0000921895-18-003307.txt : 20181214 0000921895-18-003307.hdr.sgml : 20181214 20181214165522 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000921895-18-003307 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: SC 13D PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 3 FILED AS OF DATE: 20181214 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20181214 SUBJECT COMPANY: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: AutoWeb, Inc. CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001023364 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: SERVICES-COMPUTER PROGRAMMING, DATA PROCESSING, ETC. [7370] IRS NUMBER: 330711569 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: SC 13D SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 005-58067 FILM NUMBER: 181236188 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 18872 MACARTHUR BLVD STREET 2: SUITE 200 CITY: IRVINE STATE: CA ZIP: 92612-1400 BUSINESS PHONE: 9492254500 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 18872 MACARTHUR BLVD STREET 2: SUITE 200 CITY: IRVINE STATE: CA ZIP: 92612-1400 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: AUTOBYTEL INC DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 20100628 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: AUTOBYTEL INC DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 20010905 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: AUTOBYTEL COM INC DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19981230 FILED BY: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: Negari Daniel Moshe CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001659522 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: SC 13D MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 2121 E TROPICANA AVE #2 CITY: LAS VEGAS STATE: NV ZIP: 89119 SC 13D 1 sc13d10701003_12142018.htm SCHEDULE 13D

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 13D

(Rule 13d-101)

INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN STATEMENTS FILED PURSUANT

TO § 240.13d-1(a) AND AMENDMENTS THERETO FILED PURSUANT TO

§ 240.13d-2(a)

(Amendment No.  )1

AutoWeb, Inc.

(Name of Issuer)

Common Stock, $0.001 par value per share

(Title of Class of Securities)

05335B100

(CUSIP Number)

Daniel M. Negari

2121 E. Tropicana Avenue, Suite 2

Las Vegas, Nevada 89119

(702) 900-2999

 

STEVE WOLOSKY, ESQ.

OLSHAN FROME WOLOSKY LLP

1325 Avenue of the Americas

New York, New York 10019

(212) 451-2300

(Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person

Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications)

 

December 4, 2018

(Date of Event Which Requires Filing of This Statement)

 

If the filing person has previously filed a statement on Schedule 13G to report the acquisition that is the subject of this Schedule 13D, and is filing this schedule because of §§ 240.13d-1(e), 240.13d-1(f) or 240.13d-1(g), check the following box ¨.

Note:  Schedules filed in paper format shall include a signed original and five copies of the schedule, including all exhibits.  See § 240.13d-7 for other parties to whom copies are to be sent.

 

 

 

1              The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person’s initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

The information required on the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be “filed” for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Act”) or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes).

 

CUSIP NO. 05335B100

  1   NAME OF REPORTING PERSON  
         
        The 1 8 999 Trust  
  2   CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (a) ☒
        (b) ☐
           
  3   SEC USE ONLY    
           
           
  4   SOURCE OF FUNDS  
         
        WC  
  5   CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(d) OR 2(e)     ☐
       
           
  6   CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION  
         
        Nevada  
NUMBER OF   7   SOLE VOTING POWER  
SHARES          
BENEFICIALLY         - 0 -  
OWNED BY   8   SHARED VOTING POWER  
EACH          
REPORTING         918,024*  
PERSON WITH   9   SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER  
         
          - 0 -  
    10   SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER  
           
          918,024*  
  11   AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON  
         
        918,024*  
  12   CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES     ☐
       
           
  13   PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)  
         
        7.1%*  
  14   TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON  
         
        OO  

 

 

* Includes 30,000 Shares (as defined below) underlying certain call options.

2

CUSIP NO. 05335B100

  1   NAME OF REPORTING PERSON  
         
        Daniel M. Negari  
  2   CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (a) ☒
        (b) ☐
           
  3   SEC USE ONLY    
           
           
  4   SOURCE OF FUNDS  
         
        PF; AF  
  5   CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(d) OR 2(e)     ☐
       
           
  6   CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION  
         
        USA  
NUMBER OF   7   SOLE VOTING POWER  
SHARES          
BENEFICIALLY         48  
OWNED BY   8   SHARED VOTING POWER  
EACH          
REPORTING         918,024*  
PERSON WITH   9   SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER  
         
          48  
    10   SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER  
           
          918,024*  
  11   AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON  
         
        918,072*  
  12   CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES     ☐
       
           
  13   PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)  
         
        7.1%*  
  14   TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON  
         
        IN  

 

 

* Includes 30,000 Shares underlying certain call options.

3

CUSIP NO. 05335B100

 

  1   NAME OF REPORTING PERSON  
         
        The Insight Trust  
  2   CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (a) ☒
        (b) ☐
           
  3   SEC USE ONLY    
           
           
  4   SOURCE OF FUNDS  
         
        WC  
  5   CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(d) OR 2(e)     ☐
       
           
  6   CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION  
         
        Nevada  
NUMBER OF   7   SOLE VOTING POWER  
SHARES          
BENEFICIALLY         - 0 -  
OWNED BY   8   SHARED VOTING POWER  
EACH          
REPORTING         122,758  
PERSON WITH   9   SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER  
         
          - 0 -  
    10   SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER  
           
          122,758  
  11   AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON  
         
        122,758  
  12   CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES     ☐
       
           
  13   PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)  
         
        Less than 1%  
  14   TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON  
         
        OO  

  

4

CUSIP NO. 05335B100

 

  1   NAME OF REPORTING PERSON  
         
        Michael R. Ambrose  
  2   CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (a) ☒
        (b) ☐
           
  3   SEC USE ONLY    
           
           
  4   SOURCE OF FUNDS  
         
        AF  
  5   CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(d) OR 2(e)     ☐
       
           
  6   CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION  
         
        USA  
NUMBER OF   7   SOLE VOTING POWER  
SHARES          
BENEFICIALLY         - 0 -  
OWNED BY   8   SHARED VOTING POWER  
EACH          
REPORTING         122,758  
PERSON WITH   9   SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER  
         
          - 0 -  
    10   SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER  
           
          122,758  
  11   AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON  
         
        122,758  
  12   CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES     ☐
       
           
  13   PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)  
         
        Less than 1%  
  14   TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON  
         
        IN  

  

5

CUSIP NO. 05335B100

 

The following constitutes the Schedule 13D filed by the undersigned (the “Schedule 13D”).

 

Item 1.Security and Issuer.

 

This statement relates to the Common Stock, $0.001 par value per share (the “Shares”), of AutoWeb, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Issuer”). The address of the principal executive offices of the Issuer is 18872 MacArthur Boulevard, Suite 200, Irvine, California 92612.

Item 2.Identity and Background.

(a)       This statement is filed by The 1 8 999 Trust, a trust organized under the laws of Nevada (the “18999 Trust”), Daniel M. Negari, The Insight Trust, a trust organized under the laws of Nevada (the “Insight Trust”) and Michael R. Ambrose. Each of the foregoing is referred to as a “Reporting Person” and collectively as the “Reporting Persons.” Each of the Reporting Persons is a party to that certain Joint Filing Agreement, as further described in Item 6. Accordingly, the Reporting Persons are hereby filing a joint Schedule 13D.

(b)       The address of the principal office of each of the Reporting Persons is 2121 E. Tropicana Avenue, Suite 2, Las Vegas, Nevada 89119.

(c)       The principal business of the 18999 Trust is holding, managing and distributing the property of the trust and the proceeds therefrom. The principal occupation of Mr. Negari is serving as the Chief Executive Officer of XYZ.COM LLC (“XYZ”) and as the trustee of the 18999 Trust. The principal business of the Insight Trust is holding, managing and distributing the property of the trust and the proceeds therefrom. The principal occupation of Mr. Ambrose is serving as the Chief Operating Officer of XYZ and as the trustee of the Insight Trust.

