting from stock splits, stock dividends and similar transactions.

(2)

Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(o) under the Securities Act.

(3)

No separate registration fee is required for the shares of the Registrant’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “common stock”), issuable upon conversion of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock because no additional consideration will be received in connection with the exercise of the conversion privilege.

(4)

No separate registration fee is required for (i) the shares of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock issuable as stock dividends and (ii) the shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of the Series J Convertible Preferred Stock because no additional consideration will be received by the Registrant in connection with the issuance of the stock dividend or the shares of common stock issuable upon conversion thereof.

(5)

A fee of $2,646 was previously paid.


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