SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT

Exhibit 10.1

Execution Version

THIS SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”), dated as of September 26, 2022, by and among Exicure, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and each purchaser identified on Schedule 1 hereto (each, including its successors and assigns, a “Purchaser” and together, the “Purchasers”). Capitalized terms used herein but not otherwise defined shall have the meanings given to them in Section 1.6.

RECITALS

A. On the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement and pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Rule 506 promulgated thereunder, the Company desires to issue and sell to the Purchaser, and each Purchaser, severally and not jointly, desires to purchase from the Company at Closing (as hereinafter defined), that number of shares of common stock, $0.0001 par value, of the Company set forth opposite such Purchaser’s name on Schedule 1 hereto at a purchase price specified in Section 1.1.

B. The shares of Common Stock issued to the Purchaser[s] pursuant to this Agreement shall be referred to in this Agreement as the “Shares”.

C. The parties acknowledge that the sale of the Shares to the Purchaser will constitute in the Purchaser holding more than 19.99% of the Company’s outstanding shares of Common Stock as of the date hereof (the “Exchange Cap”).

D. The Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) has unanimously determined that this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby are advisable, fair and in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders.

AGREEMENT

NOW, THEREFORE, IN CONSIDERATION of the mutual covenants contained in this Agreement, and for other good and valuable consideration the receipt and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company and each Purchaser agree as follows:

ARTICLE I
PURCHASE AND SALE

1.1 Authorization of Sale of Shares. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, each Purchaser agrees to, severally and not jointly, purchase from the Company, that number of Shares as set forth opposite each Purchaser’s name on Schedule 1 attached hereto, at a price per Share equal to $1.60 (the “Price Per Share” and the total purchase price for the Shares to be paid by each Purchaser, the “Share Purchase Price”); provided, that, if during the period from the date hereof until and including the Closing, the Company issues to any Person any shares of Company Common Stock or similar securities convertible into, exchangeable for or having the right to subscribe for shares of Company Common Stock at a price per share less than the Price Per Share (other than shares of Company Common Stock issued upon the exercise of options, warrants or similar securities outstanding as of the date hereof), the number of Shares issued to each Purchaser at the Closing will be proportionally and ratably increased such that the Shares issued to each Purchaser will not be affected by any such dilution.

1.2 Closing. Subject to the occurrence of the Closing Event, upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, at the Closing, the Company agrees to issue and sell to the Purchaser, and the Purchaser agrees to purchase from the Company, the Shares (the closing of


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such transaction, the “Closing”). The parties understand and agree that, assuming Stockholder Approval is obtained and the other conditions to Closing are satisfied or waived, the Closing shall take place at the offices of Xxxxxx LLP, 000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx, 00000 or at such other place as the Company and the Purchasers may mutually agree upon, orally or in writing.

1.3 Payment. On the Closing Date, (a) each Purchaser shall pay to the Company its Share Purchase Price in United States dollars and in immediately available funds, by wire transfer to the Company’s account as set forth in instructions previously delivered to each Purchaser, and (b) the Company shall irrevocably instruct American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC (the “Transfer Agent”) to deliver to such Purchaser the number of Shares set forth opposite such Purchaser’s name on Schedule 1 hereto, duly executed on behalf of the Company and registered in the name of such Purchaser as set forth on the Stock Registration Questionnaire included as Exhibit A.

1.4 Closing Deliverables.

(a) Company. On or prior to the Closing Date, the Company shall deliver or cause to be delivered to each Purchaser the following:

(i) a copy of the irrevocable instructions to the Transfer Agent instructing the Transfer Agent to deliver the number of Shares set forth opposite such Purchaser’s name on Schedule 1 hereto, registered in the name of such Purchaser as set forth on the Stock Registration Questionnaire included as Exhibit A; and

(ii) the Registration Rights Agreement, duly executed by the Company;

(b) Purchasers. On or prior to the Closing Date, each Purchaser shall deliver or cause to be delivered to the Company the following:

(i) a fully completed and duly executed Stock Registration Questionnaire in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A;

(ii) the Registration Rights Agreement, duly executed by each Purchaser;

(iii) a fully completed and duly executed Accredited Investor Qualification Questionnaire in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B;

(iv) a fully completed and duly executed Bad Actor Questionnaire in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C; and

(v) the Share Purchase Price by wire transfer to the account specified by the Company.

(c) Further Assurances. On or prior to the Closing Date, the parties hereto shall execute and deliver or cause to be executed and delivered such additional documents that take such additional actions as the parties may reasonably deem to be practical and necessary in order to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.

1.5 [Reserved].


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1.6 Defined Terms Used in This Agreement. In addition to the terms defined elsewhere in this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings indicated:

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

“Company Common Stock” means the Company’s common stock, par value $0.0001 per share.

“Nasdaq” means The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC.

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

“Registration Rights Agreement” means that certain Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of the Closing Date, by and between the Company and the Purchasers, in the form of Exhibit D attached to this Agreement.

“Stockholder Approval” means such approval as may be required by the applicable rules and regulations of Nasdaq (or any successor entity) from the stockholders of the Company with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Transaction Documents, including the issuance of all of the Shares in excess of the Exchange Cap.

“Trading Day” means a Nasdaq trading day.

“Transaction Documents” means this Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement and the annexes and exhibits attached hereto and thereto.

ARTICLE II
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY

Subject to and except as set forth in the SEC Documents (as defined below), the Company hereby represents and warrants to each Purchaser as of the date hereof as follows. For purposes of these representations and warranties (other than those in Sections 2.2, 2.3, 2.5 and 2.6), the term the “Company” shall include any subsidiaries of the Company, unless otherwise noted herein.

2.1 Organization, Good Standing and Power. The Company is a corporation duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware and has the requisite corporate power to own, lease and operate its properties and assets and to conduct its business as it is now being conducted and as described in the reports filed by the Company with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) pursuant to the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), since the end of the Company’s 2021 fiscal year through the date hereof, including, without limitation, the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021 and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2022 and June 30, 2022. The Company is qualified to do business as a foreign corporation and is in good standing in every jurisdiction in which the failure to be so qualified would have or would


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reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect upon the business, properties, assets, liabilities, operations, financial condition or results of operations of the Company, or the ability of the Company to perform its obligations under the Transaction Documents (a “Material Adverse Effect”).

2.2 Authorization; Enforcement. Subject to Stockholder Approval, the Company has the requisite corporate power and authority to enter into and perform the Transaction Documents and to issue and sell the Shares to be issued by the Company in accordance with the terms hereof. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Company and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly and validly authorized by all necessary corporate action (subject to the receipt of Stockholder Approval), and no further consent or authorization of the Company, its board of directors or stockholders is required, other than Stockholder Approval. When executed and delivered by the Company, this Agreement shall constitute a valid and binding obligation of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, reorganization, moratorium, liquidation, conservatorship, receivership or similar laws relating to, or affecting generally the enforcement of, creditor’s rights and remedies or by other equitable principles of general application. The Board, at a meeting duly called and held, adopted resolutions approving the transactions contemplated hereby, including the issuance of the Shares to be issued by the Company pursuant to this Agreement.

2.3 Issuance of Shares. The issuance of the Shares has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action, other than Stockholder Approval, and, when paid for and issued in accordance with the terms hereof, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. In addition, the Shares will be free and clear of all liens, claims, charges, security interests or agreements, pledges, assignments, covenants, restrictions or other encumbrances created by, or imposed by, the Company and rights of refusal of any kind imposed by the Company (other than as provided in the Transaction Documents or restrictions on transfer under applicable securities laws) and the holder of the Shares shall be entitled to all rights accorded to a holder of Company Common Stock.

