WARRANT AGENCY AGREEMENT
Exhibit 4.4
WARRANT AGENCY AGREEMENT (“Warrant Agreement”) made as of [_____] (“Issuance Date”), between BIO-key International, Inc., a Delaware corporation, with offices at 0000 Xxxxxxx 000, Xxxxxxxx X, Xxxxx X, Xxxx, XX 00000 (“Company”), and Broadridge Corporate Issuer Solutions, Inc., with offices at 00 Xxxxxxxx Xxx, Xxxxxxxx, XX 00000 (“Warrant Agent”).
WHEREAS, the Company is engaged in a public offering of Units and, in connection therewith, has determined to issue and deliver up to ___________Warrants (the “Warrants”) to the public investors, with each such Warrant evidencing the right of the holder thereof to purchase [_____] share of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company's Common Stock (the “Common Stock”) for $___, subject to adjustment as described herein; and
WHEREAS, the Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission a Registration Statement, No. 333-239782 on Form S-1 (as the same may be amended from time to time, the “Registration Statement”) for the registration, under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”) of, among other securities, the Warrants and the Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants (the “Warrant Shares”), and such Registration Statement was declared effective on [_____]; and
WHEREAS, the Company desires the Warrant Agent to act on behalf of the Company, and the Warrant Agent is willing to so act, in connection with the issuance, registration, transfer, exchange and exercise of the Warrants; and
WHEREAS, the Company desires to provide for the form and provisions of the Warrants, the terms upon which they shall be issued and exercised, and the respective rights, limitation of rights, and immunities of the Company, the Warrant Agent, and the holders of the Warrants; and
WHEREAS, all acts and things have been done and performed which are necessary to make the Warrants, when executed on behalf of the Company and countersigned by or on behalf of the Warrant Agent, as provided herein, the valid, binding and legal obligations of the Company, and to authorize the execution and delivery of this Warrant Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. Appointment of Warrant Agent. The Company hereby appoints the Warrant Agent to act as agent for the Company for the Warrants, and the Warrant Agent hereby accepts such appointment and agrees to perform the same in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in this Warrant Agreement. All other capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning ascribed to such terms in the Book-Entry Warrant Certificate.
2. Warrants.
2.1 Form of Warrant. Each Warrant shall be issued in registered form only, shall be in substantially the form of Exhibit A hereto, the provisions of which are incorporated herein, and shall be signed by, or bear the facsimile signature of, the Chief Executive Officer, President, Chief Financial Officer or Treasurer, Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Company and shall bear a facsimile of the Company’s seal. In the event the person whose facsimile signature has been placed upon any Warrant shall have ceased to serve in the capacity in which such person signed the Warrant before such Warrant is issued, it may be issued with the same effect as if he or she had not ceased to be such at the date of issuance. All of the Warrants shall initially be represented by one or more book-entry certificates (each such Warrant, a “Book-Entry Warrant”, and each such certificate, a “Book-Entry Warrant Certificate”).
2.2. Effect of Countersignature. Unless and until countersigned by the Warrant Agent pursuant to this Warrant Agreement, a Book-Entry Warrant shall be invalid and of no effect and may not be exercised by the holder thereof.
2.3. Registration.
2.3.1. Warrant Register. The Warrant Agent shall maintain books (“Warrant Register”), for the registration of original issuance and the registration of transfer of the Book-Entry Warrants. Upon the initial issuance of the Book-Entry Warrants, the Warrant Agent shall issue and register the Book-Entry Warrants in the names of the respective holders thereof in such denominations and otherwise in accordance with instructions delivered to the Warrant Agent by the Company. To the extent the Book-Entry Warrants are DTC eligible as of the Issuance Date, all of the Book-Entry Warrants shall be represented by one or more Book-Entry Warrant Certificates deposited with the Depository Trust Company (the “Depository”) and registered in the name of Cede & Co., a nominee of the Depository. Ownership of beneficial interests in the Book-Entry Warrant Certificates shall be shown on, and the transfer of such ownership shall be effected through, records maintained (i) by the Depository or its nominee for each Book-Entry Warrant Certificate; (ii) by institutions that have accounts with the Depository (such institution, with respect to a Warrant in its account, a “Participant”); or (iii) directly on the book-entry records of the Warrant Agent with respect only to owners of beneficial interests that represent such direct registration. The Company will keep or cause to be kept at one of its offices, books for the registration and transfer of any Definitive Certificates (as defined below) issued hereunder and the Warrant Agent shall not have any obligation to keep books and records with respect to any Definitive Warrants. Such Company books shall show the names and addresses of the respective Holders of the Definitive Certificates, the number of warrants evidenced on the face of each such Definitive Certificate and the date of each such Definitive Certificate.
If the Warrants are not DTC Eligible as of the Issuance Date or the Depository subsequently ceases to make its book-entry settlement system available for the Warrants, the Company may instruct the Warrant Agent regarding making other arrangements for book-entry settlement within ten (10) days after the Depository ceases to make its book-entry settlement available. In the event that the Company does not make alternative arrangements for book-entry settlement within ten (10) days or the Warrants are not eligible for, or it is no longer necessary to have the Warrants available in, book-entry form, the Warrant Agent shall provide written instructions to the Depository to deliver to the Warrant Agent for cancellation each Book-Entry Warrant Certificate, and the Company shall instruct the Warrant Agent to deliver to the Depository definitive Warrant Certificates in physical form evidencing such Warrants (each such certificate, a “Definitive Certificate” and, together with the Book-Entry Certificates, “Warrant Certificates”). Such Definitive Certificates shall be in substantially the form annexed hereto as Exhibit A.
