SOUNDHOUND AI, INC. $250,000,000 Common Stock ($ 0.0001 par value) Equity Distribution Agreement

Exhibit 10.1

 

SOUNDHOUND AI, INC.

 

$250,000,000
Common Stock
($ 0.0001 par value)

 

Equity Distribution Agreement

 

January 27, 2025

 

Cantor ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co.

Guggenheim Securities, LLC

▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. Inc.

Wedbush Securities Inc.

Ladenburg ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. Inc.

Northland Securities, Inc.

 

c/o Cantor ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co.

▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇

New York, NY 10022

 

c/o Guggenheim Securities, LLC

▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇

New York, New York 10017

 

c/o Oppenheimer & Co. Inc.

▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇

New York, NY 10004

 

c/o Wedbush Securities Inc.

▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇

Los Angeles, California 90017

 

c/o Ladenburg ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. Inc.

▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇

New York, NY 10019

 

c/o Northland Securities, Inc.

▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇

Minneapolis MN 55402

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

SoundHound AI, Inc., a corporation organized under the laws of Delaware (the “Company”), confirms its agreement (this “Agreement”) with Cantor ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co., Guggenheim Securities, LLC, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. Inc., Wedbush Securities Inc., Ladenburg ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. Inc. and Northland Securities, Inc., (each, a “Manager,” and, collectively, the “Managers”) as follows:

 

1. Description of Shares. The Company proposes to issue and sell through or to the Managers, as sales agents and/or principals, shares of the Company’s Class A common stock, $0.0001 par value (“Common Stock”), having an aggregate gross sales price of up to $250,000,000 (the “Shares”), from time to time during the term of this Agreement and on the terms set forth in Section 3 of this Agreement. For purposes of selling the Shares through the Managers, the Company hereby appoints the Managers as exclusive agents of the Company for the purpose of soliciting purchases of the Shares from the Company pursuant to this Agreement and the Managers agree to use their commercially reasonable efforts to solicit purchases of the Shares on the terms and subject to the conditions stated herein. The Company agrees that whenever it determines to sell the Shares directly to any Manager as principal, it will enter into a separate agreement (each, a “Terms Agreement”) in substantially the form of Annex I hereto, relating to such sale in accordance with Section 3 of this Agreement. Certain terms used herein are defined in Section 19 hereof.

 

2. Representations and Warranties. The Company represents and warrants to, and agrees with, each Manager at the Execution Time and on each such time the following representations and warranties are repeated or deemed to be made pursuant to this Agreement, as set forth below.

 

 

(a) The Company meets the requirements for use of Form S-3 under the Securities Act and has prepared and filed or will file with the Commission a registration statement on Form S-3, including a related Base Prospectus, for registration under the Securities Act of the offering and sale of the Shares (the “Registration Statement”). Such Registration Statement, including any amendments thereto and any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement filed prior to the Execution Time or prior to any such time this representation is repeated or deemed to be made, will have become effective. The Company will file with the Commission the Prospectus Supplement relating to the Shares in accordance with Rule 424(b). As filed, the Prospectus will contain all information required by the Securities Act and the rules thereunder, and shall be in all substantive respects in the form furnished to the Managers prior to the Execution Time or prior to any such time this representation is repeated or deemed to be made. The Registration Statement, at the Execution Time, each such time this representation is repeated or deemed to be made, and at all times during which a prospectus is required by the Securities Act to be delivered (whether physically or through compliance with Rule 172 or any similar rule) in connection with any offer or sale of Shares, meets the requirements set forth in Rule 415(a)(1)(x). The initial Effective Date of the Registration Statement was not earlier than the date three years before the Execution Time. Any reference herein to the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement, any Interim Prospectus Supplement or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 which were filed under the Exchange Act on or before the Effective Date of the Registration Statement or the issue date of the Base Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement, any Interim Prospectus Supplement or the Prospectus, as the case may be; and any reference herein to the terms “amend,” “amendment” or “supplement” with respect to the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement, any Interim Prospectus Supplement or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include all documents subsequently filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to the Exchange Act that are deemed to be incorporated therein by reference (the “Incorporated Documents”).

 

(b) To the extent that the Registration Statement is not available for the sales of the Shares as contemplated by this Agreement or the Company is unable to make the representations set forth in Section 2(e) at any time when such representations are required, the Company shall file a new registration statement with respect to any additional shares of Common Stock necessary to complete such sales of the Shares and shall cause such registration statement to become effective as promptly as practicable. After the effectiveness of any such registration statement, all references to “Registration Statement” included in this Agreement shall be deemed to include such new registration statement, including all documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3, and all references to “Base Prospectus” included in this Agreement shall be deemed to include the final form of prospectus, including all documents incorporated therein by reference, included in any such registration statement at the time such registration statement became effective.

 

 

(c) On each Effective Date, at the Execution Time, at each Applicable Time, at each Settlement Date and at all times during which a prospectus is required by the Securities Act to be delivered (whether physically or through compliance with Rule 172 or any similar rule) in connection with any offer or sale of Shares, the Registration Statement complied and will comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and the respective rules thereunder and did not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading; and on the date of any filing pursuant to Rule 424(b), at the Execution Time, at each Applicable Time, on each Settlement Date and at all times during which a prospectus is required by the Securities Act to be delivered (whether physically or through compliance with Rule 172 or any similar rule) in connection with any offer or sale of Shares, the Prospectus (together with any supplement thereto) complied and will comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and the respective rules thereunder and did not and will not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, that the Company makes no representations or warranties as to the information contained in or omitted from the Registration Statement or the Prospectus (or any supplement thereto) in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by the Managers specifically for inclusion in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus (or any supplement thereto).

 

(d) At the Execution Time, at each Applicable Time and at each Settlement Date, the Disclosure Package does not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The preceding sentence does not apply to statements in or omissions from the Disclosure Package based upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by the Manager specifically for use therein.

 

(e) No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement will be in effect, and no proceedings for such purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the Securities Act will be pending before or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened by the Commission.

 

(f) The Common Stock is an “actively-traded security” exempted from the requirements of Rule 101 of Regulation M under the Exchange Act by subsection (c)(1) of such rule.

 

(g) The Company is not a party to any other sales agency agreements or other similar arrangements with any agent or any other representative in respect of at the market offerings of the Shares in accordance with Rule 415(a)(4) of the Securities Act.

 

(h) The Company has not taken and will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that might be reasonably expected to cause or result in stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Shares.

 

 

(i) There is no broker, finder or other party that is entitled to receive from the Company any brokerage or finder’s fee or other fee or commission as a result of any transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except as may otherwise exist with respect to the Managers pursuant to this Agreement.

 

(j) The interactive data in the eXtensible Business Reporting Language (“XBRL”) included as an exhibit to the Registration Statement fairly presents the information called for in all material respects and has been prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules and guidelines applicable thereto.

 

(k) Each of the Company and its subsidiaries has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction in which it is chartered or organized with full corporate power and authority to own or lease, as the case may be, and to operate its properties and conduct its business as described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, and is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation and is in good standing under the laws of each jurisdiction which requires such qualification. Each of the Company and its subsidiaries owns or leases all such properties as are necessary to the conduct of its operations as presently conducted.

 

(l) All the outstanding shares of capital stock of each subsidiary have been duly and validly authorized and issued and are fully paid and nonassessable, and, except as otherwise set forth in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, all outstanding shares of capital stock of the subsidiaries are owned by the Company either directly or through wholly owned subsidiaries free and clear of any perfected security interest or any other security interests, claims, liens or encumbrances.

 

(m) Any statutes, regulations, contracts or other documents that are required to be described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement have been so described or filed.

 

(n) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.

 

(o) The Company is not and, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Shares and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, will not be an “investment company” as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

(p) No consent, approval, authorization, filing with or order of any court or governmental agency or body is required in connection with the transactions contemplated herein, except such as have been obtained under the Securities Act and such as may be required under the blue sky laws of any jurisdiction, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) or Nasdaq Stock Market (“Nasdaq”) in connection with in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Shares by the Managers in the manner contemplated herein and in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

 

 

(q) Neither the Company nor any subsidiary is in violation or default of (i) any provision of its charter or bylaws, (ii) the terms of any indenture, contract, lease, mortgage, deed of trust, note agreement, loan agreement or other agreement, obligation, condition, covenant or instrument to which it is a party or bound or to which its property is subject, or (iii) any statute, law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree of any court, regulatory body, administrative agency, governmental body, arbitrator or other authority having jurisdiction over the Company or such subsidiary or any of its properties, as applicable, except, in the case of each of clauses (ii) and (iii) above, for any such violation or default that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect (as defined below).

 

(r) Neither the issue and sale of the Shares nor the consummation of any other of the transactions herein contemplated nor the fulfillment of the terms hereof will conflict with, result in a breach or violation of, or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries pursuant to, (i) the charter or by-laws of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, (ii) the terms of any indenture, contract, lease, mortgage, deed of trust, note agreement, loan agreement or other agreement, obligation, condition, covenant or instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or bound or to which its or their property is subject, or (iii) any statute, law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree applicable to the Company or any of its subsidiaries of any court, regulatory body, administrative agency, governmental body, arbitrator or other authority having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of its or their properties, except, in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii), for such conflicts, breach, violations, liens, charges and encumbrances as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect or that have been waived.

 

(s) As of the Execution Time, no holders of securities of the Company have rights to the registration of such securities under the Registration Statement.