2.4 No Conflicts; Governmental Approvals. The execution, delivery and performance of the Transaction Documents by the Company and the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby do not and will not (i) violate any provision of the Company’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws as currently in effect, (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, mortgage, deed of trust, indenture, note, bond, license, lease agreement, instrument or obligation to which the Company is a party or by which the Company’s properties or assets are bound, or (iii) result in a violation of any federal, state, local or foreign statute, rule, regulation, order, judgment or decree (including federal and state securities laws and regulations) applicable to the Company or by which any property or asset of the Company is bound or affected (except for Stockholder Approval). Other than obtaining Stockholder Approval, the Company is not required under federal, state, foreign or local law, rule or regulation to obtain any consent, authorization or order of, or make any filing or registration with, any court or governmental agency in order for it to execute, deliver or perform any of its obligations under this Agreement or issue and sell the Shares to be issued by the Company in accordance with the terms hereof, other than filings that have been made, or will be made, or consents that have been obtained, or will be obtained, pursuant to the rules and regulations of Nasdaq, including Stockholder Approval, a Nasdaq Listing of Additional Shares notification form, applicable state securities laws and post-sale filings pursuant to applicable state and federal securities laws which the Company undertakes to file or obtain within the applicable time periods and the filings required to be made pursuant to this Agreement.


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2.5 Capitalization. The issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company have been validly issued, are fully paid and nonassessable and are not subject to any preemptive rights, rights of first refusal or similar rights. The Company has an authorized, issued and outstanding capitalization as set forth in the Company’s most recent annual report on Form 10-K or subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q (other than the grant of additional awards under the Company’s equity incentive plans or changes in the number of outstanding shares of Company Common Stock due to the issuance of shares upon the exercise or conversion of securities exercisable for, or convertible or exchangeable into, shares of Company Common Stock, in each case outstanding as of the date set forth in the Company’s most recent annual report on Form 10-K or quarterly report on Form 10-Q). Except as disclosed in the Company’s most recent annual report on Form 10-K or subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, the Company does not have any outstanding options to purchase, or any rights or warrants to subscribe for, or any securities or obligations convertible into, or exchangeable for, or any contracts or commitments to issue or sell, any shares of capital stock or other securities (other than the grant of additional awards under the Company’s equity incentive plans).

2.6 SEC Documents, Financial Statements. The Company represents and warrants that as of the date hereof, the Company Common Stock is registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act. Since January 1, 2021, the Company has timely filed all reports, schedules, forms, statements and other documents required to be filed by it with the Commission pursuant to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act (the “SEC Documents”). At the times of their respective filing, all such reports, schedules, forms, statements and other documents of the Company conformed in all material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder. Except as disclosed in the SEC Documents, at the times of their respective filings, such reports, schedules, forms, statements and other documents of the Company did not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. As of their respective dates, the financial statements of the Company included in the SEC Documents complied in all material respects with applicable accounting requirements and the published rules and regulations of the Commission or other applicable rules and regulations with respect thereto. Such financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis during the periods involved (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 not include footnotes or may be condensed or summary statements), and fairly present in all material respects the consolidated financial position of the Company as of the dates thereof and the results of operations and cash flows for the periods then ended (subject, in the case of unaudited statements, to normal year-end audit adjustments).

2.7 No Liabilities. Except for as disclosed to the Purchaser, the Company has no liabilities or obligations (accrued, absolute, contingent or otherwise), other than liabilities or obligations (i) reflected on the most recent balance sheet of the Company included in the SEC Documents, (ii) incurred in the ordinary course of business since the date of the most recent balance sheet of the Company included in the SEC Documents, (iii) incurred in connection with this Agreement, (iv) incurred pursuant to contracts binding on the Company (other than those resulting from a breach thereof), or (v) that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect or prevent the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.

2.8 [Reserved].

2.9 Accountants. The Company represents and warrants that KPMG LLP, whose report on the financial statements of the Company is filed with the Commission in the


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Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, was, at the time such report was issued, an independent registered public accounting firm as required by the Securities Act. Except as described in the SEC Documents and as preapproved in accordance with the requirements set forth in Section 10A of the Exchange Act, to the Company’s knowledge, KPMG LLP has not engaged in any non-audit services prohibited by subsection (g) of Section 10A of the Exchange Act on behalf of the Company.

2.10 Internal Controls. The Company has established and maintains a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that: (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States and to maintain accountability for assets; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences. The Company’s internal control over financial reporting is effective and the Company is not currently aware of any material weaknesses in its internal control over financial reporting.

2.11 Disclosure Controls. The Company has established and maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15 under the Exchange Act) that are designed to comply with the requirements of the Exchange Act applicable to the Company; such disclosure controls and procedures have been designed to ensure that material information relating to the Company is made known to the Company’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer by others within those entities; and such disclosure controls and procedures are effective in all material respects to perform the functions for which they were established. The Company has conducted evaluations of the effectiveness of its disclosure controls and procedures as required by Rule 13a-15 of the Exchange Act. Since the date of the most recent evaluation of such disclosure controls and procedures, there have been no significant changes in internal controls or in other factors with respect to the Company that could significantly affect the Company’s internal controls, including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses. The Company is in compliance in all material respects with all provisions currently in effect and applicable to the Company of the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act of 2002, and all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder or implementing the provisions thereof.

2.12 Intellectual Property. Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, (i) the Company owns, or otherwise has the right to use (including pursuant to license, sublicense, agreement or permission), the patents, trademarks, service marks, patent applications, trade names, copyrights, trade secrets, domain names, information, know-how, proprietary rights and processes (collectively, “Intellectual Property”) reasonably necessary to conduct the business of the Company as described in the SEC Documents and as currently conducted (excluding commercially available off-the-shelf software programs that are licensed to the Company or its subsidiaries pursuant to “shrink-wrap” licenses for a total cost of less than $30,000), without any known conflict with or infringement of the Intellectual Property of others, (ii) to the Company’s knowledge, there has not been any infringement by any third party of any Intellectual Property or other similar rights of the Company, and (iii) the Company has not received any written communications alleging that the Company has violated, infringed or conflicted with, or, by conducting its business as described in the SEC Documents, would violate, infringe or conflict with any of the Intellectual Property of any other person or entity.

2.13 Taxes. The Company has (i) paid all material federal, state, local and foreign taxes required to be paid through the date hereof, except (x) any such taxes being contested in good faith and for which adequate reserves have been established in accordance with applicable


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accounting requirements or (y) if a failure to pay such taxes would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and (ii) filed all material tax returns required to be filed through the date hereof, in each case except for (x) those returns for which a request for extension has been filed or (y) any failure to file that would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and there is no tax deficiency that has been asserted against the Company, except where such deficiencies, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

2.14 Employee Matters. No labor disturbance by or dispute with employees of the Company exists or, to the Company’s knowledge, is contemplated or threatened, and the Company is not aware of any existing or imminent labor disturbance by, or dispute with, the employees of any of the Company’s principal suppliers, manufacturers, contractors or customers, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company has not received any notice of cancellation or termination with respect to any collective bargaining agreement to which it is a party.

2.15 Employee Benefits. Each employee benefit plan, within the meaning of Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), for which the Company or any member of its “Controlled Group” (defined as any organization which is a member of a controlled group of corporations within the meaning of Section 414 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”)) would have any liability (each, a “Plan”) has been maintained in compliance with its terms and the requirements of any applicable statutes, orders, rules and regulations, including but not limited to, ERISA and the Code, except for noncompliance that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. No prohibited transaction, within the meaning of Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code, excluding transactions effected pursuant to a statutory or administrative exemption, has occurred with respect to any Plan that would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company nor any member of its Controlled Group have ever maintained or contributed to or participated in a Plan that is subject to the funding rules of Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA or a “multiemployer plan” within the meaning of Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA. There is no pending audit or investigation by the Internal Revenue Service, the U.S. Department of Labor or any other governmental agency or any foreign regulatory agency with respect to any Plan that would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

