Exhibit 4.9

 

SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT

 

This Subscription Agreement (this “Agreement”) is dated as of October 28, 2020 between AKERNA CORP. Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and the investor identified on the signature page hereto (including its successors and assigns, a “Investor”). The Company proposes to enter into substantially this same form of Subscription Agreement with certain other investors (the “Other Investors”) and expects to complete sales of Securities to them. The Investor and the Other Investors are hereinafter sometimes collectively referred to as the “Investors,” and this Agreement and the Subscription Agreements executed by the Other Investors are hereinafter sometimes collectively referred to as the “Agreements.”

 

WHEREAS, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement and pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), the Company desires to issue and sell to the Investors, and the Investors desires to purchase from the Company, securities of the Company as more fully described in the Agreements.

 

WHEREAS, the Company has entered into the Placement Agency Agreement with the Placement Agent that contains representations, warranties, covenants and agreements of the Company that may be relied upon by the Investor, which shall be a third party beneficiary thereof.

 

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

 

ARTICLE I.

DEFINITIONS

 

1.1 Definitions. In addition to the terms defined elsewhere in this Agreement, for all purposes of this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings set forth in this Section 1.1:

 

Acquiring Person” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 4.5.

 

Affiliate” means any Person that, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls or is controlled by or is under common control with a Person as such terms are used in and construed under Rule 405 under the Securities Act.

 

Board of Directors” means the board of directors of the Company.

 

Business Day” means any day except any Saturday, any Sunday, any day which is a federal legal holiday in the United States or any day on which banking institutions in the State of New York are authorized or required by law or other governmental action to close.

 

Closing” means the closing of the purchase and sale of the Securities pursuant to Section 2.1.

 

Closing Date” means the Trading Day, to be specified by the Company and the Placement Agent, and of which the Investors will be notified in advance by the Placement Agent, in accordance with Rule 15c6-l promulgated under the Exchange Act, on which all of the Transaction Documents have been executed and delivered by the applicable parties thereto, and all conditions precedent to (i) the Investors’ obligations to pay their Subscription Amount and (ii) the Company’s obligations to deliver the Securities, in each case, have been satisfied or waived, but in no event later than the second (2nd) Trading Day following the date hereof.

 

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Commission” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Common Stock” means the common stock of the Company, par value $0.0001 per share, and any other class of securities into which such securities may hereafter be reclassified or changed.

 

LK” means Littman Krooks LLP, with offices located at 655 Third Avenue, 20th Floor, New York, NY 10017.

 

Per Share Purchase Price” equals $2.40, subject to adjustment for reverse and forward stock splits, stock dividends, stock combinations and other similar transactions of the Common Stock that occur after the date of this Agreement.

 

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

 

Placement Agent” means A.G.P./Alliance Global Partners.

 

Placement Agency Agreement” means the placement agency agreement between the Company and the Placement Agent, dated October 28, 2020.

 

Securities” means the Shares.

 

Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

Shares” means the shares of Common Stock issued or issuable to each Investor pursuant to the Agreements.

 

Short Sales” means all “short sales” as defined in Rule 200 of Regulation SHO under the Exchange Act (but shall not be deemed to include locating and/or borrowing shares of Common Stock).

 

Subscription Amount” means, as to the Investor, the aggregate amount to be paid for the Shares purchased hereunder as specified below the Investor’s name on the signature page of this Agreement and next to the heading “Subscription Amount,” in United States dollars and in immediately available funds.

 

Trading Day” means a day on which the principal Trading Market is open for trading.

 

Trading Market” means any of the following markets or exchanges on which the Common Stock is listed or quoted for trading on the date in question: the NYSE American, the Nasdaq Capital Market, the Nasdaq Global Market, the Nasdaq Global Select Market or the New York Stock Exchange (or any successors to any of the foregoing).

 

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Transaction Documents” means the Agreements and the Placement Agency Agreement and all exhibits and schedules thereto and hereto and any other documents or agreements executed in connection with the transactions contemplated hereunder.

 

Transfer Agent” means Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, the current transfer agent of the Company, with a mailing address of 1 State Street, 30th floor, New York, NY 10004, and a telephone number of 212.509.4000, and any successor transfer agent of the Company.

 

ARTICLE II.

PURCHASE AND SALE

 

2.1 Closing. On the Closing Date, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, the Company agrees to sell, and the Investors agree to purchase that number of Shares as specified below each Investor’s name on their respective signature page of the Agreements and next to the heading “Shares”. Each Investors’ Subscription Amount as set forth on the signature page executed by such Investor shall be made available for DWAC (as defined below) settlement with the Company or its designee. The Company shall deliver to each Investor its Shares, and the Company and each of the Investors under the Agreements shall deliver the other items set forth in Section 2.2 deliverable at the Closing. Upon satisfaction of the covenants and conditions set forth in Sections 2.2 and 2.3, and upon notification of the Placement Agent to the Investors, the Closing shall occur at the offices of LK or such other location as the parties shall mutually agree. Unless otherwise directed by the Placement Agent, prior to the Closing Date, the Investor shall make payment of the Subscription Amount to the Company to the account set forth in Schedule B hereto of immediately available funds, such funds to be held in escrow by the Company pending Closing on the Closing Date. If Closing does not occur, the Company will return such funds promptly without interest or deduction. On the Closing Date, settlement of the Shares shall occur by delivery of the Shares via The Depository Trust Company Deposit or Withdrawal at Custodian system (“DWAC”) to the account as directed by the Investor or the Placement Agent. In the case that the Shares cannot be delivered to the Investor through DWAC, settlement may be permitted, at the discretion of the Company and the Placement Agent via “Payment upon Delivery” solely through Vision Financial Markets LLC. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if at any time on or after the time of execution of this Agreement by the Company and an applicable Investor, through, and including the time immediately prior to the Closing (the “Pre-Settlement Period”), such Investor sells to any Person all, or any portion, of any Shares to be issued hereunder to such Investor at the Closing (collectively, the “Pre-Settlement Shares”), such Investor shall, automatically hereunder (without any additional required actions by such Investor or the Company), be deemed to be unconditionally bound to purchase, and the Company shall be deemed unconditionally bound to sell, such Pre-Settlement Shares to such Investor at the Closing; provided, that the Company shall not be required to deliver any Pre-Settlement Shares to such Investor prior to the Company’s receipt of the purchase price of such Pre-Settlement Shares hereunder; and provided further that the Company hereby acknowledges and agrees that the forgoing shall not constitute a representation or covenant by such Investor as to whether or not during the Pre-Settlement Period such Investor shall sell any shares of Common Stock to any Person and that any such decision to sell any shares of Common Stock by such Investor shall solely be made at the time such Investor elects to effect any such sale, if any.

