SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT
SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”), dated as of [__], 2024, by and among Innovative Food Holdings, Inc., a Florida corporation, with headquarters located at 0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxx Xx., Xxx. 000, Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000 (the “Company”), and the investors listed on the Schedule of Buyers attached hereto (individually, a “Buyer” and collectively, the “Buyers”).
WHEREAS:
A. The Company and each Buyer is executing and delivering this Agreement in reliance upon the exemption from securities registration afforded by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”), and Rule 506(b) of Regulation D (“Regulation D”) as promulgated by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) under the 1933 Act.
B. Each Buyer wishes to purchase, and the Company wishes to sell, upon the terms and conditions stated in this Agreement, that aggregate number of shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”), set forth opposite such Buyer’s name in column (3) on the Schedule of Buyers attached hereto (which aggregate amount for all Buyers together shall be 1,937,500 shares of Common Stock and shall collectively be referred to herein as the “Shares”).
C. The Shares are also sometimes referred to herein as the “Securities”.
NOW, THEREFORE, the Company and each Buyer hereby agree as follows:
1. PURCHASE AND SALE OF SHARES.
(a) Purchase of Shares. Subject to the satisfaction (or waiver) of the conditions set forth in Sections 6 and 7 below, the Company shall issue and sell to each Buyer, and each Buyer severally, but not jointly, agrees to purchase from the Company on the Closing Date (as defined below), the number of Shares as is set forth opposite such Buyer’s name in column (3) on the Schedule of Buyers (the “Closing”).
(b) Closing. The date and time of the Closing (the “Closing Date”) shall be 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the date hereof (or such other date and time as is mutually agreed to by the Company and each Buyer) after notification of satisfaction (or waiver) of the conditions to the Closing set forth in Sections 6 and 7 below. The Closing shall be held electronically.
(c) Purchase Price. The aggregate purchase price for the Shares to be purchased by each Buyer at the Closing (the “Purchase Price”) shall be the amount set forth opposite each Buyer’s name in column (4) of the Schedule of Buyers.
(d) Form of Payment. On the Closing Date, (i) each Buyer shall pay its Purchase Price to the Company for the Shares to be issued and sold to such Buyer at the Closing, by wire transfer of immediately available funds in accordance with the Company’s written wire instructions and (ii) the Company shall deliver to each Buyer a stock certificate evidencing the number of Shares such Buyer is purchasing as is set forth opposite such Buyer’s name in column (3) of the Schedule of Buyers (or evidence of the registration of such Shares in the name of such Buyer in book-entry form with the Company’s transfer agent).
2. BUYER’S REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. Each Buyer, severally and not jointly, represents and warrants with respect to only itself that, as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date:
1 |
(a) Organization; Authority. Such Buyer is either an individual or an entity duly incorporated or formed, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or formation with full right, corporate, partnership, limited liability company or similar power and authority to enter into and to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents (as defined below) and otherwise to carry out its obligations hereunder and thereunder. The execution and delivery of the Transaction Documents and performance by such Buyer of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate, partnership, limited liability company or similar action, as applicable, on the part of such Buyer. Each Transaction Document to which it is a party has been duly executed by such Buyer, and when delivered by such Buyer in accordance with the terms hereof, will constitute the valid and legally binding obligation of such Buyer, enforceable against it 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.
(b) No Public Sale or Distribution. Such Buyer is acquiring the Shares for its own account and not with a view towards, or for resale in connection with, the public sale or distribution thereof, except pursuant to sales registered or exempted under the 1933 Act; provided, however, that by making the representations herein, such Buyer does not agree to hold any of the Securities for any minimum or other specific term and reserves the right to dispose of the Securities at any time in accordance with or pursuant to a registration statement or an exemption under the 1933 Act. Such Buyer is acquiring the Securities hereunder in the ordinary course of its business. Such Buyer does not presently have any agreement or understanding, directly or indirectly, with any Person (as defined below) to distribute any of the Securities. For purposes of this Agreement, “Person” means an individual, a limited liability company, a partnership, a joint venture, a corporation, a trust, an unincorporated organization, any other entity and any government or any department or agency thereof.
(c) Accredited Investor Status. At the time such Buyer was offered the Securities, it was, and as of the date hereof it is an “accredited investor” as that term is defined in Rule 501(a) of Regulation D.
(d) Reliance on Exemptions. Such Buyer understands that the Securities are being offered and sold to it in reliance on specific exemptions from the registration requirements of United States federal and state securities laws and that the Company is relying in part upon the truth and accuracy of, and such Buyer’s compliance with, the representations, warranties, agreements, acknowledgments and understandings of such Buyer set forth herein in order to determine the availability of such exemptions and the eligibility of such Buyer to acquire the Securities.
(e) Information. Such Buyer and its advisors, if any, have been furnished with all materials relating to the business, finances and operations of the Company and materials relating to the offer and sale of the Securities that have been requested by such Buyer. Such Buyer and its advisors, if any, have been afforded the opportunity to ask questions of the Company. Neither such inquiries nor any other due diligence investigations conducted by such Buyer or its advisors, if any, or its representatives shall modify, amend or affect such Buyer’s right to rely on the Company’s representations and warranties contained herein. Such Buyer understands that its investment in the Securities involves a high degree of risk. Such Buyer has sought such accounting, legal and tax advice as it has considered necessary to make an informed investment decision with respect to its acquisition of the Securities. Such Buyer is able to bear the economic risk of an investment in the Securities and, at the present time, is able to afford a complete loss of such investment.
(f) No Governmental Review. Such Buyer understands that no United States federal or state agency or any other government or governmental agency has passed on or made any recommendation or endorsement of the Securities or the fairness or suitability of the investment in the Securities nor have such authorities passed upon or endorsed the merits of the offering of the Securities.
2 |
(g) Transfer or Resale. Such Buyer understands that: (i) the Securities have not been and are not being registered under the 1933 Act or any state securities laws, and may not be offered for sale, sold, assigned or transferred unless (A) subsequently registered thereunder, (B) such Buyer shall have delivered to the Company an opinion of counsel, in a generally acceptable form, to the effect that such Securities to be sold, assigned or transferred may be sold, assigned or transferred pursuant to an exemption from such registration, or (C) such Buyer provides the Company with reasonable assurance that such Securities can be sold, assigned or transferred pursuant to Rule 144 or Rule 144A promulgated under the 1933 Act, as amended, (or a successor rule thereto) (collectively, “Rule 144”); (ii) any sale of the Securities made in reliance on Rule 144 may be made only in accordance with the terms of Rule 144 and further, if Rule 144 is not applicable, any resale of the Securities under circumstances in which the seller (or the Person through whom the sale is made) may be deemed to be an underwriter (as that term is defined in the 1933 Act) may require compliance with some other exemption under the 1933 Act or the rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder; and (iii) neither the Company nor any other Person is under any obligation to register the Securities under the 1933 Act or any state securities laws or to comply with the terms and conditions of any exemption thereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Securities may be pledged in connection with a bona fide margin account or other loan or financing arrangement secured by the Securities and such pledge of Securities shall not be deemed to be a transfer, sale or assignment of the Securities hereunder, and no Buyer effecting a pledge of Securities shall be required to provide the Company with any notice thereof or otherwise make any delivery to the Company pursuant to this Agreement or any other Transaction Document.
(h) Legends. Such Buyer understands that the stock certificates representing the Shares, except as set forth below, shall bear a restrictive legend in substantially the following form (and a stop-transfer order may be placed against transfer of such stock certificates):
THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. THE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE OFFERED FOR SALE, SOLD, TRANSFERRED OR ASSIGNED (I) IN THE ABSENCE OF (A) AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT FOR THE SECURITIES UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR (B) AN OPINION OF COUNSEL SELECTED BY THE HOLDER, IN A GENERALLY ACCEPTABLE FORM, THAT REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED UNDER SAID ACT OR (II) UNLESS SOLD PURSUANT TO RULE 144 OR RULE 144A UNDER SAID ACT. NOTWITHSTANDING THE FOREGOING, THE SECURITIES MAY BE PLEDGED IN CONNECTION WITH A BONA FIDE MARGIN ACCOUNT OR OTHER LOAN OR FINANCING ARRANGEMENT SECURED BY THE SECURITIES.
The legend set forth above shall be removed and the Company shall issue a certificate without such legend to the holder of the Securities upon which it is stamped or issue to such holder by electronic delivery at the applicable balance account at The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”), if (i) such Securities are registered for resale under the 1933 Act, (ii) in connection with a sale, assignment or other transfer, such holder provides the Company with an opinion of counsel, in a generally acceptable form, to the effect that such sale, assignment or transfer of the Securities may be made without registration under the applicable requirements of the 1933 Act, or (iii) the Securities can be sold, assigned or transferred pursuant to Rule 144 or Rule 144A. The Company shall be responsible for the fees of its transfer agent and all DTC fees associated with such issuance. The Company shall cause its counsel to issue a legal opinion to the transfer agent promptly if required by the transfer agent, and/or to any Buyer if requested by such Buyer, to effect the removal of the legend hereunder.
(i) Validity; Enforcement. This Agreement has been duly and validly authorized, executed and delivered on behalf of such Buyer and shall constitute the legal, valid and binding obligations of such Buyer enforceable against such Buyer in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by general principles of equity or to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, liquidation and other similar laws relating to, or affecting generally, the enforcement of applicable creditors’ rights and remedies.
(j) No Conflicts. The execution, delivery and performance by such Buyer of this Agreement and the consummation by such Buyer of the transactions contemplated hereby will not (i) result in a violation of the organizational documents of such Buyer or (ii) conflict with, or constitute a default (or an event which with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default) under, or give to others any rights of termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation of, any agreement, indenture or instrument to which such Buyer is a party, or (iii) result in a violation of any law, rule, regulation, order, judgment or decree (including federal and state securities laws) applicable to such Buyer, except in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) above, for such conflicts, defaults, rights or violations which would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the ability of such Buyer to perform its obligations hereunder.
