EX-1.1 2 ff12023a2ex1-1_linkage.htm FORM OF UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

Exhibit 1.1

 

UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

New York, New York
[__, 2023]

 

EF HUTTON, division of Benchmark Investments, LLC

As Representative of the several Underwriters named on Schedule 1 attached hereto

590 Madison Avenue, 39th Floor

New York, New York 10022

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

The undersigned, Linkage Global Inc, a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Company”), hereby confirms its agreement (this “Agreement”) with EF Hutton, division of Benchmark Investments, LLC (hereinafter referred to as the “Representative”), and with the other underwriters named on Schedule 1 hereto for which the Representative is acting as representative (the Representative and such other underwriters being collectively called the “Underwriters” or, individually, an “Underwriter”) as follows:

 

1. Purchase and Sale of Securities.

 

1.1 Firm Shares.

 

1.1.1. Nature and Purchase of Firm Shares.

 

(i) On the basis of the representations and warranties herein contained, but subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company agrees to issue and sell to the several Underwriters, an aggregate of [●] shares (the “Firm Shares”) of the Company’s ordinary shares, par value $0.00025 per share (the “Ordinary Shares”).

 

(ii) The Underwriters, severally and not jointly, agree to purchase from the Company the number of Firm Shares set forth opposite their respective names on Schedule 1 attached hereto and made a part hereof at a purchase price (net of discounts as set forth in Section 1.3 hereof) of $[●] per Firm Share. The Firm Shares are to be offered initially to the public at the offering price set forth on the cover page of the Prospectus (as defined in Section 2.1.1 hereof).

 

1.1.2. Firm Shares Payment and Delivery.

 

(i) Delivery and payment for the Firm Shares shall be made at 10:00 a.m., Eastern time, on the second (2nd) Business Day following the effective date (the “Effective Date”) of the Registration Statement (as defined in Section 2.1.1 below) (or the third (3rd) Business Day following the Effective Date if the Registration Statement is declared effective after 4:01 p.m., Eastern time) or at such earlier time as shall be agreed upon by the Representative and the Company, at the offices of Ortoli Rosenstadt LLP, 366 Madison Avenue, 3rd Floor, New York, NY 10017 (the “Representative Counsel”), or at such other place (or remotely by facsimile or other electronic transmission) as shall be agreed upon by the Representative and the Company. The hour and date of delivery and payment for the Firm Shares is called the “Closing Date.” The closing of the payment of the purchase price for, and delivery of certificates representing the Firm Shares, is referred to herein as the “Closing.”

 

(ii) Payment for the Firm Shares shall be made on the Closing Date by wire transfer in federal (same day) funds, payable to the order of the Company upon delivery of the certificates (in form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriters) representing the Firm Shares (or if uncertificated through the full fast transfer facilities of the Depository Trust Company (“DTC”)) for the account of the Underwriters. The Firm Shares shall be registered in such name or names and in such authorized denominations as the Representative may request in writing at least two (2) full Business Days prior to the Closing Date. If certificated, the Company shall permit the Underwriters to examine and package the Firm Shares for delivery at least one (1) full business day prior to the Closing Date. The Company shall not be obligated to sell or deliver the Firm Shares except upon tender of payment by the Representative for all of the Firm Shares. The term “Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday, a legal holiday or any other day on which commercial banks in the City of New York are authorized or required by law to remain closed; provided, however, for clarification, commercial banks shall not be deemed to be authorized or required by law to remain closed due to “stay-at-home,” “shelter-in-place,” “non-essential employee” or any other similar orders or restrictions or the closure of any physical branch locations at the direction of any governmental authority, so long as the electronic funds transfer systems (including for wire transfers) of commercial banks in the City of New York generally are open for use by customers on such day.

 

 

 

 

1.2 Over-allotment Option.

 

1.2.1. Option Shares. On the basis of the representations and warranties herein contained, but subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, solely for the purposes of covering any over-allotments in connection with the distribution and sale of the Firm Shares, the Company hereby grants to the Underwriters an option to purchase up to [●] additional Ordinary Shares (the “Option Shares”), representing fifteen percent (15%) of the Firm Shares sold in the offering from the Company (the “Over-allotment Option”). The purchase price to be paid per Option Share shall be equal to the price per Firm Share set forth in Section 1.1.1 hereof. The Firm Shares and the Option Shares are hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Public Securities.” The offering and sale of the Public Securities is hereinafter referred to as the “Offering.”

 

1.2.2. Exercise of Option. The Over-allotment Option granted pursuant to Section 1.2.1 hereof may be exercised by the Representative as to all (at any time) or any part (from time to time) of the Option Shares on or within 45 days of the Closing Date. The Underwriters shall not be under any obligation to purchase any Option Shares prior to the exercise of the Over-allotment Option. The Over-allotment Option granted hereby may be exercised by the giving of oral notice to the Company from the Representative, which must be confirmed in writing by overnight mail or facsimile or other electronic transmission setting forth the number of Option Shares to be purchased and the date and time for delivery of and payment for the Option Shares (the “Option Closing Date”), which shall not be later than five (5) full Business Days after the date of the notice or such other time as shall be agreed upon by the Company and the Representative, at the offices of the Representative Counsel or such other place (including remotely by facsimile or other electronic transmission) as shall be agreed upon by the Company and the Representative. If such delivery and payment for the Option Shares does not occur on the Closing Date, the Option Closing Date will be as set forth in the notice. Upon exercise of the Over-allotment Option with respect to all or any portion of the Option Shares, subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, (i) the Company shall become obligated to sell to the Underwriters the number of Option Shares specified in such notice and (ii) each of the Underwriters, acting severally and not jointly, shall purchase that portion of the total number of Option Shares then being purchased as set forth on Schedule 1 opposite the name of such Underwriter bears to the total number of Firm Shares (except as otherwise agreed to by the Underwriters).

 

1.2.3. Option Shares Payment and Delivery. Payment for the Option Shares shall be made on the Option Closing Date by wire transfer in federal (same day) funds, payable to the order of the Company upon delivery to the Representative of certificates (in form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriters) representing the Option Shares (or if uncertificated through the full fast transfer facilities of DTC) for the account of the Underwriters. The Option Shares shall be registered in such name or names and in such authorized denominations as the Representative may request in writing at least two (2) full Business Days prior to the Option Closing Date. If certificated, the Company will permit the Underwriters to examine and package the Option Shares for delivery at least one (1) Business Day prior to the Option Closing Date. The Company shall not be obligated to sell or deliver the Option Shares except upon tender of payment by the Representative for applicable Option Shares. The Option Closing Date may be simultaneous with, but not earlier than, the Closing Date, and in the event that such time and date are simultaneous with the Closing Date, the term “Closing Date” shall refer to the time and date of delivery of the Firm Shares and Option Shares.

 

1.3 Underwriting Discount. In consideration of the services to be provided for hereunder, the Underwriters shall receive an underwriting discount of seven percent (7%) with respect to any Public Securities sold to investors in the Offering; provided, however, that such percentage of underwriting discount shall be three and one half (3.5%) for those proceeds of the Offering sourced by the Company, and the per Public Security purchase price shall be adjusted accordingly.

 

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1.4 Representative’s Warrants.

 

1.4.1. Purchase Warrants. The Company hereby agrees to issue to the Representative (and/or each of its designees) on the applicable Closing Date and Option Closing Date(s) (if applicable), warrants, substantially in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto, to purchase such number of Ordinary Shares equal to three percent (3.0%) of the Public Securities sold by the Company (the “Representative’s Warrants”), including any Ordinary Shares issued pursuant to the exercise of Over-allotment Option. The Representative’s Warrants shall be exercisable at any time and from time to time, in whole or in part, commencing six (6) months from issuance and expiring on the fourth-year anniversary of the Effective Date, at an initial exercise price of $[●] per Ordinary Share, which is equal to one hundred and twenty percent (120%) of the initial public offering price of a Firm Share. The Representative’s Warrants and the Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise thereof are hereinafter referred to together as the “Representative’s Securities.” The Representative understands and agrees that there are significant restrictions pursuant to FINRA Rule 5110 against transferring the Representative’s Securities during the one hundred and eighty (180) days after the Effective Date and by its acceptance thereof shall agree that it will not sell, transfer, assign, pledge or hypothecate the Representative’s Securities, or any portion thereof, or be the subject of any hedging, short sale, derivative, put or call transaction that would result in the effective economic disposition of such securities for a period of one hundred eighty (180) days following the Effective Date to anyone other than (i) an Underwriter or a selected dealer in connection with the Offering, or (ii) a bona fide officer or partner of the Representative or of any Underwriter or selected dealer; and only if any such transferee agrees to the foregoing lock-up restrictions.

 

1.4.2. Delivery. Delivery of the Representative’s Warrants shall be made on the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date(s), as applicable, and shall be issued in the name or names and in such authorized denominations as the Representative may request.

 

2. Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company represents and warrants to the Underwriters as of the Applicable Time (as defined below), as of the Closing Date and as of the Option Closing Date, if any, as follows:

 

2.1.1. Pursuant to the Securities Act. The Company has filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) a registration statement, and any amendment or amendments thereto, on Form F-1 (File No. 333-274326), including any related prospectus or prospectuses, for the registration of the Public Securities and the Representative’s Securities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), which registration statement and amendment or amendments have been prepared by the Company in conformity with the requirements of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission under the Securities Act (the “Securities Act Regulations”) and contains and will contain all material statements that are required to be stated therein in accordance with the Securities Act and the Securities Act Regulations. Except as the context may otherwise require, such registration statement, as amended, on file with the Commission at the time the registration statement became effective (including the Preliminary Prospectus (defined as below) included in the registration statement, financial statements, schedules, exhibits and all other documents filed as a part thereof or incorporated therein and all information deemed to be a part thereof as of the Effective Date pursuant to paragraph (b) of Rule 430A of the Securities Act Regulations (the “Rule 430A Information”)), is referred to herein as the “Registration Statement.” If the Company files any registration statement pursuant to Rule 462(b) of the Securities Act Regulations, then after such filing, the term “Registration Statement” shall include such registration statement filed pursuant to Rule 462(b). The Registration Statement has been declared effective by the Commission on the date hereof.

 

Each prospectus used prior to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, and each prospectus that omitted the Rule 430A Information that was used after such effectiveness and prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, is herein called a “Preliminary Prospectus.” The Preliminary Prospectus, subject to completion, dated [___, 2023], that was included in the Registration Statement immediately prior to the Applicable Time is hereinafter called the “Pricing Prospectus.” The final prospectus in the form first furnished to the Underwriters for use in the Offering that includes the Rule 430A Information is hereinafter called the “Prospectus.” Any reference to the “most recent Preliminary Prospectus” shall be deemed to refer to the latest Preliminary Prospectus included in the Registration Statement.

 

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Applicable Time” means 5:30 p.m., Eastern time, on the date of this Agreement.

 

Issuer Free Writing Prospectus” means any “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433 of the Securities Act Regulations (“Rule 433”), including without limitation any “free writing prospectus” (as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act Regulations) relating to the Public Securities that is (i) required to be filed with the Commission by the Company, (ii) a “road show that is a written communication” within the meaning of Rule 433(d)(8)(i), whether or not required to be filed with the Commission, or (iii) exempt from filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 433(d)(5)(i) because it contains a description of the Public Securities or of the Offering that does not reflect the final terms, in each case in the form filed or required to be filed with the Commission or, if not required to be filed, in the form retained in the Company’s records pursuant to Rule 433(g).

 

Issuer General Use Free Writing Prospectus” means any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that is intended for general distribution to prospective investors (other than a “bona fide electronic road show,” as defined in Rule 433 (the “Bona Fide Electronic Road Show”)), as evidenced by its being specified in Schedule 2-B hereto.

 

Issuer Limited Use Free Writing Prospectus” means any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that is not an Issuer General Use Free Writing Prospectus.

 

Pricing Disclosure Package” means any Issuer General Use Free Writing Prospectus issued at or prior to the Applicable Time, the Pricing Prospectus and the information included on Schedule 2-A hereto, all considered together.

 

2.1.2. Pursuant to the Exchange Act. The Company has filed with the Commission a Form 8-A (File No. 001-[___]) providing for the registration pursuant to Section 12(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), of the Ordinary Shares. The registration of the Ordinary Shares under the Exchange Act has been declared effective by the Commission on or prior to the date hereof. The Company has taken no action designed to, or likely to have the effect of, terminating the registration of the Ordinary Shares under the Exchange Act, nor has the Company received any notification that the Commission is contemplating terminating such registration.

 

2.2 Stock Exchange Listing. The Ordinary Shares have been approved for listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market (the “Exchange”), subject only to official notice of issuance, and the Company has taken no action designed to, or likely to have the effect of, delisting the Ordinary Shares from the Exchange, nor has the Company received any notification that the Exchange is contemplating terminating such listing except as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. The Underwriters and the Company irrevocably agree that the Offering will not be consummated if the Ordinary Shares are denied for listing on the Exchange.

 

2.3 No Stop Orders, etc. Neither the Commission nor any other regulatory authority in any jurisdiction, including, without limitation, the China Securities Regulatory Commission of the People’s Republic of China (the “CSRC”) has issued any order preventing or suspending the use of the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or has instituted or threatened to institute, any proceedings with respect to such an order. The Company has complied, to the Commission’s satisfaction, with each request (if any) from the Commission for additional or supplemental information.

 

2.4 Disclosures in Registration Statement.

 

2.4.1. Compliance with Securities Act and 10b-5 Representation.

 

(i) Each of the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, at the time it became effective, complied and will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and the Securities Act Regulations. Each Preliminary Prospectus, including the prospectus filed as part of the Registration Statement as originally filed or as part of any amendment or supplement thereto, and the Prospectus, at the time each was filed with the Commission, complied and will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and the Securities Act Regulations. Each Preliminary Prospectus delivered to the Underwriters for use in connection with this Offering and the Prospectus was or will be identical to the electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to the Commission’s Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval System (“EDGAR”), except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T promulgated under the Securities Act (“Regulation S-T”).

 

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(ii) Neither the Registration Statement nor any amendment thereto, at its effective time, as of the Applicable Time, at the Closing Date or at any Option Closing Date (if any), contained, contains or will contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted, omits or will omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.

 

(iii) The Pricing Disclosure Package, as of the Applicable Time, at the Closing Date and at any Option Closing Date (if any), did not, does not and will not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and each Issuer Limited Use Free Writing Prospectus hereto does not conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus, and each such Issuer Limited Use Free Writing Prospectus, as supplemented by and taken together with the Pricing Prospectus as of the Applicable Time, did not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, that this representation and warranty shall not apply to statements made or statements omitted in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company with respect to the Underwriters by the Representative expressly for use in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto. The parties acknowledge and agree that such information provided by or on behalf of any Underwriter consists solely of the following disclosure contained in the “Underwriting” section of the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus: (i) the names of the Underwriter and (ii) the information under the subheadings titled “Electronic Offer, Sale, and Distribution of Ordinary Shares,” “Price Stabilization, Short Positions, and Penalty Bids,” “Passive Market Making,” “Other Relationships,” and “Selling Restrictions” (the “Underwriters’ Information”).

 

(iv) Neither the Prospectus nor any amendment or supplement thereto (including any prospectus wrapper), as of its issue date, at the time of any filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b), at the Closing Date or at any Option Closing Date, included, includes or will include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted, omits or will omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, that this representation and warranty shall not apply to the Underwriters’ Information.

 

2.4.2. Disclosure of Agreements. The agreements and documents described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus conform in all material respects to the descriptions thereof contained therein and there are no agreements or other documents required by the Securities Act and the Securities Act Regulations to be described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or to be filed with the Commission as exhibits to the Registration Statement, that have not been so described or filed. Each agreement or other instrument (however characterized or described) to which the Company is a party or by which it is or may be bound or affected and (i) that is referred to in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, or (ii) is material to the Company’s business, has been duly authorized and validly executed by the Company, constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company, is in full force and effect in all material respects and is enforceable against the Company and, to the Company’s knowledge, the other parties thereto, in accordance with their respective terms, except (x) as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, (y) as enforceability of any indemnification or contribution provision may be limited under the federal and state securities laws, and (z) that the remedy of specific performance and injunctive and other forms of equitable relief may be subject to the equitable defenses and to the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought. None of such agreements or instruments has been assigned by the Company, and neither the Company nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any other party is in default thereunder and, to the Company’s knowledge, no event has occurred that, with the lapse of time or the giving of notice, or both, would constitute a default thereunder, except for such defaults that would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change (as defined in Section 2.5.1 below). To the best of the Company’s knowledge, performance by the Company of the material provisions of such agreements or instruments will not result in a violation of any existing applicable law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree of any governmental or regulatory agency, authority, body, entity or court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its assets or businesses (each, a “Governmental Entity” and collectively, “Governmental Entities”), including, without limitation, those relating to environmental laws and regulations which, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change as defined in Section 2.5.1 below.

 

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2.4.3. Prior Securities Transactions. No securities of the Company have been sold by the Company or by or on behalf of, or for the benefit of, any person or persons controlling, controlled by or under common control with the Company, except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Preliminary Prospectus.

 

2.4.4. Regulations. The disclosures in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus concerning the effects of federal, state, local and all foreign laws, rules and regulations relating to the Offering and the Company’s business as currently conducted or contemplated are correct and complete in all material respects and no other such laws, rules or regulations are required to be disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus which are not so disclosed.

 

2.4.5. No Other Distribution of Offering Materials. The Company has not, directly or indirectly, distributed and will not distribute any offering material in connection with the Offering other than any Preliminary Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, the Prospectus and other materials, if any, permitted under the Securities Act and consistent with Section 3.2 below.

 

2.5 Changes After Dates in Registration Statement.

 

2.5.1. No Material Adverse Change. Since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, except as otherwise specifically stated therein: (i) there has been no material adverse change in the financial position or results of operations, business, assets or prospects of the Company or its Subsidiaries (as defined below) taken as a whole, nor to the Company’s knowledge any change or development that, individually or in the aggregate, would involve a material adverse change or a prospective material adverse change, in or affecting the condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations, business, assets or prospects of the Company or its Subsidiaries taken as a whole (a “Material Adverse Change”); (ii) there have been no material transactions entered into by the Company or its Subsidiaries, other than as contemplated pursuant to this Agreement; and (iii) no officer (as defined in Rule 16a-1(f) of the Exchange Act) or director of the Company has resigned from any position with the Company.

 

2.5.2. Recent Securities Transactions, etc. Subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, and except as may otherwise be indicated or contemplated herein or disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Company has not: (i) issued any securities or incurred any liability or obligation, direct or contingent, for borrowed money; or (ii) declared or paid any dividend or made any other distribution on or in respect to its share capital.

 

2.6 [Reserved]

 

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2.7 Independent Accountants. TPS Thayer LLC (the “Auditor”), whose report is filed with the Commission as part of the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package, and the Prospectus, is an independent registered public accounting firm as required by the Securities Act and the Securities Act Regulations and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, including the rules and regulations promulgated by such entity. The Auditor has not, during the periods covered by the financial statements included in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package, and the Prospectus, provided to the Company any non-audit services, as such term is used in Section 10A(g) of the Exchange Act.

 

2.8 Financial Statements, etc. The financial statements, including the notes thereto and supporting schedules included in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, fairly present in all material respects the financial position, the results of operations and the cash flows of the Company at the dates and for the periods to which they apply; and such financial statements have been prepared in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), consistently applied throughout the periods involved (provided that unaudited interim financial statements are subject to year-end audit adjustments that are not expected to be material in the aggregate and do not contain all footnotes required by GAAP); and the supporting schedules, if any, included in the Registration Statement present fairly the information required to be stated therein in all material respects. Except as included therein, no historical or pro forma financial statements are required to be included in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package, or the Prospectus under the Securities Act or the Securities Act Regulations. The pro forma and pro forma as adjusted financial information and the related notes, if any, included in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package, and the Prospectus have been properly compiled and prepared in accordance with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Securities Act Regulations and present fairly the information shown therein in all material respects, and the assumptions used in the preparation thereof are reasonable and the adjustments used therein are appropriate to give effect to the transactions and circumstances referred to therein. All disclosures contained in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package, or the Prospectus regarding “non-GAAP financial measures” (as such term is defined by the rules and regulations of the Commission), if any, materially comply with Regulation G under the Exchange Act and Item 10 of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act, to the extent applicable. Each of the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package, and the Prospectus discloses all material off-balance sheet transactions, arrangements, obligations (including contingent obligations), and other relationships of the Company with unconsolidated entities or other persons, if any, that may have a material current or future effect on the Company’s financial condition, changes in financial condition, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures, capital resources, or significant components of revenues or expenses. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, (a) since the date of the last balance sheet included in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, neither the Company nor any of its direct and indirect subsidiaries, including each entity disclosed or described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus as being a subsidiary of the Company (each, a “Subsidiary” and, collectively, the “Subsidiaries”), has incurred any material liabilities or obligations, direct or contingent, or entered into any material transactions other than in the ordinary course of business, (b) the Company has not declared or paid any dividends or made any distribution of any kind with respect to its share capital, (c) there has not been any change in the share capital of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or, other than in the ordinary course of business, any grants under any share compensation plan, and (d) there has not been any material adverse change in the Company’s long-term or short-term debt. The Company represents that it has no direct or indirect subsidiaries other than those listed in Exhibit 21.1 to the Registration Statement.