 

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2.2 Deliveries.

 

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

 

(i) this Agreement duly executed by the Company;

 

(ii) the Prospectus (which may be delivered in accordance with Rule 172 under the Securities Act).

 

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

 

(i) this Agreement duly executed by such Investor; and

 

(ii) immediately available funds equal to such Investor’s Subscription Amount, which shall be made available for “Delivery Versus Payment” settlement with the Company or its designee.

 

2.3 Closing Conditions.

 

(a) The obligations of the Company hereunder in connection with the Closing are subject to the following conditions being met:

 

(i) the accuracy in all material respects (or, to the extent representations or warranties are qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Change, in all respects) on the Closing Date of the representations and warranties of the Investor contained herein (unless as of a specific date therein in which case they shall be accurate as of such date);

 

(ii) all obligations, covenants and agreements of each Investor required to be performed at or prior to the Closing Date shall have been performed; and

 

(iii) the delivery by each Investor of the items set forth in Section 2.2(b) of this Agreement.

 

(b) The respective obligations of the Investors hereunder in connection with the Closing are subject to the following conditions being met:

 

(i) the accuracy in all material respects (or, to the extent representations or warranties are qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Change, in all respects) when made and on the Closing Date of the representations and warranties of the Company contained herein (unless as of a specific date therein in which case they shall be accurate as of such date);

 

(ii) all obligations, covenants and agreements of the Company required to be performed at or prior to the Closing Date under the Transaction Documents shall have been performed;

 

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(iii) the delivery by the Company of the items set forth in Section 2.2(a) of this Agreement;

 

(iv) there shall have been no Material Adverse Change with respect to the Company since the date hereof; and

 

(v) from the date hereof to the Closing Date, trading in the Common Stock shall not have been suspended by the Commission or the Company’s principal Trading Market, and, at any time prior to the Closing Date, trading in securities generally as reported by Bloomberg L.P. shall not have been suspended or limited, or minimum prices shall not have been established on securities whose trades are reported by such service, or on any Trading Market, nor shall a banking moratorium have been declared either by the United States or the State of New York authorities nor shall there have occurred any material outbreak or escalation of hostilities or other national or international calamity of such magnitude in its effect on, or any material adverse change in, any financial market which, in each case, in the reasonable judgment of such Investor, makes it impracticable or inadvisable to purchase the Securities at the Closing.

 

ARTICLE III.

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

 

3.1 Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company hereby makes the representations, warranties and covenants as set forth in Section 1 of the Placement Agency Agreement to and for the benefit of the Investor as if set forth herein in full. The foregoing representations and warranties are set forth in Exhibit A hereto.

 

3.2 Representations and Warranties of the Investor. The Investor hereby represents and warrants as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date to the Company as follows (unless as of a specific date therein, in which case they shall be accurate as of such date):

 

(a) Organization; Authority. The Investor is either an individual or an entity duly incorporated or formed, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or formation with full right, corporate, partnership, limited liability company or similar power and authority to enter into and to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents and otherwise to carry out its obligations hereunder and thereunder. The execution and delivery of the Transaction Documents to be executed and delivered by the Investor and performance by the Investor of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate, partnership, limited liability company or similar action, as applicable, on the part of the Investor. Each Transaction Document to which it is a party has been duly executed by it, and when delivered by it in accordance with the terms hereof, will constitute the valid and legally binding obligation of the Investor, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, except: (i) as limited by general equitable principles and applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general application affecting enforcement of creditors’ rights generally, (ii) as limited by laws relating to the availability of specific performance, injunctive relief or other equitable remedies and (iii) insofar as indemnification and contribution provisions may be limited by applicable law.

 

(b) Understandings or Arrangements. The Investor is acquiring the Securities as principal for its own account and has no direct or indirect arrangement or understandings with any other persons to distribute or regarding the distribution of such Securities (this representation and warranty not limiting such Investor’s right to sell the Securities in compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws). Such Investor is acquiring the Securities hereunder in the ordinary course of its business.

 

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

 

(d) Access to Information. The Investor acknowledges that it has had the opportunity to review the Transaction Documents (including all exhibits and schedules thereto); the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (as defined in the Placement Agency Agreement), and has been afforded (i) the opportunity to ask such questions as it has deemed necessary of, and to receive answers from, representatives of the Company concerning the terms and conditions of the offering of the Securities and the merits and risks of investing in the Securities; (ii) access to information about the Company and its financial condition, results of operations, business, properties, management and prospects sufficient to enable it to evaluate its investment; and (iii) the opportunity to obtain such additional information that the Company possesses or can acquire without unreasonable effort or expense that is necessary to make an informed investment decision with respect to the investment. The Investor acknowledges and agrees that neither the Placement Agent nor any Affiliate of the Placement Agent has provided such Investor with any information or advice with respect to the Securities nor is such information or advice necessary or desired. Neither the Placement Agent nor any Affiliate has made or makes any representation as to the Company or the quality of the Securities and the Placement Agent and any Affiliate may have acquired non- public information with respect to the Company which the Investor agrees need not be provided to it. In connection with the issuance of the Securities to the Investor, neither the Placement Agent nor any of its Affiliates has acted as a financial advisor or fiduciary to such Investor.

 

(e) INTENTIONALLY OMITTED.

 

(f) Closing not Conditioned on Other Investors. The Investor acknowledges and agrees that the Investor’s obligation to purchase the Securities hereunder is expressly not conditioned on the purchase by any or all of the Other Investors of the Securities that they have agreed to purchase from the Company. The Investor understands and agrees that, in the event that the Placement Agent in its sole discretion determines that the conditions to closing in the Placement Agency Agreement have not been satisfied or if the Placement Agency Agreement may be terminated for any other reason permitted by such Placement Agency Agreement, then the Placement Agent may, but shall not be obligated to, terminate the Placement Agency Agreement, which shall have the effect of terminating the Agreements; provided that any such termination shall not affect the Company’s obligations to deliver any Pre-Settlement Shares pursuant to Section 2.1..