 

(t) The consolidated historical financial statements and schedules of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries included or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus and the Registration Statement present fairly the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Company as of the dates and for the periods indicated, comply as to form with the applicable accounting requirements of the Securities Act and have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”) applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved (except as otherwise noted therein). The consolidated historical financial statements and schedules of ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇ (“▇▇▇▇▇▇”) included or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus and the Registration Statement present fairly the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of ▇▇▇▇▇▇ as of the dates and for the periods indicated, comply as to form with the applicable accounting requirements of the Securities Act and have been prepared in conformity with U.S. GAAP applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved (except as otherwise noted therein). The pro forma financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus and the Registration Statement include assumptions that provide a reasonable basis for presenting the significant effects directly attributable to the transactions and events described therein, the related pro forma adjustments give appropriate effect to those assumptions, and the pro forma adjustments reflect the proper application of those adjustments to the historical financial statement amounts in the pro forma financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus and the Registration Statement. The pro forma financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus and the Registration Statement comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable requirements of Regulation S-X under the Securities Act and the pro forma adjustments have been properly applied to the historical amounts in the compilation of those statements.

 

 

(u) No action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries or its or their property is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened that (i) could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the performance of this Agreement or the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated hereby or (ii) could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the condition (financial or otherwise), prospects, earnings, business or properties of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business (each of (i) and (ii), a “Material Adverse Effect”), except as set forth in or contemplated in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (exclusive of any supplement thereto).

 

(v) Each of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP and ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LLP, who have certified certain financial statements of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries and delivered their report with respect to the audited consolidated financial statements and schedules included in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, are independent public accountants with respect to the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act and the applicable published rules and regulations thereunder.

 

(w) Ernst & Young LLP, who has certified certain financial statements of ▇▇▇▇▇▇ and delivered its report with respect to the audited consolidated financial statements and schedules included in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, was, as of October 22, 2024 and during the period covered by the financial statements on which it reported, an independent public accountant with respect to ▇▇▇▇▇▇ within the meaning of the Securities Act and the applicable published rules and regulations thereunder.

 

(x) The Company has filed all tax returns that are required to be filed or has requested extensions thereof (except in any case in which the failure so to file would not have a Material Adverse Effect, except as set forth in or contemplated in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (exclusive of any supplement thereto)) and has paid all taxes required to be paid by it and any other assessment, fine or penalty levied against it, to the extent that any of the foregoing is due and payable, except for any such assessment, fine or penalty that is currently being contested in good faith or as would not have a Material Adverse Effect, except as set forth in or contemplated in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (exclusive of any supplement thereto).

 

 

(y) No labor problem or dispute with the employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries exists or, to the knowledge of the Company, is threatened or imminent, and the Company is not aware of any existing or imminent labor disturbance by the employees of any of its or its subsidiaries’ principal suppliers, contractors or customers, that could have a Material Adverse Effect, except as set forth in or contemplated in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (exclusive of any supplement thereto).

 

(z) The Company and each of its subsidiaries are insured by insurers of recognized financial responsibility against such losses and risks and in such amounts as are prudent and customary in the businesses in which they are engaged; all policies of insurance insuring the Company or any of its subsidiaries or their respective businesses, assets, employees, officers and directors are in full force and effect; the Company and its subsidiaries are in compliance with the terms of such policies and instruments in all material respects; and there are no claims by the Company or any of its subsidiaries under any such policy or instrument as to which any insurance company is denying liability or defending under a reservation of rights clause; neither the Company nor any such subsidiary has been refused any insurance coverage sought or applied for; and neither the Company nor any such subsidiary has any reason to believe that it will not be able to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business at a cost that would not have a Material Adverse Effect, except as set forth in or contemplated in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (exclusive of any supplement thereto).

 

(aa) No subsidiary of the Company is currently prohibited, directly or indirectly, from paying any dividends to the Company, from making any other distribution on such subsidiary’s capital stock, from repaying to the Company any loans or advances to such subsidiary from the Company or from transferring any of such subsidiary’s property or assets to the Company or any other subsidiary of the Company, except as described in or contemplated by the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

 

(bb) The Company and its subsidiaries possess all licenses, certificates, permits and other authorizations issued by all applicable authorities necessary to conduct their respective businesses except for any failure to obtain such licenses, certificates, permits or authorizations would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect or that have been waived, and neither the Company nor any such subsidiary has received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such certificate, authorization or permit which, singly or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would have a Material Adverse Effect, except as set forth in or contemplated in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (exclusive of any supplement thereto).

 

 

(cc) The Company and each of its subsidiaries maintain a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles and to maintain asset accountability; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences; and (v) the interactive data in eXtensible Business Reporting Language included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus is in compliance with the Commission’s published rules, regulations and guidelines applicable thereto. Except as disclosed in the Incorporated Documents, the Company and its subsidiaries’ internal controls over financial reporting are effective and the Company and its subsidiaries are not aware of any material weakness in their internal controls over financial reporting.

 

(dd) The Company and its subsidiaries maintain “disclosure controls and procedures” (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act) that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms, including controls and procedures designed to ensure that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. The Company’s certifying officers have evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures as required by Rule 13a-15 of the Exchange Act and, except as described in the Incorporated Documents, such disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the Company’s most recently completed fiscal quarter.

 

(ee) The Company has not taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that would constitute or that might reasonably be expected to cause or result in, under the Exchange Act or otherwise, stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Shares.

 

(ff) The Company and its subsidiaries are (i) in compliance with any and all applicable foreign, federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to the protection of human health and safety, the environment or hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants (“Environmental Laws”), (ii) have received and are in compliance with all permits, licenses or other approvals required of them under applicable Environmental Laws to conduct their respective businesses and (iii) have not received notice of any actual or potential liability under any environmental law, except, in the case of any of clauses (i), (ii) or (iii) above, where such non-compliance with Environmental Laws, failure to receive required permits, licenses or other approvals, or liability would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect, except as set forth in or contemplated in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (exclusive of any supplement thereto). Except as set forth in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, to the knowledge of the Company, neither the Company nor any of the subsidiaries has been named as a “potentially responsible party” under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, as amended.

 

 

(gg) To the Company’s knowledge, none of the following events has occurred or exists: (i) a failure to fulfill the obligations, if any, under the minimum funding standards of Section 302 of the United States Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), and the regulations and published interpretations thereunder with respect to a Plan, determined without regard to any waiver of such obligations or extension of any amortization period; (ii) an audit or investigation by the Internal Revenue Service, the U.S. Department of Labor, the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or any other federal or state governmental agency or any foreign regulatory agency with respect to the employment or compensation of employees by any of the Company or any of its subsidiaries that could have a Material Adverse Effect; (iii) any breach of any contractual obligation, or any violation of law or applicable qualification standards, with respect to the employment or compensation of employees by the Company or any of its subsidiaries that could have a Material Adverse Effect. To the Company’s knowledge, none of the following events has occurred or is reasonably likely to occur: (i) a material increase in the aggregate amount of contributions required to be made to all Plans in the current fiscal year of the Company and its subsidiaries compared to the amount of such contributions made in the most recently completed fiscal year of the Company and its subsidiaries; (ii) a material increase in the “accumulated post-retirement benefit obligations” (within the meaning of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards 106) of the Company and its subsidiaries compared to the amount of such obligations in the most recently completed fiscal year of the Company and its subsidiaries; (iii) any event or condition giving rise to a liability under Title IV of ERISA that could have a Material Adverse Effect; or (iv) the filing of a claim by one or more employees or former employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries related to their employment that could have a Material Adverse Effect. For purposes of this paragraph, the term “Plan” means a plan (within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA) subject to Title IV of ERISA with respect to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries may have any liability.

 

(hh) There is and has been no failure on the part of the Company and any of the Company’s directors or officers, in their capacities as such, to comply with any provision of the ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇▇ Act of 2002 and the rules and regulations promulgated in connection therewith (the “▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇▇ Act”), including Section 402 relating to loans and Sections 302 and 906 relating to certifications.

 

(ii) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee, affiliate or other person acting on behalf of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is aware of or has taken any action, directly or indirectly, that could result in a violation or a sanction for violation by such persons of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, or similar law of any other relevant jurisdiction, or the rules or regulations thereunder; and the Company and its subsidiaries have instituted and maintain policies and procedures to ensure compliance therewith. No part of the proceeds of the offering will be used, directly or indirectly, in violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, or similar law of any other relevant jurisdiction, or the rules or regulations thereunder.

 

(jj) The operations of the Company and its subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements and the money laundering statutes and the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency (collectively, the “Money Laundering Laws”) and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened.

 

 

(kk) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee or affiliate of the Company or any of its subsidiaries (i) is, or is controlled or 50% or more owned in the aggregate by or is acting on behalf of, one or more individuals or entities that are currently the subject of any sanctions administered or enforced by the United States (including any administered or enforced by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the U.S. Department of State or the Bureau of Industry and Security of the U.S. Department of Commerce), the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, a member state of the European Union, His Majesty’s Treasury of the United Kingdom, or other relevant sanctions authority (collectively, “Sanctions” and such persons, “Sanctioned Persons” and each such person, a “Sanctioned Person”), (ii) is located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is, or whose government is, the subject of Sanctions that broadly prohibit dealings with that country or territory (collectively, “Sanctioned Countries” and each, a “Sanctioned Country”) or (iii) will, directly or indirectly, use the proceeds of this offering, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other individual or entity in any manner that would result in a violation of any Sanctions by, or could result in the imposition of Sanctions against, any individual or entity (including any individual or entity participating in the offering, whether as underwriter, advisor, investor or otherwise).

 

(ll) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has engaged in any dealings or transactions with or for the benefit of a Sanctioned Person, or with or in a Sanctioned Country, in the preceding 3 years, nor does the Company or any of its subsidiaries have any plans to engage in dealings or transactions with or for the benefit of a Sanctioned Person, or with or in a Sanctioned Country.