2.3.2 A holder of the Warrants (the “Holder,” which term shall include a Holder’s transferees, successors and assigns and “Holder” shall include, if the Warrants are held in “street name,” a Participant (as defined below) or a designee appointed by such Participant) has the right to elect at any time or from time to time a Warrant Exchange (as defined below) pursuant to a Warrant Certificate Request Notice (as defined below). Upon written notice by a Holder to the Company and the Warrant Agent for the exchange of some or all of such Holder’s Book-Entry Warrants for a Definitive Certificate in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (such separate certificate, a “Definitive Certificate”) evidencing the same number of Warrants, which request shall be in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B (a “Warrant Certificate Request Notice” and the date of delivery of such Warrant Certificate Request Notice by the Holder, the “Warrant Certificate Request Notice Date” and the surrender by the Holder to the Warrant Agent of a number of Book-Entry Warrants for the same number of Warrants evidenced by a Warrant Certificate, a “Warrant Exchange”), the Company and the Warrant Agent shall promptly effect the Warrant Exchange and the Company shall promptly issue and deliver to the Holder a Definitive Certificate for such number of Warrants in the name set forth in the Warrant Certificate Request Notice. Such Definitive Certificate shall be dated the original issue date of the Warrants, shall be manually executed by an authorized signatory of the Company, shall be in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A and shall be reasonably acceptable in all respects to such Holder. In connection with a Warrant Exchange, the Company agrees to deliver the Definitive Certificate to the Holder within ten (10) Business Days of the Warrant Certificate Request Notice pursuant to the delivery instructions in the Warrant Certificate Request Notice (“Warrant Certificate Delivery Date”). If the Company fails for any reason to deliver to the Holder the Definitive Certificate subject to the Warrant Certificate Request Notice by the Warrant Certificate Delivery Date, the Company shall pay to the Holder, in cash, as liquidated damages and not as a penalty, for each $1,000 of Warrant Shares evidenced by such Definitive Certificate (based on the VWAP (as defined in the Warrants) of the Common Stock on the Warrant Certificate Request Notice Date), $10 per Business Day for each Business Day after such Warrant Certificate Delivery Date until such Definitive Certificate is delivered or, prior to delivery of such Warrant Certificate, the Holder rescinds such Warrant Exchange. The Company covenants and agrees that, upon the date of delivery of the Warrant Certificate Request Notice, the Holder shall be deemed to be the holder of the Definitive Certificate and, notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, the Definitive Certificate shall be deemed for all purposes to contain all of the terms and conditions of the Warrants evidenced by such Warrant Certificate and the terms of this Warrant Agreement, other than Sections 2.3.2 and 2.3.3 herein, shall not apply to the Warrants evidenced by the Definitive Certificate. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Company shall act as warrant agent with respect to any Definitive Certificate requested and issued pursuant to this section. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Warrant Agreement, in the event of inconsistency between any provision in this Warrant Agreement and any provision in a Definitive Certificate, as it may from time to time be amended, the terms of such Definitive Certificate shall control.
2.3.3 A Holder of a Definitive Certificate (pursuant to a Warrant Exchange or otherwise) has the right to elect at any time or from time to time a Book-Entry Exchange (as defined below) pursuant to a Book-Entry Warrants Request Notice (as defined below). Upon written notice by a Holder to the Company for the exchange of some or all of such Holder’s Warrants evidenced by a Definitive Certificate for a beneficial interest in Book-Entry Warrants held in book-entry form through the Depositary evidencing the same number of Warrants, which request shall be in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C (a “Book-Entry Warrants Request Notice” and the date of delivery of such Book-Entry Warrants Request Notice by the Holder, the “Book-Entry Warrants Request Notice Date” and the surrender upon delivery by the Holder of the Warrants evidenced by Definitive Certificates for the same number of Warrants evidenced by a beneficial interest in Book-Entry Warrants held in book-entry form through the Depositary, a “Book-Entry Exchange”), the Company shall promptly effect the Book-Entry Warrants Exchange and shall promptly direct the Warrant Agent to issue and deliver to the Holder Book-Entry Warrants for such number of Warrants in the Book-Entry Warrants Request Notice, which beneficial interest in such Book-Entry Warrants shall be delivered by the Depositary’s Deposit or Withdrawal at Custodian system to the Holder pursuant to the instructions in the Book-Entry Warrants Request Notice. In connection with a Book-Entry Warrants Exchange, the Company shall direct the Warrant Agent to deliver the beneficial interest in such Book-Entry Warrants to the Holder within ten (10) Business Days of the Book-Entry Warrants Request Notice pursuant to the delivery instructions in the Book-Entry Warrant Request Notice (“Book-Entry Warrants Delivery Date”). If the Company fails for any reason to deliver to the Holder Book-Entry Warrants subject to the Book-Entry Warrants Request Notice by the Book-Entry Warrants Delivery Date, the Company shall pay to the Holder, in cash, as liquidated damages and not as a penalty, for each $1,000 of Warrant Shares evidenced by such Book-Entry Warrants (based on the VWAP (as defined in the Warrants) of the Common Stock on the Book-Entry Warrants Request Notice Date), $10 per Business Day for each Business Day after such Book-Entry Warrants Delivery Date until such Book-Entry Warrants are delivered or, prior to delivery of such Book-Entry Warrants, the Holder rescinds such Book-Entry Warrants Exchange. The Company covenants and agrees that, upon the date of delivery of the Book-Entry Warrants Request Notice, the Holder shall be deemed to be the beneficial holder of such Book-Entry Warrants.