 

(g) No Legal or Tax Advice from the Company or the Placement Agent. The Investor understands that nothing in this Agreement, the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, or any other materials presented to the Investor in connection with the purchase and sale of the Securities, constitutes legal, tax or investment advice from the Company, the Placement Agent or any of the respective Affiliates. The Investor has consulted such legal, tax and investment advisors and made such investigation as it, in its sole discretion, has deemed necessary or appropriate in connection with its purchase of the Securities.

 

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The Company acknowledges and agrees that the representations contained in this Section 3.2 shall not modify, amend or affect such Investor’s right to rely on the Company’s representations and warranties contained in this Agreement or any representations and warranties contained in any other Transaction Document or any other document or instrument executed and/or delivered in connection with this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

ARTICLE IV.

OTHER AGREEMENTS OF THE PARTIES

 

4.1 Securities Laws Disclosure; Publicity. The Company confirms that neither it nor any other person acting on its behalf has provided the Investor or their agents or counsel with any information that constitutes or could reasonably be expected to constitute material, nonpublic information. In addition, the Company acknowledges and agrees that any and all confidentiality or similar obligations under any agreement, whether written or oral, between the Company, any of its subsidiaries or any of their respective officers, directors, agents, employees or Affiliates on the one hand, and any of the Investors or any of their Affiliates on the other hand, as its relates to this Offering shall terminate. The Company shall not publicly disclose the name of any Investor, or include the name of any Investor in any filing with the Commission or any regulatory agency or Trading Market, without the prior written consent of such Investor, except (a) as required by federal securities law in connection with the filing of final Transaction Documents with the Commission and (b) to the extent such disclosure is required by law, Trading Market regulations or FINRA.

 

4.2 Use of Proceeds. The Company shall use the net proceeds from the sale of the Securities hereunder as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

 

4.3 Reservation of Common Stock. As of the date hereof, the Company has reserved and the Company shall continue to reserve and keep available at all times, free of preemptive rights, a sufficient number of shares of Common Stock for the purpose of enabling the Company to issue Shares pursuant to this Agreement.

 

4.4 Listing of Common Stock. The Company hereby agrees to use best efforts to maintain the listing or quotation of the Common Stock on the Trading Market on which it is currently listed. The Company further agrees, if the Company applies to have the Common Stock traded on any other Trading Market, it will then include in such application all of the Shares, and will take such other action as is necessary to cause all of the Shares to be listed or quoted on such other Trading Market as promptly as possible. The Company will then take all action reasonably necessary to continue the listing and trading of its Common Stock on a Trading Market and will comply in all respects with the Company’s reporting, filing and other obligations under the bylaws or rules of the Trading Market. The Company agrees to maintain the eligibility of the Common Stock for electronic transfer through the Depository Trust Company or another established clearing corporation, including, without limitation, by timely payment of fees to the Depository Trust Company or such other established clearing corporation in connection with such electronic transfer.

 

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4.5 Equal Treatment of Investors. No consideration (including any modification of any Transaction Document) shall be offered or paid to any Person to amend or consent to a waiver or modification of any provision of the Agreements unless the same consideration is also offered to all of the parties to the Agreements. For clarification purposes, this provision constitutes a separate right granted to each Investor by the Company and negotiated separately by each Investor, and is intended for the Company to treat the Investors as a class and shall not in any way be construed as the Investors acting in concert or as a group with respect to the purchase, disposition or voting of Securities or otherwise.

 

4.6 Certain Transactions and Confidentiality. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, the Company expressly acknowledges and agrees that (i) no Investor makes any representation, warranty or covenant hereby that it will not engage in effecting transactions in any securities of the at any time, (ii) no Investor shall be restricted or prohibited from effecting any transactions in any securities of the Company in accordance with applicable securities laws and (iii) no Investor shall have any duty of confidentiality in relation to the offering of the Securities or duty not to trade in the securities of the Company to the Company or its subsidiaries.

 

ARTICLE V.

MISCELLANEOUS

 

5.1 Termination. This Agreement may be terminated by the Investor by written notice to the Company or by the Company by written notice to the Investor, if the Closing has not been consummated on or before December 31, 2020; provided, however, that no such termination will affect the right of any party to sue for any breach by any other party (or parties) and no such termination will affect the Company’s obligation to delivery any Pre-Settlement Shares pursuant to Section 2.1..

 

5.2 Fees and Expenses. Except as expressly set forth in the Transaction Documents to the contrary, each party shall pay the fees and expenses of its advisers, counsel, accountants and other experts, if any, and all other expenses incurred by such party incident to the negotiation, preparation, execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement. The Company shall pay all transfer agent fees (including, without limitation, any fees required for same-day processing of any instruction letter delivered by the Company), stamp taxes and other taxes and duties levied in connection with the delivery of any Securities to the Investors.

 

5.3 Entire Agreement. The Transaction Documents, together with the exhibits and schedules thereto, and the Prospectus, contain the entire understanding of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof and supersede all prior agreements and understandings, oral or written, with respect to such matters, which the parties acknowledge have been merged into such documents, exhibits and schedules.

 

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5.4 Notices. Any and all notices or other communications or deliveries required or permitted to be provided hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed given and effective on the earliest of: (a) the date of transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via facsimile at the facsimile number or email attachment at the email address as set forth on the signature pages attached hereto at or prior to 5:30 p.m. (New York City time) on a Trading Day, (b) the next Trading Day after the date of transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via facsimile at the facsimile number or email attachment at the email address as set forth on the signature pages attached hereto on a day that is not a Trading Day or later than 5:30 p.m. (New York City time) on any Trading Day, (c) the second (2nd) Trading Day following the date of mailing, if sent by U.S. nationally recognized overnight courier service or (d) upon actual receipt by the party to whom such notice is required to be given. The address for such notices and communications shall be as set forth on the signature pages attached hereto. To the extent that any notice provided pursuant to any Transaction Document constitutes, or contains, material, non-public information regarding the Company or any subsidiaries, the Company shall simultaneously file such notice with the Commission pursuant to a Current Report on Form 8-K.