 

2.9 Authorized Capital; Options, etc. The Company had, at the date or dates indicated in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the duly authorized, issued and outstanding capitalization as set forth therein. Based on the assumptions stated in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Company will have on the Closing Date and any Option Closing Date, as the case may be, the adjusted capitalization set forth therein. Except as set forth in, or contemplated by, the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, on the Effective Date, as of the Applicable Time and on the Closing Date and any Option Closing Date, there will be no share options, warrants, or other rights to purchase or otherwise acquire any authorized, but unissued Ordinary Shares of the Company or any security convertible or exercisable into Ordinary Shares of the Company, or any contracts or commitments to issue or sell Ordinary Shares or any such options, warrants, rights or convertible securities.

 

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2.10 Valid Issuance of Securities, etc.

 

2.10.1. Outstanding Securities. All issued and outstanding securities of the Company issued prior to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable; the holders thereof have no contractual or other rights of rescission or the ability to force the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to repurchase such securities with respect thereto, and are not subject to personal liability by reason of being such holders; and none of such securities were issued in violation of the preemptive rights, rights of first refusal or rights of participation of any holders of any security of the Company or similar contractual rights granted by the Company. The authorized Ordinary Shares conform in all material respects to all statements relating thereto contained in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. The offers and sales of the outstanding Ordinary Shares, options, warrants and other outstanding securities convertible or exercisable into Ordinary Shares were at all relevant times either registered under the Securities Act and the applicable state securities or “blue sky” laws or, based in part on the representations and warranties of the purchasers of such securities, exempt from such registration requirements. The description of the Company’s share option, restricted share awards and other related incentive plans or arrangements, and the options or other rights granted thereunder, as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, accurately and fairly present, in all material respects, the information required to be shown with respect to such plans, arrangements, options and rights.

 

2.10.2. Securities Sold Pursuant to this Agreement. The Public Securities and the Representative’s Securities have been duly authorized for issuance and sale. When issued and paid for pursuant to the terms of this Agreement and the Representative’s Warrants, the Public Securities and the Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of the Representative’s Warrants will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable; the holders thereof are not and will not be subject to personal liability by reason of being such holders; the Public Securities and the Representative’s Securities are not and will not be subject to any preemptive rights of any holders of any security of the Company or similar contractual rights granted by the Company; and all corporate action required to be taken for the authorization, issuance and sale of the Public Securities and the Representative’s Securities has been duly and validly taken. The Representative’s Warrants, when issued and paid for pursuant to this Agreement, will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, and no further action is required by the Company, the Company’s board of directors (“Board of Directors”) or the Company’s shareholders in connection therewith. The Public Securities and the Representative’s Securities conform in all material respects to all statements with respect thereto contained in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. The Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of the Representative’s Warrants have been duly authorized and reserved for issuance by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Company; the holders thereof are not and will not be subject to personal liability by reason of being such holders; and such Ordinary Shares are not and will not be subject to the preemptive rights of any holders of any security of the Company or similar contractual rights granted by the Company.

 

2.11 Registration Rights of Third Parties. Except as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, no holders of any securities of the Company or any options, warrants, rights or other securities exercisable for or convertible or exchangeable into securities of the Company have the right to require the Company to register any such securities of the Company under the Securities Act or to include any such securities in the Registration Statement or any other registration statement to be filed by the Company.

 

2.12 Validity and Binding Effect of Agreements. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the Representative’s Warrants have been duly and validly authorized by the Company, and, when executed and delivered, will constitute, the legal, valid, and binding agreements of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms, except, in each case: (i) as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally; (ii) as the enforceability of any indemnification or contribution provision may be limited under the federal and state securities laws; and (iii) that the remedy of specific performance and injunctive and other forms of equitable relief may be subject to the equitable defenses and to the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought.

 

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2.13 No Conflicts, etc. The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement, the Representative’s Warrants and all ancillary documents, the consummation by the Company of the transactions herein and therein contemplated and the compliance by the Company with the terms hereof and thereof do not and will not, with or without the giving of notice or the lapse of time or both: (i) result in a material breach or violation of, or conflict with any of the terms and provisions of, or constitute default under, or result in the creation, modification, termination or imposition of any lien, charge, mortgage, pledge, security interest, claim, equity, trust or other encumbrance, preferential arrangement, defect or restriction of any kind whatsoever upon any property or assets of the Company pursuant to the terms of any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, note, lease, loan agreement or any other agreement or instrument, license or permit to which the Company is a party or as to which any property of the Company is a party; (ii) result in any material violation of the provisions of the Company’s Memorandum and Articles of Association (as the same has been amended or restated from time to time, the “Charter”); or (iii) materially violate any existing applicable law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree of any Governmental Entity as of the date hereof having jurisdiction over the Company.

 

2.14 No Defaults; Violations. Except as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, no material default exists in the due performance and observance of any term, covenant or condition of any license, contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, note, loan or credit agreement, or any other agreement or instrument evidencing an obligation for borrowed money, or any other agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which the Company may be bound or to which any of the properties or assets of the Company is subject, except for such default that would not be reasonably expected to result in a Material Adverse Change. The Company is not (i) in violation of any term or provision of its Charter, or (ii) in violation of any franchise, license, permit, applicable law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree of any Governmental Entity, except for such violations that would not be reasonably expected to result in a Material Adverse Change.

 

2.15 Corporate Power; Licenses; Consents.

 

2.15.1. Conduct of Business. Except as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Company has all requisite corporate power and authority, and has all consents, authorizations, approvals, licenses, certificates, clearances, permits and orders and supplements and amendments thereto (collectively, “Authorizations”) of and from all Governmental Entities that it needs as of the date hereof to conduct its business purpose as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

 

2.15.2. Transactions Contemplated Herein. The Company has all corporate power and authority to enter into this Agreement, to issue the Representative’s Warrants, and to carry out the provisions and conditions hereof and thereof, and all Authorizations required in connection therewith have been obtained. No Authorization of, and no filing with, any Governmental Entity, the Exchange or another body is required for the valid issuance, sale and delivery of the Public Securities and the Representative’s Securities and the consummation of the transactions and agreements contemplated by this Agreement and the Representative’s Warrants, and as contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, except with respect to applicable federal and state securities or blue-sky laws, the rules of The Nasdaq Stock Market, LLC and the rules and regulations of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”), such consents and approvals as having been obtained and are in full force and effect.

 

2.16 D&O Questionnaires. To the Company’s knowledge, all information contained in the questionnaires (the “Questionnaires”) completed by each of the Company’s directors and officers immediately prior to the Offering (the “Insiders”) as supplemented by all information concerning the Insiders as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, as well as in the Lock-Up Agreement (as defined below) provided to the Underwriters, is true and correct in all material respects, and the Company has not become aware of any information which would cause the information disclosed in the Questionnaires to become inaccurate, incorrect or incomplete.

 

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2.17 Litigation; Governmental Proceedings. There is no action, suit, proceeding, inquiry, arbitration, investigation, litigation or governmental proceeding pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened against, or involving the Company or, to the Company’s knowledge, any officer or director which has not been disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, or in connection with the Company’s application for the listing of the Public Securities on the Exchange, and is required to be disclosed therein.

 

2.18 Good Standing. The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation and is in good standing under the laws of the Cayman Islands as of the date hereof, and is duly qualified to do business and is in good standing as a foreign corporation in each other jurisdiction in which its ownership or lease of property or the conduct of business requires such qualification, except where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing, singularly or in the aggregate, would not have or reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change.

 

2.19 Insurance. Each of the Company and the Subsidiaries carries or is entitled to the benefits of insurance, with reputable insurers, in such amounts and covering such risks which the Company and/or the respective Subsidiary believes are adequate, and as are customary for companies engaged in similar business, and to the Company’s knowledge all such insurance is in full force and effect. Each of the Company and the Subsidiaries has no reason to believe that it will not 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 and at a cost that would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change.

 

2.20 Transactions Affecting Disclosure to FINRA.

 

2.20.1. Finder’s Fees. Except as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there are no claims, payments, arrangements, agreements or understandings relating to the payment of a finder’s, consulting or origination fee by the Company or any Insider with respect to the sale of the Public Securities hereunder or any other arrangements, agreements or understandings of the Company or, to the Company’s knowledge, any of its shareholders that may affect the Underwriters’ compensation, as determined by FINRA.

 

2.20.2. Payments Within Twelve (12) Months. Except as disclosed in writing to the Representative or as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Company has not made any direct or indirect payments in connection with the Offering (in cash, securities or otherwise) to: (i) any person, as a finder’s fee, consulting fee or otherwise, in consideration of such person raising capital for the Company or introducing to the Company persons who raised or provided capital to the Company; (ii) any FINRA member; or (iii) any person or entity that has any direct or indirect affiliation or association with any FINRA member, within the twelve (12) months prior to the Effective Date, other than the payment to the Underwriters as provided hereunder in connection with the Offering.

 

2.20.3. Use of Proceeds. None of the net proceeds of the Offering will be paid by the Company to any participating FINRA member or its affiliates, except as specifically authorized herein.

 

2.20.4. FINRA Affiliation. There is no (i) officer or director of the Company, (ii) to the Company’s knowledge, beneficial owner of 10% or more of any class of the Company’s securities or (iii) to the Company’s knowledge, beneficial owner of the Company’s unregistered equity securities who acquired any equity securities of the Company during the 180-day period immediately preceding the filing of the Registration Statement that is an affiliate or associated person of a FINRA member participating in the Offering (as determined in accordance with the rules and regulations of FINRA). Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing 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 Underwriter and (ii) does not intend to use any of the proceeds from the sale of the Public Securities to repay any outstanding debt owed to any affiliate of any Underwriter.

 

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2.20.5. Information. All information provided by the Company in its FINRA questionnaire, and to the Company’s knowledge, all the information provided by the Insiders in their FINRA questionnaires to Representative Counsel specifically for use by Representative Counsel in connection with its Public Offering System filings (and related disclosure) with FINRA is true, correct and complete in all material respects.

 

2.21 Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries has taken reasonable steps to ensure that its accounting controls and procedures are sufficient to cause the Company to comply in all material respects with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (collectively, the “FCPA”). None of the Company and its Subsidiaries or, to the Company’s knowledge, any director, officer, agent, employee or affiliate of the Company and its Subsidiaries or any other person acting on behalf of, and with authority from, the Company and its Subsidiaries, has, directly or indirectly, given or agreed to give any money, gift or similar benefit (other than legal price concessions to customers in the ordinary course of business) to any customer, supplier, employee or agent of a customer or supplier, or official or employee of any Governmental Entity (domestic or foreign) or any political party or candidate for office (domestic or foreign) or other person who was, is, or may be in a position to help or hinder the business of the Company (or assist it in connection with any actual or proposed transaction) that (i) might subject the Company to any damage or penalty in any civil, criminal or governmental litigation or proceeding, (ii) if not given in the past, might have had a Material Adverse Change, (iii) if not continued in the future, might adversely affect the assets, business, operations or prospects of the Company, (iv) violated or is in violation of any provision of the FCPA or any applicable non-U.S. anti-bribery statute or regulation, (v) made any bribe, rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other unlawful payment, or (vi) received notice of any investigation, proceeding or inquiry by any Governmental Entity regarding any of the matters in clauses (i)-(v) above; and to the knowledge of the Company, the Company’s affiliates have conducted their respective businesses in compliance with the FCPA and have instituted and maintain policies and procedures designed to ensure, and which are reasonably expected to continue to ensure, continued compliance therewith.

 

2.22 Compliance with OFAC. None of the Company and its Subsidiaries or, to the Company’s knowledge, any director, officer, agent, employee or affiliate of the Company and its Subsidiaries or any other person acting on behalf of, and with authority from, the Company and its Subsidiaries, is currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury (“OFAC”), and the Company will not, directly or indirectly, use the proceeds of the Offering hereunder, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or entity, for the purpose of financing the activities of any person currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC.

 

2.23 Anti-Money Laundering Laws. The operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in compliance in all material respects with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the money laundering statutes of all applicable jurisdictions where the Company or any of its Subsidiaries conducts business, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any Governmental Entity (collectively, the “Anti-Money Laundering Laws”); and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any Governmental Entity involving the Company with respect to the Anti-Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the best knowledge of the Company, threatened.

 

2.24 Officers’ Certificate. Any certificate signed by any duly authorized officer of the Company and delivered to the Representative or to Representative Counsel on the Closing Date or on the Option Closing Date shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Company to the Underwriters as to the matters covered thereby.

 

2.25 Lock-Up Agreements. Schedule 3 hereto contains a complete and accurate list of the Company’s officers, directors, each beneficial owner of 5% or more of the Company’s outstanding Ordinary Shares, and each beneficial owner of less than 5% of the Company’s outstanding Ordinary Shares (or, in each case, securities exercisable for or convertible into the Ordinary Shares) (collectively, the “Lock-Up Parties”). The Company has caused each of the Lock-Up Parties to deliver to the Representative an executed Lock-Up Agreement, in a form substantially similar to that attached hereto as Exhibit B (the “Lock-Up Agreement”), concurrently with the execution of this Agreement.

 

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2.26 Subsidiaries. All direct and indirect Subsidiaries of the Company are duly organized or incorporated, and in good standing under the laws of the place of organization or incorporation, and each Subsidiary is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which its ownership or lease of property or the conduct of business requires such qualification, except where the failure to qualify would not have a Material Adverse Change on the assets, business or operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole. The Company’s ownership and control of each Subsidiary is as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

 

2.27 Related Party Transactions. There are no business relationships or related party transactions involving the Company or any other person required to be described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus that have not been described as required under the Securities Act and the Securities Act Regulations.

 

2.28 Board of Directors. The Board of Directors of the Company is comprised of the persons set forth under the heading of the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus captioned “Management.” The qualifications of the persons serving as board members and the overall composition of the board comply with the Exchange Act, the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder (the “Exchange Act Regulations”), the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules promulgated thereunder (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”) applicable to the Company and the listing rules of the Exchange. At least one member of the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert,” as such term is defined under Regulation S-K and the listing rules of the Exchange. In addition, at least a majority of the persons serving on the Board of Directors qualify as “independent,” as defined under the listing rules of the Exchange.

 

2.29 Sarbanes-Oxley Compliance.

 

2.29.1. Disclosure Controls. The Company has developed and currently maintains disclosure controls and procedures that will materially comply with Rule 13a-15 or 15d-15 under the Exchange Act Regulations, and such controls and procedures are effective to ensure that all material information concerning the Company will be made known on a timely basis to the individuals responsible for the preparation of the Company’s Exchange Act filings and other public disclosure documents.

 

2.29.2. Compliance. The Company is and at the Applicable Time and on the Closing Date will be, in material compliance with the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act applicable to it, and has implemented or will implement such programs and has taken reasonable steps to ensure the Company’s future compliance (not later than the relevant statutory and regulatory deadlines therefor) with all of the material provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

 

2.30 Accounting Controls. The Company and its Subsidiaries maintain systems of “internal control over financial reporting” (as defined under Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15 under the Exchange Act Regulations) that comply with the requirements of the Exchange Act and have been designed by, or under the supervision of, their respective principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with GAAP, including, but not limited to, 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 GAAP and to maintain asset accountability; (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 the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Company is not aware of any other material weaknesses in its internal control over financial reporting. The Auditor and the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company have been advised of: (i) all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting, which are known to the Company’s management and that have adversely affected or are reasonably likely to adversely affect the Company’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and (ii) any fraud known to the Company’s management, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

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2.31 No Investment Company Status. The Company is not and, after giving effect to the Offering and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, will not be, required to register as an “investment company,” as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

 

2.32 No Labor Disputes. No labor dispute with the employees of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries exists or, to the knowledge of the Company, is imminent. The Company is not aware of any officer, key employee or significant group of employees of the Company or any Subsidiary that plans to terminate employment with the Company or any Subsidiary, as applicable.

 

2.33 Intellectual Property Rights. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries own, possess or have valid rights to use all patents, patent applications, trademarks, service marks, trade names, trademark registrations, service mark registrations, copyrights, licenses, inventions, trade secrets and similar rights (“Intellectual Property Rights”) described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and necessary for the conduct of the business of the Company and each of its Subsidiaries as currently carried on and as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. To the knowledge of the Company, no action or use by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries necessary for the conduct of its business as currently carried on and as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus involve or would reasonably be expected to involve or give rise to any infringement of, or license or similar fees for, any Intellectual Property Rights of others. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any notice alleging any such infringement, fee or conflict with asserted Intellectual Property Rights of others. Except as would not reasonably be expected to result, individually or in the aggregate, in a Material Adverse Change (A) to the knowledge of the Company, there is no infringement, misappropriation or violation by third parties of any of the Intellectual Property Rights owned by the Company; (B) there is no pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened action, suit, proceeding or claim by others challenging the rights of the Company in or to any such Intellectual Property Rights, and the Company is unaware of any facts which would form a reasonable basis for any such claim that would, individually or in the aggregate, together with any other claims in this Section 2.33, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change; (C) the Intellectual Property Rights owned by the Company and, to the knowledge of the Company, the Intellectual Property Rights licensed to the Company have not been adjudged by a court of competent jurisdiction invalid or unenforceable, in whole or in part, and there is no pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened action, suit, proceeding or claim by others challenging the validity or scope of any such Intellectual Property Rights, and the Company is unaware of any facts which would form a reasonable basis for any such claim that would, individually or in the aggregate, together with any other claims in this Section 2.33, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change; (D) there is no pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened action, suit, proceeding or claim by others that the Company infringes, misappropriates or otherwise violates any Intellectual Property Rights or other proprietary rights of others, the Company has not received any written notice of such claim and the Company is unaware of any other facts which would form a reasonable basis for any such claim that would, individually or in the aggregate, together with any other claims in this Section 2.33, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change; and (E) to the Company’s knowledge, no employee of the Company is in or has ever been in violation in any material respect of any term of any employment contract, patent disclosure agreement, invention assignment agreement, non-competition agreement, non-solicitation agreement, nondisclosure agreement or any restrictive covenant to or with a former employer where the basis of such violation relates to such employee’s employment with the Company, or actions undertaken by the employee while employed with the Company that would, individually or in the aggregate, together with any other claims in this Section 2.33, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change. To the Company’s knowledge, all material technical information developed by and belonging to the Company that has not been patented or disclosed in a patent application has been kept confidential. 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 Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and are not described therein. The Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus contain in all material respects the same description of the matters set forth in the preceding sentence. 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 its officers, directors or employees, or otherwise in violation of the rights of any persons.

 

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2.34 Taxes. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries has filed all returns (as hereinafter defined) required to be filed with taxing authorities prior to the date hereof or has duly obtained extensions of time for the filing thereof. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries has paid all taxes (as hereinafter defined) shown as due on such returns that were filed and has paid all taxes imposed on or assessed against the Company or such respective Subsidiary except those that are being contested in good faith or as would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Change. The provisions for taxes payable, if any, shown on the financial statements filed with or as part of the Registration Statement are sufficient for all accrued and unpaid taxes, whether or not disputed, and for all periods to and including the dates of such consolidated financial statements. Except as disclosed in writing to the Underwriters, (i) no issues have been raised (and are currently pending) by any taxing authority in connection with any of the returns or taxes asserted as due from the Company or its Subsidiaries, and (ii) no waivers of statutes of limitation with respect to the returns or collection of taxes have been given by or requested from the Company or its Subsidiaries. To the Company’s knowledge, there are no tax liens against the assets, properties or business of the Company or its Subsidiaries. The term “taxes” means all federal, state, local, foreign and other net income, gross income, gross receipts, sales, use, ad valorem, transfer, franchise, profits, license, lease, service, service use, withholding, payroll, employment, excise, severance, stamp, occupation, premium, property, windfall profits, customs, duties or other taxes, fees, assessments or charges of any kind whatever, together with any interest and any penalties, additions to tax or additional amounts with respect thereto. The term “returns” means all returns, declarations, reports, statements and other documents required to be filed in respect to taxes.

 

2.35 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 Sections 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 material liability under (i) Title IV of ERISA with respect to termination of, or withdrawal from, any “employee benefit plan” or (ii) Sections 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, to the knowledge of the Company, nothing has occurred, whether by action or failure to act, which would cause the loss of such qualification.