2.3.4. Beneficial Owner; Registered Holder. The term “beneficial owner” shall mean any person in whose name ownership of a beneficial interest in the Warrants evidenced by a Book-Entry Warrant Certificate is recorded in the records maintained by the Depository or its nominee. Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer of any Warrant, the Company and the Warrant Agent may deem and treat the person in whose name such Warrant shall be registered upon the Warrant Register (“registered holder”), as the absolute owner of such Warrant and of each Warrant represented thereby (notwithstanding any notation of ownership or other writing on the Warrant Certificate made by anyone other than the Company or the Warrant Agent), for the purpose of any exercise thereof, and for all other purposes, and neither the Company nor the Warrant Agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.
2.4. Detachability of Warrants. The securities comprising the units will be issued separately and will be separately transferable immediately upon issuance.
2.5 Uncertificated Warrants. Notwithstanding the foregoing and anything else herein to the contrary, the Warrants may be issued in uncertificated form.
3. Terms and Exercise of Warrants.
3.1. Exercise Price. Each Warrant shall, when countersigned by the Warrant Agent, entitle the registered holder thereof, subject to the provisions of such Warrant and of this Warrant Agreement, to purchase from the Company the number of shares of Common Stock stated therein, at the price of $____ per whole share, subject to the subsequent adjustments provided in Section 3 of the Book-Entry Warrant Certificate. The term “Exercise Price” as used in this Warrant Agreement refers to the price per share at which Common Stock may be purchased at the time a Warrant is exercised. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Warrant Agreement, in the event of inconsistency between any provision in this Warrant Agreement and any provision in a Book-Entry Warrant Certificate or Definitive Certificate, as it may from time to time be amended, the terms of such Book-Entry Warrant Certificate or Definitive Certificate shall control.
3.2. Duration of Warrants. A Warrant may be exercised only during the period (“Exercise Period”) commencing on [_____], 2020 and terminating at 5:00 P.M., New York time on [_____] (“Expiration Date”). Each Warrant not exercised on or before the Expiration Date shall become void, and all rights thereunder and all rights in respect thereof under this Warrant Agreement shall cease at 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the Expiration Date.
3.3. Exercise of Warrants.
3.3.1. Exercise and Payment. The Holder of a Warrant may exercise the Warrant in whole or in part upon surrender of the Warrant Certificate, if required, with the executed Notice of Exercise and payment of the Exercise Price, which may be made, at the option of the Holder, by wire transfer or by certified or official bank check in United States dollars, to the Warrant Agent at the principal office of the Warrant Agent or to the office of one of its agents as may be designated by the Warrant Agent from time to time. In the case of the Holder of a Book-Entry Warrant, the Holder shall deliver the executed Notice of Exercise and the payment of the Exercise Price as described herein. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Warrant Agreement, a holder whose interest in a Book-Entry Warrant is a beneficial interest in a Book-Entry Warrant held in book-entry form through the Depositary (or another established clearing corporation performing similar functions), shall effect exercises by delivering to the Depositary (or such other clearing corporation, as applicable) the appropriate instruction form for exercise, complying with the procedures to effect exercise that are required by the Depositary (or such other clearing corporation, as applicable). No ink-original Notice of Exercise shall be required, nor shall any medallion guarantee (or other type of guarantee or notarization) of any Notice of Exercise be required. The Company hereby acknowledges and agrees that, with respect to a holder whose interest in a Book-Entry Warrant is a beneficial interest in a Book-Entry Warrant held in book-entry form through the Depositary (or another established clearing corporation performing similar functions), upon delivery of irrevocable instructions to such holder’s Participant to exercise such warrants, that solely for purposes of Regulation SHO that such holder shall be deemed to have exercised such warrants.
Upon the exercise of the Warrant Certificate pursuant to the terms of Section 2 of the Book-Entry Warrant Certificate, the Warrant Agent shall cause the Warrant Shares underlying such Definitive Certificate or Book-Entry Warrant to be delivered to or upon the order of the Holder of such Definitive Certificate or Book-Entry Warrant, registered in such name or names as may be designated by such Holder, no later than the Warrant Share Delivery Date (as such term is defined in the Book-Entry Warrant Certificate). Notwithstanding anything else to the contrary in this Warrant Agreement, except in the case of a cashless exercise pursuant to Section 3.3.6 hereof, if any Holder fails to duly deliver payment to the Warrant Agent of an amount equal to the aggregate Exercise Price of the Warrant Shares to be purchased upon exercise of such Holder’s Warrant as set forth in this Section 3.3.1. by the Warrant Share Delivery Date, the Warrant Agent will not obligated to deliver such Warrant Shares (via DWAC or otherwise) until following receipt of such payment, and the applicable Warrant Share Delivery Date shall be deemed extended by one day for each day (or part thereof) until such payment is delivered to the Warrant Agent. If the Company is then a participant in the DWAC system of the Depositary and either (A) there is an effective registration statement permitting the issuance of the Warrant Shares to or resale of the Warrant Shares by Holder or (B) the Warrant is being exercised via cashless exercise pursuant to Section 3.3.6 hereof, then the certificates for Warrant Shares shall be transmitted by the Warrant Agent to the Holder by crediting the account of the Holder’s broker with the Depositary through its DWAC system. In no event will interest accrue on funds deposited with the Warrant Agent in respect of an exercise or attempted exercise of Warrants. The validity of any exercise of Warrants will be determined by the Company in its sole discretion and such determination will be final and binding upon the registered holder or Participant, as applicable, and the Warrant Agent. Neither the Company nor the Warrant Agent shall have any obligation to inform a registered holder or the Participant, as applicable, of the invalidity of any exercise of Warrants.
