EX-1.1 2 ea020418201ex1-1_serve.htm UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT, DATED AS OF APRIL 17, 2024, BY AND BETWEEN THE COMPANY AND AEGIS CAPITAL CORP

Exhibit 1.1

 

Underwriting Agreement

 

April 17, 2024

 

Aegis Capital Corp.

As Representative of the several Underwriters named in Schedule I hereto

810 7th Avenue,

18th Floor

New York, NY 10019

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

Serve Robotics Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), agrees, subject to the terms and conditions in this agreement (this “Agreement”), to issue and sell to the several underwriters listed in Schedule I hereto (collectively, the “Underwriters”) an aggregate of 10,000,000 shares of common stock (the “Firm Shares”), par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company (the “Common Stock”). At the option of the Underwriters, the Company agrees, subject to the terms and conditions herein, to issue and sell up to an aggregate of 1,500,000 additional shares of Common Stock (the “Option Shares”). The Firm Shares and the Option Shares are herein referred to collectively as the “Shares”. The respective number of Shares to be purchased by each Underwriter is set forth opposite its name in Schedule I hereto. Aegis Capital Corp. has agreed to act as the representative (the “Representative”) of the several Underwriters in connection with the offering and sale of the Shares. To the extent there are no additional Underwriters listed on Schedule I hereto, the term Underwriters shall mean either the singular or plural as the context requires.

 

Definitions

 

Affiliate” has the meaning set forth in Rule 405 under the Securities Act.

 

Applicable Time” means 8:30 p.m. Eastern Time on the date hereof.

 

Business day” means a day on which the Nasdaq is open for trading and on which banks in New York are open for business and not permitted by law or executive order to be closed.

 

Commission” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Emerging Growth Company” means an “emerging growth company” (as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act).

 

Exchange” means The Nasdaq Stock Market.

 

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

 

 

 

 

Final Prospectus” means the prospectus in the form first filed with the Commission pursuant to and within the time limits described in Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act.

 

Investment Company Act” means the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

Lock-Up Agreement” means an agreement in the form of Exhibit A hereto.

 

Preliminary Prospectus” means any preliminary prospectus included in the Registration Statement prior to the time at which the Commission declared the Registration Statement effective.

 

Pricing Disclosure Package” means the Pricing Prospectus collectively with the documents and pricing information set forth in Schedule II hereto.

 

Pricing Prospectus” means the Preliminary Prospectus included in the Registration Statement at the time at which the Commission declared the Registration Statement effective.

 

Prospectus Delivery Period” means such period of time after the first date of the public offering of the Shares as in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters a prospectus relating to the Shares is required by law to be delivered (or required to be delivered but for Rule 172 under the Securities Act) in connection with sales of the Shares by any Underwriter or dealer.

 

Registration Statement” means (a) the registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-277809), including a prospectus, registering the offer and sale of the Shares under the Securities Act as amended at the time the Commission declared it effective, including each of the exhibits, financial statements and schedules thereto, (b) any Rule 430A Information, and (c) any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement.

 

Representative’s Warrant” means the Representative’s warrant to purchase shares of Common Stock in the form of Exhibit B hereto.

 

Representative’s Warrant Shares” means shares of Common Stock issued upon exercise of the Representative’s Warrants.

 

Rule 430A Information” means the information deemed, pursuant to Rule 430A under the Securities Act, to be part of the Registration Statement at the time the Commission declared the Registration Statement effective.

 

Rule 462(b) Registration Statement” means an abbreviated registration statement to register the offer and sale of additional shares of Common Stock pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act.

 

Sarbanes-Oxley Act” means the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

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

 

Testing-the-Waters Communication” means any oral or Written Communication with potential investors undertaken in reliance on either Section 5(d) or Rule 163B under the Securities Act.

 

Written Communication” has the meaning set forth in Rule 405 under the Securities Act

 

1. Representations and Warranties of the Company.

 

The Company hereby represents and warrants to, and agrees with, the Underwriter that:

 

(a) Registration Statement.

 

(i) The Company has prepared and filed the Registration Statement with the Commission under the Securities Act. The Commission has declared the Registration Statement effective under the Securities Act and the Company has not as of the date of this Agreement filed a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement. The Commission has not issued any order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any order preventing or suspending the use of the Registration Statement, the Final Prospectus, or any Preliminary Prospectus , and no proceedings for such purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the Securities Act have been initiated, are pending before or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened by the Commission.

 

(ii) The Registration Statement, at the time it became effective, did not contain, and any post-effective amendment thereto, as of the effective date of such amendment, will not contain, any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; provided that the Company makes no representation or warranty with respect to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representative expressly for use in the Registration Statement (including any post-effective amendment thereto), the Pricing Disclosure Package, the Final Prospectus (including any amendments or supplements thereto), or any Preliminary Prospectus, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described in Section 8(b) hereof (collectively, the “Underwriter Information”).

 

(iii) Each of the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, at the time it became effective and at the date hereof, complied and will comply in all material respects with the Securities Act.

 

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(b) Pricing Disclosure Package. The Pricing Disclosure Package, as of the Applicable Time, did not, and as of the Closing Date (as defined below) and as of any Additional Closing Date (as defined below), as the case may be, will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that the Company makes no representation or warranty with respect to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with the Underwriter Information.

 

(c) Final Prospectus.

 

(i) Each of the Final Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto, as of its date, as of the time it is filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act, as of the Closing Date and as of any Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that the Company makes no representation or warranty with respect to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with the Underwriter Information.

 

(ii) Each of the Final Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto, at the time it is filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act, as of the Closing Date and as of any Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, will comply in all material respects with the Securities Act.

 

(d) Preliminary Prospectuses.

 

(i) Each Preliminary Prospectus, as of the time it was filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(a) under the Securities Act, if any, did not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that the Company makes no representation or warranty with respect to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with the Underwriter Information.

 

(ii) Each Preliminary Prospectus, at the time it was filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(a) under the Securities Act, if any, complied in all material respects with the Securities Act.

 

(e) The Company has not engaged in any Testing-the-Waters Communications.

 

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(f) No Other Disclosure Materials. Other than the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package, the Final Prospectus, and each Preliminary Prospectus, the Company (including its agents and representatives, other than the Underwriters, as to which no representation or warranty is given) has not, directly or indirectly, distributed, prepared, used, authorized, approved or referred to, and will not distribute, prepare, use, authorize, approve or refer to, any offering material in connection with the offering and sale of the Shares.

 

(g) Emerging Growth Company. From the time of the initial confidential submission of the registration statement relating to the Shares to the Commission through the date hereof, the Company has been and is an Emerging Growth Company.

 

(h) Due Authorization. The Company has full right, power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder; and all action required to be taken for the due and proper authorization, execution and delivery by it of this Agreement and the Representative’s Warrants, and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby has been duly and validly taken.

 

(i) Underwriting Agreement and Representative’s Warrants. This Agreement and the Representative’s Warrants have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and each, assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery by the other parties hereto, constitutes a valid and legally binding agreement of the Company, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as (i) the enforcement hereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting the rights and remedies of creditors or by general equitable principles (whether considered in a proceeding at law or in equity) relating to enforceability and (ii) rights to indemnification and contribution hereunder may be limited by applicable law and public policy considerations.

 

(j) No Material Adverse Change. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus (in each case exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto), since the date of the most recent financial statements included in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus: (i) there has been no material adverse change, or any development that would reasonably be expected to result in a material adverse change, in or affecting the condition (financial or otherwise), earnings, business, properties, management, financial position, stockholders’ equity, or results of operations, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business, of the Company and its subsidiaries, considered as one entity; (ii) there has been no change in the capital stock of the Company (other than (A) the issuance of shares of Common Stock upon the exercise or settlement (including any “net” or “cashless” exercises or settlements) of stock options, restricted share units or warrants described as outstanding, (B) the grant of options and awards under existing equity incentive plans, or (C) the repurchase of shares of Common Stock by the Company, which were issued pursuant to the early exercise of stock options by option holders and are subject to repurchase by the Company, in each case, as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus), or material change in the short-term debt or long-term debt of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, considered as one entity; and (iii) the Company and its subsidiaries, considered as one entity, have not incurred any material liability or obligation, indirect, direct or contingent (whether or not in the ordinary course of business); nor entered into any transaction or agreement (whether or not in the ordinary course of business) that is material to the Company and its subsidiaries, considered as one entity; and (iv) there has been no dividend or distribution of any kind declared, set aside for payment, paid or made by the Company or, except for dividends paid to the Company or other subsidiaries of the Company, any of its subsidiaries on any class of capital stock or repurchase or redemption by the Company or any of its subsidiaries of any class of capital stock.

 

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(k) Organization and Good Standing of the Company and its Subsidiaries. The Company and each of its subsidiaries have been duly organized and are validly existing and in good standing under the laws of their respective jurisdictions of organization, are duly qualified to do business and are in good standing in each jurisdiction in which their respective ownership or lease of property or the conduct of their respective businesses requires such qualification, and have all power and authority (corporate and other) necessary to own, lease or hold their respective properties and to conduct the businesses in which they are engaged as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, except where the failure to be in good standing, to be so qualified or to have such power or authority would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the condition (financial or otherwise), earnings, business, properties, management, financial position, stockholders’ equity, or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, considered as one entity, or adversely affect the performance by the Company of its obligations under this Agreement (a “Material Adverse Effect”).

 

(l) Capitalization. The capitalization of the Company is as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus under the heading “Capitalization”. All of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable. The Firm Shares and the Option Shares have been duly authorized and, when issued and paid for as contemplated herein, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. The Representative’s Warrant Shares has been duly authorized and, when issued and paid for upon exercise of a Representative’s Warrant and payment of the exercise price therefor, as contemplated herein and therein, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. None of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company were issued in violation of any preemptive rights, rights of first refusal or other similar rights to subscribe for or purchase securities of the Company. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, there are no authorized or outstanding options, warrants, preemptive rights, rights of first refusal or other rights to acquire, or instruments convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for, any shares of capital stock of, or other equity interest in, the Company or any of its subsidiaries. All of the outstanding shares of capital stock of, or other equity interest in, each of the Company’s subsidiaries (i) have been duly authorized and validly issued, (ii) are fully paid and non-assessable (except as such non-assessability may be affected by Sections 18-303, 18-607 and 18-803 of the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act) and (iii) are owned by the Company, directly or through the Company’s subsidiaries, free and clear of any security interest, mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance, charge, claim or restriction on voting or transfer (collectively, “Liens”), except (x) as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus or (y) as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(m) Stock Plans. With respect to the stock options (the “Stock Options”) granted pursuant to the stock-based compensation plans of the Company and its subsidiaries (the “Company Stock Plans”) (i) to the Company’s knowledge, each Stock Option intended to qualify as an “incentive stock option” under Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), so qualifies, (ii) each grant of a Stock Option was duly authorized by all necessary corporate action, including, as applicable, approval by the board of directors of the Company (or a duly constituted and authorized committee thereof) and any required stockholder approval by the necessary number of votes or written consents, and the award agreement governing such grant (if any), to the Company’s knowledge, was duly executed and delivered by each party thereto, (iii) each such grant was made in all material respects in accordance with the terms of the Company Stock Plans and (iv) each such grant was properly accounted for in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles as applied in the United States (“GAAP”) in the financial statements (including the related notes) of the Company.

 

(n) No Violation or Default. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is: (i) in violation of its charter, by-laws or similar organizational documents; (ii) in default, and no event has occurred that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute such a default, in the due performance or observance of any term, covenant, condition or other obligation contained in any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, contract, undertaking or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is bound or to which any property, right or asset of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject; or (iii) in violation of any law or statute applicable to the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or any of their respective properties or assets, except, in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) above, for any such default or violation that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(o) No Conflicts. None of (i) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement or the Representative’s Warrants by the Company, (ii) the issuance, sale and delivery of the Firm Shares, the Option Shares, or the Representative’s Warrant Shares (iii) the application of the proceeds of the offering as described under “Use of Proceeds” in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, or (iv) the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein will: (x) result in any violation of the terms or provisions of the charter, by-laws or similar organizational documents of the Company or any of its subsidiaries; (y) conflict with, result in a breach or violation of, or require the approval of stockholders, members or partners or any approval or consent of any persons under, any of the terms or provisions of, constitute a default under, result in the termination, modification, or acceleration of, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property, right or asset of the Company or any of its subsidiaries pursuant to, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, note agreement, contract, undertaking or other agreement, obligation, condition, covenant or instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is bound or to which any property, right or asset of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject; or (z) result in the violation of any law, statute, judgment, order, rule, decree or regulation applicable to the Company or any of its subsidiaries of any court, arbitrator, governmental or regulatory authority, agency or body having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their respective properties or assets, except, in the case of clauses (y) and (z) above, for any such conflict, breach, violation, default, lien, charge or encumbrance that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(p) No Consents Required. No consent, approval, authorization, order, filing, registration, license or qualification of or with any court, arbitrator, or governmental or regulatory authority, agency, or body is required for (i) the execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement or the Representative’s Warrants; (ii) the issuance, sale and delivery of the Firm Shares, the Option Shares or the Representative’s Warrant Shares; or (iii) the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein, except for such consents, approvals, authorizations, orders, filings, registrations or qualifications as (x) have already been obtained or made and are still in full force and effect, (y) may be required by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”), and (z) may be required under applicable state securities laws in connection with the purchase, distribution and resale of the Firm Shares and the Option Shares by the Underwriters.