 

2.36 Compliance with Laws. Each of the Company and each Subsidiary: (A) is and at all times has been in compliance with all statutes, rules, or regulations applicable to the business of the Company as currently conducted (“Applicable Laws”), except as could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Change; (B) has not received any warning letter, untitled letter or other correspondence or notice from any Governmental Entity alleging or asserting noncompliance with any Applicable Laws or any Authorizations; (C) possesses all material Authorizations and such Authorizations are valid and in full force and effect and are not in material violation of any term of any such Authorizations; (D) has not received notice of any claim, action, suit, proceeding, hearing, enforcement, investigation, arbitration or other action from any Governmental Entity or third party alleging that any activity conducted by the Company is in violation of any Applicable Laws or Authorizations and has no knowledge that any such Governmental Entity or third party is considering any such claim, litigation, arbitration, action, suit, investigation or proceeding, nor, to the Company’s knowledge, has there been any noncompliance with or violation of any Applicable Laws by the Company that could reasonably be expected to require the issuance of any such communication or result in an investigation, corrective action, or enforcement action by any Governmental Entity; (E) has not received notice that any Governmental Entity has taken, is taking or intends to take action to limit, suspend, modify or revoke any Authorizations and has no knowledge that any such Governmental Entity is considering such action; and (F) has filed, obtained, maintained or submitted all material reports, documents, forms, notices, applications, records, claims, submissions and supplements or amendments as required by any Applicable Laws or Authorizations and that all such reports, documents, forms, notices, applications, records, claims, submissions and supplements or amendments were complete and correct on the date filed (or were corrected or supplemented by a subsequent submission).

 

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2.37 Emerging Growth Company. From the time of the initial confidential submission of the Registration Statement to the Commission (or, if earlier, the first date on which the Company engaged directly in 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 (an “Emerging Growth Company”). “Testing-the-Waters Communication” means any oral or written communication with potential investors undertaken in reliance on Section 5(d) of the Securities Act.

 

2.38 Environmental Laws. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries is in compliance with all foreign, federal, state and local rules, laws and regulations relating to the use, treatment, storage and disposal of hazardous or toxic substances or waste and protection of health and safety or the environment which are applicable to their businesses (“Environmental Laws”), except where the failure to comply would not, singularly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Change. There has been no storage, generation, transportation, handling, treatment, disposal, discharge, emission, or other release of any kind of toxic or other wastes or other hazardous substances by, due to, or caused by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (or, to the Company’s knowledge, any other entity for whose acts or omissions the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is or may otherwise be liable) upon any of the property now or previously owned or leased by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or upon any other property, in violation of any law, statute, ordinance, rule, regulation, order, judgment, decree or permit or which would, under any law, statute, ordinance, rule (including rule of common law), regulation, order, judgment, decree or permit, give rise to any liability, except for any violation or liability which would not have, singularly or in the aggregate with all such violations and liabilities, a Material Adverse Change; and there has been no disposal, discharge, emission or other release of any kind onto such property or into the environment surrounding such property of any toxic or other wastes or other hazardous substances with respect to which the Company has knowledge, except for any such disposal, discharge, emission, or other release of any kind which would not have, singularly or in the aggregate with all such discharges and other releases, a Material Adverse Change. In the ordinary course of business, the Company and each of its Subsidiaries conduct periodic reviews of the effect of Environmental Laws on their respective business and assets, in the course of which they identify and evaluate associated costs and liabilities (including, without limitation, any capital or operating expenditures required for clean-up, closure of properties or compliance with Environmental Laws or governmental permits issued thereunder, any related constraints on operating activities and any potential liabilities to third parties). On the basis of such reviews, the Company and each of its Subsidiaries have reasonably concluded that such associated costs and liabilities would not have, singularly or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Change.

 

2.39 Title to Property. Except as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Company and its Subsidiaries have good and marketable title in fee simple to, or have valid rights to lease or otherwise use, all items of real or personal property which are material to the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, in each case free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, security interests, claims and defects that do not, singly or in the aggregate, materially affect the value of such property and do not interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property by the Company or its Subsidiaries; and all of the leases and subleases material to the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries, considered as one enterprise, and under which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries holds properties described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, are in full force and effect, and neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has received any notice of any material claim of any sort that has been asserted by anyone adverse to the rights of the Company or any Subsidiary under any of the leases or subleases mentioned above, or affecting or questioning the rights of the Company or any Subsidiary to the continued possession of the leased or subleased premises under any such lease or sublease.

 

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2.40 Contracts Affecting Capital. There are no transactions, arrangements or other relationships between and/or among the Company, any of its affiliates (as such term is defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act Regulations) and any unconsolidated entity, including, but not limited to, any structured finance, special purpose or limited purpose entity that could reasonably be expected to materially affect the Company’s or its Subsidiaries’ liquidity or the availability of or requirements for their capital resources required to be described or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus which have not been described or incorporated by reference as required.

 

2.41 Loans to Directors or Officers. There are no outstanding loans, advances (except normal advances for business expenses in the ordinary course of business) or guarantees or indebtedness by the Company or its Subsidiaries to or for the benefit of any of the officers or directors of the Company, its Subsidiaries, or any of their respective family members, except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

 

2.42 Ineligible Issuer. At the time of filing the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, at the Effective Date and at the time of any amendment thereto, at the earliest time thereafter that the Company or another offering participant made a bona fide offer (within the meaning of Rule 164(h)(2) of the Securities Act Regulations) of the Public Securities and at the Effective Date, the Company was not and is not an “ineligible issuer,” as defined in Rule 405, without taking account of any determination by the Commission pursuant to Rule 405 that it is not necessary that the Company be considered an ineligible issuer.

 

2.43 Smaller Reporting Company. As of the time of filing of the Registration Statement, the Company was a “smaller reporting company,” as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act Regulations.

 

2.44 Industry Data. The statistical and market-related data included in each of the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus are based on or derived from sources that the Company reasonably and in good faith believes are reliable and accurate or represent the Company’s good faith estimates that are made on the basis of data derived from such sources.

 

2.45 Electronic Road Show. The Company has made available a Bona Fide Electronic Road Show in compliance with Rule 433(d)(8)(ii) of the Securities Act Regulations such that no filing of any “road show” (as defined in Rule 433(h) of the Securities Act Regulations) is required in connection with the Offering.

 

2.46 Margin Securities. The Company owns no “margin securities” as that term is defined in Regulation U of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the “Federal Reserve Board”), and none of the proceeds of Offering will be used, directly or indirectly, for the purpose of purchasing or carrying any margin security, for the purpose of reducing or retiring any indebtedness which was originally incurred to purchase or carry any margin security or for any other purpose which might cause any of the Public Securities to be considered a “purpose credit” within the meanings of Regulation T, U or X of the Federal Reserve Board.

 

2.47 Dividends and Distributions. Except as disclosed in the Pricing Disclosure Package, Registration Statement and the Prospectus, no Subsidiary of the Company is currently prohibited or restricted, directly or indirectly, from paying any dividends to the Company, from making any other distribution on such Subsidiary’s capital stock (in each case, to the extent that any such prohibition or restriction on dividends and/or distributions would have a material effect to the Company), 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.

 

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2.48 Forward-Looking Statements. No forward-looking statement (within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act) contained in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus has been made or reaffirmed without a reasonable basis or has been disclosed other than in good faith.

 

2.49 Integration. Neither the Company nor any of its affiliates, nor any person acting on its or their 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 that would require the registration of any such securities under the Securities Act.

 

2.50 Confidentiality and Non-Competitions. To the knowledge of the Company, no director, officer or key employee of the Company or any Subsidiary is subject to any confidentiality, non-disclosure, non-competition agreement or non-solicitation agreement with any employer (other than the Company) or prior employer that could materially affect his or her ability to be and act in his or her respective capacity of the Company or such Subsidiary or be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change.

 

2.51 Corporate Records. The minute books of the Company have been made available to the Representative and Representative Counsel and such books (i) contain minutes of all material meetings and actions of the Board of Directors (including each board committee) and shareholders of the Company, and (ii) reflect all material transactions referred to in such minutes.

 

2.52 Due Diligence Materials. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries has provided to the Representative and Representative Counsel all materials required or necessary to respond in all material respects to the due diligence request submitted to the Company or Company Counsel (as defined below) by the Representative.

 

2.53 Stabilization. Neither the Company nor, to its knowledge, any of its employees, directors or shareholders (without the consent of the Representative) has taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that has constituted or that might reasonably be expected to cause or result in, under Regulation M of 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 Public Securities.

 

2.54 Testing-the-Waters Communications. The Company has filed publicly on EDGAR, at least fifteen (15) calendar days prior to any “road show” (as defined in Rule 433 under the Securities Act), any confidentially submitted registration statement and registration statement amendments relating to the Offering. The Company has not (i) alone engaged in any Testing-the-Waters Communications, other than Testing-the-Waters Communications with the written consent of the Representative and with entities that are qualified institutional buyers within the meaning of Rule 144A under the Securities Act or institutions that are accredited investors within the meaning of Rule 501 under the Securities Act and (ii) authorized anyone other than the Representative to engage in Testing-the-Waters Communications. The Company confirms that the Representative has been authorized to act on its behalf in undertaking Testing-the-Waters Communications. The Company has not distributed any Written Testing-the-Waters Communications other than those listed on Schedule 2-C hereto. Each Written Testing-the-Waters Communications did not, as of the Effective Date, and at all times through the completion of the public offer and sale of the Public Securities will not, include any information that conflicted, conflicts or will conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus. Each Written Testing-the-Waters Communication did not, as of the Effective Date, when taken together with the Pricing Disclosure Package, contain an 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, and at all times through the completion of the offer and sale of the Public Securities will not, include any information that conflicted, conflicts or will conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. “Written Testing-the-Waters Communication” means any Testing-the-Waters Communication that is a written communication within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act.

 

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2.55 Foreign Tax Compliance. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, no transaction, stamp, capital or other issuance, registration, transaction, transfer or withholding taxes or duties are payable in the People’s Republic of China (“PRC”), Hong Kong, Japan, or the Cayman Islands to any PRC, Hong Kong, Japan, or Cayman Islands taxing authority in connection with the issuance, sale and delivery of the Public Securities and the Representative’s Securities, and the delivery of the Public Securities and the Representative’s Securities to or for the account of the Underwriters.

 

2.56 Compliance with PRC Overseas Investment and Listing Rules and Regulations. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, each of the Company and its Subsidiaries has complied, and has taken reasonable steps to cause the Company’s principal shareholders, directors and officers who are, or directly or indirectly controlled by, residents or citizens of the PRC, to comply with any applicable rules and regulations of relevant PRC government agencies in effect on the applicable Closing Date (including but not limited to the Ministry of Commerce, the National Development and Reform Commission, the CSRC, and the State Administration of Foreign Exchange (“SAFE”) relating to overseas investment by PRC residents and citizens (collectively, the “PRC Overseas Investment and Listing Rules and Regulations”), including, without limitation, taking reasonable steps to require each shareholder that is, or is directly or indirectly owned or controlled by, a resident or citizen of the PRC to complete any registration and other procedures required under applicable PRC Oversea Investment and Listing Rules and Regulations.

 

2.57 M&A Rules. The Company is aware of and has been advised as to the content of the Rules on Mergers and Acquisitions of Domestic Enterprises by Foreign Investors jointly promulgated by the Ministry of Commerce, the State Assets Supervision and Administration Commission, the State Tax Administration, the State Administration of Industry and Commerce, the CSRC and SAFE on August 8, 2006, as amended (the “M&A Rules”) and any official clarifications, guidance, interpretations, implementation rules, revisions in connection with or related thereto, in particular the relevant provisions thereof that purport to require offshore special purpose vehicles formed for the purpose of obtaining a stock exchange listing outside of the PRC and controlled directly or indirectly by companies or natural persons of the PRC, to obtain the approval of the CSRC prior to the listing and trading of their securities on a stock exchange located outside of the PRC; the Company has received legal advice specifically with respect to the M&A Rules from its PRC counsel and based on such legal advice, the Company confirms with the Underwriters that (i) except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the issuance and sale of the Public Securities and the Representative’s Securities, the listing and trading of the Ordinary Shares on the Nasdaq Capital Market and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Representative’s Warrants are not, as of the date hereof, and will not be, at the Closing Date or any Option Closing Date, materially affected by the M&A Rules or any official clarifications, guidance, interpretations or implementation rules in connection with or related to the M&A Rules as amended as of the date hereof (collectively, the “M&A Rules and Related Clarifications”), (ii) except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, as of the date hereof, the M&A Rules and Related Classifications do not require the Company to obtain the approval of the CSRC prior to the issuance and sale of the Public Securities and the Representative’s Securities, the listing and trading of the Ordinary Shares on the Nasdaq Capital Market, or the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Representative’s Warrants.

 

2.58 Bank Holding Company Act. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries or affiliates is subject to the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended (the “BHCA”) and to regulation by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the “Federal Reserve”). Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries or affiliates owns or controls, directly or indirectly, five percent (5%) or more of the outstanding shares of any class of voting securities or 25% or more of the total equity of a bank or any entity that is subject to the BHCA and to regulation by the Federal Reserve. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries exercises a controlling influence over the management or policies of a bank or any entity that is subject to the BHCA and to regulation by the Federal Reserve.

 

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2.59 U.S. Real Property Holding Corporation. The Company is not and has never been a U.S. real property holding corporation within the meaning of Section 897 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the Company shall so certify upon the Underwriters’ request.

 

2.60 Solvency. Based on the consolidated financial condition of the Company as of the Closing Date, after giving effect to the receipt by the Company of the proceeds from the Offering hereunder, (i) the fair saleable value of the Company’s assets will exceed the amount that will be required to be paid on or in respect of the Company’s existing debts and other liabilities (including known contingent liabilities) as they mature, (ii) the Company’s assets do not constitute unreasonably small capital to carry on its business as now conducted and as proposed to be conducted including its capital needs taking into account the particular capital requirements of the business conducted by the Company, consolidated and projected capital requirements and capital availability thereof, and (iii) the current cash flow of the Company, together with the proceeds the Company would receive, were it to liquidate all of its assets, after taking into account all anticipated uses of the cash, are sufficient to pay all amounts on or in respect of its liabilities when such amounts are required to be paid. The Company does not intend to incur debts beyond its ability to pay such debts as they mature (taking into account the timing and amounts of cash to be payable on or in respect of its debt). Except as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Company has no knowledge of any facts or circumstances which lead it to believe that it will file for reorganization or liquidation under the bankruptcy or reorganization laws of any jurisdiction within one year from the Closing Date. The Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus set forth as of the date hereof all outstanding secured and unsecured Indebtedness (as defined below) of the Company or any Subsidiary, or for which the Company or any Subsidiary has commitments. For the purposes of this Agreement, “Indebtedness” means (x) any liabilities for borrowed money or amounts owed in excess of $50,000 (other than trade accounts payable incurred in the ordinary course of business), (y) all guaranties, endorsements and other contingent obligations in respect of indebtedness of others, whether or not the same are or should be reflected in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet (or the notes thereto), except guaranties by endorsement of negotiable instruments for deposit or collection or similar transactions in the ordinary course of business; and (z) the present value of any lease payments in excess of $50,000 due under leases required to be capitalized in accordance with GAAP. Except as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is in default with respect to any Indebtedness.

 

3. Covenants of the Company. The Company covenants and agrees as follows:

 

3.1 Amendments to Registration Statement. The Company shall deliver to the Representative, at least one (1) Business Day (or such shorter time mutually agreed by the parties hereto) prior to filing, any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement, Pricing Disclosure Package or Prospectus proposed to be filed after the Effective Date and not file any such amendment or supplement to which the Representative shall reasonably object in writing.

 

3.2 Federal Securities Laws.

 

3.2.1. Compliance. The Company, subject to Section 3.2.2, shall comply with the requirements of Rule 430A of the Securities Act Regulations, and will, during the period required to permit the completion of the distribution of the Public Securities as contemplated in this Agreement and in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, notify the Representative promptly, and confirm the notice in writing, (i) when any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement shall become effective or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus shall have been filed; (ii) of its receipt of any comments from the Commission; (iii) of any request by the Commission for any amendment to the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus or for additional information; (iv) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment or of any order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, or of the suspension of the qualification of the Public Securities and the Representative’s Securities for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or of the initiation or threatening of any proceedings for any of such purposes or of any examination pursuant to Section 8(d) or 8(e) of the Securities Act concerning the Registration Statement and (v) if the Company becomes the subject of a proceeding under Section 8A of the Securities Act in connection with the Offering of the Public Securities and the Representative’s Securities. The Company shall effect all filings required under Rule 424(b) of the Securities Act Regulations, in the manner and within the time period required by Rule 424(b) (without reliance on Rule 424(b)(8)), and shall take such steps as it deems necessary to ascertain promptly whether the form of prospectus transmitted for filing under Rule 424(b) was received for filing by the Commission and, in the event that it was not, it will promptly file such prospectus. The Company shall use its best efforts to prevent the issuance of any stop order, prevention or suspension and, if any such order is issued, to obtain the lifting thereof at the earliest possible moment.

 

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3.2.2. Continued Compliance. The Company shall comply in all materially aspects with the Securities Act, the Securities Act Regulations, the Exchange Act and the Exchange Act Regulations so as to permit the completion of the distribution of the Public Securities as contemplated in this Agreement and in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. If at any time when a prospectus relating to the Public Securities is (or, but for the exception afforded by Rule 172 of the Securities Act Regulations (“Rule 172”), would be) required by the Securities Act to be delivered in connection with sales of the Public Securities, any event shall occur or condition shall exist as a result of which it is necessary, in the opinion of Representative Counsel or Company Counsel, to (i) amend the Registration Statement in order that the Registration Statement will not include an 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; (ii) amend or supplement the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus in order that the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, as the case may be, 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 not misleading in light of the circumstances existing at the time it is delivered to a purchaser or (iii) amend the Registration Statement or amend or supplement the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, as the case may be, in order to comply with the requirements of the Securities Act or the Securities Act Regulations, the Company will promptly (A) give the Representative notice of such event; (B) prepare any amendment or supplement as may be necessary to correct such statement or omission or to make the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus comply with such requirements and, a reasonable amount of time prior to any proposed filing or use, furnish the Representative with copies of any such amendment or supplement and (C) file with the Commission any such amendment or supplement; provided that the Company shall not file or use any such amendment or supplement to which the Representative or Representative Counsel shall reasonably object. The Company will furnish to the Underwriters such number of copies of such amendment or supplement as the Underwriters may reasonably request. The Company has given the Representative notice of any filings made pursuant to the Exchange Act or the Exchange Act Regulations within 48 hours prior to the Applicable Time. The Company shall give the Representative notice of its intention to make any such filing from the Applicable Time until the later of the Closing Date and the exercise in full or expiration of the Over-allotment Option specified in Section 1.2 hereof and will furnish the Representative with copies of the related document(s) a reasonable amount of time prior to such proposed filing, as the case may be, and will not file or use any such document to which the Representative or Representative Counsel shall reasonably object.

 

3.2.3. Exchange Act Registration. Until the later of (a) three (3) years after the date of this Agreement or (b) the expiration date of the Representative’s Warrants (or the date that all of the Representative’s Warrants have been exercised, if earlier), (i) the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to maintain the registration of the Ordinary Shares under the Exchange Act, and (ii) the Company shall not deregister any of the Ordinary Shares under the Exchange Act without the prior written consent of the Representative.

 

3.2.4. Free Writing Prospectuses. The Company agrees that, unless it obtains the prior written consent of the Representative, it shall not make any offer relating to the Public Securities that would constitute an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or that would otherwise constitute a “free writing prospectus,” or a portion thereof, required to be filed by the Company with the Commission or retained by the Company under Rule 433; provided that the Representative shall be deemed to have consented to each Issuer General Use Free Writing Prospectus set forth in Schedule 2-B. The Company represents that it has treated or agrees that it will treat each such free writing prospectus consented to, or deemed consented to, by the Representative as an “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433, and that it has complied and will comply with the applicable requirements of Rule 433 with respect thereto, including timely filing with the Commission where required, legending and record keeping. If at any time following issuance of an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus there occurred or occurs an event or development as a result of which such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus conflicted or would conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement or included or would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or would omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances existing at that subsequent time, not misleading, the Company will promptly notify the Representative and will promptly amend or supplement, at its own expense, such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus to eliminate or correct such conflict, untrue statement or omission.

 

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3.2.5 Testing-the-Waters Communications. If at any time following the distribution of any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication there occurred or occurs an event or development as a result of which such Written Testing-the-Waters Communication included or would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or would omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances existing at that subsequent time, not misleading, the Company shall promptly notify the Representative and shall promptly amend or supplement, at its own expense, such Written Testing-the-Waters Communication to eliminate or correct such untrue statement or omission.

 

3.3 Delivery to the Underwriters of Registration Statements. The Company has delivered or made available or shall deliver or make available to the Representative and Representative Counsel, without charge, conformed copies of the Registration Statement as originally filed and each amendment thereto (including exhibits filed therewith) and signed copies of all consents and certificates of experts, and will also deliver to each Underwriter, without charge, a conformed copy of the Registration Statement as originally filed and each amendment thereto (without exhibits) upon receipt of a written request therefor from such Underwriter. The copies of the Registration Statement and each amendment thereto furnished to the Underwriters will be identical to the electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.