2.16 Environmental Laws. The Company and its subsidiaries (A) are, and at all times for the two years preceding the date of this Agreement have been, in compliance in all material respects with any and all applicable federal, state, local and foreign laws, rules, regulations, requirements, decisions, decrees, orders and other legally enforceable requirements relating to Hazardous Substances, the environment, natural resources or the protection of human or worker health or safety (collectively, “Environmental Laws”), (B) have obtained and are in compliance with all permits, licenses, certificates or other authorizations or approvals required of them under applicable Environmental Laws for the conduct of their respective businesses as currently conducted, (C) have not received notice of any actual or potential liability (including such liability of a third party that would reasonably be expected to materially and adversely affect the Company or any of its subsidiaries) under or relating to, or actual or potential violation of, any Environmental Laws, including for the investigation or remediation of any release or threat of release of any pollutant, contaminant or toxic or hazardous material, substance or waste or petroleum or any fraction thereof (each a “Hazardous Substance”), (D) are not conducting or paying for, in whole or in part, any investigation, remediation or other corrective action pursuant to any Environmental Law at any location, and (E) are not a party to any order, decree or agreement that imposes any obligation or liability under any Environmental Law, and (ii) there are no costs or liabilities associated with Environmental Laws of or relating to the Company or


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its subsidiaries, except, in the case of each of (i) and (ii) above, for any such failure to comply, or failure to receive required permits, licenses or approvals, or cost, obligation or liability, as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. There has been no storage, generation, transportation, use, handling, treatment, release or threat of release of Hazardous Substances by, due to or caused by the Company or any of its subsidiaries (or, to the Company’s knowledge, any other entity (including any predecessor) for whose acts or omissions the Company or any of its subsidiaries is or would reasonably be expected to be liable) at, on, under or from any property or facility now or previously owned, operated or leased by the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or at, on, under or from any other property, in violation of any Environmental Laws or in a manner or amount or to a location that would reasonably be expected to result in any liability under any Environmental Law, except for any violation or liability which would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

2.17 Insurance. Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, (i) the Company and its subsidiaries have insurance covering their respective properties, operations, personnel and businesses, which insurance is in amounts and insures against such losses and risks as are, in the reasonable judgment of the Company, ordinary and customary for comparable companies in the same or similar businesses and (ii) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has any reason to believe that it will not be able to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business.

2.18 Anti-Corruption Laws. In the last five years, none of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or any director, officer, or employee thereof, or, to the Company’s knowledge, any agent, or representative of the Company or of any of its subsidiaries, has, while acting on behalf of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, taken or will take any action in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay, or authorization or approval of the payment, giving or receipt of money, property, gifts or anything else of value, directly or indirectly, to any government official (including any officer or employee of a government or government-owned or controlled entity or of a public international organization, or any person acting in an official capacity for or on behalf of any of the foregoing, or any political party or party official or candidate for political office) in order to influence official action, or to any person in violation in any material respect of any applicable anti-corruption laws. In the last five years, the Company and each of its subsidiaries have conducted their respective businesses in compliance in all material respects with applicable anti-corruption laws. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries will use, directly or indirectly, the proceeds of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay, or authorization of the payment or giving of money, or anything else of value, to any person in violation of any applicable anti-corruption law.

2.19 Money Laundering Laws. The operations of the Company and each of its subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in compliance in all material respects with all applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements, including those of the Bank Secrecy Act, as amended by Title III of the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (USA PATRIOT Act), and the applicable anti-money laundering statutes of jurisdictions where the Company and each of its subsidiaries conduct business, 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.


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2.20 Data Privacy. Since January 1, 2021, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, (i) the Company and its subsidiaries have operated their business in a manner compliant with (a) all applicable privacy, data security and data protection laws and regulations, (b) all legally binding contractual obligations, and (c) all written, externally distributed Company policies, for each (i)(a) through (c), governing the collection, handling, usage, disclosure and storage of personally identifiable data in the Company’s possession or control, as that term (or similar terms) are defined under applicable privacy, data security and data protection laws (“Personal Data, (ii) the Company has implemented and maintains policies and procedures designed to ensure the integrity, security and confidentiality of Personal Data collected, handled, used, disclosed and/or stored by the Company in connection with the Company’s operation of its business, (iii) the Company requires third parties which process Personal Data on its behalf to maintain measures designed to protect the privacy and security of such Personal Data, as applicable, and (iv) since January 1, 2021, the Company has not experienced any actual security incident that has resulted in unauthorized access, acquisition, alteration or modification, loss, theft or other unauthorized processing of any Personal Data.

2.21 No Material Adverse Change. Except as disclosed in the SEC Documents or to the Purchaser, since December 31, 2021, there has not been:

(a) any change in the assets, liabilities, financial condition or operating results of the Company from that reflected in the financial statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, except for changes in the ordinary course of business which have not had and would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect;

(b) any declaration or payment by the Company of any dividend, or any authorization or payment by the Company of any distribution, on any of the capital stock of the Company, or any redemption or repurchase by the Company of any securities of the Company;

(c) any material damage, destruction or loss, whether or not covered by insurance, to any assets or properties of the Company;

(d) any waiver, not in the ordinary course of business, by the Company of a material right or of a material debt owed to it;

(e) any satisfaction or discharge of a material lien, claim or encumbrance or payment of any obligation by the Company, except in the ordinary course of business;

(f) except as described in the SEC Documents, any change or amendment to the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws, or termination of or material amendment to any contract of the Company that the Company is required to file with the Commission pursuant to Item 601(b)(10) of Regulation S-K;

(g) any material labor difficulties or labor union organizing activities with respect to employees of the Company;

(h) except as described in the SEC Documents, any material transaction entered into by the Company other than in the ordinary course of business;

(i) the loss of the services of any executive officer (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) of the Company; or


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(j) any other event or condition that has had or would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

2.22 No Undisclosed Events or Circumstances. Except as disclosed in the SEC Documents, since December 31, 2021, except for the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein, to the Company’s knowledge, no event or circumstance has occurred or exists with respect to the Company or its businesses, properties, prospects, operations or financial condition, which, under applicable law, rule or regulation, requires public disclosure or announcement by the Company but which has not been so publicly announced or disclosed.

2.23 Litigation. Except as disclosed in the SEC Documents or otherwise disclosed to each Purchaser, no action, suit, proceeding or investigation is currently pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, has been threatened in writing against the Company that: (i) concerns or questions the validity of this Agreement; (ii) concerns or questions the right or authority of the Company to enter into the Transaction Documents and to perform its obligations thereunder; or (iii) is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company is neither a party to nor subject to the provisions of any material order, writ, injunction, judgment or decree of any court or government agency or instrumentality. There is no action, suit, proceeding or investigation by the Company currently pending or that the Company currently expects to have a Material Adverse Effect.

2.24 Compliance. The Company (i) is not in violation of any provision of the Company’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws as currently in effect, (ii) is not in default under or in violation of (and no event has occurred that has not been waived that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would result in a default by the Company under), nor has the Company received notice of a claim that it is in default under or that it is in violation of, any indenture, loan or credit agreement or any other agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it or any of its properties is bound (whether or not such default or violation has been waived), (iii) is not in violation of any order of any court, arbitrator or governmental body, or (iv) is not or has not been in violation of any statute, rule or regulation of any governmental authority, including without limitation all foreign, federal, state and local laws applicable to its business, except in each case (other than with respect to clause (i) above) for such defaults or violations as would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

2.25 [Reserved].

2.26 Investment Company Act. The Company is not and, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Shares, will not be an “investment company” or an entity “controlled” by an “investment company,” as such terms are defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940.

2.27 Private Placement. Assuming the accuracy of each Purchaser’s representations and warranties set forth in Article III hereof, no registration under the Securities Act is required for the offer and sale of the Shares by the Company to the Purchasers hereunder. The Shares (i) were not offered by any form of general solicitation or general advertising (as such terms are defined in Regulation D under the Securities Act) and (ii) are not being offered in a manner involving a public offering under, or in a distribution in violation of, the Securities Act or any state securities laws. No disqualifying event described in Rule 506(d)(1)(i)-(viii) under the Securities Act (a “Disqualification Event”) is applicable to the Company or, to the Company’s knowledge, any Company Covered Person (as defined below), except for a Disqualification Event as to which Rule 506(d)(2)(ii)-(iv) or (d)(3) under the Securities Act is applicable. The Company has complied, to the extent applicable, with any disclosure obligations under Rule 506(e) under the Securities Act. “Company Covered Person” means, with respect to the Company as an “issuer” for purposes of Rule 506 under the Securities Act, any person listed in the first paragraph of Rule 506(d)(1) under the Securities Act.