(d)       No Reporting Person has, during the last five years, been convicted in a criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations or similar misdemeanors).

(e)       No Reporting Person has, during the last five years, been party to a civil proceeding of a judicial or administrative body of competent jurisdiction and as a result of such proceeding was or is subject to a judgment, decree or final order enjoining future violations of, or prohibiting or mandating activities subject to, federal or state securities laws or finding any violation with respect to such laws.

(f)       Messrs. Negari and Ambrose are citizens of the United States of America.

Item 3.Source and Amount of Funds or Other Consideration.

The securities of the Issuer directly owned by the 18999 Trust and the Insight Trust were purchased with working capital (which may, at any given time, include margin loans made by brokerage firms in the ordinary course of business). The aggregate purchase price of the 888,024 Shares directly owned by the 18999 Trust is approximately $2,805,849, including brokerage commissions. The aggregate purchase price of the call options exercisable into 30,000 Shares directly owned by the 18999 Trust is approximately $52,146, including brokerage commissions. The aggregate purchase price of the 122,758 Shares directly owned by the Insight Trust is approximately $332,745, including brokerage commissions.

6

CUSIP NO. 05335B100

The Shares directly owned by Mr. Negari were purchased with personal funds (which may, at any given time, include margin loans made by brokerage firms in the ordinary course of business). The aggregate purchase price of the 48 Shares directly owned by Mr. Negari is approximately $195, including brokerage commissions.

Item 4.Purpose of Transaction.

The Reporting Persons purchased the Shares based on the Reporting Persons’ belief that the Shares, when purchased, were undervalued and represented an attractive investment opportunity. Depending upon overall market conditions, other investment opportunities available to the Reporting Persons, and the availability of Shares at prices that would make the purchase or sale of Shares desirable, the Reporting Persons may endeavor to increase or decrease their position in the Issuer through, among other things, the purchase or sale of Shares on such terms and at such times as the Reporting Persons may deem advisable.

On November 30, 2018, the Reporting Persons entered into a Tax Benefit Preservation Plan Exemption Agreement (the “Exemption Agreement”) with the Issuer pursuant to which the Reporting Persons received an exemption to the Issuer’s Tax Benefit Preservation Plan, dated May 26, 2010, as amended on April 14, 2014 and April 13, 2017 (the “Plan”), which generally prohibits stockholders from acquiring 4.90% or more of the Issuer’s outstanding Shares. Pursuant to the Exemption Agreement, the Reporting Persons are permitted to acquire aggregate beneficial ownership of up to 15.00% of the outstanding Shares.

Pursuant to the Exemption Agreement, for so long as the Exemption Agreement remains in effect, at each meeting of stockholders, the Reporting Persons agreed to cause any and all of the portion of Shares owned by the Reporting Persons which equals or exceeds 4.90% of the Shares then outstanding (“Exemption Shares”) to be counted as present thereat for purposes of establishing a quorum and to vote such Exemption Shares the same proportion (for or against) as the Shares actually voted for or against such matters by the stockholders of the Issuer (other than the Reporting Persons). The Reporting Persons also granted representatives of the Issuer irrevocable proxies to vote the Exemption Shares in accordance with the foregoing sentence. The Reporting Persons also agreed to certain restrictions such as not nominating any person to the Issuer’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) or otherwise acting, alone or in concert with others, to seek to control or influence the management, Board or policies of the Issuer; provided that the Reporting Persona may seek privately with the Board or the Issuer’s Chief Executive Officer to influence the decisions made by the existing management.

The Exemption Agreement will terminate upon the earliest to occur of (i) the written consent of the parties thereto, (ii) the termination of the Plan, unless a substitute or successor tax benefit preservation or other stockholder rights plan is implemented, or (iii) the Reporting Persons’ collective beneficial ownership falling below 4.90% of the outstanding Shares. The foregoing description of the Exemption Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Exemption Agreement, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit 99.1 hereto and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

No Reporting Person has any present plan or proposal which would relate to or result in any of the matters set forth in subparagraphs (a) - (j) of Item 4 of Schedule 13D except as set forth herein or such as would occur upon or in connection with completion of, or following, any of the actions discussed herein. The Reporting Persons intend to review their investment in the Issuer on a continuing basis. Depending on various factors including, without limitation, the Issuer’s financial position and investment strategy, the price levels of the Shares, conditions in the securities markets and general economic and industry conditions, the Reporting Persons may in the future take such actions with respect to their investment in the Issuer as they deem appropriate including, without limitation, engaging in additional private communications with management and the Board in accordance with the terms of the Exemption Agreement. The Reporting Persons may purchase additional Shares, sell some or all of their Shares, engage in short selling of or hedge or similar transaction with respect to the Shares, or change their intention with respect to any and all matters referred to in Item 4.

7

CUSIP NO. 05335B100

Item 5.Interest in Securities of the Issuer.

The aggregate percentage of Shares reported owned by each person named herein is based upon 12,948,950 Shares outstanding as of November 5, 2018, which is the total number of Shares outstanding as reported in the Issuer’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 8, 2018.

(a)                As of the close of business on the date hereof, the 18999 Trust directly beneficially owned 918,024 Shares, including 30,000 Shares underlying certain call options, constituting approximately 7.1% of the outstanding Shares.

As of the close of business on the date hereof, Mr. Negari directly owned 48 Shares, constituting less than 1% of the outstanding Shares. Mr. Negari, as trustee of the 18999 Trust, may be deemed to beneficially own the 918,024 Shares beneficially owned by the 18999 Trust, which, together with the 48 Shares he directly owns, constitutes approximately 7.1% of the Shares outstanding.

As of the close of business on the date hereof, the Insight Trust directly owned 122,758 Shares, constituting less than 1% of the outstanding Shares. Mr. Ambrose, as trustee of the Insight Trust, may be deemed to beneficially own the 122,758 Shares beneficially owned by the Insight Trust, constituting less than 1% of the outstanding Shares.

An aggregate of 1,040,830 Shares, constituting approximately 8.0% of the Shares outstanding, are reported in this Schedule 13D.

The Reporting Persons, as members of a “group” for the purposes of Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, may be deemed the beneficial owner of the Shares directly owned by the other Reporting Persons. Each of the Reporting Persons specifically disclaims beneficial ownership of the securities reported herein that he or it does not directly own.

(b)               Each of the 18999 Trust and Mr. Negari share the power to vote or direct the vote of, and to dispose or direct the disposition of, the Shares owned by the 18999 Trust.

Mr. Negari has the sole power to vote and dispose of the Shares directly owned by him.

Each of the Insight Trust and Mr. Ambrose share the power to vote or direct the vote of, and to dispose or direct the disposition of, the Shares owned by the Insight Trust.

(c)                Schedule A annexed hereto lists all transactions in the securities of the Issuer by the Reporting Persons during the past 60 days. All of such transactions were effected in the open market.

(d)               No person other than the Reporting Persons is known to have the right to receive, or the power to direct the receipt of dividends from, or proceeds from the sale of, the Shares.

(e)                Not applicable.

8

CUSIP NO. 05335B100

Item 6.Contracts, Arrangements, Understandings or Relationships With Respect to Securities of the Issuer.

On November 30, 2018, the Reporting Persons and the Issuer entered into the Exemption Agreement as defined and described in Item 4 above and attached as Exhibit 99.1 hereto.

The 18999 Trust has purchased in the over-the-counter market American-style call options referencing an aggregate of 30,000 Shares, which have an exercise price of $2.50 per Share and expire on January 18, 2019.

On December 14, 2018, the Reporting Persons entered into a Joint Filing Agreement in which the Reporting Persons agreed to the joint filing on behalf of each of them of statements on Schedule 13D with respect to the securities of the Issuer to the extent required by applicable law. The Joint Filing Agreement is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.2 and is incorporated herein by reference.

