UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Date
of Report: (Date of Earliest Event Reported):
THE ARENA GROUP HOLDINGS, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) |
(Commission File Number) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
| (Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip code) |
(Registrant’s telephone number including area code)
(Former name or former address if changed since last report)
Securities registered pursuant in Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of each class | Trading Symbol(s) | Name of each exchange on which registered | ||
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):
| Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) | |
| Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) | |
| Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) | |
| Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging
growth company
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
| Item 1.01. | Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement. |
Amendment to Business Combination Agreement
On December 1, 2023, The Arena Group Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), entered into an amendment (the “BCA Amendment”) to the previously announced Business Combination Agreement, dated November 5, 2023 (the “Business Combination Agreement”), by and among the Company, Simplify Inventions, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Simplify”), Bridge Media Networks, LLC, a Michigan limited liability company and a wholly owned subsidiary of Simplify (“Bridge Media”), New Arena Holdco, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (“Newco” and, following the consummation of the Mergers (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement), “New Arena”), Energy Merger Sub I, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and a wholly owned subsidiary of Newco, and Energy Merger Sub II, LLC a Delaware limited liability company and a wholly owned subsidiary of Newco.
The BCA Amendment was entered into in connection with the Simplify Purchase Transactions described in Item 8.01 below, and amends certain terms of the Business Combination Agreement to reflect the Simplify Purchase Transactions. The BCA Amendment also provides that the Company will take all necessary actions to appoint Cavitt Randall and Christopher Fowler to the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of the Company to fill the vacancies resulting from the resignations of Todd Sims and Daniel Shribman from the Board, as further described in Item 5.02 below, and also amends the form of Nomination Agreement to be entered into by Simplify, 5-Hour International Corporation Pte. Ltd (“5-Hour”) and New Arena upon the closing (the “Closing”) of the transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement (the “Proposed Transaction”), as described below.
Pursuant to the BCA Amendment, the Nomination Agreement (the “Nomination Agreement”) to be entered into in connection with the Closing will provide that Simplify will have the right (i) during the period beginning on the date of the Closing and ending on the date on which Simplify and 5-Hour (together with their respective Permitted Transferees (as such term is defined in the Nomination Agreement)) no longer collectively own at least fifty percent of the total number of New Arena shares outstanding (the “Majority Period”), to nominate such number of individuals for election to the New Arena board of directors (the “New Arena Board”) determined by multiplying (A) a fraction, the numerator of which is the aggregate number of shares of common stock of New Arena (the “New Arena Common Stock”) then owned, of record or beneficially, by SI and 5-Hour, together with their respective Permitted Transferees, and the denominator of which is the aggregate number of shares of New Arena Common Stock then outstanding (in each case, including any options, warrants or other rights entitling the holder thereof to acquire shares of New Arena Common Stock from New Arena), by (B) the then total number of directors constituting the entire New Arena Board, which, as of the Closing, shall be five of the seven total number of directors on the New Arena Board and shall initially be Manoj Bhargava, Vince Bodiford, Cavitt Randall, Herbert Hunt Allred and Christopher Fowler; (ii) following the Majority Period, to nominate such number of individuals as determined by multiplying (A) a fraction, the numerator of which is the aggregate number of shares of New Arena Common Stock then owned, of record or beneficially, by Simplify and 5-Hour, together with their respective Permitted Transferees, and the denominator of which is the aggregate number of shares of New Arena Common Stock then outstanding (in each case, including any options, warrant or other rights entitling the holder thereof to acquire shares of New Arena Common Stock from New Arena), by (B) the then total number of directors constituting the entire New Arena Board; and (iii) in the event of the death, resignation, disqualification or removal of any director nominated pursuant to clauses (i) and (ii) above, to nominate for election an individual to fill the vacancy resulting from such death, resignation, disqualification, removal or other cause (such persons nominated pursuant to clauses (i), (ii) and (iii), the “SI Nominees”).
The Nomination Agreement also provides that the Nominating Committee of the New Arena Board shall nominate for election to the New Arena Board, (i) during the Majority Period, such number of individuals as determined by subtracting from the total number of directors constituting the entire New Arena Board the number of SI Nominees, which, as of the Closing, shall be two of the seven total number of directors on the New Arena Board and shall initially be Ross Levinsohn and Laura Lee, (ii) in the event of the death, resignation, disqualification or removal of any director nominated pursuant to clause (i) above, an individual to fill the vacancy resulting from such death, resignation, disqualification, removal or other cause and (iii) in the event of the removal or resignation of a director nominated by Simplify upon the end of the Majority Period, an individual to fill the vacancy from such removal or resignation.
Pursuant to the Nomination Agreement, Simplify and 5-Hour have also agreed to vote or cause to be voted all shares of New Arena Common Stock owned or controlled by each of them for the director nominees described in the preceding two paragraphs at any meeting of the stockholders of New Arena.
The Nomination Agreement shall terminate on the earliest to occur of (a) the date on which Simplify, together with its Permitted Transferees, no longer owns of record or beneficially in the aggregate at least fifteen percent (15%) of the aggregate number of shares of New Arena Common Stock then outstanding (including any options, warrant or other rights entitling the holder thereof to acquire shares of New Arena Common Stock from New Arena); (b) the dissolution of New Arena; and (c) the consummation of a Change of Control (as defined in the Nomination Agreement).
The foregoing descriptions of the BCA Amendment and the Nomination Agreement do not purport to be complete, and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the full text of such documents, which are attached hereto or will be filed with a Registration Statement on Form S-4, and are each incorporated herein by reference.
Amendment to Note Purchase Agreement
On December 1, 2023, the Company entered into Amendment No. 2 (the “NPA Amendment”) to the Third Amended and Restated Note Purchase Agreement, dated December 15, 2022 (as amended to date, the “Note Purchase Agreement”), by and among the Company, the subsidiary guarantors party thereto, BRF Finance Co., LLC, as agent and purchaser, and the other purchasers from time to time party thereto. Prior to the NPA Amendment, the Note Purchase Agreement provided that failure by the Company to repay $28.0 million in aggregate principal amount of the notes outstanding under the Note Purchase Agreement or failure by the Company to consummate the Proposed Transaction by December 31, 2023 (the “EOD Date”) would constitute an Event of Default thereunder. The NPA Amendment extended the EOD Date to April 30, 2024.