 

(mm) As of the Execution Time, the subsidiaries listed on Annex II attached hereto are the only significant subsidiaries of the Company as defined by Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X (each, a “Subsidiary” and together, the “Subsidiaries”).

 

(nn) Except as described in the Registration Statement, Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, (i) the Company and its subsidiaries own or have a valid license to all patents, inventions, copyrights, know how (including trade secrets and other unpatented and/or unpatentable proprietary or confidential information, systems or procedures), trademarks, service marks, trade names, domain names and other intellectual property, including any and all registrations, applications for registration, and goodwill associated with any of the foregoing (collectively, “Intellectual Property Rights”) currently employed by them in connection with the business as now operated, or as proposed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus to be operated, by them, except where the failure to own, possess, license, have the right to use any of the foregoing would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; (ii) the Intellectual Property Rights owned by the Company and its subsidiaries and, to the Company’s knowledge, the Intellectual Property Rights exclusively licensed to the Company and its subsidiaries, in each case, which are material to the conduct of the business of the Company and its subsidiaries as currently conducted, are valid, subsisting and enforceable, and there is no pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened action, suit, proceeding or claim by others challenging the validity, scope or enforceability of any such Intellectual Property Rights; (iii) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received any notice alleging any infringement, misappropriation or other violation of Intellectual Property Rights which, individually or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would have a Material Adverse Effect; (iv) all Intellectual Property Rights owned or purported to be owned by the Company or its subsidiaries is owned solely by the Company or its subsidiaries and is owned free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, defects and other restrictions, other than as disclosed in the Prospectus; (v) to the Company’s knowledge, no third party is infringing, misappropriating or otherwise violating, or has infringed, misappropriated or otherwise violated, any Intellectual Property Rights owned by the Company, except to the extent that the infringement, misappropriation or violation, would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect; (vi) to the Company’s knowledge, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries infringes, misappropriates or otherwise violates, or has infringed, misappropriated or otherwise violated, any Intellectual Property Rights of a third party; (vii) all employees or contractors engaged in the development of Intellectual Property Rights on behalf of the Company or any subsidiary of the Company have executed an invention assignment agreement whereby such employees or contractors presently assign all of their right, title and interest in and to such Intellectual Property Rights to the Company or the applicable subsidiary, and to the Company’s knowledge no such agreement has been breached or violated; and (viii) the Company and its subsidiaries use, and have used, commercially reasonable efforts to appropriately maintain all information intended to be maintained as a material trade secret, except, in the case of any of clauses (ii)-(viii) above, as would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

 

(oo) Except as would not have a Material Adverse Effect, (i) the Company and each of its subsidiaries have complied and are presently in compliance with all internal and external privacy policies, contractual obligations, applicable laws, statutes, judgments, orders, rules and regulations of any court or arbitrator or other governmental or regulatory authority and any other legal obligations, in each case, relating to the collection, use, transfer, import, export, storage, protection, disposal and disclosure by the Company or any of its subsidiaries of personal, personally identifiable, household, sensitive, confidential or regulated data (“Data Security Obligations”, and such data, “Data”); (ii) the Company has not received any notification of or complaint regarding non-compliance with any Data Security Obligation; and (iii) there is no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened alleging non-compliance with any Data Security Obligation.

 

(pp) The Company and each of its subsidiaries’ information technology assets and equipment, computers, systems, networks, hardware, software, websites, applications, and databases (collectively, the “IT Systems”) are adequate or, and operate and perform in all material respects as required in connection with the operation of the business of the Company and its subsidiaries as currently conducted, free and clear of all material bugs, errors, defects, Trojan horses, time bombs, malware and other corruptants. The Company and each of its subsidiaries have taken reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect the IT Systems and Data used in connection with the operation of the Company’s and its subsidiaries’ businesses. Without limiting the foregoing, the Company and its subsidiaries have used reasonable efforts to establish and maintain, and have established, maintained, implemented and complied with, reasonable information technology, information security, cyber security and data protection controls, policies and procedures, including oversight, access controls, encryption, technological and physical safeguards and business continuity/disaster recovery and security plans that are designed to protect against and prevent breach, destruction, loss, unauthorized distribution, use, access, disablement, misappropriation or modification, or other compromise or misuse of or relating to any IT System or Data used in connection with the operation of the Company’s and its subsidiaries’ businesses (“Breach”). To the Company’s knowledge, there has been no such material Breach, and the Company and its subsidiaries have not been notified of and have no knowledge of any event or condition that would reasonably be expected to result in, any such material Breach.

 

 

(qq) Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Company (i) does not have any material lending or other relationship with any bank or lending affiliate of any Manager and (ii) does not intend to use any of the proceeds from the sale of the Shares hereunder to repay any outstanding debt owed to any affiliate of any Manager.

 

(rr) The authorized, issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company are as set forth in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus (other than for subsequent issuances, if any, pursuant to this Agreement, pursuant to reservations, agreements or employee benefit plans referred to in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus or pursuant to the exercise of convertible securities or options referred to in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus). The issued and outstanding shares of capital stock have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and nonassessable and have been issued in compliance with all federal and state securities laws. None of the outstanding shares of capital stock were issued in violation of any preemptive rights, rights of first refusal or other similar rights to subscribe for or purchase securities of the Company. There are no authorized or outstanding options, warrants, preemptive rights, rights of first refusal or other rights to purchase, or equity or debt securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for, any capital stock of the Company or any of its subsidiaries other than those described in or contemplated by the Registration Statement and the Prospectus. The descriptions of the Company’s stock option, stock bonus and other stock plans or arrangements, and the options or other rights granted thereunder, set forth in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus accurately and fairly in all material respects present the information required to be shown with respect to such plans, arrangements, options and rights.

 

(ss) The Shares have been duly authorized for issuance and sale through the Agents pursuant to this Agreement and, when issued and delivered by the Company pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, will be validly issued and fully paid and non-assessable; and the issuance of the Shares is not subject to the preemptive or other similar rights of any securityholder of the Company, except as have been duly and validly waived.

 

 

Any certificate signed by any officer of the Company and delivered to the Managers or counsel for the Managers in connection with this Agreement or any Terms Agreement shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Company, as to matters covered thereby, to each Manager.

 

3. Sale and Delivery of Shares.

 

(a) Subject to the terms and conditions and in reliance upon the representations and warranties herein set forth, the Company agrees to issue and sell Shares from time to time through or to the Managers, acting as sales agents, and each Manager agrees to use its commercially reasonable efforts to sell, as sales agent for the Company, the Shares on the terms set forth below. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, any Manager may decline, for any reason in its sole discretion, to act as sales agent for the Company hereunder with respect to one or more sets of Company instructions for the sale of the Shares.

 

(i) The Shares are to be sold by one of the Managers on a daily basis or otherwise as shall be agreed to by the Company and the Managers on any day that (A) is a trading day (a “Trading Day”) for Nasdaq, (B) the Company has instructed such Manager by telephone or by electronic mail to make such sales and (C) the Company has satisfied its obligations under Section 6 of this Agreement. On a Trading Day that the Company wishes to sell the Shares, the Company may sell the Shares through only one Manager and, if it determines to do so in its discretion, the Company will designate the maximum amount of the Shares to be sold by such Manager daily as agreed to by such Manager (in any event not in excess of the amount available for issuance under the Prospectus and the currently effective Registration Statement) and the minimum price per Share at which such Shares may be sold. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, such Manager shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to sell on a particular day all of the Shares designated for the sale by the Company on such day. The Manager through whom sales of the Shares as sales agent are then being made through this Section 3(a) is referred to as the “Selling Manager.” The gross sales price of the Shares sold under this Section 3(a) shall be the market price for shares of the Company’s Common Stock sold by the Selling Manager under this Section 3(a) on the Nasdaq at the time of sale of such Shares.

 

(ii) The Company acknowledges and agrees that (A) there can be no assurance that any Manager will be successful in selling the Shares, (B) no Manager will incur liability or obligation to the Company or any other person or entity if it does not sell Shares for any reason other than a failure by such Manager to use its commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices and applicable law and regulations to sell such Shares as required under this Agreement and (C) no Manager shall be under any obligation to purchase Shares on a principal basis pursuant to this Agreement, except as otherwise specifically agreed by such Manager and the Company pursuant to a Terms Agreement.

 

 

(iii) The Company shall not authorize the issuance and sale of, and no Manager shall be obligated to use its commercially reasonable efforts to sell, any Share at a price lower than the minimum price therefor designated from time to time by the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”), or a duly authorized committee thereof, and notified to the Managers in writing. The Company or any Manager may, upon notice to the other party hereto by telephone (confirmed promptly by electronic mail), suspend the offering of the Shares for any reason and at any time; provided, however, that such suspension or termination shall not affect or impair the parties’ respective obligations with respect to the Shares sold hereunder prior to the giving of such notice. The Managers shall have no responsibility for maintaining records with respect to the Shares available for offer or sale under the Registration Statement or for determining the aggregate gross proceeds, number or minimum price of Shares duly authorized by the Company.

 

(iv) The Managers may sell shares in negotiated transactions, including block trades, or transactions that are deemed to be ‘‘at the market’’ offerings as defined in Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, including sales made by means of ordinary brokers’ transactions, including directly on Nasdaq, or sales made to or through a market maker other than on an exchange at prevailing market prices, at prices related to prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices or by any other method permitted by law. No Manager shall purchase Shares for its own account as principal unless expressly authorized to do so by the Company pursuant to a Terms Agreement.