 

5.5 Amendments; Waivers. No provision of this Agreement may be waived, modified, supplemented or amended except in a written instrument signed, in the case of an amendment, by the Company and the Investors which purchased at least 50.1% in interest of the Shares based on the initial Subscription Amounts under the Agreements or, in the case of a waiver, by the party against whom enforcement of any such waived provision is sought, provided that if any amendment, modification or waiver disproportionately and adversely impacts an Investor (or group of Investors), the consent of such disproportionately impacted Investor (or group of Investors) shall also be required. No waiver of any default with respect to any provision, condition or requirement of this Agreement shall be deemed to be a continuing waiver in the future or a waiver of any subsequent default or a waiver of any other provision, condition or requirement hereof, nor shall any delay or omission of any party to exercise any right hereunder in any manner impair the exercise of any such right. Any amendment effected in accordance with this Section 5.5 shall be binding upon each Investor under each of the Agreements.

 

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

 

5.7 Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties and their successors and permitted assigns. The Company may not assign this Agreement or any rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of each Investor (other than by merger). The Investor may not assign its rights under this Agreement to any Person without the prior written consent of the Company.

 

5.8 No Third-Party Beneficiaries. The Placement Agent shall be the third party beneficiary of the representations and warranties of the Investor in Section 3.2 and the Other Agreements of the Parties set forth in Article IV hereto. This Agreement is intended for the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns and is not for the benefit of, nor may any provision hereof be enforced by, any other Person, except as otherwise set forth in this Section 5.8.

 

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5.9 Governing Law. All questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation of the Transaction Documents shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York, without regard to the principles of conflicts of law thereof. Each party agrees that all legal Proceedings concerning the interpretations, enforcement and defense of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and any other Transaction Documents (whether brought against a party hereto or its respective affiliates, directors, officers, stockholders, partners, members, employees or agents) shall be commenced exclusively in the state and federal courts sitting in the City 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 herewith or with any transaction contemplated hereby or discussed herein (including with respect to the enforcement of any of the Transaction Documents), and hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert in any Action or Proceeding, any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of any such court, that such Action or Proceeding is improper or is an inconvenient venue for such Proceeding. Each party hereby irrevocably waives personal service of process and consents to process being served in any such Action or Proceeding by mailing a copy thereof via registered or certified mail or overnight delivery (with evidence of delivery) to such party at the address in effect for notices to it under this Agreement and agrees that such service shall constitute good and sufficient service of process and notice thereof. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit in any way any right to serve process in any other manner permitted by law. If any party shall commence an Action or Proceeding to enforce any provisions of the Transaction Documents, then the prevailing party in such Action or Proceeding shall be reimbursed by the non-prevailing party for its reasonable attorneys’ fees and other costs and expenses incurred with the investigation, preparation and prosecution of such Action or Proceeding.

 

5.10 Remedies. In addition to being entitled to exercise all rights provided herein or granted by law, including recovery of damages, each of the Investors and the Company will be entitled to specific performance under the Transaction Documents. The parties agree that monetary damages may not be adequate compensation for any loss incurred by reason of any breach of obligations contained in the Transaction Documents and hereby agree to waive and not to assert in any action for specific performance of any such obligation the defense that a remedy at law would be adequate

 

5.11 Survival. The representations and warranties contained herein shall survive the Closing and the delivery of the Securities.

 

5.12 Execution. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, all of which when taken together shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when counterparts have been signed by each party and delivered to each other party, it being understood that the parties need not sign the same counterpart. In the event that any signature is delivered by facsimile transmission or by e-mail delivery of a “.pdf” format data file, such signature shall create a valid and binding obligation of the party executing (or on whose behalf such signature is executed) with the same force and effect as if such facsimile or “.pdf” signature page were an original thereof.

 

5.13 Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions set forth herein shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated, and the parties hereto shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to find and employ an alternative means to achieve the same or substantially the same result as that contemplated by such term, provision, covenant or restriction. It is hereby stipulated and declared to be the intention of the parties that they would have executed the remaining terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions without including any of such that may be hereafter declared invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable.

 

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5.14 Construction. The parties agree that each of them and/or their respective counsel have reviewed and had an opportunity to revise the Transaction Documents and, therefore, the normal rule of construction to the effect that any ambiguities are to be resolved against the drafting party shall not be employed in the interpretation of the Transaction Documents or any amendments thereto. In addition, each and every reference to share prices and shares of Common Stock in any Transaction Document shall be subject to adjustment for reverse and forward stock splits, stock dividends, stock combinations and other similar transactions of the Common Stock that occur after the date of this Agreement.

 

5.15 Independent Nature of Investors’ Obligations and Rights. The obligations of each Investor under any Transaction Document are several and not joint with the obligations of any other Investor, and no Investor shall be responsible in any way for the performance or non-performance of the obligations of any other Investor under any Transaction Document. Nothing contained herein or in any other Transaction Document, and no action taken by any Investor pursuant hereto or thereto, shall be deemed to constitute the Investors as a partnership, an association, a joint venture or any other kind of entity, or create a presumption that the Investors are in any way acting in concert or as a group with respect to such obligations or the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents. Each Investor shall be entitled to independently protect and enforce its rights including, without limitation, the rights arising out of this Agreement or out of the other Transaction Documents, and it shall not be necessary for any other Investor to be joined as an additional party in any proceeding for such purpose. Each Investor has been represented by its own separate legal counsel in its review and negotiation of the Transaction Documents. The Company has elected to provide all Investors with the same terms and Transaction Documents for the convenience of the Company and not because it was required or requested to do so by any of the Investors. It is expressly understood and agreed that each provision contained in this Agreement and in each other Transaction Document is between the Company and an Investor, solely, and not between the Company and the Investors collectively and not between and among the Investors

 

5.16 WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. IN ANY ACTION, SUIT, OR PROCEEDING IN ANY JURISDICTION BROUGHT BY ANY PARTY AGAINST ANY OTHER PARTY, THE PARTIES EACH KNOWINGLY AND INTENTIONALLY, TO THE GREATEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, HEREBY ABSOLUTELY, UNCONDITIONALLY, IRREVOCABLY AND EXPRESSLY WAIVES FOREVER TRIAL BY JURY.

  

(Signature Pages Follow)

 

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

    

AKERNA CORP. Address for Notice:
   
By:   E-Mail: john.fowle@akerna .com
  Name: John Fowle  
  Title: Chief Financial Officer  

  

With a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):

 

Dorsey & Whitney LLP

1400 Wewatta Street, Suite 400

Denver, Colorado 80202

Fax Number: (303) 629-3450

Attn: Jason K Brenkert, Esq.