The foregoing description of the NPA Amendment does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the NPA Amendment, a copy of which is included in this Current Report on Form 8-K as Exhibit 10.2 and is incorporated herein by reference.
Voting and Support Agreements
As previously disclosed, the Company entered into voting and support agreements (the “Voting Agreements”) with certain of its stockholders pursuant to which each such holder agreed (i) to vote at any meeting of the stockholders of the Company (a “Company Stockholder Meeting”) all of its Company common stock held of record or thereafter acquired (the “Subject Shares”) in favor of the Proposed Transaction, (ii) to vote its Subject Shares at any Company Stockholder Meeting against any other proposal, action or agreement for an acquisition of, or change in control transaction involving, the Company and (iii) not to transfer its Subject Shares during the term of the Voting Agreement.
In connection with the Simplify Purchase Transactions, the Company terminated the Voting Agreements with B. Riley Securities, Inc. and certain of its affiliates and entered into a Voting Agreement with Simplify with respect to the shares of Company common stock purchased by Simplify in connection with the Simplify Purchase Transactions, in substantially the form filed as Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2023.
The foregoing description of the Voting Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the form of the Voting Agreement, a copy of which was filed as Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2023, and is incorporated herein by reference.
Waiver of Liquidated Damages
Pursuant to certain registration rights agreements and certain securities purchase agreements, the Company had previously agreed to pay liquidated damages to certain purchasers of the Company’s equity securities due to the Company’s failure to register shares of the Company’s common stock and to timely file periodic reports. In connection with the Simplify Purchase Transactions, B. Riley Principal Investments, LLC, the Company and Simplify entered into a Waiver of Liquidated Damages and Release of Claims, dated December 1, 2023 (the “Waiver”), pursuant to which B. Riley Principal Investments, LLC irrevocably and unconditionally relinquished any claims to liquidated damages (or any accrued interest due thereon) that it had pursuant to the registration rights agreements and securities purchase agreements.
The foregoing description of the Waiver does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Waiver, a copy of which is included in this Current Report on Form 8-K as Exhibit 10.3 and is incorporated herein by reference.
| Item 5.02 | Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers. |
In connection with the Simplify Purchase Transactions, on November 29, 2023, Todd Sims and Daniel Shribman notified the Company of their intent to resign from the Board, effective upon the closing of the Simplify Purchase Transactions. The resignations were not the result of any disagreements with the Company relating to the Company’s operations, policies or practices.
Also in connection with the Simplify Purchase Transactions, on November 29, 2023, upon the recommendation of a majority of the independent directors of the Board, the Board appointed each of Cavitt Randall and Christopher Fowler to fill the vacancies created by Mr. Sims and Mr. Shribman, effective upon the closing of the Simplify Purchase Transactions. Each of Mr. Fowler and Mr. Randall will serve as a director until the Company’s next annual stockholders’ meeting, and until his successor is elected and qualified or until his earlier death, resignation or removal.
Neither of Mr. Randall nor Mr. Fowler are party to any transaction required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.
Each of Mr. Randall’s and Mr. Fowler’s compensation shall be consistent with the Company’s policy for non-employee directors, the components of which were disclosed in the Company’s Proxy Statement for its 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 28, 2023, in the section titled “Director Compensation Policies.”
Mr. Randall, age 45, has served as the Chief Executive Officer of MBX Clearing LLC, an investment firm registered broker-dealer that self-clears at Option Clearing Corporation (OCC) since August 2022. Prior to joining MBX Clearing LLC, from August 2018 to August 2022, Mr. Randall was the Chief Operating Officer of SI Capital LLC prior to it changing its name to MBX Group LLC. Prior to SI Capital LLC, from June 2000 to August 2018, Mr. Randall held various executive roles at GE Capital including roles as the Senior Vice President. Mr. Randall has over twenty years’ experience in equity, options and debt trading and holds Series 24 (General Securities Principal), Series 57 (Securities Trader) and FINRA SIE licenses. Mr. Randall holds a Bachelor of Arts in Finance from Michigan State University.
Mr. Fowler, age 64, has served as the Chief Investment Officer of MBX Group, an investment firm where he is responsible for overseeing all investment activity since 2015. MBX Group is an affiliate of Simplify. For 15 years, Mr. Fowler worked as a Managing Director at GE Capital. Prior, Mr. Fowler worked at JPMorgan Chase & Co. as a Senior Vice President of Leveraged Lending for 11 years. Mr. Fowler holds a Bachelor of Science in Business/Industrial Engineering from the University of Southern California.
| Item 8.01 | Other Events. |
On December 1, 2023, Renew Group Private Limited (“Renew”) purchased approximately $110.7 million in aggregate principal amount of the Notes issued by the Company pursuant to the Note Purchase Agreement (the “Notes”), which constitute all of the Notes outstanding thereunder, from BRF Finance Co., LLC and also assumed the role of agent under the Note Purchase Agreement (the “Simplify Note Purchase Transaction”). The indirect owner of Renew also has an indirect non-controlling interest in Simplify.
Also on December 1, 2023, Bryant R. Riley, B. Riley Financial, Inc., B. Riley Asset Management LLC, certain affiliates thereof and certain other stockholders sold an aggregate of 10,512,236 shares of Company common stock to Simplify (together with the Simplify Note Purchase Transaction, the “Simplify Purchase Transactions”).