 

(q) Independent Accountants. dbbMcKennon, which expressed its opinion with respect to the financial statements (which term as used in this Agreement includes the related notes thereto) included in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, is an independent registered public accounting firm with respect to the Company and its subsidiaries within the meaning of the rules and regulations of the Commission and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board and as required by the Securities Act.

 

(r) Financial Statements and Other Financial Data. The financial statements (including the related notes thereto) included in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and present fairly in all material respects the consolidated financial position of the entities to which they relate as of and at the dates indicated and the results of their operations and cash flows for the periods specified. Such financial statements and notes have been prepared in conformity with GAAP applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved, except as may be expressly stated in the notes thereto. The financial data set forth in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus under the captions “Summary Financial Data” and “Capitalization” present fairly in all material respects the information set forth therein on a basis consistent with that of the audited financial statements included in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus.

 

(s) Statistical and Market-Related Data. The statistical and market-related data included in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus are based on or derived from sources that the Company believes to be accurate and reliable in all material respects.

 

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

 

(u) Legal Proceedings. There are no legal, governmental or regulatory investigations, actions, demands, claims, suits, arbitrations, inquiries or proceedings (collectively, “Actions”) pending to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is or may be a party or to which any property, right or asset of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is or may be the subject that, individually or in the aggregate, if determined adversely to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and (ii) to the knowledge of the Company, no such Actions are threatened or contemplated by any governmental or regulatory authority or by others.

 

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(v) Labor Disputes. No labor disturbance by or dispute with the employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries exists or, to the knowledge of the Company, is threatened or contemplated that would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(w) Intellectual Property Rights. (i) Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, to the Company’s knowledge, the Company and its subsidiaries own or have the right to use all patents, patent applications, trademarks, service marks, trade names, and other source indicators and registrations and applications for registration thereof, domain name registrations, copyrights and registrations and applications for registration thereof, technology and know-how, trade secrets, and all other intellectual property and related proprietary rights (collectively, “Intellectual Property Rights”) necessary to conduct their respective businesses; (ii) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received any notice of infringement, misappropriation or other conflict with (and neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is otherwise aware of any infringement, misappropriation or other conflict with) the Intellectual Property Rights of any other person, except for such infringement, misappropriation or other conflict as would not have a Material Adverse Effect; and (iii) to the knowledge of the Company, the Intellectual Property Rights of the Company and its subsidiaries are not being infringed, misappropriated or otherwise violated by any person.

 

(x) Licenses and Permits. (i) To the Company’s knowledge, (i) the Company and its subsidiaries possess such valid and current certificates, authorizations, approvals, licenses and permits (collectively, “Authorizations”) issued by, and have made all declarations, amendments, supplements and filings with, the appropriate state, federal or foreign regulatory agencies or bodies necessary to own, lease and operate their respective properties and to conduct their respective businesses as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus; (ii) all such Authorizations are valid and in full force and effect and the Company and its subsidiaries are in compliance with the terms and conditions of all such Authorizations; and (iii) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received notice of any revocation, termination or modification of, or non-compliance with, any such Authorization or has any reason to believe that any such Authorization will not be renewed in the ordinary course, except where, in the case of clauses (i), (ii) and (iii), the failure to possess, make or obtain such Authorizations (by possession, declaration or filing) would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(y) Title to Property. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries own any real property. The Company and its subsidiaries have good and marketable title to, or have valid and enforceable rights to lease or otherwise use, all items of personal property (other than with respect to Intellectual Property Rights, which is addressed exclusively in Section 1(y) hereof) that are material to the respective businesses of the Company and its subsidiaries, in each case, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, claims, and defects and imperfections of title, except such liens, encumbrances, claims, defects and imperfections as (i) are disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, or (ii) do not materially affect the value of such property and do not materially interfere with the use made or proposed to be made of such property by the Company and its subsidiaries.

 

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(z) Taxes. Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, the Company and each of its subsidiaries have filed all federal, state, local and foreign tax returns required to be filed through the date hereof or have timely requested extensions thereof and have paid all taxes required to be paid thereon except as currently being contested in good faith and for which reserves required by GAAP have been created in the financial statements of the Company). The charges, accruals and reserves in respect of any income and other tax liability in the financial statements of the Company referred to in Section 1(t) are adequate, in accordance with GAAP principles, to meet any assessments for any taxes of the Company accruing through the end of the last period specified in such financial statements.

 

(aa) Investment Company Act. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is or, after giving effect to the offer and sale of the Firm Shares and the Option Shares and the application of the proceeds therefrom as described under “Use of Proceeds” in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, will be required to register as an “investment company” (as defined in the Investment Company Act).

 

(bb) Insurance. The Company and its subsidiaries are insured by recognized, financially sound institutions in such amounts, with such deductibles and covering such losses and risks as is adequate for the conduct of their respective businesses and the value of their respective properties and as is prudent and customary for companies engaged in similar businesses in similar industries. All insurance policies and fidelity or surety bonds insuring the Company and its subsidiaries or their respective businesses, assets, employees, officers and directors are in full force and effect; the Company and its subsidiaries are in compliance with the terms of such policies in all material respects; neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received notice from any insurer or agent of such insurer that capital improvements or other expenditures are required to be made in order to continue such insurance; and neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has been refused any insurance coverage sought or applied for. There are no claims by the Company or any of its subsidiaries under any such policy as to which any insurer is denying liability or defending under a reservation of rights clause; and neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has any reason to believe that it will not be able to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business at a cost that would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(cc) No Stabilization or Manipulation. None of the Company, its Affiliates or any person acting on its or any of their behalf (other than the Underwriters, as to which no representation or warranty is given) has taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that has constituted or that could reasonably be expected to cause or result in the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any securities of the Company. The Company acknowledges that the Underwriter may engage in passive market making transactions in the Common Stock on the Exchange in accordance with Regulation M under the Exchange Act (“Regulation M”).

 

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(dd) Compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. The Company and, to the knowledge of the Company, its officers and directors, in their capacities as such, are and have been in compliance with all applicable provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

 

(ee) Accounting Controls. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, the Company and its subsidiaries maintain systems of “internal control over financial reporting” (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) of the Exchange Act) that comply with the requirements of the Exchange Act and have been designed by, or under the supervision of, their 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. The Company and its subsidiaries maintain a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with 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 Final Prospectus, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting is effective and the Company is not aware of any material weaknesses in its internal control over financial reporting (whether or not remediated). Since the date of the most recent balance sheet included in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, (x) the Company’s auditors have not been advised of (A) any new significant deficiencies or material weaknesses in the design or operation of the internal control over financial reporting of the Company and its subsidiaries which could adversely affect the Company’s ability to record, process, summarize, and report financial data; or (B) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a role in the internal control over financial reporting of the Company or its subsidiaries; and (y) there have been no significant changes in the internal control over financial reporting of the Company or its subsidiaries or in other factors that could significantly affect, such internal control over financial reporting, since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus.

 

(ff) Disclosure Controls and Procedures. The Company and its subsidiaries have established and maintain disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act) that are designed to comply with the requirements of the Exchange Act; such disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company and its subsidiaries in the reports they file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms, including controls and procedures designed to ensure that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure; and such disclosure controls and procedures are effective to perform the functions for which they were established.

 

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(gg) Margin Rules. Neither the issuance, sale and delivery of the Firm Shares and the Option Shares nor the application of the proceeds thereof by the Company, in each case, as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, will violate Regulation T, U or X of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System or any other regulation of such Board of Governors.

 

(hh) Compliance with Environmental Laws. The Company and each of its subsidiaries (i) to the Company’s knowledge, are, and at all times prior hereto were, in compliance with all Environmental Laws (as defined below) applicable to such entity, which compliance includes, without limitation, obtaining, maintaining and complying with all permits and authorizations and approvals required by Environmental Laws to conduct their respective businesses; and (ii) have not received notice or otherwise have knowledge of any actual or alleged violation of Environmental Laws, or of any actual or potential liability for or other obligation concerning the presence, disposal or release of hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants. And (x) there are no proceedings that are pending, or known to be contemplated, against the Company or any of its subsidiaries under Environmental Laws, other than such proceedings regarding which it is reasonably believed that no monetary sanctions of $100,000 or more will be imposed; (y) none of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is aware of any issues regarding compliance with Environmental Laws, including any pending or proposed Environmental Laws, or liabilities or other obligations under Environmental Laws or concerning hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants, that could reasonably be expected to have a material effect on the capital expenditures, earnings or competitive position of the Company and its subsidiaries; and (z) none of the Company or any of its subsidiaries anticipates material capital expenditures relating to Environmental Laws.

 

As used herein, the term “Environmental Laws” means any laws, regulations, ordinances, rules, orders, judgments, decrees, permits or other legal requirements of any governmental authority, including, without limitation, any international, foreign, national, state, provincial, regional, or local authority, relating to pollution, the protection of human health or safety, the environment, or natural resources, or to the use, handling, storage, manufacturing, transportation, treatment, discharge, disposal or release of hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants.

 

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(ii) ERISA. Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, each “employee benefit plan” (within the meaning of Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”)) for which the Company or any member of its “Controlled Group” (defined as any organization which is a member of a controlled group of corporations within the meaning of Section 414 of the Code) would have any liability (each, a “Plan”) complies in form with the requirements of all applicable statutes, rules and regulations including ERISA and the Code, and has been maintained and administered in substantial compliance with its terms and with the requirements of all applicable statutes, rules and regulations including ERISA and the Code; (ii) with respect to each Plan subject to Title IV of ERISA or Section 302 of ERISA or Section 412 and 430 of the Code (A) no “reportable event” (within the meaning of Section 4043(c) of ERISA) has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur, (B) no failure to satisfy the minimum funding standard (within the meaning of Section 302 of ERISA or Section 412 and 430 of the Code), whether or not waived, has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur, (C) the fair market value of the assets under each Plan (excluding for these purposes accrued but unpaid contributions) exceeds the present value of all benefits accrued under such Plan (determined based on those assumptions used to fund such Plan) and (D) neither the Company or any member of its Controlled Group has incurred, or reasonably expects to incur, any liability under Title IV of ERISA (other than contributions to the Plan or premiums to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation in the ordinary course and without default) in respect of a Plan (including a “multiemployer plan”, within the meaning of Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA); (iii) each Plan that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code is so qualified and nothing has occurred, whether by action or by failure to act, which would cause the loss of such qualification; and (iv) no prohibited transaction, within the meaning of Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code, has occurred with respect to any Plan excluding transactions to which a statutory or administrative prohibited transaction exemption applies.

 

(jj) Related Party Transactions. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, to the Company’s knowledge, no relationship, direct or indirect, exists between or among the Company or any of its subsidiaries, on the one hand, and the directors, officers, stockholders, other Affiliates, customers or suppliers of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, on the other hand, that would be required by the Securities Act to be described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus.

 

(kk) No Unlawful Contributions or Other Payments. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee, Affiliate or other person associated with or acting on behalf of the Company or any of its subsidiaries has (i) used any corporate funds for any unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful expense relating to political activity; (ii) made any direct or indirect unlawful payment to any foreign or domestic government or regulatory official or employee; (iii) made any bribe, rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other unlawful payment; or (iv) violated or is in violation of any provision of (w) the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (the “FCPA”), (y) any applicable law or regulation implementing the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions, or (z) the Bribery Act 2010 of the United Kingdom. The Company and its subsidiaries have instituted and maintain and enforce policies and procedures designed to promote and ensure compliance with all applicable anti-bribery and anti-corruption laws.

 

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(ll) Compliance with Anti-Money Laundering Laws. The operations of the Company and its subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in material compliance with all applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements, including those of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the applicable anti-money laundering statutes of all jurisdictions where the Company or any of its subsidiaries conduct business, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency (collectively, the “Anti-Money Laundering Laws”); and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries with respect to the Anti-Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened.

 

(mm) Compliance with OFAC. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee or Affiliate of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is an individual or entity (an “OFAC Person”), or is owned or controlled by an OFAC Person, that is currently the subject or target of any sanctions administered or enforced by the U.S. government (including, without limitation, the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department (“OFAC”) or the U.S. Department of State and including, without limitation, the designation as a “specially designated national” or “blocked person”), the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, Her Majesty’s Treasury, or other relevant sanctions authority (collectively, “Sanctions”), nor is the Company or any of its subsidiaries located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is the subject or the target of Sanctions, including, without limitation, the Crimea Region, the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic, the so-called Luhansk People’s Republic, Cuba, Iran, North Korea and Syria (each, a “Sanctioned Country”); and the Company will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the offering, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other OFAC Person (i) to fund or facilitate any activities of or business with any OFAC Person that, at the time of such funding or facilitation, is the subject or the target of Sanctions, (ii) to fund or facilitate any activities or business in any Sanctioned Country or (iii) in any other manner that will result in a violation by any OFAC Person (including any OFAC Person participating in the transaction, whether as underwriter, advisor, investor or otherwise) of Sanctions. Since the Company’s inception, the Company and its subsidiaries have not knowingly engaged in and are not now knowingly engaged in any dealings or transactions with any OFAC Person that at the time of the dealing or transaction is or was the subject or the target of Sanctions or with any Sanctioned Country.

 

(nn) No Registration Rights. Except as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, there are no contracts, agreements or understandings (other than rights that have been waived in writing or otherwise satisfied) between the Company or any of its subsidiaries, on the one hand, and any person, on the other hand, granting such person any rights (other than rights that have been waived in writing or otherwise satisfied) to require the Company or any of its subsidiaries to file a registration statement under the Securities Act with respect to any securities of the Company or any of its subsidiaries owned or to be owned by such person or to require the Company or any of its subsidiaries to include such securities in any securities to be registered pursuant to any registration statement to be filed by the Company or any of its subsidiaries under the Securities Act.

