WestPark Capital, Inc.
Exhibit 1.1
WestPark Capital, Inc.
0000 Xxxxxxx Xxxx Xxxx, Xxxxx 000
Los Angeles, CA 90067
[ ] [ ], 2024
iSpecimen, Inc.
0 Xxxxx Xxxx
Woburn, MA 01801
Attention: Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Dear Xx. Xxxxxx:
Subject to the terms and conditions of this letter agreement (the “Agreement”), between WestPark Capital, Inc., as lead placement agent (“Placement Agent”), and iSpecimen, Inc., a company organized under the laws of the state of Nevada (the “Company”), the parties hereby agree the Placement Agent shall serve as the placement agent for the Company, on a “reasonable best efforts” basis, in connection with the proposed placement (the “Placement”) of (i) shares (the “Shares”) of common stock of the Company, par value, $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”) and (ii) pre-funded warrants to purchase Common Stock (the “Pre-Funded Warrants”). The Shares and Pre-Funded Warrants actually sold by the Placement Agent are referred to herein as the “Securities.” The Securities and shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of the Pre-Funded Warrants have been registered and shall be offered and sold pursuant to the Company’s registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-[ ]) (the “Registration Statement”), which was declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) on [ ], 2024. The documents executed and delivered by the Company and the Purchasers (as defined below), as applicable, in connection with the Placement, including, without limitation, a securities purchase agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) and Pre-Funded Warrant certificates, shall be collectively referred to herein as the “Transaction Documents.”
The Placement Agent may retain other brokers or dealers to act as sub-agents or selected-dealers on its behalf in connection with the Placement.
The terms of the Placement shall be mutually agreed upon by the Company and the purchasers listed in the Purchase Agreement (each, a “Purchaser” and collectively, the “Purchasers”), and nothing herein shall imply that the Placement Agent would have the power or authority to bind the Company or any Purchaser, or shall imply that the Company has an obligation to issue any Securities or complete the Placement. The Company expressly acknowledges and agrees that the Placement Agent’s obligations hereunder are on a reasonable best efforts basis only and that the execution of this Agreement does not constitute a commitment by the Placement Agent to purchase the Securities and does not ensure the successful placement of the Securities or any portion thereof or the success of the Placement Agent with respect to securing any other financing on behalf of the Company. Certain affiliates of the Placement Agent may participate in the Placement by purchasing some of the Securities. The sale of Securities to any Purchaser will be evidenced by the Purchase Agreement between the Company and such Purchaser, in a form reasonably acceptable to the Company and the Purchaser, provided, however, certain Purchasers may purchase Securities via verbal orders placed with the Placement Agent. Capitalized terms that are not otherwise defined herein have the meanings given to such terms in the Purchase Agreement. Prior to the signing of any Purchase Agreement, officers of the Company will be available to answer inquiries from prospective Purchasers.
SECTION 1. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY; COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY.
A. Representations of the Company. With respect to the Securities, each of the representations and warranties and covenants made by the Company to the Purchasers in the Purchase Agreement in connection with the Placement, is hereby incorporated herein by reference into this Agreement (as though fully restated herein) and is, as of the date of this Agreement and as of the date of the closing of the sale of the Securities hereunder (the “Closing Date”), hereby made to, and in favor of, the Placement Agent. In addition to the foregoing, the Company represents and warrants that, to its knowledge, there are no affiliations with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) member firm among the Company’s officers, directors or any holders of five percent (5.0%) or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock.
B. Covenants of the Company. The Company covenants and agrees to continue to retain (i) a firm of Public Company Accounting Oversight Board independent registered public accountants for a period of at least two (2) years after the Closing Date and (ii) a competent transfer agent with respect to the Shares for a period of two (2) years after the Closing Date.
The Company agrees that the Purchase Agreement as in effect on the date hereof may not be amended or waived without the prior written consent of the Placement Agent.
SECTION 2. REPRESENTATIONS OF THE PLACEMENT AGENT. The Placement Agent represents and warrants that it (i) is a member in good standing of FINRA, (ii) is registered with the Commission as a broker/dealer under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), (iii) is licensed as a broker/dealer under the laws of the United States of America, applicable to the offers and sales of the Securities by the Placement Agent, (iv) is and will be a corporate body validly existing under the laws of its place of incorporation, and (v) has full power and authority to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement. The Placement Agent will immediately notify the Company in writing of any change in its status with respect to subsections (i) through (v) above. The Placement Agent covenants that it will use its reasonable best efforts to conduct the Placement hereunder in compliance with the provisions of this Agreement and the requirements of applicable law.