Other than as described herein, there are no contracts, arrangements, understandings or relationships among the Reporting Persons, or between the Reporting Persons and any other person, with respect to the securities of the Issuer.

Item 7.Material to be Filed as Exhibits.
99.1Tax Benefit Preservation Plan Exemption Agreement, November 30, 2018.
99.2Joint Filing Agreement, dated December 14, 2018.

9

CUSIP NO. 05335B100

SIGNATURES

After reasonable inquiry and to the best of his knowledge and belief, the undersigned certifies that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.

Dated: December 14, 2018

 

  The 1 8 999 Trust
   
  By:

/s/ Daniel M. Negari

    Name: Daniel M. Negari
    Title: Trustee

 

 

  /s/ Daniel M. Negari
  Daniel M. Negari

 

 

  The Insight Trust
   
  By:

/s/ Michael R. Ambrose

    Name: Michael R. Ambrose
    Title: Trustee

 

 

  /s/ Michael R. Ambrose
  Michael R. Ambrose

 

10

CUSIP NO. 05335B100

 

SCHEDULE A

Transactions in the Securities of the Issuer During the Past 60 Days

Nature of the Transaction

Amount of Securities

Purchased/(Sold)

Price ($)

Date of

Purchase/Sale

 

the 1 8 999 trust

 

Purchase of Common Stock 42,900 2.5000 10/19/2018
Purchase of Common Stock 30,000 2.0000 12/04/2018
Purchase of Common Stock 30,000 2.0000 12/04/2018
Purchase of Common Stock 25,000 2.0000 12/04/2018
Purchase of Common Stock 30,000 2.0000 12/04/2018
Purchase of Common Stock 21,825 2.0000 12/04/2018
Purchase of Common Stock 29,858 2.0000 12/04/2018
Purchase of Common Stock 30,000 2.0000 12/04/2018
Purchase of Common Stock 30,000 2.0000 12/06/2018
Purchase of Common Stock 30,000 2.0000 12/06/2018
Purchase of Common Stock 8,175 2.0000 12/06/2018
Purchase of Common Stock 142 2.0000 12/06/2018
Purchase of Common Stock 19,600 2.0000 12/06/2018
Purchase of Common Stock 27,400 2.0000 12/06/2018
Purchase of Common Stock 10,400 2.0000 12/07/2018
Purchase of Common Stock 2,600 2.0000 12/07/2018

 

michael r. ambrose

 

Purchase of Common Stock 10,908 1.9900 12/06/2018
Purchase of Common Stock 10,000 2.2900 12/12/2018
Purchase of Common Stock 30,000 2.2800 12/12/2018
Purchase of Common Stock 10,000 2.1200 12/12/2018
Purchase of Common Stock 10,000 2.2000 12/12/2018
Purchase of Common Stock 153 2.1600 12/12/2018
Purchase of Common Stock 382 2.2000 12/12/2018
Purchase of Common Stock 3,200 2.2900 12/12/2018
Purchase of Common Stock 317 2.1400 12/12/2018
Purchase of Common Stock 900 2.3300 12/13/2018
Purchase of Common Stock 600 2.3300 12/13/2018
Purchase of Common Stock 500 2.3300 12/13/2018
Purchase of Common Stock 900 2.3300 12/13/2018
Purchase of Common Stock 600 2.3300 12/13/2018
Purchase of Common Stock 5,000 2.3300 12/13/2018
Purchase of Common Stock 800 2.3300 12/13/2018
Purchase of Common Stock 600 2.3300 12/13/2018
Purchase of Common Stock 1,800 2.3400 12/13/2018
Purchase of Common Stock 1,000 2.3400 12/13/2018
Purchase of Common Stock 500 2.3400 12/13/2018
Purchase of Common Stock 2,000 2.3000 12/13/2018
Purchase of Common Stock 1,000 2.3400 12/13/2018
Purchase of Common Stock 900 2.3400 12/13/2018
Purchase of Common Stock 900 2.3400 12/13/2018
Purchase of Common Stock 900 2.3400 12/13/2018

 

 

EX-99.1 2 ex991to13d10701003_12142018.htm TAX BENEFIT PRESERVATION PLAN EXEMPTION AGREEMENT

Exhibit 99.1

 

Tax Benefit Preservation Plan Exemption Agreement

This Tax Benefit Preservation Plan Exemption Agreement (“Agreement”) is made and entered into on and as of November 30, 2018 (“Effective Date”), by and between AutoWeb, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Company”), and each of the Requesting Persons (as such term is defined below).

Background Facts

Effective as of May 26, 2010, the Company adopted a Tax Benefit Preservation Plan, which plan was amended by Amendment No. 1 to Tax Benefit Preservation Plan dated as of April 14, 2014 and by Amendment No. 2 to Tax Benefit Preservation Plan dated April 13, 2017 and the rights thereunder adjusted by that Certificate of Adjustment dated as of July 12, 2012 (the original plan, as amended and adjusted, is collectively referred to herein as the “Plan”; capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the definitions given in the Plan). The Board of Directors of the Company (“Board”) adopted the Plan to protect stockholder value by preserving important tax assets. The Company has generated substantial net operating loss carryovers and other tax attributes for United States federal income tax purposes (“Tax Benefits”) that can generally be used to offset future taxable income and therefore reduce federal income tax obligations. However, the Company’s ability to use the Tax Benefits will be adversely affected if there is an “ownership change” of the Company as defined under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code (“Section 382”). In general, an ownership change will occur if the Company’s Section 382 5% Shareholders (as defined below) collectively increase their ownership in the Company by more than 50% over a rolling three-year period. The Plan was adopted to reduce the likelihood that the Company’s use of its Tax Benefits could be substantially limited under Section 382. The Plan is intended to deter any Person from becoming an Acquiring Person and thereby jeopardizing the Company’s Tax Benefits. In general, an Acquiring Person is any Person, itself or together with all Affiliates of such Person, that becomes the Beneficial Owner of 4.9% or more of the Company’s outstanding Common Stock. Under the Plan, the Board may, in its sole discretion, exempt any person from being deemed an Acquiring Person for purposes of the Plan if the Board determines that such person’s ownership of Common Stock will not be likely to directly or indirectly limit the availability of the Company’s Tax Benefits or is otherwise in the best interests of the Company.  The Board shall not have any obligation, implied or otherwise, to grant such an exemption.

 

The Initial Requesting Persons (as defined below) have informed the Company that as of the Effective Date, the Initial Requesting Persons, together with all of their respective Affiliates and Associates, Beneficially Own the Current Beneficially Owned Shares. In the Plan Exemption Request Letter, the Initial Requesting Persons have requested that the Initial Requesting Persons be considered for a Plan Exemption to acquire Beneficial Ownership of additional shares of Common Stock.

 

 

 

 

The Board has considered the Initial Requesting Persons’ request and is prepared to grant the Requesting Persons a Plan Exemption pursuant to this Agreement to acquire shares of Common Stock in excess of the Current Beneficially Owned Shares, provided that the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock Beneficially Owned by the Requesting Persons and any of their respective Affiliates and Associates does not collectively exceed the Plan Exemption Limit at the time of the acquisition of Beneficial Ownership of the additional shares of Common Stock, subject to and in reliance upon the Requesting Persons entering into this Agreement and the Requesting Persons and their respective Affiliates and Associates remaining in compliance with the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.

 

In consideration of the representations, warranties, covenants and agreements set forth in this Agreement, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereby agree as follows:

 

Article I
Definitions

For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth in this Section 1.

Additional Beneficially Owned Shares Acquisition Window Expiration Date” means the three-month anniversary of the Effective Date.

Associate” shall be as defined in the Plan.

Beneficial Ownership” shall be as determined pursuant to the Plan.