 

3.4 Delivery to the Underwriters of Prospectuses. The Company has delivered or made available or will deliver or make available to each Underwriter, without charge, as many copies of each Preliminary Prospectus as such Underwriter reasonably requested, and the Company hereby consents to the use of such copies for purposes permitted by the Securities Act. The Company will furnish to each Underwriter, without charge, during the period when a prospectus relating to the Public Securities is (or, but for the exception afforded by Rule 172 of the Securities Act Regulations, would be) required to be delivered under the Securities Act, such number of copies of the Prospectus (as amended or supplemented) as such Underwriter may reasonably request. The Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto furnished to the Underwriters will be identical to the electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.

 

3.5 Effectiveness and Events Requiring Notice to the Representative. The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Registration Statement to remain effective with a current prospectus through and including the expiration date of the Representative’s Warrants (or the date that all of the Representative’s Warrants have been exercised, if earlier), and shall notify the Representative immediately and confirm the notice in writing: (i) of the effectiveness of the Registration Statement and any amendment thereto; (ii) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order or of the initiation, or the threatening, of any proceeding for that purpose; (iii) of the issuance by any state securities commission of any proceedings for the suspension of the qualification of the Public Securities or the Representative’s Securities, as applicable, for offering or sale in any jurisdiction or of the initiation, or the threatening, of any proceeding for that purpose; (iv) of the mailing and delivery to the Commission for filing of any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or Prospectus; (v) of the receipt of any comments or request for any additional information from the Commission; and (vi) of the happening of any event during the period described in this Section 3.5 that, in the judgment of the Company, makes any statement of a material fact made in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus untrue or that requires the making of any changes in (a) the Registration Statement in order to make the statements therein not misleading, or (b) in the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. If the Commission or any state securities commission shall enter a stop order or suspend such qualification at any time, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain promptly the lifting of such order.

 

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3.6 Review of Financial Statements. For a period of three (3) years after the date of this Agreement, the Company, at its expense, shall cause its regularly engaged independent registered public accounting firm to review (but not audit) the Company’s financial statements for each of the first half-years immediately preceding the announcement of any interim financial information before such announcement is made.

 

3.7 Listing. The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to maintain the listing of the Ordinary Shares (including the Firm Shares and the Option Shares, as applicable) on the Exchange for at least three (3) years from the Closing Date.

 

3.8 Financial Public Relations Firm. As of the Effective Date, the Company shall have retained a financial public relations firm reasonably acceptable to the Representative and the Company, which firm shall be experienced in assisting issuers in initial public offerings of securities and in their relations with their security holders.

 

3.9 Reports to the Representative.

 

3.9.1. Periodic Reports, etc. For a period of three (3) years after the date of this Agreement, the Company shall, furnish or make available to the Representative copies of such financial statements and other periodic and special reports as the Company from time to time furnishes generally to holders of any class of its securities and also promptly furnish to the Representative: (i) a copy of each periodic report the Company shall be required to file with the Commission under the Exchange Act and the Exchange Act Regulations; (ii) a copy of every press release and every news item and article with respect to the Company or its affairs which was released by the Company; (iii) a copy of each current report on Form 6-K prepared and filed by the Company; (iv) a copy of each registration statement filed by the Company under the Securities Act; (v) a copy of each report or other communication furnished to shareholders and (vi) such additional documents and information with respect to the Company and the affairs of any future subsidiaries of the Company as the Representative may from time to time reasonably request. Documents filed with the Commission pursuant to its EDGAR system or press releases shall be deemed to have been delivered to the Representative pursuant to this Section 3.9.1. Any documents not filed with the Commission pursuant to its EDGAR system shall be delivered to jrallo@efhuttongroup.com, with a copy to dboral@efhuttongroup.com.

 

3.9.2. Transfer Agent; Transfer Sheets. For a period of three (3) years after the date of this Agreement, the Company shall retain a transfer agent and registrar acceptable to the Representative (the “Transfer Agent”) and, upon written request by the Representative, shall furnish to the Representative at the Company’s sole cost and expense such transfer sheets of the Company’s securities as the Representative may reasonably request, including the daily and monthly consolidated transfer sheets of the Transfer Agent and DTC. TranShare Corporation is acceptable to the Representative to act as Transfer Agent for the Ordinary Shares.

 

3.9.3 Trading Reports. For a period of three (3) years after the date of this Agreement, the Company shall provide to the Representative, at the Company’s expense, such reports published by the Exchange relating to price trading of the Public Securities, as the Representative shall reasonably request.

 

3.10 Payment of Expenses

 

3.10.1. General Expenses Related to the Offering. The Company hereby agrees to pay on each of the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if any, to the extent not paid at the Closing Date, all expenses related to the Offering or otherwise incident to the performance of the obligations of the Company under this Agreement, including, but not limited to: (a) all filing fees and expenses relating to the registration of the Public Securities and the Representative’s Securities with the Commission; (b) all fees and expenses relating to the listing of the Ordinary Shares on the Exchange and such other stock exchanges as the Company and the Representative together determine, including any fees charged by DTC; (c) all fees, expenses and disbursements relating to the registration, qualification or exemption of the Public Securities under the “blue-sky” securities laws of such states or other jurisdictions as the Representative may reasonably designate (including, without limitation, all filing and registration fees, and the reasonable fees and disbursements of the Company’s “blue sky” counsel, which will be the Representative Counsel) unless such filings are not required in connection with the Company’s proposed listing on the Exchange; (d) all fees, expenses and disbursements relating to the registration, qualification or exemption of the Public Securities under the securities laws of such foreign jurisdictions as the Representative may reasonably designate; (e) the costs of all mailing and printing of documents in connection with the Offering; (f) transfer and/or stamp taxes, if any, payable upon the transfer of securities from the Company to the Underwriters; and (g) the fees and expenses of the Company’s accountants; (h) all filing fees and communication expenses associated with the review of the Offering by FINRA; (i) a maximum of $30,000 for the Representative’s actual accountable road show and due diligence expenses for the Offering; (j) the $29,500 cost associated with the Underwriters’ use of Ipreo’s book building, prospectus tracking and compliance software for the Offering; (k) the costs associated with bound volumes of the Offering materials as well as commemorative mementos and lucite tombstones in an aggregate amount not to exceed $5,000; and (l) the fees for the Representative Counsel in the United States, in an amount not to exceed $135,000 in the event of a Closing of the Offering, and a maximum of $100,000 in the event there is no Closing. Additionally, the Company has provided an expense advance to the Representative of $50,000 (the “Advance”). The Advance shall be applied towards out-of-pocket accountable expenses set forth herein and any portion of the Advance shall be returned back to the Company to the extent not actually incurred. The Representative may deduct from the net proceeds of the Offering payable to the Company on the Closing Date, or the Option Closing Date, if any, the expenses set forth herein to be paid by the Company to the Underwriters.

 

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3.11 Application of Net Proceeds. The Company shall apply the net proceeds from the Offering received by it in a manner consistent with the application thereof described under the caption “Use of Proceeds” in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

 

3.12 Delivery of Earnings Statements to Security Holders. The Company shall in accordance with applicable legal requirements make generally available through its filings with the Commission to its security holders as soon as practicable, but not later than the first day of the fifteenth (15th) full calendar month following the date of this Agreement, or within such time as required under applicable laws and regulations, an earnings statement (which need not be certified by an independent registered public accounting firm unless required by the Securities Act or the Securities Act Regulations, but which shall satisfy the provisions of Rule 158(a) under Section 11(a) of the Securities Act) covering a period of at least twelve (12) consecutive months beginning after the date of this Agreement.

 

3.13 Stabilization. Neither the Company nor, to its knowledge, any of its employees, directors or shareholders has taken or shall take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that has constituted or that might reasonably be expected to cause or result in, under Regulation M of 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 Public Securities.

 

3.14 Internal Controls. The Company shall maintain a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that: (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary in order to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance 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.

 

3.15 Accountants. As of the date of this Agreement, the Company has retained an independent registered public accounting firm, as required by the Securities Act and the Securities Act Regulations and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, reasonably acceptable to the Representative, and the Company shall continue to retain a nationally recognized independent registered public accounting firm for a period of at least three (3) years after the Closing Date. The Representative acknowledges that the Auditor is acceptable to the Representative.

 

3.16 FINRA. For a period of 90 days from the later of the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, the Company shall advise the Representative (who shall make an appropriate filing with FINRA) if it is or becomes aware that (i) any officer or director of the Company, (ii) any beneficial owner of 10% or more of any class of the Company’s securities or (iii) any beneficial owner of the Company’s unregistered equity securities which were acquired during the 180 days immediately preceding the filing of the Registration Statement is or becomes an affiliate or associated person of a FINRA member participating in the Offering (as determined in accordance with the rules and regulations of FINRA).

 

3.17 No Fiduciary Duties. The Company acknowledges and agrees that the Underwriters’ responsibility to the Company is solely contractual in nature and that none of the Underwriters or their affiliates or any selling agent shall be deemed to be acting in a fiduciary capacity, or otherwise owes any fiduciary duty to the Company or any of its affiliates in connection with the Offering and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

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3.18 Company Lock-Up Agreements.

 

3.18.1. Restriction on Sales of Share Capital. The Company, on behalf of itself and any successor entity, agrees that, without the prior written consent of the Representative, it will not, for a period of 180 days after the date the Offering is completed (the “Lock-Up Period”), (i) offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, lend, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of capital stock of the Company or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of capital stock of the Company; (ii) file or cause to be filed any registration statement with the Commission relating to the offering of any shares of capital stock of the Company or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of capital stock of the Company; (iii) complete any offering of debt securities of the Company, other than entering into a line of credit with a traditional bank or other lending institution, or (iv) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of share capital of the Company, whether any such transaction described in clause (i), (ii), (iii), or (iv) above is to be settled by delivery of shares of capital stock of the Company or such other securities, in cash or otherwise.

 

The restrictions contained in this Section 3.18.1 shall not apply to (i) the Public Securities or the Representative’s Securities, (ii) the issuance by the Company of Ordinary Shares upon the exercise of an outstanding share option or warrant or the conversion of a security, in each case outstanding on the date hereof, provided that such options, warrants, securities are disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus and have not been amended since the date of this Agreement to increase the number of such securities or to decrease the exercise price, exchange price or conversion price of such securities or to extend the term of such securities, or (iii) the issuance by the Company of any security to directors, officers or employees of the Company in their capacity as such pursuant to an Approved Equity Incentive Plan. “Approved Equity Incentive Plan” means any employee benefit plan which has been approved by the Board of Directors prior to or subsequent to the date hereof pursuant to which the Ordinary Shares and standard options to purchase Ordinary Shares may be issued to any employee, officer or director for services provided to the Company in their capacity as such.

 

3.19 Release of D&O Lock-up Period. If the Representative, in its sole discretion, agrees to release or waive the restrictions set forth in the Lock-Up Agreements described in Section 2.25 hereof for an officer or director of the Company and provides the Company with notice of the impending release or waiver at least three (3) Business Days before the effective date of the release or waiver, the Company agrees to announce the impending release or waiver by a press release substantially in the form of Exhibit C hereto through a major news service at least two (2) Business Days before the effective date of the release or waiver.

 

3.20 Blue Sky Qualifications. The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts, in cooperation with the Underwriters, if necessary, to qualify the Public Securities for offering and sale under the applicable securities laws of such states and other jurisdictions (domestic or foreign) as the Representative may designate and to maintain such qualifications in effect so long as required to complete the distribution of the Public Securities; provided, however, that the Company shall not be obligated to file any general consent to service of process or to qualify as a foreign corporation or as a dealer in securities in any jurisdiction in which it is not so qualified or to subject itself to taxation in respect of doing business in any jurisdiction in which it is not otherwise so subject.

 

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3.21 Reporting Requirements. The Company, during the period when a prospectus relating to the Public Securities is (or, but for the exception afforded by Rule 172, would be) required to be delivered under the Securities Act, 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 Exchange Act Regulations. Additionally, the Company shall report the use of proceeds from the issuance of the Public Securities as may be required under Rule 463 under the Securities Act Regulations.

 

3.22 Emerging Growth Company Status. The Company shall promptly notify the Representative if the Company ceases to be an Emerging Growth Company at any time prior to the later of (i) completion of the distribution of the Public Securities within the meaning of the Securities Act and (ii) fifteen (15) days following the completion of the Lock-Up Period.

 

3.23 Press Releases. Prior to the Closing Date and any Option Closing Date, the Company shall not issue any press release or other communication directly or indirectly or hold any press conference with respect to the Company, its condition, financial or otherwise, or earnings, business affairs or business prospects (except for routine oral marketing communications in the ordinary course of business and consistent with the past practices of the Company and of which the Representative is notified), without the prior written consent of the Representative, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, unless in the judgment of the Company and its counsel, and after notification to the Representative, such press release or communication is required by law or requirement of the Exchange.

 

3.24 Sarbanes-Oxley. From a period of one (1) year from the date of this Agreement, the Company shall at all times comply in all material respects with all applicable provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act in effect from time to time.

 

3.25 IRS Forms. If requested by the Representative, the Company shall deliver to each Underwriter (or its agent), prior to or at the Closing Date, a properly completed and executed Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) Form W-9 or an IRS Form W-8, as appropriate, together with all required attachments to such form.

 

3.26 D&O Insurance. The Company has procured and shall, until the expiration date of the Representative’s Warrants (or the date that all of the Representative’s Warrants have been exercised, if earlier), use commercially reasonable efforts in maintaining directors and officers insurance for each of the officers and directors of the Company in a manner consistent with the Company’s business and industry standards.

 

4. Conditions of Underwriters’ Obligations. The obligations of the Underwriters to purchase and pay for the Public Securities, as provided herein, shall be subject to (i) the continuing accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Company as of the date hereof and as of each of the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if any; (ii) the accuracy of the statements of officers of the Company made pursuant to the provisions hereof; (iii) the timely performance by the Company of its covenants and obligations hereunder; and (iv) the following conditions:

 

4.1 Regulatory Matters.

 

4.1.1. Effectiveness of Registration Statement; Rule 430A Information. The Registration Statement has become effective not later than 5:30 p.m., Eastern time, on the date of this Agreement or such later date and time as shall be consented to in writing by the Representative, and, at each of the Closing Date and any Option Closing Date, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto shall have been issued under the Securities Act, no order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall have been issued and no proceedings for any of those purposes shall have been instituted or are pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, contemplated by the Commission. The Company has complied with each request (if any) from the Commission for additional information. A prospectus containing the Rule 430A Information shall have been filed with the Commission in the manner and within the time frame required by Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act Regulations (without reliance on Rule 424(b)(8)) or a post-effective amendment providing such information shall have been filed with, and declared effective by, the Commission in accordance with the requirements of Rule 430A under the Securities Act Regulations.

 

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4.1.2. FINRA Clearance. On or before the date of this Agreement, the Representative shall have received clearance from FINRA as to the amount of compensation allowable or payable to the Underwriters as described in the Registration Statement.

 

4.1.3. Exchange Clearance. On or before the Closing Date, the Firm Shares shall have been approved for listing on the Exchange, subject only to official notice of issuance, which condition cannot be waived by the Underwriters. On the first Option Closing Date (if any), the Option Shares shall have been approved for listing on the Exchange, subject only to official notice of issuance.

 

4.2 Company Counsel Matters.

 

4.2.1. Closing Date Opinion of Counsel.

 

(i) On the Closing Date, the Representative shall have received the favorable opinion and written statement providing certain “10b-5” negative assurances of Hunter Taubman Fischer & Li LLC (“Company Counsel”), counsel to the Company, dated the Closing Date and addressed to the Representative, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative and Representative Counsel.

 

(ii) On the Closing Date, the Representative shall have received an opinion of Ogier (Cayman) LLP, Cayman Islands counsel to the Company, dated the Closing Date and addressed to the Representative, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative and Representative Counsel.

 

(iii) On the Closing Date, the Representative shall have received an opinion of Winston & Strawn, Hong Kong counsel to the Company, dated the Closing Date and addressed to the Representative, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative and Representative Counsel.

 

(iv) On the Closing Date, the Representative shall have received an opinion of AllBright Law Offices, PRC counsel to the Company, dated the Closing Date and addressed to the Representative, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative and Representative Counsel.

 

(v) On the Closing Date, the Representative shall have received an opinion of City-Yuwa Partners, Japanese counsel to the Company, dated the Closing Date and addressed to the Representative, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative and Representative Counsel.

 

4.2.2. Option Closing Date Opinions of Counsel. On the Option Closing Date, if any, the Representative shall have received the favorable opinions and/or negative assurance letters of each counsel listed in Section 4.2.1 hereof, dated the Option Closing Date, addressed to the Representative and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative and Representative Counsel, confirming as of the Option Closing Date, the statements made by such counsels in their respective opinions delivered on the Closing Date.

 

4.2.3 Reliance. The opinions of each counsel listed in Section 4.2.1 hereof and any opinion relied upon thereby shall include a statement to the effect that it may be relied upon by Representative Counsel in its opinion delivered to the Representative.

 

4.3 Comfort Letters.

 

4.3.1. Cold Comfort Letter. At the time this Agreement is executed the Representative shall have received a cold comfort letter from the Auditor containing statements and information of the type customarily included in accountants’ comfort letters with respect to the financial statements and certain financial information contained in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, addressed to the Representative and in form and substance satisfactory in all respects to the Representative and to Representative Counsel from the Auditor, dated as of the date of this Agreement.

 

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4.3.2. Bring-down Comfort Letter. At each of the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if any, the Representative shall have received from the Auditor a letter, dated as of the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as applicable, to the effect that the Auditor reaffirms the statements made in the letter furnished pursuant to Section 4.3.1 hereof.

 

4.4 Officers’ Certificates.

 

4.4.1. Officers’ Certificate. The Company shall have furnished to the Representative a certificate, dated the Closing Date and any Option Closing Date (if such date is other than the Closing Date), of its Chief Executive Officer or President, and its Chief Financial Officer certifying on behalf of the Company and not in an individual capacity that (i) such officers have carefully examined the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and the Prospectus and, in their opinion, the Registration Statement and each amendment thereto after the Effective Date, as of the Applicable Time and as of the Closing Date (or any Option Closing Date if such date is other than the Closing Date) did not include any untrue statement of a material fact and did not omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, and the Pricing Disclosure Package, as of the Applicable Time and as of the Closing Date (or any Option Closing Date if such date is other than the Closing Date), any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus as of its date and as of the Closing Date (or any Option Closing Date if such date is other than the Closing Date), the Prospectus and each amendment or supplement thereto after the Effective Date, as of the respective date thereof and as of the Closing Date, did not include any untrue statement of a material fact and did not omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, (ii) since the Effective Date, no event has occurred which should have been set forth in a supplement or amendment to the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, (iii) to the best of their knowledge after reasonable investigation, as of the Closing Date (or any Option Closing Date if such date is other than the Closing Date), the representations and warranties of the Company in this Agreement are true and correct and the Company has complied with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior to the Closing Date (or any Option Closing Date if such date is other than the Closing Date), and (iv) there has not been, subsequent to the date of the most recent audited financial statements included in the Pricing Disclosure Package, any Material Adverse Change.

 

4.4.2. Secretary’s Certificate. At each of the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if any, the Representative shall have received a certificate of the Company signed by the Secretary or other officer of the Company, dated the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, respectively, certifying on behalf of the Company and not in an individual capacity: (i) that the Charter is true and complete, has not been modified or rescinded and is in full force and effect; (ii) that the resolutions of the Board of Directors relating to the Offering are in full force and effect and have not been modified; (iii) as to the accuracy and completeness of all correspondence between the Company or its counsel and the Commission; (iv) as to the accuracy and completeness of all correspondence between the Company or its counsel and the Exchange; (v) as to the incumbency of the officers of the Company who have signed the certificates set forth in this Section 4.4. The documents referred to in such certificate shall be attached to such certificate.

 

4.5 No Material Changes. Prior to and on each of the Closing Date and each Option Closing Date, if any: (i) there shall have been no Material Adverse Change in the condition or prospects or the business activities, financial or otherwise, of the Company from the latest dates as of which such condition is set forth in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus; (ii) no action, suit or proceeding, at law or in equity, shall have been pending or threatened against the Company or any Insider before or by any court or federal or state commission, board or other administrative agency wherein an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding may reasonably be expected to cause a Material Adverse Change, except as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus; (iii) no stop order shall have been issued under the Securities Act and no proceedings therefor shall have been initiated or threatened by the Commission; (iv) no action shall have been taken and no law, statute, rule, regulation or order shall have been enacted, adopted or issued by any Governmental Entity which would prevent the issuance or sale of the Public Securities or materially and adversely affect or potentially materially and adversely affect the business or operations of the Company; (v) no injunction, restraining order or order of any other nature by any federal, state or foreign court of competent jurisdiction shall have been issued which would prevent the issuance or sale of the Public Securities or materially and adversely affect or potentially materially and adversely affect the business or operations of the Company; and (vi) the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto shall contain all material statements which are required to be stated therein in accordance with the Securities Act and the Securities Act Regulations and shall conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Securities Act and the Securities Act Regulations, and neither the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package nor the Prospectus nor any amendment or supplement thereto shall contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

 

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4.6 No Material Misstatement or Omission. The Underwriters shall not have discovered and disclosed to the Company on or prior to the Closing Date and any Option Closing Date that the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement thereto contains an untrue statement of a fact which, in the opinion of Representative Counsel, is material or omits to state any fact which, in the opinion of such counsel, is material and is required to be stated therein or is necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or that the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto contains an untrue statement of fact which, in the opinion of Representative Counsel, is material or omits to state any fact which, in the opinion of Representative Counsel, is material and is necessary in order to make the statements, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

 

4.7 Corporate Proceedings. All corporate proceedings and other legal matters incident to the authorization, form and validity of each of this Agreement, the Public Securities, the Representative’s Securities, the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package, each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, if any, and the Prospectus and all other legal matters relating to this Agreement and the Representative’s Warrants, and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby shall be reasonably satisfactory in all material respects to Representative Counsel, and the Company shall have furnished to such counsel all documents and information that they may reasonably request to enable them to pass upon such matters.

 

4.8 Lock-Up Agreements. On or before the date of this Agreement, the Company shall have delivered to the Representative executed copies of the Lock-Up Agreements from each of the persons listed in Schedule 3 hereto.

 

4.9 Additional Documents. At the Closing Date and at each Option Closing Date (if any) Representative Counsel shall have been furnished with such documents and opinions as they may reasonably require for the purpose of enabling Representative Counsel to deliver an opinion to the Underwriters, or in order to evidence the accuracy of any of the representations or warranties, or the fulfillment of any of the conditions, herein contained; and all proceedings taken by the Company in connection with the issuance and sale of the Public Securities and the Representative’s Securities as herein contemplated shall be reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Representative and Representative Counsel.

 

5. Indemnification.

 

5.1 Indemnification of the Underwriters.

 

5.1.1. General. The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, its affiliates and each of its and their respective directors, officers, members, employees, representatives, partners, shareholders, affiliates, counsel and agents and each person, if any, who controls any such Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act (collectively the “Underwriter Indemnified Parties,” and each an “Underwriter Indemnified Party”), against any and all loss, liability (or actions, including shareholder actions, in respect thereof), claim, damage and expense whatsoever (including but not limited to any and all legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever, whether arising out of any action between any of the Underwriter Indemnified Parties and the Company or between any of the Underwriter Indemnified Parties and any third party, or otherwise) to which they or any of them may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or any other statute or at common law or otherwise or under the laws of foreign countries, arising out of or based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in (i) the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package, the Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication (as from time to time each may be amended and supplemented); (ii) any materials or information provided to investors by, or with the approval of, the Company in connection with the marketing of the Offering, including any “road show” or investor presentations made to investors by the Company (whether in person or electronically); or (iii) any application or other document or written communication (in this Section 5, collectively called “application”) executed by the Company or based upon written information furnished by the Company in any jurisdiction in order to qualify the Public Securities and the Representative’s Securities under the securities laws thereof or filed with the Commission, any state securities commission or agency, the Exchange or any other national securities exchange; or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, unless such statement or omission was made in reliance upon, and in conformity with, the Underwriters’ Information. With respect to any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in the Pricing Disclosure Package, the indemnity agreement contained in this Section 5.1.1 shall not inure to the benefit of any Underwriter Indemnified Party to the extent that any loss, liability, claim, damage or expense of such Underwriter Indemnified Party results from the fact that a copy of the Prospectus was not given or sent to the person asserting any such loss, liability, claim or damage at or prior to the written confirmation of sale of the Public Securities to such person as required by the Securities Act and the Securities Act Regulations, and if the untrue statement or omission has been corrected in the Prospectus, unless such failure to deliver the Prospectus was a result of non-compliance by the Company with its obligations under Section 3.3 hereof. The Company will not be liable to any Underwriter Indemnified Party under the foregoing indemnification and reimbursement provisions: (i) for any settlement by an Underwriter Indemnified Party effected without the Company’s prior written consent (not to be unreasonably withheld); or (ii) to the extent that any loss, claim, damage or liability is found in a final, non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from the Underwriter Indemnified Party’s bad faith, willful misconduct, or gross negligence. The Company also agrees that no Underwriter Indemnified Party shall have any liability (whether direct or indirect, in contract or tort or otherwise) to the Company or its security holders or creditors related to or arising out of the engagement of the Underwriters pursuant to, or the performance by the Underwriters of the services contemplated by, this Agreement except to the extent that any loss, claim, damage or liability is found in a final, non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from such Underwriter Indemnified Party’s bad faith, willful misconduct, or gross negligence.

 

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5.1.2. Procedure. If any action is brought against an Underwriter Indemnified Party in respect of which indemnity may be sought against the Company pursuant to Section 5.1.1, such Underwriter Indemnified Party shall promptly notify the Company in writing of the institution of such action and the Company shall be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it wishes, jointly with any other similarly notified indemnifying party, to assume the defense of such action, including the employment and fees of counsel (subject to the reasonable approval of such Underwriter Indemnified Party) and payment of actual expenses. Any failure or delay by an Underwriter Indemnified Party to give the notice referred to herein shall not affect such Underwriter Indemnified Party’s right to be indemnified hereunder, except to the extent that such failure or delay causes actual material harm to the Company, or materially prejudices its ability to defend such action, suit or proceeding on behalf of such Indemnified Party. If any such action is brought against any Underwriter Indemnified Party and such Underwriter Indemnified Party notifies the Company of the commencement thereof, the Company may elect to assume the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Underwriter Indemnified Party, and such Underwriter Indemnified Party shall have the right to employ its or their own counsel in any such case, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Underwriter Indemnified Party unless (i) the employment of such counsel at the expense of the Company shall have been authorized in writing by the Company in connection with the defense of such action, or (ii) the Company shall not have employed counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Underwriter Indemnified Party to have charge of the defense of such action within a reasonable time after receiving notice of the action, suit, or proceeding, or (iii) such indemnified party or parties shall have reasonably concluded (based upon advice of counsel to such indemnified party) that there may be legal defenses available to it or them which are different from or additional to those available to the Company , or that there exists a conflict or potential conflict of interest (based upon advice of counsel to such indemnified party) between such indemnified party and the Company that makes it impossible or inadvisable for counsel to the Company to conduct the defense of the indemnified party (in which case the Company shall not have the right to direct the defense of such action on behalf of the indemnified party or parties), in any of which events the reasonable fees and expenses of not more than one additional firm of attorneys selected by the Underwriter Indemnified Parties who are party to such action (in addition to local counsel) shall be borne by the Company. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if any Underwriter Indemnified Party shall assume the defense of such action as provided above, the Company shall have the right to approve the terms of any settlement of such action, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld.

 

5.2 Indemnification of the Company. Each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, shall indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors, its officers who signed the Registration Statement and persons who control the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense described in the foregoing indemnity from the Company to the several Underwriters, as incurred, but only with respect to such losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses (or actions in respect thereof) which arise out of or are based upon untrue statements or omissions made in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Pricing Disclosure Package or Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto or in any application, in reliance upon, and in strict conformity with, the Underwriters’ Information. In case any action shall be brought against the Company or any other person so indemnified based on any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto or any application, and in respect of which indemnity may be sought against any Underwriter, such Underwriter shall have the rights and duties given to the Company, and the Company and each other person so indemnified shall have the rights and duties given to the several Underwriters by the provisions of Section 5.1.2. The Company agrees promptly to notify the Representative of the commencement of any litigation or proceedings against the Company or any of its officers, directors or any person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, in connection with the issuance and sale of the Public Securities or in connection with the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package, the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication.

 

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5.3 Contribution.

 

5.3.1. Contribution Rights. If the indemnification provided for in this Section 5 shall for any reason be unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under Section 5.1 or 5.2 in respect of any loss, claim, damage or liability, or any action in respect thereof, referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party, contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such loss, claim, damage or liability, or action in respect thereof, (i) in such proportion as shall be appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company, on the one hand, and each of the Underwriters, on the other hand, from the Offering, or (ii) if, but only if, the allocation provided by clause (i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other, with respect to the statements or omissions that resulted in such loss, claim, damage or liability, or action in respect thereof, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other, with respect to such Offering shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total proceeds from the Offering purchased under this Agreement (before deducting expenses) received by the Company bear to the total underwriting discount and commissions received by the Underwriters in connection with the Offering, in each case as set forth in the table on the cover page of the Prospectus. The relative fault of the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other, shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company, on the one hand, or the Underwriters, on the other, the intent of the parties and their relative knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such untrue statement, omission, act or failure to act; provided that the parties hereto agree that the written information furnished to the Company through the Representative by or on behalf of any Underwriter for use in any Preliminary Prospectus, any Registration Statement or the Prospectus, or in any amendment or supplement thereto, consists solely of the Underwriters’ Information. The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contributions pursuant to this Section 5.3.1 were to be determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take into account the equitable considerations referred to herein. The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the loss, claim, damage, expense, liability, action, investigation or proceeding referred to above in this Section 5.3.1 shall be deemed to include, for purposes of this Section 5.3.1, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating, preparing to defend or defending against or appearing as a third party witness in respect of, or otherwise incurred in connection with, any such loss, claim, damage, expense, liability, action, investigation or proceeding. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 5.3.1 no Underwriters shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the total discount and commission received by such Underwriter in connection with the Offering (excluding reimbursable expenses) less the amount of any damages which such Underwriter has otherwise paid or becomes liable to pay by reason of any untrue or alleged untrue statement, omission or alleged omission, act or alleged act or failure to act or alleged failure to act. 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.

 

5.3.2. Contribution Procedure. Within fifteen (15) days after receipt by any party to this Agreement (or its representative) of notice of the commencement of any action, suit or proceeding, such party will, if a claim for contribution in respect thereof is to be made against another party (“contributing party”), notify the contributing party of the commencement thereof, but the failure to so notify the contributing party will not relieve it from any liability which it may have to any other party other than for contribution hereunder. In case any such action, suit or proceeding is brought against any party, and such party notifies a contributing party or its representative of the commencement thereof within the aforesaid 15 days, the contributing party will be entitled to participate therein with the notifying party and any other contributing party similarly notified. Any such contributing party shall not be liable to any party seeking contribution on account of any settlement of any claim, action or proceeding affected by such party seeking contribution without the written consent of such contributing party. The contribution provisions contained in this Section 5.3.2 are intended to supersede, to the extent permitted by law, any right to contribution under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise available. The Underwriters’ obligations to contribute as provided in this Section 5.3 are several and in proportion to their respective underwriting obligation, and not joint.

 

6.Default by an Underwriter.

 

6.1 Default Not Exceeding 10% of Firm Shares or Option Shares. If any Underwriter or Underwriters shall default in its or their obligations to purchase the Firm Shares or the Option Shares, if the Over-allotment Option is exercised hereunder, and if the number of the Firm Shares or Option Shares with respect to which such default relates does not exceed in the aggregate 10% of the number of Firm Shares or Option Shares that all Underwriters have agreed to purchase hereunder, then such Firm Shares or Option Shares to which the default relates shall be purchased by the non-defaulting Underwriters in proportion to their respective commitments hereunder.

 

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6.2 Default Exceeding 10% of Firm Shares or Option Shares. In the event that the default addressed in Section 6.1 relates to more than 10% of the Firm Shares or Option Shares, the Representative may in its discretion arrange for itself or for another party or parties to purchase such Firm Shares or Option Shares to which such default relates on the terms contained herein. If, within one (1) Business Day after such default relating to more than 10% of the Firm Shares or Option Shares, the Representative does not arrange for the purchase of such Firm Shares or Option Shares, then the Company shall be entitled to a further period of one (1) Business Day within which to procure another party or parties to purchase said Firm Shares or Option Shares on such terms. In the event that neither the Representative nor the Company arrange for the purchase of the Firm Shares or Option Shares to which a default relates as provided in this Section 6, this Agreement will automatically be terminated by the Representative or the Company without liability on the part of the Company (except as provided in Sections 3.10 and 5 hereof) or the several Underwriters that are not defaulting (except as provided in Section 5 hereof); provided, however, that if such default occurs with respect to the Option Shares, this Agreement will not terminate as to the Firm Shares; and provided, further, that nothing herein shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter of its liability, if any, to the other Underwriters and to the Company for damages occasioned by its default hereunder. For the avoidance of doubt, nothing contained in this Section 6.2 shall excuse a default by the Representative (in its capacity as an Underwriter) in its obligations to purchase the Firm Shares or the Option Shares, if the Over-allotment Option is exercised hereunder.

 

6.3 Postponement of Closing Date. In the event that the Firm Shares or Option Shares to which the default relates are to be purchased by the non-defaulting Underwriters, or are to be purchased by another party or parties as aforesaid, the Representative or the Company shall have the right to postpone the Closing Date or Option Closing Date for a reasonable period, but not in any event exceeding five (5) Business Days, in order to effect whatever changes may thereby be made necessary in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus or in any other documents and arrangements, and the Company agrees to file promptly any amendment to the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus that in the opinion of Representative Counsel may thereby be made necessary. The term “Underwriter” as used in this Agreement shall include any party substituted under this Section 6 with like effect as if it had originally been a party to this Agreement with respect to such Firm Shares or Option Shares.

 

7.Additional Covenants.

 

7.1 Board Composition and Board Designations. The Company shall ensure that: (i) the qualifications of the persons serving as members of the Board of Directors and the overall composition of the Board of Directors comply with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, the Exchange Act and the listing rules of the Exchange or any other national securities exchange, as the case may be, in the event the Company seeks to have its Public Securities listed on another exchange or quoted on an automated quotation system, and (ii) if applicable, at least one member of the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert,” as such term is defined under Regulation S-K and the listing rules of the Exchange.

 

7.2 Prohibition on Press Releases and Public Announcements. Except as required by law or rule of the Exchange, the Company shall not issue press releases or engage in any other publicity, without the Representative’s prior written consent, for a period ending at 5:00 p.m., Eastern time, on the first (1st) Business Day following the fortieth (40th) day after the Closing Date, other than normal and customary releases issued in the ordinary course of the Company’s business.

 

7.3 Right of First Refusal. Following the Closing Date, provided that the Firm Shares are sold in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, the Representative shall have an irrevocable right of first refusal (the “Right of First Refusal”), for a period of twelve (12) months after the date the Offering is completed, to act as sole investment banker, sole book-runner, and/or sole placement agent, at the Representative’s sole discretion, for each and every future public offering and private placement of equity, debt and/or equity derivative instruments for capital raising purposes registered with Commission, including all equity linked financings (each, a “Subject Transaction”), during such twelve (12) month period, of the Company, or any successor to or Subsidiary of the Company. The Representative shall have the sole right to determine whether or not any other broker dealer shall have the right to participate in the Subject Transactions and the economic terms of such participation. For the avoidance of any doubt, the Company shall not retain, engage or solicit any additional investment banker, book-runner, financial advisor, underwriter and/or placement agent in a Subject Transaction during the twelve (12) month period referred to above without the express written consent of the Representative, provided, however, that such right shall be subject to FINRA Rule 5110(g). The Company shall notify the Representative of its intention to pursue a Subject Transaction, including the material terms thereof, by providing written notice thereof by electronic mail or overnight courier service addressed to the Representative. The Representative may elect, in its sole and absolute discretion, not to exercise its Right of First Refusal with respect to any Subject Transaction; provided that any such election by the Representative shall not adversely affect the Representative’s Right of First Refusal with respect to any other Subject Transaction during the twelve (12) months period agreed to above. If the Representative fails to exercise its Right of First Refusal with respect to a specific Subject Transation within ten (10) Business Days after the Company provides such written notice, then the Representative shall have no further claim or right with respect to that specific Subject Transaction. The terms and conditions of any such engagements shall be set forth in separate agreements and may be subject to, among other things, satisfactory completion of due diligence by the Representative, market conditions, the absence of a material adverse change to the Company’s business, financial condition and prospects, approval of the Representative’s internal committee and any other conditions that the Representative may deem appropriate for transactions of such nature.

 

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7.4 Subsequent Transactions. The Representative shall be entitled to transaction fees as set forth on Schedule 4 (x) from the sale of any equity, debt and/or equity derivative instruments (each, a “Tail Financing”) to any investor actually introduced by the Representative to the Company during the period from March 17, 2023, the date of the engagement letter by and between the Company and the Representative (the “Engagement Letter”), to the earliest of (i) twelve (12) months from the date of the Engagement Letter, (ii) the later of the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, if any, of the Offering, or (iii) if the Engagement Letter is terminated, such date of termination (the “Engagement Period”); or (y) for any merger, acquisition or sale of equity securities or assets (in which the Company may be the acquiring or the acquired entity), joint-venture, strategic alliance or other similar transaction (any such transaction, an “M&A Transaction”) with any investor actually introduced by the Representative to the Company during the Engagement Period, provided that (i) such Tail Financing or M&A Transaction is consummated at any time during the Engagement Period or within the twelve (12) month period following the expiration or termination of the Engagement Period, (ii) such Tail Financing or M&A Transaction is by a party actually introduced to the Company by the Representative in an offering in which the Company has direct knowledge of such party’s participation, and (iii) within ten (10) Business Days following termination of the Engagement Period, the Representative shall provide a list of investors actually introduced to the Company during the Engagement Period.

 

8.Effective Date of this Agreement and Termination Thereof.

 

8.1 Effective Date. This Agreement shall become effective when both the Company and the Representative have executed the same and delivered counterparts of such signatures to the other party.

 

8.2 Termination. The Representative shall have the right to terminate this Agreement at any time prior to any Closing Date, (i) if any domestic or international event or act or occurrence has materially disrupted, or in the Representative’s reasonable opinion will in the immediate future materially disrupt, general securities markets in the United States; or (ii) if trading on the New York Stock Exchange or the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC shall have been suspended or materially limited, or minimum or maximum prices for trading shall have been fixed, or maximum ranges for prices for securities shall have been required by FINRA or by order of the Commission or any other government authority having jurisdiction; or (iii) if the United States shall have become involved in a new war or an increase in major hostilities; or (iv) if a banking moratorium has been declared by a New York State or federal authority; or (v) if a moratorium on foreign exchange trading has been declared which materially adversely impacts the United States securities markets; or (vi) if the Company shall have sustained a material loss by fire, flood, accident, hurricane, earthquake, theft, sabotage or other calamity or malicious act which, whether or not such loss shall have been insured, will, in the Representative’s opinion, make it inadvisable to proceed with the delivery of the Firm Shares or Option Shares; or (vii) if the Company is in material breach of any of its representations, warranties or covenants hereunder; or (viii) regulatory approval for the Offering is denied, conditioned or modified and as a result it makes it impracticable for the Representative to proceed with the offering, sale and/or delivery of the securities offered in this Offering or to enforce contracts for the sale of the Public Securities, or (ix) if the Representative shall have become aware after the date hereof of a Material Adverse Change, or an adverse material change in general market conditions as in the Representative’s judgment would make it impracticable to proceed with the offering, sale and/or delivery of the Public Securities or to enforce contracts made by the Underwriters for the sale of the Public Securities. The Company shall not have the right to terminate this Agreement other than for a “Cause” which, for the purpose of this Agreement, shall mean as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction, willful misconduct, gross negligence, or a material breach of this Agreement by the Representative. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, in the event that the Company believes that the Representative has engaged in a conduct constituting Cause, the Company has the right to terminate this Agreement by written notice, or, in the alternative, may choose to notify the Representative in writing of the facts and circumstances supporting such an assertion(s), and the Representative shall have three (3) days following receipt thereof to cure such alleged conduct. Should this Agreement be terminated pursuant to the provisions of this Section 8.2, Sections 7.2 and 7.3 shall have no further force and effect.

 

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8.3 Expenses. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, except in the case of a default by the Underwriters, pursuant to Section 6.2 above, in the event that this Agreement shall not be carried out for any reason whatsoever, within the time specified herein or any extensions thereof pursuant to the terms herein, the Company shall be obligated to pay to the Underwriters their actual and accountable out-of-pocket expenses related to the transactions contemplated herein then due and payable (including the reasonable fees and disbursements of Representative Counsel) up to $100,000, inclusive of the Advance and upon demand the Company shall pay the full amount thereof to the Representative on behalf of the Underwriters; provided, however, that such expense cap in no way limits or impairs the indemnification and contribution provisions of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any advance received by the Representative will be reimbursed to the Company to the extent not actually incurred in compliance with FINRA Rule 5110(g)(4)(A).

 

8.4 Survival of Indemnification. Notwithstanding any contrary provision contained in this Agreement, any election hereunder or any termination of this Agreement, and whether or not this Agreement is otherwise carried out, the provisions of Section 5 shall remain in full force and effect and shall not be in any way affected by, such election or termination or failure to carry out the terms of this Agreement or any part hereof.

 

8.5 Representations, Warranties, Agreements to Survive. All representations, warranties and agreements contained in this Agreement or in certificates of officers of the Company submitted pursuant hereto, shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of (i) any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or its affiliates or selling agents, any person controlling any Underwriter, its officers or directors or any person controlling the Company or (ii) delivery of and payment for the Public Securities.

 

9.Miscellaneous.

 

9.1 Constructive Knowledge. Whenever a representation or warranty or other statement in this Agreement (including, without limitation, schedules hereto) is made with respect to a party’s “knowledge,” such statement refers to the knowledge, after reasonable inquiry, of such party’s officers or directors who were or are responsible for or involved with the indicated matter.

 

9.2 Notices. All communications hereunder, except as herein otherwise specifically provided, shall be in writing and shall be mailed (registered or certified mail, return receipt requested), personally delivered, or sent by electronic mail transmission, return receipt requested and shall be deemed given (i) if mailed, two (2) days after such mailing, (ii), if personally delivered, when so delivered, or (iii) if sent by electronic mail transmission, upon the sending party’s receipt of a confirmation email (including read receipt or other automatic delivery confirmation) from the receiving party.

 

If to the Representative:

EF Hutton, division of Benchmark Investments, LLC

590 Madison Avenue, 39th Floor

New York, NY 10022
Attn: Joseph T. Rallo, Chief Executive Officer

Email: jrallo@efhuttongroup.com

 

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

Ortoli Rosenstadt LLP

366 Madison Avenue, 3rd Floor

New York, NY 10017

Attn: Mengyi “Jason” Ye, Esq., Yarona L. Yieh, Esq.

Email: jye@orllp.legal, yly@orllp.legal

 

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If to the Company:

Linkage Global Inc

2-23-3 Minami-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku

Tokyo, Japan 171-0022

Attn: Zhihua Wu, CEO

Email: zhihua_wu@linkagecc.com

 

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

Hunter Taubman Fischer & Li LLC

950 Third Avenue, 19th Floor

New York, NY 10022

Attn: Ying Li, Esq., Lisa Forcht, Esq.

Email: yli@htflawyers.com, lforcht@htflawyers.com

 

9.3 Headings. The headings contained herein are for the sole purpose of convenience of reference, and shall not in any way limit or affect the meaning or interpretation of any of the terms or provisions of this Agreement.

 

9.4 Amendment. This Agreement may only be amended by a written instrument executed by each of the parties hereto.

 

9.5 Entire Agreement. This Agreement (together with the other agreements and documents being delivered pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement) constitutes the entire agreement of the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof, and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings of the parties, oral and written, with respect to the subject matter hereof. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, it is understood and agreed by the parties hereto that all other terms and conditions of that the Engagement Letter shall remain in full force and effect.

 

9.6 Binding Effect. This Agreement shall inure solely to the benefit of and shall be binding upon the Representative, the Underwriters, the Company and the controlling persons, directors and officers referred to in Section 5 hereof, and their respective successors, legal representatives, heirs and assigns, and no other person shall have or be construed to have any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of or by virtue of this Agreement or any provisions herein contained. The term “successors and assigns” shall not include a purchaser, in its capacity as such, of securities from any of the Underwriters.

 

9.7 Governing Law; Consent to Jurisdiction; Trial by Jury. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to conflict of laws principles thereof to the extent that such principles or rules would require or permit the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than those of the State of New York. The Company hereby agrees that any action, proceeding or claim against it arising out of, or relating in any way to this Agreement shall be brought and enforced in the New York Supreme Court, County of New York, or in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, and irrevocably submits to such jurisdiction, which jurisdiction shall be exclusive. The Company hereby waives any objection to such exclusive jurisdiction and that such courts represent an inconvenient forum. Any such process or summons to be served upon the Company may be served by transmitting a copy thereof by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed to it at the address set forth in Section 9.1 hereof. Such mailing shall be deemed personal service and shall be legal and binding upon the Company in any action, proceeding or claim. The Company agrees that the prevailing party(ies) in any such action shall be entitled to recover from the other party(ies) all of its reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses relating to such action or proceeding and/or incurred in connection with the preparation therefor. The Company (on its behalf and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, on behalf of its shareholders and affiliates) and each of the Underwriters 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 or the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

9.8 Execution in Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, and by the different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement, and shall become effective when one or more counterparts has been signed by each of the parties hereto and delivered to each of the other parties hereto. Delivery of a signed counterpart of this Agreement by facsimile or email/pdf transmission shall constitute valid and sufficient delivery thereof.

 

9.9 Waiver, etc. The failure of any of the parties hereto to at any time enforce any of the provisions of this Agreement shall not be deemed or construed to be a waiver of any such provision, nor to in any way effect the validity of this Agreement or any provision hereof or the right of any of the parties hereto to thereafter enforce each and every provision of this Agreement. No waiver of any breach, non-compliance or non-fulfillment of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be effective unless set forth in a written instrument executed by the party or parties against whom or which enforcement of such waiver is sought; and no waiver of any such breach, non-compliance or non-fulfillment shall be construed or deemed to be a waiver of any other or subsequent breach, non-compliance or non-fulfillment.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

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If the foregoing correctly sets forth the understanding between the Underwriters and the Company, please so indicate in the space provided below for that purpose, whereupon this letter shall constitute a binding agreement between us.

 

  Very truly yours,
     
  Linkage Global Inc
     
  By:  
    Name:  Zhihua Wu
    Title: Chief Executive Officer, Director, and Chairman of the Board of Directors

 

Confirmed as of the date first written above mentioned, on behalf of itself and as Representative of the several Underwriters named on Schedule 1 hereto:    
       
EF HUTTON, division of Benchmark Investments, LLC      

 

By:    
  Name: Sam Fleischman  
 

Title: Supervisory Principal

 

 

[Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement]

 

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SCHEDULE 1

 

Underwriter  Total Number of
Firm Shares
to be Purchased
   Number of
Option Shares
to be
Purchased if
the Over-Allotment
Option is Fully
Exercised
 
EF Hutton, division of Benchmark Investments, LLC                                         
TOTAL          

 

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SCHEDULE 2-A

 

Pricing Information

 

Number of Firm Shares: [●]

Number of Option Shares: [●]

Public Offering Price per Firm Share: $[●]

Public Offering Price per Option Share: $[●]

Underwriting Discount per Firm Share: $[●]

Underwriting Discount per Option Share: $[●]

Proceeds to Company per Firm Share (before expenses): $[●]

Proceeds to Company per Option Share (before expenses): $[●]

 

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SCHEDULE 2-B

 

Issuer General Use Free Writing Prospectuses

 

 

38

 

 

SCHEDULE 2-C

 

Written Testing-the-Waters Communications

 

 

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SCHEDULE 3

 

List of Lock-Up Parties

 

Locked-up Parties  Lock-up Period
Officers and Directors   
Zhihua Wu  180 days
Zijun Li  180 days
Ryo Fuyunishiki  180 days
H David Sherman  180 days
Dong Chen  180 days
Wei Su (Wayne)  180 days
    
Shareholders own 5% or more of shares   
Smart Bloom Global Limited  180 days
    
Shareholders own less than 5% of shares   
Rosy Gold Investments Limited  180 days
Talent Best Global Limited  180 days
Glorious Global Investments Limited  180 days
Horizon Century International Limited  180 days
Sharp Creation Developments Limited  180 days
Honour Global Group Limited  90 days
Easy Rich Ventures Limited  90 days
Top Edge Developments Limited  90 days
Link Power Ventures Limited  90 days
Lion Speed Enterprises Limited  90 days
Wisdom Navigate Investments Limited  90 days

 

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SCHEDULE 4

 

Compensation for Tail Financings and M&A Transactions

 

Capitalized terms used in this Schedule 4 (the “Schedule”) and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in an Underwriting Agreement to which this Schedule is attached.

(a)Tail Financing Fees

(i)For private equity and equity linked placements or offerings, the Representative will be entitled to a cash fee of seven percent (7.0%) of the amount of capital raised, invested or committed, payable to the Representative in cash at the closing or closings of the Tail Financing to which it relates; and

 

(ii)For debt placements or offerings, the Representative will be entitled to a cash fee of six percent (6.0%) of the amount of capital raised, invested or committed, payable to the Representative in cash at the closing or closings of the Tail Financing to which it relates.

 

(iii)As additional compensation for the Representative’s services, the Company shall issue to the Representative or its designees at the closing warrants (“Warrants”) to purchase that number of ordinary shares equal to three percent (3.0%) of the aggregate proceeds sold in an offering. The Warrants will be exercisable at any time in whole or in part, during the three years (3) years from the Effective Date of the offering at a price per share equal to 120% of the offering price. The Warrants will provide for piggyback registration rights, Black Scholes change in control provisions and customary anti-dilution provisions and adjustments in the number and price of such warrants and the shares underlying such warrants resulting from corporate events which would include dividends, reorganizations, mergers, etc. and future issuance of ordinary shares or ordinary shares equivalents at prices or with exercise and/or conversion prices below the offering price as permitted under FINRA Rule 5110(f)(2)(G).

(b)M&A Transaction Fees

The M&A Transaction fees shall be payable to the Representative in cash at the closing or closings of the M&A Transaction to which it relates and shall be equal to five percent (5.0%) of the M&A Transaction consideration as defined below, which, for the avoidance of doubt, should only include consideration received by the Company from any investor actually introduced by the Representative to the Company during the Engagement Period, with conditions set forth under Section 7.4 of the Underwriting Agreement to which this Schedule is attached. The amount of consideration paid in a M&A Transaction shall include, for purposes of calculating such fee, all forms of consideration paid or received, directly or indirectly, by the Company and/or its shareholders in such M&A Transaction, including, without limitation, cash, securities, notes or other evidences of indebtedness, assumption of liabilities (whether by operation of law or otherwise), or any combination thereof. If all or portion of the consideration paid in the M&A Transaction is other than cash or securities, then the value of such non-cash consideration shall be the fair market value thereof on the date the M&A Transaction is consummated as mutually agreed upon in good faith by the Company and the Representative. If such non-cash consideration consists of ordinary shares, options, warrants or rights for which a public trading market existed prior to the consummation for the M&A Transaction, then the value of such securities shall be determined based upon the closing or last sales price thereof on the date of the consummation of the M&A Transaction. If such non-cash consideration consists of newly-issued, publicly-traded ordinary shares, options, warrants or rights for which no public trading market existed prior to tire consummation of the M&A Transaction, then the value thereof shall be the average of the closing prices for the twenty (20) trading days after the fifth (5th) trading day after the consummation of the M&A Transaction. In such event, the fee payable to the Representative pursuant to this Schedule shall be paid on the thirtieth (30th) trading day after consummation of the M&A Transaction. If no public market exists for the ordinary shares, options, warrants or other rights issued in the M&A Transaction, then the value thereof shall be as mutually agreed upon in good faith by the Company and the Representative. If the non-cash consideration paid in the M&A Transaction consists of preferred shares or debt securities (regardless of whether a public trading market existed for such preferred shares or debt securities prior to consummation of the M&A Transaction or exists thereafter), the value thereof shall be the maximum liquidation value (without regard to accrued dividends) of the preferred shares or the principal amount of the debt securities, as the case may be. Any amounts payable by a purchaser to the Company, any shareholder of the Company or an affiliate of either the Company or any shareholder of the Company in connection with a non-competition, employment, consulting, licensing, supply or other agreement (or payable by the Company if the Company is the acquiring entity) shall be deemed to be part of the consideration paid in the M&A Transaction. If all or a portion of the consideration payable in connection with the M&A Transaction includes contingent future payments, then the Company shall pay to the Representative an additional cash fee, determined in accordance with this Schedule, as, when and if such contingency payments are received. If with respect to any non-cash consideration the Company and the Representative are unable to agree on the fair market value thereof, then such value shall be determined by submission of the question to a reputable appraisal firm with experience valuing property of the nature of the subject consideration acceptable to the Company and the Representative (the fees and expenses of whom shall be borne equally by the Company and the Representative).

 

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EXHIBIT A

 

Form of Representative’s Warrants

 

THE REGISTERED HOLDER OF THIS REPRESENTATIVE’S WARRANT BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF, AGREES THAT IT WILL NOT SELL, TRANSFER, ASSIGN, PLEDGE OR HYPOTHECATE THIS REPRESENTATIVE’S WARRANT, OR ANY OF THE UNDERLYING SECURITIES, OR BE THE SUBJECT OF ANY HEDGING, SHORT SALE, DERIVATIVE, PUT, OR CALL TRANSACTION THAT WOULD RESULT IN THE EFFECTIVE ECONOMIC DISPOSITION OF THIS REPRESENTATIVE’S WARRANT OR ANY OF THE UNDERLYING SECURITIES, EXCEPT AS HEREIN PROVIDED, FOR A PERIOD ENDING ON, AND INCLUDING, THE DATE THAT IS ONE HUNDRED EIGHTY (180) DAYS BEGINNING ON THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT RELATING TO THE SECURITIES ISSUED IN THE OFFERING TO ANYONE OTHER THAN (I) EF HUTTON, DIVISION OF BENCHMARK INVESTMENTS, LLC, OR A REPRESENTATIVE OR A SELECTED DEALER IN CONNECTION WITH THE OFFERING, OR (II) A BONA FIDE OFFICER OR PARTNER OF EF HUTTON, DIVISION OF BENCHMARK INVESTMENTS, LLC, OR OF ANY SUCH UNDERWRITERS OR SELECTED DEALER.

 

THIS REPRESENTATIVE’S WARRANT IS NOT EXERCISABLE PRIOR TO [●]. VOID AFTER 5:00 P.M., EASTERN TIME, [●].

 

REPRESENTATIVE’S WARRANT

FOR THE PURCHASE OF [●] ORDINARY SHARES

OF

LINKAGE GLOBAL INC

 

1. Purchase Warrant. THIS CERTIFIES THAT, pursuant to that certain Underwriting Agreement by and between Linkage Global Inc, a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Company”), on one hand, and EF Hutton, division of Benchmark Investments, LLC (the “Representative”), and with the other underwriters named on Schedule 1 thereto, on the other hand, dated [●] (the “Underwriting Agreement”), EF Hutton, division of Benchmark Investments, LLC or its assignee (the “Holder”), as registered owner of this representative’s warrant (this “Representative’s Warrant”), is entitled, at any time or from time to time from [●] (the “Commencement Date”), and at or before 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on [●] (the “Expiration Date”), but not thereafter, to subscribe for, purchase and receive, in whole or in part, up to such number of ordinary shares, par value $0.00025 per share (“Ordinary Shares”) of the Company (the “Shares”) as equates to three percent (3.0%) of the aggregate number of Ordinary Shares sold in the Offering, including any Ordinary Shares sold upon exercise of Over-allotment Option, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 6 hereof. If the Expiration Date is a day on which banking institutions are authorized by law or executive order to close, then this Representative’s Warrant may be exercised on the next succeeding day which is not such a day in accordance with the terms herein. During the period commencing on the date hereof and ending on the Expiration Date, the Company agrees not to take any action that would terminate this Representative’s Warrant. This Representative’s Warrant is initially exercisable at $[●] per share (which is equal to one hundred and twenty percent (120%) of the price of the Ordinary Shares sold in the Offering); provided, however, that upon the occurrence of any of the events specified in Section 6 hereof, the rights granted by this Representative’s Warrant, including the exercise price per share and the number of Ordinary Shares to be received upon such exercise, shall be adjusted as therein specified. The term “Exercise Price” shall mean the initial exercise price of this Representative’s Warrant as set forth above or the adjusted exercise price as a result of the events set forth in Section 6 below, depending on the context. Capitalized terms not defined herein shall have the meaning ascribed to them in the Underwriting Agreement.

 

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2. Exercise.

 

2.1 Exercise Form. In order to exercise this Representative’s Warrant, the exercise form attached hereto as Exhibit A must be duly executed and completed and delivered to the Company, together with this Representative’s Warrant and payment of the Exercise Price for the Ordinary Shares being purchased payable in cash by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account designated by the Company or by certified check or official bank check to the order of the Company. If the subscription rights represented hereby shall not be exercised at or before 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the Expiration Date, this Representative’s Warrant shall become and be void without further force or effect, and all rights represented hereby shall cease and expire.

 

2.2 Cashless Exercise. After the Commencement Date and until the Expiration Date, the Holder may elect to receive the number of Ordinary Shares equal to the value of this Representative’s Warrant (or the portion thereof being exercised), by surrender of this Representative’s Warrant to the Company, together with the exercise form attached hereto, in which event the Company shall issue to Holder, Shares in accordance with the following formula:

 

X = Y(A-B)    
A    
       
Where, X = The number of Ordinary Shares to be issued to Holder;
  Y = The number of Ordinary Shares for which the Representative’s Warrant is being exercised;
  A = The fair market value of one Ordinary Share; and
  B = The Exercise Price.

 

For purposes of this Section 2.2, the “fair market value” of an Ordinary Share is defined as follows:

 

  (i) if the Ordinary Shares are traded on a national securities exchange, the value shall be deemed to be the weighted average closing price on such exchange for the five consecutive trading days ending on the trading day immediately prior to the exercise form being submitted in connection with the exercise of the Representative’s Warrant; or

 

  (ii) if the Ordinary Shares are actively traded over-the-counter, the value shall be deemed to be the weighted average closing bid price of the Ordinary Shares for the five consecutive trading days ending on the trading day immediately prior to the exercise form being submitted in connection with the exercise of the Representative’s Warrant; provided, that if there is no reported sale on such date, the average of the closing bid and asked prices, in each case as reported by OTC Markets Group or its successor; or

 

  (iii) if there is no active public market for the Ordinary Shares, the value shall be the fair market value thereof, as determined in good faith by the Company’s Board of Directors.

 

2.3 Legend. Each certificate for the securities purchased under this Representative’s Warrant shall bear the following legends unless such securities have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), or are exempt from registration under the Act:

 

(i) “THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO A LOCK-UP PERIOD ENDING ON, AND INCLUDING, THE DATE THAT IS ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY (180) DAYS BEGINNING ON THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT RELATING TO THE SECURITIES ISSUED IN THE OFFERING PURSUANT TO THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT OF THE COMPANY’S SECURITIES (FILE NO. 333-274326) AND MAY NOT BE (A) SOLD, TRANSFERRED, ASSIGNED, PLEDGED OR HYPOTHECATED TO ANYONE OTHER THAN EF HUTTON, DIVISION OF BENCHMARK INVESTMENTS, LLC, OR BONA FIDE OFFICERS OR PARTNERS OF EF HUTTON, DIVISION OF BENCHMARK INVESTMENTS, LLC, OR (B) CAUSED TO BE THE SUBJECT OF ANY HEDGING, SHORT SALE, DERIVATIVE, PUT OR CALL TRANSACTION THAT WOULD RESULT IN THE EFFECTIVE ECONOMIC DISPOSITION OF THE SECURITIES HEREUNDER, EXCEPT AS PROVIDED FOR IN FINRA RULE 5110(E)(2).”

 

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(ii) “THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “ACT”), OR APPLICABLE STATE LAW. NEITHER THE SECURITIES NOR ANY INTEREST THEREIN MAY BE OFFERED FOR SALE, SOLD OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE ACT, OR PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE ACT AND APPLICABLE STATE LAW WHICH, IN THE OPINION OF COUNSEL TO THE COMPANY, IS AVAILABLE.”

 

(iii) Any legend required by the securities laws of any state to the extent such laws are applicable to the Shares represented by a certificate, instrument, or book entry so legended.

 

2.4 Mechanics of Exercise.

 

(i) Delivery of Shares Upon Exercise. The Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Shares purchased hereunder to be transmitted by the Transfer Agent to the Holder by crediting the account of the Holder’s prime broker with The Depository Trust Company through its Deposit or Withdrawal at Custodian system (“DWAC”) if the Company is then a participant in such system and either (A) there is an effective registration statement permitting the issuance of the Shares or resale of the Shares or (B) this Representative’s Warrant is being exercised via cashless exercise, and otherwise by delivery to the address specified by the Holder in the exercise form by the date that is two trading days after the latest of (A) the delivery to the Company of the exercise form, (B) surrender of this Representative’s Warrant (if required) and (C) receipt by the Company of the aggregate Exercise Price as set forth above (including by cashless exercise, if permitted) (such date, the “Share Delivery Date”). The Shares shall be deemed to have been issued, and the Holder or any other person so designated to be named therein shall be deemed to have become a holder of record of such Shares for all purposes, as of the date the Representative’s Warrant has been exercised and payment to the Company of the aggregate Exercise Price (or by cashless exercise, if permitted) has been received by the Company and all taxes required to be paid by the Holder, if any, pursuant to Section 2.4(vi) prior to the issuance of such Shares have been paid.

 

(ii) Delivery of New Warrants Upon Exercise. If this Representative’s Warrant shall have been exercised in part, the Company shall, at the written request of the Holder and upon surrender of this Representative’s Warrant, at the time of delivery of the Shares, deliver to the Holder a new representative’s warrant evidencing the rights of the Holder to purchase the unpurchased Shares called for by this Representative’s Warrant, which new representative’s warrant shall in all other respects be identical with this Representative’s Warrant.

 

(iii) Rescission Rights. If the Company fails to cause its Transfer Agent to transmit to the Holder the Shares pursuant to Section 2.4(i) by the Share Delivery Date, unless such failure was not caused by the fault or negligence of the Company, then the Holder will have the right to rescind such exercise upon written notice to the Company within one (1) trading day after the Share Delivery Date.

 

(iv) Compensation for Buy-In on Failure to Timely Deliver Shares Upon Exercise. In addition to any other rights available to the Holder, if the Holder has taken all actions necessary under the terms of this Representative’s Warrant for such Holder to receive the Shares, if the Company fails to cause the Transfer Agent to transmit to the Holder the Shares pursuant to an exercise on or before the Share Delivery Date, unless such failure was not caused by the fault or negligence of the Company, and if after such date the Holder is required by its broker to purchase (in an open market transaction or otherwise) or the Holder’s brokerage firm otherwise purchases, Shares to deliver in satisfaction of a sale by the Holder of the which the Holder anticipated receiving upon such exercise (a “Buy-In”), then the Company shall (A) pay in cash to the Holder the amount, if any, by which (x) the Holder’s total purchase price (including brokerage commissions and any other applicable fees, if any) for the Shares so purchased exceeds (y) the amount obtained by multiplying (1) the number of Shares that the Company was required to deliver to the Holder in connection with the exercise at issue times (2) the price at which the sell order giving rise to such purchase obligation was executed, and (B) at the option of the Holder, either reinstate the portion of the Representative’s Warrant and equivalent number of Shares for which such exercise was not honored (in which case such exercise shall be deemed rescinded) or deliver to the Holder the number of Shares that would have been issued had the Company timely complied with its exercise and delivery obligations hereunder. The Holder shall provide the Company with written notice indicating the amounts payable to the Holder in respect of the Buy-In and, upon request of the Company, evidence of the amount of such loss. Nothing herein shall limit a Holder’s right to pursue any other remedies available to it hereunder, at law or in equity including, without limitation, a decree of specific performance and/or injunctive relief with respect to the Company’s failure to timely deliver Shares upon exercise of the Representative’s Warrant as required pursuant to the terms hereof.

 

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(v) No Fractional Shares or Scrip. No fractional shares or scrip representing fractional shares shall be issued upon the exercise of this Representative’s Warrant. As to any fraction of a share which the Holder would otherwise be entitled to purchase upon such exercise, the Company shall, at its election, either pay a cash adjustment in respect of such final fraction in an amount equal to such fraction multiplied by the Exercise Price or round up to the next whole share.

 

(vi) Charges, Taxes and Expenses. Issuance of Shares shall be made without charge to the Holder for any issue or transfer tax or other incidental expense in respect of the issuance of such Shares, all of which taxes and expenses shall be paid by the Company, and such Shares shall be issued in the name of the Holder or in such name or names as may be directed by the Holder; provided, however, that, in the event Shares are to be issued in a name other than the name of the Holder, this Representative’s Warrant when surrendered for exercise shall be accompanied by the assignment form attached hereto as Exhibit B duly executed by the Holder and the Company may require, as a condition thereto, the payment of a sum sufficient to reimburse it for any transfer tax incidental thereto. The Company shall pay all transfer agent fees required for same-day processing of any exercise form.

 

3. Transfer.

 

3.1 General Restrictions. The registered Holder of this Representative’s Warrant agrees by his, her or its acceptance hereof, that such Holder will not: (a) sell, transfer, assign, pledge or hypothecate this Representative’s Warrant or any of the Shares exercisable hereunder for a period ending on, and including, the date that is one hundred eighty (180) days beginning on the Effective Date (the “Initial Transfer Date”) to anyone other than: (i) the Holder or a selected dealer participating in the Offering, or (ii) a bona fide officer or partner of the Holder or of any such selected dealer, in each case in accordance with FINRA Rule 5110(e)(2)(B), or (b) cause this Representative’s Warrant or the securities issuable hereunder to be the subject of any hedging, short sale, derivative, put or call transaction that would result in the effective economic disposition of this Representative’s Warrant or the securities hereunder, except as provided for in FINRA Rule 5110(e)(2). On and after the Initial Transfer Date, transfers to others may be made subject to compliance with or exemptions from applicable securities laws. In order to make any permitted assignment, the Holder must deliver to the Company the assignment form attached hereto as Exhibit B duly executed and completed, together with this Representative’s Warrant and payment of all transfer taxes, if any, payable in connection therewith. The Company shall within five (5) Business Days transfer this Representative’s Warrant on the books of the Company and shall execute and deliver a new warrant or warrants of like tenor to the appropriate assignee(s) expressly evidencing the right to purchase the aggregate number of Ordinary Shares purchasable hereunder or such portion of such number as shall be contemplated by any such assignment.

 

3.2 Restrictions Imposed by the Act. The securities evidenced by this Representative’s Warrant shall not be transferred unless and until: (i) the Company has received the opinion of counsel for the Company that the securities may be transferred pursuant to an exemption from registration under the Act and applicable state securities laws, the availability of which is established to the reasonable satisfaction of the Company, (ii) a registration statement or a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement relating to the offer and sale of such securities that has been declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) and includes a current prospectus or (iii) a registration statement, pursuant to which the Holder has exercised its registration rights pursuant to Sections 4.1 and 4.2 herein, relating to the offer and sale of such securities has been filed and declared effective by the Commission and compliance with applicable state securities law has been established.

 

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4. Registration Rights.

 

4.1 Demand Registration.

 

4.1.1 Grant of Right. Unless all of the Registrable Securities (as defined below) are included in an effective registration statement with a current prospectus or a qualified offering statement with a current registration statement, the Company, upon written demand (a “Demand Notice”) of the Holder(s) of at least fifty-one percent (51%) of the Shares (“Majority Holders”), agrees to register, on one occasion, all or any portion of the Ordinary Shares underlying this Representative’s Warrant that are permitted to be registered under the Act (collectively, the “Registrable Securities”). On such occasion, the Company will file a registration statement with the Commission (a “Demand Registration Statement”) covering the Registrable Securities within sixty (60) days after receipt of a Demand Notice and use its commercially reasonable efforts to have the registration statement declared effective promptly thereafter, subject to compliance with review by the Commission; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to comply with a Demand Notice if the Company has filed a registration statement with respect to which the Holder is entitled to piggyback pursuant to Section 4.2 hereof and either: (i) the Holder has elected to participate in the offering covered by such registration statement; or (ii) if such registration statement relates to an underwritten primary offering of securities of the Company, until the offering covered by such registration statement has been withdrawn or until thirty (30) days after such offering is consummated. The demand for registration may be made at any time during a period of four (4) years beginning on the Effective Date.

 

4.1.2 Terms. The Company shall bear all fees and expenses attendant to the Demand Registration Statement pursuant to Section 4.1.1, but the Holder(s) shall pay any and all underwriting commissions and the expenses of any legal counsel selected by the Holder(s) to represent the Holder(s)in connection with the sale of the Registrable Securities. The Company agrees to use its best efforts to cause the filing of a Demand Registration Statement required herein to become effective promptly and to qualify or register the Registrable Securities in such states as are reasonably requested by the Holder(s); provided, however, that in no event shall the Company be required to register the Registrable Securities in a state in which such registration would cause: (i) the Company to be obligated to register or license to do business in such jurisdiction in which the conduct of its business or its ownership or leasing of property requires such qualification or submit to general service of process in such jurisdiction, or (ii) the principal shareholders of the Company to be obligated to escrow their Ordinary Shares of the Company. The Company shall cause any registration statement filed pursuant to the demand right granted under Section 4.1.1 to remain effective for a period of at least twelve (12) consecutive months after the date that the Holders of the Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement are first given the opportunity to sell all of such securities. The Holder(s) shall only use the prospectuses provided by the Company to sell the shares covered by such registration statement, and will immediately cease to use any prospectus furnished by the Company if the Company advises the Holder(s) that such prospectus may no longer be used due to a material misstatement or omission. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 4.1.2, the Holder(s) shall be entitled to a Demand Registration Statement under this Section 4.1.2 on only one occasion and such demand registration right shall terminate on the fourth anniversary of the Effective Date in accordance with FINRA Rule 5110(g)(8)(C).

 

4.2 “Piggy-Back” Registration.

 

4.2.1 Grant of Right. Unless all of the Registrable Securities are included in an effective registration statement with a current prospectus or a qualified offering statement with a current offering circular, the Holder shall have the right, for a period of four years commencing on the Effective Date, to include the remaining Registrable Securities as part of any other registration of securities filed by the Company (other than in connection with a transaction contemplated by Rule 145 promulgated under the Act or pursuant to Form F-3 or any equivalent form).

 

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4.2.2 Terms. The Company shall bear all fees and expenses attendant to registering the Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 4.2.1 hereof, but the Holder(s) shall pay any and all underwriting commissions and the expenses of any legal counsel selected by the Holder(s) to represent them in connection with the sale of the Registrable Securities. In the event of such a proposed registration, the Company shall furnish the then Holders of outstanding Registrable Securities with not less than thirty (30) days written notice prior to the proposed date of filing of such registration statement. Such notice to the Holder(s) shall continue to be given for each registration statement filed by the Company until such time as all of the Registrable Securities have been registered under an effective registration statement. The holders of the Registrable Securities shall exercise the “piggy-back” rights provided for herein by giving written notice, within ten days of the receipt of the Company’s notice of its intention to file a registration statement. Except as otherwise provided in this Representative’s Warrant, there shall be no limit on the number of times the Holder may request registration under this Section 4.2.2. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 4.2.2, such “piggy-back” registration rights shall terminate on the fourth anniversary of the Effective Date in accordance with FINRA Rule 5110(g)(8)(D).

 

5. New Representative’s Warrants to be Issued.

 

5.1 Partial Exercise or Transfer. Subject to the restrictions in Section 3 hereof, this Representative’s Warrant may be exercised or assigned in whole or in part. In the event of the exercise or assignment hereof in part only, upon surrender of this Representative’s Warrant for cancellation, together with the duly executed exercise or assignment form and funds sufficient to pay any Exercise Price and/or transfer tax if exercised pursuant to Section 2.1 hereof, the Company shall cause to be delivered to the Holder without charge a new warrant of like tenor to this Representative’s Warrant in the name of the Holder evidencing the right of the Holder to purchase the number of Ordinary Shares purchasable hereunder as to which this Representative’s Warrant has not been exercised or assigned.

 

5.2 Lost Certificate. Upon receipt by the Company of evidence satisfactory to it of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of this Representative’s Warrant and of reasonably satisfactory indemnification or the posting of a bond, the Company shall execute and deliver a new warrant of like tenor and date. Any such new warrant executed and delivered as a result of such loss, theft, mutilation or destruction shall constitute a substitute contractual obligation on the part of the Company.

 

6. Adjustments.

 

6.1 Adjustments to Exercise Price and Number of Ordinary Shares. The Exercise Price and the number of Ordinary Shares underlying this Representative’s Warrant shall be subject to adjustment from time to time as hereinafter set forth:

 

6.1.1 Share Dividends; Split Ups. If, after the date hereof, and subject to the provisions of Section 6.3 below, the number of outstanding Ordinary Shares is increased by a share dividend payable in Ordinary Shares or by a split up of Ordinary Shares or other similar event, then, on the effective date thereof, the number of Ordinary Shares purchasable hereunder shall be increased in proportion to such increase in outstanding Ordinary Shares, and the Exercise Price shall be proportionately decreased.

 

6.1.2 Subsequent Rights Offerings. In addition to any adjustments pursuant to Section 6.1.1 above, if at any time during which this Representative’s Warrant is outstanding the Company grants, issues or sells any securities of the Company which by their terms are convertible into or exercisable for Ordinary Shares (“Share Equivalents”) or other rights to purchase shares, warrants, other securities or other property, pro rata to all of the record holders of the Ordinary Shares (the “Purchase Rights”), and not the Holder, then the Holder will be entitled to acquire, upon the terms applicable to such Purchase Rights, the aggregate Purchase Rights which the Holder could have acquired if the Holder had held the number of Ordinary Shares acquirable upon complete exercise of this Representative’s Warrant immediately before the date on which a record is taken for the grant, issuance or sale of such Purchase Rights, or, if no such record is taken, the date as of which the record holders of Ordinary Shares are to be determined for the grant, issue or sale of such Purchase Rights. The provisions of this Section 6.1.2 will not apply to any grant, issuance or sale of Share Equivalents or other rights to purchase shares, warrants, other securities or other property of the Company which is not made pro rata to all of the record holders of Ordinary Shares.

 

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6.1.3 Aggregation of Ordinary Shares. If, after the date hereof, and subject to the provisions of Section 6.3 below, the number of outstanding Ordinary Shares is decreased by a consolidation, combination or reclassification of Ordinary Shares or other similar event, then, on the effective date thereof, the number of Ordinary Shares purchasable hereunder shall be decreased in proportion to such decrease in outstanding shares, and the Exercise Price shall be proportionately increased.

 

6.1.4 Replacement of Ordinary Shares upon Reorganization, etc. In case of any reclassification or reorganization of the outstanding Ordinary Shares other than a change covered by Section 6.1.1, Section 6.1.2 or Section 6.1.3 hereof or that solely affects the par value of such Ordinary Shares, or in the case of any share reconstruction or amalgamation or consolidation of the Company with or into another corporation (other than a consolidation or share reconstruction or amalgamation in which the Company is the continuing corporation and that does not result in any reclassification or reorganization of the outstanding Ordinary Shares), or in the case of any sale or conveyance to another corporation or entity of the property of the Company as an entirety or substantially as an entirety in connection with which the Company is dissolved, the Holder of this Representative’s Warrant shall have the right thereafter (until the expiration of the right of exercise of this Representative’s Warrant) to receive upon the exercise hereof, for the same aggregate Exercise Price payable hereunder immediately prior to such event, the kind and amount of Ordinary Shares or other securities or property (including cash) receivable upon such reclassification, reorganization, share reconstruction or amalgamation, or consolidation, or upon a dissolution following any such sale or transfer, by a Holder of the number of Ordinary Shares of the Company obtainable upon exercise of this Representative’s Warrant immediately prior to such event; and if any reclassification also results in a change in Ordinary Shares covered by Section 6.1.1, Section 6.1.2 or Section 6.1.3, then such adjustment shall be made pursuant to Section 6.1.1, Section 6.1.2, Section 6.1.3 and this Section 6.1.4. The provisions of this Section 6.1.4 shall similarly apply to successive reclassifications, reorganizations, share reconstructions or amalgamations, or consolidations, sales or other transfers.

 

6.1.5 Fundamental Transaction. If, at any time while this Representative’s Warrant is outstanding, the Company enters into the following transactions with another Person or group of Persons whereby such other Person or group acquires more than 50% of the outstanding Ordinary Shares (not including any Ordinary Shares held by the other Person or other Persons making or party to, or associated or affiliated with, the other Persons making or party to such stock or share purchase agreement or other business combination): (i) the Company, directly or indirectly, in one or more related transactions effects any merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another Person, (ii) the Company, directly or indirectly, effects any sale, lease, license, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of its assets in one or a series of related transactions, (iii) any direct or indirect purchase offer, tender offer or exchange offer (whether by the Company or another Person) is completed pursuant to which holders of Ordinary Shares are permitted to sell, tender or exchange their shares for other securities, cash or property and has been accepted by the holders of 50% or more of the outstanding Ordinary Shares, (iv) the Company, directly or indirectly, in one or more related transactions effects any reclassification, reorganization or recapitalization of the Ordinary Shares or any compulsory share exchange pursuant to which the Ordinary Shares is effectively converted into or exchanged for other securities, cash or property, or (v) the Company, directly or indirectly, in one or more related transactions consummates a stock or share purchase agreement or other business combination (including, without limitation, a reorganization, recapitalization, spinoff or scheme of arrangement) with another Person or group of Persons (each a “Fundamental Transaction”), then, upon any subsequent exercise of this Representative’s Warrant, the Holder shall have the right to receive, for each Share that would have been issuable upon such exercise immediately prior to the occurrence of such Fundamental Transaction, the number of Ordinary Shares of the successor or acquiring corporation or of the Company, if it is the surviving corporation, and any additional or alternative consideration (the “Alternative Consideration”) receivable as a result of such Fundamental Transaction by a holder of the number of Ordinary Shares for which this Representative’s Warrant is exercisable immediately prior to such Fundamental Transaction. For purposes of any such exercise, the determination of the Exercise Price shall be appropriately adjusted to apply to such Alternative Consideration based on the amount of Alternative Consideration issuable in respect of one Ordinary Share in such Fundamental Transaction, and the Company shall apportion the Exercise Price among the Alternative Consideration in a reasonable manner reflecting the relative value of any different components of the Alternative Consideration. If holders of Ordinary Shares are given any choice as to the securities, cash or property to be received in a Fundamental Transaction, then the Holder shall be given the same choice as to the Alternative Consideration it receives upon any exercise of this Representative’s Warrant following such Fundamental Transaction. The Company shall cause any successor entity in a Fundamental Transaction in which the Company is not the survivor (the “Successor Entity”) to assume in writing all of the obligations of the Company under this Representative’s Warrant, and to deliver to the Holder in exchange for this Representative’s Warrant a security of the Successor Entity evidenced by a written instrument substantially similar in form and substance to this Representative’s Warrant which is exercisable for a corresponding number of shares of capital stock of such Successor Entity (or its parent entity) equivalent to the Ordinary Shares acquirable and receivable upon exercise of this Representative’s Warrant immediately prior to such Fundamental Transaction, and with an exercise price which applies the Exercise Price hereunder to such shares of capital stock (but taking into account the relative value of the Ordinary Shares pursuant to such Fundamental Transaction, the value of such shares of capital stock, the number of shares of such capital stock and the exercise price for such shares of capital stock for the purpose of protecting the economic value of this Representative’s Warrant immediately prior to the consummation of such Fundamental Transaction). Upon the occurrence of any such Fundamental Transaction, the Successor Entity shall succeed to, and be substituted for (so that from and after the date of such Fundamental Transaction, the provisions of this Representative’s Warrant referring to the “Company” shall refer instead to the Successor Entity), and may exercise every right and power of, the Company and shall assume all of the obligations of the Company, under this Representative’s Warrant with the same effect as if such Successor Entity had been named as the Company herein.

 

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6.1.6 Changes in Form of Representative’s Warrant. This form of Representative’s Warrant need not be changed because of any change pursuant to this Section 6.1, and any warrants issued after such change, in exchange or replacement of this Representative’s Warrant may state the same Exercise Price and the same number of Ordinary Shares as are stated in the Representative’s Warrant initially issued pursuant to this Representative’s Warrant. The acceptance by any Holder of the issuance of a new warrant reflecting a required or permissive change shall not be deemed to waive any rights to an adjustment occurring after the date hereof or the computation thereof.

 

6.2 Substitute Representative’s Warrant. Except as otherwise provided in Section 6.1.6, in case of any consolidation of the Company with, or share reconstruction or amalgamation of the Company with or into, another corporation (other than a consolidation or share reconstruction or amalgamation which does not result in any reclassification or change of the outstanding Ordinary Shares ), the corporation formed by such consolidation or share reconstruction or amalgamation shall execute and deliver to the Holder a supplemental warrant providing that the holder of this Representative’s Warrant shall have the right thereafter (until the stated expiration of this Representative’s Warrant) to receive, upon exercise of such supplemental warrant, the kind and amount of Ordinary Shares and other securities and property receivable upon such consolidation or share reconstruction or amalgamation, by a holder of the number of Ordinary Shares of the Company for which this Representative’s Warrant might have been exercised immediately prior to such consolidation, share reconstruction or amalgamation, sale or transfer. Such supplemental warrant shall provide for adjustments which shall be substantially the same to the adjustments provided for in this Section 6. The above provisions of this Section 6 shall similarly apply to successive consolidations or share reconstructions or amalgamations.

 

6.3 Elimination of Fractional Interests. The Company shall not be required to issue certificates representing fractions of Ordinary Shares upon the exercise of this Representative’s Warrant, nor shall it be required to issue scrip or pay cash in lieu of any fractional interests, it being the intent of the parties that all fractional interests shall be eliminated by rounding any fraction up or down, as the case may be, to the nearest whole number of Ordinary Shares or other securities, properties or rights.

 

6.4 Notice to Holder.

 

6.4.1 Adjustment to Exercise Price. Whenever the Exercise Price is adjusted pursuant to any provision of this Section 6, the Company shall promptly provide the Holder with a notice setting forth the Exercise Price after such adjustment and any resulting adjustment to the number of Shares and setting forth a brief statement of the facts requiring such adjustment.