 

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(oo) Disclosure; Accurate Summaries. The statements set forth in each of the Pricing Prospectus and the Final Prospectus under the captions “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions,” “Description of Capital Stock,” “Shares Eligible for Future Sale,” “Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations,” and “Underwriting”, insofar as they purport to summarize the provisions of the laws, agreements and documents referred to therein, are accurate summaries of such laws, agreements, documents or proceedings. The Common Stock (including the Shares) conforms in all material respects to the description thereof contained therein.

 

(pp) Subsidiaries. The Company does not own or control, directly or indirectly, any corporation, association or other entity other than the subsidiaries listed in Exhibit 21 to the Registration Statement.

 

(qq) No Restrictions on Subsidiaries. No subsidiary of the Company is currently prohibited, directly or indirectly, from paying any dividends to the Company, from making any other distribution on such subsidiary’s capital stock or similar ownership interest, from repaying to the Company any loans or advances to such subsidiary from the Company or from transferring any of such subsidiary’s properties or assets to the Company or any other subsidiary of the Company.

 

(rr) No Broker’s Fees. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is a party to any contract, agreement or understanding with any person (other than this Agreement) that would give rise to a valid claim against any of them or any Underwriter for a brokerage commission, finder’s fee or like payment in connection with the offering and sale of the Firm Shares or the Option Shares.

 

(ss) Exchange Listing. Subject to notice of issuance, the Shares have been approved for listing on the Exchange.

 

Any certificate signed by an officer of the Company and delivered to the Underwriters or to counsel for the Underwriters shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty by the Company to the Underwriters as to the matters set forth therein.

 

2. Representations and Warranties of the Underwriters.

 

Each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, represents and warrants to, and agrees with, the Company:

 

(a) Testing-the-Waters Communications. Such Underwriter has not engaged in any Testing-the-Waters Communication.

 

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3. Purchase and Resale.

 

(a) Agreements to Sell and Purchase. On the basis of the representations, warranties and covenants herein and subject to the conditions herein and any adjustments made in accordance with Section 13 hereof,

 

(i) The Company agrees to issue and sell the Firm Shares to the several Underwriters; and

 

(ii) The Underwriters agree, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company the number of Firm Shares set forth opposite such Underwriter’s name in Schedule I hereto, subject to such adjustments among the Underwriters as the Representative in its sole discretion shall make to eliminate any sales or purchases of fractional Shares.

 

(iii) The Firm Shares are to be offered initially to the public at the offering price set forth on the cover page of the Final Prospectus (the “Public Offering Price”). The purchase price per Firm Share to be paid by the several Underwriters to the Company shall be $3.74 per share (representing 93.5% of the Public Offering Price) (the “Purchase Price”).

 

(iv) Payment for the Firm Shares (the “Firm Shares Payment”) shall be made by wire transfer in immediately available funds to the accounts specified by the Company to the Representative at the offices of Sichenzia Ross Ference Carmel LLP at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time, on April 22, 2024, or at such other place on the same or such other date and time, not later than the fifth (5th) Business day thereafter, as the Representative and the Company may agree upon in writing (the “Closing Date”). The Firm Shares Payment shall be made against delivery of the Firm Shares to be purchased on the Closing Date to the Representative for the respective accounts of the several Underwriters, with any transfer taxes, stamp duties and other similar taxes payable in connection with the sale of the Firm Shares duly paid by the Company. Delivery of the Firm Shares shall be made through the facilities of the Depository Trust Company (the “DTC”), unless the Representative shall otherwise instruct.

 

(b) Over-Allotment Option. On the basis of the representations, warranties and covenants herein and subject to the conditions herein,

 

(i) the Underwriters shall have the option to purchase, severally and not jointly, in whole or in part, the Option Shares from the Company (the “Over-Allotment Option”), in each case, at a price per share equal to the Purchase Price (the “Over-Allotment Option Purchase Price”);

 

(ii) upon an exercise of the Over-Allotment Option and subject to the terms and conditions herein, the Company agrees to issue and sell the Option Shares to the several Underwriters;

 

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(iii) the parties agree that the Underwriters may only exercise the Over-Allotment Option for the purpose of covering over-allotments made in connection with the offering of the Firm Shares.

 

(iv) The Underwriters may exercise the Over-Allotment Option at any time in whole, or from time to time in part, on or before the forty-fifth (45th) day following the Closing Date, by written notice from the Representative to the Company (the “Over-Allotment Exercise Notice”). The Underwriters must give the Over-Allotment Exercise Notice to the Company at least one Business day prior to the Closing Date or the applicable Additional Closing Date, as the case may be. The Representative may cancel any exercise of the Over-Allotment Option at any time prior to the Closing Date or the applicable Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, by giving written notice of such cancellation to the Company.

 

(v) The Over-Allotment Exercise Notice shall set forth:

 

(A) the aggregate number of Option Shares as to which the Over-Allotment Option is being exercised;

 

(B) the Over-Allotment Option Purchase Price;

 

(C) the names and denominations in which the Option Shares are to be registered; and

 

(D) the applicable Additional Closing Date, which may be the same date and time as the Closing Date but shall not be earlier than the Closing Date nor later than the tenth (10th) full Business day after the date of the Over-Allotment Exercise Notice.

 

(vi) Payment for the Option Shares (the “Option Shares Payment”) shall be made by wire transfer in immediately available funds to the accounts specified by the Company to the Representative at the offices of Sichenzia Ross Ference Carmel at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time, on the date specified in the corresponding Over-Allotment Exercise Notice, or at such other place on the same or such other date and time, not later than the fifth (5th) Business day thereafter, as the Representative and the Company may agree upon in writing (an “Additional Closing Date”). The Option Shares Payment shall be made against delivery to the Representative for the respective accounts of the several Underwriters of the Option Shares to be purchased on any Additional Closing Date, with any transfer taxes, stamp duties and other similar taxes payable in connection with the sale of the Option Shares duly paid by the Company. Delivery of the Option Shares shall be made through the facilities of DTC unless the Representative shall otherwise instruct.

 

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(c) Public Offering. The Company understands that the Underwriters intend to make a public offering of the Shares as soon after the effectiveness of this Agreement as in the judgment of the Representative is advisable, and initially to offer the Shares on the terms set forth in the Final Prospectus. The Company acknowledges and agrees that the Underwriters may offer and sell Shares to or through any Affiliate of an Underwriter.

 

(d) Representative’s Warrants. As additional compensation for the Representative’s services, the Company shall issue to the Representative or its designees at the closing of the offering Representative’s Warrants to purchase that number of shares of Common Stock equal to 5.0% of the aggregate number of Firm Shares sold in the offering. The Representative’s Warrant will be exercisable at any time and from time to time, in whole or in part, during the period commencing 180 days from the commencement of sales of the Firm Shares in the public offering and ending four years and six months thereafter, at a price per share equal to 125.0% of the offering price per Firm Share. The Representative’s Warrants and the Representative’s Warrant Shares are hereinafter referred to collectively as the “Representative’s Securities.” The Representative understands and agrees that there are restrictions pursuant to FINRA Rule 5110 against transferring the Representative’s Warrant and the underlying Representative’s Warrant Shares during the 180-day period after the commencement of sales of the Firm Shares in the offering and by its acceptance thereof shall agree that it and its respective designees, if any, will not, sell, transfer, assign, pledge or hypothecate their respective 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 180 days following the commencement of sales of the public offering to anyone other than (A) an Underwriter or a selected dealer in connection with the offering, or (B) a bona fide officer or partner of the Underwriter or selected dealer; and only if any such transferee agrees to the foregoing lock-up restrictions. Delivery of the executed Representative’s Warrants shall be made on the Closing Date and the Representative’s Warrants shall be issued in the name or names and in such authorized denominations as the Representative may request.

 

4. Covenants of the Company. The Company hereby covenants and agrees with each Underwriter as follows:

 

(a) Filings with the Commission. The Company will:

 

(i) prepare and file the Final Prospectus (in a form approved by the Representative and containing the Rule 430A Information) with the Commission in accordance with and within the time periods specified by Rules 424(b) and 430A under the Securities Act; and

 

(ii) file with the Commission such reports as may be required by Rule 463 under the Securities Act.

 

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(b) Notice to the Representative. The Company will advise the Representative promptly, and confirm such advice in writing:

 

(i) when the Registration Statement has become effective;

 

(ii) when the Final Prospectus has been filed with the Commission;

 

(iii) when any amendment to the Registration Statement has been filed or becomes effective;

 

(iv) when any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement has been filed with the Commission;

 

(v) when any supplement to the Final Prospectus, or any amendment to the Final Prospectus has been filed or distributed;

 

(vi) of (x) any request by the Commission for any amendment to the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to the Final Prospectus, (y) the receipt of any comments from the Commission relating to the Registration Statement or (z) any other request by the Commission for any additional information;

 

(vii) of (x) the issuance by the Commission of any order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or preventing or suspending the use of the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package, or the Final Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus, or (y) the initiation or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatening of any proceeding for that purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the Securities Act;

 

(viii) of the occurrence of any event or development within the Prospectus Delivery Period as a result of which, the Final Prospectus, or the Pricing Disclosure Package, then amended or supplemented would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing when the Final Prospectus, or the Pricing Disclosure Package is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading;

 

(ix) of the issuance by any governmental or regulatory authority of any order preventing or suspending the use of any of the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package, or the Final Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus or the initiation or threatening for that purpose; and

 

(x) of the receipt by the Company of any notice with respect to any suspension of the qualification of the Shares for offer and sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatening of any proceeding for such purpose.

 

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(c) Orders and Notices. The Company will use its best efforts to prevent the issuance of any order or notice described in Sections 4(b)(vii), 4(b)(ix) or 4(b)(x); and, if any such order or notice is issued, will obtain as soon as possible the withdrawal thereof.

 

(d) Ongoing Compliance.

 

(i) If during the Prospectus Delivery Period:

 

(A) any event or development shall occur or condition shall exist as a result of which the Final Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing when the Final Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading, the Company will, as soon as reasonably possible, notify the Underwriters thereof and forthwith prepare and, subject to Section 4(e) hereof, file with the Commission and furnish, at its own expense, to the Underwriters and to such dealers as the Representative may designate such amendments or supplements to the Final Prospectus as may be necessary so that the statements in the Final Prospectus as so amended or supplemented will not, in the light of the circumstances existing when the Final Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, be misleading; or

 

(B) it is necessary to amend or supplement the Final Prospectus to comply with applicable law, the Company will, as soon as reasonably possible, notify the Underwriters thereof and forthwith prepare and, subject to Section 4(e) hereof, file with the Commission and furnish, at its own expense, to the Underwriters and to such dealers as the Representative may designate such amendments or supplements to the Final Prospectus as may be necessary so that the Final Prospectus will comply with applicable law; and

 

(ii) if at any time prior to the Closing Date or any Additional Closing Date, as the case may be:

 

(A) any event or development shall occur or condition shall exist as a result of which the Pricing Disclosure Package as then amended or supplemented would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing when the Pricing Disclosure Package is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading, the Company will immediately notify the Underwriters thereof and forthwith prepare and, subject to Section 4(e) hereof, file with the Commission (to the extent required) and furnish, at its own expense, to the Underwriters and to such dealers as the Representative may designate such amendments or supplements to the Pricing Disclosure Package as may be necessary so that the statements in the Pricing Disclosure Package as so amended or supplemented will not, in the light of the circumstances existing when the Pricing Disclosure Package is delivered to a purchaser, be misleading; or

 

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(B) it is necessary to amend or supplement the Pricing Disclosure Package to comply with applicable law, the Company will immediately notify the Underwriters thereof and forthwith prepare and, subject to Section 4(e) hereof, file with the Commission (to the extent required) and furnish, at its own expense, to the Underwriters and to such dealers as the Representative may designate such amendments or supplements to the Pricing Disclosure Package as may be necessary so that the Pricing Disclosure Package will comply with applicable law.

 

(e) Amendments and Supplements. Before (i) filing (x) any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement or (y) any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or the Final Prospectus, or (iii) distributing any amendment or supplement to the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Final Prospectus, the Company will furnish to the Representative and counsel for the Underwriters a copy of the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement or other amendment or supplement for review and will not use, authorize, refer to, distribute or file any such Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, or file or distribute any such proposed amendment or supplement (A) to which the Representative objects in a timely manner and (B) which is not in compliance with the Securities Act.

 

(f) Delivery of Copies. The Company will, upon request of the Representative, deliver, without charge, (i) to the Representative, three signed copies of the Registration Statement as originally filed and each amendment thereto, in each case, including all exhibits and consents filed therewith; and (ii) to each Underwriter (A) a conformed copy of the Registration Statement as originally filed and each amendment thereto (without exhibits and consents) and (B) during the Prospectus Delivery Period, as many copies of the Final Prospectus (including all amendments and supplements thereto) as the Representative may reasonably request.

 

(g) Emerging Growth Company Status. The Company will 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 Shares within the meaning of the Securities Act and (ii) completion of the Lock-Up Period (as defined below).

 

(h) Blue Sky Compliance. The Company will use its best efforts, with the Underwriters’ cooperation, if necessary, to qualify or register (or to obtain exemptions from qualifying or registering) the Shares for offer and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as the Representative shall reasonably request and will use its reasonable best efforts, with the Underwriters’ cooperation, if necessary, to continue such qualifications, registrations and exemptions in effect so long as required for the distribution of the Shares; provided that the Company shall not be required to (i) qualify as a foreign corporation or other entity or as a dealer in securities in any such jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to so qualify, (ii) file any general consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction or (iii) subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction if it is not otherwise so subject.