Beneficial Ownership Schedule” means Exhibit A attached hereto.

 

Beneficially Own” shall be as defined in the Plan.

Beneficially Owned Shares” means all issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock that the Requesting Persons and any of their respective Affiliates or Associates are collectively deemed to Beneficially Own from time to time. In the event of any change in the number of issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock (including by reason of any stock split, reverse split, stock dividend (including any dividend or distribution of securities convertible into shares of Common Stock), combination, reorganization, recapitalization or other like change, conversion or exchange of shares, or any other change in the corporate or capital structure of the Company), the term “Beneficially Owned Shares” shall be deemed to refer to and include the Beneficially Owned Shares as well as all such stock dividends and distributions and any shares of capital stock into which or for which any or all of the Shares may be changed or exchanged.


Company Acquisition Transaction” means (i) the commencement (within the meaning of Rule 14d-2 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act) of a tender or exchange offer for at least 4.9% of the then outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company or any direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Company, (ii) the commencement of a proxy solicitation with respect to the election of any directors of the Company or with respect to any transaction under clauses (iii) or (iv) of this definition, (iii) any sale, license, lease, exchange, transfer, disposition or acquisition of any portion of the business or assets of the Company or any direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Company (other than in the ordinary course of business), or (iv) any merger, consolidation, business combination, share exchange, reorganization, recapitalization, restructuring, liquidation, dissolution or similar transaction or series of related transactions involving the Company or any direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Company.

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Current Beneficially Owned Shares” means the 621,970 shares of Common Stock Beneficially Owned by the Initial Requesting Persons and their respective Affiliates and Associates as set forth on the Beneficial Ownership Schedule.

 

Electronic Transmission” means a communication (i) delivered by facsimile, telecommunication or electronic mail when directed to the facsimile number of record or electronic mail address of record, respectively, which the intended recipient has provided to the other party for sending notices pursuant to the Agreement and (ii) that creates a record of delivery and receipt that is capable of retention, retrieval, and review, and that may thereafter be rendered into clearly legible tangible form.

 

Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

“Exemption Shares” shall mean the number of Beneficially Owned Shares that exceeds the number of shares of Common Stock that equals (i) the number of shares of Common Stock that equals 4.9% of the shares of Common Stock outstanding as of the Effective Date minus (ii) one (1) share of Common Stock.

Group” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act and Rule 13d-5 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act.

 

Irrevocable Proxy” means a proxy in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B.

 

Initial Requesting Persons” means the Requesting Persons who are signatories to this Agreement as of the Effective Date.

 

“Person” shall be as defined in the Plan.

 

Plan Exemption” shall mean a grant by the Board contemplated by Section 30 of the Plan to a Requesting Person (as defined in the Plan) of authority to engage in an Exempt Transaction (as defined in the Plan).

 

Plan Exemption Limit” means 1,942,342 shares of Common Stock, representing approximately fifteen percent (15.0%) of the Company’s outstanding Common Stock as of the Effective Date.

 

Plan Exemption Request Letter” means the letter dated October 24, 2018 from Negari and Ambrose to the Company (which was received by the Company by certified mail on October 29, 2018), as attached hereto as Exhibit C.

 

Requesting Persons” means Daniel M. Negari (“Negari”), The 1 8 999 Trust, a trust organized under the laws of Nevada (“The 1 8 999 Trust”), Michael R. Ambrose (“Ambrose”) and The Insight Trust, a trust organized under the laws of Nevada (“The Insight Trust”), and all other direct or beneficial holders of Common Stock (as hereinafter defined) of the Company that may become parties to this Agreement in the future in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

 

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Section 382 5% Shareholder” means a “5-percent shareholder” as defined under Section 382 and the rules and regulations thereunder.

 

SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Subsidiary” of any Person shall mean any corporation or other entity of which a majority of the voting power of the voting equity securities or equity interest is owned, directly or indirectly, by such Person.

 

Article II

Standstill and Grant of Plan Exemption

 

2.1Standstill Provisions.

(a)Unless and until this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 6.2, and except (i) pursuant to a negotiated transaction approved by the Board; or (ii) as may otherwise be approved by the Board, no Requesting Person will, and each Requesting Person will cause their respective Affiliates and Associates to not, in any manner, directly or indirectly:

(i) make, effect, initiate, cause or participate in (1) any acquisition of Beneficial Ownership of any securities of the Company or any securities of any Subsidiary or other Affiliate or Associate of the Company (except such transfers between Requesting Persons in compliance with Section 2.2), (2) any Company Acquisition Transaction, or (3) any “solicitation” of “proxies” (as those terms are defined in Rule 14a-1 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act) or consents with respect to any securities of the Company; provided, the parties acknowledge that (x) no Requesting Person nor any of their respective Affiliates and Associates shall be deemed to make, effect, initiate, cause or participate in any acquisition of Beneficial Ownership under subclause (1) of this clause 2.1(i) solely by reason of engaging in any event permitted by Section 2.3; (y) no Requesting Person nor any of their respective Affiliates and Associates shall be deemed to make, effect, initiate, cause or participate in any Company Acquisition Transaction under subclause (2) of this clause 2.1(i) or any solicitation of proxies under subclause (3) of this clause 2.1(i) solely by reason of a Requesting Person or such Requesting Person’s Affiliates and Associates voting its Shares in compliance with Section 3.1(a); and (z) no Requesting Person nor any of their respective Affiliates and Associates shall be deemed to make, effect, initiate, cause or participate in any solicitation of proxies under subclause (3) of this clause 2.1(i) solely by reason of any solicitation of a proxy, agreement or understanding from a Requesting Person or any of such Requesting Persons Affiliates and Associates regarding the voting of the Beneficially Owned Shares in compliance with Sections 3.1(a) and 3.1(b);

(ii) nominate or seek to nominate any person to the Board or otherwise act, alone or in concert with others, to seek to control or influence the management, Board or policies of the Company; provided that a Requesting Person may seek privately with the Board or the Company’s Chief Executive Officer to influence the decisions made by the existing management or Board of the Company in a manner (1) that is not disclosed publicly and (2) that would not force the Company to make a public announcement regarding such influence.

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(iii) take any action which might force the Company to make a public announcement regarding any of the types of matters set forth in clause (i) of this Section 2.1;

(iv) request or propose that the Company (or its directors, officers, employees or agents), directly or indirectly, amend or waive any provision of this Section 2.1, including this subsection 2.1(iv), unless such request or proposal is made privately to the Board in a manner (1) that is not disclosed publicly and (2) that would not force the Company to make a public announcement regarding such request or proposal;

(v) agree or offer to take, or encourage or propose (publicly or otherwise) the taking of, any action referred to in clauses (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) of this Section 2.1;

(vi) assist, induce or encourage any other Person to take any action referred to in clauses (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) of this Section 2.1; or

(vii) enter into any discussions or arrangements with any third party with respect to the taking of any action referred to in clauses (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) of this Section 2.1.

(b)Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of Section 2.1(a), the Requesting Persons and their respective Affiliates and Associates may from time to time in one or more transactions acquire Beneficial Ownership of additional shares of Common Stock (“Additional Beneficially Owned Shares”) in excess of the Current Beneficially Owned Shares, provided that (i) the collective Beneficial Ownership of Requesting Persons and their respective Affiliates and Associates does not exceed the Plan Exemption Limit at the time of the acquisition of Beneficial Ownership of Additional Beneficially Owned Shares; (ii) Requesting Persons and their respective Affiliates and Associates are in compliance with all of the provisions of this Agreement as of the acquisition date of any Additional Beneficially Owned Shares; (iii) the representations and warranties of Requesting Persons and their respective Affiliates and Associates in this Agreement shall be true, accurate and complete as if made as of the date of any such acquisition of Additional Shares; (iv) the acquisition of Additional Shares would not result in any Person who is not the Requesting Persons and their respective Affiliates and Associates, individually or collectively, constituting a Section 382 5% Shareholder; and (v) the acquisition of the Additional Beneficially Owned Shares is completed prior to the Additional Beneficially Owned Shares Acquisition Window Expiration Date. Additional Beneficially Owned Shares may not be acquired after the Additional Beneficially Owned Shares Acquisition Window Expiration Date. Any acquisition of additional shares of Common Stock by the Requesting Persons or their respective Affiliates or Associates (i) will not be made with the purpose or the effect of changing or influencing the control of the Company, and (ii) will not be made in connection with (and neither Requesting Person nor any of their respective Affiliates and Associates will be a participant in) any transaction having such purpose or effect.

 

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(c)The Requesting Persons and their respective Affiliates and Associates shall not be required to divest shares of Common Stock solely as the result of any decrease in the number of issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock (including by reason of any reverse stock split or repurchase and retirement of shares of Common Stock), even if such change causes Requesting Persons and their respective Affiliates and Associates to Beneficially Own shares of Common Stock in excess of the Plan Exemption Limit (either individually or in the aggregate).

 

2.2Section 382 Compliance. Unless and until this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 6.2, no direct or indirect transfers of shares of Common Stock between and among Requesting Persons and their respective Affiliates and Associates shall be permitted if, as a result of any such transfer, any Requesting Person or any of their respective Affiliates and Associates shall become the Beneficial Owner of shares of Common Stock in an amount that would result in such Person being a Section 382 5% Shareholder of the Company.

2.3Transfers of Common Stock. Unless and until this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 6.2, no Requesting Person nor any Requesting Person’s Affiliates and Associates will sell or otherwise transfer any Beneficial Ownership in any shares of Common Stock to any Person not a party to this Agreement except:

(i)in open market transactions on The Nasdaq Capital Market or on such principal stock exchange as the Common Stock is then listed for trading; or if the Common Stock is not listed on any stock exchange at the time, then in transactions effected through trading on an inter-dealer quotation system if the Common Stock is then quoted on such a system, and if not, then through trading on over-the-counter bulletin boards or “pink sheets;” or

(ii)in private transactions and only if any such private transaction is not to any Person or Group that the Requesting Persons or their respective Affiliates and Associates reasonably believes after due inquiry Beneficially Owns or as a result of such transaction would Beneficially Own 4.9% or more of the Company’s then outstanding Common Stock.

2.4Grant of Plan Exemption. Subject to and in reliance upon the representations, warranties and obligations of the Requesting Persons under this Agreement and in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Board has granted the Initial Requesting Persons a Plan Exemption. As long as the Requesting Persons and their respective Affiliates and Associates remain in full compliance with this Agreement, the Company shall maintain the Plan Exemption in effect. The Plan Exemption granted by the Board shall continue for only so long as the Requesting Persons and their respective Affiliates and Associates are in compliance with the terms of this Agreement. If the Requesting Persons and their respective Affiliates and Associates violate any provision herein, then the Board shall have the right, in its sole discretion, to revoke the Plan Exemption, upon which the Requesting Persons and their respective Affiliates and Associates shall be an Acquiring Person as defined in and for purposes of the Plan if the Requesting Persons and their respective Affiliates and Associates otherwise meets the requirements to be deemed an Acquiring Person at such time.

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2.5Exchange Act Filings. In the event that any Requesting Person or any Requesting Person’s Affiliates and Associates files any schedule, form or report under (i) Section 13 of the Exchange Act with the SEC indicating that such Person is the beneficial owner (as the term “beneficial ownership” is defined by Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of more than five percent (5%) of the outstanding Common Stock or (ii) Section 16 of the Exchange Act with the SEC indicating that such Person is the beneficial owner (as the term “beneficial ownership” is defined by Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of more than ten percent (10%) of the outstanding Common Stock, the Requesting Persons and their respective Affiliates and Associates agree to cooperate with the Company upon the Company’s reasonable request for information from the Requesting Persons and their respective Affiliates and Associates regarding the beneficial ownership structure and interest percentage in Common Stock held by the Requesting Persons and their respective Affiliates and Associates. 

2.6Additional Beneficially Owned Shares and Additional Requesting Persons.

 

(a)Any shares of Common Stock Beneficially Owned by the Requesting Persons and their respective Affiliates and Associates, the Beneficial Ownership of which was acquired on or after the Effective Date and before the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 6.2, shall be subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement to the same extent as if they constituted Beneficially Owned Shares as of the Effective Date.

 

(b)If, during the period commencing on the Effective Date and continuing until this Agreement terminates pursuant to Section 6.2, any Affiliate or Associate of a Requesting Person who is not already a holder of Current Beneficially Owned Shares as of the Effective Date and a party to this Agreement acquires Beneficial Ownership of shares of Common Stock, then the Requesting Persons and their respective Affiliates and Associates of which the Person is an Affiliate or Associate shall cause the Person to become a party to this Agreement and agree to be bound by and subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement as a Requesting Person by executing and delivering a joinder and counterpart signature page hereto and an Irrevocable Proxy.

 

2.7Reporting of Changes in Beneficial Ownership. Within five (5) days after the Additional Beneficially Owned Shares Acquisition Window Expiration Date and thereafter within five (5) days after the end of any month in which a change in Beneficially Owned Shares occurs, or at such other times as the Company may request, the Requesting Persons will deliver to the Company a description of the changes in Beneficially Owned Shares and the then-current Beneficial Ownership of shares of Common Stock by the Requesting Persons and their Affiliates and Associates, accompanied by an updated Beneficial Ownership Schedule reflecting such new Beneficial Ownership. In addition, at any time the Requesting Persons and their respective Affiliates and Associates collectively Beneficially Own less than 4.9% of the then-outstanding shares of Common Stock, the Requesting Persons will deliver to the Company a certification executed by the Requesting Persons, certifying that the Requesting Persons and their respective Affiliates and Associates collectively Beneficially Own less than 4.9% of the then-outstanding shares of Common Stock.

 

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Article III

Voting of Exemption Shares

 

3.1Agreement to Vote Exemption Shares.

(a) The Requesting Persons, on their own behalf and on behalf of their respective Affiliates and Associates, hereby covenant and agree, jointly and severally, that during the period commencing on the date hereof and continuing until this Agreement terminates pursuant to Section 6.2, at any meeting (whether annual or special and whether or not an adjourned or postponed meeting) of the stockholders of the Company, and in any action by written consent of the stockholders of the Company, the Requesting Persons and their respective Affiliates and Associates shall (i) appear at the meeting or otherwise cause any and all Exemption Shares to be counted as present thereat for purposes of establishing a quorum, and (ii) vote (or cause to be voted) any and all Exemption Shares with respect to any matter at any meeting (whether annual or special and whether or not an adjourned or postponed meeting) of stockholders of the Company, and in any action by written consent of the stockholders of the Company, in the same proportion (for or against) as the shares actually voted for or against such matter by the stockholders of the Company other than the Requesting Persons and their respective Affiliates and Associates. The Requesting Persons and their respective Affiliates and Associates hereby further agree not to enter into any proxy, agreement or understanding with any person or entity the effect of which would be materially inconsistent with or violative of any provision contained in this Section 3.1.

(b) The parties acknowledge that the Requesting Persons and their respective Affiliates and Associates may grant a proxy or enter into an agreement or understanding with another Requesting Person for the purposes of voting shares of Common Stock as long as (i) the shares that are the subject of any such proxy, agreement or understanding are voted in compliance with the provisions of this Section 3.1 and 3.2; (ii) any such proxy, agreement or understanding will not have the effect of superseding or revoking the Irrevocable Proxy granted by the Requesting Persons and their respective Affiliates and Associates under Section 3.2 and shall be subject and subordinate to the exercise of such proxy pursuant to Section 3.2; and (iii) the granting of such proxy or entering into such an agreement or understanding would not result in any Requesting Person other than the Initial Requesting Persons being a Section 382 5% Shareholder of the Company.

3.2Irrevocable Proxy. Concurrently with the execution of this Agreement, each of the Initial Requesting Persons have delivered to the Company an Irrevocable Proxy, which shall be irrevocable to the fullest extent permissible by law, with respect to the Exemption Shares, subject to the other terms of this Agreement. The Proxyholders (as defined in the Irrevocable Proxy) shall be entitled to exercise the rights granted to them in the Irrevocable Proxy in order to vote the Exemption Shares in the event and to the extent that the Requesting Persons and their respective Affiliates and Associates fail to vote the Exemption Shares in accordance with Section 3.1. The Requesting Persons and their respective Affiliates and Associates represents, covenant and agree that, except for (i) the Irrevocable Proxy granted pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 3.2; (ii) any proxy granted by the Requesting Persons and their respective Affiliates and Associates to another Requesting Person in compliance with Section 3.1(b); (iii) any proxy or other voting agreement or understanding granted or entered into by the Requesting Persons or their respective Affiliates and Associates to or with the Company’s Board, the Company or any officer thereof; (iv) any proxy or other voting agreement or understanding granted or entered into by the Requesting Persons or their respective Affiliates and Associates with the approval of the Board; or (v) as contemplated by this Agreement: (1) neither the Requesting Persons nor any of their respective Affiliates and Associates shall, during the period commencing on the Effective Date and continuing until this Agreement terminates pursuant to Section 6.2, grant any proxy or power of attorney, or deposit any Shares into a voting trust or enter into a voting agreement or other voting arrangement, with respect to the voting of the Shares (each a “Voting Proxy”), and (2) neither the Requesting Persons nor their respective Affiliates and Associates has granted, entered into or otherwise created any Voting Proxy which is currently (or which will hereafter become) effective, and if any Voting Proxy has been created, such Voting Proxy is hereby revoked.

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Article IV

Representations and Warranties of Requesting Persons

 

Each Requesting Person, upon becoming a party to this Agreement, hereby makes the following representations and warranties, severally and not jointly (except in the case of Sections 4.4, 4.5, 4.6, and 4.7, which representations and warranties are made jointly and severally by the Requesting Persons):

4.1Authority; Validity. The Requesting Person has all requisite capacity, power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. The execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Requesting Person and the consummation by the Requesting Person of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly and validly authorized by all necessary action on the part of the Requesting Person. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Requesting Person. If this Agreement is being executed in a representative or fiduciary capacity with respect to the Requesting Person, the person signing this Agreement has full power and authority to enter into and perform this Agreement.

4.2Non-Contravention. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement does not, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and compliance with the provisions hereof will not, contravene, conflict with, or result in any violation of, breach of, or default by (with or without notice or lapse of time, or both) the Requesting Person under, or give rise to a right of termination, cancellation or acceleration of any obligation under, or result in the creation of any encumbrance upon any of the properties or assets of the Requesting Person or of any of the Requesting Person’s Affiliates or Associates under, any provision of (i) any loan or credit agreement, note, bond, mortgage, indenture, lease or other agreement, instrument, permit, concession, franchise or license applicable to the Requesting Person or any of the Requesting Person’s Affiliates or Associates or to which the Requesting Person or any of the Requesting Person’s Affiliates or Associates is a party, or (ii) any judgment, order, decree, statute, law, ordinance, injunction, rule or regulation applicable to the Requesting Person or any of the Requesting Person’s Affiliates or Associates or any of a Requesting Person’s or any of the such Requesting Person’s Affiliates or Associates’ properties or assets, other than any such conflicts, violations, defaults, rights, or encumbrances that, individually or in the aggregate, would not impair the ability of the Requesting Person or any of the Requesting Person’s Affiliates or Associates to perform the Requesting Person’s or any of the Requesting Person’s Affiliates or Associates’ obligations hereunder or prevent, limit or restrict in any respect the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated hereby.

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4.3Litigation. As of the date hereof, there is no action pending, or to the knowledge of any Requesting Person or any of the Requesting Person’s Affiliates or Associates, threatened with respect to the Requesting Person’s or the Requesting Person’s Affiliates’ or Associates’ ownership of shares of Common Stock, nor is there any judgment, decree, injunction or order of any applicable governmental entity or arbitrator outstanding which would prevent the carrying out by the Requesting Person and the Requesting Person’s Affiliates or Associates of their respective obligations under this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby, declare unlawful the transactions contemplated hereby or cause such transactions to be rescinded.

4.4Beneficial Ownership. As of the Effective Date, the number of shares of Common Stock set forth on the Beneficial Ownership Schedule are the only shares of Common Stock Beneficially Owned by the Requesting Persons or any of their respective Affiliates or Associates. On and as of the Effective Date, the shares of Common Stock listed on the Beneficial Ownership Schedule are free and clear of any encumbrances that, individually or in the aggregate, would impair the ability of the Requesting Persons and their respective Affiliates and Associates to perform their respective obligations under this Agreement or prevent, limit or restrict in any respect the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated hereby. Neither Requesting Person nor any Affiliate or Associate of either Requesting Person Beneficially Owns 4.9% or more of the outstanding Common Stock of the Company for purposes of Section 382 as of the Effective Date, and no investor in, or beneficial owner of, either Requesting Person or in any Affiliate or Associate of either Requesting Person, on a look-through basis for purposes of Section 382, Beneficially Owns 4.9% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock as of the Effective Date.

4.5Acquisition of Shares. The Current Beneficially Owned Shares were not acquired for the purpose or with the intention of causing the Requesting Persons or any of their respective Affiliates or Associates (whether collectively or individually) to become an Acquiring Person.

4.6Reliance. The Requesting Persons and their respective Affiliates and Associates acknowledge that the Company is relying on truth and accuracy of the statements, representations, warranties, covenants and information contained herein and in the Plan Exemption Request Letter for purposes of granting the Plan Exemption set forth in this Agreement.

4.7No Influence or Control. The Requesting Persons and their respective Affiliates and Associates: (i) have acquired the Current Beneficially Owned Shares in the ordinary course of their respective businesses, (ii) as of the Effective Date, do not Beneficially Own the Current Beneficially Owned Shares with the purpose or the effect of changing or influencing the control of the Company (except to the extent permitted by Section 2.1(a)(ii) of this Agreement), and (iii) as of the Effective Date, do not Beneficially Own the Current Beneficially Owned Shares in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having such purpose or effect. As of the Effective Date, the Requesting Persons and their respective Affiliates and Associates collectively represent that the Requesting Persons and their respective Affiliates and Associates do not have any knowledge that any third party is currently engaged in undertaking, or has any intention or plan to undertake, a Company Acquisition Transaction.

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Article V

Representations and Warranties of the Company

 

The Company represents and warrants to the Requesting Persons that:

5.1Authority; Validity. The Company has all requisite capacity, power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. The execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company and the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly and validly authorized by all necessary action on the part of the Company. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Company. If this Agreement is being executed in a representative or fiduciary capacity with respect to the Company, the person signing this Agreement has full power and authority to enter into and perform this Agreement.

5.2Non-Contravention. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement does not, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and compliance with the provisions hereof will not, (i) require the Company to obtain the consent or approval of any governmental entity, (ii) require the consent or approval of any other person pursuant to any agreement, obligation or instrument binding on the Company or its properties and assets, (iii) conflict with or violate any organizational document or law, rule, regulation, order, judgment or decree applicable to the Company or pursuant to which any of its assets are bound, or (iv) violate any other material agreement to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party.

Article VI

Effectiveness; Termination; Survival

 

6.1Effectiveness. This Agreement shall become effective upon its execution by each of the Requesting Persons and the Company.