The Warrant Agent shall deposit all funds received by it in payment of the Warrant Price in the account of the Company maintained with the Warrant Agent for such purpose and shall advise the Company via telephone at the end of each day on which funds for the exercise of the Warrants are received of the amount so deposited to its account. The Warrant Agent shall promptly confirm such telephonic advice to the Company in writing.
3.3.2. Valid Issuance. All shares of Common Stock issued upon the proper exercise of a Warrant in conformity with this Warrant Agreement shall be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
3.3.3. No Fractional Exercise. Warrants may be exercised only in whole numbers of Warrant Shares. No fractional Warrant Shares are to be issued upon the exercise of the Warrant, but rather the Company shall, at its election, either pay a cash adjustment in respect of such final fraction in an amount equal to such fraction multiplied by the Exercise Price or round up to the next whole share. If fewer than all the Warrants evidenced by a Book-Entry Warrant Certificate are exercised, a notation shall be made to the records maintained by the Depository, its nominee for each Book-Entry Warrant Certificate, or a Participant, as appropriate, evidencing the balance of the Warrants remaining after such exercise.
3.3.4 No Transfer Taxes. The Company may require payment from the Holder of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any transfer, split up, combination or exchange of Book-Entry Warrants; and in the event that any such transfer is involved, the Company shall not be required to issue or deliver any Warrant Shares until such tax or other charge shall have been paid or it has been established to the Company’s satisfaction that no such tax or other charge is due.
3.3.5 Date of Issuance. Each person in whose name any such certificate for shares of Common Stock is issued shall for all purposes be deemed to have become the holder of record of such shares on the date on which the date on which submission of the Notice of Exercise was made.
3.3.6 Cashless Exercise Under Certain Circumstances.
(i) The Warrant shall also be exercisable on a cashless basis pursuant to Section 2(c) of the Book-Entry Warrant Certificate. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Company shall not be required to make any cash payments or net cash settlement to the registered holder in lieu of issuance of the Warrant Shares.
(ii) Upon receipt of an Notice of Exercise for a cashless exercise, the Warrant Agent will promptly deliver a copy of the Notice of Exercise to the Company to confirm the number of Warrant Shares issuable in connection with the cashless exercise. The Company shall calculate and transmit to the Warrant Agent, and the Warrant Agent shall have no obligation under this section to calculate, the number of Warrant Shares issuable in connection with the cashless exercise.
3.3.8 Disputes. In the case of a dispute as to the determination of the Exercise Price or the arithmetic calculation of the Warrant Shares, the Company shall promptly issue to the registered holder the number of Warrant Shares that are not disputed.
4. Adjustments.
4.1 Adjustment of Exercise Price, Number of Shares of Common Stock or Number of the Company Warrants. The Exercise Price, the number of shares covered by each Warrant and the number of Warrants outstanding are subject to adjustment from time to time as provided in Section 3 of the Book-Entry Warrant Certificate. In the event that at any time, as a result of an adjustment made pursuant to Section 3 of the Book-Entry Warrant Certificate, the Holder of any Warrant thereafter exercised shall become entitled to receive any shares of capital stock of the Company other than shares of Common Stock, thereafter the number of such other shares so receivable upon exercise of any Warrant shall be subject to adjustment from time to time in a manner and on terms as nearly equivalent as practicable to the provisions with respect to the shares contained in Section 3 of the Book-Entry Warrant Certificate and the provisions of Sections 3, 4.1 and 4.5 of this Warrant Agreement with respect to the shares of Common Stock shall apply on like terms to any such other shares. All Warrants originally issued by the Company subsequent to any adjustment made to the Exercise Price pursuant to the Book-Entry Warrant Certificate shall evidence the right to purchase, at the adjusted Exercise Price, the number of shares of Common Stock purchasable from time to time hereunder upon exercise of the Warrants, all subject to further adjustment as provided herein.
4.2. Notices of Changes in Warrant. Upon every adjustment of the Warrant Price or the number of shares issuable upon exercise of a Warrant, the Company shall give written notice thereof to the Warrant Agent, which notice shall state the Warrant Price resulting from such adjustment and the increase or decrease, if any, in the number of shares purchasable at such price upon the exercise of a Warrant, setting forth in reasonable detail the method of calculation and the facts upon which such calculation is based. Upon the occurrence of any event specified in Section 4.1 or 4.3, then, in any such event, the Company shall give, or shall cause the Warrant Agent to give, written notice to each registered holder, at the last address set forth for such holder in the warrant register, of the record date or the effective date of the event. Failure to give such notice, or any defect therein, shall not affect the legality or validity of such event.
4.3. No Fractional Shares. Notwithstanding any provision contained in this Warrant Agreement to the contrary, the Company shall not issue fractional shares upon exercise of Warrants. If, by reason of any adjustment made pursuant to this Section 4, the holder of any Warrant would be entitled, upon the exercise of such Warrant, to receive a fractional interest in a share, the Company shall, at its election, either pay a cash adjustment in respect of such final fraction in an amount equal to such fraction multiplied by the Exercise Price or round up to the next whole share.
4.7. Form of Warrant. The form of Warrant need not be changed because of any adjustment pursuant to this Section 4, and Warrants issued after such adjustment may state the same Warrant Price and the same number of shares as is stated in the Warrants initially issued pursuant to this Warrant Agreement. However, the Company may at any time in its sole discretion make any change in the form of Warrant that the Company may deem appropriate and that does not affect the substance thereof, and any Warrant thereafter issued or countersigned, whether in exchange or substitution for an outstanding Warrant or otherwise, may be in the form as so changed.