 

[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK SIGNATURE PAGE FOR INVESTOR FOLLOWS]

  

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[INVESTOR SIGNATURE PAGE TO SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT]

 

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

 

Name of Investor:

 

_______________________________________________________________________________________________ 

  

Signature of Authorized Signatory of Investor: ______________________________________________________

 

Name of Authorized Signatory: ______________________________________________________

 

Title of Authorized Signatory: ______________________________________________________

 

Email Address of Authorized Signatory: ______________________________________________________

 

Facsimile Number of Authorized Signatory: ______________________________________________________

 

Address for Notice to Investor:

  

Address for Delivery of Securities to Investor (if not same as address for notice):

 

Subscription Amount: $ __________

 

Shares: ____________________

 

EIN Number: ______________

 

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SCHEDULE A

 

Pricing Terms

 

Aggregate Number of Shares: 5,000,000

 

Price per Share to public: $2.40

 

Placement Agent’s Fee per Share: $0.168

 

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SCHEDULE B

 

Wire Instructions

 

Beneficiary Bank: KeyBank, N.A.
   
Bank Address: 4910 Tiedeman Road
  Brooklyn, OH 44144
   
Beneficiary Bank ABA: 041001039
   
Beneficiary Name: Akerna Corp.
   
Beneficiary First Bank Account No.: 769681101077
   
SWIFT Code: KEYBUS33

 

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EXHIBIT A

 

Company Representations and Warranties

 

[Capitalized terms set forth below not otherwise defined below shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Placement Agency Agreement]

 

(a) Filing of the Registration Statement. The Company has prepared and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) a registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-249380), which contains a form of prospectus to be used in connection with the public offering and sale of the Securities. Such registration statement, as amended or supplemented through to the date of this Agreement, including all financial statements and the notes thereto, exhibits and financial schedules contained in the registration statement at the time such registration statement became effective, in the form in which it was declared effective by the Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (the “Securities Act Regulations”), and including any required documents and information deemed to be a part thereof at the time of effectiveness pursuant to Rule 430A under the Securities Act and the Securities Act Regulations, or pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (collectively, the “Exchange Act”), and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (the “Exchange Act Regulations”), is called the “Registration Statement.” Any registration statement filed by the Company pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act and the Securities Act Regulations is called the “Rule 462(b) Registration Statement,” and from and after the date and time of filing of the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, the term “Registration Statement” shall include the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement. Such prospectus, in the form first filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act and the Securities Act Regulations after the date and time that this Agreement is executed and delivered by the parties hereto, or, if no filing pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act is required, the form of final prospectus relating to the Securities included in the Registration Statement at the effective date of the Registration Statement, is called the “Prospectus.” All references in this Agreement to the Registration Statement, the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, the preliminary prospectus or prospectus subject to completion included in the Registration Statement or filed with the Commission under Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act and the Securities Act Regulations (each, a “preliminary prospectus”), the Prospectus, or any amendments or supplements to any of the foregoing, shall include any copy thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval System (“EDGAR”). The preliminary prospectus dated October 27, 2020, that was included in the Registration Statement, as amended or supplemented immediately prior to the Applicable Time (as defined below) is hereinafter called the “Pricing Prospectus.” Any reference to the “most recent preliminary prospectus” shall be deemed to refer to the latest preliminary prospectus included in the Registration Statement or filed with the Commission under Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act and the Securities Act Regulations. Any reference herein to any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus or any supplement or amendment to either thereof shall be deemed to refer to and include any documents incorporated by reference therein as of the date of such reference. 

 

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 (b) “Applicable Time” means 9:00 a.m., Eastern time, on the date of this Agreement.

 

(c) Compliance with Registration Requirements. The Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto has been declared effective by the Commission under the Securities Act and the Securities Act Regulations. No stop order preventing or suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement is in effect and no proceedings for such purpose have been instituted or are pending or, to the best knowledge of the Company, are contemplated or threatened by the Commission.

 

Each preliminary prospectus and the Prospectus and any post-effective amendment when filed conformed or will conform in all material respects with the Securities Act and the Securities Act Regulations and, if filed by electronic transmission pursuant to EDGAR (except as may be permitted by Regulation S-T under the Securities Act), was identical in content to the copy thereof delivered to the Placement Agent for use in connection with the offer and sale of the Securities, other than with respect to any artwork and graphics that were not filed. Each of the Registration Statement, any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, and any post-effective amendment to either the Registration Statement or the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, at the time each part thereof became effective under the Securities Act and the Securities Act Regulations and at all subsequent times until the expiration of the prospectus delivery period required under Section 4(a)(3) of the Securities Act, conformed and will conform in all material respects with the Securities Act and the Securities Act Regulations and did not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; provided, however, that the Company makes no representations or warranties as to information contained in or omitted from any Preliminary Prospectus, in reliance upon, and in conformity with, written information furnished to the Company by the Placement Agent specifically for inclusion therein, which information the parties hereto agree is limited to the Placement Agent’s Information (as set forth in Section 7(b)). The Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, as of its date and at all subsequent times until the Placement Agent has completed the placement of the Securities, did not and will not contain 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 Placement Agent’s Information. There are no contracts or other documents required to be described in the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement that have not been fairly and accurately described in all material respects or filed as required.

 

(d) Disclosure Package. The term “Disclosure Package” shall mean (i) the Pricing Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, (ii) the pricing terms set forth in Schedule A to this Agreement, and (iii) any other free writing prospectus that the parties hereto shall hereafter expressly agree in writing to treat as part of the Disclosure Package. As of the Applicable Time, the Disclosure Package did 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 provided, however, that the Company makes no representations or warranties as to the Placement Agent’s Information.

 

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(e) Company an Ineligible Issuer. (i) At the time of filing the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto and (ii) as of the date of the execution and delivery of this Agreement (with such date being used as the determination date for purposes of this clause (ii)), the Company was and is an Ineligible Issuer (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act and the Securities Act Regulations).

 

(f) Emerging Growth Company Status. From the time of the initial filing of the Registration Statement to the Commission (or, if earlier, the first date on which the Company engaged directly or through any Person authorized to act on its behalf in any Testing-the-Waters Communication) through the date hereof, the Company has been and is an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act.

 

(g) Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses. The Company has not authorized, issued, distributed or authorized anyone to issue, distribute or use any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus.

 

(h) Testing-the-Waters Materials. The Company has not authorized anyone other than the Placement Agent to engage in Testing-the-Waters Communications. The Company has not distributed any Written Testing-the-Waters Communications. The term “Testing-the-Waters Communication” means any oral or written communication with potential investors in reliance on Section 5(d) of the Securities Act. The term “Written Testing-the-Waters Communication” means any Testing-the-Waters Communication that is a written communication within the meaning of Rule 405 of the Securities Act Regulations.

 

(i) Offering Materials Furnished to the Placement Agent. The Company has delivered to the Placement Agent conformed copies of the Registration Statement and of each consent and certificate of experts filed as a part thereof, and each preliminary prospectus and the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, in such quantities and at such places as the Placement Agent has reasonably requested.

 

(j) Distribution of Offering Material By the Company. The Company has not distributed and will not distribute, prior to the completion of the Placement Agent’s placement of the Securities, any offering material in connection with the offering and sale of the Securities other than a preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus and the Registration Statement.

 

(k) The Placement Agency Agreement. This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by, and is a valid and binding agreement of, the Company, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as rights to indemnification hereunder may be limited by applicable law and except as the enforcement hereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting the rights and remedies of creditors or by general equitable principles.

 

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(l) Authorization of the Securities. The Securities to be sold by the Company through the Placement Agent have been duly authorized by all required corporate action and have been reserved for issuance and sale pursuant to this Agreement and, when so issued and delivered by the Company, and upon payment of the purchase price of the Securities as contemplated herein and in the Subscription Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

 

(m) No Applicable Registration or Other Similar Rights. There are no persons with registration or other similar rights to have any securities of the Company registered for sale under the Registration Statement or included in the offering contemplated by this Agreement.

 

(n) No Material Adverse Change. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Disclosure Package, subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is given in the Disclosure Package: (i) there has been no material adverse change, or any development that could reasonably be expected to result in a material adverse change, in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business, operations or business prospects, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business, of the Company (any such change, a “Material Adverse Change”); (ii) the Company has not incurred any material liability or obligation, indirect, direct or contingent, not in the ordinary course of business nor entered into any material transaction or agreement not in the ordinary course of business; and (iii) there has been no dividend or distribution of any kind declared, paid or made by the Company in respect of its capital stock.

 

(o) Independent Accountant. Marcum LLP (the “Accountant”), which has expressed its opinions with respect to the audited financial statements (which term as used in this Agreement includes the related notes thereto) of the Company filed with the Commission as a part of the Registration Statement and included in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, is an independent registered public accounting firm as required by the Securities Act, the Securities Act Regulations and the Rules and Regulations and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States).

 

(p) Preparation of the Financial Statements. The financial statements included in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, together with the related schedules, if any, and notes, present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries at the dates indicated and the statement of operations, stockholders’ equity and cash flows of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries for the periods specified therein; said financial statements and related notes and schedules have been prepared in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved, except in the case of unaudited interim financial statements, which are subject to normal year-end audit adjustments that are not expected to be material and the exclusion of certain footnotes and except as may be set forth in certain notes to such financial statements. The supporting schedules, if any, present fairly in accordance with GAAP the information required to be stated therein. The selected historical financial data set forth under the caption “Selected Consolidated Financial Data” included in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus present fairly, in all material respects, the information shown therein and have been compiled on a basis consistent with that of the audited and unaudited financial statements included therein. Except as included therein, no historical or pro forma financial statements or supporting schedules are required to be included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus under the Securities Act or the Securities Act Regulations. All “non-GAAP financial measures” (as such term is defined by the rules and regulations of the Commission) in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus are properly and accurately described and reconciled to the GAAP financial statements in accordance with the requirements of the Regulation G under the Securities Act and the Securities Act Regulations. The interactive data in eXtensible Business Reporting Language included in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus 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.

 

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(q) Incorporation and Good Standing. The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation, in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation and has corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement. The Company is duly qualified as a foreign corporation to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, except where the failure to qualify, singularly or in the aggregate, would not have or reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change. Each “significant subsidiary” of the Company (as such term is defined in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X) (each, a “Significant Subsidiary” and, collectively, the “Significant Subsidiaries”) has been duly incorporated or organized under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization and is validly existing in good standing (or such equivalent concept to the extent it exists under the laws of such jurisdiction), has corporate or similar power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and is duly qualified to transact business and is in good standing (or such equivalent concept to the extent it exists under the laws of such jurisdiction) in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of business, except where the failure to qualify, singularly or in the aggregate, would not have or reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change. Except as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of each Significant Subsidiary has been duly authorized and validly issued, is fully paid and non-assessable and is owned by the Company, directly or through subsidiaries, free and clear of any security interest, mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance, claim or equity. None of the outstanding shares of capital stock of any Significant Subsidiary were issued in violation of the preemptive or similar rights of any securityholder of such Significant Subsidiary. The only Significant Subsidiaries of the Company are the subsidiaries listed on Exhibit 21 to the Registration Statement.

 

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(r) Capitalization and Other Capital Stock Matters. The authorized, issued and outstanding capital stock of the Company is as set forth in each of the Registration Statement, Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (other than for subsequent issuances, if any, pursuant to employee benefit plans described in each of the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or upon exercise of outstanding options or warrants or upon conversion of convertible securities, in each case, as described in the Disclosure Package and Prospectus, as the case may be). The Securities conform, and, when issued and delivered as provided in this Agreement, the Securities will conform, in all material respects to the description thereof contained in each of the Disclosure Package and Prospectus. All of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and have been issued in compliance with federal and state securities laws. None of the outstanding shares of capital stock was 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 other than those accurately described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. The description of the Company’s stock option and other stock plans or arrangements, and the options or other rights granted thereunder, set forth in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus accurately and fairly presents the information required to be shown with respect to such plans, arrangements, options and rights.