6.2Termination. This Agreement, and the obligations of the Requesting Persons and their respective Affiliates and Associates hereunder, including, without limitation, the Requesting Persons’and their respective Affiliates’ and Associates’ obligations under Article II and Article III shall terminate: (i) at any time by written consent of the Requesting Persons and the Company, (ii) automatically upon the termination of the Plan, whether by the Board or upon its own terms, unless a substitute or successor tax benefit preservation or other stockholder rights plan is implemented, in which case this Agreement shall not terminate, and (iii) automatically without any further action by the parties hereto, at such time as the Requesting Persons and their respective Affiliates and Associates (together with their respective Affiliates and Associates) collectively Beneficially Own less than 4.9% of the then-outstanding shares of Common Stock.

6.3New Exemption Agreements. In the event that this Agreement is terminated in accordance with Section 6.2 and the Requesting Persons or any of their respective Affiliates and Associates (whether collectively or individually) are again deemed to Beneficially Own 4.9% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, then, should the Board again exercise its discretionary authority under the Plan to grant the Requesting Persons or any of their respective Affiliates and Associates another Plan Exemption (which the Board is not obligated to grant), the Requesting Persons and their respective Affiliates and Associates (to the extent they Beneficially Own Shares at that time) agree (and agree to compel their respective Affiliates and Associates, as applicable) to enter into an exemption agreement with the Company on substantially the same terms as set forth herein. In addition, to the extent that the Plan is terminated (whether by the Board or upon its own terms) and replaced by a new tax benefit preservation or stockholder rights plan, then, at the request of the Company, the Requesting Persons and their respective Affiliates and Associates agree (and agree to compel their respective Affiliates and Associates, as applicable) to enter into a new exemption agreement on substantially the same terms as this Agreement should the Board again exercise its discretionary authority under a new plan to grant the Requesting Persons or any of their respective Affiliates and Associates another plan exemption (which the Board is not obligated to grant).

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6.4Survival. Section 6.3 and Article VII shall survive the termination of this Agreement for any reason.

Article VII

General Provisions

 

7.1Entire Agreement. This Agreement, including the Exhibits attached hereto, and the Irrevocable Proxy granted hereunder, all of which are hereby incorporated by reference, constitutes the complete and exclusive statement of agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all prior negotiations, correspondence, agreements, communications, understandings, duties or obligations of any kind by and between the parties, whether written or oral, respecting the subject matter hereof.

 

7.2Amendments and Waivers. This Agreement may be amended, modified, superseded, or cancelled, and the terms and conditions hereof may be waived, only by a written instrument signed by the parties hereto or, in the case of a waiver, by the party waiving compliance. No delay on the part of any party in exercising any right, power, or privilege hereunder will operate as a waiver thereof, nor will any waiver on the part of any party of any right hereunder, nor any single or partial exercise of any rights hereunder, preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right hereunder.

 

7.3Assignment. No party may assign or otherwise transfer or delegate this Agreement or any of a party’s rights, duties or obligations under this Agreement to another person or entity without the prior written consent of the other parties. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement may be assigned or transferred by the Company to any person or entity that succeeds the Company by operation of law or that controls, is controlled by or is under common control of the Company without the consent of the other parties. Nothing herein will prohibit or restrict a change of control of the Company or any person or entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with the Company or require the consent of the other parties to any assignment or transfer of this Agreement in connection with any change of control. This Agreement will be binding on and inure to the benefit of each party hereto and to each party's respective permitted successors and assigns.

 

7.4Notices. Any notice required or permitted under this Agreement will be considered to be effective in the case of (i) certified mail, when sent postage prepaid and addressed to the party for whom it is intended at its address of record, three (3) days after deposit in the mail; (ii) by courier or messenger service, upon receipt by recipient as indicated on the courier's receipt; or (iii) upon receipt of an Electronic Transmission by the party that is the intended recipient of the Electronic Transmission. The record addresses, facsimile numbers of record, and electronic mail addresses of record for the parties are set forth on the signature page to this Agreement and may be changed from time to time by notice from the changing party to the other party pursuant to the provisions of this Section 7.4.

 

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7.5Public Disclosures. Except as may be required, as determined in good faith by the disclosing party, by applicable law, rules, regulations or orders or the rules of any securities exchange or market, neither party will make any public statement or release concerning this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except for such written information as has been approved in advance in writing as to form and content by the other party, which approval will not be unreasonably withheld. Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither party shall have the right to review or approve any filings or furnished disclosure or other public disclosures that the other party determines in good faith are reasonably required to be made (i) with the SEC, any other governmental agency, or any securities exchange or market or (ii) by means of a press release, website postings or other publicly available means of distribution.

 

7.6Further Assurances. Subject to the terms of this Agreement, from time to time, the Requesting Persons and their respective Affiliates and Associates shall execute and deliver such additional documents and use commercially reasonable efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all such further actions, and to do or cause to be done, all things reasonably necessary, proper or advisable under applicable laws and regulations to consummate and make effective the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

7.7Choice of Law. This Agreement, its construction and the determination of any rights, duties or remedies of the parties arising out of or relating to this Agreement will be governed by, enforced under and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, regardless of the laws that might otherwise govern under applicable principles of conflicts of laws of such state.

 

7.9Severability. Each term, covenant, condition, or provision of this Agreement will be viewed as separate and distinct, and in the event that any such term, covenant, condition or provision will be deemed to be invalid or unenforceable, the arbitrator or court finding such invalidity or unenforceability will modify or reform this Agreement to give as much effect as possible to the terms and provisions of this Agreement. Any term or provision which cannot be so modified or reformed will be deleted and the remaining terms and provisions will continue in full force and effect.

 

7.10Interpretation. Every provision of this Agreement is the result of full negotiations between the parties, both of whom have either been represented by counsel throughout or otherwise been given an opportunity to seek the aid of counsel. Each party hereto further agrees and acknowledges that it is sophisticated in legal affairs and has reviewed this Agreement in detail. Accordingly, no provision of this Agreement shall be construed in favor of or against any of the parties hereto by reason of the extent to which any such party or its counsel participated in the drafting thereof. Captions and headings of sections contained in this Agreement are for convenience only and shall not control the meaning, effect, or construction of this Agreement. Time periods used in this Agreement shall mean calendar periods unless otherwise expressly indicated.

 

13

 

 

7.11Dispute Resolution, Forum.

 

(a)The parties consent to and agree that any dispute or claim arising hereunder shall be submitted to binding arbitration in New Castle County, Delaware, and conducted in accordance with the Judicial Arbitration and Mediation Service (“JAMS”) rules of practice then in effect or such other procedures as the parties may agree in writing, and the parties expressly waive any right they may otherwise have to cause any such action or preceding to be brought or tried elsewhere. The parties hereunder further agree that (i) any request for arbitration shall be made in writing and must be made within a reasonable time after the claim, dispute or other matter in question has arisen; provided however, that in no event shall the demand for arbitration be made after the date that institution of legal or equitable proceedings based on such claim, dispute, or other matter would be barred by the applicable statue(s) of limitations; (ii) the appointed arbitrator must be a former or retired judge or attorney at law with at least ten (10) years’ experience in commercial matters; (iii) costs and fees of the arbitrator shall be borne by both parties equally, unless the arbitrator or arbitrators determine otherwise; (iv) depositions may be taken and other discovery may be obtained during such arbitration proceedings to the same extent as authorized in civil judicial proceedings; and (v) the award or decision of the arbitrator, which may include equitable relief, shall be final and judgment may be entered on such award in accordance with applicable law in any court having jurisdiction over the matter.

 

(b)TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, EACH PARTY HEREBY KNOWINGLY, VOLUNTARILY AND INTENTIONALLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

 

(c)The parties acknowledge and agree that money damages may not be a sufficient remedy for a breach of certain provisions of the Agreement, including but not limited to Articles II and III, and accordingly, a non-breaching party may be entitled to specific performance and injunctive relief as remedies for such violation. Accordingly, notwithstanding the other provisions of this Section 7.11, the parties agree that a non-breaching party may seek relief in a court of competent jurisdiction for the purposes of seeking equitable relief hereunder, and that such remedies shall not be deemed to be exclusive remedies for a violation of the terms of the Agreement but shall be in addition to all other remedies available to the non-breaching party at law or in equity.

 

(d)In any action, arbitration, or other proceeding by which one party either seeks to enforce its rights under the Agreement, or seeks a declaration of any rights or obligations under the Agreement, the prevailing party will be entitled to reasonable attorneys fees, and subject to Section 7.11(a), reasonable costs and expenses incurred to resolve such dispute and to enforce any final judgment.

 

(e) No remedy conferred on either party by any of the specific provisions of this Agreement is intended to be exclusive of any other remedy, and each and every remedy will be cumulative and will be in addition to every other remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or by statute or otherwise. The election of one or more remedies by a party will not constitute a waiver of the right to pursue other available remedies.

 

14

 

 

7.12Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which will be deemed an original hereof and all of which together will constitute one and the same instrument.

 

7.13Facsimile, PDF or Electronic Signatures. This Agreement may be executed by facsimile, PDF or by means of an electronic signature by either party and such signature shall be deemed binding for all purposes hereof, without delivery of an original signature being thereafter required.

 



[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank; Signature Page,Schedules and Exhibits Follow]

15

 


In Witness Whereof, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the Effective Date.

AutoWeb, Inc.
   
   
  By:

/s/ Glenn E. Fuller

  Glenn E. Fuller
  Executive Vice President, Chief Legal and Administrative Officer and Secretary

 

   
  Notice Address:  
   

AutoWeb, Inc.

18872 MacArthur Blvd.

Suite 200

Irvine, California 92612

Email Address:

autolegal@autoweb.com

Facsimile No.: 949.608.3614

Attn: Chief Legal Officer

   
   
   
   

 

16

 

 

requesting persons    
     
Negari    
     

/s/ Daniel M. Negari

   
Daniel M. Negari    

 

The 1 8 999 Trust    
     
By:

/s/ Daniel M. Negari

   
  Daniel Negari, Trustee    

 

   
 /s/ Michael R. Ambrose
 
 
Michael R. Ambrose  

 

The Insight Trust    
     
By:

/s/ Michael R. Ambrose

   
  Michael R. Ambrose, Trustee    

 

 

 

 

Notice Address for Stockholders

 

Daniel M. Negari

The 1 8 999 Trust

Michael Ambrose

The Insight Trust

2121 E. Tropicana Avenue, Suite 2

Las Vegas, Nevada 89119

Attention: Daniel M. Negari

Email Address: d@xyz.rent

 

17

 

 

 

Exhibit A

Beneficial Ownership Schedule

 

Requesting Person Beneficial Ownership of Common Stock
Daniel M. Negari 593,072
  (includes The 1 8 999 Trust shares beneficially owned + 48 shares held directly + 30,000 call options held directly)
   
The 1 8 999 Trust 593,024 (directly held shares)
   
Michael R. Ambrose 28,898
  (includes The Insight Trust shares beneficially owned)
   
The Insight Trust 28,898 (directly held shares)
   
Total Shares Beneficially Owned By 621,970
Requesting Persons  

 

 

 

18

 

  

Exhibit B

Irrevocable Proxy

 

The undersigned (“Requesting Person”) hereby irrevocably appoints and constitutes the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, and Chief Legal Officer (individually, a “Proxyholder,” and collectively, the “Proxyholders”) of AutoWeb, Inc, a Delaware corporation (“Company”), and each of them individually, the agents, attorneys-in-fact and proxies of the undersigned, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, to the full extent of the undersigned’s rights with respect to all Exemption Shares (as defined in that certain Tax Benefit Preservation Plan Exemption Agreement dated as of November ___, 2018 among the Company and the Requesting Persons (“Plan Exemption Agreement”)) Beneficially Owned (as such term is defined in the Plan Exemption Agreement) by the Requesting Persons (including any Exemption Shares acquired by any Requesting Person on or after the date hereof and before the date this proxy terminates) to vote the Exemption Shares as follows: the Proxyholders named above, or each of them individually, are empowered at any time before termination of this proxy to exercise all voting rights of the undersigned at any meeting (whether annual or special and whether or not an adjourned or postponed meeting) of stockholders of the Company, and in any action by written consent of the stockholders of the Company, in the same proportion (for or against) as the shares of Common Stock actually voted for or against such matter by the stockholders of the Company other than the Requesting Persons and their respective Affiliates or Associates.

The proxy hereby granted by the Requesting Persons to the Proxyholders is granted as of the date of this Irrevocable Proxy in order to secure the obligations of the Requesting Persons set forth in Article III of the Plan Exemption Agreement and is irrevocable in accordance with subdivision (e) of Section 212 of the Delaware General Corporation Law.

This Irrevocable Proxy will terminate upon the termination of the Plan Exemption Agreement in accordance with its terms. The authority of a Proxyholder to continue to act as a Proxyholder under this Irrevocable Proxy will terminate if the Proxyholder ceases to be an officer or employee of the Company. This Irrevocable Proxy may not be transferred by any Proxyholder or assumed by any person without the express prior written consent of the undersigned. The Requesting Persons acknowledge that the foregoing provisions of this paragraph shall not preclude or require the Requesting Persons’ consent for the substitution or resubstitution of a new Proxyholder who is also an officer and/or employee of the Company.

Except as contemplated or permitted by the Plan Exemption Agreement, upon the execution hereof, all prior proxies given by the undersigned with respect to the Exemption Shares are hereby revoked and no subsequent proxies regarding the Exemption Shares will be given until such time as this Irrevocable Proxy shall be terminated in accordance with its terms. Any obligation of the undersigned hereunder shall be binding upon the successors and assigns of the undersigned.

This Irrevocable Proxy is irrevocable (to the fullest extent permitted by law) and shall survive the insolvency, incapacity, death, liquidation or dissolution of the undersigned.

19

 

Dated: November ___, 2018

[Note that a separate Irrevocable Proxy will be prepared for each Requesting Person]

 

   
     
Negari    
     

 

   
Daniel M. Negari    

 

The 1 8 999 Trust    
     
By:

 

   
  Daniel Negari, Trustee    

 

   
 
 
 
Michael R. Ambrose  

 

The Insight Trust    
     
By:

 

   
  Michael R. Ambrose, Trustee    

 

 

 

20

 

  

Exhibit C

Plan Exemption Request Letter

[Attached]

 

 

 

21

 

 

EX-99.2 3 ex992to13d10701003_12142018.htm JOINT FILING AGREEMENT

Exhibit 99.2

 

JOINT FILING AGREEMENT

In accordance with Rule 13d-1(k)(1)(iii) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the persons named below agree to the joint filing on behalf of each of them of a Statement on Schedule 13D (including additional amendments thereto) with respect to the shares of Common Stock, $0.001 par value, of AutoWeb, Inc., a Delaware corporation. This Joint Filing Agreement shall be filed as an Exhibit to such Statement.

Dated: December 14, 2018

 

  The 1 8 999 Trust
   
  By:

/s/ Daniel M. Negari

    Name: Daniel M. Negari
    Title: Trustee

 

 

  /s/ Daniel M. Negari
  Daniel M. Negari

 

 

  The Insight Trust
   
  By:

/s/ Michael R. Ambrose

    Name: Michael R. Ambrose
    Title: Trustee

 

 

  /s/ Michael R. Ambrose
  Michael R. Ambrose