SECTION 3. COMPENSATION. In consideration of the services to be provided for hereunder, the Company shall pay to the Placement Agent or its respective designees on the Closing Date a total cash fee equal to four percent (4.0%) of gross proceeds from the Placement of the total amount of Securities sold. The Placement Agent reserves the right to reduce any item of compensation or adjust the terms thereof as specified herein in the event that a determination shall be made by FINRA that the Placement Agent’s aggregate compensation exceeds the amount allowable under FINRA Rule 5110 or that the terms thereof require adjustment.
SECTION 4. EXPENSES. The Company agrees to pay all costs, fees and expenses incurred by the Company in connection with the performance of its obligations hereunder and in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, including, without limitation: (i) all expenses incident to the issuance, delivery and qualification of the Securities (including all printing and engraving costs); (ii) all filing fees and communication expenses associated with the review of the Placement by FINRA; (iii) all fees and expenses of the registrar and transfer agent of the Shares; (iv) all necessary issue, transfer and other stamp taxes in connection with the issuance and sale of the Securities; (v) all fees and expenses of the Company’s counsel, independent public or certified public accountants and other advisors; (vi) all costs and expenses incurred in connection with the preparation, printing, filing, shipping and distribution of the Registration Statement (including financial statements, exhibits, schedules, consents and certificates of experts), the Prospectus and all amendments and supplements thereto, and this Agreement; (vii) all filing fees, reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses incurred by the Company in connection with qualifying or registering (or obtaining exemptions from the qualification or registration of) all or any part of the Securities for offer and sale under the state securities or blue sky laws or the securities laws of any other country; (viii) the fees and expenses associated with including the Shares on the Trading Market; and (ix) all fees and expenses incurred by the Placement Agent, in connection with the Placement, other than the reasonable fees and expenses of the Placement Agent’s counsel, in an amount not to exceed $15,000, and with regard to the reasonable fees and expenses of the Placement Agent’s counsel, in an amount that shall not exceed $100,000 without the Company’s prior written consent. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any advance received by the Placement Agent will be reimbursed to the Company to the extent not actually incurred in compliance with FINRA Rule 5110(g)(4)(A). In the event that this Agreement shall not be carried out for any reason whatsoever, within the time specified herein or any extensions thereof pursuant to the terms herein, the Company shall be obligated to pay to the Placement Agent their actual and accountable out-of-pocket expenses related to the transactions contemplated herein then due and payable (including the fees and disbursements of the Placement Agent’s counsel) and upon demand the Company shall pay the full amount thereof to the Placement Agent; provided, however, that such expense payment in no way limits or impairs the indemnification and contribution provisions of this Agreement.
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SECTION 5. INDEMNIFICATION.
A. To the extent permitted by law, with respect to the Securities, the Company will indemnify the Placement Agent and its affiliates, stockholders, directors, officers, employees, members and controlling persons (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) (each such entity or person, an “Indemnified Person”) from and against all claims, actions, suits, proceedings (including those of stockholders), damages, costs and liabilities (collectively, “Claims”), and shall reimburse each Indemnified Person for all reasonable fees and expenses (including the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel) (collectively, the “Expenses”) as they are incurred by an Indemnified Person in investigating, preparing, pursuing or defending any Claim that is caused by, arises out of, or is based upon (i) any untrue statements made or any statements omitted to be made in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, or by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading (other than untrue statements or alleged untrue statements in, or omissions or alleged omissions from, information relating to an Indemnified Person furnished in writing by or on behalf of such Indemnified Person for use in the Registration Statement, Preliminary Prospectus or any Prospectus) or (ii) any other actions taken or omitted to be taken by the Company or any Indemnified Person in connection with this Agreement; provided, however, the Company will not be responsible for any Claims or Expenses of any Indemnified Person that are judicially determined to have resulted primarily from such Indemnified Person’s (x) willful misconduct, violation of law or gross negligence in connection with any of the action, inaction or the services described herein, or (y) use of any offering materials or information concerning the Company in connection with the offer or sale of the Securities in the Placement, which were not authorized for such use by the Company and which use constitutes gross negligence, violation of law or willful misconduct..
B. Promptly after receipt by the Placement Agent of notice of any claim or the commencement of any action or proceeding with respect to which the Placement Agent is entitled to indemnity hereunder, the Placement Agent will promptly notify the Company in writing of such claim or of the commencement of such action or proceeding, but failure to so notify the Company shall not relieve the Company from any obligation it may have hereunder, except and only to the extent such failure results in the forfeiture by the Company of substantial rights and defenses. If the Company so elects or is requested by the Placement Agent, the Company will assume the defense of such action or proceeding and will employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Placement Agent and will pay the fees and expenses of such counsel. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, the Placement Agent will be entitled to employ its own counsel separate from counsel for the Company and from any other party in such action if counsel for the Placement Agent reasonably determines that it would be inappropriate under the applicable rules of professional responsibility for the same counsel to represent both the Company and the Placement Agent. In such event, the reasonable fees and disbursements of no more than one such separate counsel will be paid by the Company, in addition to fees of local counsel. The Company will have the right to settle the claim or proceeding, provided that the Company will not settle any such claim, action or proceeding without the prior written consent of the Placement Agent.
C. The Company may not settle, compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment in any pending or threatened Claim, in which indemnification may be sought hereunder (whether or not any Indemnified Person is an actual or potential party thereto), without the prior written consent of the Placement Agents (which will not be unreasonably delayed or withheld) unless such settlement, compromise or consent provides for an unconditional and irrevocable release of each Indemnified Person from any and all liability arising out of such Claim.
D. The Company agrees to notify the Placement Agent promptly of the assertion against it or any other person of any claim or the commencement of any action or proceeding relating to a transaction contemplated by this Agreement.
E. If for any reason the foregoing indemnity is unavailable to the Placement Agents or insufficient to hold the Placement Agents harmless, then the Company shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by the Placement Agents as a result of such Claim or Expenses in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect (a) the relative benefits to the Company on the one hand, and the Placement Agents on the other hand, in connection with the Placement, (b) the relative fault of the parties, and (c) other equitable considerations; provided, however, that in no event shall the amount to be contributed by the Placement Agents exceed the fees actually received by the Placement Agents under this Agreement. Notwithstanding the immediately preceding sentence, to the extent the exception to indemnification contemplated by Paragraph A of this Section applies with respect to the Placement Agent, the Company shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by the Placement Agents as a result of such Claim or Expenses in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the Company, on the one hand, and the Placement Agent, on the other hand, in connection with the matters contemplated by the Agreement; provided, however, that in no event shall the amount to be contributed by Placement Agents exceed the fees actually received by Placement Agents under the Agreement. The Company agrees that for the purposes of this paragraph the relative benefits to the Company and the Placement Agents of the contemplated transaction (whether or not such transaction is consummated) shall be deemed to be in the same proportion that the aggregate cash consideration payable (or contemplated to be payable) in such transaction bears to the fees paid or payable to the Placement Agents under the Agreement.
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F. These indemnification provisions shall remain in full force and effect whether or not the transaction contemplated by this Agreement is completed and shall survive the termination of this Agreement, and shall be in addition to any liability that the Company might otherwise have to any indemnified party under this Agreement or otherwise.
SECTION 6. LOCK-UP AGREEMENTS.
A. Officer, Director, and 5% Holder Lock-Up Agreements. On the Closing Date, Placement Agent shall have received signed Lock-Up Agreements, in the form of Exhibit A annexed hereto, addressed to the Placement Agent by each of the Company’s directors, officers, and holders of five percent (5.0%) or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, as of the date of this Agreement.
B. Restriction on Sales of Capital Stock. The Company, on behalf of itself and any successor entity, agrees that, without the prior written consent of the Placement Agent, which will not be unreasonably withheld, it will not, for a period beginning on the Closing Date and ending on the date that is ninety (90) days after the Closing Date, (i) 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, lend, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of capital stock of the Company or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of capital stock of the Company; (ii) file or cause to be filed any registration statement with the Commission relating to the offering of any shares of capital stock of the Company or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of capital stock of the Company; (iii) complete any offering of debt securities of the Company, (iv) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of capital stock of the Company, whether any such transaction described in clause (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) above is to be settled by delivery of shares of capital stock of the Company or such other securities, in cash or otherwise, (v) effect or enter into an agreement to effect any issuance by the Company or any of its subsidiaries of capital stock of the Company or its subsidiaries or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of capital stock of the Company or its subsidiaries involving a Variable Rate Transaction (as defined herein) or (vi) purchase any shares of its capital stock other than repurchases at cost or without cost pursuant to the terms of the Company’s stock option and restricted stock purchase agreements. For the purposes of this Agreement, “Variable Rate Transaction” means a transaction in which the Company or its subsidiaries (i) issues or sells any debt or equity securities that are convertible into, exchangeable or exercisable for, or include the right to receive, additional shares of capital stock of the Company or its subsidiaries either (A) at a conversion price, exercise price or exchange rate or other price that is based upon, and/or varies with, the trading prices of or quotations for the shares of the Company’s capital stock at any time after the initial issuance of such debt or equity securities or (B) with a conversion, exercise or exchange price that is subject to being reset at some future date after the initial issuance of such debt or equity security or upon the occurrence of specified or contingent events directly or indirectly related to the business of the Company or the market for the Company’s capital stock or (ii) enters into, or effects a transaction under, any agreement, including, but not limited to, an equity line of credit, whereby the Company or its subsidiaries may issue securities at a future determined price.
The restrictions contained in this Section 6(B) shall not apply to (i) the Securities, (ii) the issuance of shares of capital stock of the Company in connection with any warrant, option or convertible security of the Company that is outstanding prior to the date of this Agreement, and (ii) the adoption of an equity incentive plan approved by the Company’s independent directors, and the grant of awards or equity pursuant to any such equity incentive plan or existing plan disclosed in the Registration Statement to officers, directors, employees or consultants of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, and the filing of a registration statement on Form S-8 relating thereto.
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SECTION 7. ENGAGEMENT TERM. The Placement Agent’s engagement hereunder will be until the earlier of (i) the 90th day after the date of this Agreement and (ii) the Closing Date (such date, the “Termination Date”). Either party may terminate this Agreement at any time upon ten (10) days’ written notice to the other party, effective upon receipt of such notice by the other party. Unless such termination by the Company is for cause (the Placement’s Agent material failure to provide the services contemplated in this Agreement), the Company will remain responsible for fees pursuant to Section 3 hereof with respect to the Securities if sold in the Placement. If the Company terminates the engagement hereunder, including for cause, the Company will remain responsible to reimburse expenses actually incurred and reimbursable pursuant to Section 4 hereof. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the provisions concerning the Company’s obligation to pay any fees actually earned pursuant to Section 3 hereof and any reimbursable expenses actually incurred and reimbursable pursuant to Section 4 hereof and the provisions concerning confidentiality, indemnification and contribution contained herein will survive any expiration or termination of this Agreement. If this Agreement is terminated prior to the completion of the Placement (other than, with regard to fees set forth in Section 3, termination by the Company for cause) all fees due to the Placement Agent as set forth in Section 3 and 4 shall be paid by the Company to the Placement Agent on or before the Termination Date (in the event such fees are earned or owed as of the Termination Date). The Placement Agent agrees not to use any confidential information concerning the Company provided to the Placement Agent by the Company for any purposes other than those contemplated under this Agreement.
SECTION 8. PLACEMENT AGENT INFORMATION. The Company agrees that any information or advice rendered by the Placement Agent in connection with this engagement is for the confidential use of the Company only in their evaluation of the Placement and, except as otherwise required by law, the Company will not disclose or otherwise refer to the advice or information in any manner without the Placement Agent’s prior written consent.
SECTION 9. NO FIDUCIARY RELATIONSHIP. This Agreement does not create, and shall not be construed as creating rights enforceable by any person or entity not a party hereto, except those entitled hereto by virtue of the indemnification provisions hereof. The Company acknowledges and agrees that the Placement Agent is not and shall not be construed as a fiduciary of the Company and shall have no duties or liabilities to the equity holders or the creditors of the Company or any other person by virtue of this Agreement or the retention of the Placement Agent hereunder, all of which are hereby expressly waived.
SECTION 10. CLOSING. The obligations of the Placement Agent, and the closing of the sale of the Securities hereunder are subject to the accuracy, when made and on the Closing Date, of the representations and warranties on the part of the Company contained herein and in the Purchase Agreement, to the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder and under the Purchase Agreement, and to each of the following additional terms and conditions, except as otherwise disclosed to and acknowledged and waived by the Placement Agent:
A. All corporate proceedings and other legal matters incident to the authorization, form, execution, delivery and validity of each of this Agreement, the Securities, and all other legal matters relating to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby with respect to the Securities shall be reasonably satisfactory in all material respects to the Placement Agent.
B. The Placement Agent shall not have discovered and disclosed to the Company on or prior to the Closing Date that the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement thereto contains an untrue statement of a fact which, in the reasonable opinion of counsel for the Placement Agent, is material or omits to state any fact which, in the reasonable opinion of such counsel, is material and is required to be stated therein or is necessary to make the statements therein not misleading and was not remedied prior to the Closing Date by the filing of an amendment to the Registration Statement.
C. The Placement Agent shall have received from outside counsel to the Company such counsel’s written opinion dated as of the Closing Date, including without limitation, a negative assurance letter, in each case in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Placement Agent.
D. On the date of the signing of the Purchase Agreement, the Placement Agent shall have received, and the Company shall have caused to be delivered to the Placement Agent, a letter from Wolf & Company, P.C. (the independent registered public accounting firm of the Company), addressed to the Placement Agent, dated as of the date thereof, in form and substance satisfactory to the Placement Agent. The letter shall not disclose any change in the condition (financial or other), earnings, operations, business or prospects of the Company from that set forth in the Incorporated Documents or the applicable Prospectus, which, in the Placement Agent's sole judgment, is material and adverse and that makes it, in the Placement Agent's sole judgment, impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offering of the Securities as contemplated by such Prospectus.
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E. On the Closing Date, the Placement Agent shall have received from Wolf & Company, P.C., a letter dated as of such Closing Date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Placement Agent, to the effect that they reaffirm the statements made in the letter furnished pursuant to subsection C of this Section except that the specified date referred to therein for the carrying out of procedures shall be no more than three business days prior to such Closing Date.
F. The Securities sold in the Placement and the shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of the Pre-Funded Warrants, shall have been registered under the Exchange Act. The Company shall have taken no action designed to, or likely to have the effect of, terminating the registration of the Common Stock under the Exchange Act or delisting or suspending from trading the Common Stock from the Trading Market or other applicable U.S. national exchange, nor has the Company received any information suggesting that the Commission or the Trading Market or other U.S. applicable national exchange is contemplating terminating such registration or listing, except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus.
G. No action shall have been taken and no statute, rule, regulation or order shall have been enacted, adopted or issued by any governmental agency or body which would, as of the Closing Date, prevent the issuance or sale of the Securities or materially and adversely affect or potentially and adversely affect the business or operations of the Company; and no injunction, restraining order or order of any other nature by any federal or state court of competent jurisdiction shall have been issued as of the Closing Date which would prevent the issuance or sale of the Securities or materially and adversely affect or potentially and adversely affect the business or operations of the Company.
H. The Company shall have entered into a Purchase Agreement with each of the Purchasers of the Securities and such agreements shall be in full force and effect and shall contain representations, warranties and covenants of the Company as agreed upon between the Company and the Purchasers.
I. XXXXX shall have raised no objection to the fairness and reasonableness of the terms and arrangements of this Agreement.
J. The Prospectus (in accordance with Rule 424(b)) and “free writing prospectus” (as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act), if any, shall have been duly filed with the Commission, as appropriate; no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any part thereof shall have been issued and no proceeding for that purpose shall have been initiated or threatened by the Commission; no order preventing or suspending the use of the Prospectus shall have been issued and no proceeding for that purpose shall have been initiated or threatened by the Commission; no order having the effect of ceasing or suspending the distribution of the Securities or any other securities of the Company shall have been issued by any securities commission, securities regulatory authority or stock exchange and no proceedings for that purpose shall have been instituted or shall be pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, contemplated by any securities commission, securities regulatory authority or stock exchange; and all requests for additional information on the part of the Commission shall have been complied with.
K. Subsequent to the execution and delivery of this Agreement and prior to the Closing Date, in the Placement Agent’s sole judgment after consultation with the Company, there shall not have occurred any material adverse effect or development involving a prospective material adverse change in the condition or the business activities, financial or otherwise, of the Company from the latest dates as of which such condition is set forth in the Registration Statement and Prospectus.
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L. Officers’ Certificate. The Placement Agent shall have received on the Closing Date a certificate of the Company, dated as of such Closing Date, signed by the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the Company, to the effect that, and the Placement Agent shall be satisfied that, the signers of such certificate have reviewed the Registration Statement, the documents incorporated by reference therein (the “Incorporated Documents”), any prospectus supplement, and this Agreement and to the further effect that:
(i) The representations and warranties of the Company in this Agreement are true and correct, as if made on and as of such Closing Date, and the Company has complied with all the agreements and satisfied all the conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied at or prior to such Closing Date;
(ii) No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the use of the Prospectus or any prospectus supplement has been issued and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or are pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened under the Securities Act; no order having the effect of ceasing or suspending the distribution of the Securities or any other securities of the Company has been issued by any securities commission, securities regulatory authority or stock exchange in the United States and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or are pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, contemplated by any securities commission, securities regulatory authority or stock exchange in the United States;
(iii) When the Registration Statement became effective, at the time of sale, and at all times subsequent thereto up to the delivery of such certificate, the Registration Statement and the Incorporated Documents, if any, when such documents became effective or were filed with the Commission, the Prospectus, and any prospectus supplement, contained all material information required to be included therein by the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, as the case may be, and in all material respects conformed to the requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, as the case may be, and the Registration Statement and the Incorporated Documents, if any, and the Prospectus, and any prospectus supplement, did not and do not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading (provided, however, that the preceding representations and warranties contained in this paragraph (iii) shall not apply to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by the Placement Agent expressly for use therein) and, since the effective date of the Registration Statement, there has occurred no event required by the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder to be set forth in the Incorporated Documents which has not been so set forth; and
(iv) Subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the Incorporated Documents, the Prospectus, and any prospectus supplement, there has not been: (a) any Material Adverse Effect; (b) any transaction that is material to the Company and the subsidiaries taken as a whole, except transactions entered into in the ordinary course of business; (c) any obligation, direct or contingent, that is material to the Company and the subsidiaries taken as a whole, incurred by the Company or any subsidiary, except obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business; (d) any material change in the capital stock (except changes thereto resulting from the exercise of outstanding stock options or warrants) or outstanding indebtedness of the Company or any subsidiary; (e) any dividend or distribution of any kind declared, paid or made on the capital stock of the Company; or (f) any loss or damage (whether or not insured) to the property of the Company or any subsidiary which has been sustained or will have been sustained which has a Material Adverse Effect.
M. On or before the Closing Date, the Placement Agent and counsel for the Placement Agent shall have received such information and documents as they may reasonably require for the purposes of enabling them to pass upon the issuance and sale of the Securities as contemplated herein, or in order to evidence the accuracy of any of the representations and warranties, or the satisfaction of any of the conditions or agreements, herein contained.
If any of the conditions specified in this Section 10 shall not have been fulfilled when and as required by this Agreement, all obligations of the Placement Agent hereunder may be cancelled by the Placement Agent at, or at any time prior to, the Closing Date. Notice of such cancellation shall be given to the Company in writing or orally. Any such oral notice shall be confirmed promptly thereafter in writing.
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SECTION 11. GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York applicable to agreements made and to be performed entirely in such State. This Agreement may not be assigned by either party without the prior written consent of the other party. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto, and their respective successors and permitted assigns. Any right to trial by jury with respect to any dispute arising under this Agreement or any transaction or conduct in connection herewith is waived. Any dispute arising under this Agreement may be brought into the courts of the State of New York or of the United States of America, in each case sitting in the County and State of New York and, by execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Company hereby accepts for itself and in respect of its property, generally and unconditionally, the jurisdiction of such courts. Each party hereto hereby irrevocably waives personal service of process and consents to process being served in any such suit, action or proceeding by delivering a copy thereof via overnight delivery (with evidence of delivery) to such party at the address in effect for notices to it under this Agreement and agrees that such service shall constitute good and sufficient service of process and notice thereof. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit in any way any right to serve process in any manner permitted by law. If either party shall commence an action or proceeding to enforce any provisions of this Agreement, then the prevailing party in such action or proceeding shall be reimbursed by the other party for its attorney’s fees and other costs and expenses incurred with the investigation, preparation and prosecution of such action or proceeding.
SECTION 12. ENTIRE AGREEMENT/MISCELLANEOUS. This Agreement embodies the entire agreement and understanding between the parties hereto, and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, relating to the subject matter hereof. If any provision of this Agreement is determined to be invalid or unenforceable in any respect, such determination will not affect such provision in any other respect or any other provision of this Agreement, which will remain in full force and effect. This Agreement may not be amended or otherwise modified or waived except by an instrument in writing signed by the Placement Agent and the Company. The representations, warranties, agreements and covenants contained herein shall survive the Closing Date of the Placement and delivery of the Securities. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, all of which when taken together shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when counterparts have been signed by each party and delivered to the other party, it being understood that both parties need not sign the same counterpart. In the event that any signature is delivered by facsimile transmission or a .pdf format file, such signature shall create a valid and binding obligation of the party executing (or on whose behalf such signature is executed) with the same force and effect as if such facsimile or .pdf signature page were an original thereof.
SECTION 13. 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 sent to the email address specified on the signature pages attached hereto prior to 5:30 p.m. (New York City time) on a business day, (b) the next business day after the date of transmission, if such notice or communication is sent to the email address on the signature pages attached hereto on a day that is not a business day or later than 5:30 p.m. (New York City time) on any business day, (c) the third business day following the date of mailing, if sent by U.S. internationally recognized air courier service, or (d) upon actual receipt by the party to whom such notice is required to be given. The address for such notices and communications shall be as set forth on the signature pages hereto.
SECTION 14. Press Announcements. The Company agrees that the Placement Agent shall, on and after the Closing Date, have the right to reference the Placement and the Placement Agent’s role in connection therewith in the Placement Agent’s marketing materials and on its website and to place advertisements in financial and other newspapers and journals, in each case at its own expense.
SECTION 15. TAIL FINANCING. The Placement Agent shall be entitled to compensation in the form of the cash fees calculated in the manner described in Section 3 hereto with respect to any public or private offering or other financing or capital-raising transaction of any kind (each, a "Tail Financing") for a period of twelve months from the Closing Date, to the extent that such financing or capital is provided to the Company by an investor whom the Placement Agent introduced to the Company and conducted discussions with respect to the Placement or with respect to that certain loan transaction that closed on September 25, 2024. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the right to receive a Tail Financing fee shall be subject to FINRA Rule 5110(g)(5)(B), and the Company shall have a right of termination for cause in connection with this Agreement. The Company’s exercise of its right to terminate for cause will eliminate any obligations with respect to the payment of any termination fee or provision of any tail financing fee, including the Tail Financing.
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Please confirm that the foregoing correctly sets forth our agreement by signing and returning to the Placement Agent the enclosed copy of this Agreement.
Very truly yours,
| WESTPARK CAPITAL, INC. | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
Address for notice:
0000 Xxxxxxx Xxxx Xxxx, Xxxxx 000
Los Angeles, CA 90067
Attention:
Email:
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Lucosky Xxxxxxxx LLP
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxx, 0xx Xxxxx
Woodbridge, NJ 08830
Attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
E-mail: xxxxxxxx@xxxxxx.xxx
[Signature Page to Placement Agent Agreement]
Accepted and agreed to as of the date first written above:
| ISPECIMEN, INC. | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
Address for notice:
0 Xxxxx Xxxx
Woburn, MA 01801
Attention:
E-mail:
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Xxxxxxxxx Xxxx Xxxxxxx Carmel LLP
0000 Xxxxxx xx xxx Xxxxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx
Attention: Xxxx X. Xxxxxx, Esq.
Email: xxxxxxx@xxxx.xxx
[Signature Page to Placement Agent Agreement]
EXHIBIT A
Form of Lock-Up Agreement
EXHIBIT A
FORM OF LOCK-UP AGREEMENT
_____, 2024
WestPark Capital, Inc.
0000 Xxxxxxx Xxxx Xxxx, Xxxxx 000
Los Angeles, CA 90067
Ladies and Gentlemen:
The undersigned understands WestPark Capital, Inc. (the “Placement Agent”) proposes to enter into a placement agency agreement (the “Placement Agency Agreement”) with iSpecimen Inc., a company incorporated under the law of the State of Delaware (the “Company”), providing for the public offering (the “Public Offering”) of [●] shares of common stock (the “Common Stock”), par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company (each, a “Closing Share”) and/or pre-funded warrants to purchase shares of Common Stock (the “Pre-Funded Warrants,” together with the Common Stock, the “Securities”).
To induce the Placement Agent to continue its efforts in connection with the Public Offering, the undersigned hereby agrees that, without the prior written consent of the Placement Agent, the undersigned will not, during the period commencing on the date hereof and ending ninety (90) days after the date of the closing of the sale of the Securities under the Placement Agency Agreement (the “Lock-Up Period”), (1) offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, grant, lend, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of Common Stock, whether now owned or hereafter acquired by the undersigned or with respect to which the undersigned has or hereafter acquires the power of disposition (collectively, the “Lock-Up Securities”); (2) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the Lock-Up Securities, whether any such transaction described in clause (1) or (2) above is to be settled by delivery of Lock-Up Securities, in cash or otherwise; (3) make any demand for or exercise any right with respect to the registration of any Lock-Up Securities; or (4) publicly disclose the intention to make any offer, sale, pledge or disposition, or to enter into any transaction, swap, hedge or other arrangement relating to any Lock-Up Securities.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, and subject to the conditions below, the undersigned may transfer Lock-Up Securities without the prior written consent of the Placement Agent in connection with
| (a) | transactions relating to Lock-Up Securities acquired in open market transactions after the completion of the Public Offering; provided that no filing under Section 13 or Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or other public announcement shall be required or shall be voluntarily made in connection with subsequent sales of Lock-Up Securities acquired in such open market transactions; | |
| (b) | transfers of Lock-Up Securities as a bona fide gift, by will or intestacy or to a family member or trust for the benefit of the undersigned (for purposes of this lock-up agreement, “family member” means any relationship by blood, marriage or adoption, not more remote than first cousin); | |
| (c) | transfers of Lock-Up Securities to a charity or educational institution; | |
| (d) | if the undersigned is a corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other business entity, (i) any transfers of Lock-Up Securities to another corporation, partnership or other business entity that controls, is controlled by or is under common control with the undersigned or (ii) distributions of Lock-Up Securities to members, partners, stockholders, subsidiaries or affiliates (as defined in Rule 405 promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended) of the undersigned; |
| (e) | if the undersigned is a trust, to a trustee or beneficiary of the trust; provided that in the case of any transfer pursuant to the foregoing clauses (b), (c) (d) or (e), (i) any such transfer shall not involve a disposition for value, (ii) each transferee shall sign and deliver to the Placement Agent a lock-up agreement substantially in the form of this agreement and (iii) no filing under Section 13 or Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act or other public announcement shall be required or shall be voluntarily made during the Lock-Up Period; |
| (f) | the receipt by the undersigned from the Company of shares of Common Stock upon the vesting of restricted stock awards or stock units or upon the exercise of options to purchase the Company’s shares of Common Stock issued under an equity incentive plan of the Company or an employment arrangement described in the Registration Statement (as defined in the Placement Agency Agreement) (the “Plan Shares”) or the transfer or withholding of shares of Common Stock or any securities convertible into shares of Common Stock to the Company upon a vesting event of the Company’s securities or upon the exercise of options to purchase the Company’s securities, in each case on a “cashless” or “net exercise” basis or to cover tax obligations of the undersigned in connection with such vesting or exercise, provided that if the undersigned is required to file a report under Section 13 or Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act reporting a reduction in beneficial ownership of shares of Common Stock during the Lock-Up Period, the undersigned shall include a statement in such schedule or report to the effect that the purpose of such transfer was to cover tax withholding obligations of the undersigned in connection with such vesting or exercise and, provided further, that the Plan Shares shall be subject to the terms of this agreement; | |