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2.28 No Integrated Offering. The Company shall not sell, offer for sale or solicit offers to buy or otherwise negotiate in respect of any security (as defined in Section 2 of the Securities Act) that would be integrated with the offer or sale of the Shares in a manner that would require the registration under the Securities Act of the sale of the Shares or that would be integrated with the offer or sale of the Shares for purposes of the rules and regulations of Nasdaq such that it would require stockholder approval prior to the closing of such other transaction unless stockholder approval is obtained before the closing of such subsequent transaction.

2.29 Shell Company Status. The Company is not, and has not been since September 26, 2017, an issuer identified in Rule 144(i)(1) of the Securities Act. The Company filed current “Form 10 information” (as defined in Rule 144 (i)(3)) with the SEC reflecting its status as an entity that was no longer an issuer described in Rule 144(i)(1)(i) more than one (1) year ago from the date hereof.

2.30 [Reserved].

2.31 [Reserved].

2.32 CFIUS. The Company does not engage in (i) the design, fabrication, development, testing, production or manufacture of one or more “critical technologies” within the meaning of section 721 of the Defense Production Act, 50 U.S.C. § 4565, and all implementing regulations thereof (the “DPA”); (ii) the ownership, operation, maintenance, supply, manufacture, or servicing of “covered investment critical infrastructure” within the meaning of the DPA; or (iii) the maintenance or collection, directly or indirectly, of “sensitive personal data” of U.S. citizens within the meaning of the DPA.

ARTICLE III
REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND COVENANTS OF PURCHASERS

Each Purchaser, for itself and for no other Purchaser, hereby represents, warrants and covenants to the Company as follows:

3.1 Authorization and Power. Such Purchaser has the requisite power and authority to enter into and perform the Transaction Documents and to purchase the Shares being sold to it hereunder. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by such Purchaser and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action, and no further consent or authorization of such Purchaser or its board of directors, stockholders or other governing body is required. When executed and delivered by such Purchaser, this Agreement shall constitute a valid and binding obligation of such Purchaser, enforceable against such Purchaser in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, liquidation, conservatorship, receivership or similar laws relating to, or affecting generally the enforcement of, creditor’s rights and remedies or by other equitable principles of general application.

3.2 No Conflict. The execution, delivery and performance of the Transaction Documents by such Purchaser and the consummation by such Purchaser of the transactions contemplated hereby do not and will not (i) violate any provision of such Purchaser’s charter or organizational documents, (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, mortgage, deed of trust, indenture, note, bond, license, lease agreement, instrument or obligation to which such Purchaser is a party or by which such Purchaser’s properties or assets are bound, or (iii) result in a violation of any federal, state, local or foreign statute, rule, regulation, order, judgment or decree


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(including federal and state securities laws and regulations) applicable to such Purchaser or by which any property or asset of such Purchaser are bound or affected.

3.3 Purchaser Sophistication; Accredited Investor. Such Purchaser (a) is knowledgeable, sophisticated and experienced in making, and is qualified to make decisions with respect to, investments in shares presenting an investment decision like that involved in the purchase of the Shares, including investments in securities issued by the Company and investments in comparable companies, and has requested, received, reviewed and considered all information it deemed relevant in making an informed decision to purchase the Shares; (b) in connection with its decision to purchase the Shares, relied only upon the SEC Documents, other publicly available information, and the representations and warranties of the Company contained herein; (c) is an “accredited investor” pursuant to Rule 501 of Regulation D under the Securities Act; (d) is acquiring the Shares for its own account for investment only and with no present intention of distributing any of the Shares or any arrangement or understanding with any other persons regarding the distribution of the Shares; (e) has not been organized, reorganized or recapitalized specifically for the purpose of investing in the Shares; (f) will not, directly or indirectly, offer, sell, pledge, transfer or otherwise dispose of (or solicit any offers to buy, purchase or otherwise acquire to take a pledge of) any of the Shares except in compliance with the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws; (g) understands that the Shares are being offered and sold to it in reliance upon specific exemptions from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and state securities laws, and that the Company is relying upon the truth and accuracy of, and such Purchaser’s compliance with, the representations, warranties, agreements, acknowledgments and understandings of such Purchaser set forth herein in order to determine the availability of such exemptions and the eligibility of such Purchaser to acquire the Shares; (h) understands that its investment in the Shares involves a significant degree of risk, including a risk of total loss of such Purchaser’s investment (provided that such acknowledgment in no way diminishes the representations, warranties and covenants made by the Company hereunder); and (i) understands that no United States federal or state agency or any other government or governmental agency has passed upon or made any recommendation or endorsement of the Shares.

3.4 Private Placement. Such Purchaser acknowledges and agrees that the Shares are being offered in a transaction not involving a public offering within the meaning of the Securities Act and that the Shares have not been registered under the Securities Act. Such Purchaser acknowledges and agrees that the Shares may not be offered, resold, transferred, pledged or otherwise disposed of by such Purchaser absent an effective registration statement under the Securities Act or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, including Rule 144 promulgated thereunder.

3.5 Ownership of Capital Stock. Except as previously disclosed to the Company in writing or by email and excluding the Shares, such Purchaser and its Affiliates beneficially own no shares of capital stock of the Company as of the date hereof.

3.6 Stock Legends. Such Purchaser acknowledges that certificates or book-entry credits evidencing the Shares shall bear a restrictive legend in substantially the following form (and including related stock transfer instructions and record notations):

THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR THE SECURITIES COMMISSION OF ANY STATE IN RELIANCE UPON AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND, ACCORDINGLY, MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR


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PURSUANT TO AN AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM, OR IN A TRANSACTION NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR BLUE SKY LAWS AS EVIDENCED BY A LEGAL OPINION OF COUNSEL REASONABLY SATISFACTORY TO THE COMPANY.

3.7 No Legal, Tax or Investment Advice. Such Purchaser understands that nothing in this Agreement or any other materials presented by or on behalf of the Company to such Purchaser in connection with the purchase of the Shares constitutes legal, tax or investment advice. Such Purchaser has consulted such legal, tax and investment advisors as it, in its sole discretion, has deemed necessary or appropriate in connection with its purchase of the Shares.

3.8 No General Solicitation; Pre-Existing Relationship. Such Purchaser is not purchasing the Shares as a result of any advertisement, article, notice or other communication regarding the Shares published in any newspaper, magazine or similar media or broadcast over television or radio or presented at any seminar or any other general solicitation or general advertisement (as defined in Regulation D under the Securities Act). Such Purchaser also represents that such Purchaser was contacted regarding the sale of the Shares by the Company (or a representative of the Company) and the Shares were offered to such Purchaser solely by direct contact between such Purchaser and the Company (or an authorized representative of the Company). Such Purchaser did not become aware of this offering of Shares, nor were the Shares offered to such Purchaser, by any other means.

3.9 Purchase Entirely for Own Account. The Shares to be received by such Purchaser hereunder will be acquired for such Purchaser’s own account, not as nominee or agent, and not with a view to the resale or distribution of any part thereof in violation of the Securities Act, and such Purchaser has no present intention of selling, granting any participation in, or otherwise distributing the same in violation of the Securities Act without prejudice, however, to such Purchaser’s right at all times to sell or otherwise dispose of all or any part of such Shares in compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed a representation or warranty by such Purchaser to hold the Shares for any period of time.

3.10 Experience of the Purchasers. Such Purchaser, either alone or together with its representatives, has such knowledge, sophistication and experience in business and financial matters so as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of the prospective investment in the Shares, and has so evaluated the merits and risks of such investment. Such Purchaser is able to bear the economic risk of an investment in the Shares and, at the present time, is able to afford a complete loss of such investment.