 

(s) Non-Contravention of Existing Instruments; No Further Authorizations or Approvals Required. The Company is not in violation of its certificate of incorporation, or bylaws or in default (or, with the giving of notice or lapse of time, would be in default) (“Default”) under any indenture, mortgage, loan or credit agreement, note, contract, franchise, lease or other instrument to which it is a party or by which it may be bound (including, without limitation, any agreement or contract filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement or to which any of the property or assets of the Company are subject (each, an “Existing Instrument”)), except for such Defaults as could not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Change. The Company’s execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (i) have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action and will not result in any violation of the provisions of the certificate of incorporation or bylaws of the Company, (ii) will not conflict with or constitute a breach of, or Default under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company pursuant to, or require the consent of any other party to, any Existing Instrument, except for such breaches or Defaults as could not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Change and (iii) will not result in any violation of any law, administrative regulation or administrative or court decree applicable to the Company. No consent, approval, authorization or other order of, or registration or filing with, any court or other governmental or regulatory authority or agency, is required for the Company’s execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, except the registration or qualification of the Securities under the Securities Act and applicable state securities or blue sky laws, the qualification of the Securities with the Exchange and as may be required from the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”).

 

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(t) No Material Actions or Proceedings. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there are no legal or governmental actions, suits or proceedings pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened (i) against or affecting the Company, (ii) which have as the subject thereof any officer or director (in such capacities) of, or property owned or leased by, the Company or (iii) relating to environmental or discrimination matters, where in any such case (A) there is a reasonable possibility that such action, suit or proceeding might be determined adversely to the Company and (B) any such action, suit or proceeding, if so determined adversely, would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change or adversely affect the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. No labor dispute with the employees of the Company exists or, to the Company’s knowledge, is threatened or imminent where in any such case (A) there is a reasonable possibility that such action, suit or proceeding might be determined adversely to the Company and (B) any such action, suit or proceeding, if so determined adversely, would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change or adversely affect the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

(u) Intellectual Property Rights. The Company, either directly or through its Significant Subsidiaries, owns, possesses or licenses, and otherwise has legally enforceable rights to use all patents, patent applications, trademarks, trade names, copyrights, domain names, licenses, approvals and trade secrets (collectively, “Intellectual Property Rights”) reasonably necessary to conduct its business as now conducted or, otherwise, as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus; and the expected expiration of any of such Intellectual Property Rights would not be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change. The Company has not received any written notice of infringement or conflict with asserted Intellectual Property Rights of others. The Company is not a party to or bound by any options, licenses or agreements with respect to the Intellectual Property Rights of any other person or entity that are required to be set forth in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and are not described in all material respects. None of the technology employed by the Company has been obtained or is being used by the Company in violation of any contractual obligation binding on the Company or, to the Company’s knowledge, any of their respective officers, directors or employees or otherwise in violation of the rights of any persons. The Company is not subject to any judgment, order, writ, injunction or decree of any court or any federal, state, local, foreign or other governmental department, commission, board, bureau, agency or instrumentality, domestic or foreign, or any arbitrator, nor has it entered into nor is it a party to any agreement made in settlement of any pending or threatened litigation, which materially restricts or impairs its use of any Intellectual Property Rights. The Company has taken reasonable and customary actions to protect its rights in confidential information and trade secrets and to protect any confidential information provided to it by any other person.

 

(v) COVID 19. Since January 1, 2020, the Company and the Significant Subsidiaries have (i) complied, in all respects, with all all statutes, rules, or regulations applicable to their respective businesses and operations relating to COVID-19, including those relating to (A) shelter-in-place, quarantine and other similar orders, (B) the maintenance of safe and acceptable working conditions, and (C) employee benefits, privacy or labor and employment, including with respect to the furlough or termination of employees, the reduction or modification of compensation or employee benefits or the administration of employee leaves of absence, except, in each case, where such failure would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change.

 

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(w) IT Systems The Company reasonably believes that (i) the Company and the Significant Subsidiaries own or have a valid right to access and use all computer systems, networks, hardware, software, databases, websites, and equipment used to process, store, maintain and operate data, information, and functions used in connection with the business of the Company and the Significant Subsidiaries (the “Company IT Systems”), (ii) the Company IT Systems are adequate for, and operate and perform as required in connection with, the operation of the business of the Company and the Significant Subsidiaries as currently conducted and (iii) the Company and the Significant Subsidiaries have implemented reasonable backup, security and disaster recovery technology consistent with applicable industry standards and, to the extent applicable regulatory standards.

 

(x) All Necessary Permits, etc. The Company possesses such valid and current certificates, authorizations or permits (“Permits”) issued by the appropriate state, federal or foreign regulatory agencies or bodies necessary to conduct its business, and the Company has not received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of, or non-compliance with, any such certificate, authorization or permit, except where the failure to have any such Permits would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change.

 

(y) Title to Properties. The Company has good and marketable title to all the properties and assets reflected as owned by it in the financial statements referred to in Section 1(q) above (or elsewhere in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus), in each case free and clear of any security interest, mortgage, lien, encumbrance, equity, adverse claim or other defect, except as described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and such as do not materially and adversely affect the value of such property and do not materially interfere with the use made or proposed to be made of such property by the Company. The real property, improvements, equipment and personal property held under lease by the Company are held under valid and enforceable leases, with such exceptions as are not material and do not materially interfere with the use made or proposed to be made of such real property, improvements, equipment or personal property by the Company.

 

(z) Tax Law Compliance. The Company has filed all necessary federal, state and foreign income and franchise tax returns or has timely and properly filed requested extensions thereof and has paid all taxes required to be paid by it and, if due and payable, any related or similar assessment, fine or penalty levied against it. The Company has made adequate charges, accruals and reserves in the applicable financial statements referred to in Section 1(q) above in respect of all federal, state and foreign income and franchise taxes for all periods as to which the tax liability of the Company has not been finally determined.

 

(aa Company Not an “Investment Company.” The Company is not, and after giving effect to payment for the Securities and the application of the proceeds as contemplated under the caption “Use of Proceeds” in each of the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus will not be, required to register as an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”), and will conduct its business in a manner so that it will not become subject to registration under the Investment Company Act.

 

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(bb) Insurance. The Company is insured by institutions believed to be recognized, financially sound and reputable, with policies in such amounts and with such deductibles and covering such risks as the Company reasonably believes are adequate and customary for its business including, but not limited to, policies covering real and personal property owned or leased by the Company against theft, damage, destruction and acts of vandalism. The Company reasonably believes that it will be able (i) to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such policies expire or (ii) to obtain comparable coverage from similar institutions as may be necessary or appropriate to conduct its business as now conducted. The Company has not been denied any insurance coverage which it has sought or for which it has applied.

 

(cc) No Price Stabilization or Manipulation. 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 securities of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities.