 

6.4.2 Notice to Allow Exercise by Holder. If (A) the Company shall declare a dividend (or any other distribution in whatever form) on the Shares, (B) the Company shall declare a special nonrecurring cash dividend on or a redemption of the Shares, (C) the Company shall authorize the granting to all holders of the Shares rights or warrants to subscribe for or purchase any shares of capital stock of any class or of any rights, (D) the approval of any shareholders of the Company shall be required in connection with any reclassification of the Shares, any consolidation or merger to which the Company is a party, any sale or transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, or any compulsory share exchange whereby the Shares are converted into other securities, cash or property, or (E) the Company shall authorize the voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the affairs of the Company, then, in each case, the Company shall provide the Holder with, at least [10 days] prior to the applicable record or effective date hereinafter specified, a notice stating (x) the date on which a record is to be taken for the purpose of such dividend, distribution, redemption, rights or warrants, or if a record is not to be taken, the date as of which the holders of the Shares of record to be entitled to such dividend, distributions, redemption, rights or warrants are to be determined or (y) the date on which such reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, transfer or share exchange is expected to become effective or close, and the date as of which it is expected that holders of the Shares of record shall be entitled to exchange their Shares for securities, cash or other property deliverable upon such reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, transfer or share exchange; provided that the failure to provide such notice or any defect therein or in the provision thereof shall not affect the validity of the corporate action required to be specified in such notice. The Holder shall remain entitled to exercise this Representative’s Warrant during the period commencing on the date of such notice to the effective date of the event triggering such notice except as may otherwise be expressly set forth herein. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no notice need be given to the Holder if the Company makes a public announcement of the applicable event via nationally distributed press release or via a publicly available and legally compliant filing with the Commission.

 

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7. Reservation and Listing. The Company shall at all times reserve and keep available out of its authorized Ordinary Shares, solely for the purpose of issuance upon exercise of this Representative’s Warrant, such number of Ordinary Shares or other securities, properties or rights as shall be issuable upon the exercise thereof. The Company covenants and agrees that, upon exercise of this Representative’s Warrant and payment of the Exercise Price therefor, unless this Representative’s Warrant is exercised pursuant to a cashless exercise, as provided in Section 2.2 hereof, in accordance with the terms hereby, all Ordinary Shares and other securities issuable upon such exercise shall be duly and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and not subject to preemptive rights of any shareholder. The Company further covenants and agrees that upon exercise of this Representative’s Warrant and payment of the exercise price therefor, unless this Representative’s Warrant is exercised pursuant to a cashless exercise, as provided in Section 2.2 hereof, all Ordinary Shares and other securities issuable upon such exercise shall be duly and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and not subject to preemptive rights of any shareholder. As long as this Representative’s Warrant shall be outstanding, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause all Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise of this Representative’s Warrant to be listed (subject to official notice of issuance) on all national securities exchanges (or, if applicable, on the OTCQB Market or any successor quotation system) on which the Ordinary Shares are then listed and/or quoted (if at all).

 

8. Certain Notice Requirements.

 

8.1 Holder’s Right to Receive Notice. Nothing herein shall be construed as conferring upon the Holder the right to vote or consent or to receive notice as a shareholder for the election of directors or any other matter, or as having any rights whatsoever as a shareholder of the Company. If, however, at any time prior to the expiration of this Representative’s Warrant and the exercise thereof, any of the events described in Section 8.2 shall occur, then, in one or more of said events, the Company shall give written notice of such event at least fifteen days prior to the date fixed as a record date or the date of closing the transfer books (the “Notice Date”) for the determination of the shareholders entitled to such dividend, distribution, conversion or exchange of securities or subscription rights, or entitled to vote on such proposed dissolution, liquidation, winding up or sale. Such notice shall specify such record date or the date of the closing of the transfer books, as the case may be. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall deliver to the Holder a copy of each notice given to the other shareholders of the Company at the same time and in the same manner that such notice is given to the shareholders.

 

8.2 Events Requiring Notice. The Company shall be required to give the notice described in this Section 8 upon one or more of the following events: (i) if the Company shall take a record of the holders of its Ordinary Shares for the purpose of entitling them to receive a dividend or distribution payable otherwise than in cash, or a cash dividend or distribution payable otherwise than out of retained earnings, as indicated by the accounting treatment of such dividend or distribution on the books of the Company, (ii) the Company shall offer to all the holders of its Ordinary Shares, any additional shares of the Company or securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of the Company, or any option, right or warrant to subscribe therefor, or (iii) a dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Company (other than in connection with a consolidation or share reconstruction or amalgamation) or a sale of all or substantially all of its property, assets and business shall be proposed.

 

8.3 Notice of Change in Exercise Price. The Company shall, promptly after an event requiring a change in the Exercise Price pursuant to Section 6 hereof, send notice to the Holder of such event and change (“Price Notice”). The Price Notice shall describe the event causing the change and the method of calculating same and shall be certified as being true and accurate by the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer.

 

8.4 Transmittal of Notices. All notices, requests, consents and other communications under this Representative’s Warrant shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly made if made in accordance with the notice provisions of the Underwriting Agreement to the addresses and contact information set forth below:

 

If to the Holder, then to:

EF Hutton,

division of Benchmark Investments, LLC

590 Madison Avenue, 39th Floor

New York, NY 10022

Attn: Joseph T. Rallo, Chief Executive Officer

Email: jrallo@efhuttongroup.com

 

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With a copy to:

Ortoli Rosenstadt LLP

366 Madison Avenue, 3rd Floor

New York, NY 10017

Attn: Mengyi “Jason” Ye, Esq.

Attn: Yarona L. Yieh, Esq.

Email: jye@orllp.legal

yly@orllp.legal

 

If to the Company:

Linkage Global Inc

2-23-3 Minami-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku

Tokyo, Japan 171-0022

Attn: Zhihua Wu, CEO

Email: zhihua_wu@linkagecc.com

 

With a copy to:

Hunter Taubman Fischer & Li LLC

950 Third Avenue, 19th Floor

New York, NY 10022

Attn: Ying Li, Esq.

Attn: Lisa Forcht, Esq.

Email: yli@htflawyers.com

lforcht@htflawyers.com

 

9. Miscellaneous.

 

9.1 Amendments. The Company and the Holder may from time to time supplement or amend this Representative’s Warrant in order to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any provision contained herein that may be defective or inconsistent with any other provisions herein, or to make any other provisions in regard to matters or questions arising hereunder that the Company and the Holder may deem necessary or desirable and that the Company and the Holder deem shall not adversely affect the interest of the Holder. All other modifications or amendments shall require the written consent of and be signed by the party against whom enforcement of the modification or amendment is sought.

 

9.2 Headings. The headings contained herein are for the sole purpose of convenience of reference, and shall not in any way limit or affect the meaning or interpretation of any of the terms or provisions of this Representative’s Warrant.

 

9.3 Entire Agreement. This Representative’s Warrant (together with the other agreements and documents being delivered pursuant to or in connection with this Representative’s Warrant) constitutes the entire agreement of the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof, and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings of the parties, oral and written, with respect to the subject matter hereof.

 

9.4 Binding Effect. This Representative’s Warrant shall inure solely to the benefit of and shall be binding upon, the Holder and the Company and their permitted assignees, respective successors, legal representative and assigns, and no other person shall have or be construed to have any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of or by virtue of this Representative’s Warrant or any provisions herein contained.

 

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9.5 Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction; Trial by Jury. This Representative’s Warrant shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to conflict of laws principles thereof. The Company hereby agrees that any action, proceeding or claim against it arising out of, or relating in any way to this Representative’s Warrant shall be brought and enforced in the New York Supreme Court, County of New York, or in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, and irrevocably submits to such jurisdiction, which jurisdiction shall be exclusive. The Company hereby waives any objection to such exclusive jurisdiction and that such courts represent an inconvenient forum. Any process or summons to be served upon the Company may be served by transmitting a copy thereof by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed to it at the address set forth in Section 8 hereof. Such mailing shall be deemed personal service and shall be legal and binding upon the Company in any action, proceeding or claim. The Company and the Holder agree that the prevailing party(ies) in any such action shall be entitled to recover from the other party(ies) all of its reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses relating to such action or proceeding and/or incurred in connection with the preparation therefor. The Company (on its behalf and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, on behalf of its shareholders and affiliates) and the Holder hereby irrevocably waive, 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 or the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

9.6 Waiver, etc. The failure of the Company or the Holder to at any time enforce any of the provisions of this Representative’s Warrant shall not be deemed or construed to be a waiver of any such provision, nor to in any way affect the validity of this Representative’s Warrant or any provision hereof or the right of the Company or any Holder to thereafter enforce each and every provision of this Representative’s Warrant. No waiver of any breach, non-compliance or non-fulfillment of any of the provisions of this Representative’s Warrant shall be effective unless set forth in a written instrument executed by the party or parties against whom or which enforcement of such waiver is sought; and no waiver of any such breach, non-compliance or non-fulfillment shall be construed or deemed to be a waiver of any other or subsequent breach, non-compliance or non-fulfillment.

 

9.7 Holder Not Deemed a Shareholder. Except as otherwise specifically provided herein, the Holder, solely in its capacity as a holder of this Representative’s Warrant, shall not be entitled to vote or receive dividends or be deemed the holder of share capital of the Company for any purpose, nor shall anything contained in this Representative’s Warrant be construed to confer upon the Holder, solely in its capacity as a holder of this Representative’s Warrant, any of the rights of a shareholder of the Company or any right to vote, give or withhold consent to any corporate action (whether any reorganization, issue of shares, reclassification of shares, consolidation, merger, conveyance or otherwise), receive notice of meetings, receive dividends or subscription rights, or otherwise, prior to the issuance to the Holder of the Shares which it is then entitled to receive upon the due exercise of this Representative’s Warrant. In addition, nothing contained in this Representative’s Warrant shall be construed as imposing any liabilities on the Holder to purchase any securities (upon exercise of this Representative’s Warrant or otherwise) or as a shareholder of the Company, whether such liabilities are asserted by the Company or by creditors of the Company.

 

9.8 Restrictions. The Holder acknowledges that the Shares acquired upon the exercise of this Representative’s Warrant, if not registered, and the Holder does not utilize cashless exercise, will have restrictions upon resale imposed by state and federal securities laws.

 

9.9 Severability. Wherever possible, each provision of this Representative’s Warrant shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Representative’s Warrant shall be prohibited by or invalid under applicable law, such provision shall be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or invalidity, without invalidating the remainder of such provision or the remaining provisions of this Representative’s Warrant.

 

9.10 Execution in Counterparts. This Representative’s Warrant may be executed in one or more counterparts, and by the different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement, and shall become effective when one or more counterparts has been signed by each of the parties hereto and delivered to each of the other parties hereto. Such counterparts may be delivered by facsimile transmission or other electronic transmission.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

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[ Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Representative’s Warrant to be signed by its duly authorized officer as of the [●]th day of _______, 2023.

 

 

LINKAGE GLOBAL INC

   
  By:  
  Name:  Zhihua Wu
  Title: Chief Executive Officer, Director, Chairman of the Board of Directors

 

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EXHIBIT A TO THE FORM OF WARRANT

 

Exercise Form

 

Form to be used to exercise Representative’s Warrant:

 

Date: __________, 202_

 

The undersigned hereby elects irrevocably to exercise the Representative’s Warrant for ______ Ordinary Shares of Linkage Global Inc, a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Company”), and hereby makes payment of $____ (at the rate of $____ per share) in payment of the Exercise Price pursuant thereto. Please issue the Ordinary Shares as to which this Representative’s Warrant is exercised in accordance with the instructions given below and, if applicable, a new Representative’s Warrant representing the number of Ordinary Shares for which this Representative’s Warrant has not been exercised.

 

or

 

The undersigned hereby elects irrevocably to convert its right to purchase ___ Ordinary Shares under the Representative’s Warrant for ______ Ordinary Shares, as determined in accordance with the following formula:

 

  X = Y(A-B)  
  A  
Where, X = The number of Ordinary Shares to be issued to Holder;
  Y = The number of Ordinary Shares for which the Representative’s Warrant is being exercised;
  A = The fair market value (as defined in Section 2.2 of this Representative’s Warrant) of one Ordinary Share which is equal to $_____; and
  B = The Exercise Price which is equal to $______ per share

 

The undersigned agrees and acknowledges that the calculation set forth above is subject to confirmation by the Company and any disagreement with respect to the calculation shall be resolved by the Company in its sole discretion.

 

Please issue the Ordinary Shares as to which this Representative’s Warrant is exercised in accordance with the instructions given below and, if applicable, a new Representative’s Warrant representing the number of Ordinary Shares for which this Representative’s Warrant has not been converted.

 

Signature:

 

Signature Guaranteed:

 

INSTRUCTIONS FOR REGISTRATION OF SECURITIES

 

Name:

(Print in Block Letters)

 

Address:

 

NOTICE: The signature to this form must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the Representative’s Warrant without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever, and must be guaranteed by a bank, other than a savings bank, or by a trust company or by a firm having membership on a registered national securities exchange.

 

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EXHIBIT B TO THE FORM OF WARRANT

 

Assignment Form

 

Form to be used to assign Representative’s Warrant:

 

(To be executed by the registered Holder to effect a transfer of the within Representative’s Warrant):

 

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, does hereby sell, assign and transfer unto the right to purchase Ordinary Shares of Linkage Global Inc, a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Company”), evidenced by the Representative’s Warrant and does hereby authorize the Company to transfer such right on the books of the Company.

 

Dated:    , 202

 

Holder’s Signature: _____________________________

Holder’s Address:   _____________________________

  

Signature Guaranteed: ___________________________________________

 

NOTICE: The signature to this form must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the within Representative’s Warrant without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever, and must be guaranteed by a bank, other than a savings bank, or by a trust company or by a firm having membership on a registered national securities exchange. Officers of corporations and those acting in a fiduciary or other representative capacity should file proper evidence of authority to assign the foregoing Warrant.

 

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EXHIBIT B

 

Form of Lock-Up Agreement

 

[__, 2023]

 

EF HUTTON, division of Benchmark Investments, LLC

As Representative of the Underwriters
590 Madison Avenue, 39th Floor

New York, New York 10022

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

The undersigned understands that EF Hutton, division of Benchmark Investments, LLC (the “Representative”) proposes to enter into an Underwriting Agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) with Linkage Global Inc, a Cayman Islands corporation (the “Company”), providing for the public offering (the “Public Offering”) of ordinary shares, par value $0.00025 per share, of the Company (the “Shares”).

 

To induce the Representative to continue its efforts in connection with the Public Offering, the undersigned hereby agrees that, without the prior written consent of the Representative, the undersigned will not, during the period commencing on the date hereof and ending [ninety (90) / one hundred and eighty (180)] days after the date of the final prospectus (the “Prospectus”) relating to the Public Offering (the “Lock-Up Period”), (1) offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, grant, lend, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any Shares or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Shares, whether now owned or hereafter acquired by the undersigned or with respect to which the undersigned has or hereafter acquires the power of disposition (collectively, the “Lock-Up Securities”); (2) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the Lock-Up Securities, whether any such transaction described in clause (1) or (2) above is to be settled by delivery of Lock-Up Securities, in cash or otherwise; (3) make any demand for or exercise any right with respect to the registration of any Lock-Up Securities; or (4) publicly disclose the intention to make any offer, sale, pledge or disposition, or to enter into any transaction, swap, hedge or other arrangement relating to any Lock-Up Securities. Notwithstanding the foregoing, and subject to the conditions below, the undersigned may transfer Lock-Up Securities without the prior written consent of the Representative in connection with (a) transactions relating to Lock-Up Securities acquired in open market transactions after the completion of the Public Offering, provided that no filing under Section 13 or Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or other public announcement shall be required or shall be voluntarily made during the Lock-Up Period in connection with subsequent sales of Lock-Up Securities acquired in such open market transactions; (b) transfers of Lock-Up Securities as a bona fide gift, by will or intestacy or to a family member or trust for the benefit of a family member (for purposes of this lock-up agreement, “family member” means any relationship by blood, marriage or adoption, not more remote than first cousin); (c) transfers of Lock-Up Securities to a charity or educational institution; or (d) if the undersigned, directly or indirectly, controls a corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other business entity, any transfers of Lock-Up Securities to any shareholder, partner or member of, or owner of similar equity interests in, the undersigned, as the case may be; provided that in the case of any transfer pursuant to the foregoing clauses (b), (c) or (d), it shall be a condition to any such transfer that (i) the transferee/donee agrees to be bound by the terms of this lock-up agreement (including, without limitation, the restrictions set forth in the preceding sentence) to the same extent as if the transferee/donee were a party hereto; (ii) each party (donor, donee, transferor or transferee) shall not be required by law (including without limitation the disclosure requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and the Exchange Act) to make, and shall agree to not voluntarily make, any filing or public announcement of the transfer or disposition prior to the expiration of the Lock-Up Period; and (iii) the undersigned notifies the Representative at least two (2) business days prior to the proposed transfer or disposition.

 

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In addition, the foregoing restrictions shall not apply to (i) the exercise or vesting of share options or other equity awards granted pursuant to the Company’s equity incentive plans; provided that it shall apply to any of the undersigned’s ordinary shares issued upon such exercise, (ii) the conversion or exercise of convertible debt or warrants; provided that it shall apply to any of the undersigned’s ordinary shares issued upon such exercise, or (iii) pursuant to an existing contract, instruction or plan (a “Plan”) that satisfies all of the requirements of Rule 10b5-1(c)(1)(i)(B) under the Exchange Act, (iv) the establishment of any new Plan; provided that no sales of the undersigned’s ordinary shares shall be made pursuant to such new Plan prior to the expiration of the Lock-Up Period (as such may have been extended pursuant to the provisions hereof), and such a Plan may only be established if no public announcement of the establishment or existence thereof and no filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission or other regulatory authority in respect thereof or transactions thereunder or contemplated thereby, by the undersigned, the Company or any other person, shall be required, and no such announcement or filing is made voluntarily, by the undersigned, the Company or any other person, prior to the expiration of the Lock-Up Period (as such may have been extended pursuant to the provisions hereof).

 

The undersigned also agrees and consents to the entry of stop transfer instructions with the Company’s transfer agent and registrar against the transfer of the undersigned’s securities subject to this lock-up agreement except in compliance with this lock-up agreement.

 

If the undersigned is an officer or director of the Company, (i) the undersigned agrees that the foregoing restrictions shall be equally applicable to any Shares that the undersigned may purchase in the Public Offering; (ii) the Representative agrees that, at least three (3) business days before the effective date of any release or waiver of the foregoing restrictions in connection with a transfer of Lock-Up Securities, the Representative will notify the Company of the impending release or waiver; and (iii) the Company has agreed in the Underwriting Agreement to announce the impending release or waiver by press release through a major news service at least two (2) business days before the effective date of the release or waiver. Any release or waiver granted by the Representative hereunder to any such officer or director shall only be effective two (2) business days after the publication date of such press release. The provisions of this paragraph will not apply if (a) the release or waiver is effected solely to permit a transfer of Lock-Up Securities not for consideration and (b) the transferee has agreed in writing to be bound by the same terms described in this lock-up agreement to the extent and for the duration that such terms remain in effect at the time of such transfer.

 

The undersigned understands that the Company and the Representative are relying upon this lock-up agreement in proceeding toward consummation of the Public Offering. The undersigned further understands that this lock-up agreement is irrevocable and shall be binding upon the undersigned’s heirs, legal representatives, successors and assigns.

 

The undersigned understands that, if the Underwriting Agreement does not become effective on or prior to [__, 2023], or if the Underwriting Agreement (other than the provisions thereof which survive termination) shall terminate or be terminated prior to payment for and delivery of the Shares to be sold thereunder, the undersigned shall be released from all obligations under this lock-up agreement.

 

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This lock-up agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the internal laws of the State of New York.

 

  Very truly yours,
   
   
  (Name - Please Print)
   
   
  (Signature)
   
   
  (Name of Signatory, in the case of entities - Please Print)
   
   
  (Title of Signatory, in the case of entities - Please Print)
     
  Address:  
     
     
     
     

 

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EXHIBIT C

 

Form of Press Release

 

Linkage Global Inc

[Date]

 

Linkage Global Inc (the “Company”) announced today that EF Hutton, division of Benchmark Investments, LLC, acting as representative for the underwriters in the Company’s recent public offering of _______ ordinary shares of the Company, is [waiving] [releasing] a lock-up restriction with respect to _________ ordinary shares of the Company held by [certain officers or directors] [an officer or director] of the Company. The [waiver] [release] will take effect on _________, 20___, and the securities may be sold on or after such date.

 

This press release is not an offer or sale of the securities in the United States or in any other jurisdiction where such offer or sale is prohibited, and such securities may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

 

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