 

(v) The compensation to the Selling Manager, as agent of the Company, for sales of the Shares hereunder shall be equal to 2.0% of the gross sales price of the Shares sold pursuant by such Manager to this Section 3(a) and payable as described in the succeeding subsection (vi) below. The foregoing rate of compensation shall not apply when any Manager acts as principal, in which case the Company may sell Shares to such Manager as principal at a price agreed upon at the relevant Applicable Time pursuant to a Terms Agreement. The remaining proceeds, after further deduction for any transaction fees imposed by any governmental or self-regulatory organization in respect of such sales (the “Transaction Fees”), shall constitute the net proceeds to the Company for such Shares (the “Net Proceeds”).

 

(vi) Each Selling Manager shall provide written confirmation (which may be by facsimile or electronic mail) to the Company following the close of trading on the Nasdaq each day in which the Shares are sold under this Section 3(a) setting forth the number of the Shares sold on such day, the aggregate gross sales proceeds and the Net Proceeds to the Company, and the compensation payable by the Company to such Manager with respect to such sales. Such compensation shall be set forth and invoiced in periodic statements from the applicable Selling Manager to the Company, with payment to be made by the Company promptly after its receipt thereof.

 

 

(vii) Settlement for sales of the Shares pursuant to this Section 3(a) will occur, unless the parties agree otherwise, on the first business day that is also a Trading Day following the date on which any sales were made (each such day, a “Settlement Date”). On each Settlement Date, the Shares sold through a Manager for settlement on such date shall be issued and delivered by the Company to such Manager against payment of the aggregate gross sales proceeds less any Transaction Fees for the sale of such Shares. Settlement for all such Shares shall be effected by free delivery of the Shares to such Manager’s account at The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) in return for payments in same day funds delivered to the account designated by the Company. If the Company or its transfer agent (if applicable) shall default on its obligation to deliver the Shares on any Settlement Date, the Company shall (A) indemnify and hold such Manager harmless against any loss, claim or damage arising from or as a result of such default by the Company and (B) pay such Manager any commission to which it would otherwise be entitled absent such default. If a Manager breaches this Agreement by failing to deliver the aggregate gross sales proceeds less any Transaction Fees to the Company on any Settlement Date for the Shares delivered by the Company, such Manager will pay the Company interest based on the effective overnight federal funds rate on such unpaid amount less any compensation due to such Manager.

 

(viii) At each Applicable Time, Settlement Date and Representation Date (as defined in Section 4(j))), the Company shall be deemed to have affirmed each representation and warranty contained in this Agreement as if such representation and warranty were made as of such date, modified as necessary to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended as of such date. Any obligation of any Manager to use its commercially reasonable efforts to sell the Shares on behalf of the Company shall be subject to the continuing accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Company herein, to the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder and to the continuing satisfaction of the additional conditions specified in Section 6 of this Agreement.

 

(b) If the Company wishes to issue and sell the Shares pursuant to this Agreement but other than as set forth in Section 3(a) of this Agreement (each, a “Placement”), it will notify a Manager of the proposed terms of such Placement. If such Manager, acting as principal, wishes to accept such proposed terms (which it may decline to do for any reason in its sole discretion) or, following discussions with the Company wishes to accept amended terms, such Manager and the Company will enter into a Terms Agreement setting forth the terms of such Placement. The terms set forth in a Terms Agreement will not be binding on the Company or such Manager unless and until the Company and such Manager have each executed such Terms Agreement accepting all of the terms of such Terms Agreement. In the event of a conflict between the terms of this Agreement and the terms of a Terms Agreement, the terms of such Terms Agreement will control.

 

(c) Each sale of the Shares to any Manager shall be made in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and, if applicable, a Terms Agreement, which will provide for the sale of such Shares to, and the purchase thereof by, such Manager. A Terms Agreement may also specify certain provisions relating to the reoffering of such Shares by such Manager. The commitment of the applicable Manager to purchase the Shares pursuant to any Terms Agreement shall be deemed to have been made on the basis of the representations and warranties of the Company herein contained and shall be subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth. Each Terms Agreement shall specify the number of the Shares to be purchased by the applicable Manager pursuant thereto, the price to be paid to the Company for such Shares, any provisions relating to rights of, and default by, underwriters acting together with such Manager in the reoffering of the Shares, and the time and date (each such time and date being referred to herein as a “Time of Delivery”) and place of delivery of and payment for such Shares. Such Terms Agreement shall also specify any requirements for opinions of counsel, accountants’ letters and officers’ certificates pursuant to Section 6 of this Agreement and any other information or documents required by the applicable Manager.

 

 

(d) Under no circumstances shall the number and aggregate amount of the Shares sold pursuant to this Agreement and any Terms Agreement exceed (i) the aggregate amount set forth in Section 1, (ii) the number of shares of the Common Stock available for issuance under the currently effective Registration Statement, (iii) the number and aggregate amount of the Shares authorized from time to time to be issued and sold under this Agreement by the Board, or a duly authorized committee thereof, and notified to the Managers in writing or (iv) the number of authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock (less shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise, conversion or exchange of any outstanding securities of the Company or otherwise reserved from the Company’s authorized capital stock).

 

(e) If any party has reason to believe that the exemptive provisions set forth in Rule 101(c)(1) of Regulation M under the Exchange Act are not satisfied with respect to the Shares, it shall promptly notify the other party and sales of the Shares under this Agreement and any Terms Agreement shall be suspended until that or other exemptive provisions have been satisfied in the judgment of each party.

 

(f) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement the Company shall not request the sale of any Shares that would be sold, and no Manager shall be obligated to sell, during any period in which the Company is, or could be deemed to be, in possession of material non-public information.

 

4. Agreements. The Company agrees with the Managers that:

 

(a) During any period when the Company has delivered an effective instruction to sell Shares pursuant to Section 3(a)(i) of this Agreement or when the delivery of a prospectus relating to the Shares is required (including in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172) to be delivered under the Securities Act, the Company will not file any amendment of the Registration Statement or supplement (including the Prospectus Supplement or any Interim Prospectus Supplement) to the Base Prospectus or any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement unless the Company has furnished to the Managers a copy for its review prior to filing and will not file any such proposed amendment or supplement to which any Manager reasonably objects. The Company has properly completed the Prospectus, in a form approved by the Managers, and filed such Prospectus, as amended at the Execution Time, with the Commission pursuant to the applicable paragraph of Rule 424(b) by the Execution Time and will cause any supplement to the Prospectus to be properly completed, in a form approved by the Managers, and will file such supplement with the Commission pursuant to the applicable paragraph of Rule 424(b) within the time period prescribed thereby and will provide evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Managers of such timely filing. The Company will promptly advise the Managers (i) when the Prospectus, and any supplement thereto, shall have been filed (if required) with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) or when any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement shall have been filed with the Commission, (ii) when, during any period when the delivery of a prospectus (whether physically or through compliance with Rule 172 or any similar rule) is required under the Securities Act in connection with the offering or sale of the Shares, any amendment to the Registration Statement shall have been filed or become effective (other than any annual report of the Company filed pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act), (iii) of any request by the Commission or its staff for any amendment of the Registration Statement or for any supplement to the Prospectus or for any additional information, (iv) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or of any notice objecting to its use or the institution or threatening of any proceeding for that purpose and (v) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Shares for sale in any jurisdiction or the institution or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose. The Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to prevent the issuance of any such stop order or the occurrence of any such suspension or objection to the use of the Registration Statement or any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement and, upon such issuance, occurrence or notice of objection, to obtain as soon as possible the withdrawal of such stop order or relief from such occurrence or objection, including, if necessary, by filing an amendment to the Registration Statement or a new registration statement and using its commercially reasonable efforts to have such amendment or new registration statement declared effective as soon as practicable.

 

 

(b) If, at any time on or after an Applicable Time but prior to the related Settlement Date or Time of Delivery, any event occurs as a result of which the Disclosure Package would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein in the light of the circumstances under which they were made or the circumstances then prevailing not misleading, the Company will (i) notify promptly the Managers so that any use of the Disclosure Package may cease until it is amended or supplemented; (ii) amend or supplement the Disclosure Package to correct such statement or omission; and (iii) supply any amendment or supplement to the Managers in such quantities as the Managers may reasonably request.

 

(c) During any period when the delivery of a prospectus relating to the Shares is required (including in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172) to be delivered under the Securities Act, any event occurs as a result of which the Prospectus as then supplemented would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein in the light of the circumstances under which they were made at such time not misleading, or if it shall be necessary to amend the Registration Statement, file a new registration statement or supplement the Prospectus to comply with the Securities Act or the Exchange Act or the respective rules thereunder, including in connection with use or delivery of the Prospectus, the Company promptly will (i) notify the Managers of any such event, (ii) prepare and file with the Commission, subject to the second sentence of paragraph (a) of this Section 4, an amendment or supplement or new registration statement which will correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance, (iii) use its commercially reasonable efforts to have any amendment to the Registration Statement or new registration statement declared effective as soon as practicable in order to avoid any disruption in use of the Prospectus and (iv) supply any supplemented Prospectus to each Manager in such quantities as such Manager may reasonably request.

 

(d) As soon as practicable, the Company will make generally available to its security holders and to the Managers an earnings statement or statements of the Company and its subsidiaries which will satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158. For the avoidance of doubt, the Company’s compliance with the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act shall be deemed to satisfy the requirements of this Section 4(d).

 

 

(e) The Company will furnish to each Manager and counsel for the Managers, without charge, signed copies of the Registration Statement (including exhibits thereto) and, so long as delivery of a prospectus by the Managers or dealer may be required by the Securities Act (including in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172), as many copies of the Prospectus and any supplement thereto as such Manager may reasonably request. The Company will pay the expenses of printing or other production of all documents relating to the offering.