 

(i) Earning Statement. The Company will make generally available to its security holders and the Representative as soon as practicable an earning statement that satisfies the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 under the Securities Act covering a period of at least 12 months beginning with the first fiscal quarter of the Company occurring after the “effective date” (as defined in Rule 158 under the Securities Act) of the Registration Statement; provided that the Company will be deemed to have furnished such statement to its security holders and the Representative to the extent it is filed on the Commission’s Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system (“EDGAR”).

 

(j) Use of Proceeds. The Company shall apply the net proceeds from the sale of the Firm Shares and the Option Shares in the manner described under the caption “Use of Proceeds” in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus.

 

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(k) Clear Market.

 

(i) For a period of twelve (12) months after the date of the Final Prospectus (the “Lock-Up Period”), the Company will not (x) 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, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, or file with the Commission a registration statement under the Securities Act relating to, any shares of Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock, or publicly disclose the intention to make any offer, sale, pledge, disposition or filing, or (y) enter into any swap or other agreement that transfers, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the Common Stock or any such other securities, whether any such transaction described in clause (x) or (y) above is to be settled by delivery of Common Stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise, without the prior written consent of the Representative.

 

(ii) The restrictions contained in Section 4(k)(i) hereof shall not apply to: (A) the Shares, (B) any shares of Common Stock issued under Company Stock Plans or warrants or convertible notes issued by the Company, in each case, described as outstanding in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, (C) any options and other awards granted under a Company Stock Plan as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, (D) the issuance of shares of Common Stock by the Company (whether upon the exercise of stock options or otherwise) to employees, officers, directors, advisors or consultants of the Company pursuant to a Company Stock Plan as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, (E) the filing by the Company of any registration statement on Form S-8 or a successor form thereto relating to a Company Stock Plan or employee stock purchase plan described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, (F) facilitating the establishment of a trading plan on behalf of a shareholder, officer or director of the Company pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act for the transfer of shares of Common Stock, provided that (i) such plan does not provide for the transfer of Common Stock during the Lock-Up Period and (ii) to the extent a public announcement or filing under the Exchange Act, if any, is required of or voluntarily made by the Company regarding the establishment of such plan, such announcement or filing shall include a statement to the effect that no transfer of Common Stock may be made under such plan during the Restricted Period, and (G) shares of Common Stock or other securities issued in connection with a transaction with an unaffiliated third party that includes a bona fide commercial relationship (including joint ventures, marketing or distribution arrangements, collaboration agreements or intellectual property license agreements) or any acquisition of assets or acquisition of not less than a majority or controlling portion of the equity of another entity; provided that (x) the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to clause (G) shall not result in the sale of Common Stock or other securities at a price less than the Public Offering Price and (y) the recipient of any such shares of Common Stock or other securities issued or granted pursuant to clauses (B), (C), (D) and (G) during the Lock-Up Period shall enter into an agreement in the form of Exhibit A hereto for a period of twelve (12) months after the date of the Final Prospectus.

 

(iii) If the Representative, in its sole discretion, agrees to release or waive the restrictions set forth in any Lock-Up Agreement and provides the Company with notice of the impending release or waiver substantially in the form of Exhibit C hereto at least three Business days before the effective date of the release or waiver, then the Company agrees to announce the impending release or waiver by a press release substantially in the form of Exhibit D hereto through a major news service at least two Business days before the effective date of the release or waiver.

 

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(l) No Stabilization or Manipulation. None of the Company, its Affiliates or any person acting on its or any of their behalf (other than the Underwriters, as to which no covenant is given) will take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that constitutes or that could reasonably be expected to cause or result in the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any securities of the Company. The Company acknowledges that the Underwriters may engage in passive market making transactions in the Common Stock on the Exchange in accordance with Regulation M.

 

(m) Investment Company Act. The Company shall not invest, or otherwise use the proceeds received by the Company from the sale of the Firm Shares or the Option Shares in such a manner as would require the Company or any of its subsidiaries to register as an “investment company” (as defined in the Investment Company Act) under the Investment Company Act.

 

(n) Transfer Agent. The Company shall engage and maintain, at its expense, a registrar and transfer agent for the Common Stock.

 

(o) Reports. For the period of two years from the date of this Agreement, the Company will furnish to the Representative, as soon as they are available, copies of all reports or other communications (financial or other) furnished to holders of the Shares, and copies of any reports and financial statements furnished to or filed with the Commission or any national securities exchange or automatic quotation system; provided that the Company will be deemed to have furnished such reports and financial statements to the Representative to the extent they are filed on EDGAR.

 

(p) License. Upon request of the Underwriter, the Company shall furnish, or cause to be furnished, to the Underwriter an electronic version of the Company’s trademarks, servicemarks and corporate logo for use on the website, if any, operated by the Underwriter for the purpose of facilitating the online offering of the Shares (the “License”); provided, however, that the License shall be used solely for the purpose described above, is granted without any fee and may not be assigned or transferred.

 

(q) Tail Financing. Subject to FINRA Rule 5110(g)(5)(B), the Underwriter shall be entitled to the compensation set forth in this Agreement, calculated as set forth herein, including, without limitation, the underwriting discounts and commissions, underwriter warrants and non-accountable expense reimbursement provided for herein, with respect to any public or private offering or other financing or capital raising transaction of any kind (each a “Tail Financing”) to the extent such Tail Financing or capital is provided to the Company by investors introduced to the Company, contacted by the Underwriter on behalf of the Company through an in-person, electronic or telephonic communication, or investors that the Representative had “wall-crossed” in connection with this offering (or any entity under common management or having a common investment advisor), if such Tail Financing is consummated at any time (1) within twelve (12) months after the closing of the offering of the Shares, or (2) before January 29, 2026, if the closing of the offering of the Shares does not occur.

 

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5. Covenants of the Underwriters. Each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, hereby covenants and agrees with the Company as follows:

 

(a) Section 8A Proceedings. Such Underwriter is not subject to any pending proceeding under Section 8A of the Securities Act with respect to the offering of the Shares and will promptly notify the Company if any such proceeding against it is initiated during the Prospectus Delivery Period.

 

6. Payment of Expenses.

 

(a) Company Expenses. The Company hereby agrees to pay on or prior to the Closing Date all expenses 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 Shares with the Commission; (b) all filing fees and expenses associated with the review of the offering of the Shares by FINRA; (c) all fees and expenses relating to the listing of the Shares on the Exchange; (d) all fees, expenses and disbursements relating to the registration or qualification of the Shares as the Underwriter may reasonably designate; (e) all fees, expenses and disbursements relating to the registration, qualification or exemption of the Shares under the securities laws of such foreign jurisdictions as the Underwriter may reasonably designate; (f) the costs of all mailing and printing of the Registration Statement, Pricing Prospectus, the Final Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus, and all amendments, supplements and exhibits thereto as the Underwriter may reasonably deem necessary; (g) fees and expenses of the transfer agent for the shares of Common Stock; (h) stock transfer and/or stamp taxes, if any, payable upon the transfer of securities from the Company to the Underwriter; (i) the fees and expenses of the Company’s accountants; (k) the “road show” expenses; (l) the fees and expenses of the Company’s legal counsel and other agents and representatives; and (m) $150,000 for the fees and expenses of the Underwriter’s counsel. The Underwriter may deduct from the net proceeds of the offering payable to the Company on the Closing Date the expenses set forth herein to be paid by the Company to the Underwriter.

 

(b) Underwriter Expenses. Except to the extent otherwise provided in this Section 6 or Section 8 hereof, the Underwriters will pay all of their own costs and expenses, including the fees and expenses of their counsel, any stock transfer taxes on resale of any of the Shares held by them, and any advertising expenses connected with any offers they may make.

 

(c) Non-accountable Expenses. On the Closing Date and any Additional Closing Date, the Company shall pay to the Underwriter, by deduction from the net proceeds of the offering a non-accountable expense allowance equal to one percent (1.0%) of the gross proceeds received by the Company from the sale of the Firm Shares or the Option Shares, as the case may be.

 

(d) Company Reimbursement. The provisions of this Section 6 shall not affect any agreement that the Company may make for the sharing of such costs and expenses.

 

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7. Conditions of the Obligations of the Underwriters. The obligations of the several Underwriters to purchase the Firm Shares as provided herein on the Closing Date or the Option Shares as provided herein on any Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, shall be subject to the timely performance by the Company of its covenants and other obligations hereunder, and to each of the following additional conditions:

 

(a) Registration Compliance; No Stop Order.

 

(i) The Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto shall have become effective, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto shall be in effect, and no proceeding for such purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the Securities Act shall be pending before or threatened by the Commission.

 

(ii) The Company shall have filed the Final Prospectus with the Commission in accordance with and within the time periods prescribed by Section 4(a) hereof.

 

(iii) The Company shall have (A) disclosed to the Representative all requests by the Commission for additional information relating to the offer and sale of the Shares and (B) complied with such requests to the satisfaction of the Commission.

 

(b) Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties of the Company contained herein shall be true and correct on the date hereof and on and as of the Closing Date or any Additional Closing Date, as the case may be; and the statements of the Company and its officers made in any certificates delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall be true and correct on and as of the Closing Date or any Additional Closing Date, as the case may be.

 

(c) Accountants’ Comfort Letters; CFO Certificates. (i) On the date of this Agreement and on the Closing Date or any Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, dbbMcKennon shall have furnished to the Representative, at the request of the Company, letters, dated the respective dates of delivery thereof and addressed to the Representative, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative, containing statements and information of the type customarily included in accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters with respect to the financial statements and certain financial information contained in each of the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus; provided that the letter delivered on the Closing Date or any Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, shall use a “cut-off” date no more than two Business days prior to the Closing Date or such Additional Closing Date, as the case may be.

 

(ii) On the date of this Agreement and on the Closing Date or any Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, the Company shall have furnished to the Representative certificates of the Company’s chief financial officer, dated the respective dates of their delivery and addressed to the Underwriters, with respect to such financial data contained in each of the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus as the Representative may request, providing “management comfort” with respect to such information, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representative.

 

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(d) No Material Adverse Change. No event or condition of a type described in Section 1(l) hereof shall have occurred or shall exist, which event or condition is not described in each of the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus (in each case, exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto), the effect of which in the judgment of the Representative makes it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offering, sale or delivery of the Shares on the Closing Date or any Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, in the manner and on the terms contemplated by this Agreement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus (in each case, exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto).

 

(e) Opinion and Negative Assurance Letter of Counsel to the Company. Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP, counsel to the Company, shall have furnished to the Representative, at the request of the Company, its (i) written opinion, addressed to the Underwriters and dated the Closing Date or any Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, and (ii) negative assurance letter, addressed to the Underwriters and dated the Closing Date or any Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, in each case, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative.

 

(f) IP Opinion. On the Closing Date and on each Additional Closing Date, as applicable, there shall have been furnished to the Representative, on behalf of the Underwriters, the written opinion of Weaver Austin Villeneuve & Sampson LLP, intellectual property counsel to the Company dated the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as applicable, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative and counsel to the Underwriters, subject to customary exceptions and assumptions.

 

(g) Officers’ Certificates. The Representative shall have received on and as of the Closing Date or any Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, certificates of executive officers of the Company who have specific knowledge of the Company’s financial matters and are satisfactory to the Representative (i) confirming that such officers have carefully reviewed the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package, and the Final Prospectus, and the representations set forth in Sections 1(a)(ii), 1(b), 1(c)(i), 1(d)(i), 1(e), 1(i) and 1(j) hereof are true and correct on and as of the Closing Date or any Additional Closing Date, as the case may be; (ii) to the effect set forth in Sections 1(l) and 7(a) hereof; and (iii) confirming that all of the other representations and warranties of the Company in this Agreement are true and correct on and as of the Closing Date or any Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, and that the Company has complied with all agreements and covenants and satisfied all other conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior to the Closing Date or any Additional Closing Date, as the case may be.

 

(h) No Legal Impediment to Issuance and Sale. No action shall have been taken and no statute, rule, regulation or order shall have been enacted, adopted or issued by any federal, state or foreign governmental or regulatory authority that would, as of the Closing Date or any Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, prevent the issuance, sale or delivery of the Firm Shares or the Option Shares by the Company; and no injunction or order of any federal, state or foreign court shall have been issued that would, as of the Closing Date or any Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, prevent the issuance, sale or delivery of the Firm Shares or the Option Shares.

 

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(i) Good Standing. The Representative shall have received on and as of the Closing Date and any Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, satisfactory evidence of the good standing of the Company and each of the Company’s subsidiaries in their respective jurisdictions of organization and their good standing in such other jurisdictions as the Representative may reasonably request, in each case, in writing from the appropriate governmental authorities of such jurisdictions.

 

(j) Lock-Up Agreements. Lock-Up Agreements executed by the officers, directors and holders of 5% or more of the Company’s outstanding Common Stock (all of whom the Company represents are listed on Schedule III hereto) and delivered to the Representative on or before the date hereof, shall be in full force and effect on the Closing Date or any Additional Closing Date, as the case may be.

 

(k) Exchange Listing. On the Closing Date or any Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, the Shares shall have been approved for listing on the Exchange, subject to notice of issuance.