3.11 Disclosure of Information. Such Purchaser has had an opportunity to receive all information related to the Company requested by it and to ask questions of and receive answers from the Company regarding the Company, its business and the terms and conditions of the offering of the Shares. The Purchaser acknowledges receipt of copies of the SEC Documents (or access thereto via XXXXX). Neither such inquiries nor any other due diligence investigation conducted by such Purchaser shall modify, limit or otherwise affect such Purchaser’s right to rely on the Company’s representations and warranties contained in this Agreement.

3.12 [Reserved].

3.13 No Rule 506 Disqualifying Activities. Neither such Purchaser nor any person or entity with whom such Purchaser will share beneficial ownership of the Shares is subject to any of the “Bad Actor” disqualifications described in Rule 506(d)(1)(i)-(viii) under the Securities Act.


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3.14 Brokers and Finders. No Person will have, as a result of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, any valid right, interest or claim against or upon the Company or such Purchaser for any commission, fee or other compensation pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding entered into by or on behalf of such Purchaser.

3.15 Disclaimer of Other Representations and Warranties. Except as expressly set forth in Article II (as qualified by the SEC Documents) or in any other Transaction Document, such Purchaser acknowledges that neither the Company nor any other Person has made or is making any representation or warranty of any kind, express or implied, at law or in equity, including with respect to it or any of its subsidiaries or any of their respective businesses, assets, liabilities, condition (financial or otherwise), prospects or operations, or otherwise, and any such other representations and warranties are hereby expressly disclaimed by the Company. Without limiting the foregoing, such Purchaser has received and may continue to receive from the Company certain estimates, projections, forecasts and other forward-looking information, as well as certain business plans and cost-related plan information, regarding the Company, its subsidiaries and their respective businesses and operations, and such Purchaser is making its own evaluation of the adequacy and accuracy of all such estimates, projections, forecasts and other forward-looking information, as well as such business plans and cost-related plan information, and such Purchaser has not relied upon and will not have any claim against the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or any of their respective stockholders, directors, officers, employees, Affiliates, advisors, agents or representatives, or any other Person, with respect thereto.

ARTICLE IV
COVENANTS OF THE PARTIES

4.1 Lockup.

(a) Agreement to Lock-Up. Each Purchaser hereby agrees that it will not, without the prior written consent of the Company during the period commencing on the Closing Date and ending on the date that is ninety (90) days after the Closing Date (the “Lock-Up Period”) (i) lend, offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of Company Common Stock; or (ii) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of any shares of Company Common Stock, whether any such transaction described in clause (a) or (b) above is to be settled by delivery of Company Common Stock or other securities, in cash or otherwise; provided, that this Section 4.1 shall not apply to any transfer of Shares by such Purchaser to its Affiliates, provided that as a condition of such transfer, such Affiliate agrees in writing to be bound by the provisions of this Section 4.1 to the same extent as such Purchaser. Notwithstanding the foregoing, each Purchaser or their respective Permitted Transferees may transfer shares of Company Common Stock during the Lock-Up Period (a) to (i) such Purchaser’s officers or directors, (ii) any immediate family members of such Purchaser’s officers or directors, or (iii) any direct or indirect partners, members or equity holders of Purchaser or any related investment funds or vehicles controlled or managed by such persons or entities or their respective affiliates, (b) to the Company; or (c) in connection with a liquidation, merger, stock exchange, reorganization, tender offer approved by the Board or a duly authorized committee thereof or other similar transaction which results in all of the Company’s stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of Company Common Stock for cash, securities or other property subsequent to the Closing Date; provided, however, that in the case of clauses (a)(i) to (a)(iii), it shall be a condition to the transfer that the Permitted Transferee execute an agreement stating that the Permitted Transferee is receiving and holding such capital stock subject to this Section 4.1 and there shall be no further transfer of such capital stock except in accordance with this Section 4.1, and provided further that any such transfer shall not involve a disposition for value. The term “Permitted Transferees” means, prior to the


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expiration of the Lock-Up Period, any person or entity to whom such Purchaser is permitted to transfer such shares of Company Common Stock prior to the expiration of the Lock-Up Period pursuant to this Section 4.1(a).

(b) Stop Transfer Instructions. In order to enforce the foregoing covenant, the Company may impose stop-transfer instructions with respect to the shares of Company Common Stock of such Purchaser (and transferees and assignees thereof) until the end of such restricted period.

4.2 Board Rights. Subject to Nasdaq Listing Rule 5640 (the “Voting Rights Rule”), for so long as the Purchasers (and their Affiliates) beneficially own the Shares, the Purchaser shall be entitled to designate for recommendation by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board and, upon such recommendation, nomination by the Board, the number of directors substantially equivalent to the Purchaser’s proportional equity ownership of shares of Common Stock of the Company from time to time as set forth below (any individual designated by the Purchasers, the “Purchaser Designee”). For the avoidance of doubt, for so long as the Purchasers (and their Affiliates) as a shareholder group beneficially own a majority of voting stock of the Company, the Purchasers shall be entitled to designate a majority of directors of the Board as long as such nomination of said directors would not violate the Voting Rights Rule after consultation with Nasdaq. For the further avoidance of doubt, the said majority of directors means three directors in a five-member Board, or four directors in seven-member Board or likewise. In order to effectuate the intent of this Section 4.2, upon closing and thereafter, the Board, at all times and to the extent feasible to do so, shall be composed of an odd number of directors. Notwithstanding the foregoing, each Purchaser Designee must be reasonably acceptable to the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board of Directors and the Board, including completion of a satisfactory background check and each Purchaser Designee shall have provided the Nominating and Governance Committee of the Board such information as the Nominating Committee customarily requests pursuant to its charter then in effect or pursuant to the Company’s bylaws, to determine that such board designee is not otherwise disqualified by applicable Nasdaq or Commission rules or regulations from service on the Board. The Company agrees to take all necessary corporate and other actions, including increasing or reducing the size of the Board, if necessary, and filling any vacancy or available directorship by vote of the Board, to permit the designees nominated by the Purchasers to constitute the percentage of the Board substantially equivalent to such Purchaser’s proportional equity ownership of shares of Common Stock, pursuant to the Company’s certificate of incorporation and bylaws. The Purchasers may not assign the rights set forth in this Section 4.2. In the event that Nasdaq informs the Company that it is not in compliance with the Voting Rights Rule as a result of the Purchaser’s rights under this Section 4.2, the Purchaser shall cooperate with the Company to promptly remedy such non-compliance, including replacing or relinquishing its right to a Purchaser Designee hereunder.

4.3  Stockholder Approval.

(a) The Company shall take all action necessary under applicable law to call, give notice of, convene and hold a meeting of the stockholders of the Company for the purpose of obtaining Stockholder Approval (the “Special Meeting”). As soon as practicable after the date hereof but in no event no later than twenty (20) calendar days after the date hereof, the Company shall submit to the SEC a preliminary proxy statement with regard to the Special Meeting for the purpose of obtaining Stockholder Approval, with the recommendation of the Board that such proposal be approved, and the Company shall solicit proxies from its shareholders in connection therewith in the same manner as all other management proposals in such proxy statement and all management-appointed proxyholders shall vote their proxies in favor of such proposal. The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to obtain such Shareholder Approval.


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(b) Nothing contained in this Agreement shall prohibit the Company or the Board from (i) complying with Rules 14d-9 and 14e-2(a) promulgated under the Exchange Act, or (ii) issuing a “stop, look and listen” communication or similar communication of the type contemplated by Section 14d-9(f) under the Exchange Act or (iii) otherwise making any disclosure to the Company stockholders; provided, however, that in the case of the foregoing clause (iii) the Board determines in good faith, after consultation with its outside legal counsel, that failure to make such disclosure would be inconsistent with its fiduciary duties under applicable law.

(c) The Purchasers shall furnish any and all information as may be reasonably requested in connection with the preparation, filing and distribution the proxy statements with regard to the Special Meeting in a timely manner and any such information so furnished shall not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading. The Company shall promptly notify the Purchasers upon the receipt of any comments from the Commission or its staff or any request from the Commission or its staff for amendments or supplements to the proxy statements. Each of the Company and the Purchasers shall use reasonable best efforts to respond as promptly as practicable to any comments of the Commission with respect to the proxy statements.

4.4 Other Offers.

(a) Notwithstanding anything contrary in this Agreement, if at any time prior to obtaining Stockholder Approval (and in no event after obtaining Stockholder Approval), (i) the Board receives a bona fide written acquisition proposal made after the date hereof that the Board determines in good faith, after consultation with its financial advisor and outside legal counsel, is or is reasonably likely to lead to a superior proposal (a “Superior Proposal”) and (ii) the Board determines in good faith, after consultation with its outside legal counsel, that the failure to take such action would be reasonably likely to be inconsistent with its fiduciary duties under applicable law, then the Board, may, subject to compliance with this Agreement, (A) engage in negotiations or discussions with such third party and its representatives, (B) furnish to such third party or its representatives non-public information relating to the Company or any of its subsidiaries pursuant to a confidentiality agreement, a copy of which shall be provided, promptly after its execution, to the Purchasers for informational purposes; provided that the Company shall promptly provide to the Purchasers any such information that is provided to any such Person which was not previously provided to or made available to the Purchasers and (C) following receipt of a Superior Proposal after the date of this Agreement, (x) choose not to make, withdraw or modify a prior recommendation of the Board in a manner adverse to the Purchasers, (y) choose not to make or include a recommendation as specified in Section 4.3(a) in the proxy statements, or (C) recommend, adopt or approve or publicly propose to recommend, adopt or approve such Superior Proposal.

(b) Notwithstanding anything contrary in this Agreement, this Agreement may be terminated and the transactions contemplated hereby may be abandoned by the Company at any time prior to the Closing by the Company if the Board has determined to enter into a written agreement to accept a Superior Proposal.

4.5 Continued Payment. The Purchasers hereby agree that following the Closing, the Purchasers shall cause the Company to fulfill and continue to fulfill its obligations with respect to any separation, severance or other employment agreements or written arrangements existing as of and entered into by the Company prior to the Closing Date, including with respect to the payment of any severance, separation, or other similar obligations required thereunder. Other than as discussed with the Purchasers, upon execution of this Agreement and until the Closing Date, the Company agrees not to enter into any new separation, severance or other employment


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agreements or written arrangements, or modify any existing separation, severance or other employment agreements or written arrangements, without prior written consent of the Purchaser(s) which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.

4.6 Further Transfers. Without in any way limiting the provisions of Section 4.1, each Purchaser covenants that the Shares will only be sold, offered for sale, pledged, loaned, or otherwise disposed of pursuant to an effective registration statement under, and in compliance with the requirements of, the Securities Act or pursuant to an available exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, and in compliance with any applicable state securities laws. In connection with any transfer of Shares other than pursuant to an effective registration statement or Rule 144, the Company may require such Purchaser to provide to the Company an opinion of counsel selected by such Purchaser, the form and substance of which opinion shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Company, to the effect that such transfer does not require registration under the Securities Act.

4.7 Indemnification.

(a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Purchasers, and their respective directors, officers, stockholders, members, partners, employees and agents (and any other persons with a functionally equivalent role of a person holding such titles notwithstanding a lack of such title or any other title), each person who controls such Purchaser (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act and Section 20 of the Exchange Act), and the directors, officers, stockholders, agents, members, partners or employees (and any other persons with a functionally equivalent role of a person holding such titles notwithstanding a lack of such title or any other title) of such controlling person (collectively, the “Purchaser Indemnitees”), from and against all losses, liabilities, claims, damages, costs, fees and expenses whatsoever (including, but not limited to, any and all expenses incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation commenced or threatened) based upon or arising out of the Company’s breach of any representation, warranty or covenant contained herein; provided, however, that the Company will not be liable in any such case to the extent and only to the extent that any such loss, liability, claim, damage, cost, fee or expense arises out of or is based upon the inaccuracy of any representations made by such indemnified party in this Agreement, or the failure of such indemnified party to comply with the covenants and agreements contained herein.

(b) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 4.5 of notice of the commencement of any indemnifiable action, such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under this Section 4.5, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof; but the omission so to notify the indemnifying party will not relieve it from any liability which it may have to any indemnified party otherwise than under this Section 4.5 except to the extent the indemnified party is actually prejudiced by such omission. In case any such indemnifiable action is brought against any indemnified party, and it notifies the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party will be entitled to participate therein, and to the extent that it may elect by written notice delivered to the indemnified party promptly after receiving the aforesaid notice from such indemnified party, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to such indemnified party; provided, however, if the defendants in any such indemnifiable action include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying party and either (i) the indemnifying party or parties and the indemnified party or parties mutually agree or (ii) representation of both the indemnifying party or parties and the indemnified party or parties by the same counsel is inappropriate under applicable standards of professional conduct due to actual or potential differing interests between them, the indemnified party or parties shall have the right to select separate counsel to assume such legal defenses and to otherwise participate in the defense of such indemnifiable action on behalf of such indemnified party or parties. Upon receipt of notice


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from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its election so to assume the defense of such indemnifiable action and approval by the indemnified party of counsel, the indemnifying party will not be liable to such indemnified party under this Section 4.5 for any reasonable legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof unless (i) the indemnified party shall have employed counsel in connection with the assumption of legal defenses in accordance with the proviso to the next preceding sentence (it being understood, however, that the indemnifying party shall not be liable for the expenses of more than one separate counsel in such circumstance), (ii) the indemnifying party shall not have employed counsel satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified party within a reasonable time after notice of commencement of the indemnifiable action or (iii) the indemnifying party has authorized the employment of counsel for the indemnified party at the expense of the indemnifying party. No indemnifying party shall (i) without the prior written consent of the indemnified parties (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any pending or threatened indemnifiable action in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties to such indemnifiable action) unless such settlement, compromise or consent requires only the payment of money damages, does not subject the indemnified party to any continuing obligation or require any admission of criminal or civil responsibility, and includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising out of such indemnifiable action, or (ii) be liable for any settlement of any such indemnifiable action effected without its written consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), but if settled with its written consent or if there be a final judgment of the plaintiff in any such indemnifiable action, the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify and hold harmless any indemnified party from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment.

(c) Each Purchaser acknowledges on behalf of itself and each Purchaser Indemnitee that, other than for actions seeking specific performance of the obligations under this Agreement or in the case of fraud, the sole and exclusive remedy of such Purchaser and such Purchaser Indemnitee with respect to any and all claims relating to this Agreement shall be pursuant to the indemnification provisions set forth in this Section 4.5.

4.8 Director and Officer Liability. Following the Closing, the Purchasers shall agree the Company, and the Company hereby agrees, to do the following:

(a) For six years after the Closing, the Company shall indemnify and hold harmless the present and former directors, officers, employees, of the Company and its subsidiaries (in each case, when acting in such capacity) (each, an “Indemnified Person”) from and against any losses, damages, liabilities, costs, expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement (including all interest, assessments and other charges paid or payable in connection with or in respect of any thereof) in respect of the Indemnified Persons’ having served in such capacity prior to the Closing, in each case to the fullest extent provided under the Company’s certificate of incorporation and bylaws in effect on the date hereof or any indemnification agreements in effect on the date hereof. If any Indemnified Person is made party to any claim, action, suit, proceeding or investigation arising out of or relating to matters that would be indemnifiable pursuant to the immediately preceding sentence, the Company shall advance fees, costs and expenses (including attorneys’ fees and disbursements) as incurred by such Indemnified Person in connection with and prior to the final disposition of such claim, action, suit, proceeding or investigation; provided, that, such Indemnified Person to whom expenses are advanced undertakes to repay such advances if it is ultimately determined by final non-appealable order that such Indemnified Person is not entitled to indemnification.


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(b) For six years after the Closing, the Company shall maintain in effect provisions in the Company’s certificate of incorporation and bylaws (or in such documents of any successor to the business of the Company) regarding elimination of liability of directors, indemnification of officers, directors, employees, fiduciaries and agents and advancement of fees, costs and expenses that are no less advantageous to the intended beneficiaries than the corresponding provisions in existence on the date of this Agreement.

(c) Prior to the Closing, the Company shall obtain and fully pay the premium for the non-cancellable extension of the directors’ and officers’ liability coverage of the Company’s existing directors’ and officers’ insurance policies (collectively, “D&O Insurance”), which D&O Insurance shall (i) be for a claims reporting or discovery period of at least six years from and after the Closing with respect to any claim related to any period of time at or prior to the Closing, (ii) be from an insurance carrier with a substantially comparable credit rating as the Company’s current insurance carrier with respect to D&O Insurance and (iii) have terms, conditions, retentions and limits of liability that are no less favorable than the coverage provided under the Company’s existing policies with respect to any actual or alleged error, misstatement, misleading statement, act, omission, neglect, breach of duty or any matter claimed against an Indemnified Person by reason of his or her having served in such capacity that existed or occurred at or prior to the Closing (including in connection with this Agreement or the transactions or actions contemplated hereby). If the Company for any reason fails to obtain such “tail” insurance policies as of the Closing, the Company shall continue to maintain in effect, for a period of at least six years from and after the Closing, the D&O Insurance in place as of the date hereof with the Company’s current insurance carrier or with an insurance carrier with a substantially comparable credit rating as the Company’s current insurance carrier with respect to D&O Insurance with terms, conditions, retentions and limits of liability that are no less favorable than the coverage provided under the Company’s existing policies as of the date hereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall the Company be required to expend for the D&O Insurance or for any other policies pursuant to this Section 4.7 an annual premium amount in excess of 350% of the premium amount per annum for the Company’s existing policies; and provided, further, that if the aggregate premiums of such insurance coverage exceed such amount, the Company shall be obligated to obtain a policy with the greatest coverage available, with respect to matters occurring prior to the Closing, for a cost not exceeding such amount.

(d) If the Company (i) consolidates with or merges into any other Person and shall not be the continuing or surviving corporation or entity of such consolidation or merger, or (ii) transfers or conveys all or substantially all of its properties and assets to any Person, then, and in each such case, to the extent necessary, proper provision shall be made so that the successors and assigns of the Company, as the case may be, shall assume the obligations set forth in this Section 4.7.

(e) The rights of each Indemnified Person under this Section 4.7 shall be in addition to any rights such person may have under the certificate of incorporation or bylaws of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, under Delaware law or any other applicable law or under any agreement of any Indemnified Person with the Company or any of its subsidiaries. These rights shall survive consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and are intended to benefit, and shall be enforceable by, each Indemnified Person.

ARTICLE V
CONDITIONS TO CLOSING

5.1 Conditions Precedent to the Obligations of Purchasers. The obligation of the Purchasers to acquire the Shares at the Closing is subject to the satisfaction or waiver by the Purchasers, at or before the Closing, of each of the following conditions:


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(a) Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties of the Company contained in Article II shall be true and correct in all respects as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date, except to the extent any such representation or warranty expressly speaks as of an earlier date, in which case such representation or warranty shall be true and correct as of such earlier date, and, the representations and warranties made by the Company in Article II hereof not qualified as to materiality shall be true and correct in all material respects as of the date hereof and the Closing Date, except to the extent any such representation or warranty expressly speaks as of an earlier date, in which case such representation or warranty shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date.

(b) Performance. The Company shall have performed and complied, in all material respects, with all covenants, agreements, obligations and conditions contained in this Agreement that are required to be performed or complied with by the Company on or before the Closing, including, without limitation, the delivery by the Company of the items contemplated by Section 1.4(a).

(c) No Injunction. No statute, rule, regulation, executive order, decree, ruling or injunction shall have been enacted, entered, promulgated or endorsed by any court or governmental authority of competent jurisdiction that prohibits the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents.

(d) No Nasdaq Objection. Nasdaq shall have raised no objection to the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents (other than confirmation of receipt of Stockholder Approval).

(e) Listing of Additional Shares. The Company shall have submitted a Listing of Additional Shares Notification with the Nasdaq covering all of the Shares.

(f) Registration Rights Agreement. The Company shall have executed and delivered the Registration Rights Agreement, and the Registration Rights Agreement shall be in full force and effect.

(g) Stockholder Approval. The Stockholder Approval shall have been duly obtained.

5.2 Conditions Precedent to the Obligations of the Company. The obligation of the Company to issue the Shares at the Closing is subject to the satisfaction or waiver by the Company, at or before the Closing, of each of the following conditions:

(a) Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties of the Purchasers contained in Article III shall be true and correct in all respects as of the Closing (unless as of a specific date therein in which case they shall be accurate as of such date).

(b) Performance. Each Purchaser shall have performed, satisfied and complied in all material respects with all covenants, agreements and conditions required by the Transaction Documents to be performed, satisfied or complied with by such Purchaser at or prior to the Closing, including, without limitation, the delivery by such Purchaser of the items contemplated by Section 1.4(a)(ii).

(c) No Injunction. No statute, rule, regulation, executive order, decree, ruling or injunction (other than Stockholder Approval) shall have been enacted, entered, promulgated or endorsed by any court or governmental authority of competent jurisdiction that prohibits the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents.


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(d) Stockholder Approval.  The Stockholder Approval shall have been duly obtained.

(e) No Nasdaq Objection. Nasdaq shall have raised no objection to the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents (other than confirmation of receipt of Stockholder Approval).

(f) Registration Rights Agreement. Each Purchaser shall have executed and delivered the Registration Rights Agreement, and the Registration Rights Agreement shall be in full force and effect.

ARTICLE VI
MISCELLANEOUS

6.1 Survival of Warranties. Unless otherwise set forth in this Agreement, the representations and warranties of the Company and the Purchasers contained in or made pursuant to this Agreement shall survive the Closing and the delivery of the Shares.

6.2 Exchange Act Filing. The Company shall, by 9:00 am Boston time, on the first (1st) Trading Day immediately following the date of the Closing, issue one or more press releases or file with the Commission a Current Report on Form 8-K (the “Disclosure Document”) disclosing, to the extent not previously publicly disclosed, all material terms of the transactions contemplated hereby and any other material non-public information that the Company provided to the Purchasers at any time prior to the filing of the Disclosure Document. Upon the issuance of the Disclosure Document, to the Company’s knowledge, the Purchasers shall not be in possession of any material, non-public information received from the Company or any of its officers, directors, employees or agents, and the Purchasers shall no longer be subject to any confidentiality or similar obligations under any current agreement, whether written or oral, with the Company or any of its agents or affiliates in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the Company (i) shall not publicly disclose the name of the Purchasers or any of its affiliates or advisers, or include the name of the Purchasers or any of their affiliates or advisers in any press release, without the prior written consent of such Purchaser and (ii) shall not publicly disclose the name of such Purchaser or any of its affiliates or advisers, or include the name of such Purchaser or any of its affiliates or advisers in any filing with the Commission or any regulatory agency or trading market, without the prior written consent of such Purchaser, except (A) as required by the federal securities laws, rules or regulations and (B) to the extent such disclosure is required by other laws, rules or regulations, at the request of the staff of the Commission or regulatory agency or under the regulations of Nasdaq.

6.3 No Finder’s Fees. The Company agrees to indemnify and to hold harmless the Purchasers from any liability for any commission or compensation in the nature of a finder’s or broker’s fee arising out of this transaction (and the costs and expenses of defending against such liability or asserted liability) for which the Company or any of its officers, employees or representatives is responsible. Each Purchaser, severally and not jointly, agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company from any liability for any commission or compensation in the nature of a finder’s or broker’s fee arising out of this transaction (and the costs and expenses of defending against such liability or asserted liability) for which such Purchaser or any of its officers, employees or representatives is responsible.