 

(f) The Company will arrange, if necessary, for the qualification of the Shares for sale under the laws of such jurisdictions as the Managers may designate and will maintain such qualifications in effect so long as required for the distribution of the Shares; provided that in no event shall the Company be obligated to qualify to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not now so qualified or to take any action that would subject it to service of process in suits, other than those arising out of the offering or sale of the Shares, in any jurisdiction where it is not now so subject.

 

(g) The Company will not offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge, or otherwise dispose of, (or enter into any transaction which is designed to, or might reasonably be expected to, result in the disposition of (whether by actual disposition or effective economic disposition due to cash settlement or otherwise) by the Company or any affiliate of the Company or any person in privity with the Company or any affiliate of the Company) directly or indirectly, including the filing (or participation in the filing) of a registration statement with the Commission in respect of, or establish or increase a put equivalent position or liquidate or decrease a call equivalent position within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act, any other shares of Common Stock or any securities convertible into, or exercisable, or exchangeable for, shares of Common Stock; or publicly announce an intention to effect any such transaction without (i) giving the Managers at least five Business Days’ prior written notice specifying the nature of the proposed transaction and the date of such proposed transaction and (ii) the Managers suspending acting under this Agreement for such period of time requested by the Company or as deemed appropriate by the Managers in light of the proposed transaction; provided, however, that the Company may issue and sell Common Stock pursuant to this Agreement or any Terms Agreement, any employee stock incentive plan or employee stock purchase plan of the Company in effect at the Execution Time and the Company may issue Common Stock issuable upon the conversion of securities or the exercise of warrants outstanding at the Execution Time.

 

 

(h) The Company will not (i) take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that would constitute or that might reasonably be expected to cause or result in, under the Exchange Act or otherwise, stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Shares or (ii) sell, bid for, purchase or pay any person (other than as contemplated by this Agreement or any Terms Agreement) any compensation for soliciting purchases of the Shares.

 

(i) The Company will, at any time during the term of this Agreement, as supplemented from time to time, advise the Managers immediately after it shall have received notice or obtained knowledge thereof, of any information or fact that would materially alter or affect any opinion, certificate, letter and other document provided to the Managers pursuant to Section 6 herein.

 

(j) Upon commencement of the offering of the Shares under this Agreement (and upon the recommencement of the offering of the Shares under this Agreement following the termination of a suspension of sales hereunder), and, within five (5) Trading Days after each time that (i) the Registration Statement or the Prospectus shall be amended or supplemented (other than by means of a prospectus supplement relating solely to the offering of securities other than the Shares), (ii) there is filed with the Commission any document incorporated by reference into the Prospectus, (iii) the Company files an Annual Report on Form 10-K under the Exchange Act, (iv) the Company files a Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q under the Exchange Act, (v) files a current report on Form 8-K containing amended financial information (other than information “furnished” pursuant to Items 2.02 or 7.01 of Form 8-K or to provide disclosure pursuant to Item 8.01 of Form 8-K relating to the reclassification of certain properties as discontinued operations in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 144) under the Exchange Act, and only if any Agent reasonably determines that the information contained in such Form 8-K is material, or (vi) the Shares are delivered to any Manager as principal at the Time of Delivery pursuant to a Terms Agreement or (vii) otherwise as the Managers may reasonably request (such commencement or recommencement date and each such date referred to in (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v), (vi) and (vii) above, a “Representation Date”), the Company shall furnish or cause to be furnished to the Managers forthwith a certificate, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit 4(j), dated and delivered on such Representation Date. The requirement to provide a certificate under this Section 4(j) shall be waived for any Representation Date occurring at a time when no instruction to a Manager to sell Shares pursuant to this Agreement has been delivered by the Company or is pending, which waiver shall continue until the earlier to occur of the date the Company delivers instructions to sell Shares pursuant to Section 3(a)(i) hereunder and the next occurring Representation Date on which the Company files its annual report on Form 10-K. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Company subsequently decides to sell Shares following a Representation Date when the Company relied on such waiver and did not provide the Managers with a certificate under this Section 4(j), then before the Company delivers the instructions for the sale of Shares or the Selling Manager sells any Shares pursuant to such instructions, the Company shall provide the Managers with a certificate in conformity with this Section 4(j) dated as of the date that the instructions for the sale of Shares are issued and any other deliverables that would otherwise have been required at such Representation Date.

 

 

(k) At each Representation Date with respect to which the Company is obligated to deliver a certificate pursuant to Section 4(j) for which no waiver is applicable, the Company shall furnish or cause to be furnished forthwith to the Managers, the written opinion and negative assurance letter of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Schole LLP, counsel to the Company (“Company Counsel”), or other counsel satisfactory to the Managers, provided, however, the Company shall be required to furnish to the Managers no more than one opinion hereunder per calendar quarter; provided, further, that in lieu of such opinions for subsequent periodic filings under the Exchange Act, counsel may furnish the Managers with a letter (a “Reliance Letter”) to the effect that each Manager may rely on a prior opinion delivered under this Section 4(k) to the same extent as if it were dated the date of such letter (except that statements in such prior opinion shall be deemed to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended or supplemented as of the date of the Reliance Letter).

 

(l) At each Representation Date with respect to which the Company is obligated to deliver a certificate pursuant to Section 4(j) for which no waiver is applicable, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LLP, counsel to the Managers, shall deliver its written opinion and negative assurance letter, in form and substance satisfactory to the Managers. The Company shall have furnished to such counsel such documents as they request for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon such matters.

 

(m) At each Representation Date with respect to which the Company is obligated to deliver a certificate pursuant to Section 4(j) for which no waiver is applicable, the Company shall cause PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, or other independent accountants satisfactory to the Managers forthwith, to furnish the Managers a letter, in form satisfactory to the Managers, (i) confirming that they are independent accountants within the meaning of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and the respective applicable rules and regulations adopted by the Commission thereunder (ii) stating, as of such date, the conclusions and findings of such firm with respect to the financial information and other matters ordinarily covered by accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters in connection with registered public offerings (the first such letter, the “Initial Comfort Letter”) and (iii) updating the Initial Comfort Letter had it been given on such date and modified as necessary to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, as amended and supplemented to the date of such letter.

 

 

(n) At each Representation Date with respect to which the Company is obligated to deliver a certificate pursuant to Section 4(j) for which no waiver is applicable, the Company shall cause ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LLP, or other independent accountants satisfactory to the Managers forthwith, to furnish the Managers a letter, in form and substance satisfactory to the Managers, (i) confirming that they are independent accountants within the meaning of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and the respective applicable rules and regulations adopted by the Commission thereunder (ii) stating, as of such date, the conclusions and findings of such firm with respect to the financial information and other matters ordinarily covered by accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters in connection with registered public offerings (the first such letter, the “Initial Comfort Letter”) and (iii) updating the Initial Comfort Letter had it been given on such date and modified as necessary to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, as amended and supplemented to the date of such letter. Notwithstanding the foregoing, such letter shall not be required to be delivered after such time that the Company’s financial statements audited by ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LLP are no longer incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement.

 

(o) At each Representation Date with respect to which the Company is obligated to deliver a certificate pursuant to Section 4(j) for which no waiver is applicable, the Company shall cause Ernst & Young LLP, or other independent accountants satisfactory to the Managers forthwith, to furnish the Managers a letter, in form and substance satisfactory to the Managers, (i) confirming that they were, October 22, 2024 and during the period covered by the financial statements on which they reported, independent public accountants with respect to ▇▇▇▇▇▇ within the meaning of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and the respective applicable rules and regulations adopted by the Commission thereunder (ii) stating, as of such date, the conclusions and findings of such firm with respect to the financial information and other matters ordinarily covered by accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters in connection with registered public offerings (the first such letter, the “Initial Comfort Letter”) and (iii) updating the Initial Comfort Letter had it been given on such date and modified as necessary to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, as amended and supplemented to the date of such letter. Notwithstanding the foregoing, such letter shall not be required to be delivered after such time that the financial statements of ▇▇▇▇▇▇ are no longer incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement.

 

(p) At each Representation Date with respect to which the Company is obligated to deliver a certificate pursuant to Section 4(j) for which no waiver is applicable, the Company shall deliver a certificate executed by the Chief Financial Officer of the Company (the “CFO Certificate”), dated as of such date, in in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Manager.

 

 

(q) At each Representation Date with respect to which the Company is obligated to deliver a certificate pursuant to Section 4(j) for which no waiver is applicable, the Company will conduct a due diligence session, in form and substance satisfactory to the Managers, which shall include representatives of the management and the independent accountants of the Company. The Company shall cooperate timely with any reasonable due diligence request from or review conducted by the Managers or its agents from time to time in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including, without limitation, providing information and available documents and access to appropriate corporate officers and the Company’s agents during regular business hours and at the Company’s principal offices, and timely furnishing or causing to be furnished such certificates, letters and opinions from the Company, its officers and its agents, as the Managers may reasonably request.

 

(r) The Company consents to the Managers trading in the Common Stock for each of the Managers’ own accounts and for the accounts of its clients at the same time as sales of the Shares occur pursuant to this Agreement or pursuant to a Terms Agreement.

 

(s) The Company will disclose in its Annual Reports on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, as applicable, the number of Shares sold through the Managers under this Agreement, the Net Proceeds to the Company and the compensation paid by the Company with respect to sales of Shares pursuant to this Agreement during the relevant quarter. Additionally, on such dates as the Securities Act shall require, the Company will (i) file a prospectus supplement with the Commission under the applicable paragraph of Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act, which prospectus supplement will set forth, within the relevant period, the amount of Shares sold through the Managers pursuant to this Agreement, the Net Proceeds to the Company and the compensation payable by the Company to the Managers with respect to such Shares, and (ii) deliver such number of copies of each such prospectus supplement to Nasdaq as may be required by the rules or regulations of Nasdaq.

 

(t) If to the knowledge of the Company, the conditions set forth in Section 6(a) shall not be true and correct on the applicable Settlement Date, the Company will offer to any person who has agreed to purchase Shares from the Company as the result of an offer to purchase solicited by any Manager the right to refuse to purchase and pay for such Shares.

 

(u) Each acceptance by the Company of an offer to purchase the Shares hereunder, and each execution and delivery by the Company of a Terms Agreement, shall be deemed to be an affirmation to the Managers that the representations and warranties of the Company contained in or made pursuant to this Agreement are true and correct as of the date of such acceptance or of such Terms Agreement as though made at and as of such date, and an undertaking that such representations and warranties will be true and correct as of the Settlement Date for the Shares relating to such acceptance or as of the Time of Delivery relating to such sale, as the case may be, as though made at and as of such date (except that such representations and warranties shall be deemed to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended and supplemented relating to such Shares).

 

 

(v) The Company shall ensure that there are at all times sufficient shares of Common Stock to provide for the issuance, free of any preemptive rights, out of its authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock or shares of Common Stock held in treasury, of the maximum aggregate number of Shares authorized for issuance by the Board pursuant to the terms of this Agreement. The Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Shares to be listed for trading on Nasdaq and to maintain such listing.

 

(w) During any period when the delivery of a prospectus relating to the Shares is required (including in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172) to be delivered under the Securities Act, the Company will file all documents required to be filed with the Commission pursuant to the Exchange Act within the time periods required by the Exchange Act and the regulations thereunder.

 

(x) The Company shall cooperate with the Managers and use its reasonable efforts to permit the Shares to be eligible for clearance and settlement through the facilities of DTC.

 

(y) The Company will apply the Net Proceeds from the sale of the Shares in the manner set forth in the Prospectus.

 

5. Payment of Expenses.

 

(a) The Company agrees to pay the costs and expenses incident to the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated, including without limitation: (i) the preparation, printing or reproduction and filing with the Commission of the Registration Statement (including financial statements and exhibits thereto), the Prospectus and each amendment or supplement to any of them; (ii) the printing (or reproduction) and delivery (including postage, air freight charges and charges for counting and packaging) of such copies of the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, and all amendments or supplements to any of them, as may, in each case, be reasonably requested for use in connection with the offering and sale of the Shares; (iii) the preparation, printing, authentication, issuance and delivery of certificates for the Shares, including any stamp or transfer taxes in connection with the original issuance and sale of the Shares; (iv) the printing (or reproduction) and delivery of this Agreement, any blue sky memorandum and all other agreements or documents printed (or reproduced) and delivered in connection with the offering of the Shares; (v) the registration of the Shares under the Exchange Act and the listing of the Shares on Nasdaq; (vi) any registration or qualification of the Shares for offer and sale under the securities or blue sky laws of the several states (including filing fees and the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel for the Managers relating to such registration and qualification, subject to the cap set forth in clause (x) below); (vii) any filings required to be made with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) (including filing fees and the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel for the Managers relating to such filings, subject to the cap set forth in clause (x) below); (viii) the transportation and other expenses incurred by or on behalf of Company representatives in connection with presentations to prospective purchasers of the Shares; (ix) the fees and expenses of the Company’s accountants and the fees and expenses of counsel (including local and special counsel) for the Company; (x) the reasonable documented out-of-pocket expenses of the Managers, including the reasonable fees, disbursements and expenses of counsel for the Managers in connection with this Agreement and the Registration Statement in an amount not to exceed $75,000 in the aggregate; and (xi) all other costs and expenses incident to the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder.

 

 

6. Conditions to the Obligations of the Managers. The obligations of each Manager under this Agreement and any Terms Agreement shall be subject to (i) the accuracy of the representations and warranties on the part of the Company contained herein as of the Execution Time, each Representation Date, and as of each Applicable Time, Settlement Date and Time of Delivery, (ii) to the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder and (iii) the following additional conditions:

 

(a) The Prospectus, and any supplement thereto, required by Rule 424 to be filed with the Commission have been filed in the manner and within the time period required by Rule 424(b) with respect to any sale of Shares; each Interim Prospectus Supplement shall have been filed in the manner required by Rule 424(b) within the time period required by Section 4(s) of this Agreement; and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any notice objecting to its use shall have been issued and no proceedings for that purpose shall have been instituted or threatened.

 

(b) The Managers shall have received the written opinion and negative assurance letter of Company Counsel required pursuant to Section 4(k) on or before the date on which such opinion and negative assurance letters are required pursuant to Section 4(k).

 

In rendering such opinion, such counsel may rely (A) as to matters involving the application of laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of Delaware or the Federal laws of the United States, to the extent they deem proper and specified in such opinion, upon the opinion of other counsel of good standing whom they believe to be reliable and who are satisfactory to counsel for the Managers and (B) as to matters of fact, to the extent they deem proper, on certificates of responsible officers of the Company and public officials. References to the Prospectus in this paragraph (b) shall also include any supplements thereto at the Settlement Date.

 

(c) The Managers shall have received from ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LLP, counsel for the Managers, its written opinion and negative assurance letter required pursuant to Section 4(l) on or before the date on which such opinion and negative assurance letters are required pursuant to Section 4(l), and the Company shall have furnished to such counsel such documents as they request for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon such matters.

 

(d) The Managers shall have received from the Company the certificate required pursuant to Section 4(j) on or before the date on which such certificate is required pursuant to Section 4(j).

 

(e) The Managers shall have received the comfort letter of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLC required to be delivered pursuant to Section 4(m) on or before the date on which such delivery of such comfort letters are required pursuant to Section 4(m).

 

 

(f) The Managers shall have received the comfort letter of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LLP required to be delivered pursuant to Section 4(n) on or before the date on which such delivery of such comfort letters are required pursuant to Section 4(n).

 

(g) The Managers shall have received the comfort letter of ▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇ LLP required to be delivered pursuant to Section 4(o) on or before the date on which such delivery of such comfort letters are required pursuant to Section 4(o).

 

(h) The Managers shall have received the CFO Certificate required to be delivered pursuant to Section 4(p) on or before the date on which such delivery of such CFO Certificate on or before the date on which such delivery of such comfort letters are required pursuant to Section 4(p).

 

(i) FINRA shall not have raised any objection with respect to the fairness and reasonableness of the terms and arrangements under this Agreement.

 

(j) The Shares shall have been listed and admitted and authorized for trading on Nasdaq, and satisfactory evidence of such actions shall have been provided to the Managers.

 

(k) Prior to each Settlement Date and Time of Delivery, as applicable, the Company shall have furnished to the Managers such further information, certificates and documents as the Managers may reasonably request.

 

If any of the conditions specified in this Section 6 shall not have been fulfilled when and as provided in this Agreement, or if any of the opinions and certificates mentioned above or elsewhere in this Agreement shall not be reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Managers and counsel for the Managers, this Agreement and all obligations of the Managers hereunder may be canceled at, or at any time prior to, any Settlement Date or Time of Delivery, as applicable, by the Managers. Notice of such cancellation shall be given to the Company in writing or by telephone or facsimile confirmed in writing.

 

The documents required to be delivered by this Section 6 shall be delivered at the office of ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LLP, counsel for the Managers, at ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, on each such date as provided in this Agreement.

 

 

7. Indemnification and Contribution.

 

(a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Manager, the directors, officers, employees, affiliates and agents of each Manager and each person who controls such Manager within the meaning of either the Securities Act or the Exchange Act against any and all losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which they or any of them may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or other Federal or state statutory law or regulation, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the registration statement for the registration of the Shares as originally filed or in any amendment thereof, or in the Base Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement, any Interim Prospectus Supplement shall have been filed in the manner required by Rule 424(b) within the time period required by Section 4(s) of this Agreement, the Prospectus or in any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading, and agrees to reimburse each such indemnified party, as incurred, for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action; provided, however, that the Company will not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon any such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made therein in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by such Manager specifically for inclusion therein. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability that the Company may otherwise have. The Company hereby acknowledges that the only information that the Managers have furnished to the Company expressly for use in the Prospectus Supplement, the Prospectus or any Interim Prospectus Supplement (or any amendment or supplement thereto) are the statements set forth in the last sentence of the second paragraph, the second sentence of the third paragraph and the first sentence of the fourth paragraph under the caption “Plan of Distribution” in the Prospectus (the “Manager Information”).

 

(b) Each Manager, severally but not jointly, agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each of its directors, each of its officers who signs the Registration Statement, and each person who controls the Company within the meaning of either the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Company to each Manager, but only with reference to written information relating to each Manager furnished to the Company by each Manager specifically for inclusion in the documents referred to in the foregoing indemnity. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which the Managers may otherwise have.

 

 

(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 7 of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under this Section 7, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof; but the failure so to notify the indemnifying party (i) will not relieve it from liability under paragraph (a) or (b) above unless and to the extent it did not otherwise learn of such action and such failure results in the forfeiture by the indemnifying party of substantial rights and defenses and (ii) will not, in any event, relieve the indemnifying party from any obligations to any indemnified party other than the indemnification obligation provided in paragraph (a) or (b) above. The indemnifying party shall be entitled to appoint counsel of the indemnifying party’s choice at the indemnifying party’s expense to represent the indemnified party in any action for which indemnification is sought (in which case the indemnifying party shall not thereafter be responsible for the fees and expenses of any separate counsel retained by the indemnified party or parties except as set forth below); provided, however, that such counsel shall be reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party. Notwithstanding the indemnifying party’s election to appoint counsel to represent the indemnified party in an action, the indemnified party shall have the right to employ separate counsel (including local counsel), and the indemnifying party shall bear the reasonable fees, costs and expenses of such separate counsel if (i) the use of counsel chosen by the indemnifying party to represent the indemnified party would present such counsel with a conflict of interest, (ii) the actual or potential defendants in, or targets of, any such action include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have reasonably concluded that there may be legal defenses available to it and/or other indemnified parties which are different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party, (iii) the indemnifying party shall not have employed counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified party within a reasonable time after notice of the institution of such action or (iv) the indemnifying party shall authorize the indemnified party to employ separate counsel at the expense of the indemnifying party. An indemnifying party will not, without the prior written consent of the indemnified parties, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any pending or threatened claim, action, suit or proceeding in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties to such claim or action) unless such settlement, compromise or consent: (i) includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising out of such claim, action, suit or proceeding and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act, by or on behalf of any indemnified party.

 

(d) In the event that the indemnity provided in paragraph (a), (b) or (c) of this Section 7 is unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party for any reason, the Company and the Managers agree to contribute to the aggregate losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with investigating or defending the same) (collectively “Losses”) to which the Company and each Manager may be subject in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the relevant Manager on the other from the offering of the Shares. If the allocation provided by the immediately preceding sentence is unavailable for any reason, the Company and such Manager severally shall contribute in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only such relative benefits but also the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and of such Manager on the other in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such Losses as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. Benefits received by the Company shall be deemed to be equal to the total net proceeds from the offering (before deducting expenses) received by it, and benefits received by the relevant Manager shall be deemed to be equal to the total underwriting discounts and commissions, in each case as determined by this Agreement or any applicable Terms Agreement. Relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any untrue or any alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information provided by the Company on the one hand or by the relevant Manager on the other, the intent of the parties and their relative knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such untrue statement or omission. The Company and each Manager agrees that it would not be just and equitable if contribution were determined by pro rata allocation or any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above. Notwithstanding the provisions of this paragraph (d), in no event shall any Manager be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the underwriting discount or commission, as the case may be, applicable to the Shares purchased by such Manager hereunder exceeds the amount of any damages that any Manager has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. For purposes of this Section 7, each person who controls any Manager within the meaning of either the Securities Act or the Exchange Act and each director, officer, employee, affiliate and agent of any Manager shall have the same rights to contribution as each Manager, and each person who controls the Company within the meaning of either the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, each officer of the Company who shall have signed the Registration Statement and each director of the Company shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company, subject in each case to the applicable terms and conditions of this paragraph (d).

 

 

8. Termination.

 

(a) The Company shall have the right, by giving written notice as hereinafter specified, to terminate the provisions of this Agreement relating to the solicitation of offers to purchase the Shares in its sole discretion at any time. Any such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except that (i) if Shares have been sold through any Manager for the Company, then Section 4(u) shall remain in full force and effect, (ii) with respect to any pending sale, through any Manager for the Company, the obligations of the Company, including in respect of compensation of such Manager, shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding the termination and (iii) the provisions of Sections 2, 5, 7, 10, 11, 13 and 15 of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding such termination.

 

(b) Each Manager shall, as to itself, have the right, by giving written notice as hereinafter specified, to terminate the provisions of this Agreement relating to the solicitation of offers to purchase the Shares in its sole discretion at any time; provided, however, that this Agreement and the obligations hereunder will remain in full force and effect with respect to the Manager that has not so terminated its obligations. Any such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except that the provisions of Sections 2, 5, 7, 10, 11, 13 and 15 of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding such termination. For the avoidance of doubt, the termination by one Manager pursuant to this section 8(b) shall not affect the rights and obligations of the other Manager under this Agreement.

 

(c) This Agreement shall remain in full force and effect unless terminated pursuant to Sections 8(a) or (b) above or otherwise by mutual agreement of the parties; provided that any such termination by mutual agreement shall in all cases be deemed to provide that Sections 2, 5, 7 and 10 shall remain in full force and effect.

 

(d) Any termination of this Agreement shall be effective on the date specified in such notice of termination; provided that such termination shall not be effective until the close of business on the date of receipt of such notice by the Managers or the Company, as the case may be. If such termination shall occur prior to the Settlement Date or Time of Delivery for any sale of the Shares, such sale shall settle in accordance with the provisions of Section 3(a)(vii) of this Agreement.

 

 

(e) In the case of any purchase of Shares by any Manager pursuant to a Terms Agreement, the obligations of such Manager pursuant to such Terms Agreement shall be subject to termination, in the absolute discretion of such Manager, by notice given to the Company prior to the Time of Delivery relating to such Shares, if at any time prior to such delivery and payment (i) trading in the Company’s Common Stock shall have been suspended by the Commission or Nasdaq or trading in securities generally on the NYSE or Nasdaq shall have been suspended or limited or minimum prices shall have been established on either of such exchanges, (ii) a banking moratorium shall have been declared either by Federal or New York State authorities or (iii) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of hostilities, declaration by the United States of a national emergency or war, or other calamity or crisis the effect of which on financial markets is such as to make it, in the sole judgment of any Manager, impractical or inadvisable to proceed with the offering or delivery of the Shares as contemplated by the Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto).

 

9. Recognition of the U.S. Special Resolution Regimes.

 

(a) In the event that any Manager that is a Covered Entity becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, the transfer from such Manager of this Agreement, and any interest and obligation in or under this Agreement, will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement, and any such interest and obligation, were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.

 

(b) In the event that any Manager that is a Covered Entity or a BHC Act Affiliate of such Manager becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights under this Agreement that may be exercised against such Manager are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.

 

10. Representations and Indemnities to Survive. The respective agreements, representations, warranties, indemnities and other statements of the Company or its officers and of the Managers set forth in or made pursuant to this Agreement will remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation made by any Manager or the Company or any of the officers, directors, employees, affiliates, agents or controlling persons referred to in Section 7 hereof, and will survive delivery of and payment for the Shares.

 

11. Notices. All communications hereunder will be in writing and effective only on receipt, and, if sent to the Managers, will be delivered to:

 

Cantor ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Company

▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇

New York, New York 10022

Attention: Global Head of Investment Banking

Email: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇@▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇

 

Guggenheim Securities, LLC

▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇

New York, NY 10017

Fax: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇

Attention: ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, Senior Managing Director

 

▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. Inc.

▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇

New York, NY 10004

 

Wedbush Securities Inc.

▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇

San Francisco, CA 94111

Attn: Technology Investment Banking Team

▇▇▇@▇▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇

 

 

with copy to:

Attn: Legal Department

▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇@▇▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇

 

Ladenburg ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. Inc.

▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇

New York, NY 10019

Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇

Tel: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇

Email: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇@▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇

 

Northland Securities, Inc.

▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇

Minneapolis MN 55402

Attention: ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇

Email: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇@▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇

 

and, if sent to the Company, will be delivered to:

 

SoundHound AI, Inc.

▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇

Santa Clara, California 95054

(▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇

Email: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇@▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇

Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇

 

12. Successors. This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and the officers, directors, employees, agents and controlling persons referred to in Section 8 hereof, and no other person will have any right or obligation hereunder.

 

13. No fiduciary duty. The Company hereby acknowledges that (a) the purchase and sale of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement is an arm’s-length commercial transaction between the Company, on the one hand, and each Manager and any affiliate through which it may be acting, on the other, (b) each Manager is acting solely as sales agent and/or principal in connection with the purchase and sale of the Company’s securities and not as a fiduciary of the Company and (c) the Company’s engagement of each Manager in connection with the offering and the process leading up to the offering is as independent contractors and not in any other capacity. Furthermore, the Company agrees that it is solely responsible for making its own judgments in connection with the offering (irrespective of whether any Manager has advised or is currently advising the Company on related or other matters). The Company agrees that it will not claim that any Manager has rendered advisory services of any nature or respect, or owe an agency, fiduciary or similar duty to the Company, in connection with such transaction or the process leading thereto.

 

14. Integration. This Agreement and any Terms Agreement supersede all prior agreements and understandings (whether written or oral) between the Company and the Managers with respect to the subject matter hereof.

 

15. Applicable Law. This Agreement and any Terms Agreement will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York applicable to contracts made and to be performed within the State of New York. Each party hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts sitting in the City of New York, Borough of Manhattan, for the adjudication of any dispute hereunder or in connection with any transaction contemplated hereby, and hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert in any suit, action or proceeding, any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of any such court, that such suit, action or proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum or that the venue of such suit, action or proceeding is improper. Each party hereby irrevocably waives personal service of process and consents to process being served in any such suit, action or proceeding by mailing a copy thereof (certified or registered mail, return receipt requested) 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.

 

 

16. Waiver of Jury Trial. The Company hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and all right to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement, any Terms Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby.

 

17. Counterparts. This Agreement and any Terms Agreement may be signed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

 

18. Headings. The section headings used in this Agreement and any Terms Agreement are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

 

19. Definitions. The terms that follow, when used in this Agreement and any Terms Agreement, shall have the meanings indicated.

 

“Applicable Time” shall mean, with respect to any Shares, the time of sale of such Shares pursuant to this Agreement or any relevant Terms Agreement.

 

“Base Prospectus” shall mean the base prospectus referred to in Section 2(a) above contained in the Registration Statement at the Execution Time.

 

“BHC Act Affiliate” shall mean “affiliate” as defined in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. § 1841(k).

 

“Business Day” shall mean any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a legal holiday or a day on which banking institutions or trust companies are authorized or obligated by law to close in New York City.

 

“Commission” shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

“Covered Entity” shall mean any of the following: (i) a “covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b), (ii) a “covered bank” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b) or (iii) a “covered FSI” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b).

 

“Default Right” shall mean default right as defined and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §§ 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable.

 

 

“Disclosure Package” shall mean (i) the Base Prospectus, (ii) the Prospectus Supplement, (iii) the most recently filed Interim Prospectus Supplement and (iv) the public offering price of Shares sold at the relevant Applicable Time.

 

“Effective Date” shall mean each date and time that the Registration Statement, any post-effective amendment or amendments thereto and any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement became or becomes effective.

 

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

 

“Execution Time” shall mean the date and time that this Agreement is executed and delivered by the parties hereto.

 

“Interim Prospectus Supplement” shall mean the prospectus supplement relating to the Shares prepared and filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) from time to time as provided by Section 4(s) of this Agreement.

 

“Prospectus” shall mean the Base Prospectus, as supplemented by the Prospectus Supplement and the most recently filed Interim Prospectus Supplement (if any).

 

“Prospectus Supplement” shall mean the most recent prospectus supplement relating to the Shares that was first filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) at or prior to the Execution Time.

 

“Registration Statement” shall mean the registration statement referred to in Section 2(a) above, including exhibits and financial statements and any prospectus supplement relating to the Shares that is filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) and deemed part of such registration statement pursuant to Rule 430B, as amended on each Effective Date and, in the event any post-effective amendment thereto or any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement becomes effective, shall also mean such registration statement as so amended or such Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, as the case may be.

 

“Rule 158”, “Rule 163”, “Rule 164”, “Rule 172”, “Rule 405”, “Rule 415”, “Rule 424”, “Rule 430B” and “Rule 462” refer to such rules under the Securities Act.

 

“Rule 462(b) Registration Statement” shall mean a registration statement and any amendments thereto filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) relating to the offering covered by the registration statement referred to in Section 1(a) hereof.

 

“Securities Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

“U.S. Special Resolution Regime” shall mean each of (i) the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder and (ii) Title II of the ▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

 

If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, please sign and return to us the enclosed duplicate hereof, whereupon this letter and your acceptance shall represent a binding agreement among the Company and the Managers.

 

	Very truly yours,
	SoundHound AI, Inc.
	By:	/s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
		Name:	▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
		Title:	Chief Executive Officer

 

The foregoing Agreement is
hereby confirmed and accepted
as of the date first written above.

 

Cantor ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co.
By:	/s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
	Name:	▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
	Title:	Managing Director
Guggenheim Securities, LLC
By:	/s/ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇
	Name:	▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇
	Title:	Senior Managing Director
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. Inc.
By:	/s/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
	Name:	▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
	Title:	Head of Equity Capital Markets
Wedbush Securities Inc.
By:	/s/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
	Name:	▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
	Title:	EVP, Head of Investment Banking and Capital Markets
Ladenburg ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. Inc.
By:	/s/ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
	Name:	▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
	Title:	Managing Director
Northland Securities, Inc.
By:	/s/ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
	Name:	▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
	Title:	Head of Investment Banking

 

[Signature Page to the Equity Distribution Agreement]

 

 

Exhibit 4(j)

 

SOUNDHOUND AI, INC.

 

OFFICER CERTIFICATE

 

[●], 20[●]

 

The undersigned, the duly qualified and elected Chief Executive Officer, of SoundHound AI, Inc. (the “Company”), a Delaware corporation, does hereby certify in such capacity and on behalf of the Company, pursuant to Section 4(j) of the Equity Distribution Agreement dated January 27, 2025 (the “Agreement”) among the Company and Cantor ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co., Guggenheim Securities, LLC, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. Inc., Wedbush Securities Inc., Ladenburg ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. Inc. and Northland Securities, Inc., that to the knowledge of the undersigned:

 

(i)

no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement is in effect, and no proceedings for such purpose pursuant to Section 8A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) are pending before or threatened by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”);

 

(ii)

the Prospectus Supplement and any Interim Prospectus Supplement have been timely filed with the Commission under the Securities Act and in accordance with the Agreement;

 

(iii)

since the date of the latest audited financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there has been no event or development in respect of the business or financial condition of the Company and its subsidiaries that is, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect;

 

(iv)

the representations and warranties of the Company contained in the Agreement are true and correct on and as of the date hereof; and

 

(v)

the Company has complied with all of the agreements and satisfied all of the conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied under the Agreement on or prior to the date hereof.

 

Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings given to such terms in the Agreement.

 

Each of ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LLP and ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Schole LLP is entitled to rely on this certificate in connection with such firm’s legal opinion to be delivered pursuant to the Agreement.

 

	By:
	Name:
	Title:
Date:_____________

 

 

 

[Form of Terms Agreement]

ANNEX I

 

Soundhound ai, inc.

Common Stock

Terms Agreement

 

______, 20__

 

[Cantor ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co.]

[Guggenheim Securities, LLC]

[▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. Inc.]

[Wedbush Securities Inc.]

[Ladenburg ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. Inc.]

[Northland Securities, Inc.]

 

[c/o Cantor ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co.

▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇

New York, New York 10022]

 

[c/o Guggenheim Securities, LLC

▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇

New York, New York 10017]

 

[c/o Oppenheimer & Co. Inc.

▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇

New York, NY 10004]

 

[c/o Wedbush Securities Inc.

▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇

Los Angeles, California 90017]

 

[c/o Ladenburg ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. Inc.

▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇

New York, NY 10019]

 

[c/o Northland Securities, Inc.

▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇

Minneapolis MN 55402]

 

Dear Sirs:

 

SoundHound AI, Inc. (the “Company”) proposes, subject to the terms and conditions stated herein and in the Equity Distribution Agreement, dated January 27, 2025 (the “Equity Distribution Agreement”), by and among the Company, Cantor ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co., Guggenheim Securities, LLC, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. Inc., Wedbush Securities Inc., Ladenburg ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. Inc. and Northland Securities, Inc., to issue and sell to [Cantor ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co.][Guggenheim Securities, LLC][▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. Inc.][Wedbush Securities Inc.][Ladenburg ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. Inc.][Northland Securities, Inc.], the securities specified in the Schedule I hereto (the “Purchased Shares”).

 

Each of the provisions of the Equity Distribution Agreement not specifically related to the solicitation by [▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co.][Guggenheim Securities, LLC] [▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. Inc.][Wedbush Securities Inc.][Ladenburg ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. Inc.,][Northland Securities, Inc.], as agent of the Company, of offers to purchase securities is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, and shall be deemed to be part of this Terms Agreement to the same extent as if such provisions had been set forth in full herein. Each of the representations and warranties set forth therein shall be deemed to have been made at and as of the date of this Terms Agreement and the Time of Delivery, except that each representation and warranty in Section 2 of the Equity Distribution Agreement which makes reference to the Prospectus (as therein defined) shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty as of the date of the Equity Distribution Agreement in relation to the Prospectus, and also a representation and warranty as of the date of this Terms Agreement and the Time of Delivery in relation to the Prospectus as amended and supplemented to relate to the Purchased Shares.

 

An amendment to the Registration Statement (as defined in the Equity Distribution Agreement), or a supplement to the Prospectus, as the case may be, relating to the Purchased Shares, in the form heretofore delivered to the Managers is now proposed to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and in the Equity Distribution Agreement which are incorporated herein by reference, the Company agrees to issue and sell to [▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co.][Guggenheim Securities, LLC][▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. Inc.][Wedbush Securities Inc.][Ladenburg ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. Inc.,][Northland Securities, Inc.] and the latter agrees to purchase from the Company the number of shares of the Purchased Shares at the time and place and at the purchase price set forth in the Schedule I hereto.

 

 

If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please sign and return to us a counterpart hereof, whereupon this Terms Agreement, including those provisions of the Equity Distribution Agreement incorporated herein by reference, shall constitute a binding agreement between [▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co.][Guggenheim Securities, LLC][▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. Inc.][Wedbush Securities Inc.][Ladenburg ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. Inc.,][Northland Securities, Inc.] and the Company.

 

	SOUNDHOUND AI, INC.
	By:
		Name:
		Title:

 

ACCEPTED as of the date
first written above.

 

[CANTOR ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & CO.] [GUGGENHEIM SECURITIES, LLC] [▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & CO., INC.] [WEDBUSH SECURITIES, INC.] [LADENBURG ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & CO. INC.] [NORTHLAND SECURITIES, INC.]
By:
	Name:
	Title:

 

 

Title of Purchased Shares [and Additional Shares]:
Common Stock, par value $[__] per share
Number of Shares of Purchased Shares:
[Number of Shares of Additional Shares:]
[Price to Public:]
Purchase Price by [▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co.][Guggenheim Securities, LLC][▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. Inc.][Wedbush Securities Inc.][Ladenburg ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. Inc.][Northland Securities, Inc.]:

 

Method of and Specified Funds for Payment of Purchase Price:
	By wire transfer to a bank account specified by the Company in same day funds.
Method of Delivery:
	Free delivery of the Shares to the Manager’s account at The Depository Trust Company in return for payment of the purchase price.
Time of Delivery:
Closing Location:
Documents to be Delivered:
	The following documents referred to in the Equity Distribution Agreement shall be delivered as a condition to the closing at the Time of Delivery [and on any Option Closing Date]:   (1) The opinion referred to in Section 4(k).   (2) The opinion referred to in Section 4(l).   (3) The accountants’ letter referred to in Sections 4(m),   4(n) and 4(o). (4) The chief financial officer’s certificate referred to in Section 4(p).   (5) The officers’ certificate referred to in Section 4(j).   (6) Such other documents as the Managers shall reasonably request.