 

(l) Additional Documents. On or prior to the Closing Date or any Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, the Underwriters and their counsel shall have received such information, certificates and other additional documents from the Company as they may reasonably require for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon the issuance and sale of the Shares as contemplated herein or in order to evidence the accuracy of any of the representations and warranties, or the satisfaction of any of the covenants, closing conditions or other obligations, contained in this Agreement.

 

All opinions, letters, certificates and other documents delivered pursuant to this Agreement will be deemed to be in compliance with the provisions hereof only if they are reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to counsel for the Underwriters.

 

If any condition specified in this Section 7 is not satisfied when and as required to be satisfied, this Agreement and all obligations of the Underwriters hereunder may be terminated by the Representative by notice to the Company at any time on or prior to the Closing Date or any Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, which termination shall be without liability on the part of any party to any other party, except that the Company shall continue to be liable for the payment of expenses under Section 6 and Section 11 hereof and except that the provisions of Section 8 and Section 9 hereof shall at all times be effective and shall survive any such termination.

 

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8. Indemnification.

 

(a) Indemnification of the Underwriters by the Company. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, its Affiliates, directors, officers, employees and agents and each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including, without limitation, any and all documented and reasonably incurred legal fees and other expenses incurred in connection with defending or investigating any suit, action or proceeding or any claim asserted, as such fees and expenses are incurred), joint or several, that arise out of or are based upon (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement (or any amendment or supplement thereto), or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading, or (ii) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Pricing Disclosure Package (including any Pricing Disclosure Package that has subsequently been amended), the Final Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), any Preliminary Prospectus, or any road show, or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, in each case, except insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with the Underwriter Information. The indemnity agreement set forth in this Section 8(a) shall be in addition to any liabilities that the Company may otherwise have.

 

(b) Indemnification of the Company by the Underwriters. Each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors, each officer who signed the Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including, without limitation, all documented and reasonably incurred legal fees and other expenses incurred in connection with any suit, action or proceeding or any claim asserted, as such fees and expenses are incurred), joint or several, to the same extent as the indemnity set forth in Section 8(a) hereof; provided, however, that each Underwriter shall be liable only to the extent that any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission was made in the Registration Statement (or any amendment or supplement thereto), any Pricing Disclosure Package (including any Pricing Disclosure Package that has subsequently been amended), the Final Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), any Preliminary Prospectus, or any road show in reliance upon, and in conformity with, the Underwriter Information relating to such Underwriter, it being understood and agreed upon that the only such Underwriter Information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the following information furnished on behalf of each Underwriter: the names of the Underwriters and the information under the captions “Price Stabilization, Short Positions and Penalty Bids” and “Electronic Distribution.” The indemnity agreement set forth in this Section 8(b) shall be in addition to any liabilities that each Underwriter may otherwise have.

 

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(c) Notifications and Other Indemnification Procedures. If any suit, action, proceeding (including any governmental or regulatory investigation), claim or demand shall be brought or asserted against any person in respect of which indemnification may be sought pursuant to any of the preceding subsections of this Section 8, such person (the “Indemnified Person”) shall promptly notify the person against whom such indemnification may be sought (the “Indemnifying Person”) in writing; provided that the failure to notify the Indemnifying Person shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have under any of the preceding subsections of this Section 8 except to the extent that it has been materially prejudiced by such failure; and provided, further, that the failure to notify the Indemnifying Person shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have to an Indemnified Person otherwise than under any of the preceding subsections of this Section 8. If any such proceeding shall be brought or asserted against an Indemnified Person and it shall have notified the Indemnifying Person thereof, the Indemnifying Person shall retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person (who shall not, without the consent of the Indemnified Person, be counsel to the Indemnifying Person) to represent the Indemnified Person in such proceeding and shall pay the reasonable and documented fees and expenses of such counsel related to such proceeding, as incurred. In any such proceeding, any Indemnified Person shall have the right to retain its own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Indemnified Person unless (i) the Indemnifying Person and the Indemnified Person shall have mutually agreed to the contrary; (ii) the Indemnifying Person has failed within a reasonable time to retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person; (iii) the Indemnified Person shall have reasonably concluded that there may be legal defenses available to it that are different from or in addition to those available to the Indemnifying Person; or (iv) the named parties in any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the Indemnifying Person and the Indemnified Person and representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interest between them. It is understood and agreed that the Indemnifying Person shall not, in connection with any proceeding or related proceedings in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for all Indemnified Persons, and that all such fees and expenses shall be paid or reimbursed as they are incurred. Any such separate firm for (i) any Underwriter, its Affiliates, directors, officers, employees and agents and each person, if any, who controls such Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act shall be designated in writing by the Representative; and (ii) the Company, its directors, its officers who signed the Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act shall be designated in writing by the Company.

 

(d) Settlements. The Indemnifying Person under this Section 8 shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent, which consent may not be unreasonably withheld, but if settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the Indemnifying Person agrees to indemnify the Indemnified Person from and against any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense by reason of such settlement or judgment. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time an Indemnified Person shall have requested an Indemnifying Person to reimburse the Indemnified Person for any reasonably incurred and documented fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by this Section 8, the Indemnifying Person agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 45 days after receipt by such Indemnifying Person of the aforesaid request, (ii) such Indemnifying Person shall not have reimbursed the Indemnified Person in accordance with such request, or shall not have disputed in good faith the Indemnified Person’s entitlement to such reimbursement, prior to the date of such settlement and (iii) such Indemnified Person shall have given the Indemnifying Person at least 30 days’ prior notice of its intention to settle. No Indemnifying Person shall, without the prior written consent of the Indemnified Person, which consent may not be unreasonably withheld, effect any settlement, compromise or consent to the entry of judgment in any pending or threatened action, suit or proceeding in respect of which any Indemnified Person is or could have been a party and indemnity was or could have been sought hereunder by such Indemnified Person, unless such settlement, compromise or consent (x) includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified Person, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Person, from and against all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such action, suit or proceeding and (y) does not include any statements as to or any admission of fault, culpability or failure to act by or on behalf of any Indemnified Person.

 

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9. Contribution. To the extent the indemnification provided for in Section 8 hereof is unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an Indemnified Person in respect of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses referred to therein, then each Indemnifying Person, in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Person thereunder, shall contribute to the aggregate amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Person, as incurred, as a result of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses referred to therein (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other hand, from the offering of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement or (ii) 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 hand, in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses, 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 hand, in connection with the offering of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the total net proceeds from the offering of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement (before deducting expenses) received by the Company, on the one hand, and the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters on the other hand, in each case as set forth in the table on the cover of the Final Prospectus bear to the aggregate initial offering price of the Shares. The relative fault of the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other hand, shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or 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 hand, and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.

 

The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of the losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses referred to above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth in Section 8 hereof, all reasonable legal or other fees or expenses incurred by/all documented and reasonably incurred legal or other fees or expenses of such party in connection with investigating or defending any action or claim. The provisions set forth in Section 8 hereof with respect to notice of commencement of any action shall apply if a claim for contribution is to be made under this Section 9; provided, however, that no additional notice shall be required with respect to any action for which notice has been given under Section 8 hereof for purposes of indemnification.

 

The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 9 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in this Section 9.

 

Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 9, no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by such Underwriter in connection with the Shares distributed by it exceeds the amount of any damages such Underwriter has otherwise paid or become liable to pay by reason of any untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11 of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Underwriters’ obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 9 are several, and not joint, in proportion to their respective commitments as set forth opposite their names in Schedule I hereto.

 

For purposes of this Section 9, each director, officer, employee and agent of the Underwriter and each person, if any, who controls the Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the Underwriter, and each director and officer of the Company who signed the Registration Statement, and each person, if any, who controls the Company with the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company.

 

The remedies provided for in Section 8 and Section 9 hereof are not exclusive and shall not limit any rights or remedies which may otherwise be available to any Indemnified Person at law or in equity.

 

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10. Termination. Prior to the delivery of and payment for the Shares on the Closing Date or any Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, this Agreement may be terminated by the Representative by notice given to the Company if after the execution and delivery of this Agreement: (i) trading or quotation of any securities issued or guaranteed by the Company shall have been suspended or materially limited on any securities exchange, quotation system or in the over-the-counter market; (ii) trading in securities generally on any of the New York Stock Exchange, or the over-the-counter market shall have been suspended or materially limited; (iii) a general banking moratorium on commercial banking activities shall have been declared by federal or New York state authorities; (iv) there shall have occurred a material disruption in commercial banking or securities settlement, payment or clearance services in the United States; (v) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of national or international hostilities or any crisis or calamity, or any change in the United States or international financial markets, or any substantial change or development involving a prospective substantial change in general economic, financial or political conditions in the United States or internationally, as in the judgment of the Representative is material and adverse and makes it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offering, sale or delivery of the Shares on the Closing Date or any Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, in the manner and on the terms described in the Pricing Disclosure Package or to enforce contracts for the sale of securities; or (vi) the Company or any of its subsidiaries shall have sustained a loss by strike, fire, flood, earthquake, accident or other calamity of such character as in the judgment of the Representative may interfere materially with the conduct of the business and operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, considered as one entity, regardless of whether or not such loss shall have been insured.

 

Any termination pursuant to this Section 10 shall be without liability on the part of: (x) the Company to the Underwriters, except that the Company shall continue to be liable for the payment of expenses under Section 6 hereof; (y) any Underwriter to the Company; or (z) any party hereto to any other party except that the provisions of Section 8 and Section 9 hereof shall at all times be effective and shall survive any such termination.

 

11. Reimbursement of the Underwriters’ Expenses. If (a) the Company fails to deliver the Shares to the Underwriters for any reason at the Closing Date or any Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, in accordance with this Agreement or (b) the Underwriters declines to purchase the Shares for any reason permitted under this Agreement, then the Company agrees to reimburse the Underwriters for all reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including the reasonable and documented fees and expenses of counsel to the Underwriters) incurred by the Underwriters in connection with this Agreement and the applicable offering contemplated hereby.

 

12. Representations and Indemnities to Survive Delivery. The respective indemnities, rights of contribution, agreements, representations, warranties and other statements of the Company and the several Underwriters set forth in or made pursuant to this Agreement or made by or on behalf of the Company or the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement or any certificate delivered pursuant hereto shall remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter, the Company or any of their respective officers or directors or any controlling person, as the case may be, and shall survive delivery of and payment for the Shares sold hereunder and any termination of this Agreement.

 

13. Defaulting Underwriters.

 

(a) If, on the Closing Date or any Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, any Underwriter defaults on its obligation to purchase the Shares that it has agreed to purchase hereunder on such date, the non-defaulting Underwriters may in their discretion arrange for the purchase of such Shares by other persons satisfactory to the Company on the terms contained in this Agreement. If, within 24 hours after any such default by any Underwriter, the non-defaulting Underwriters do not arrange for the purchase of such Shares, then the Company shall be entitled to a further period of 24 hours within which to arrange for other persons satisfactory to the non-defaulting Underwriters to purchase such Shares on such terms. If, pursuant to the preceding two sentences, other persons become obligated or agree to purchase the Shares of a defaulting Underwriter, either the non-defaulting Underwriters or the Company may postpone the Closing Date or any Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, for up to five days in order to effect any changes that in the opinion of counsel for the Company or counsel for the Underwriters may be necessary in the Registration Statement, Pricing Disclosure Package, the Final Prospectus or in any other document or arrangement, and the Company agrees to promptly prepare any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement, Pricing Disclosure Package or the Final Prospectus necessary to effect any such changes. As used in this Agreement, the term “Underwriter” includes, for all purposes of this Agreement unless the context otherwise requires, any person not listed in Schedule I hereto that, pursuant to this Section (a), purchases Shares that a defaulting Underwriter agreed but failed to purchase.

 

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(b) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the Shares of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters as provided in Section 13(a) hereof, the aggregate number of such Shares that remains unpurchased on the Closing Date or any Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, does not exceed 10% of the aggregate number of all the Shares to be purchased on such date, then the Company shall have the right to require each non-defaulting Underwriter to purchase the number of Shares that such Underwriter agreed to purchase hereunder on such date plus such Underwriter’s pro rata share (based on the number of Shares that such Underwriter agreed to purchase hereunder on such date) of the Shares of such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters for which such arrangements have not been made; provided that in no event shall the number of Shares that any Underwriter has agreed to purchase on such date pursuant to this Agreement be increased pursuant to this Section (a) by an amount in excess of 11% of such principal amount without the written consent of such Underwriter.

 

(c) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the Shares of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters as provided in Section 13(a) hereof, the aggregate number of such Shares that remains unpurchased on the Closing Date or any Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, exceeds 10% of the aggregate of all the Shares to be purchased on such date, or if the Company shall not exercise the right described in Section 13(b) hereof, then this Agreement, or, with respect to any Additional Closing Date, the obligation of the Underwriters to purchase Shares on such Additional Closing Date, shall terminate without liability on the part of the non-defaulting Underwriters, provided, however, that if such default occurs with respect to the Option Shares, this Agreement will not terminate as to the Firm Shares Any termination of this Agreement pursuant to this Section 13(c) shall be without liability on the part of the Company, except that the Company shall continue to be liable for the payment of expenses under Section 6 and Section 11 hereof and except that the provisions of Section 8 and Section 9 hereof shall at all times be effective and shall survive any such termination.

 

Nothing contained herein shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter of any liability it may have to the Company or any non-defaulting Underwriter for damages caused by its default.