5. Transfer and Exchange of Warrants.
5.1. Registration of Transfer. The Warrant Agent shall register the transfer, from time to time, of any outstanding Warrant upon the Warrant Register, upon surrender of such Warrant for transfer, properly endorsed with signatures properly guaranteed and accompanied by appropriate instructions for transfer. Upon any such transfer, a new Warrant representing an equal aggregate number of Warrants shall be issued and the old Warrant shall be cancelled by the Warrant Agent. The Warrants so cancelled shall be delivered by the Warrant Agent to the Company from time to time upon request.
5.2. Procedure for Surrender of Warrants. Warrants may be surrendered to the Warrant Agent, together with a written request for exchange or transfer reasonably acceptable to Warrant Agent, duly executed by the registered holder thereof, or by a duly authorized attorney, and thereupon the Warrant Agent shall issue in exchange therefor one or more new Warrants as requested by the registered holder of the Warrants so surrendered, representing an equal aggregate number of Warrants; provided, however, that except as otherwise provided herein or in any Book-Entry Warrant Certificate, each Book-Entry Warrant Certificate may be transferred only in whole and only to the Depository, to another nominee of the Depository, to a successor depository, or to a nominee of a successor depository; provided further, however, that in the event that a Warrant surrendered for transfer bears a restrictive legend, the Warrant Agent shall not cancel such Warrant and issue new Warrants in exchange therefor until the Warrant Agent has received an opinion of counsel for the Company stating that such transfer may be made and indicating whether the new Warrants must also bear a restrictive legend. Upon any such registration of transfer, the Company shall execute, and the Warrant Agent shall countersign and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee a new Warrant Certificate or Warrant Certificates of any authorized denomination evidencing in the aggregate a like number of unexercised Warrants.
5.3. Fractional Warrants. The Warrant Agent shall not be required to effect any registration of transfer or exchange which will result in the issuance of a Warrant Certificate for a fraction of a Warrant.
5.4. Service Charges. A service charge shall be made for any exchange or registration of transfer of Warrants, as negotiated between Company and Warrant Agent.
5.5. Warrant Execution and Countersignature. The Warrant Agent is hereby authorized to countersign and to deliver, in accordance with the terms of this Warrant Agreement, the Warrants required to be issued pursuant to the provisions of this Section 5, and the Company, whenever required by the Warrant Agent, will supply the Warrant Agent with Warrants duly executed on behalf of the Company for such purpose.
6. Limitations on Exercise. The Holders shall be subject to the limitation on beneficial ownership set forth in Section 2(e) of the Book Entry Warrant Certificate.
7. Other Provisions Relating to Rights of Holders of Warrants.
7.1. No Rights as Stockholder. Except as otherwise specifically provided in the Book-Entry Warrant Certificate, a registered holder, solely in its capacity as a holder of a Warrant, shall not be entitled to vote or receive dividends or be deemed the holder of share capital of the Company for any purpose, nor shall anything contained in this Warrant Agreement be construed to confer upon a registered holder, solely in its capacity as the registered holder of a Warrant, any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company or any right to vote, give or withhold consent to any corporate action (whether any reorganization, issue of stock, reclassification of stock, consolidation, merger, conveyance or otherwise), receive notice of meetings, receive dividends or subscription rights, or otherwise, prior to the issuance to the registered holder of the Warrant Shares which it is then entitled to receive upon the due exercise of a Warrant. A Warrant does not entitle the registered holder thereof to any of the rights of a stockholder except as set forth in the Book-Entry Warrant Certificate.
7.2. Lost, Stolen, Mutilated, or Destroyed Warrants. Upon receipt by the Warrant Agent of evidence reasonably satisfactory to it of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of a Warrant Certificate, which evidence shall include an affidavit of loss, or in the case of mutilated certificates, the certificate or portion thereof remaining, and, in case of loss, theft or destruction, of indemnity in customary form and amount (but, with respect to any Definitive Certificates, shall not include the posting of any bond by the Holder), and satisfaction of any other reasonable requirements established by Section 8-405 of the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the State of Delaware, and reimbursement to the Company and the Warrant Agent of all reasonable expenses incidental thereto, and upon surrender to the Warrant Agent and cancellation of the Warrant Certificate if mutilated, the Company will make and deliver a new Warrant Certificate of like tenor to the Warrant Agent for delivery to the Holder in lieu of the Warrant Certificate so lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated. Any such new Warrant shall constitute a substitute contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the allegedly lost, stolen, mutilated, or destroyed Warrant shall be at any time enforceable by anyone.
7.3. Reservation of Common Stock. The Company shall at all times reserve and keep available a number of its authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock that will be sufficient to permit the exercise in full of all outstanding Warrants issued pursuant to this Warrant Agreement.
8. Concerning the Warrant Agent and Other Matters.
8.1. Concerning the Warrant Agent. The Warrant Agent:
8.1.1 shall have no duties or obligations other than those set forth herein and no duties or obligations shall be inferred or implied;
8.1.2 may rely on and shall be held harmless by the Company in acting upon any certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, notice, letter, facsimile transmission, telegram or other document, or any security delivered to it, and reasonably believed by it to be genuine and to have been made or signed by the proper party or parties;
8.1.3 may rely on and shall be held harmless by the Company in acting upon written or oral instructions or statements from the Company with respect to any matter relating to its acting as Warrant Agent;
8.1.4 May consult with counsel satisfactory to it (including counsel for the Company) and shall be held harmless by the Company in relying on the advice or opinion of such counsel in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in accordance with such advice or opinion of such counsel;
8.1.5 solely shall make the final determination as to whether or not a Warrant received by Warrant Agent is duly, completely and correctly executed, and Warrant Agent shall be held harmless by the Company in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by Warrant Agent hereunder in good faith and in accordance with its determination;
8.1.6 shall not be obligated to take any legal or other action hereunder which might, in its judgment subject or expose it to any expense or liability unless it shall have been furnished with an indemnity satisfactory to it; and
8.1.7 shall not be liable or responsible for any failure of the Company to comply with any of its obligations relating to the Registration Statement or this Warrant Agreement, including without limitation obligations under applicable regulation or law.
