8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

_____________________________________________________________________________________

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): April 23, 2020

IZEA WORLDWIDE, INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

Nevada	001-37703	37-1530765
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)	(Commission File Number)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

480 N. Orlando Avenue, Suite 200 Winter Park, Florida	32789
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (407) 674-6911

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4 (c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class	Trading Symbol(s)	Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share	IZEA	The Nasdaq Capital Market

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company o

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. o

Item 1.01.  Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

 On April 23, 2020, IZEA Worldwide, Inc. (the “Company”) received a loan from Western Alliance Bank (the “Lender”) in the principal amount of $1,905,100 (the “SBA Loan”), under the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”), which was established under the recently enacted Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act”) administered by the U.S. Small Business Administration (the “SBA”). The SBA Loan is evidenced by a promissory note issued by the Company (the “Note”) to the Lender. 

The term of the Note is two years, though it may be payable sooner in connection with an event of default under the Note. The SBA Loan carries a fixed interest rate of one percent per year, with the first payment due seven months from the date of initial cash receipt. Under the CARES Act and the PPP, certain amounts of loans made under the PPP may be forgiven if the recipients use the loan proceeds for eligible purposes, including payroll costs and certain rent or utility costs, and meet other requirements regarding, among other things, the maintenance of employment and compensation levels. The Company intends to use the SBA Loan for qualifying expenses and to apply for forgiveness of the SBA Loan in accordance with the terms of the CARES Act. However, no assurance is provided that the Company will obtain forgiveness of the PPP Loan in whole or in part. Any forgiven amount is allowed to be excluded from the Company’s taxable income.

The Note provides for customary events of default, including, among others, those relating to failure to make payment, bankruptcy, materially false or misleading representations to the Lender or the SBA, and adverse changes in the Company's financial condition or business operations that the Lender believes may materially affect the Company's ability to pay the SBA Loan.  The Company did not provide any collateral or guarantees for the SBA Loan and may prepay the SBA Loan subject to the terms of the Note.

The foregoing description of the SBA Loan and the Note does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Note, a copy of which is attached to this Current Report on Form 8-K as Exhibit 10.1, and incorporated herein by reference into this Item 1.01.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this Current Report on Form 8-K may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Examples of forward-looking statements include statements regarding the Company’s use of the SBA Loan proceeds and its application for, and ability to obtain, forgiveness of the SBA Loan. The forward-looking statements made in this Current Report on Form 8-K speak only as of the date of this Current Report on Form 8-K, and the Company assumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements to reflect actual results or changes in expectations, except as otherwise required by law.

Item 2.03.  Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant.

The information set forth in Item 1.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is hereby incorporated by reference into this Item 2.03.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits

(d)   Exhibits.

Exhibit No.	Description
10.1	Note, dated as of April 23, 2020, issued by IZEA Worldwide, Inc. to Western Alliance Bank.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

	IZEA WORLDWIDE, INC.
Date: April 24, 2020	By:/s/ Edward H. (Ted) Murphy     Edward H. (Ted) Murphy President and Chief Executive Officer

EX-10.1

EXHIBIT 10.1

U.S. Small Business Administration

SBA Loan #	67102771-05
SBA Loan Name	IZEA Worldwide, Inc.
Date	4/21/2020
Loan Amount	$1,905,100
Interest Rate	1.00% per annum
Borrower	IZEA Worldwide, Inc., a Nevada Corporation
Operating Company	N/A
Lender	Western Alliance Bank, an Arizona Corporation

1. PROMISE TO PAY:

In return for the Loan, Borrower promises to pay to the order of Lender the amount of One Million Nine Hundred Five Thousand One Hundred and No/100 Dollars, interest on the unpaid principal balance, and all other amounts required by this Note.

2. DEFINITIONS:

“Collateral” means any property taken as security for payment of this Note or any guarantee of this Note. “Guarantor” means each person or entity that signs a guarantee of payment of this Note.

“Loan” means the loan evidenced by this Note.

“Loan Documents” means the documents related to this loan signed by Borrower, any Guarantor, or anyone who pledges collateral.

“SBA” means the Small Business Administration, an Agency of the United States of America.

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3. PAYMENT TERMS:

Borrower must make all payments at the place Lender designates. The payment terms for this Note are:

This Note will mature in 2 years from the date of initial disbursement.

The interest rate is 1.00% per year.

Borrower must pay principal and interest payments every month, beginning seven months from the date of initial disbursement in an amount sufficient to fully≠amortize the outstanding balance; payments must be made on the 4th calendar day in the months they are due.

Lender will apply each installment payment first to pay interest accrued to the day Lender receives the payment, then to bring principal current, then to pay any late fees, and will apply any remaining balance to reduce principal. Lender may adjust the payment amount periodically as needed to amortize the principal over the remaining term of the Note.

Loan Prepayment:

Notwithstanding any provision in this Note to the contrary:

Borrower may prepay this Note. Borrower may prepay 20 percent or less of the unpaid principal balance at any time without notice. If Borrower prepays more than 20 percent and the Loan has been sold on the secondary market, Borrower must:

a. Give Lender written notice;

b. Pay all accrued interest; and

c. If the prepayment is received less than 21 days from the date Lender receives the notice, pay an amount equal to 21 days' interest from the date lender receives the notice, less any interest accrued during the 21 days and paid under subparagraph b., above.

If Borrower does not prepay within 30 days from the date Lender receives the notice, Borrower must give Lender a new notice.

All remaining principal and accrued interest is due and payable 2 years from date of initial disbursement.

Late Charge. If payment on this Note is more than 10 days late, Lender may charge Borrower a late fee of up to 5.00% of the unpaid portion of the regularly scheduled payment.

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4. DEFAULT:

Borrower is in default under this Note if Borrower does not make a payment when due under this Note, or if Borrower or Operating Company:

A. Fails to do anything required by this Note and other Loan Documents;

B. Defaults on any other loan with Lender;

C. Does not preserve, or account to Lender’s satisfaction for, any of the Collateral or its proceeds;

D. Does not disclose, or anyone acting on their behalf does not disclose, any material fact to Lender or SBA;

E. Makes, or anyone acting on their behalf makes, a materially false or misleading representation to Lender or SBA;

F. Defaults on any loan or agreement with another creditor, if Lender believes the default may materially affect Borrower’s ability to pay this Note;

G. Fails to pay any taxes when due;

H. Becomes the subject of a proceeding under any bankruptcy or insolvency law;

I. Has a receiver or liquidator appointed for any part of their business or property;

J. Makes an assignment for the benefit of creditors;

K. Has any adverse change in financial condition or business operation that Lender believes may materially affect Borrower’s ability to pay this Note;

L. Reorganizes, merges, consolidates, or otherwise changes ownership or business structure without Lender’s prior written consent; or

M. Becomes the subject of a civil or criminal action that Lender believes may materially affect Borrower’s ability to pay this Note.

5. LENDER’S RIGHTS IF THERE IS A DEFAULT:

Without notice or demand and without giving up any of its rights, Lender may:

A. Require immediate payment of all amounts owing under this Note;

B. Collect all amounts owing from any Borrower or Guarantor;

C. File suit and obtain judgment;

D. Take possession of any Collateral; or

E. Sell, lease, or otherwise dispose of, any Collateral at public or private sale, with or without advertisement.

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6. LENDER’S GENERAL POWERS:

Without notice and without Borrower’s consent, Lender may:

A. Bid on or buy the Collateral at its sale or the sale of another lienholder, at any price it chooses;

B. Incur expenses to collect amounts due under this Note, enforce the terms of this Note or any other Loan Document, and preserve or dispose of the Collateral. Among other things, the expenses may include payments for property taxes, prior liens, insurance, appraisals, environmental remediation costs, and reasonable attorney’s fees and costs. If Lender incurs such expenses, it may demand immediate repayment from Borrower or add the expenses to the principal balance;

C. Release anyone obligated to pay this Note;

D. Compromise, release, renew, extend or substitute any of the Collateral; and

E. Take any action necessary to protect the Collateral or collect amounts owing on this Note.

7. WHEN FEDERAL LAW APPLIES:

When SBA is the holder, this Note will be interpreted and enforced under federal law, including SBA regulations. Lender or SBA may use state or local procedures for filing papers, recording documents, giving notice, foreclosing liens, and other purposes. By using such procedures, SBA does not waive any federal immunity from state or local control, penalty, tax, or liability. As to this Note, Borrower may not claim or assert against SBA any local or state law to deny any obligation, defeat any claim of SBA, or preempt federal law.

8. SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS:

Under this Note, Borrower and Operating Company include the successors of each, and Lender includes its successors and assigns.

9. GENERAL PROVISIONS:

A. All individuals and entities signing this Note are jointly and severally liable.

B. Borrower waives all suretyship defenses.

C. Borrower must sign all documents necessary at any time to comply with the Loan Documents and to enable Lender to acquire, perfect, or maintain Lender’s liens on Collateral.

D. Lender may exercise any of its rights separately or together, as many times and in any order it chooses. Lender may delay or forgo enforcing any of its rights without giving up any of them.

E. Borrower may not use an oral statement of Lender or SBA to contradict or alter the written terms of this Note.

F. If any part of this Note is unenforceable, all other parts remain in effect.

G. To the extent allowed by law, Borrower waives all demands and notices in connection with this Note, including presentment, demand, protest, and notice of dishonor. Borrower also waives any defenses based upon any claim that Lender did not obtain any guarantee; did not obtain, perfect, or maintain a lien upon Collateral; impaired Collateral; or did not obtain the fair market value of Collateral at a sale.

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10. STATE-SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:

When SBA is not the holder of this Note, the law of the State where the loan is made shall govern the interpretation and enforcement of this Note.

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11. BORROWER’S NAME(S) AND SIGNATURE(S):

By signing below, each individual or entity becomes obligated under this Note as Borrower.

IZEA Worldwide, Inc., a Nevada Corporation

By: /s/ LeAnn Hitchcock

Name: LeAnn Hitchcock

Title: Chief Financial Officer

Date: April 23, 2020

By: /s/ Edward H. Murphy

Name: Edward H. Murphy

Title: Chief Executive Officer

Date: April 23, 2020

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