 

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14. Notices. All notices, requests, consents, claims, demands, waivers and other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given (i) when delivered by hand (with written confirmation of receipt), (ii) when received by the addressee if sent by a nationally recognized overnight courier (receipt requested), (iii) on the date sent by facsimile (with confirmation of transmission) or email of a PDF document if sent during normal business hours of the recipient, and on the next Business day if sent after normal business hours of the recipient, or (iv) on the third day after the date mailed, by certified or registered mail (in each case, return receipt requested, postage pre-paid). Such communications must be sent to the respective parties at the following addresses (or at such other address for a party as shall be specified in a notice given in accordance with this Section 14):

 

If to the Underwriters:

Aegis Capital Corp.
810 7th Avenue,

18th Floor

New York, NY 10019
Email Address: reide@aegiscap.com
Attention: Robert Eide  

   
with a copy to: Sichenzia Ross Ference Carmel LLP
1185 Avenue of the Americas, 31st Floor
New York, NY 10036
Email Address: bdipaolo@srfc.law
Attention: Barrett DiPaolo, Esq.  
   
If to the Company: Serve Robotics Inc.
730 Broadway
Redwood City, CA 94063
Email Address: Ali@serverobotics.com
Attention: Ali Kashani, Chief Executive Officer  
   
with a copy to: Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP
222 Berkeley St., Suite 2000
Boston, MA 02116
Email Address: avanderlaan@orrick.com
Attention: Albert Vanderlaan, Esq.

 

Any party hereto may change the address or facsimile number for receipt of communications by giving written notice to the others in accordance with this Section.14.

 

15. Successors. This Agreement shall inure solely to the benefit of and be binding upon the Underwriters, the Company and the other indemnified parties referred to in Section 8 and Section 9 hereof, and in each case their respective successors. Nothing in this Agreement is intended, or shall be construed, to give any other person or entity any legal or equitable right, benefit, remedy or claim under, or in respect of or by virtue of, this Agreement or any provision contained herein. The term “successors,” as used herein, shall not include any purchaser of the Shares from any Underwriter merely by reason of such purchase.

 

16. Authority of the Representative. Any action by the Underwriters hereunder may be taken by the Representative on behalf of the Underwriters, and any such action taken by the Representative shall be binding upon the Underwriters.

 

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17. Partial Unenforceability. The invalidity or unenforceability of any Section, paragraph or provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other Section, paragraph or provision hereof. If any Section, paragraph or provision of this Agreement is for any reason determined to be invalid or unenforceable, there shall be deemed to be made such minor changes (and only such minor changes) as are necessary to make it valid and enforceable.

 

18. Governing Law. This Agreement and any claim, controversy or dispute arising under or related to this Agreement, whether sounding in contract, tort or statute, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York applicable to agreements made and to be performed in such state (including its statute of limitations), without giving effect to the conflict of laws provisions thereof to the extent 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.

 

19. Consent to Jurisdiction. No legal suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby (each, a “Related Proceeding”) may be commenced, prosecuted or continued in any court other than the courts of the State of New York located in the City and County of New York or in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, which courts (collectively, the “Specified Courts”) shall have jurisdiction over the adjudication of any Related Proceeding, and the parties to this Agreement hereby irrevocably consent to the exclusive jurisdiction the Specified Courts and personal service of process with respect thereto. The parties to this Agreement hereby irrevocably waive any objection to the laying of venue of any Related Proceeding in the Specified Courts and irrevocably waive and agree not to plead or claim in any Specified Court that any Related Proceeding brought in any Specified Court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.

 

20. Waiver of Jury Trial. The parties to this Agreement hereby irrevocably waive, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and all right to trial by jury in any Related Proceeding.

 

21. No Fiduciary Relationship. The Company acknowledges and agrees that: (i) the purchase and sale of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement, including the determination of the offering price of the Shares and any related discounts and commissions, is an arm’s-length commercial transaction between the Company, on the one hand, and the several Underwriters, on the other hand; (ii) in connection with each transaction contemplated hereby and the process leading to such transaction each Underwriter is and has been acting solely as a principal and is not the agent or fiduciary of the Company or its Affiliates, stockholders, members, partners, creditors or employees or any other party; (iii) no Underwriter has assumed or will assume an advisory or fiduciary responsibility in favor of the Company with respect to any of the transactions contemplated hereby or the process leading thereto (irrespective of whether such Underwriter has advised or is currently advising the Company on other matters) or any other obligation to the Company except the obligations expressly set forth in this Agreement; (iv) the several Underwriters and their respective Affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Company, and the several Underwriters have no obligation to disclose any of such interests by virtue of any fiduciary or advisory relationship; and (v) the Underwriters have not provided any legal, accounting, regulatory or tax advice in any jurisdiction with respect to the offering contemplated hereby, and the Company has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent they deemed appropriate. The Company waives and releases, to the full extent permitted by applicable law, any claims it may have against the Underwriters arising from an alleged breach of fiduciary duty in connection with the offering of the Shares or any matters leading up to the offering of the Shares. The Company further acknowledges and agrees that, although the Underwriters may provide the Company with certain Regulation Best Interest and Form CRS disclosures or other related documentation in connection with the offering, the Underwriters are not making a recommendation to the Company to participate in the offering or sell any Shares at the Purchase Price, and nothing set forth in such disclosures or documentation is intended to suggest that any Underwriter is making such a recommendation.

 

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22. Compliance with the USA Patriot Act. In accordance with the requirements of the USA Patriot Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)), the Underwriters are required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies their respective clients, including the Company, which information may include the name and address of its clients, as well as other information that will allow the Underwriters to properly identify their respective clients.

 

23. Entire Agreement. This Agreement, together with any contemporaneous written agreements and any prior written agreements (to the extent not superseded by this Agreement) that relate to the offering of the Shares, represents the entire agreement among the Company and the Underwriters with respect to the preparation of the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package, the Final Prospectus, each Preliminary Prospectus and each road show, the purchase and sale of the Shares and the conduct of the offering contemplated hereby.

 

24. Amendments or Waivers. No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement, nor any consent or approval to any departure therefrom, shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by all the parties hereto. No waiver by any party shall operate or be construed as a waiver in respect of any failure, breach or default not expressly identified by such written waiver, whether of a similar or different character, and whether occurring before or after the waiver. No failure to exercise, or delay in exercising, any right, remedy, power or privilege arising from this Agreement shall operate or be construed as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder preclude any other or further exercise of any other right, remedy, power or privilege.

 

25. Section Headings. The headings herein are included for convenience of reference only and are not intended to be part of, or to affect the meaning or interpretation of, this Agreement.

 

26. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which together shall be deemed to be one and the same agreement. Counterparts may be delivered via email (including PDF or any electronic signature complying with the U.S. federal ESIGN Act of 2000) or other transmission method, and any counterpart so delivered will be deemed to have been duly and validly delivered and be valid and effective for all purposes.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(c) As used in this section:

 

“BHC Act Affiliate” has the meaning assigned to the term “affiliate” in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. § 1841(k).

 

“Covered Entity” means any of the following:

 

(i) a “covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b);

 

(ii) a “covered bank” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or

 

(iii) a “covered FSI” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b).

 

“Default Right” has the meaning assigned to that term in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §§ 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable.

 

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

 

[signature page follows]

 

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If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please indicate your acceptance of this Agreement by signing in the space provided below.

 

  Very truly yours,
   
  SERVE ROBOTICS INC.
     
  By: /s/ Ali Kashani
  Name:  Ali Kashani
  Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

Confirmed and accepted as of the date first above written:

 

AEGIS CAPITAL CORP.

 

Acting on behalf of itself and as a Representative of the several Underwriters

 

By: /s/ Robert Eide  
Name:  Robert Eide  
Title: Chief Executive Officer  

 

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SCHEDULE I

 

Underwriters

 

Underwriter

  Number of Firm
Shares to
Be Purchased
   Number of Option
Shares to Be
Purchased if the Maximum Over-Allotment
Option Is Exercised
 
Aegis Capital Corp.   10,000,000    1,500,000 
           
           
           
           
Total:   10,000,000    1,500,000 

 

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Schedule II

 

Pricing Disclosure Package

 

Number of Firm Shares: 10,000,000

 

Number of Over-Allotment Shares: 1,500,000

 

Public Offering Price per Firm Share: $4.00

 

Public Offering per Over-Allotment Share: $4.00

 

Underwriting Discount per Firm Share: $0.26

 

Underwriting Discount per Over-Allotment Share: $0.26

 

Number of Representative’s Warrants: 500,000

 

Exercise Price of Representative’s Warrant: $5.00

 

Non-Accountable Expense Allowance per Firm Share: $0.04

 

Non-Accountable Expense Allowance per Over-Allotment Share: $0.04

 

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SCHEDULE III

 

Lock-Up Parties

 

40

 

 

Exhibit A

 

Form of Lock-Up Agreement

 

41

 

 

Form of Lock-Up Agreement

 

April _____, 2024

 

Aegis Capital Corp.

810 7th Avenue

18th Floor

New York, NY 10019

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

The undersigned understands that Aegis Capital Corp. (the “Underwriter”), proposes to enter into an Underwriting Agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) with Serve Robotics Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), providing for the public offering (the “Public Offering”) of shares (the “Shares”) of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company (the “Common Stock”). Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings set forth in the Underwriting Agreement.

 

To induce the Underwriter to continue its efforts in connection with the Public Offering, the undersigned hereby agrees that, without the prior written consent of the Underwriter, the undersigned will not, during the period commencing on the date hereof and ending at the close of business one hundred eighty (180) days after the closing date of the Public Offering (such period, the “Lock-Up Period”), (1) offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, grant, lend, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock, 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.

 

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Notwithstanding the foregoing, and subject to the conditions below, the undersigned may transfer Lock-Up Securities without the prior written consent of the Underwriter in connection with:

 

(a)transactions relating to Lock-Up Securities 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 in connection with subsequent sales of Lock-Up Securities in such open market transactions;

 

(b)transfers of Lock-Up Securities as a bona fide gift, by will, other testamentary document or intestacy or to a beneficiary, family member, trust or other estate planning entity for the direct or indirect benefit of the undersigned or family members (for purposes of this lock-up agreement, “family member” means any relationship by blood, domestic partnership, marriage or adoption, not more remote than first cousin);

 

(c)transfers of Lock-Up Securities to a charity or educational institution;

 

(d)if the undersigned is a corporation, partnership, limited liability company, trust or other business entity, (i) any transfers of Lock-Up Securities to another corporation, partnership, investment fund or other business entity that controls, is controlled by or is under common control with the undersigned or (ii) distributions of Lock-Up Securities to managers, members, general or limited partners, stockholders, subsidiaries or affiliates (as defined in Rule 405 promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended) of the undersigned;

 

(e)if the undersigned is a trust, to a trustee or beneficiary of the trust (provided that in the case of any transfer pursuant to the foregoing clauses (b), (c), (d) or (e), (i) any such transfer shall not involve a disposition for value, (ii) each transferee shall sign and deliver to the Underwriter a lock-up agreement substantially in the form of this lock-up agreement, and (iii) no filing under Section 13 or Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act or other public announcement shall be required or shall be voluntarily made during the Lock-Up Period);

 

(f)the receipt by the undersigned from the Company of Common Stock upon the vesting of restricted stock awards or stock units or upon the exercise of options to purchase the Company’s Common Stock issued under an equity incentive plan of the Company or an employment arrangement described in the Pricing Prospectus (as defined in the Underwriting Agreement) (the “Plan Shares”) or the transfer or withholding of Common Stock or any securities convertible into Common Stock to the Company upon a vesting event of the Company’s securities or upon the exercise of options to purchase the Company’s securities, in each case on a “cashless” or “net exercise” basis or to cover tax obligations of the undersigned in connection with such vesting or exercise, provided that if the undersigned is required to file a report under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act reporting a reduction in beneficial ownership of Common Stock during the Lock-Up Period, the undersigned shall include a statement in such schedule or report to the effect that the purpose of such transfer was to cover tax withholding obligations of the undersigned in connection with such vesting or exercise and, provided further, that the Plan Shares shall be subject to the terms of this lock-up agreement;

 

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(g)the transfer of Lock-Up Securities pursuant to agreements described in the Pricing Prospectus under which the Company has the option to repurchase such securities or a right of first refusal with respect to the transfer of such securities, provided that if the undersigned is required to file a report under Section 13 or Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act reporting a reduction in beneficial ownership of Common Stock during the Lock-Up Period, the undersigned shall include a statement in such schedule or report describing the purpose of the transaction;

 

(h)the establishment or amendment of a trading plan pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act for the transfer of Lock-Up Securities, provided that (i) such plan does not provide for the transfer of Lock-Up Securities during the Lock-Up Period and (ii) to the extent a public announcement or filing under the Exchange Act, if any, is required of or voluntarily made by or on behalf of the undersigned or the Company regarding the establishment of such plan, such public announcement or filing shall include a statement to the effect that no transfer of Lock-Up Securities may be made under such plan during the Lock-Up Period;

 

(i)the transfer of Lock-Up Securities that occurs by operation of law, such as pursuant to a qualified domestic order or in connection with a divorce settlement, provided that the transferee agrees to sign and deliver a lock-up agreement substantially in the form of this lock-up agreement for the balance of the Lock-Up Period, and provided further, that any filing under Section 13 or Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act that is required to be made during the Lock-Up Period as a result of such transfer shall include a statement that such transfer has occurred by operation of law;

 

(j)the transfer of Lock-Up Securities pursuant to a bona fide third-party tender offer, merger, consolidation or other similar transaction made to all holders of the Common Stock involving a change of control (as defined below) of the Company after the closing of the Public Offering and approved by the Company’s board of directors; provided that in the event that the tender offer, merger, consolidation or other such transaction is not completed, the Lock-Up Securities owned by the undersigned shall remain subject to the restrictions contained in this lock-up agreement; f or purposes of this clause (j), “change of control” shall mean the consummation of any bona fide third party tender offer, merger, amalgamation, consolidation or other similar transaction the result of which is that any “person” (as defined in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), or group of persons, becomes the beneficial owner (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d- 5 of the Exchange Act) of a majority of total voting power of the voting stock of the Company; and

 

44

 

 

(k)the conversion of the Company’s outstanding convertible notes into shares of Common Stock as described in the final prospectus relating to the Public Offering, provided that, in each case, such Lock-Up Securities continue to be subject to the restrictions on transfer set forth in this lock-up agreement.