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8.2 |
Payment of Taxes. The Company will from time to time promptly pay all taxes and charges that may be imposed upon the Company or the Warrant Agent in respect of the issuance or delivery of shares of Common Stock upon the exercise of Warrants, but the Company shall not be obligated to pay any transfer taxes in respect of the Warrants or such shares. The Warrant Agent shall not register any transfer or issue or deliver any Warrant Certificate(s) or Warrant Shares unless or until the persons requesting the registration or issuance shall have paid to the Warrant Agent for the account of the Company the amount of such tax, if any, or shall have established to the reasonable satisfaction of the Company that such tax, if any, has been paid. |
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8.3 |
Resignation, Consolidation, or Merger of Warrant Agent. |
8.3.1. Appointment of Successor Warrant Agent. The Warrant Agent, or any successor to it hereafter appointed, may resign its duties and be discharged from all further duties and liabilities hereunder after giving sixty (60) days’ notice in writing to the Company. If the office of the Warrant Agent becomes vacant by resignation or incapacity to act or otherwise, the Company shall appoint in writing a successor Warrant Agent in place of the Warrant Agent. If the Company shall fail to make such appointment within a period of 30 days after it has been notified in writing of such resignation or incapacity by the Warrant Agent or by the holder of the Warrant (who shall, with such notice, submit his Warrant for inspection by the Company), then the holder of any Warrant may apply to the Supreme Court of the State of New York for the County of New York for the appointment of a successor Warrant Agent at the Company’s cost. Any successor Warrant Agent, whether appointed by the Company or by such court, shall be a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America or any state thereof or the District of Columbia, in good standing, which is authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust, stock transfer, or shareholder services powers and which has at the time of its appointment as Warrant Agent a combined capital and surplus of at least $50 million or (b) an affiliate of a legal business entity described in clause (a) of this sentence. After appointment, any successor Warrant Agent shall be vested with all the authority, powers, rights, immunities, duties, and obligations of its predecessor Warrant Agent with like effect as if originally named as Warrant Agent hereunder, without any further act or deed; but if for any reason it becomes necessary or appropriate, the predecessor Warrant Agent shall execute and deliver, at the expense of the Company, an instrument transferring to such successor Warrant Agent all the authority, powers, and rights of such predecessor Warrant Agent hereunder; and upon request of any successor Warrant Agent the Company shall make, execute, acknowledge, and deliver any and all instruments in writing for more fully and effectually vesting in and confirming to such successor Warrant Agent all such authority, powers, rights, immunities, duties, and obligations.
8.2.2. Notice of Successor Warrant Agent. In the event a successor Warrant Agent shall be appointed, the Company shall give notice thereof to the predecessor Warrant Agent and the transfer agent for the Common Stock not later than the effective date of any such appointment.
8.2.3. Merger or Consolidation of Warrant Agent. Any corporation into which the Warrant Agent may be merged or with which it may be consolidated or any corporation resulting from any merger or consolidation to which the Warrant Agent shall be a party shall be the successor Warrant Agent under this Warrant Agreement without any further act.
8.3. Fees and Expenses of Warrant Agent.
8.3.1. Remuneration. The Company agrees to pay the Warrant Agent reasonable remuneration in an amount separately agreed to between Company and Warrant Agent for its services as Warrant Agent hereunder and will reimburse the Warrant Agent upon demand for all expenditures that the Warrant Agent may reasonably incur in the execution of its duties hereunder. The fees must be paid upon execution of this Warrant Agreement, before any services hereunder commence. An invoice for any out-of-pocket and/or per item fees incurred will be rendered to and payable by the Company within fifteen (15) days of the date of said invoice. It is understood and agreed that all services to be performed by Warrant Agent shall cease if full payment for its services has not been received in accordance with the above schedule, and said services will not commence thereafter until all payment due has been received by Warrant Agent. If Company fails to pay any amounts due under this Warrant Agreement, Company shall, upon demand by Warrant Agent, pay interest at the rate of 1-1/2% per month (but in no event more than the highest interest rate allowable by law) on such delinquent amounts from the due date until the date of payment.
8.3.2. Further Assurances. The Company agrees to perform, execute, acknowledge, and deliver or cause to be performed, executed, acknowledged, and delivered all such further and other acts, instruments, and assurances as may reasonably be required by the Warrant Agent for the carrying out or performing of the provisions of this Warrant Agreement.
8.4. Liability of Warrant Agent.
8.4.1. Reliance on Company Statement. Whenever in the performance of its duties under this Warrant Agreement, the Warrant Agent shall deem it necessary or desirable that any fact or matter be proved or established by the Company prior to taking or suffering any action hereunder, such fact or matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by a statement signed by the President of the Company and delivered to the Warrant Agent. The Warrant Agent may rely upon such statement for any action taken or suffered in good faith by it pursuant to the provisions of this Warrant Agreement.