Additional Information and Where to Find It
In connection with the Proposed Transaction, Newco and the Company will prepare and file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) a registration statement on Form S-4 that will include a combined proxy statement/prospectus of the Company and Newco (the “Combined Proxy Statement/Prospectus”). The Company, Simplify and Newco will prepare and file the Combined Proxy Statement/Prospectus with the SEC, and the Company will mail the Combined Proxy Statement/Prospectus to its stockholders and file other documents regarding the Proposed Transaction with the SEC. This communication is not a substitute for any proxy statement, registration statement, proxy statement/prospectus or other documents Newco and/or the Company may file with the SEC in connection with the Proposed Transaction. BEFORE MAKING ANY VOTING OR INVESTMENT DECISION, INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS OF ARENA ARE URGED TO READ CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY THE COMBINED PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS WHEN IT BECOMES AVAILABLE AND THE OTHER DOCUMENTS THAT ARE FILED OR WILL BE FILED BY NEWCO OR ARENA WITH THE SEC, AS WELL AS ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS TO THESE DOCUMENTS, IN CONNECTION WITH THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION, BECAUSE THESE DOCUMENTS CONTAIN OR WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION AND RELATED MATTERS. Investors and security holders will be able to obtain free copies of the Combined Proxy Statement/Prospectus and other documents filed with the SEC by Newco and/or the Company without charge through the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov.
No Offer or Solicitation
This Current Report on Form 8-K is for informational purposes only and is not intended to and does not constitute an offer to subscribe for, buy or sell, the solicitation of an offer to subscribe for, buy or sell or an invitation to subscribe for, buy or sell any securities or the solicitation of any vote or approval in any jurisdiction pursuant to or in connection with the Proposed Transaction or otherwise, nor shall there be any sale, issuance or transfer of securities in any jurisdiction in contravention of applicable law. No offer of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act and otherwise in accordance with applicable law.
Participants in the Solicitation
The Company, Simplify, Bridge Media and Newco and certain of their respective directors and executive officers and other members of their respective management and employees may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies in connection with the Proposed Transaction. Information regarding the persons who may, under the rules of the SEC, be deemed participants in the solicitation of proxies in connection with the Proposed Transaction, including a description of their direct or indirect interests in the Proposed Transaction, by security holdings or otherwise, will be set forth in the Combined Proxy Statement/Prospectus and other relevant materials when it is filed with the SEC. Information regarding the directors and executive officers of the Company is contained in the Company’s proxy statement for its 2023 annual meeting of stockholders, filed with the SEC on April 28, 2023, its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, which was filed with the SEC on March 31, 2023, and certain of its Current Reports filed on Form 8-K. These documents can be obtained free of charge from the sources indicated above.
Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
This Current Report on Form 8-K contains “forward-looking” statements as that term is defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act, and Section 21E of the Exchange Act, including statements regarding the Proposed Transaction. All statements, other than historical facts, are forward-looking statements, including: statements regarding the expected timing and structure of the Proposed Transaction, including any plans or estimates; the ability of the parties to complete the Proposed Transaction considering the various closing conditions; expectations regarding the related agreements to the Proposed Transaction, including the timing, structure, terms, benefits, plans and each of the parties’ ability to satisfying the closing conditions therein; the expected composition of the board of directors of the combined company; and any assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. Forward-looking statements concern future circumstances and results and other statements that are not historical facts and are sometimes identified by the words “may,” “will,” “intend,” “expect,” “seek,” “estimate,” “plan,” “would,” or other similar words or expressions or negatives of these words, but not all forward-looking statements include such identifying words. Forward-looking statements are based upon current plans, estimates and expectations that are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those indicated or anticipated by such forward-looking statements. We can give no assurance that such plans, estimates or expectations will be achieved and therefore, actual results may differ materially from any plans, estimates or expectations in such forward-looking statements.
Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such plans, estimates or expectations include, among others: (1) that one or more closing conditions to the Proposed Transaction, including that the required approval by the stockholders of the Company may not be obtained; (2) the risk that the Proposed Transaction may not be completed in the time frame expected by the parties, or at all; (3) unexpected costs, charges or expenses resulting from the Proposed Transaction; (4) uncertainty of the expected financial performance of New Arena following completion of the Proposed Transaction; (5) failure to realize the anticipated benefits of the Proposed Transaction, including as a result of delay in completing the Proposed Transaction or integrating Bridge Media and the Company; (6) the ability of New Arena to implement its business strategy; (7) difficulties and delays in achieving revenue and cost synergies of New Arena; (8) any inability to retain and hire key personnel; (9) the occurrence of any event that could give rise to termination of the Proposed Transaction; (10) potential litigation in connection with the Proposed Transaction or other settlements or investigations that may affect the timing or occurrence of the Proposed Transaction or result in significant costs of defense, indemnification and liability; (11) evolving legal, regulatory and tax regimes; (12) changes in economic, financial, political and regulatory conditions, in the United States and elsewhere, and other factors that contribute to uncertainty and volatility, including natural and man-made disasters, civil unrest, pandemics, geopolitical uncertainty and conditions that may result from legislative, regulatory, trade and policy changes associated with the current or subsequent U.S. administration; (13) the ability of Bridge Media, the Company and New Arena to successfully recover from a disaster or other business continuity problem due to a hurricane, flood, earthquake, terrorist attack, war, pandemic, security breach, cyber-attack, power loss, telecommunications failure or other natural or man-made event; (14) the impact of public health crises, such as pandemics and epidemics and any related company or governmental policies and actions to protect the health and safety of individuals or governmental policies or actions to maintain the functioning of national or global economies and markets; (15) actions by third parties, including government agencies; (16) potential adverse reactions or changes to business relationships resulting from the announcement or completion of the Proposed Transaction; (17) the risk that disruptions from the Proposed Transaction will harm Bridge Media and the Company, including current plans and operations; (18) certain restrictions during the pendency of the acquisition that may impact Bridge Media’s or the Company’s ability to pursue certain business opportunities or strategic transactions; (19) Bridge Media’s, the Company’s and New Arena’s ability to meet expectations regarding the accounting and tax treatments of the Proposed Transaction; (20) delays in Bridge Media attracting advertisers or executing its business growth strategy; (21) continued fragmentation of audiences and a reduction in the number of television subscribers; (22) decreases in advertising spending or advertising demand or the demand for Bridge Media programming; (23) increased competition for programing, audiences and advertisers; (24) loss of Bridge Media’s key affiliate customer, Agency 5; (25) changes in government regulations, licensing requirements, or FCC’s rules and regulations and the applicability of such rules and regulations to Bridge Media; (26) failure to identify strategic acquisitions candidates or achieve the desired results of strategic acquisitions; (27) loss of material intellectual property rights for the Company or Bridge Media’s programming, technology, digital and other content; (28) labor disputes, increasing demand for creative talent and union activity; (29) loss of key employees or the inability to attract and retain skilled employees; and (30) inability to or limitations on raising additional capital in the future. The foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. You should carefully consider the foregoing factors and the other risks and uncertainties described in the “Risk Factors” section of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, filed with the SEC on March 31, 2023, the registration statement on Form S-4 discussed above and other documents filed by the Company and Newco from time to time with the SEC. These filings identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and the Company, Simplify, Bridge Media and Newco assume no obligation and do not intend to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. None of the Company, Simplify, Bridge Media or Newco gives any assurance that the Company, Bridge Media or the combined company will achieve its expectations.