| (g) | the transfer of Lock-Up Securities pursuant to agreements described in the Registration Statement under which the Company has the option to repurchase such securities or a right of first refusal with respect to the transfer of such securities, provided that if the undersigned is required to file a report under Section 13 or Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act reporting a reduction in beneficial ownership of shares of Common Stock during the Lock-Up Period, the undersigned shall include a statement in such schedule or report describing the purpose of the transaction; | |
| (h) | the establishment of a trading plan pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act for the transfer of Lock-Up Securities, provided that (i) such plan does not provide for the transfer of Lock-Up Securities during the Lock-Up Period and (ii) to the extent a public announcement or filing under the Exchange Act, if any, is required of or voluntarily made by or on behalf of the undersigned or the Company regarding the establishment of such plan, such public announcement or filing shall include a statement to the effect that no transfer of Lock-Up Securities may be made under such plan during the Lock-Up Period; | |
| (i) | the transfer of Lock-Up Securities that occurs by operation of law, such as pursuant to a qualified domestic order or in connection with a divorce settlement, provided that the transferee agrees to sign and deliver an agreement substantially in the form of this agreement for the balance of the Lock-Up Period, and provided further, that any filing under Section 13 or Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act that is required to be made during the Lock-Up Period as a result of such transfer shall include a statement that such transfer has occurred by operation of law; and | |
| (j) | the transfer of Lock-Up Securities pursuant to a bona fide third party tender offer, merger, consolidation or other similar transaction made to all holders of shares of Common Stock involving a change of control (as defined below) of the Company after the closing of the Public Offering and approved by the Company’s board of directors; provided that in the event that the tender offer, merger, consolidation or other such transaction is not completed, the Lock-Up Securities owned by the undersigned shall remain subject to the restrictions contained in this agreement. “Change of control” means the consummation of any bona fide third party tender offer, merger, amalgamation, consolidation or other similar transaction the result of which is that any “person” or “group” of persons (as defined in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) becomes the beneficial owner (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 of the Exchange Act) of a majority of total voting power of the voting stock of the Company. |
The undersigned also agrees and consents to the entry of stop transfer instructions with the Company’s transfer agent and registrar against the transfer of the undersigned’s Lock-Up Securities except in compliance with this lock-up agreement.
If the undersigned is an officer or director of the Company, (i) the undersigned agrees that the foregoing restrictions shall be equally applicable to any issuer-directed or “friends and family” securities that the undersigned may purchase in the Public Offering; (ii) the Placement Agent in the Placement Agency Agreement has agreed that, at least three (3) business days before the effective date of any release or waiver of the foregoing restrictions in connection with a transfer of Lock-Up Securities, the Placement Agent will notify the Company of the impending release or waiver; and (iii) the Company has agreed in the Placement Agency Agreement to announce the impending release or waiver by press release through a major news service at least two (2) business days before the effective date of the release or waiver. Any release or waiver granted by the Placement Agent hereunder to any such officer or director shall only be effective two (2) business days after the publication date of such press release. The provisions of this paragraph will not apply if (a) the release or waiver is effected solely to permit a transfer of Lock-Up Securities not for consideration and (b) the transferee has agreed in writing to be bound by the same terms described in this lock-up agreement to the extent and for the duration that such terms remain in effect at the time of such transfer.
The undersigned understands that the Company and the Placement Agent are relying upon this lock-up agreement in proceeding toward consummation of the Public Offering. The undersigned further understands that this agreement is irrevocable and shall be binding upon the undersigned’s heirs, legal representatives, successors and assigns.
The undersigned understands that, if the Placement Agency Agreement is not executed by [●], 2024 or if the Placement Agency Agreement (other than the provisions thereof which survive termination) shall terminate or be terminated prior to payment for and delivery of the shares of Common Stock to be sold thereunder, then this lock-up agreement shall be void and of no further force or effect.
| Very truly yours, | |
| (Name - Please Print) | |
| (Signature) | |
| (Name of Signatory, in the case of entities - Please Print) | |
| (Title of Signatory, in the case of entities - Please Print) |
| Address: | ||