8.4.2. Indemnity. The Warrant Agent shall be liable hereunder only for its own gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith. The Company agrees to indemnify the Warrant Agent and save it harmless against any and all liabilities, including judgments, claims, losses, damages, costs and reasonable counsel fees, for anything done or omitted by the Warrant Agent in the execution of this Warrant Agreement except as a result of the Warrant Agent’s gross negligence, willful misconduct, or bad faith.
8.4.3. Limitation of Liability.
(i) Warrant Agent shall not be liable or deemed to be in default for any delay or failure to perform under this Warrant Agreement or any schedule resulting directly or indirectly from any cause beyond Warrant Agent’s reasonable control, including, without limitation, natural disasters, and failure of utilities or carriers.
(ii) Warrant Agent’s aggregate liability for any and all damages arising from or relating to any and all claims and causes of action not covered by Section 8(a) in connection with the services provided under this Warrant Agreement or any schedule hereto (the “Services”), shall not exceed the lesser of: (i) the amount of actual damages incurred by Company; and (ii) an amount equal to the fees (excluding pass-through charges) paid by Company to Warrant Agent with respect to those Services giving rise to such claim or cause of action during the twelve (12) month period (or such lesser period if those Services have been provided for less than twelve (12) months) immediately preceding the date of occurrence of the event upon which a claim is asserted, less any amounts previously paid by Warrant Agent in satisfaction or settlement of other claims applicable to those Services giving rise to such claim or cause of action, regardless of the basis on which Company is entitled to claim damages (including, without limitation breach, negligence, misrepresentation, or other contract or tort claim) and shall constitute Company’s sole monetary remedy.
(iii) Notwithstanding anything in this Warrant Agreement to the contrary, neither party to this Warrant Agreement shall be liable to the other party for any consequential, indirect, special or incidental damages under any provision of this Warrant Agreement or for any consequential, indirect, punitive, special or incidental damages arising out of any act or failure to act hereunder even if that party has been advised of or has foreseen the possibility of such damages.
(iv) This Section allocates the risks under this Warrant Agreement between Warrant Agent and Company and is viewed by the parties as an integral part of the business arrangement between them. The pricing and other terms and conditions of this Warrant Agreement and any schedule hereto reflect this allocation of risk and the limitations specified herein.
8.4.4 Disputes. In the event any question or dispute arises with respect to the proper interpretation of this Warrant Agreement or the Warrant Agent’s duties hereunder or the rights of the Company or of any holder of a Warrant, the Warrant Agent shall not be required to act and shall not be held liable or responsible for refusing to act until the question or dispute has been judicially settled (and the Warrant Agent may, if it deems it advisable, but shall not be obligated to, file a suit in interpleader or for a declaratory judgment for such purpose) by final judgment rendered by a court of competent jurisdiction, binding on all parties interested in the matter which is no longer subject to review or appeal, or settled by a written document in form and substance satisfactory to the Warrant Agent and executed by the Company and each other interested party. In addition, the Warrant Agent may require for such purpose, but shall not be obligated to require, the execution of such written settlement by all the Warrant holders, as applicable, and all other parties that may have an interest in the settlement.
8.4.5 Exclusions. The Warrant Agent shall have no responsibility with respect to the validity of this Warrant Agreement or with respect to the validity or execution of any Warrant (except its countersignature thereof); nor shall it be responsible for any breach by the Company of any covenant or condition contained in this Warrant Agreement or in any Warrant; nor shall it be responsible to make any adjustments required under the provisions of Section 4 hereof or responsible for the manner, method, or amount of any such adjustment or the ascertaining of the existence of facts that would require any such adjustment; nor shall it by any act hereunder be deemed to make any representation or warranty as to the authorization or reservation of any shares of Common Stock to be issued pursuant to this Warrant Agreement or any Warrant or as to whether any shares of Common Stock will when issued be valid and fully paid and nonassessable.
8.5. Acceptance of Agency. The Warrant Agent hereby accepts the agency established by this Warrant Agreement and agrees to perform the same upon the terms and conditions herein set forth and among other things, shall account promptly to the Company with respect to Warrants exercised and concurrently account for, and pay to the Company, all moneys received by the Warrant Agent for the purchase of shares of Common Stock through the exercise of Warrants.
9. Miscellaneous Provisions.
9.1. Successors. All the covenants and provisions of this Warrant Agreement by or for the benefit of the Company or the Warrant Agent shall bind and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns.
9.2. Notices. Any notice, statement or demand authorized by this Warrant Agreement to be given or made by the Warrant Agent or by the holder of any Warrant to or on the Company shall be sufficiently given when so delivered if by hand or overnight delivery or if sent by certified mail or private courier service within five days after deposit of such notice, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in writing by the Company with the Warrant Agent), as follows:
BIO-key International, Inc.
0000 Xxxxxxx 000
Xxxxxxxx X, Xxxxx X
Xxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, CFO
Email: xxxxxxx.xxxxx@xxx-xxx.xxx
With a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Fox Rothschild LLP
Princeton Pike Corporate Center
000 Xxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 0
Xxxxxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Esq.
Email: XXxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
Any notice, statement or demand authorized by this Warrant Agreement to be given or made by the holder of any Warrant or by the Company to or on the Warrant Agent shall be sufficiently given when so delivered if by hand or overnight delivery or if sent by certified mail or private courier service within five days after deposit of such notice, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in writing by the Warrant Agent with the Company), as follows:
Broadridge Corporate Issuer Solutions, Inc.,
00 Xxxxxxxx Xxx
Xxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attn: Corporate Actions Department
With a copy to:
Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc.