| Item 9.01. | Financial Statements and Exhibits. |
(d) Exhibits.
* Certain schedules and exhibits have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(a)(5) of Regulation S-K. The Company agrees to furnish supplementally a copy of any omitted schedule or exhibit to the SEC upon request.
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
| THE ARENA GROUP HOLDINGS, INC. | ||
| Dated: December 5, 2023 | ||
| By: | /s/ Douglas B. Smith | |
| Name: | Douglas B. Smith | |
| Title: | Chief Financial Officer | |
Exhibit 10.1
AMENDMENT
NO. 1 TO
BUSINESS COMBINATION AGREEMENT
This AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO BUSINESS COMBINATION AGREEMENT (this “Amendment”) is made and entered into as of December 1, 2023, by and among The Arena Group Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Arena”), Simplify Inventions, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Simplify”), Bridge Media Networks, LLC, a Michigan limited liability company and a wholly owned subsidiary of Simplify, New Arena Holdco, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Arena (“Newco”), Energy Merger Sub I, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and a wholly owned subsidiary of Newco, and Energy Merger Sub II, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and a wholly owned subsidiary of Newco.
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, the parties hereto previously entered into that certain Business Combination Agreement, dated as of November 5, 2023 (the “Agreement”; any undefined capitalized terms used in this Amendment have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Agreement).
WHEREAS, in connection with the Letter of Intent and prior to the execution and delivery of the Agreement, Arena and each of BRF Investments, LLC (“BRF Investments”), B. Riley Securities, Inc. (“B. Riley Securities”), B. Riley Principal Investments, LLC (“B. Riley Principal Investments”), Bryant R. Riley and B. Riley Asset Management LLC (collectively, the “B. Riley Voting Agreement Parties”) entered into those certain Voting and Support Agreements, each dated as of August 14, 2023 (collectively, the “B. Riley Voting and Support Agreements”), pursuant to which, among other things, each of the B. Riley Voting Agreement Parties has agreed (i) to vote the Arena Common Stock held by such B. Riley Voting Agreement Party in favor of the transactions contemplated by the Letter of Intent, (ii) not to sell, transfer, pledge, encumber, assign, tender, exchange, hedge, short sell or otherwise dispose of any of the Arena Common Stock held by such B. Riley Voting Agreement Party during the term of the B. Riley Voting and Support Agreements and (iii) not to enter into any legally binding contract, option or other arrangement or undertaking providing for such transfer of any such Arena Common Stock during the term of the B. Riley Voting and Support Agreements.
WHEREAS, concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Amendment, Simplify and each of BRF Investments, B. Riley Securities, B. Riley Principal Investments, BRC Partners Opportunity Fund, LP, 272 Capital Master Fund Ltd., Bryant and Carleen Riley JTWROS, Bryant Riley C/F Abigail Riley UTMA CA, Bryant Riley C/F Charlie Riley UTMA CA, Bryant Riley C/F Susan Riley UTMA CA and Bryant Riley C/F Eloise Riley UTMA CA (collectively, the “B. Riley Sellers”) will enter into that certain Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and among Simplify, the B. Riley Sellers, and Arena and the other Note Parties (as defined in the Arena Note Purchase Agreement, as amended, and hereinafter referred to as the “Note Parties”) party thereto (for purposes of Section 4 thereof) (the “B. Riley Stock Purchase Agreement”), pursuant to which, among other things, the B. Riley Sellers will sell to Simplify, and Simplify will purchase from the B. Riley Sellers, all of the shares of Arena Common Stock owned by the B. Riley Sellers, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein.
WHEREAS, concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Amendment, Simplify and each of Boothbay Absolute Return Strategies, LP, Boothbay Diversified Alpha Master Fund, LP, Survivor’s Trust under the Riley Family Trust and Todd Sims (collectively, the “Non-B. Riley Sellers”) will enter into that certain Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and among Simplify, the Non-B. Riley Sellers, and Arena and the other Note Parties party thereto (for purposes of Section 4 thereof) (the “Non-B. Riley Stock Purchase Agreement” and, together with the B. Riley Stock Purchase Agreement, the “Stock Purchase Agreements”), pursuant to which, among other things, the Non-B. Riley Sellers will sell to Simplify, and Simplify will purchase from the Non-B. Riley Sellers, all of the shares of Arena Common Stock owned by the Non-B. Riley Sellers, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein.
WHEREAS, concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Amendment, Arena will enter into that certain Securities Purchase and Assignment Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and among BRF Finance Co., LLC (“BRF Finance”), Renew Group Private Limited (“Renew”), Arena and the other Note Parties party thereto (collectively with the documents, instruments and agreements referenced thereto, the “B. Riley Securities and Assignment Agreement”), pursuant to which, among other things, BRF Finance will sell to Renew, and Renew will purchase from BRF Finance, all of the Arena Notes owned by BRF Finance (constituting the sole Arena Notes issued under the Arena Note Purchase Agreement), on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein.
WHEREAS, one of the conditions to the closing under the Stock Purchase Agreements (the “B. Riley Closing”) is the execution and delivery by Arena and each of the B. Riley Voting Agreement Parties of those certain termination agreements, each dated as of the date hereof (collectively, the “B. Riley Voting and Support Agreement Terminations”), pursuant to which the B. Riley Voting and Support Agreements shall be terminated, conditioned upon, and effective immediately prior to, the consummation of the B. Riley Closing.
WHEREAS, one of the other conditions to the B. Riley Closing is the delivery by each of Todd Sims and Daniel Shribman (collectively, the “B. Riley Board Members”) of duly executed letters of resignation resigning from the Board of Directors of Arena, in each case, conditioned upon, and effective as of, the consummation of the B. Riley Closing.
WHEREAS, in connection with the Stock Purchase Agreements, Arena has required that Arena and Simplify enter into that certain Voting and Support Agreement, dated as of the date hereof (the “Simplify Voting and Support Agreement” and, together with the Stock Purchase Agreements, the B. Riley Securities and Assignment Agreement and the B. Riley Voting and Support Agreement Terminations, collectively, the “B. Riley Transaction Documents”; the transactions contemplated by the B. Riley Transaction Documents, the “B. Riley Transactions”), pursuant to which, among other things, Simplify has agreed (i) to vote the shares of Arena Common Stock owned by it in favor of the transactions contemplated by the Agreement and (ii) not to transfer Arena Common Stock held by it during the term of the Simplify Voting and Support Agreement.
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 12.03 of the Agreement, any provision of the Agreement may be amended prior to the Arena Effective Time by an instrument in writing signed by each party to the Agreement.
WHEREAS, in connection with the B. Riley Transaction Documents and the B. Riley Transactions, the parties hereto desire to amend the Agreement as set forth herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the representations, warranties, covenants and agreements contained herein, the parties hereto agree as follows:
Section 1. Amendments to the Agreement. The Agreement is hereby amended as follows:
(a) Amendment with Respect to Directors of Newco. The text of Exhibit H of the Agreement is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced with the text contained in Appendix A attached to and incorporated by reference into this Amendment.
(b) Amendment With Respect to Nomination Agreement. The text of Exhibit L of the Agreement is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced with the text contained in Appendix B attached to and incorporated by reference into this Amendment.
(c) Amendments With Respect to Arena Note Purchase Agreement. The text of the definition of “Arena Note Purchase Agreement” in Section 1.01(a) of the Agreement (Definitions) is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following text:
““Arena Note Purchase Agreement” means the Third Amended and Restated Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of December 15, 2022, as amended by the First Amendment to the Third Amended and Restated Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of August 14, 2023, and as amended by the Second Amendment to the Third Amended and Restated Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of December 1, 2023, by and among Arena, the Subsidiaries of Arena party thereto, BRF Finance Co., LLC, and the other purchasers from time-to-time party thereto.”
| -2- |
(d) Amendments With Respect to B. Riley Transaction Documents.
(i) The text of Section 1.01(a) of the Agreement (Definitions) is hereby amended to add the following new defined terms in their appropriate alphabetical order:
““Amendment No. 1” means the Amendment No. 1 to Business Combination Agreement, dated as of December 1, 2023, by and among Arena, Simplify, Bridge Media, Newco, Merger Sub 1 and Merger Sub 2.”
““Stock Purchase Agreements” means, collectively, (i) the Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of the date of the Amendment No. 1, by and among Simplify, each of BRF Investments, B. Riley Securities, B. Riley Principal Investments, BRC Partners Opportunity Fund, LP, 272 Capital Master Fund Ltd., Bryant and Carleen Riley JTWROS, Bryant Riley C/F Abigail Riley UTMA CA, Bryant Riley C/F Charlie Riley UTMA CA, Bryant Riley C/F Susan Riley UTMA CA and Bryant Riley C/F Eloise Riley UTMA CA, and Arena and the other Note Parties party thereto (for purposes of Section 4 thereof) and (ii) the Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of the date of the Amendment No. 1, by and among Simplify, each of Boothbay Absolute Return Strategies, LP, Boothbay Diversified Alpha Master Fund, LP, Survivor’s Trust under the Riley Family Trust and Todd Sims, and Arena and the other Note Parties party thereto (for purposes of Section 4 thereof).”
(ii) The text of Section 5.07 of the Agreement (Ownership of Company Common Stock) is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following text:
“Section 5.07 Ownership of Company Common Stock. As of the date of the Amendment No. 1, other than as a result of this Agreement, the other Transaction Documents, the Letter of Intent or the Stock Purchase Agreements, none of Simplify or any of its “affiliates” or “associates” is, or has been at any time during the last three years, an “interested stockholder” of Arena (in each case, as such quoted terms are defined under Section 203 of Delaware Law). As of the date of the Amendment No. 1, other than the shares of Arena Common Stock acquired by Simplify pursuant to the Stock Purchase Agreements, Simplify and its “affiliates” or “associates” own no shares of Arena Common Stock.”
(e) No Additional Changes. Except as specifically set forth in this Amendment, the terms and provisions of the Agreement shall remain unmodified. From and after the date of this Amendment, all references to the Agreement shall mean the original Agreement as amended by this Amendment.
Section 2. Simplify Directors. In connection with the B. Riley Transactions, Arena shall take all necessary actions to appoint Cavitt Randall and Christopher Fowler to the Board of Directors of Arena to fill the vacancies resulting from the resignation of the B. Riley Board Members, effective as of immediately following such resignations.
| -3- |
Section 3. Antitakeover Statutes. Arena hereby represents and warrants to Simplify that as of the date hereof and as of the Closing that Arena has taken all action necessary to exempt the B. Riley Transaction Documents and the B. Riley Transactions from Section 203 of Delaware Law, and, accordingly, neither such section nor any other antitakeover or similar statute or regulation applies or purports to apply to any such transactions. No other “control share acquisition,” “fair price,” “moratorium” or other antitakeover laws enacted under U.S. state or federal laws apply to the B. Riley Transaction Documents or the B. Riley Transactions.
Section 4. Waivers. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the Agreement, including, without limitation, in Section 8.01 of the Agreement (Reasonable Best Efforts), each of Simplify and Arena (each on behalf of itself and its Affiliates party to the Agreement) hereby waives any provision in the Agreement that is, may or could be violated by any term or condition set forth in the B. Riley Transaction Documents, including the consummation of the B. Riley Transactions.
Section 5. Counterparts; Facsimile Signatures. This Amendment may be executed in multiple counterparts and any party hereto may execute any such counterpart, each of which when executed and delivered shall be deemed to be an original and all of which counterparts taken together shall constitute but one and the same instrument. For purposes of this Amendment, facsimile signatures shall be deemed originals, and the parties hereto agree to exchange original signatures as promptly as possible.
[Signature page follows]
| -4- |
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be duly executed by their respective authorized officers as of the date set forth on the cover page of this Amendment.
| THE ARENA GROUP HOLDINGS, INC. | ||
| By: | /s/ Ross Levinsohn | |
| Name: | Ross Levinsohn | |
| Title: | Chief Executive Officer | |
| NEW ARENA HOLDCO, INC. | ||
| By: | /s/ Ross Levinsohn | |
| Name: | Ross Levinsohn | |
| Title: | Chief Executive Officer | |
| ENERGY MERGER SUB I, LLC | ||
| By: | /s/ Ross Levinsohn | |
| Name: | Ross Levinsohn | |
| Title: | Chief Executive Officer | |
| ENERGY MERGER SUB II, LLC | ||
| By: | /s/ Ross Levinsohn | |
| Name: | Ross Levinsohn | |
| Title: | Chief Executive Officer | |
[Signature page to Amendment No. 1 to Business Combination Agreement]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be duly executed by their respective authorized officers as of the date set forth on the cover page of this Amendment.
| SIMPLIFY INVENTIONS, LLC | ||
| By: | /s/ Manoj Bhargava | |
| Name: | Manoj Bhargava | |
| Title: | Manager | |
| BRIDGE MEDIA NETWORKS, LLC | ||
| By: | /s/ Vince Bodiford | |
| Name: | Vince Bodiford | |
| Title: | Chief Executive Officer | |
[Signature page to Amendment No. 1 to Business Combination Agreement]
APPENDIX A
EXHIBIT
H
Directors of Newco
| 1. | Manoj Bhargava |
| 2. | Vince Bodiford |
| 3. | Cavitt Randall |
| 4. | Herbert Hunt Allred |
| 5. | Christopher Fowler |
| 6. | Ross Levinsohn |
| 7. | Laura Lee |
APPENDIX B
EXHIBIT
L
Form of Nomination Agreement
(see attached)
Exhibit 10.2
AMENDMENT NO. 2 TO THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED NOTE PURCHASE AGREEMENT
This AMENDMENT NO. 2 TO THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED NOTE PURCHASE AGREEMENT (this “Amendment No. 2”) is made and entered into as of December 1, 2023, by and among The Arena Group Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Borrower”), the Guarantors from time to time party to the Note Purchase Agreement (as defined below), each of the Purchasers from time to time named on Schedule I to the Note Purchase Agreement, and BRF Finance Co., LLC, in its capacity as agent for the Purchasers (in such capacity, “Agent”). Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the respective meanings assigned to such terms in the Note Purchase Agreement, as amended hereby.
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Third Amended and Restated Note Purchase Agreement dated as of December 15, 2022 (as amended by that certain Amendment No. 1 to Third Amended and Restated Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of August 14, 2023 (the “First Amendment”), by and among the Borrower, the Guarantors party thereto, the Purchasers party thereto and the Agent, and as further as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Note Purchase Agreement”), by and among the Borrower, the Guarantors from time to time party thereto, the Purchasers from time to time party thereto and the Agent, the Purchasers have purchased certain Notes from the Borrower, and the Guarantors have guaranteed the payment of the Obligations, all upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein; and
WHEREAS, the Borrower has requested that the Purchasers and the Agent make certain amendments to the Note Purchase Agreement, in each case, contingent upon the conditions set forth in Section II hereof.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereby agree as follows:
| I. | AMENDMENTS TO NOTE PURCHASE AGREEMENT ON THE AMENDMENT NO. 2 EFFECTIVE DATE: |
Effective as of the Amendment No. 2 Effective Date:
(1) The definition of “Approved SI Deal” in the Note Purchase Agreement shall be amended by replacing the reference to “December 31, 2023” therein to “April 30, 2024”; and
(2) Sections III (I) and (2) of the First Amendment shall each be amended by replacing each reference to “December 31, 2023” therein to “April 30, 2024.”
| II. | CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO EFFECTIVENESS: |
This Amendment No. 2 shall become effective as of the first date upon which each of the following conditions is satisfied (the “Amendment No. 2 Effective Date”):
(1) Amendment Documents. The Borrower and Guarantors shall have delivered or caused to be delivered to the Agent an executed version of this Amendment No. 2.
(2) Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties set forth in the Note Purchase Agreement and the other Note Documents shall be true and correct in all material respects (or in all respects with respect to any representation or warranty which by its terms is limited as to materiality, in each case, after giving effect to such qualification) on and as of the Amendment No. 2 Effective Date.
(3) No Default. Both before and after giving effect to Amendment No. 2 and the transactions contemplated thereby, no event shall have occurred or be continuing or would result from the amendments contemplated hereby that would constitute an Event of Default or a Default.
(4) No Prohibition. No order, judgment or decree of any court, arbitrator or Governmental Authority shall purport to enjoin or restrain Agent or any Purchaser from entering into this Amendment No. 2 or consummating the transactions contemplated hereby.
| III. | MISCELLANEOUS: |
(1) Ratification, Etc. Except as expressly amended hereby, the Note Purchase Agreement and the other Note Documents and all documents, instruments and agreements related thereto are hereby ratified and confirmed in all respects and shall continue in full force and effect. This Amendment No. 2 and the Note Purchase Agreement shall hereafter be read and construed together as a single document, and all references in the Note Purchase Agreement, any other Note Document or any agreement or instrument related to the Note Purchase Agreement shall hereafter refer to the Note Purchase Agreement as amended by this Amendment No. 2. This Amendment No. 2 shall constitute a Note Document for all purposes of the Note Purchase Agreement and the other Note Documents.
(2) Reaffirmation. Each of the Note Parties as borrower, debtor, grantor, chargor, pledgor, assignor, guarantor, or in other any other capacity in which such Note Party grants Liens or security interests in its property, assets or undertakings or acts as a guarantor or co-obligor, as the case may be, hereby (a) ratifies and reaffirms all of its payment and performance obligations, contingent or otherwise, under each of the Note Documents to which it is a party and (b) to the extent such Note Party granted Liens on or security interests in any of its property, assets or undertakings pursuant to any such Note Document as security for or otherwise guaranteed the Obligations, ratifies and reaffirms such guarantee and grant of security interests and Liens and confirms and agrees that such security interests and Liens shall continue in full force and effect and ranks as continuing security for the payment and discharge of the liabilities and obligations secured or guaranteed thereunder (as the case may be) including, without limitation, all of the Obligations as amended hereby.
(3) No Waiver. Nothing contained in this Amendment No. 2 shall be deemed to (a) constitute a waiver of any Default or Event of Default that may hereafter occur or heretofore have occurred and be continuing, (b) except as a result of the amendments expressly set forth in Section I of this Amendment No. 2, otherwise modify any provision of the Note Purchase Agreement or any other Note Document, or (c) give rise to any defenses or counterclaims to the Agent’s or any Purchaser’s right to compel payment of the Obligations when due or to otherwise enforce their respective rights and remedies under the Note Purchase Agreement and the other Note Documents.
(4) Release. Each Note Party hereby remises, releases, acquits, satisfies and forever discharges the Agent and the Purchasers, their agents, employees, officers, directors, predecessors, attorneys and all others acting on behalf of or at the direction of the Agent or the Purchasers, of and from any and all manner of actions, causes of action, suit, debts, accounts, covenants, contracts, controversies, agreements, variances, damages, judgments, claims and demands whatsoever, in law or in equity, which any of such parties ever had, or now has, to the extent arising from or in connection with any act, omission or state of facts taken or existing on or prior to the Amendment No. 2 Effective Date, against the Agent and the Purchasers, their agents, employees, officers, directors, attorneys and all persons acting on behalf of or at the direction of the Agent or the Purchasers (“Releasees”), for, upon or by reason of any matter, cause or thing whatsoever arising under, or in connection with, or otherwise related to, the Note Documents through the Amendment No. 2 Effective Date. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each Note Party hereby waives and affirmatively agrees not to allege or otherwise pursue any defenses, affirmative defenses, counterclaims, claims, causes of action, setoffs or other rights they have or may have under, or in connection with, or otherwise related to, the Note Documents as of the Amendment No. 2 Effective Date, including, but not limited to, the rights to contest any conduct of the Agent, the Purchasers or other Releasees on or prior to the Amendment No. 2 Effective Date.
(5) Governing Law. THIS AMENDMENT NO. 2 SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND SHALL BE CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT ANY SUCH OTHER NOTE DOCUMENT EXPRESSLY SELECTS THE LAW OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION AS GOVERNING LAW THEREOF, IN WHICH CASE THE LAW OF SUCH OTHER JURISDICTION SHALL GOVERN.
(6) Counterparts; Effectiveness. This Amendment No. 2 may be executed via facsimile or other electronic method of transmission in any number of counterparts and by different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be deemed an original, but all of which counterparts together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
[Signature Pages Follow]
| -2- |
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned has duly executed this Amendment No. 2 to Note Purchase Agreement as of the date first set forth above.
| NOTE PARTIES: | ||
| The Arena Group Holdings, Inc., formerly known as TheMaven, Inc., as the Borrower | ||
| By: | /s/ Ross Levinsohn | |
| Name: | Ross Levinsohn | |
| Title: | Chief Executive Officer | |
| The Arena Platform, Inc., formerly known as Maven Coalition, Inc., as a Guarantor | ||
| By: | /s/ Ross Levinsohn | |
| Name: | Ross Levinsohn | |
| Title: | Chief Executive Officer | |
| THESTREET, INC. (as successor by merger to TST ACQUISITION CO, INC.), as a Guarantor | ||
| By: | /s/ Ross Levinsohn | |
| Name: | Ross Levinsohn | |
| Title: | Chief Executive Officer | |
| THE ARENA MEDIA BRANDS, LLC, formerly known as Maven Media Brands, LLC, as a Guarantor | ||
| By: | /s/ Ross Levinsohn | |
| Name: | Ross Levinsohn | |
| Title: | Chief Executive Officer | |
[Signature Page – Amendment No. 2 to Third Amended and Restated Note Purchase Agreement]
| COLLEGE SPUN MEDIA INCORPORATED, as a Guarantor | ||
| By: | /s/ Ross Levinsohn | |
| Name: | Ross Levinsohn | |
| Title: | Chief Executive Officer and President | |
| ATHLON HOLDINGS, INC., as a Guarantor | ||
| By: | /s/ Ross Levinsohn | |
| Name: | Ross Levinsohn | |
| Title: | Chief Executive Officer and President | |
| ATHLON SPORTS COMMUNICATIONS, INC., as a Guarantor | ||
| By: | /s/ Ross Levinsohn | |
| Name: | Ross Levinsohn | |
| Title: | Chief Executive Officer and President | |
[Signature Page – Amendment No. 2 to Third Amended and Restated Note Purchase Agreement]
| AGENT AND PURCHASERS: | ||
| BRF Finance Co., LLC, as Agent and a Purchaser | ||
| By: | /s/ Bryant R. Riley | |
| Name: | Bryant R. Riley | |
| Title: | Co-Chief Executive Officer | |
[Signature Page – Amendment No. 2 to Third Amended and Restated Note Purchase Agreement]
Exhibit 10.3
WAIVER OF LIQUIDATED DAMAGES AND RELEASE OF CLAIMS
This Waiver of Liquidated Damages and Release of Claims (this “Waiver”) is made and is effective as of December 1, 2023, by and among The Arena Group Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”), B. Riley Principal Investments, LLC (the “Holders”) and Simplify Inventions, LLC (the “Purchaser”).
WHEREAS, the Company and the Holder are parties to certain Registration Rights Agreements, each dated as of August 10, 2018, December 12, 2018, October 7, 2019, September 4, 2020 and October 28, 2020, respectively (collectively, the “Registration Rights Agreements”), pursuant to which certain liquidated damages (collectively, the “Registration Rights Damages”) have become payable to the Holder.
WHEREAS, the Company and the Holder are parties to certain Securities Purchase Agreements, each dated as of August 10, 2018, December 12, 2018, October 7, 2019, September 4, 2020 and October 28, 2020, respectively (collectively, the “Securities Purchase Agreements” and together with the Registration Rights Agreements, the “Agreements”), pursuant to which certain liquidated damages (the “Securities Purchase Agreement Damages” and together with the Registration Rights Damages, the “Liquidated Damages”) have become payable to the Holder.
WHEREAS, as of the date of this Waiver, the Liquidated Damages payable to the Holder (including any accrued but unpaid interest thereon), in the aggregate, equals $3,494,954.64.
WHEREAS, concurrently with the execution of this Waiver, among others, the Holder, the Company and the Purchaser are entering into a certain Stock Purchase Agreement (the “Stock Purchase Agreement”) whereby the Purchaser is purchasing from certain Seller Parties (as defined therein), including the Holder, all of such Seller Parties’ Purchased Shares (as defined therein).
WHEREAS, as a material inducement of the Purchaser’s entering into the Stock Purchase Agreement, the Purchaser is requiring that the Holder and the Company execute this Waiver.
NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the undersigned hereby agree as follows:
1. Incorporation of Recitals. Each of the above recitals is incorporated herein by reference.
2. Waiver of Liquidated Damages. Without limiting any other rights or obligations owed to the Holder or any of its respective affiliates by the Company or any of its affiliates, whether pursuant to the Agreements or any other agreement between such parties, in all cases, that do not expressly relate to the rights that the Holder possesses to receive the Liquidated Damages amounts payable to it or any interest that has then accrued thereon, the Holder hereby irrevocably and unconditionally relinquishes any and all rights that the Holder possesses to receive the Liquidated Damages amounts payable to it or any interest that has accrued thereon.
3. Waiver of Claims. Without limiting any other claims or demands of any kind or nature that the Holder or any of its respective affiliates may have against the Company or any of its affiliates, whether pursuant to the Agreements or any other agreement between such parties, in each case, that do not expressly relate to the payment of the Liquidated Damages, the Holder agrees that it will not bring any claim or demand of any kind or nature whatsoever against the Company with respect to any provision in the Registration Rights Agreements or the Securities Purchase Agreements expressly relating to the payment of the Liquidated Damages and acknowledge that any claim by the Holder with respect to the payment of the Liquidated Damages or for breach of any provision in the Registration Rights Agreements of the Securities Purchase Agreements expressly relating to the payment of the Liquidated Damages is forever discharged.
4. Entire Agreement; Counterparts; Governing Law. This Waiver constitutes the entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior negotiations and agreements, whether written or oral, relating to such subject matter. This Waiver may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Execution of a facsimile or PDF copy shall have the same force and effect as execution of an original, and a copy of a signature will be admissible in any legal proceeding as if an original. This Waiver, all acts and transactions pursuant hereto and all obligations of the parties hereto shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York without reference to such state’s principles of conflicts of law that would refer a matter to a different jurisdiction.
[Signature Pages Follow]
This Waiver may be executed in counterparts, each of which will constitute an original and all of which together will constitute one agreement.
| THE COMPANY: | ||
| THE ARENA GROUP HOLDINGS, INC. | ||
| By: | /s/ Ross Levinsohn | |
| Name: | Ross Levinsohn | |
| Title: | Chief Executive Officer | |
[Signature Page - Waiver of Liquidated Damages and Release of Claims]
| THE HOLDER: | ||
| B. Riley Principal Investments, LLC | ||
| By: | /s/ Daniel Shribman | |
| Name: | Daniel Shribman | |
| Title: | President | |
[Signature Page - Waiver of Liquidated Damages and Release of Claims]
| The Purchaser: | ||
| Simplify Inventions, LLC | ||
| By: | /s/ Manoj Bhargava | |
| Name: | Manoj Bhargava | |
| Title: | Manager | |
[Signature Page - Waiver of Liquidated Damages and Release of Claims]
Cover |
Nov. 29, 2023 |
|---|---|
| Cover [Abstract] | |
| Document Type | 8-K |
| Amendment Flag | false |
| Document Period End Date | Nov. 29, 2023 |
| Entity File Number | 001-12471 |
| Entity Registrant Name | Arena Group Holdings, Inc. |
| Entity Central Index Key | 0000894871 |
| Entity Tax Identification Number | 68-0232575 |
| Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code | DE |
| Entity Address, Address Line One | 200 VESEY STREET |
| Entity Address, Address Line Two | 24TH FLOOR |
| Entity Address, City or Town | NEW YORK |
| Entity Address, State or Province | NY |
| Entity Address, Postal Zip Code | 10281 |
| City Area Code | 212 |
| Local Phone Number | 321-5002 |
| Written Communications | true |
| Soliciting Material | false |
| Pre-commencement Tender Offer | false |
| Pre-commencement Issuer Tender Offer | false |
| Title of 12(b) Security | Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share |
| Trading Symbol | AREN |
| Security Exchange Name | NYSEAMER |
| Entity Emerging Growth Company | false |
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