 

(dd) Related Party Transactions. There are no business relationships or related-party transactions involving the Company or any other person required to be described or filed in the Registration Statement, or described in the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, that have not been described as required.

 

(ee) Disclosure Controls and Procedures. The Company has established and maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of the Exchange Act Regulations), which (i) are designed to ensure that material information relating to the Company is made known to the Company’s principal executive officer and its principal financial officer by others within the Company, (ii) will be evaluated for effectiveness as of the end of each fiscal quarter and fiscal year of the Company and (iii) are effective in all material respects to perform the functions for which they were established. Except as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Company is not aware of (a) any significant deficiency in the design or operation of internal controls which could adversely affect the Company’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data or any material weaknesses in internal controls or (b) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company’s internal controls.

 

(ff) Company’s Accounting System. The Company maintains a system of accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain accountability for assets; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences.

 

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(gg) Money Laundering Law Compliance. The operations of the Company are and have been conducted at all times in material compliance with all applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements, including those of the Bank Secrecy Act, as amended by Title III of the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (USA PATRIOT Act), and the applicable anti-money laundering statutes of jurisdictions where the Company conducts business, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any competent governmental agency (collectively, the “Anti-Money Laundering Laws”), and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company with respect to the Anti-Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened.

 

(hh) OFAC. (i) Neither the Company, its subsidiaries, nor any director, officer, or employee of the Company, nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any agent, affiliate or person acting on behalf of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, is an individual or entity (“Person”) that is, or is owned or controlled by a Person that is:

 

A. the subject or target of any sanctions administered or enforced by the U.S. government (including, without limitation, the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control or the U.S. Department of State and including, without limitation, the designation as a “specially designated national” or “blocked person”), the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, Her Majesty’s Treasury, or other relevant sanctions authority (collectively, “Sanctions”), nor

 

B. located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is the subject of Sanctions (including, without limitation, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan, Syria and Crimea).

 

(ii) The Company will not, directly or indirectly, use the proceeds of the offering, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other Person:

 

A. to fund or facilitate any activities or business of or with any Person or in any country or territory that, at the time of such funding or facilitation, is the subject of Sanctions; or

 

B. in any other manner that will result in a violation of Sanctions by any Person (including any Person participating in the offering, whether as Placement Agent, advisor, investor or otherwise).

 

(iii) Since its inception, the Company has not knowingly engaged in, and is not now knowingly engaged in, any dealings or transactions with any Person, or in any country or territory, that at the time of the dealing or transaction is or was the subject of Sanctions.

 

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(ii) ERISA Compliance. The Company and any “employee benefit plan” (as defined under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and the regulations and published interpretations thereunder (collectively, “ERISA”)) established or maintained by the Company or its “ERISA Affiliates” (as defined below) are in compliance in all material respects with ERISA. “ERISA Affiliate” means, with respect to the Company, any member of any group of organizations described in Section 414(b), (c), (m) or (o) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations and published interpretations thereunder (the “Code”) of which the Company is a member. No “reportable event” (as defined under ERISA) has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur with respect to any “employee benefit plan” established or maintained by the Company or any of its ERISA Affiliates. No “employee benefit plan” established or maintained by the Company or any of its ERISA Affiliates, if such “employee benefit plan” were terminated, would have any “amount of unfunded benefit liabilities” (as defined under ERISA). Neither the Company nor any of its ERISA Affiliates has incurred or reasonably expects to incur any liability under (i) Title IV of ERISA with respect to termination of, or withdrawal from, any “employee benefit plan” or (ii) Section 412, 4971, 4975 or 4980B of the Code. Each “employee benefit plan” established or maintained by the Company or any of its ERISA Affiliates that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code is so qualified, and nothing has occurred, whether by action or failure to act, which would cause the loss of such qualification.

 

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

 

(kk) Accuracy of Exhibits. There are no contracts or documents which are required to be described in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement which have not been so described in all material respects and filed as required.

 

(ll) Environmental Laws. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is in violation in any material respect of any applicable federal, state, local or foreign statute, law, rule, regulation, ordinance, code, policy or rule of common law or any judicial or administrative interpretation thereof, including any judicial or administrative order, consent, decree or judgment, relating to pollution or protection of human health, the environment (including, without limitation, ambient air, surface water, groundwater, land surface or subsurface strata) or wildlife, including, without limitation, laws and regulations relating to the release or threatened release of hazardous chemicals, pollutants, contaminants, hazardous wastes, toxic substances, hazardous substances, petroleum or petroleum products, asbestos-containing materials or toxic mold (collectively, “Hazardous Materials”) or to the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport or handling of Hazardous Materials (collectively, “Environmental Laws”), the Company and its Subsidiaries have all permits, authorizations and approvals required under any applicable Environmental Laws for the operation of their business or the occupancy of their real property and are each in compliance with their requirements, there are no pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened administrative, regulatory or judicial actions, suits, demands, demand letters, claims, liens, notices of noncompliance or violation, proceedings or, to the Company’s knowledge, investigations relating to any Environmental Law against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and to the Company’s knowledge, there are no events or circumstances that would reasonably be expected to form the basis of an order for clean-up or remediation, or an action, suit or proceeding by any private party or Governmental Entity, against or affecting the Company or any of its Subsidiaries relating to Hazardous Materials or any Environmental Laws.

 

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(mm) Registration Rights. There are no persons with registration rights or other similar rights to have any securities registered pursuant to the Registrant Statement or otherwise registered for sale by the Company under the Securities Act, except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

 

(nn) Integration. Neither the Company, nor any of its affiliates, nor any person acting on its behalf has, directly or indirectly, made any offers or sales of any security or solicited any offers to buy any security, under circumstances that would cause the Offering to be integrated with prior offerings by the Company for purposes of the Securities Act, which would require the registration of the sales of any such securities under the Securities Act

 

(oo) Statistical and Market-Related Data. Any statistical and market-related data included in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus are based on or derived from sources that the Company believes, after reasonable inquiry, to be reliable and accurate in all material respects and, to the extent required, the Company has obtained the written consent to the use of such data from such sources.

 

Any certificate signed by an officer of the Company and delivered to the Placement Agent or to counsel for the Placement Agent shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty by the Company to the Placement Agent as to the matters set forth therein. The Company acknowledges that the Placement Agent will rely upon the accuracy and truthfulness of the foregoing representations and hereby consents to such reliance.

 

 

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