6.4 Fees and Expenses. Each party shall pay the fees and expenses of its advisors, counsel, accountants and other experts, if any, and all other expenses, incurred by such party incident to the negotiation, preparation, execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement.


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6.5 Entire Agreement. The Transaction Documents, together with the Exhibits and Schedules thereto, contain the entire understanding of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede all prior agreements and understandings, oral or written, with respect to such matters, which the parties acknowledge have been merged into such documents, exhibits and schedules; provided, however, that any confidentiality agreements previously entered into between the Company and the Purchasers shall remain in full force and effect. At or after the Closing, and without further consideration, the Company will execute and deliver to the Purchasers, and the Purchasers will execute and deliver to the Company, such further documents as may be reasonably requested in order to give practical effect to the intention of the parties under the Transaction Documents.

6.6 Notices. Any and all notices or other communications or deliveries required or permitted to be provided hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed given and effective on the earliest of (a) the date of transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via facsimile or email at the facsimile number or email address specified in this Section prior to 4:00 p.m. (New York City time) on a Trading Day, (b) the next Trading Day after the date of transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via facsimile or email at the facsimile number or email address specified in this Section on a day that is not a Trading Day or later than 4:00 p.m. (New York City time) on any Trading Day, (c) the Trading Day following the date of deposit with a nationally recognized overnight courier service, or (d) upon actual receipt by the party to whom such notice is required to be given. The addresses, facsimile numbers and email addresses for such notices and communications are those set forth below, or such other address or facsimile number as may be designated in writing hereafter, in the same manner, by any such Person:


If to the Company:			Exicure, Inc.
			0000 X. Xxxxxxx Xx.
			Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
			Attention: Chief Executive Officer
			Email: xxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxx.xxx

with copies (which copies			Xxxxxx LLP
shall not constitute notice			000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
to the Company) to:			Xxxxxx, XX 00000
			Attention: Xxxx Xxxxx
			Email: xxxxxx@xxxxxx.xxx


If to the Purchasers:			To their respective addresses as set forth on Schedule 1 hereto.

6.7 Amendments; Waivers. This Agreement and any term hereof may be amended, terminated or waived only with the written consent of the Company and the Purchasers. No waiver of any default with respect to any provision, condition or requirement of this Agreement shall be deemed to be a continuing waiver in the future or a waiver of any subsequent default or a waiver of any other provision, condition or requirement hereof, nor shall any delay or omission of either party to exercise any right hereunder in any manner impair the exercise of any such right.

6.8 Construction. The headings herein are for convenience only, do not constitute a part of this Agreement and shall not be deemed to limit or affect any of the provisions hereof.


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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.

6.9 Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties and their successors and permitted assigns. The Company may not assign this Agreement or any rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Purchaser; provided, however, that no such consent shall be required in connection with any assignment (i) occurring by operation of law in connection with any merger or consolidation to which the Company is a party, (ii) in connection with the acquisition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company or (iii) any other similar business combination transaction involving the Company. A Purchaser may assign its rights under this Agreement only to a Person to whom such Purchaser assigns or transfers all Shares held by such Purchaser; provided, that (i) following such transfer or assignment, the further disposition of the Shares by the transferee or assignee is restricted under the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws, (ii) as a condition of such transfer, such transferee agrees in writing to be bound by all of the terms and conditions of this Agreement as a party hereto and (iii) such transfer shall have been made in accordance with the applicable requirements of this Agreement and with all laws applicable thereto.

6.10 Persons Entitled to Benefit of Agreement. 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.

6.11 Governing Law; Jurisdiction. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the internal laws of the State of Delaware without regard to the choice of law principles thereof. Each of the parties hereto irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Delaware Chancery Court (or, if the Delaware Chancery Court shall be unavailable, then any federal court of the United States of America sitting in the State of Delaware) for the purpose of any suit, action, proceeding or judgment relating to or arising out of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby. Service of process in connection with any such suit, action or proceeding may be served on each party hereto anywhere in the world by the same methods as are specified for the giving of notices under this Agreement. Each of the parties hereto irrevocably consents to the jurisdiction of any such court in any such suit, action or proceeding and to the laying of venue in such court. Each party hereto irrevocably waives any objection to the laying of venue of any such suit, action or proceeding brought in such courts and irrevocably waives any claim that any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum. If any party hereto shall commence an action or proceeding to enforce any provisions of the Transaction Documents, then, the prevailing party in such action or proceeding shall be reimbursed by the non-prevailing party for its reasonable attorneys’ fees and other costs and expenses incurred with the investigation, preparation and prosecution of such action or proceeding.

6.12 Counterparts; Execution. This Agreement may be executed in two (2) or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Counterparts may be delivered via facsimile, electronic mail (including pdf or any electronic signature complying with the U.S. federal ESIGN Act of 2000, e.g., xxx.xxxxxxxx.xxx) or other transmission method and any counterpart so delivered shall be deemed to have been duly and validly delivered and be valid and effective for all purposes.

6.13 Severability. If any provision hereof should be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, then, to the fullest extent permitted by law, (a) all other provisions hereof shall remain in full force and effect and shall be liberally construed in order to carry out the intentions of the parties as nearly as may be possible and (b) the parties shall use their best efforts to replace the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision(s) with valid, legal and


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enforceable provision(s) which, insofar as practical, implement the purposes of such provision(s) in this Agreement.

6.14 Adjustments in Share Numbers and Prices. In the event of any stock split, subdivision, dividend or distribution payable in shares of Common Stock (or other securities or rights convertible into, or entitling the holder thereof to receive directly or indirectly shares of Common Stock), combination or other similar recapitalization or event occurring after the date hereof, each reference in any Transaction Document to a number of shares or a price per share shall be deemed to be amended to appropriately account for such event.

[SIGNATURE PAGES TO FOLLOW]


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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Securities Purchase Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized signatories as of the date first indicated above.

COMPANY:

EXICURE, INC.

By: /s/ Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx

Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx, Ph.D.

Chief Executive Officer

[Signature Page to Securities Purchase Agreement]


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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Securities Purchase Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized signatories as of the date first indicated above.

PURCHASERS:

CBI USA, Inc.

By: /s/ Kyungwon Oh

Name: Xxxxxxxx Xx
(print)

Title: Chief Executive Officer

[Signature Page to Securities Purchase Agreement]


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SCHEDULE 1

SCHEDULE OF PURCHASERS


Name of Purchaser and Address/Contact Information	Number of Shares Purchased	Aggregate Purchase Price
CBI USA, Inc. 0000 Xxxxxxx Xxx, Xxxxx 000 Xxxxxxx, XX 00000 Telephone No.: 000-000-0000 Facsimile No.: 000-000-0000 E-mail Address: Attention:	3,400,000	$5,440,000


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Exhibit A

STOCK REGISTRATION QUESTIONNAIRE

Pursuant to Section 1.4 of the Agreement, please provide us with the following information:


	The exact name that the Shares are to be registered in (this is the name that will appear on the common stock certificate(s) or Direct Registration System advice(s)):
	The relationship between the Purchaser of the Shares and the Registered Purchaser listed in response to Item 1 above:
	The mailing address, telephone and telecopy number of the Registered Purchaser listed in response to Item 1 above:




	The Tax Identification Number (or, if an individual, the Social Security Number) of the Registered Purchaser listed in response to Item 1 above:
C	AST Account Number of the Registered Purchaser listed in response to Item 1 above (indicate none if such Registered Purchaser does not yet have one):
	Form of delivery of Shares:	Stock certificate(s): Electronic book-entry in the Direct Registration System:


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Exhibit B

ACCREDITED INVESTOR QUALIFICATION QUESTIONNAIRE

[See Attached]


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Exhibit C

“BAD ACTOR” QUESTIONNAIRE FORMS

[See Attached]


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Exhibit D

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

[See Attached]


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SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT

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