 

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 Lock-Up Securities 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 issuer-directed or “friends and family” securities that the undersigned may purchase in the Public Offering; (ii) the Underwriter 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 Underwriter 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 Underwriter 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 Underwriter 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 representative, successors and assigns.

 

If the Underwriting Agreement is not executed by April 30, 2024, 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, then this lock-up agreement shall be void and of no further force or effect.

 

This lock-up agreement and any claim, controversy or dispute arising under or related to this lock-up agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

 

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Whether or not the Public Offering actually occurs depends on a number of factors, including market conditions. Any Public Offering will only be made pursuant to an Underwriting Agreement, the terms of which are subject to negotiation between the Company and the Underwriter.

 

  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:  
   
     

 

46

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit B

 

Form of Representative’s Warrant

 

 

 

 

 

47

 

 

THE REGISTERED HOLDER OF THIS PURCHASE WARRANT BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF, AGREES THAT IT WILL NOT SELL, TRANSFER OR ASSIGN THIS PURCHASE WARRANT EXCEPT AS HEREIN PROVIDED AND THE REGISTERED HOLDER OF THIS PURCHASE WARRANT AGREES THAT IT WILL NOT SELL, TRANSFER, ASSIGN, PLEDGE OR HYPOTHECATE THIS PURCHASE WARRANT FOR A PERIOD OF ONE HUNDRED EIGHTY DAYS FOLLOWING [●], 2024 (THE “EFFECTIVE DATE”) TO ANYONE OTHER THAN (I) AEGIS CAPITAL CORP. OR A SELECTED DEALER IN CONNECTION WITH THE OFFERING FOR WHICH THIS PURCHASE WARRANT WAS ISSUED TO THE UNDERWRITER AS CONSIDERATION (THE “OFFERING”), OR (II) A BONA FIDE OFFICER OR PARTNER OF AEGIS CAPITAL CORP.

 

THIS PURCHASE WARRANT IS NOT EXERCISABLE PRIOR TO [●], 20241. VOID AFTER 5:00 P.M., EASTERN TIME, [●], 2029.

 

Common Stock Purchase Warrant

 

For the Purchase of [●] Shares of Common Stock

 

of

 

SERVE ROBOTICS INC.

 

1. Purchase Warrant. THIS CERTIFIES THAT, in consideration of funds duly paid by or on behalf of Aegis Capital Corp. (the “Holder”), as registered owner of this warrant to purchase shares of Common Stock (as defined below (the “Purchase Warrant”), to Serve Robotics Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), the Holder is entitled, at any time or from time to time beginning [●], 20241 (the “Commencement Date”), and at or before 5:00 p.m., Eastern time, on [●], 20292 (the “Expiration Date”), but not thereafter, to subscribe for, purchase and receive, in whole or in part, up to [●] shares (the “Shares”) of common stock of the Company, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”), subject to adjustment as provided in Section 6 hereof. If the Expiration Date is not a Business Day, then this Purchase Warrant may be exercised on the next succeeding Business Day. During the period ending on the Expiration Date, the Company agrees not to take any action that would terminate this Purchase Warrant. This Purchase Warrant is initially exercisable at $[●]3 per Share; provided, however, that upon the occurrence of any of the events specified in Section 6 hereof, the rights granted by this Purchase Warrant, including the exercise price per Share and the number of Shares to be received upon such exercise, shall be adjusted as therein specified. The term “Exercise Price” shall mean the initial exercise price or the adjusted exercise price, depending on the context, and the term “Business Day” shall mean a day other than a Saturday, Sunday or any other day which is a federal legal holiday in the United States or any day on which the Federal Reserve Bank of New York is authorized or required by law or other governmental action to close, provided that the Federal Reserve Bank of New York shall not be deemed to be authorized or obligated to be closed due to a “shelter in place,” “non-essential employee” or similar closure of physical location at the direction of any governmental authority if the bank’s electronic funds transfer systems (including for wire transfers) are open for use by customers on such day.

 

 

1INSERT DATE 180 DAYS AFTER EFFECTIVE DATE.

 

2INSERT DATE 5 YEARS AFTER EFFECTIVE DATE.

 

3INSERT 125% of PUBLIC OFFERING PRICE PER SHARE.

 

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2. Exercise.

 

2.1 Exercise Form. In order to exercise this Purchase Warrant, the exercise form attached hereto must be duly executed and completed and delivered to the Company, together with this Purchase Warrant and, subject to Section 2.2, payment of the Exercise Price for the 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. If the subscription rights represented hereby shall not be exercised at or before 5:00 p.m., Eastern time, on the Expiration Date, this Purchase Warrant shall become and be void without further force or effect, and all rights represented hereby shall cease and expire. Each exercise hereof shall be irrevocable.

 

2.2 Cashless Exercise. If at the time of exercise of this Purchase Warrant by the Holder, there is no effective registration statement registering the Shares underlying the Purchase Warrant, then, solely with respect to such exercise in lieu of exercising this Purchase Warrant by payment of cash or check payable to the order of the Company pursuant to Section 2.1 above, Holder may elect to receive the number of Shares equal to the value of this Purchase Warrant (or the portion thereof being exercised), by surrender of this Purchase Warrant to the Company, together with the exercise form attached hereto, in which event the Company will issue to Holder Shares in accordance with the following formula:

 

X = Y (A-B)

A

 

Where,

 

  X = The number of Shares to be issued to Holder;
  Y = The number of Shares for which the Purchase Warrant is being exercised;
  A = The fair market value of one Share; and
  B = The Exercise Price.

 

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For purposes of this Section 2.2, the fair market value of a Share is defined as follows:

 

(i) if the Company’s Common Stock is traded on a national securities exchange, the OTCQB or OTCQX, the fair market value shall be deemed to be the closing price on such exchange, the OTCQB or OTCQX, as the case may be, on the Business Day immediately preceding the date that the exercise form is delivered pursuant to Section 8.4 in connection with the exercise of the Purchase Warrant; or

 

(ii) if the Company’s Common Stock is not then traded on a national securities exchange, the OTCQB or OTCQX and if prices for the Company’s Common Stock are then reported on the “Pink Sheets” published by OTC Markets Group, Inc., the fair market value shall be deemed to be the closing bid prior to the exercise form being submitted in connection with the exercise of the Purchase Warrant so reported; provided, however, if there is no active public market, the value shall be the fair market value thereof, as determined in good faith by the Company’s Board of Directors.

 

If Shares are issued pursuant to this Section 2.2, the parties acknowledge and agree that in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), the Shares shall take on the characteristics of the Purchase Warrant, and the holding period of the Shares being issued may be tacked on to the holding period of this Purchase Warrant for purposes of Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act (“Rule 144”). The Company agrees not to take any position contrary to this Section 2.2.

 

2.3 Legend. Each certificate for the securities purchased under this Purchase Warrant shall bear a legend as follows unless such securities have been registered under the Securities Act:

 

The securities represented by this certificate have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities 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 Securities Act, or pursuant to an exemption from registration under the Securities Act and applicable state law which, in the opinion of counsel to Serve Robotics Inc., is available.

 

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2.4 Resale of Shares. Holder and the Company acknowledge that as of the date hereof the Staff of the Division of Corporation Finance of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) has published Compliance & Disclosure Interpretation 528.04 in the Securities Act Rules section thereof, stating that the holder of securities issued in connection with a public offering may not rely upon Rule 144 to establish an exemption from registration requirements under Section 4(a)(1) of the Securities Act, but may nonetheless apply Rule 144 constructively for the resale of such shares in the following manner: (a) provided that six months has elapsed since the last sale under the registration statement, an underwriter or finder may resell the securities in accordance with the provisions of Rule 144(c), (e), and (f), except for the notice requirement; (b) a purchaser of the shares from an underwriter receives restricted securities unless the sale is made with an appropriate, current prospectus, or unless the sale is made pursuant to the conditions contained in (a) above; (c) a purchaser of the shares from an underwriter who receives restricted securities may include the underwriter’s holding period, provided that the underwriter or finder is not an affiliate of the issuer; and (d) if an underwriter transfers the shares to its employees, the employees may tack the firm’s holding period for purposes of Rule 144(d), but they must aggregate sales of the distributed shares with those of other employees, as well as those of the underwriter or finder, for a six-month period from the date of the transfer to the employees. Holder and the Company also acknowledge that the Staff of the Division of Corporation Finance of the Commission has advised in various no-action letters that the holding period associated with securities issued without registration to a service provider commences upon the completion of the services, which the Company agrees and acknowledges shall be the final closing of the Offering, and that Rule 144(d)(3)(ii) provides that securities acquired from the issuer solely in exchange for other securities of the same issuer shall be deemed to have been acquired at the same time as the securities surrendered for conversion (which the Company agrees is the date of the initial issuance of this Purchase Warrant). In the event that following a reasonably-timed written request by Holder to transfer the Shares in accordance with Compliance & Disclosure Interpretation 528.04 counsel for the Company in good faith concludes that Compliance & Disclosure Interpretation 528.04 no longer may be relied upon as a result of changes in applicable laws, regulations, or interpretations of the Division of Corporation Finance, or as a result of judicial interpretations not known by the Company or its counsel on the date hereof (either, a “Registration Trigger Event”), then the Company shall promptly, and in any event within five (5) Business Days following the request, provide written notice to Holder of such determination. As a condition to giving such notice, the parties shall negotiate in good faith a single demand registration right pursuant to an agreement in customary form reasonably acceptable to the parties; provided that notwithstanding anything to the contrary, the obligations of the Company pursuant to this Section 2 shall terminate on the fifth anniversary of the Effective Date. In the absence of such conclusion by counsel for the Company, the Company shall, upon such a request of Holder given no earlier than six months after the final closing of the Offering, instruct its transfer agent to permit the transfer of such shares in accordance with Compliance & Disclosure Interpretation 528.04, provided that Holder has provided such documentation as shall be reasonably be requested by the Company to establish compliance with the conditions of Compliance & Disclosure Interpretation 528.04. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, pursuant to FINRA Rule 5110(g)(8)(B) and (C), the Holder shall not be entitled to more than one demand registration right hereunder and the duration of the registration rights hereunder shall not exceed five years from the Effective Date.

 

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3. Transfer.

 

3.1 General Restrictions. The registered Holder of this Purchase Warrant agrees by such Holder’s acceptance hereof, that such Holder will not: (a) sell, transfer, assign, pledge or hypothecate this Purchase Warrant for a period of one hundred eighty (180) days following the Effective Date to anyone other than to, (i) the Holder or an underwriter, placement agent, or a selected dealer participating in the Offering, or (ii) a bona fide officer or partner of the Holder or of any such underwriter, placement agent or selected dealer, in each case in accordance with FINRA Conduct Rule 5110(e)(1), or (b) for a period of one hundred eighty (180) days following the Effective Date cause this Purchase 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 Purchase Warrant or the securities hereunder, except as provided for in FINRA Rule 5110(e)(2). After 180 days after the Effective 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 duly executed and completed, together with the Purchase Warrant and payment of all transfer taxes, if any, payable in connection therewith. The Company shall within five (5) Business Days transfer this Purchase Warrant on the books of the Company and shall execute and deliver a new Purchase Warrant or Purchase Warrants of like tenor to the appropriate assignee(s) expressly evidencing the right to purchase the aggregate number of Shares purchasable hereunder or such portion of such number as shall be contemplated by any such assignment.

 

3.2 Restrictions Imposed by the Securities Act. The securities evidenced by this Purchase Warrant shall not be transferred unless and until: (i) if required by applicable law, 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 Securities Act and applicable state securities laws, or (ii) a registration statement or a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement relating to the offer and sale of such securities has been filed by the Company and declared effective by the Commission and compliance with applicable state securities law has been established.

 

4. Piggyback Registration Rights.

 

4.1 Grant of Right. In the event that there is not an effective registration statement covering the Purchase Warrant or the underlying Shares, whenever the Company proposes to register any shares of its Common Stock under the Securities Act (other than (i) a registration statement to register shares under an employee benefit plan or to effect a transaction to which Rule 145 of the Securities Act is applicable, or (ii) a registration statement on Form S-4, S-8 or any successor form thereto or another form not available for registering the Shares issuable upon exercise of this Purchase Warrant for sale to the public, whether for its own account or for the account of one or more stockholders of the Company (a “Piggyback Registration”)), the Company shall give prompt written notice (in any event no later than ten (10) Business Days prior to the filing of such registration statement) to the Holder of the Company’s intention to effect such a registration and, subject to the remaining provisions of this Section 4.1, shall include in such registration such number of Shares underlying this Purchase Warrant (the “Registrable Securities”) that the Holder has (within ten (10) Business Days of the respective Holder’s receipt of such notice) requested in writing (including such number) to be included within such registration. If, in connection with an underwritten offering, the managing underwriter advises the Company that it has determined in good faith that marketing factors require a limit on the number of shares of Common Stock to be included in such registration, the Company shall include in such registration (i) first, the number of shares of Common Stock that the Company proposes to issue and sell pursuant to such underwritten offering and (ii) second, the number of shares of Common Stock, if any, requested to be included therein by selling stockholders (including the Holder) allocated pro rata among all such persons on the basis of the number of shares of Common Stock then owned by each such person as compared to the total number of shares the managing underwriter shall permit to be included in such registration. In connection with any Piggyback Registration, Holder shall pay any and all underwriting commissions (if the offering is an underwritten offering) and the expenses of any legal counsel selected by Holder to represent it in connection with the sale of the Registrable Securities. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, the obligations of the Company pursuant to this Section 4.1 shall terminate on the earlier of (i) the fifth anniversary of the Effective Date and (ii) the date that Rule 144 would allow the Holder to sell its Registrable Securities during any ninety (90) day period. The duration of the piggyback registration right shall not exceed seven years from the Effective Date, in accordance with FINRA Rule 5110(g)(8)(D)).

 

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4.2 Indemnification. The Company shall indemnify the Holder(s) of the Registrable Securities to be sold pursuant to any registration statement hereunder and each person, if any, who controls such Holders within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 (a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange Act”), against all loss, claim, damage, expense or liability (including all reasonable attorneys’ fees and other out-of-pocket expenses reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any claim whatsoever) to which any of them may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, arising from such registration statement but only to the same extent and with the same effect as the provisions pursuant to which the Company has agreed to indemnify Holder contained in the Underwriting Agreement between Aegis Capital Corp. and the Company, dated as of [●], 2024. The Holder(s) of the Registrable Securities to be sold pursuant to such registration statement, and their successors and assigns, shall severally, and not jointly, indemnify the Company, against all loss, claim, damage, expense or liability (including all reasonable attorneys’ fees and other expenses reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any claim whatsoever) to which they may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, arising from information furnished by or on behalf of such Holders, or their successors or assigns, in writing, for specific inclusion in such registration statement to the same extent and with the same effect as the provisions contained in the Underwriting Agreement pursuant to which Aegis Capital Corp. has agreed to indemnify the Company.

 

4.3 Exercise of Purchase Warrants. Nothing contained in this Purchase Warrant shall be construed as requiring the Holder(s) to exercise their Purchase Warrants prior to or after the initial filing of any registration statement or the effectiveness thereof.

 

4.4 Documents Delivered to Holders. The Company shall deliver promptly to each Holder participating in the offering requesting the correspondence and memoranda described below, copies of all correspondence between the Commission and the Company, its counsel or auditors and all memoranda relating to discussions with the Commission or its staff with respect to the registration statement and permit each Holder and underwriter to do such investigation, upon reasonable advance notice, with respect to information contained in or omitted from the registration statement as it deems reasonably necessary to comply with applicable securities laws or rules of FINRA. Such investigation shall include access to books, records and properties and opportunities to discuss the business of the Company with its officers and independent auditors, all to such reasonable extent and at such reasonable times, during normal business hours, as any such Holder shall reasonably request.

 

4.5 Underwriting Agreement. The Holders shall be parties to any underwriting agreement relating to a Piggyback Registration. Such Holders shall not be required to make any representations or warranties to or agreements with the Company or the underwriters except as they may relate to such Holders, their Shares and the amount and nature of their ownership thereof and their intended methods of distribution.

 

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4.6 Documents to be Delivered by Holder(s). Each of the Holder(s) participating in any of the foregoing offerings shall furnish to the Company a completed and executed questionnaire provided by the Company requesting information customarily sought of selling securityholders.

 

4.7 Damages. Should the Company fail to comply with the applicable provisions in this Article 4, the Holder shall, in addition to any other legal or other relief available to the Holder, be entitled to obtain specific performance or other equitable (including injunctive) relief against the threatened breach of such provisions or the continuation of any such breach, without the necessity of proving actual damages and without the necessity of posting bond or other security.

 

5. New Purchase Warrants to be Issued.

 

5.1 Partial Exercise or Transfer. Subject to the restrictions in Section 3 hereof, this Purchase 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 Purchase 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 hereto, the Company shall cause to be delivered to the Holder without charge a new Purchase Warrant of like tenor to this Purchase Warrant in the name of the Holder evidencing the right of the Holder to purchase the number of Shares purchasable hereunder as to which this Purchase 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 Purchase Warrant and of reasonably satisfactory indemnification or the posting of a bond, determined in the sole discretion of the Company, the Company shall execute and deliver a new Purchase Warrant of like tenor and date. Any such new Purchase 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 Securities. The Exercise Price and the number of Shares underlying the Purchase 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 Shares is increased by a stock dividend payable in Shares or by a split up of Shares or other similar event, then, on the effective day thereof, the number of Shares purchasable hereunder shall be increased in proportion to such increase in outstanding Shares, and the Exercise Price shall be proportionately decreased.

 

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

 

6.1.3 Replacement of Securities upon Reorganization, Etc. In case of any reclassification or reorganization of the outstanding Shares other than a change covered by Section 6.1.1 or 6.1.2 hereof or that solely affects the par value of such Shares, or in the case of any share reconstruction or amalgamation or consolidation or merger of the Company with or into another corporation (other than a consolidation or share reconstruction or amalgamation or merger in which the Company is the continuing company and that does not result in any reclassification or reorganization of the outstanding 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 Purchase Warrant shall have the right thereafter (until the expiration of the right of exercise of this Purchase 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 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 Shares of the Company obtainable upon exercise of this Purchase Warrant immediately prior to such event; and if any reclassification also results in a change in Shares covered by Section 6.1.1 or 6.1.2, then such adjustment shall be made pursuant to Sections 6.1.1, 6.1.2 and this Section 6.1.3. The provisions of this Section 6.1.3 shall similarly apply to successive reclassifications, reorganizations, share reconstructions or amalgamations, or consolidations, sales or other transfers.

 

6.1.4 Changes in Form of Purchase Warrant. This form of Purchase Warrant need not be changed because of any change pursuant to this Section 6.1, and Purchase Warrants issued after such change may state the same Exercise Price and the same number of Shares as are stated in the Purchase Warrants initially issued pursuant to this Agreement. The acceptance by any Holder of the issuance of new Purchase Warrants reflecting a required or permissive change shall not be deemed to waive any rights to an adjustment occurring after the Commencement Date or the computation thereof.

 

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

 

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6.3 Elimination of Fractional Interests. The Company shall not be required to issue certificates representing fractions of Shares upon the exercise of the Purchase 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 Shares or other securities, properties or rights.

 

7. Reservation. The Company shall at all times reserve and keep available out of its authorized Shares, solely for the purpose of issuance upon exercise of the Purchase Warrants, such number of Shares or other securities, properties or rights as shall be issuable upon the exercise thereof. The Company covenants and agrees that, upon exercise of the Purchase Warrants and payment of the Exercise Price therefor, in accordance with the terms hereby, all 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.

 

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 the Purchase Warrants and their exercise, any of the events described in Section 8.2 shall occur, then, in one or more of said events, the Company shall deliver to each Holder a copy of each notice relating to such events 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 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, or (ii) the Company shall offer to all the holders of its Shares any additional shares of capital stock of the Company or securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of capital stock of the Company, or any option, right or warrant to subscribe therefor.

 

8.3 Notice of Change in Exercise Price. The Company shall, within 3 Business Days 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.

 

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8.4 Transmittal of Notices. All notices, requests, consents and other communications under this Purchase Warrant shall be in writing and delivered personally, by e-mail, or sent by a nationally recognized overnight courier service to following addresses or to such other address as the Holder or the Company may designate by notice to the other party and shall be deemed given and effective on the earliest of (i) the time of transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via e-mail (with confirmation of receipt from the intended recipient by return e-mail or other written acknowledgment) at the e-mail address set forth in this Section prior to 5:30 p.m. (New York City time) on any date, (ii) the next Business Day after the time of transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via e-mail (with confirmation of receipt from the intended recipient by return email or other written acknowledgment) at the e-mail address set forth in this Section on a day that is not a Business Day or later than 5:30 p.m. (New York City time) on any Business Day, (iii) the second Business Day following the date of mailing, if sent by U.S. nationally recognized overnight courier service, or (iv) upon actual receipt by the party to whom such notice is required to be given:

 

If to the Holder:

 

c/o Aegis Capital Corp.

1345 Avenue of the Americas, 27th Floor

New York, NY 10105

Attention: Robert Eide

E-mail: reide@aegiscap.com

 

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

 

Barrett S. DiPaolo

Sichenzia Ross Ference Carmel LLP

1185 Avenue of the Americas, 31st Fl.

New York, NY 10036

E-mail: bdipaolo@srfc.law

 

If to the Company:

 

Serve Robotics Inc.

730 Broadway

Redwood City, CA 94063

Attention: Ali Kashani

E-mail: ali@serverobotics.com

 

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

 

Albert Vanderlaan, Esq., Esq.

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP

222 Berkeley St., Suite 2000

Two James Center

Boston, MA 02116

E-mail: avanderlaan@orrick.com

 

9. Miscellaneous.

 

9.1 Amendments. The Company and Aegis Capital Corp. may from time-to-time supplement or amend this Purchase Warrant without the approval of any of the Holders 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 Aegis Capital Corp. may deem necessary or desirable and that the Company and Aegis Capital Corp. deem shall not adversely affect the interest of the Holders. All other modifications or amendments shall require the written consent of and be signed by (i) the Company and (ii) the Holder(s) of Purchase Warrants then-exercisable for at least a majority of the Shares then-exercisable pursuant to all then-outstanding Purchase Warrants.

 

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 Purchase Warrant.

 

9.3. Entire Agreement. This Purchase Warrant (together with the other agreements and documents being delivered pursuant to or in connection with this Purchase 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 Purchase 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 Purchase Warrant or any provisions herein contained.

 

9.5 Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction; Trial by Jury. This Purchase Warrant shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the 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 Purchase Warrant shall be brought and enforced in the courts located in the City of New York, County of New York, and State 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 stockholders 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 Non-Waiver. The failure of the Company or the Holder to at any time enforce any of the provisions of this Purchase 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 Purchase Warrant or any provision hereof or the right of the Company or any Holder to thereafter enforce each and every provision of this Purchase Warrant. No waiver of any breach, non-compliance or non-fulfillment of any of the provisions of this Purchase 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.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Purchase Warrant to be signed by its duly authorized officer as of the date first written above.

 

  Serve Robotics INC.
     
  By:  
  Name:  Ali Kashani
  Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

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[Form to be used to exercise Purchase Warrant]

 

Date: __________, 20___

 

The undersigned hereby elects irrevocably to exercise the Purchase Warrant for ___________ shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Shares”), of Serve Robotics Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and hereby makes payment of $____ (at the rate of $____ per Share) in payment of the Exercise Price pursuant thereto. Please issue the Shares as to which this Purchase Warrant is exercised in accordance with the instructions given below and, if applicable, a new Purchase Warrant representing the number of Shares for which this Purchase Warrant has not been exercised.

 

-or-

 

The undersigned hereby elects irrevocably exercise the Purchase Warrant by “cashless exercise” for __________ Shares, with the net number of Shares to be issued to the undersigned determined in accordance with Section 2.2 of the Purchase Warrant.

 

The undersigned agrees and acknowledges that the calculation required by Section 2.2 is subject to confirmation by the Company and any disagreement with respect to the calculation shall be resolved by the Company absent manifest error.

 

Please issue the Shares as to which this Purchase Warrant is exercised in accordance with the instructions given below and, if applicable, a new Purchase Warrant representing the number of Shares for which this Purchase 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 Purchase 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.

 

 

 

 

[Form to be used to assign Purchase Warrant]

 

ASSIGNMENT

 

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

 

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, __________________ does hereby sell, assign and transfer unto __________________ the right to purchase shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of Serve Robotics Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), evidenced by the Purchase Warrant and does hereby authorize the Company to transfer such right on the books of the Company.

 

Dated: __________, 20__

 

Signature    
     
Signature Guaranteed    

 

NOTICE:The signature to this form must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the within Purchase 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.

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT C

 

Form of Lock-Up Waiver

 

[●], 202[●]

 

[NAME AND ADDRESS]

 

Re:Lock-Up Agreement Waiver

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

[Pursuant to Section 7(j) of the Underwriting Agreement, dated [●], 2024 (the “Underwriting Agreement”), among Serve Robotics Inc, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Aegis Capital Corp. (the “Underwriter”), and the Lock-Up Agreement, dated [●], 2024 (the “Lock-Up Agreement”), between you and the Underwriter relating to the Company’s shares of common stock, $0.0001 par value per share (the “Shares”), the Underwriter hereby gives its consent to allow you to sell up to [●] Shares [solely from and including [DATE] to and including [DATE]].]

 

[Pursuant to Section 7(k) of the Underwriting Agreement, the Underwriter hereby gives its consent to allow the Company to issue and sell up to [●] Shares pursuant to an offering of the Shares to commence prior to the expiration of the Lock-Up Period as defined in the Underwriting Agreement[, provided that such offering closes on or prior to [●]].]

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

 

 

 

Exhibit D

 

Form of Lock-Up Waiver Press Release

 

Serve Robotics Inc.

 

[Date]

 

Serve Robotics Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) announced today that Aegis Capital Corp., acting as the Underwriter in the Company’s recent initial public offering of shares of the Company’s common stock, is [waiving] [releasing] a lock-up restriction with respect to shares of the Company’s common stock held by [certain officers or directors] [an officer or director] of the Company. The [waiver] [release] will take effect on [Date], and the shares 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.