3 |
(k) No Shorting. Such Buyer will not, directly or through any representative, agent, or broker on its behalf at any time in which Buyer beneficially owns any of the Securities, engage in any Short Sales of, or hedging or arbitrage transactions with respect to, the Common Stock of the Company, or buy “put” options or similar instruments with respect to, the Common Stock of the Company, in any such case in violation of the Company’s xxxxxxx xxxxxxx policy. “Short Sales” means all “short sales” as defined in Rule 200 of Regulation SHO under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”) (but shall not be deemed to include locating and/or borrowing shares of Common Stock).
(l) General Solicitation. Such Buyer is not, to such Xxxxx’s knowledge, purchasing the Securities as a result of any advertisement, article, notice or other communication regarding the Securities published in any newspaper, magazine or similar media or broadcast over television or radio or presented at any seminar or, to the knowledge of such Buyer, any other general solicitation or general advertisement.
3. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY. The Company makes the following representations and warranties to each of the Buyers, as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date, subject to the disclosures of the Company set forth in the disclosure schedules delivered to the Buyers as of the date hereof (the “Disclosure Schedules”). The Disclosure Schedules shall be arranged in sections corresponding to the numbered and lettered sections and subsections contained in this Section 3 and certain other sections of this Agreement. For purposes of this Section 3, any disclosure contained in the SEC Documents (as defined in Section 3(k)) filed by the Company with the SEC prior to the date hereof (to the extent it is reasonably apparent on the face of such disclosure that such disclosure set forth in such SEC Documents would qualify the representations and warranties contained herein, but excluding any disclosures set forth in any “risk factor” section thereof or any statements that constitute forward-looking statements in that such statements are predictive or forward-looking in nature) are deemed to be included in the Disclosure Schedule.
(a) Organization and Qualification. Each of the Company and each of its “Subsidiaries” (which for purposes of this Agreement means any entity in which the Company, directly or indirectly, owns at least 50% of the capital stock or holds an equity or similar interest or otherwise controls and as disclosed in Schedule 3(a)) are entities duly organized and validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction in which they are formed, and have the requisite power and authorization to own their properties and to carry on their business as now being conducted and as presently proposed to be conducted. Each of the Company and each of its Subsidiaries is duly qualified as a foreign entity to do business and is in good standing in every jurisdiction in which its ownership of property or the nature of the business conducted by it makes such qualification necessary, except to the extent that the failure to be so qualified or be in good standing would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. As used in this Agreement, “Material Adverse Effect” means any material adverse effect on the business, properties, assets, liabilities, operations, results of operations, condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or on the transactions contemplated hereby or on the other Transaction Documents or by the agreements and instruments to be entered into in connection herewith or therewith, or on the authority or ability of the Company to perform any of its obligations under any of the Transaction Documents. The Company has no Subsidiaries except as disclosed in the SEC Documents.
(b) Authorization; Enforcement; Xxxxxxxx. The Company has the requisite power and authority to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement and each of the other agreements entered into by the parties hereto in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (collectively, the “Transaction Documents”) and to issue the Securities in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents by the Company and the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, including, without limitation, the issuance of the Shares, have been duly authorized by the Company’s Board of Directors and (other than the filing of a Form D with the SEC and other filings as may be required by state securities agencies) no further filing, consent, or authorization is required by the Company, its Board of Directors or its stockholders. This Agreement and the other Transaction Documents have been duly executed and delivered by the Company, and constitute the legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by general principles of equity or applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, liquidation or similar laws relating to, or affecting generally, the enforcement of applicable creditors’ rights and remedies.
(c) Issuance of Securities. The issuance of the Shares is duly authorized and, upon issuance, shall be validly issued and free from all preemptive or similar rights, taxes, liens, charges and other encumbrances with respect to the issue thereof. Assuming the accuracy of each of the representations and warranties set forth in Section 2 of this Agreement, the offer and issuance by the Company of the Securities is exempt from registration under the 1933 Act.
4 |
(d) No Conflicts. The execution, delivery and performance of the Transaction Documents by the Company and the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby (including, without limitation, the issuance of the Shares) will not (i) result in a violation of the Articles of Incorporation (as defined in Section (3(r)) or Bylaws (as defined in Section (3(r)), any memorandum of association, certificate of incorporation, certificate of formation, bylaws, any certificate of designations or other constituent documents of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, any capital stock of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or the articles of association or bylaws of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or (ii) conflict with, or constitute a default (or an event which with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default) in any respect under, or give to others any rights of termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation of, any agreement, indenture or instrument to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party, or (iii) result in a violation of any law, rule, regulation, order, judgment or decree (including other foreign, federal and state securities laws and regulations and the rules and regulations of the OTC QB (the “Principal Market”) and including all applicable laws of the State of Florida and any foreign, federal and state laws, rules and regulations) applicable to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or by which any property or asset of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is bound or affected.
(e) Consents. The Company is not required to obtain any consent, authorization or order of, or make any filing or registration with (other than the filing of a Form D with the SEC and other filings as may be required by state securities agencies), any court, governmental agency or any regulatory or self-regulatory agency or any other Person which it has not obtained in order for it to execute, deliver or perform any of its obligations under or contemplated by the Transaction Documents, in each case in accordance with the terms hereof or thereof. All consents, authorizations, orders, filings and registrations which the Company is required to obtain pursuant to the preceding sentence have been obtained or effected on or prior to the Closing Date (or in the case of the filings detailed above, will be made timely after the Closing Date), and the Company is unaware of any facts or circumstances that might prevent the Company from obtaining or effecting any of the registration, application or filings pursuant to the preceding sentence. The Company is not in violation of the listing requirements of the Principal Market and has no knowledge of any facts or circumstances that would reasonably lead to delisting or suspension of the Common Stock in the foreseeable future. The issuance by the Company of the Securities shall not have the effect of delisting or suspending the Common Stock from the Principal Market.
(f) Acknowledgment Regarding Buyer’s Purchase of Securities. The Company acknowledges and agrees that each Buyer is acting solely in the capacity of an arm’s length purchaser with respect to the Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. The Company further acknowledges that no Buyer is acting as a financial advisor of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (or in any similar capacity) with respect to the Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. The Company further represents to each Buyer that the Company’s decision to enter into the Transaction Documents has been based solely on the independent evaluation by the Company and its representatives.
(g) No General Solicitation. Neither the Company, nor any of its Subsidiaries or affiliates, nor any Person acting on its or their behalf, has engaged in any form of general solicitation or general advertising (within the meaning of Regulation D) in connection with the offer or sale of the Securities.
(h) No Integrated Offering. None of the Company, its Subsidiaries, any of their affiliates, nor any Person acting on their behalf has, directly or indirectly, made any offers or sales of any security or solicited any offers to buy any security, under circumstances that would require registration of the issuance of any of the Securities under the 1933 Act, whether through integration with prior offerings or otherwise, or cause this offering of the Securities to require approval of stockholders of the Company for purposes of the 1933 Act or any applicable stockholder approval provisions, including, without limitation, under the rules and regulations of any exchange or automated quotation system on which any of the securities of the Company are listed or designated for quotation. None of the Company, its Subsidiaries, their affiliates nor any Person acting on their behalf will take any action or steps referred to in the preceding sentence that would require registration of the issuance of any of the Securities under the 1933 Act or cause the offering of any of the Securities to be integrated with other offerings for purposes of any such applicable stockholder approval provisions.
(i) [Intentionally Omitted].
5 |
(j) Application of Takeover Protections; Rights Agreement. The Company and its Board of Directors have not taken action to adopt any control share acquisition, interested shareholder, business combination, poison pill (including, without limitation, any distribution under a rights agreement) or other similar anti-takeover provision under the Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws or other organizational documents which is or could become applicable to any Buyer as a result of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including, without limitation, the Company’s issuance of the Securities and any Buyer’s ownership of the Securities. The Company has not adopted a stockholder rights plan or similar arrangement relating to accumulations of beneficial ownership of Common Stock or a change in control of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
(k) SEC Documents; Financial Statements. Except as disclosed in the SEC Documents (as described below) or in Schedule 3(k), during the two (2) years prior to the date hereof, the Company has timely filed all reports, schedules, forms, statements and other documents required to be filed by it with the SEC pursuant to the reporting requirements of the 1934 Act (all of the foregoing filed prior to the date hereof or prior to the Closing Date, and all exhibits included therein and financial statements, notes and schedules thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein being hereinafter referred to as the “SEC Documents”). All of the SEC Documents are available on the XXXXX system. As of their respective filing dates, the SEC Documents complied in all material respects with the requirements of the 1934 Act and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder applicable to the SEC Documents, and none of the SEC Documents, at the time they were filed with the SEC, 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. As of their respective filing dates, the financial statements of the Company included in the SEC Documents complied as to form in all material respects with applicable accounting requirements and the published rules and regulations of the SEC with respect thereto. Such financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, consistently applied, during the periods involved (“GAAP”) (except (i) as may be otherwise indicated in such financial statements or the notes thereto, or (ii) in the case of unaudited interim statements, to the extent they may exclude footnotes or may be condensed or summary statements) and fairly present in all material respects the financial position of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of the dates thereof and the results of its operations and cash flows for the periods then ended (subject, in the case of unaudited statements, to normal year-end audit adjustments which will not be material either individually or in the aggregate).
(l) Absence of Certain Changes. Except as disclosed in the SEC Documents or in Schedule 3(l), since June 30, 2024, there has been no material adverse change and no material adverse development in the business, assets, liabilities, properties, operations, condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations or prospects of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. Except as disclosed in the SEC Documents or in Schedule 3(l), since December 31, 2023, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has (i) declared or paid any dividends, (ii) sold any assets, individually or in the aggregate, in excess of $250,000 outside of the ordinary course of business or (iii) had capital expenditures, individually or in the aggregate, in excess of $250,000. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has taken any steps to seek protection pursuant to any law or statute relating to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, receivership, liquidation or winding up nor does the Company or any Subsidiary have any knowledge or reason to believe that any of its respective creditors intend to initiate involuntary bankruptcy proceedings or any actual knowledge of any fact that would reasonably lead a creditor to do so. The Company and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, after giving effect to the transactions contemplated hereby to occur at the Closing, will not be Insolvent (as defined below). For purposes of this Section 3(l), “Insolvent” means, with respect to any Person, (i) the present fair saleable value of such Person’s assets is less than the amount required to pay such Person’s total Indebtedness (as defined in Section 3(s)), (ii) such Person is unable to pay its debts and liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, as such debts and liabilities become absolute and matured, (iii) such Person intends to incur or believes that it will incur debts that would be beyond its ability to pay as such debts mature or (iv) such Person has unreasonably small capital with which to conduct the business in which it is engaged as such business is now conducted and is proposed to be conducted.
(m) Placement Agent’s Fees. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has engaged any placement agent or other agent in connection with the sale of the Securities. The Company shall be responsible for the payment of any financial advisory fees, or brokers’ commissions (other than for persons engaged by any Buyer or its investment advisor) relating to or arising out of the transactions contemplated hereby in connection with the sale of the Securities. The Company shall pay, and hold each Buyer harmless against, any liability, loss or expense (including, without limitation, attorney’s fees and out-of-pocket expenses) arising in connection with any such claim.
6 |
(n) Conduct of Business; Regulatory Permits. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is in violation of any term of or in default under any certificate of designations of any outstanding series of preferred stock of the Company (if any), its Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws or their organizational charter or memorandum of association or certificate of incorporation or articles of association or bylaws, respectively. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is in violation of any judgment, decree or order or any statute, ordinance, rule or regulation applicable to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, and neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries will conduct its business in violation of any of the foregoing, except for possible violations which could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company is not in violation of any of the rules, regulations or requirements of the Principal Market and has no knowledge of any facts or circumstances that would reasonably lead to delisting or suspension of the Common Stock by the Principal Market in the foreseeable future. Except as disclosed in the SEC Documents or in Schedule 3(n), during the two (2) years prior to the date hereof, (i) trading in the Common Stock has not been suspended by the SEC or the Principal Market and (ii) the Company has received no communication, written or oral, from the SEC or the Principal Market regarding the suspension or delisting of the Common Stock from the Principal Market. The Company and its Subsidiaries possess all certificates, authorizations and permits issued by the appropriate federal, state or foreign regulatory authorities necessary to conduct their respective businesses, except where the failure to possess such certificates, authorizations or permits would not have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, and neither the Company nor any such Subsidiary has received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such certificate, authorization or permit.
(o) Foreign Corrupt Practices. Neither the Company, nor any of its Subsidiaries, nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any director, officer, agent, employee or other Person acting on behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has, in the course of its actions for, or on behalf of, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (i) used any corporate funds for any unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful expenses relating to political activity; (ii) made any direct or indirect unlawful payment to any foreign or domestic government official or employee from corporate funds; (iii) violated or is in violation of any provision of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended; or (iv) made any unlawful bribe, rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other unlawful payment to any foreign or domestic government official or employee.
(p) Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act. The Company is in compliance in all material respects with any and all applicable requirements of the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act of 2002, as amended, that are effective as of the date hereof, and any and all applicable rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC thereunder that are effective as of the date hereof.
(q) Transactions With Affiliates. Except as disclosed in the SEC Documents or in Schedule 3(q), none of the officers, directors or employees of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is presently a party to any transaction with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (other than for ordinary course services as employees, officers or 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, or otherwise requiring payments to or from any such officer, director or employee or, to the knowledge of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, any corporation, partnership, trust or other entity in which any such officer, director, or employee has a substantial interest or is an officer, director, employee, trustee or partner.
7 |
(r) Equity Capitalization. As of the date hereof, the authorized capital stock of the Company consists of (i) 500,000,000 shares of Common Stock, of which as of the date hereof, 51,431,588 shares are issued and outstanding and 2,546,194 shares are held in treasury, and (ii) 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of which no shares are issued and outstanding. All of such outstanding shares have been, or upon issuance will be, validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable. Except as disclosed in the SEC Documents or in (i) Schedule 3(r)(i), none of the Company’s capital stock is subject to preemptive rights or any other similar rights or any liens or encumbrances suffered or permitted by the Company; (ii) Schedule 3(r)(ii), there are no outstanding options, warrants, scrip, rights to subscribe to, calls or commitments of any character whatsoever relating to, or securities or rights convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for, any shares of capital stock of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or contracts, commitments, understandings or arrangements by which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is or may become bound to issue additional shares of capital stock of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or options, warrants, scrip, rights to subscribe to, calls or commitments of any character whatsoever relating to, or securities or rights convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for, any shares of capital stock of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; (iii) Schedule 3(r)(iii), there are no outstanding debt securities, notes, credit agreements, credit facilities or other agreements, documents or instruments evidencing Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or by which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is or may become bound; (iv) Schedule 3(r)(iv), there are no financing statements securing obligations in any material amounts, either singly or in the aggregate, filed in connection with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; (v) Schedule 3(r)(v), there are no agreements or arrangements under which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is obligated to register the sale of any of their securities under the 1933 Act; (vi) Schedule 3(r)(vi), there are no outstanding securities or instruments of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries which contain any redemption or similar provisions, and there are no contracts, commitments, understandings or arrangements by which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is or may become bound to redeem a security of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; (vii) Schedule 3(r)(vii), there are no securities or instruments containing anti-dilution or similar provisions that will be triggered by the issuance of the Securities; (viii) Schedule 3(r)(viii), neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has any stock appreciation rights or “phantom stock” plans or agreements or any similar plan or agreement; and (ix) Schedule 3(r)(ix), the Company and its Subsidiaries have no liabilities or obligations required to be disclosed in the SEC Documents but not so disclosed in the SEC Documents, other than those incurred in the ordinary course of the Company’s or any of its Subsidiaries’ respective businesses and which, individually or in the aggregate, do not or would not have a Material Adverse Effect. The SEC Documents contain true, correct and complete copies of the Company’s Articles of Incorporation, as amended and as in effect on the date hereof (the “Articles of Incorporation”), and the Company’s Bylaws, as amended and as in effect on the date hereof (the “Bylaws”), and the terms of all securities convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of Common Stock and the material rights of the holders thereof in respect thereto.
8 |
(s) Indebtedness and Other Contracts. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries (i) except as disclosed in the SEC Documents or in Schedule 3(s)(i), has any outstanding Indebtedness (as defined below), (ii) except as disclosed in the SEC Documents or in Schedule 3(s)(ii), is a party to any contract, agreement or instrument, the violation of which, or default under which, by the other party(ies) to such contract, agreement or instrument could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, (iii) except as disclosed in the SEC Documents or in Schedule 3(s)(iii), is in violation of any term of or in default under any contract, agreement or instrument relating to any Indebtedness, except where such violations and defaults would not result, individually or in the aggregate, in a Material Adverse Effect, or (iv) except as disclosed in the SEC Documents or in Schedule 3(s)(iv), is a party to any contract, agreement or instrument relating to any Indebtedness, the performance of which, in the judgment of the Company’s officers, has or is expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. For purposes of this Agreement: (x) “Indebtedness” of any Person means, without duplication (A) all indebtedness for borrowed money, (B) all obligations issued, undertaken or assumed as the deferred purchase price of property or services, including, without limitation, “capital leases” in accordance with GAAP (other than trade payables entered into in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice), (C) all reimbursement or payment obligations with respect to letters of credit, surety bonds and other similar instruments, (D) all obligations evidenced by notes, bonds, debentures or similar instruments, including obligations so evidenced incurred in connection with the acquisition of property, assets or businesses, (E) all indebtedness created or arising under any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, or incurred as financing, in either case with respect to any property or assets acquired with the proceeds of such indebtedness (even though the rights and remedies of the seller or bank under such agreement in the event of default are limited to repossession or sale of such property), (F) all monetary obligations under any leasing or similar arrangement which, in connection with GAAP, consistently applied for the periods covered thereby, is classified as a capital lease, (G) all indebtedness referred to in clauses (A) through (F) above secured by (or for which the holder of such Indebtedness has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any mortgage, deed of trust, lien, pledge, charge, security interest or other encumbrance of any nature whatsoever in or upon any property or assets (including accounts and contract rights) with respect to any asset or property owned by any Person, even though the Person which owns such assets or property has not assumed or become liable for the payment of such indebtedness, and (H) all Contingent Obligations in respect of indebtedness or obligations of others of the kinds referred to in clauses (A) through (G) above; and (y) “Contingent Obligation” means, as to any Person, any direct or indirect liability, contingent or otherwise, of that Person with respect to any Indebtedness, lease, dividend or other obligation of another Person if the primary purpose or intent of the Person incurring such liability, or the primary effect thereof, is to provide assurance to the obligee of such liability that such liability will be paid or discharged, or that any agreements relating thereto will be complied with, or that the holders of such liability will be protected (in whole or in part) against loss with respect thereto.
(t) Absence of Litigation. Except as set forth in the SEC Documents or in Schedule 3(t), there is no action, suit, proceeding, inquiry or investigation before or by the Principal Market, any court, public board, government agency, self-regulatory organization or body pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against or affecting the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, the Common Stock or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries or any of the Company’s or its Subsidiaries’ officers or directors, whether of a civil or criminal nature or otherwise, in their capacities as such, that, if adversely determined, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(u) Insurance. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries are insured against such losses and risks and in such amounts as management of the Company believes to be prudent and customary in the businesses in which the Company and its Subsidiaries are engaged. Neither the Company nor any such Subsidiary has been refused any insurance coverage sought or applied for. The Company believes that it either will be able to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or obtain similar coverage from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business, in each case, at a cost that would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
9 |
(v) Employee Relations.
(i) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to any collective bargaining agreement or employs any member of a union. The Company and its Subsidiaries believe that their relations with their respective employees are good. No executive officer of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (as defined in Rule 501(f) of the 1933 Act) has notified the Company or any such Subsidiary that such officer intends to leave the Company or any such Subsidiary or otherwise terminate such officer’s employment with the Company or any such Subsidiary. No executive officer of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, to the knowledge of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, is, or is now expected to be, in violation of any material term of any employment contract, confidentiality, disclosure or proprietary information agreement, non-competition agreement, or any other contract or agreement or any restrictive covenant, and, to the knowledge of the Company, the continued employment of each such executive officer does not subject the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to any liability with respect to any of the foregoing matters.
(ii) To its knowledge, the Company and its Subsidiaries are in compliance with all federal, state, local and foreign laws and regulations respecting labor, employment and employment practices and benefits, terms and conditions of employment and wages and hours, except where failure to be in compliance would not, either individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(w) Title. To its knowledge, the Company and its Subsidiaries have good and marketable title in fee simple to all real property and good and marketable title to all personal property owned by them which is material to the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries, in each case free and clear of all liens, encumbrances and defects except such as do not materially affect the value of such property and do not interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property by the Company and any of its Subsidiaries. Any real property and facilities held under lease by the Company and any of its Subsidiaries are held by them under valid, subsisting and enforceable leases with such exceptions as are not material and do not interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property and buildings by the Company and its Subsidiaries.
(x) Intellectual Property Rights. To its knowledge, the Company and its Subsidiaries own or possess adequate rights or licenses to use all trademarks, trade names, service marks, service mark registrations, service names, original works of authorship, patents, patent rights, copyrights, inventions, licenses, approvals, governmental authorizations, trade secrets and other intellectual property rights and all applications and registrations therefor (“Intellectual Property Rights”) necessary to conduct their respective businesses as now conducted and as presently proposed to be conducted. To the Company’s knowledge, except as disclosed in the SEC Documents or in Schedule 3(x), none of the Company’s or its Subsidiaries’ Intellectual Property Rights have expired or terminated or have been abandoned or are expected to expire or terminate or are expected to be abandoned, within three years from the date of this Agreement. The Company does not have any knowledge of any infringement by the Company or its Subsidiaries of Intellectual Property Rights of others. There is no claim, action or proceeding being made or brought, or to the knowledge of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, being threatened, against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries regarding its Intellectual Property Rights. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is aware of any facts or circumstances which might give rise to any of the foregoing infringements or claims, actions or proceedings. The Company and its Subsidiaries have taken reasonable security measures to protect the secrecy, confidentiality and value of all of their Intellectual Property Rights.
(y) Environmental Laws. To its knowledge, the Company and its Subsidiaries (i) are in compliance with any and all Environmental Laws (as hereinafter defined), (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 of the foregoing clauses (i), (ii) and (iii), the failure to so comply could be reasonably expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect. The term “Environmental Laws” means all federal, state, local or foreign laws relating to pollution or protection of human health or the environment (including, without limitation, ambient air, surface water, groundwater, land surface or subsurface strata), including, without limitation, 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.
10 |
(z) Subsidiary Rights. The Company or one of its Subsidiaries has the unrestricted right to vote, and (subject to limitations imposed by applicable law) to receive dividends and distributions on, all capital securities of its Subsidiaries as owned by the Company or such Subsidiary.
(aa) Investment Company Status. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is, and upon consummation of the sale of the Securities, and for so long any Buyer holds any Securities, will be, an “investment company,” a company controlled by an “investment company” or an “affiliated person” of, or “promoter” or “principal underwriter” for, an “investment company” as such terms are defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
(bb) Tax Status. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries (i) has made or filed all U.S. federal, state and foreign income and all other 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, except those being contested in good faith and (iii) has set aside on its books provision reasonably adequate for the payment of all 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 know of no basis for any such claim.
(cc) Internal Accounting and Disclosure Controls. Except as disclosed in the SEC Documents, the Company and each of its Subsidiaries maintain a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations, (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles and to maintain asset and liability accountability, (iii) access to assets or incurrence of liabilities is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets and liabilities is compared with the existing assets and liabilities at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any difference. The Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15 under the 1934 Act) that are effective in ensuring that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the 1934 Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the rules and forms of the SEC, including, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the 1934 Act is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its principal executive officer or officers and its principal financial officer or officers, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. During the twelve months prior to the date hereof neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any notice or correspondence from any accountant relating to any material weakness in any part of the system of internal accounting controls of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
(dd) Off Balance Sheet Arrangements. There is no transaction, arrangement, or other relationship between the Company and an unconsolidated or other off balance sheet entity that is required to be disclosed by the Company in its 1934 Act filings and is not so disclosed or that otherwise would be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.
11 |
(ee) [Intentionally Omitted].
(ff) Transfer Taxes. On the Closing Date, all stock transfer or other taxes (other than income or similar taxes) which are required to be paid in connection with the sale and transfer of the Securities to be sold to each Buyer hereunder will be, or will have been, fully paid or provided for by the Company, and all laws imposing such taxes will be or will have been complied with.
(gg) Manipulation of Price. The Company has not, and to its knowledge no one acting on its behalf has, (i) taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed to cause or to result, or that could reasonably be expected to cause or result, in the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of any of the Securities, (ii) sold, bid for, purchased, or paid any compensation for soliciting purchases of, any of the Securities, or (iii) paid or agreed to pay to any person any compensation for soliciting another to purchase any other securities of the Company.
(hh) U.S. Real Property Holding Corporation. The Company is not, has never been, and so long as any Securities remain outstanding, shall not become, a U.S. real property holding corporation within the meaning of Section 897 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”).
(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) Shell Company Status. The Company is not, and has never been, an issuer identified in Rule 144(i)(1) of the 1933 Act.
(kk) Stock Option Plans. Each stock option granted by the Company was granted (i) in accordance with the terms of the applicable stock option plan of the Company and (ii) with an exercise price at least equal to the fair market value of the Common Stock on the date such stock option would be considered granted under GAAP and applicable law. No stock option granted under the Company’s stock option plan has been backdated. The Company has not knowingly granted, and there is no and has been no policy or practice of the Company 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.
(ll) No Disagreements with Accountants and Lawyers. There are no material disagreements of any kind presently existing, or reasonably anticipated by the Company to arise, between the Company and the accountants and lawyers formerly or presently employed by the Company and the Company is current with respect to any fees owed to its accountants and lawyers which could affect the Company’s ability to perform any of its obligations under any of the Transaction Documents.
(mm) Compliance with Anti-Money Laundering Laws. The operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements and all other applicable U.S. and non-U.S. anti-money laundering laws and regulations, including, but not limited to, those of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the USA Patriot Act of 2001 and the applicable money laundering statutes of all applicable jurisdictions, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency (collectively, the “Anti-Money Laundering Laws”), and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries with respect to the Anti-Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened.
12 |
(nn) No Conflicts with Sanctions Laws. Neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries has made any contribution or other payment to any official of, or candidate for, any federal, state or foreign office in violation of any law which violation is required to be disclosed in the Prospectus. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries, nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, employee, agent, affiliate or other person associated with or acting on behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or affiliates is, or is directly or indirectly owned or controlled by, a Person that is currently the subject or the target of any sanctions administered or enforced by the U.S. government (including, without limitation, the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury (“OFAC”) or the U.S. Departments of State or Commerce and including, without limitation, the designation as a “specially designated national” or “blocked person”), the United Nations Security Council (“UNSC”), the European Union, Her Majesty’s Treasury (“HMT”) or any other relevant sanctions authority (collectively, “Sanctions”), or is the Company, any of its Subsidiaries located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is the subject or target of a comprehensive embargo or Sanctions prohibiting trade with the country or territory, including, without limitation, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan and Syria (each, a “Sanctioned Country”); no action of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with (i) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents, (ii) the issuance and sale of the Securities or (iii) the direct or indirect use of proceeds from the Securities or the consummation of any other transaction contemplated hereby or by the other Transaction Documents or the fulfillment of the terms hereof or thereof, will result in the proceeds of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the other Transaction Documents being used, or loaned, contributed or otherwise made available, directly or indirectly, to any Subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or entity, for the purpose of (i) unlawfully funding or facilitating any activities of or business with any person that, at the time of such funding or facilitation, is the subject or target of Sanctions, (ii) unlawfully funding or facilitating any activities of or business in any Sanctioned Country or (iii) in any other manner that will result in a violation by any Person (including any Person participating in the transaction, whether as underwriter, advisor, investor or otherwise) of Sanctions. For the past five years, the Company and its Subsidiaries have not knowingly engaged in and are not now knowingly engaged in any dealings or transactions with any person that at the time of the dealing or transaction is or was the subject or the target of Sanctions or with any Sanctioned Country.
(oo) Anti-Bribery. Neither the Company, nor any of its Subsidiaries or affiliates, nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee or other person associated with or acting on behalf of the Company, or any of its Subsidiaries or affiliates, has (i) used any funds for any unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful expense relating to political activity, (ii) made any direct or indirect unlawful payment to any foreign or domestic government official or employee, to any employee or agent of a private entity with which the Company does or seeks to do business (a “Private Sector Counterparty”) or to foreign or domestic political parties or campaigns from corporate funds, (iii) violated or is in violation of any provision of any applicable law or regulation implementing the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions or any applicable provision of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended (the “FCPA”), the U.K Bribery Act 2010, or any other similar law of any other jurisdiction in which the Company operates its business, including, in each case, the rules and regulations thereunder, (iv) taken, is currently taking or will take any action in furtherance of an offer, payment, gift or anything else of value, directly or indirectly, to any person while knowing that all or some portion of the money or value will be offered, given or promised to anyone to improperly influence official action, to obtain or retain business or otherwise to secure any improper advantage or (v) otherwise made any bribe, rebate, payoff, influence payment, unlawful kickback or other unlawful payment; the Company and each of its respective Subsidiaries has instituted and has maintained, and will continue to maintain, policies and procedures reasonably designed to promote and achieve compliance with the laws referred to in (iii) above and with this representation and warranty; and none of the Company, nor any of its Subsidiaries or affiliates will directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the Securities or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any Subsidiary, affiliate, joint venture partner or other person or entity for the purpose of financing or facilitating any activity that would violate the laws and regulations referred to in (iii) above.
13 |
(pp) No Disqualification Events. With respect to Securities to be offered and sold hereunder in reliance on Rule 506(b) under the 1933 Act (“Regulation D Securities”), to its knowledge, none of the Company, any of its predecessors, any affiliated issuer, any director, executive officer, other officer of the Company participating in the offering hereunder, any beneficial owner of 20% or more of the Company’s outstanding voting equity securities, calculated on the basis of voting power, nor any promoter (as that term is defined in Rule 405 under the 1933 Act) connected with the Company in any capacity at the time of sale (each, an “Issuer Covered Person” and, together, “Issuer Covered Persons”) is subject to any of the “Bad Actor” disqualifications described in Rule 506(d)(1)(i) to (viii) under the 1933 Act (a “Disqualification Event”), except for a Disqualification Event covered by Rule 506(d)(2) or (d)(3). The Company has exercised reasonable care to determine whether any Issuer Covered Person is subject to a Disqualification Event. The Company has complied, to the extent applicable, with its disclosure obligations under Rule 506(e), and has furnished to the Buyers a copy of any disclosures provided thereunder.
(qq) Other Covered Persons. The Company is not aware of any Person that has been or will be paid (directly or indirectly) remuneration for solicitation of Buyers or potential purchasers in connection with the sale of any Regulation D Securities.
4. COVENANTS.
(a) Best Efforts. Each party shall use its best efforts timely to satisfy each of the covenants and the conditions to be satisfied by it as provided in Sections 6 and 7 of this Agreement.
(b) Form D and Blue Sky. If required by applicable Law, the Company agrees to file a Form D with respect to the Securities as required under Regulation D. The Company shall, on or before the Closing Date, take such action as the Company shall reasonably determine is necessary in order to obtain an exemption for or to qualify the Securities for sale to the Buyers at the Closing pursuant to this Agreement under applicable securities or “Blue Sky” laws of the states of the United States (or to obtain an exemption from such qualification), and shall provide evidence of any such action so taken to the Buyers on or prior to the Closing Date. The Company shall make all filings and reports relating to the offer and sale of the Securities required under applicable securities or “Blue Sky” laws of the states of the United States following the Closing Date.
(c) Reports Under the 1934 Act. With a view to making available to the Investors the benefits of Rule 144 or any other similar rule or regulation of the SEC that may at any time permit the Buyers to sell securities of the Company to the public without registration, the Company agrees to:
(i) make and keep public information available, as those terms are understood and defined in Rule 144;
(ii) file with the SEC in a timely manner all reports and other documents required of the Company under the 1933 Act and the 1934 Act so long as the Company remains subject to such requirements and the filing of such reports and other documents is required for the applicable provisions of Rule 144; and
(iii) furnish to each Buyer so long as such Buyer owns Securities, promptly upon request, (i) a written statement by the Company, if true, that it has complied with the reporting requirements of Rule 144, the 1933 Act and the 1934 Act, and (ii) such other information as may be reasonably requested to permit such Buyer to sell such securities pursuant to Rule 144 without registration.
(d) Use of Proceeds. The Company will use the proceeds from the sale of the Securities for working capital and general corporate purposes.
(e) Listing. The Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to maintain the listing or quotation of Common Stock on the Principal Market and apply to list or quote all of the Shares issuable under the terms of the Transaction Documents on the Principal Market. The Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to avoid the delisting or suspension of the Common Stock on the Principal Market. The Company shall pay all fees and expenses in connection with satisfying its obligations under this Section 4(e).
14 |
(f) Fees. The Company shall be responsible for the payment of any financial advisory fees, or broker’s commissions (other than for Persons engaged by any Buyer) relating to or arising out of the transactions contemplated hereby. The Company shall pay, and hold each Buyer harmless against, any liability, loss or expense (including, without limitation, reasonable attorney’s fees and out-of-pocket expenses) arising in connection with any claim relating to any such payment. Except as otherwise set forth in the Transaction Documents, each party to this Agreement shall bear its own expenses in connection with the sale of the Securities to the Buyers.
(g) Disclosure of Transactions and Other Material Information. The Company shall promptly issue a press release reasonably acceptable to the Buyers and file a Current Report on Form 8-K describing the terms of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents in the form required by the 1934 Act and attaching the material Transaction Documents (including, without limitation, this Agreement as an exhibit to such filing (including all attachments, the “8-K Filing”). Neither the Company, its Subsidiaries nor any Buyer shall issue any press releases or any other public statements with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby; provided, however, that the Company shall be entitled, without the prior approval of any Buyer, to make any press release or other public disclosure with respect to such transactions (i) in substantial conformity with the 8-K Filing and contemporaneously therewith and (ii) as is required by applicable law and regulations (provided that in the case of clause (i) each Buyer shall be consulted by the Company in connection with any such press release or other public disclosure prior to its release)..
(h) Additional Agreements.
(i) The Company will use its best efforts to cause the Common Stock to be listed on The Nasdaq Stock Market as promptly as practicable following the Closing.
(ii) [Intentionally Omitted].
(iii) The Company hereby grants each of the Buyers “piggyback” registration rights with respect to the Shares as per the terms described in Exhibit B hereto.
(iv) The Company agrees that if it materially breaches any of its covenants in this Section 4(h), and such breach results from the Company’s negligent or willful act, that it will pay liquidated damages to the Buyers, on a pro rata basis based on each Buyer’s portion of the Purchase Price, in an amount equal to $1,000 per day for the duration of such breach, up to a maximum of thirty (30) days, increasing to $1,500 per day thereafter until such time as each Buyer has received an amount equal to twenty (20%) percent of its portion of the Purchase Price. The parties hereto acknowledge that the foregoing payments do not constitute a penalty but are liquidated damages in a reasonable amount that will compensate each Buyer for the losses and damages that would be suffered by such Buyer in the circumstances in which such amounts are payable, which losses and damages would otherwise be impossible to calculate with precision.
(i) Certain Transactions and Confidentiality. Each Buyer, severally and not jointly with the other Buyers, covenants that neither it, nor any affiliate acting on its behalf or pursuant to any understanding with it will execute any purchases or sales, including Short Sales, of any of the Company’s securities during the period commencing with the execution of this Agreement and ending at such time that the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are first publicly announced pursuant to the initial press release as described in Section 4(g). Each Buyer, severally and not jointly with the other Buyers, covenants that until such time as the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are publicly disclosed by the Company pursuant to the initial press release as described in Section 4(g), such Buyer will maintain the confidentiality of the existence and terms of this transaction and the information included in the Disclosure Schedules (other than as disclosed to its legal and other representatives).
(j) [Intentionally Omitted].
(k) Conduct of Business. The business of the Company and its Subsidiaries shall not be conducted in violation of any law, ordinance or regulation of any governmental entity, except where such violations would not result, either individually or in the aggregate, in a Material Adverse Effect.
(l) [Intentionally Omitted].
15 |
(m) Notice of Disqualification Events. The Company will notify the Buyers in writing, prior to the Closing Date of (i) any Disqualification Event relating to any Issuer Covered Person and (ii) any event that would, with the passage of time, become a Disqualification Event relating to any Issuer Covered Person.
(n) FAST Compliance. While any Shares are outstanding, the Company shall maintain a transfer agent that participates in the DTC Fast Automated Securities Transfer Program.
(o) Closing Documents. On or prior to thirty (30) calendar days after the Closing Date, the Company agrees to deliver, or cause to be delivered, to each Buyer a complete closing set of the executed Transaction Documents, Securities and any other documents required to be delivered to any party pursuant to Section 7 hereof or otherwise.
5. TRANSFER AGENT INSTRUCTIONS.
(a) Transfer Agent Instructions. If a Buyer effects a sale, assignment or transfer of the Securities in accordance with Section 2, the Company shall permit the transfer and shall promptly instruct its transfer agent to issue one or more certificates or credit shares to the applicable balance accounts at DTC in such name and in such denominations as specified by such Buyer to effect such sale, transfer or assignment, provided such Securities are eligible for DTC. In the event that such sale, assignment or transfer involves Shares sold, assigned or transferred pursuant to an effective registration statement or pursuant to Rule 144, the transfer agent shall issue such Securities to the Buyer, assignee or transferee, as the case may be, without any restrictive legend. The Company acknowledges that a breach by it of its obligations hereunder will cause irreparable harm to a Buyer. Accordingly, the Company acknowledges that the remedy at law for a breach of its obligations under this Section 5(b) will be inadequate and agrees, in the event of a breach or threatened breach by the Company of the provisions of this Section 5(b), that a Buyer shall be entitled, in addition to all other available remedies, to an order and/or injunction restraining any breach and requiring immediate issuance and transfer, without the necessity of showing economic loss and without any bond or other security being required.
6. CONDITIONS TO THE COMPANY’S OBLIGATION TO SELL. The obligation of the Company hereunder to issue and sell the Shares to each Buyer at the Closing is subject to the satisfaction, at or before the Closing Date, of each of the following conditions, provided that these conditions are for the Company’s sole benefit and may be waived by the Company at any time in its sole discretion by providing each Buyer with prior written notice thereof:
(i) Such Buyer shall have executed each of the Transaction Documents to which it is a party and delivered the same to the Company.
(ii) Such Buyer shall have delivered its Purchase Price to the Company, for the Shares being purchased by such Buyer at the Closing by wire transfer of immediately available funds pursuant to the wire instructions provided by the Company.
(iii) The representations and warranties of such Buyer shall be true and correct as of the date when made and as of the Closing Date as though made at that time (except for representations and warranties that speak as of a specific date which shall be true and correct as of such specified date), and such Buyer shall have performed, satisfied and complied in all material respects with the covenants, agreements and conditions required by this Agreement to be performed, satisfied or complied with by such Buyer at or prior to the Closing Date.
7. CONDITIONS TO EACH BUYER’S OBLIGATION TO PURCHASE. The obligation of each Buyer hereunder to purchase the Shares at the Closing is subject to the satisfaction, at or before the Closing Date, of each of the following conditions, provided that these conditions are for each Buyer’s sole benefit and may be waived by such Buyer at any time in its sole discretion by providing the Company with prior written notice thereof:
(i) The Company shall have duly executed and delivered to such Buyer each of the following documents to which it is a party: (A) each of the Transaction Documents, and (B) the Shares being purchased by such Buyer at the Closing pursuant to this Agreement.
16 |
(ii) The Company shall have delivered to such Buyer a certificate evidencing the formation and good standing of the Company in its jurisdiction of formation issued by the Secretary of State (or comparable office) of such jurisdiction, as of a date within ten (10) days of the Closing Date.
(iii) The Company shall have delivered to such Buyer a certificate, executed by an officer of the Company and dated as of the Closing Date, as to (i) the resolutions consistent with Section 3(b) as adopted by the Company’s Board of Directors in a form reasonably acceptable to such Buyer, (ii) the Articles of Incorporation of the Company and (iii) the Bylaws of the Company, each as in effect at the Closing, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A.
(iv) The representations and warranties of the Company shall be true and correct in all material respects (except for those representations and warranties that are qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect, which shall be accurate in all respects) as of the date when made and as of the Closing Date as though made at that time (except for representations and warranties that speak as of a specific date which shall be true and correct as of such specified date) and the Company shall have performed, satisfied and complied in all material respects with the covenants, agreements and conditions required by the Transaction Documents to be performed, satisfied or complied with by the Company at or prior to the Closing Date (except for covenants, agreement and conditions that are qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect, which shall be performed, satisfied or complied with, in all respects). Such Buyer shall have received a certificate, executed by an executive officer of the Company, dated as of the Closing Date, to the foregoing effect and as to such other matters as may be reasonably requested by such Buyer in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A.
(v) The Common Stock (I) shall be designated for quotation or listed on the Principal Market and (II) shall not have been suspended, as of the Closing Date, by the SEC or the Principal Market from trading on the Principal Market nor shall suspension by the SEC or the Principal Market have been threatened, as of the Closing Date, either (A) in writing by the SEC or the Principal Market or (B) by falling below the minimum listing maintenance requirements of the Principal Market.
(vi) The Company shall have obtained all governmental, regulatory or third-party consents and approvals, if any, necessary for the sale of the Securities.
(vii) Such Buyer shall have received the Company’s wire instructions on Company’s letterhead duly executed by an authorized officer of the Company.
(viii) The Company shall have delivered to such Buyer such other documents relating to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement as such Buyer or its counsel may reasonably request.
8. TERMINATION. In the event that the Closing shall not have occurred with respect to a Buyer on or before five (5) Business Days from the date hereof due to the Company’s or such Buyer’s failure to satisfy the conditions set forth in Sections 6 and 7 above (and the nonbreaching party’s failure to waive such unsatisfied condition(s)), the nonbreaching party shall have the option to terminate this Agreement with respect to such breaching party at the close of business on such date by delivering a written notice to that effect to each other party to this Agreement and without liability of any party to any other party. As used in this Agreement, “Business Day” means any day other than Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in The City of New York are authorized or required by law to remain closed; provided, however, for clarification, commercial banks shall not be deemed to be authorized or required by law to remain closed due to “stay at home”, “shelter-in-place”, “non-essential employee” or any other similar orders or restrictions or the closure of any physical branch locations at the direction of any governmental authority so long as the electronic funds transfer systems (including for wire transfers) of commercial banks in The City of New York are generally open for use by customers on such day.
17 |
9. MISCELLANEOUS.
(a) Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Jury Trial. All questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation of this Agreement shall be governed by the internal laws of the State of Florida, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the State of Florida or any other jurisdictions) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdictions other than the State of Florida. Each party hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts sitting in Lee County, State of Florida, for the adjudication of any dispute hereunder or in connection herewith or with any transaction contemplated hereby or discussed herein, and hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert in any suit, action or proceeding, any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of any such court, that such suit, action or proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum or that the venue of such suit, action or proceeding is improper. Each party hereby irrevocably waives personal service of process and consents to process being served in any such suit, action or proceeding by mailing a copy thereof to such party at the address for such notices to it under this Agreement and agrees that such service shall constitute good and sufficient service of process and notice thereof. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit in any way any right to serve process in any manner permitted by law. EACH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE, AND AGREES NOT TO REQUEST, A JURY TRIAL FOR THE ADJUDICATION OF ANY DISPUTE HEREUNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH OR ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.
(b) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more identical counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when counterparts have been signed by each party and delivered to the other party; provided that a facsimile or ..pdf signature shall be considered due execution and shall be binding upon the signatory thereto with the same force and effect as if the signature were an original, not a facsimile or .pdf signature.
(c) Headings. The headings of this Agreement are for convenience of reference and shall not form part of, or affect the interpretation of, this Agreement.
(d) Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is prohibited by law or otherwise determined to be invalid or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, the provision that would otherwise be prohibited, invalid or unenforceable shall be deemed amended to apply to the broadest extent that it would be valid and enforceable, and the invalidity or unenforceability of such provision shall not affect the validity of the remaining provisions of this Agreement so long as this Agreement as so modified continues to express, without material change, the original intentions of the parties as to the subject matter hereof and the prohibited nature, invalidity or unenforceability of the provision(s) in question does not substantially impair the respective expectations or reciprocal obligations of the parties or the practical realization of the benefits that would otherwise be conferred upon the parties. The parties will endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the prohibited, invalid or unenforceable provision(s) with a valid provision(s), the effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the prohibited, invalid or unenforceable provision(s).
(e) Entire Agreement; Amendments. This Agreement and the other Transaction Documents supersede all other prior oral or written agreements between the Buyers, the Company, their affiliates and Persons acting on their behalf with respect to the subject matter hereof, and this Agreement, the other Transaction Documents and the instruments referenced herein and therein contain the entire understanding of the parties with respect to the matters covered herein and therein and, except as specifically set forth herein or therein, neither the Company nor any Buyer makes any representation, warranty, covenant or undertaking with respect to such matters. Provisions of this Agreement may be amended and the observance thereof may be waived (either generally or in a particular instance and either retroactively or prospectively), only with the written consent of the Company and the Buyers. Any amendment or waiver effected in accordance with this Section 9(e) shall be binding upon each Buyer and holder of Securities and the Company. No such amendment shall be effective to the extent that it applies to less than all of the Buyers or holders of Securities. No consideration shall be offered or paid to any Person to amend or consent to a waiver or modification of any provision of any of the Transaction Documents unless the same consideration (other than the reimbursement of legal fees) also is offered to all of the parties to the Transaction Documents. The Company has not, directly or indirectly, made any agreements with any Buyers relating to the terms or conditions of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents except as set forth in the Transaction Documents. Without limiting the foregoing, the Company confirms that, except as set forth in this Agreement, no Buyer has made any commitment or promise or has any other obligation to provide any financing to the Company or otherwise.
18 |
(f) Notices. Any notices, consents, waivers or other communications required or permitted to be given under the terms of this Agreement or any of the other Transaction Document’s must be in writing and will be deemed to have been delivered: (i) upon receipt, when delivered personally; (ii) upon delivery, when sent by electronic mail (provided that the sending party does not receive an automated rejection notice); or (iii) one (1) Business Day after deposit with an overnight courier service, in each case properly addressed to the party to receive the same, provided the courier confirms delivery and an authorized signature is obtained. The addresses and e-mail addresses for such communications shall be:
If to the Company:
Innovative Food Holdings, Inc.
0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxx Xx., Xxx. 000
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
E-mail:
With a copy to (for informational purposes only):
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx & Schole LLP
0000 Xxxxxx xx xxx Xxxxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx
New York, New York 10105
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx, Esq.
E-mail:
If to the transfer agent:
ComputerShare Trust Company, N.A.
Regular delivery:
P.O. Box 43078
Providence, RI 02940-3078
Courier delivery:
000 Xxxxxx Xx., Xxxxx 000
Canton, MA 02021
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
E-mail:
If to a Buyer, to its address, facsimile number and e-mail address set forth on the Schedule of Buyers, with copies to such Buyer’s representatives as set forth on the Schedule of Buyers, or to such other address, facsimile number and/or e-mail address and/or to the attention of such other Person as the recipient party has specified by written notice given to each other party five (5) days prior to the effectiveness of such change. Written confirmation of receipt (A) given by the recipient of such notice, consent, waiver or other communication, (B) mechanically or electronically generated by the sender’s facsimile machine or e-mail containing the time, date, recipient facsimile number and an image of the first page of such transmission or (C) provided by an overnight courier service shall be rebuttable evidence of personal service, receipt by facsimile or receipt from an overnight courier service in accordance with clause (i), (ii) or (iii) above, respectively.
(g) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties and their respective successors and assigns, including any purchasers of the Shares. The Company shall not assign this Agreement or any rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Buyers. A Buyer may assign some or all of its rights hereunder without the consent of the Company, in which event such assignee shall be deemed to be a Buyer hereunder with respect to such assigned rights, provided that no rights may be assigned to a competitor without the consent of the Company’s Board of Directors.
19 |
(h) No Third-Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement is intended for the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective permitted successors and assigns, and is not for the benefit of, nor may any provision hereof be enforced by, any other Person, except that each Indemnitee shall have the right to enforce the obligations of the Company with respect to Section 9(k).
(i) Survival. Unless this Agreement is terminated under Section 8, the representations and warranties of the Company and the Buyers contained in Sections 2 and 3, and the agreements and covenants set forth in Sections 4, 5 and 9 shall survive the Closing. Each Buyer shall be responsible only for its own representations, warranties, agreements and covenants hereunder.
(j) Further Assurances. Each party shall do and perform, or cause to be done and performed, all such further acts and things, and shall execute and deliver all such other agreements, certificates, instruments and documents, as any other party may reasonably request in order to carry out the intent and accomplish the purposes of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.
(k) Indemnification. In consideration of each Buyer’s execution and delivery of the Transaction Documents and acquiring the Securities thereunder and in addition to all of the Company’s other obligations under the Transaction Documents, the Company shall defend, protect, indemnify and hold harmless each Buyer and all of their respective stockholders, partners, members, officers, directors, employees and direct or indirect investors and any of the foregoing Persons’ agents or other representatives (including, without limitation, those retained in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement) (collectively, the “Indemnitees”) from and against any and all actions, causes of action, suits, claims, losses, costs, penalties, fees, liabilities and damages, and expenses in connection therewith (irrespective of whether any such Indemnitee is a party to the action for which indemnification hereunder is sought), and including reasonable attorneys’ fees and disbursements (the “Indemnified Liabilities”), incurred by any Indemnitee as a result of, or arising out of, or relating to (a) any misrepresentation or breach of any representation or warranty made by the Company in any of the Transaction Documents or any other certificate, instrument or document contemplated hereby or thereby, (b) any breach of any covenant, agreement or obligation of the Company contained in any of the Transaction Documents or any other certificate, instrument or document contemplated hereby or thereby or (c) any cause of action, suit or claim brought or made against such Indemnitee by a third party (including for these purposes a derivative action brought on behalf of the Company) and arising out of or resulting from (i) the execution, delivery, performance or enforcement of any of the Transaction Documents or any other certificate, instrument or document contemplated hereby or thereby, (ii) any transaction financed or to be financed in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, with the proceeds of the issuance of the Securities, or (iii) the status of such Buyer or holder of the Securities as an investor in the Company pursuant to the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents. To the extent that the foregoing undertaking by the Company may be unenforceable for any reason, the Company shall make the maximum contribution to the payment and satisfaction of each of the Indemnified Liabilities that is permissible under applicable law. The Company will not be liable to any Buyer under this indemnity: (i) for any settlement by a Buyer in connection with any claim effected without the Company’s prior written consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed; or (ii) to the extent, but only to the extent, that a claim is attributable to any Buyer’s violation of any law or breach of any of the representations, warranties, covenants or agreements made by such Buyer in this Agreement or in the other Transaction Documents.
(l) No Strict Construction. The language used in this Agreement will be deemed to be the language chosen by the parties to express their mutual intent, and no rules of strict construction will be applied against any party.
(m) Remedies. Each Buyer and each holder of the Securities shall have all rights and remedies set forth in the Transaction Documents and all rights and remedies which such holders have been granted at any time under any other agreement or contract and all of the rights which such holders have under any law. Any Person having any rights under any provision of this Agreement shall be entitled to enforce such rights specifically (without posting a bond or other security), to recover damages by reason of any breach of any provision of this Agreement and to exercise all other rights granted by law. Furthermore, the Company recognizes that in the event that it fails to perform, observe, or discharge any or all of its obligations under the Transaction Documents, any remedy at law may prove to be inadequate relief to the Buyers. The Company therefore agrees that the Buyers shall be entitled to seek temporary and permanent injunctive relief in any such case without the necessity of proving actual damages and without posting a bond or other security.
20 |
(n) Rescission and Withdrawal Right. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in (and without limiting any similar provisions of) the Transaction Documents, whenever any Buyer exercises a right, election, demand or option under a Transaction Document and the Company does not timely perform its related obligations within the periods therein provided, then such Buyer may rescind or withdraw, in its sole discretion from time to time upon written notice to the Company, any relevant notice, demand or election in whole or in part without prejudice to its future actions and rights.
(o) Payment Set Aside. To the extent that the Company makes a payment or payments to the Buyers hereunder or pursuant to any of the other Transaction Documents or the Buyers enforce or exercise their rights hereunder or thereunder, and such payment or payments or the proceeds of such enforcement or exercise or any part thereof are subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside, recovered from, disgorged by or are required to be refunded, repaid or otherwise restored to the Company, a trustee, receiver or any other Person under any law (including, without limitation, any bankruptcy law, foreign, state or federal law, common law or equitable cause of action), then to the extent of any such restoration the obligation or part thereof originally intended to be satisfied shall be revived and continued in full force and effect as if such payment had not been made or such enforcement or setoff had not occurred.
(p) Independent Nature of Buyers’ Obligations and Rights. The obligations of each Buyer under any Transaction Document are several and not joint with the obligations of any other Buyer, and no Buyer shall be responsible in any way for the performance of the obligations of any other Buyer under any Transaction Document. Nothing contained herein or in any other Transaction Document, and no action taken by any Buyer pursuant hereto or thereto, shall be deemed to constitute the Buyers as, and the Company acknowledges that the Buyers do not so constitute, a partnership, an association, a joint venture or any other kind of entity, or create a presumption that the Buyers are in any way acting in concert or as a group, and the Company shall not assert any such claim with respect to such obligations or the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents and the Company acknowledges that the Buyers are not acting in concert or as a group with respect to such obligations or the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents. The Company acknowledges and each Buyer confirms that it has independently participated in the negotiation of the transaction contemplated hereby with the advice of its own counsel and advisors. Each Buyer shall be entitled to independently protect and enforce its rights, including, without limitation, the rights arising out of this Agreement or out of any other Transaction Documents, and it shall not be necessary for any other Buyer to be joined as an additional party in any proceeding for such purpose.
[Signature Page Follows]
21 |
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each Buyer and the Company have caused their respective signature page to this Securities Purchase Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first written above.
COMPANY: | |||
INNOVATIVE FOOD HOLDINGS, INC. | |||
By: |
| ||
Name: | Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx | ||
Title: | Chief Executive Officer |
[Signature Page to Securities Purchase Agreement]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each Buyer and the Company have caused their respective signature page to this Securities Purchase Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first written above.
BUYERS: | |||
By: |
| ||
Name: | |||
Title: |
By: |
| ||
Name: | |||
Title: |
By: |
| ||
Name: | |||
Title: |
By: |
| ||
Name: | |||
Title: |
By: |
| ||
Name: | |||
Title: |
[Signature Page to Securities Purchase Agreement]
SCHEDULE OF BUYERS
(1) | (2) | (3) | (4) | (5) |
Xxxxx | Address, Facsimile Number and Email | Number of Shares | Purchase Price | Legal Representative’s Address and Facsimile Number |
Bandera Master Fund L.P. |
00 Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000 Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000 Attention: Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxx Telephone: (000) 000-0000 Email: xxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx |
1,250,000 | $1.60 | Address: Attention: E-mail: |
Address: Attention: Telephone: Email: |
312,500 | $1.60 |
Address: E-mail: | |
Address: Attention: Telephone: Email: |
156,250 | $1.60 |
Address: E-mail: | |
Address: Attention: Telephone: Email: |
156,250
|
$1.60
|
Address: E-mail:
| |
Address: Attention: Telephone: Email: |
31,250
|
$1.60
|
Address: E-mail:
|
EXHIBITS
Exhibit A | Form of Officer’s Certificate |
Exhibit B | Piggyback Registration Terms |
EXHIBIT A
Form of Officer’s Certificate
INNOVATIVE FOOD HOLDINGS, INC.
OFFICER’S CERTIFICATE
The undersigned officer of Innovative Food Holdings, Inc., a Florida corporation (the “Company”), hereby represents, warrants and certifies to the Buyers (as defined below), pursuant to Section 7(iii) of the Agreement (as defined below), as follows:
1. | The representations and warranties of the Company set forth in Section 3 of the Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as of [__], 2024 (the “Agreement”), among the Company and the investors identified on the Schedule of Buyers attached to the Agreement (the “Buyers”), are true and correct in all material respects (except for those representations and warranties that are qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect (as defined in the Agreement), which are accurate in all respects) as of the date hereof (except for representations and warranties that speak as of a specific date, which are true and correct as of such specified date). |
2. | The Company has performed, satisfied and complied in all material respects with the covenants, agreements and conditions required by the Transaction Documents (as defined in the Agreement) to be performed, satisfied and complied with by the Company as of the date hereof (except for covenants, agreements and conditions that are qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect, which have been performed, satisfied or complied with, in all respects). |
3. | The undersigned officer further certifies in his official capacity, in the name and on behalf of the Company, the items set forth below. |
(i) Attached hereto as Exhibit A is a true, correct and complete copy of resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Company duly adopted at a meeting of the Board of Directors held on [__], 2024. The resolutions contained in Exhibit A have not in any way been amended, modified, revoked or rescinded, have been in full force and effect since their adoption to and including the date hereof and are now in full force and effect.
(ii) Attached hereto as Exhibit B is a true, correct and complete copy of the Articles of Incorporation of the Company, together with any and all amendments thereto, and no action has been taken to further amend, modify or repeal such Articles of Incorporation, the same being in full force and effect in the attached form as of the date hereof.
(iii) Attached hereto as Exhibit C is a true, correct and complete copy of the Bylaws of the Company and any and all amendments thereto, and no action has been taken to further amend, modify or repeal such Bylaws, the same being in full force and effect in the attached form as of the date hereof.
Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning set forth in the Agreement.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this certificate this [__] day of [__], 2024.
| ||
Name: | Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx | |
Title: | Chief Executive Officer |
EXHIBIT B
Piggyback Registration Terms
(i) Right to Include Registrable Securities. If the Company at any time from time to time thereafter proposes to register any of its securities under the 1933 Act (other than in a registration on Form S-4 or S-8 or any successor form to such forms) whether or not pursuant to registration rights granted to other holders of its securities and whether or not for sale for its own account, the Company shall deliver prompt written notice (which notice shall be given at least ten (10) Trading Days prior to such proposed registration and which notice shall be given after the Company has publicly disclosed such proposed registration) to each Buyer of Registrable Securities of its intention to undertake such registration, describing in reasonable detail the proposed registration and distribution (including the anticipated range of the proposed offering price, the class and number of securities proposed to be registered and the distribution arrangements) and of each such Buyer’s right to participate in such registration. Subject to the other provisions contained herein, upon the written request of any Buyer made within five (5) calendar days after the receipt of such written notice (which request shall specify the amount of Registrable Securities to be registered and the intended method of disposition thereof), the Company shall effect the registration under the 1933 Act of all Registrable Securities requested by each Buyer to be so registered (a “Piggyback Registration”), to the extent requisite to permit the disposition (in accordance with the intended methods thereof as aforesaid) of the Registrable Securities so to be registered, by inclusion of such Registrable Securities in the Registration Statement which covers the securities which the Company proposes to register and shall cause such Registration Statement to become and remain effective with respect to such Registrable Securities in accordance with the registration procedures set forth herein. If a Piggyback Registration involves an Underwritten Offering, immediately upon notification to the Company from the Underwriter of the price at which such securities are to be sold, the Company shall so advise each participating Buyer. Each Buyer requesting inclusion in a Piggyback Registration may, at any time prior to the Effective Date of the Piggyback Registration Statement (and for any reason), revoke such request by delivering written notice to the Company revoking such requested inclusion.
If at any time after giving written notice of its intention to register any securities and prior to the Effective Date of the Piggyback Registration Statement filed in connection with such registration, the Company shall determine for any reason not to register or to delay registration of such securities, the Company may, at its election, give written notice of such determination to each Buyer and, thereupon, (A) in the case of a determination not to register, the Company shall be relieved of its obligation to register any Registrable Securities in connection with such registration, and (B) in the case of a determination to delay such registration, the Company shall be permitted to delay the registration of such Registrable Securities for the same period as the delay in registering such other securities; provided, however, that if such delay shall extend beyond 60 days from the date the Company received a request to include Registrable Securities in such Piggyback Registration, then the Company shall again give each Buyer the opportunity to participate therein and shall follow the notification procedures set forth in the preceding paragraph. There is no limitation on the number of such Piggyback Registrations which the Company is obligated to effect.
(ii) Priority in Piggyback Registration. If a Piggyback Registration involves an Underwritten Offering (on a firm commitment basis), and the sole or the lead managing Underwriter, as the case may be, of such Underwritten Offering shall advise the Company in writing (with a copy to each Buyer requesting registration) on or before the date five (5) days prior to the date then scheduled for such offering that, in its opinion, the amount of securities (including Registrable Securities) requested to be included in such registration exceeds the amount which can be sold in such offering without materially interfering with the successful marketing of the securities being offered (such writing to state the basis of such opinion and the approximate number of such securities which may be included in such offering without such effect), the Company shall include in such registration, to the extent of the number which the Company is so advised may be included in such offering without such effect, (A) first, the securities that the Company proposes to register for its own account, (B) second, the Registrable Securities requested to be included in such registration by all Buyers, allocated pro rata in proportion to the number of Registrable Securities requested to be included in such registration by each of them, and (C) third, other securities of the Company to be registered on behalf of any other Person; provided, that in the event the Company will not, by virtue of this provision, include in any such registration all of the Registrable Securities of any Buyer requested to be included in such registration, such Buyer may, upon written notice to the Company given within three (3) days of the time such Buyer first is notified of such matter, reduce the amount of Registrable Securities it desires to have included in such registration, whereupon only the Registrable Securities, if any, it desires to have included will be so included and the Buyers not so reducing shall be entitled to a corresponding increase in the amount of Registrable Securities to be included in such registration.
(iii) Participation in Underwritten Registration. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, no Person may participate in any Underwritten Offering hereunder unless such Person (i) agrees to sell its securities on the same terms and conditions provided in any underwritten arrangements approved by the Persons entitled hereunder to approve such arrangement and (ii) accurately completes and executes in a timely manner all questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, custody agreements, underwriting agreements and other documents customary for such an offering and reasonably required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements
(iv) Limitation on Registration. The above notwithstanding, a Buyer shall not have any rights to participate in a Piggyback Registration, and the Company shall have no obligation to comply with its duties described herein with respect to the Registrable Securities of any Buyer, in the event all of the Registrable Securities held by such Buyer can be sold without limitation pursuant to Rule 144.
(v) Indemnification. The Company will indemnify and hold harmless each Buyer in the registration, each of their respective officers, directors, members, managers, partners and employees, each underwriter of Registrable Securities, and each Person, if any, who controls any such Buyer or underwriter within the meaning of the 1933 Act or the 1934 Act (collectively, the “Buyer Indemnitees” and, individually, a “Buyer Indemnitee”), against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees), joint or several, to which such Buyer Indemnitees, or any of them, may become subject under the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act, state securities or blue sky laws or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities, cost or expenses (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in any Registration Statement, or prospectus contained therein, or any amendment or supplement thereto, 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 (in the case of any prospectus, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, unless any such statement or omission is based on and in conformity with written information provided by the Buyer Indemnitee specifically for inclusion in such Registration Statement or prospectus, or (ii) any violation or alleged violation by the Company of the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act or any state securities law, or any rule or regulation thereunder, in connection with the performance of any of its obligations under this Agreement or with the Registration Statement or the offering contemplated thereby, and will reimburse each Buyer Indemnitee for all reasonable legal and other expenses reasonably incurred by it in connection with defending against such loss, claim, damage, liability, cost, expense or action.
(vi) Contribution. If for any reason the foregoing indemnity is unavailable, or is insufficient to hold harmless a Buyer Indemnitee, then the Company shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by the Buyer Indemnitee as a result of such losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs or expenses (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Buyer Indemnitee on the other from the registration or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Buyer Indemnitee on the other but also the relative fault of the Company and the Buyer Indemnitee as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by or on behalf of the Company or the Buyer Indemnitee and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such untrue statement or omission. The Company and each of the Buyers agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this provision were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations described above. No Person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the 1933 Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, no Buyer shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the net proceeds actually received by such Buyer from its sale of Registrable Securities under the applicable Registration Statement.
(vii) The above indemnification and contribution provisions shall survive the completion of any offering of Registrable Securities. Such indemnity and contribution agreements are in addition to any liability that the Company may have to a Buyer Indemnitee.
(viii) Definitions.
(1) “1933 Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the rules and regulations thereunder, or any similar successor statute.
(2) “1934 Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the rules and regulations thereunder, or any similar successor statute.
(3) “Business Day” means any day other than Saturday, Sunday or any other day on which commercial banks in New York, New York are authorized or required by law to remain closed.
(4) “Effective Date” means the date that the applicable Registration Statement has been declared effective by the SEC.
(5) “Person” means an individual, a limited liability company, a partnership, a joint venture, a corporation, a trust, an unincorporated organization or a government or any department or agency thereof.
(6) “register,” “registered,” and “registration” refer to a registration effected by preparing and filing one or more Registration Statements in compliance with the 1933 Act and pursuant to Rule 415 and the declaration of effectiveness of such Registration Statement(s) by the SEC.
(7) “Registrable Securities” means the Shares issued to each Buyer pursuant to this Agreement, and also includes, without limitation, (1) any shares of Common Stock issued or issuable as a result of any stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, exchange or similar event or otherwise and (2) shares of capital stock of the Company into which the shares of Common Stock are converted or exchanged and shares of capital stock of a successor entity into which the shares of Common Stock are converted or exchanged.
(8) “Rule 144” means Rule 144 promulgated by the SEC under the 1933 Act, as such rule may be amended from time to time, or any other similar or successor rule or regulation of the SEC that may at any time permit a Buyer to sell securities of the Company to the public without registration.
(9) “SEC” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor thereto.
(10) “Trading Day” means any day on which the Common Stock is traded 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 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).
(11) “Underwriters” means the underwriters, if any, of the offering being registered under the 1933 Act.
(12) “Underwritten Offering” means a sale of securities of the Company to an Underwriter or Underwriters for reoffering to the public.
DISCLOSURE SCHEDULES
These Disclosure Schedules are provided pursuant to Sections 3 and 4 of the Securities Purchase Agreement dated [__], 2024 (the “Agreement”) by and among Innovative Food Holdings, Inc., a Florida corporation, with headquarters located at 0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxx Xx., Xxx. 000, Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000 (the “Company”), and the investors listed on the Schedule of Buyers attached thereto (individually, a “Buyer” and collectively, the “Buyers”). Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Agreement.
These Disclosure Schedules are qualified in their entirety by the provisions of the Agreement, and are not intended to constitute, and shall not be construed as constituting, representations, warranties, or covenants of the Company except as and only to the extent explicitly provided in the Agreement. Matters reflected in these Disclosure Schedules are not necessarily limited to matters required by the Agreement to be reflected in the Disclosure Schedules. All references to “Section” refer to a section or subsection in the Agreement, unless the context otherwise requires. The headings in these Disclosure Schedules are for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the disclosures contained herein. The disclosures in these Disclosure Schedules shall apply to the corresponding numbered or lettered sections of the Agreement. Inclusion of a matter in the Disclosure Schedules with respect to a representation or warranty that addresses matters having a Material Adverse Effect shall not be deemed an indication that such matter does or may have a Material Adverse Effect. These Disclosure Schedules may include matters not required by the terms of the Agreement to be listed on the Disclosure Schedules, which additional matters are disclosed for purposes of information only, and inclusion of any such matter does not mean that all such matters are included.
SCHEDULES
Schedule 3(a) Schedule 3(k) Schedule 3(l) Schedule 3(n) Schedule 3(q) Schedule 3(r) Schedule 3(s) Schedule 3(t) Schedule 3(x) |
Subsidiaries SEC Documents Absence of Certain Changes Regulatory Permits Transactions with Affiliates Equity Capitalization Indebtedness and Other Contracts Absence of Litigation Intellectual Property Rights |
Schedule 3(a) - Subsidiaries
This Schedule 3(a) provides a comprehensive list of all the subsidiaries of the Company. Each subsidiary is detailed with its corresponding ownership percentage and jurisdiction of incorporation.
Subsidiary Name | Ownership Percentage | Jurisdiction of Incorporation |
4 The Gourmet, Inc. | 100% | Florida, USA |
Artisan Specialty Foods, Inc. | 100% | Delaware, USA |
Food Funding LLC | 100% | Delaware, USA |
Food Innovations, Inc. | 100% | Florida, USA |
Golden Organics, Inc. | 100% | Delaware, USA |
Gourmet Foodservice Group, Inc. | 100% | Florida, USA |
Innovative Food Holdings, Inc. | 100% | Florida, USA |
Innovative Food Properties, LLC | 100% | Delaware, USA |
Innovative Gourmet LLC | 100% | Delaware, USA |
Logistics Innovation, LLC | 100% | Delaware, USA |
The above subsidiaries represent only active entities, with any inactive entities having been excluded from this list.
Schedule 3(k) – SEC Documents
None.
Schedule 3(l) – Absence of Certain Changes
None.
Schedule 3(n) – Regulatory Permits
None.
Schedule 3(q) – Transactions with Affiliates
None.
Schedules 3(r)(i) to 3(r)(ix) – Equity Capitalization
None.
Schedules 3(s)(i) to 3(s)(iv) – Indebtedness and Other Contracts
None.
Schedule 3(t) – Absence of Litigation
None.
Schedule 3(x) – Intellectual Property Rights
None.