0 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxxxx 00000,
and a copy via email to xxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxx.xxx
in each case, Attention: General Counsel
9.3. Applicable law. The validity, interpretation, and performance of this Warrant Agreement and of the Warrants shall be governed in all respects by the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to conflicts of law principles that would result in the application of the substantive laws of another jurisdiction. The Company hereby agrees that any action, proceeding or claim against it arising out of or relating in any way to this Warrant Agreement shall be brought and enforced in the courts of the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, and irrevocably submits to such jurisdiction, which jurisdiction shall be exclusive. The Company hereby waives any objection to such exclusive jurisdiction and that such courts represent an inconvenience forum. Any such process or summons to be served upon the Company may be served by transmitting a copy thereof by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed to it at the address set forth in Section 9.2 hereof. Such mailing shall be deemed personal service and shall be legal and binding upon the Company in any action, proceeding or claim.
9.4. Persons Having Rights under this Warrant Agreement. Nothing in this Warrant Agreement expressed and nothing that may be implied from any of the provisions hereof is intended, or shall be construed, to confer upon, or give to, any person or corporation other than the parties hereto and the registered holders of the Warrants and, for purposes of Sections 3.3, 9.3 and 9.8, the Underwriter, any right, remedy, or claim under or by reason of this Warrant Agreement or of any covenant, condition, stipulation, promise, or agreement hereof. The Underwriters shall be deemed to be an express third-party beneficiary of this Warrant Agreement with respect to Sections 3.3, 9.3 and 9.8 hereof. All covenants, conditions, stipulations, promises, and agreements contained in this Warrant Agreement shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the parties hereto (and the Underwriters with respect to the Sections 3.3, 9.3 and 9.8 hereof) and their successors and assigns and of the registered holders of the Warrants.
9.5. Examination of the Warrant Agreement. A copy of this Warrant Agreement shall be available at all reasonable times at the office of the Warrant Agent in the city of Edgewood, State of New York, for inspection by the registered holder of any Warrant. The Warrant Agent may require any such holder to submit his Warrant for inspection by it.
9.6. Counterparts. This Warrant Agreement may be executed in any number of original or facsimile counterparts and each of such counterparts shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.
9.7. Effect of Headings. The Section headings herein are for convenience only and are not part of this Warrant Agreement and shall not affect the interpretation thereof.
9.8 Amendments. This Warrant Agreement may be amended by the parties hereto without the consent of any registered holder for the purpose of curing any ambiguity, or of curing, correcting or supplementing any defective provision contained herein or adding or changing any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under this Warrant Agreement as the parties may deem necessary or desirable and that the parties deem shall not adversely affect the interest of the registered holders. All other modifications or amendments, including any amendment to increase the Warrant Price or shorten the Exercise Period, shall require the written consent of the Company and a majority of the registered holders of the then outstanding Warrants.
9.9 Severability. This Warrant Agreement shall be deemed severable, and the invalidity or unenforceability of any term or provision hereof shall not affect the validity or enforceability of this Warrant Agreement or of any other term or provision hereof. Furthermore, in lieu of any such invalid or unenforceable term or provision, the parties hereto intend that there shall be added as a part of this Warrant Agreement a provision as similar in terms to such invalid or unenforceable provision as may be possible and be valid and enforceable.
9.10 Force Majeure. In the event either party is unable to perform its obligations under the terms of this Warrant Agreement because of acts of God, strikes, natural disasters failure of carrier or utilities, equipment or transmission failure or damage that is reasonably beyond its control, or any other cause that is reasonably beyond its control, such party shall not be liable for damages to the other for any damages resulting from such failure to perform or otherwise from such causes; provided, however that this provision does not affect the obligations of the Company to the Holders. Performance under this Warrant Agreement shall resume when the affected party or parties are able to perform substantially that party’s duties.
9.11 Severability. If any provision of this Warrant Agreement shall be held invalid, unlawful, or unenforceable, the validity, legality, and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired.
9.12 Confidentiality. Warrant Agent and the Company agree that all books, records, information and data pertaining to the business of the other party which are exchanged or received pursuant to the negotiation or the carrying out of this Warrant Agreement, including the fees for services set forth in the attached schedule, shall remain confidential and shall not be voluntarily disclosed to any third party (except the party’s attorneys, subcontractors, vendors, representatives, agents, advisors and affiliates), except with the written approval of the other party or as may be required by law or regulatory authority.
9.13 Survival. The applicable provisions of Sections 8 and 9 shall survive any termination of this Warrant Agreement.
9.14 Merger of Agreement. This Warrant Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties hereto and supersedes any prior agreement with respect to the subject matter hereof whether oral or written; provided, however, that nothing herein contained shall amend, replace or supersede any agreement between the Company and Warrant Agent to act as the Company’s transfer agent which agreement shall remain in full force and effect.
9.15 GDPR and Territorial Limitation.
9.15.1 To the extent Warrant Agent processes Personal Information that would constitute EU Personal Data as defined under Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (General Data Protection Regulation), Warrant Agent will comply with the provisions of the Warrant Agent GDPR Annex, found at xxxxx://xxx.xxxxxxxxxx.xxx/XXXX-Xxxxx by using password ICS54903.
9.15.2 The Services are intended for use in the United States. Except with respect to representations pertaining to the EU Personal Data as defined under Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (General Data Protection Regulation) in Section 9.15.1 Warrant Agent makes no representation that the Services are appropriate or available for use outside the United States, and access to the Services from territories where the Services are illegal is prohibited. Company is responsible for compliance with all local laws in connection with its use of the Services.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Warrant Agreement has been duly executed by the parties hereto as of the day and year first above written.
BIO-key International, Inc.
By:________________________________
Name:
Title:
Broadridge Corporate Issuer Solutions, Inc.
By:________________________________
Name:
Title:
