8-K
--12-31 0001653909 false 0001653909 2026-06-12 2026-06-12
 
 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

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

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): June 12, 2026

 

 

Smartbird, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   001-40963   47-3999983

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

 

530 Washington Street

San Francisco, CA 94111

  (628) 225-4848
(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)   (Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Allbirds, Inc.

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

 

 

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 Instructions 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))

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

 

Title of each class

 

Trading

Symbol(s)

 

Name of each exchange

on which registered

Class A common stock, $0.0001 par value   BIRD   The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

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.

 

 
 


Introductory Note:

As described in further detail below, on June 15, 2026, Allbirds, Inc. filed a Certificate of Amendment with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware to change the name of the company to Smartbird, Inc. and to remove references to the company being a public benefit corporation. All references herein to Allbirds, Inc. or the Company, refer to Smartbird, Inc. (f/k/a Allbirds, Inc.), a Delaware corporation (the “Company”).

Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

As previously disclosed, on April 14, 2026, the Company entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement (as subsequently amended, the “Amended Purchase Agreement”), pursuant to which the Company agreed to issue and sell senior secured convertible notes (each a “Convertible Note”) convertible into shares of the Company’s Class A common stock. On June 15, 2026, the Company and the Investor party thereto entered into Amendment No. 1 to the Amended Purchase Agreement (the “First Amendment”) to, among other changes, increase the amount of senior secured convertible notes that the Company may issue and sell by $50.0 million, for an aggregate original principal amount of up to $100.0 million, and solely with respect to the increased amount of Convertible Notes potentially issuable, from time to time, thereunder, increase the conversion price to $4.00.

The foregoing descriptions of the First Amendment and Convertible Note are not complete and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the full text of such agreements, copies of which are filed as Exhibit 10.1 and Exhibit 10.2 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference. The representations, warranties and covenants contained in such agreements were made only for purposes of such agreements and as of a specific date, were solely for the benefit of the parties to such agreements and may be subject to limitations agreed upon by the contracting parties.

Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

Appointment of Chief Executive Officer

On June 12, 2026, the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) approved the appointment of Nadia Carlsten to serve as President, Chief Executive Officer, Secretary and a director of the Company, effective June 18, 2026 (the “Effective Date”). Dr. Carlsten will serve as a Class I director and will stand for reelection at the 2028 annual meeting of stockholders.

Dr. Carlsten brings significant experience in AI and advanced computing platforms, making her a valuable addition as the Company pursues opportunities in the AI infrastructure market. Most recently, Dr. Carlsten served as the Chief Executive Officer of DCAI from August 2024 to January 2026. While there, Dr. Carlsten built and scaled AI infrastructure platforms from concept to commercial deployment, including Denmark’s sovereign AI supercomputer. From May 2022 to August 2024, Dr. Carlsten served as the Vice President of Product at SandboxAQ, a Google spin-off developing AI models and platforms. Prior to that, Dr. Carlsten held leadership positions at Amazon Web Services, including as Head of Product for the AWS Center for Quantum Computing. From 2016 to 2019, Dr. Carlsten held various roles with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, most recently serving as Director of Commercialization. Earlier in her career, Dr. Carlsten held positions supporting the commercialization and deployment of advanced technologies across both public- and private-sector organizations. Dr. Carlsten is a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council - Next Generation Computing and serves as Senior Investment Advisor to Ground State Ventures. Dr. Carlsten holds a B.S. in Chemistry and a B.A. in Physics from the University of Virginia and a Ph.D. in Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley.

Under the terms of the offer letter with Dr. Carlsten (the “Offer Letter”), Dr. Carlsten will receive an annual base salary of $700,000 and will be eligible to receive an annual, performance-based bonus, payable in cash, with a target bonus opportunity of 100% of Dr. Carlsten’s annual base salary. Any actual annual performance bonus amount will be based on the Board’s good faith assessment of Dr. Carlsten’s and the Company’s attainment of performance goals established by the Board in its reasonable discretion.

 


As a material inducement to Dr. Carlsten entering into employment with the Company, the Management Compensation and Leadership Committee of the Board (the “Compensation Committee”) approved a restricted stock unit (“RSU”) award (the “Carlsten RSU Award”) that is intended to qualify as an “inducement grant” in accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4). The Carlsten RSU Award is comprised of 1,532,379 RSUs converting into an equal number of shares of the Company’s Class A common stock. 255,397 shares underlying the Carlsten RSU Award vest as of the initial date of grant and the remaining shares underlying the Carlsten RSU Award will vest in 16 equal quarterly installments on each vesting date thereafter, subject to Dr. Carlsten’s continuous service to the Company as of each such vesting date. The Company’s vesting dates are March 1st, June 1st, September 1st, and December 1st.

Dr. Carlsten was not selected as an officer or appointed as a director pursuant to any arrangements or understandings with the Company or with any other person, and there are no related party transactions between the Company and Dr. Carlsten that would require disclosure under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.

The foregoing description of the Offer Letter does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Offer Letter, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 10.3 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

Board Chairperson

The Board has appointed Lily Yan Hughes as the Chairperson of the Board. Ms. Hughes, who was initially appointed to the Board on October 31, 2025, was chosen for this position because, among other things, she has extensive experience, knowledge and expertise in the technology industry, as well as corporate governance, capital markets and M&A. She spent nearly 18 years at Ingram Micro, one of the world’s largest IT and mobile devices distributors. She also served on the executive team of Arrow Electronics, a Fortune 100 global provider of electronic components and enterprise computing solutions.

The Compensation Committee has approved an annual Chairperson retainer of $50,000, payable to Ms. Hughes in cash, which is in addition to the annual Board service retainer of $50,000, which is the amount that applies to all non-employee directors of the Company.

Further, the Compensation Committee has approved the grant to Ms. Hughes of an award of 125,000 RSUs (the “Hughes RSU Award”), pursuant to the Company’s 2021 Equity Incentive Plan and standard forms of award agreements thereunder. 1/12th of the shares underlying the Hughes RSU Award will vest on the three-month anniversary of the date of grant, and the remaining shares underlying the Hughes RSU Award will vest in 11 equal quarterly installments thereafter, subject to Ms. Hughes’s continuous service to the Company as of each such vesting date.

Departure of Chief Executive Officer

Joe Vernachio, the Company’s current President, Chief Executive Officer, and Secretary of the Company, has tendered his resignation as an officer and director, with his final date of service to be June 19, 2026. Mr. Vernachio informed the Company that his resignation from the Board is not a result of any disagreement with the Company on any matter relating to its operations, policies or practices. The Company thanks Mr. Vernachio for his valuable insights and contributions since joining the Company in 2021.

In connection with Mr. Vernachio’s departure, the Compensation Committee has approved the acceleration of vesting of 50,306 outstanding RSUs and 21,251 outstanding stock options held by Mr. Vernachio. In addition, the Committee approved an extension of the post-termination exercise period for outstanding stock options held by Mr. Vernachio.

Compensation for Chief Financial Officer

The Compensation Committee has approved, effective as of June 18, 2026, a revised compensation package for Ann Mitchell, the Company’s Chief Financial Officer. Ms. Mitchell will receive an annual base salary of $450,000 and will be eligible to receive an annual performance bonus with a target of 50% of Ms. Mitchell’s base salary. Any actual annual performance bonus amount will be based upon the Board’s good faith assessment of Ms. Mitchell’s and the Company’s attainment of goals established by the Board in its reasonable discretion.

 


The Compensation Committee also approved the grant to Ms. Mitchell of an award of 766,190 RSUs (the “Mitchell RSU Award”), pursuant to the Company’s 2021 Equity Incentive Plan and standard forms of award agreements thereunder. 1/12th of the shares underlying the Mitchell RSU Award will vest on the three-month anniversary of the date of grant, and the remaining shares underlying the Mitchell RSU Award will vest in 11 equal quarterly installments on each vesting date thereafter, subject to Ms. Mitchell’s continuous service to the Company as of each such vesting date.

Item 5.03 Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year.

Certificate of Amendment

On June 15, 2026, the Company filed a Certificate of Amendment (the “Certificate of Amendment”) to its Ninth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware to change the name of the Company to Smartbird, Inc. and to remove references to the Company being a public benefit corporation. The Certificate of Amendment became effective upon filing on June 15, 2026. The Certificate of Amendment filing was previously approved by the Company’s stockholders at the Special Meeting held on June 3, 2026.

The foregoing description of the Certificate of Amendment does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Certificate of Amendment, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 3.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

Amended and Restated Bylaws

On June 12, 2026, the Board adopted amendments to the amended and restated bylaws of the Company (the “Amended and Restated Bylaws”), which became effective immediately. Among other things, the amendments:

 

   

change the Company name to Smartbird, Inc.;

 

   

remove all references to the Company being a public benefit corporation, specifically in Article VII, Section 36 and Article XV, Section 50; and

 

   

decrease the quorum requirement for meetings of stockholders from a majority to one-third of the voting power of the outstanding shares of stock entitled to vote in Article III, Section 8.

The foregoing description of the Amended and Restated Bylaws does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Amended and Restated Bylaws, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 3.2 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure.

On June 17, 2026, the Company issued a press release regarding the matters described in Items 1.01 and 5.02 above, including the RSU Award granted to Dr. Carlsten. The RSU Award was not granted under the Company’s 2021 Equity Incentive Plan or any other stockholder-approved equity compensation plan and is intended to qualify as an “inducement grant” within the meaning of Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4). A copy of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.

The information set forth in this Item 7.01 and Exhibit 99.1 attached hereto, is being furnished and will not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise subject to the liabilities of such section. The information in this Item 7.01 and Exhibit 99.1 attached hereto, may not be incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing to this Current Report.

 


Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits

 

Exhibit
No.
   Description
3.1   

Certificate of Amendment to Ninth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company

3.2   

Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company

10.1   

Amendment No. 1 to Amended and Restated Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as of June 15, 2026, by and between the Company and the Investor party thereto

10.2   

Form of Convertible Note

10.3   

Offer Letter between the Company and Nadia Carlsten, dated June 12, 2026

99.1   

Press Release, dated June 17, 2026

104   

Cover Page Interactive Data File (the cover page XBRL tags are embedded within the inline XBRL document)

Forward-Looking Statements

This Current Report on Form 8-K contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements contained in this Current Report on Form 8-K that do not relate to matters of historical fact should be considered forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as “aim,” “anticipate,” “approach,” “believe,” “contemplate,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “goal,” “intend,” “look,” “may,” “mission,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “pursue,” “should,” “target,” “will,” “would,” or the negative thereof and similar words and expressions. Forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations, beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to us. Such statements are subject to a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions, and actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements due to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors, including, without limitation, the risks referred to under the section “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the annual period ended December 31, 2025, as any such factors may be updated from time to time in our other filings with the SEC, which are accessible on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov and the investor relations section of the Allbirds website at www.ir.allbirds.com. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this Current Report on Form 8-K and, except as required by applicable law, we have no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements contained herein, whether as a result of any new information, future events, changed circumstances or otherwise.

 


SIGNATURES

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.

 

    Smartbird, Inc.

Dated: June 17, 2026

 
   

By:

 

/s/ Joseph Vernachio

     

Joseph Vernachio

     

Chief Executive Officer

EX-3.1

Exhibit 3.1

CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT

TO THE

NINTH AMENDED AND RESTATED

CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

OF

ALLBIRDS, INC.

(A PUBLIC BENEFIT CORPORATION)

Allbirds, Inc. (the “Corporation”), a corporation organized and existing under and by virtue of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”), hereby certifies that:

1. This Certificate of Amendment to the Ninth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (this “Certificate of Amendment”) amends the provisions of the Ninth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation (the “Certificate of Incorporation”).

2. This Certificate of Amendment has been approved and duly adopted by the Corporation’s Board of Directors and stockholders in accordance with the provisions of Section 242 of the DGCL.

3. Upon this Certificate of Amendment becoming effective, the heading of the Certificate of Incorporation is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:

SMARTBIRD, INC.

4. Upon this Certificate of Amendment becoming effective, Section Three, Article III of the Certificate of Incorporation is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:

III.

The nature of the business or purposes to be conducted or promoted is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the DGCL.

5. Upon this Certificate of Amendment becoming effective, Section Three, Article VII, Provision B of the Certificate of Incorporation is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:

VII.

B. [Reserved].

6. This Certificate of Amendment shall become effective upon filing with the Secretary of State of Delaware.


***

This Certificate of Amendment to the Ninth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation has been signed by a duly authorized officer of the Company on June 15, 2026.

 

ALLBIRDS, INC.
By:  

/s/ Joe Vernachio

Name: Joe Vernachio
Title: President, Chief Executive Officer and Secretary

 

2

EX-3.2

Exhibit 3.2

AMENDED AND RESTATED

BYLAWS

OF

SMARTBIRD, INC.

EFFECTIVE: JUNE 12, 2026


AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS

OF

SMARTBIRD, INC.

ARTICLE I

OFFICES

Section 1. Registered Office. The registered office of the corporation in the State of Delaware shall be as set forth in the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the corporation, as the same may be amended or restated from time to time (the “Certificate of Incorporation”).

Section 2. Other Offices. The corporation may also have and maintain an office or principal place of business at such place as may be fixed by the Board of Directors of the corporation (the “Board of Directors”), and may also have offices at such other places, both within and without the State of Delaware as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine or the business of the corporation may require.

ARTICLE II

CORPORATE SEAL

Section 3. Corporate Seal. The Board of Directors may adopt a corporate seal. If adopted, the corporate seal shall consist of a die bearing the name of the corporation and the inscription, “Corporate Seal-Delaware.” Said seal may be used by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed or affixed or reproduced or otherwise.

ARTICLE III

STOCKHOLDERS’ MEETINGS

Section 4. Place of Meetings. Meetings of the stockholders of the corporation may be held at such place, if any, either within or without the State of Delaware, as may be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may, in its sole discretion, determine that the meeting shall not be held at any place, but may instead be held solely by means of remote communication as provided under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”) and Section 14 below.

Section 5. Annual Meetings.

(a) The annual meeting of the stockholders of the corporation, for the purpose of election of directors and for such other business as may properly come before it, shall be held on such date and at such time as may be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors. The corporation may postpone, reschedule, or cancel any annual meeting of stockholders previously scheduled by the Board of Directors at any time, before or after notice of such meeting has been sent to the stockholders. Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors and proposals of other business to be considered by the stockholders may be made at an annual meeting of stockholders: (i) pursuant to the corporation’s notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto) of stockholders; (ii) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or a duly authorized committee thereof; or (iii) by any stockholder of the corporation who was a stockholder of record

 

1


at the time of giving the stockholder’s notice provided for in Section 5(b) below and who is a stockholder of record at the time of the annual meeting of stockholders, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who complied with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 5. For the avoidance of doubt, clause (iii) above shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to make nominations and submit other business (other than matters properly included in the corporation’s notice of meeting of stockholders and proxy statement under Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (the “1934 Act”)) before an annual meeting of stockholders.

(b) At an annual meeting of the stockholders, only such business shall be conducted as is a proper matter for stockholder action under Delaware law, the Certificate of Incorporation and these Amended and Restated Bylaws of the corporation, as the same may be amended or restated from time to time (the “Bylaws”), and only such nominations shall be made and such business shall be conducted as shall have been properly brought before the meeting in accordance with the procedures below.

(i) For nominations for the election to the Board of Directors to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder pursuant to clause (iii) of Section 5(a), the stockholder must deliver written notice to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the corporation on a timely basis as set forth in Section 5(b)(iii) and must update and supplement the information contained in such written notice on a timely basis as set forth in Section 5(c). Such stockholder’s notice shall set forth: (A) as to each nominee such stockholder proposes to nominate at the meeting: (1) the name, age, business address and residence address of such nominee, (2) the principal occupation or employment of such nominee, (3) the class or series and number of shares of each class or series of capital stock of the corporation that are owned beneficially and of record by such nominee and a list of any pledge of or encumbrances on such shares, (4) the date or dates on which such shares were acquired and the investment intent of such acquisition, (5) the questionnaire, representation and agreement required by Section 5(e), completed and signed by such nominee, and (6) all other information concerning such nominee as would be required to be disclosed or provided to the corporation in a proxy statement soliciting proxies for the election of such nominee as a director in an election contest (even if an election contest is not involved and whether or not proxies are being or will be solicited), or that is otherwise required to be disclosed or provided to the corporation pursuant to Section 14 of the 1934 Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (including such person’s written consent to being named in a proxy statement and associated proxy card as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected); and (B) all of the information required by Section 5(b)(iv). The corporation may require any proposed nominee to furnish such other information as it may reasonably require to determine the eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve as a director of the corporation and to determine the independence (as such term is used in any applicable stock exchange listing requirements or applicable law) of such proposed nominee or to determine the eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve on any committee or sub-committee of the Board of Directors under any applicable stock exchange listing requirements or applicable law, or that the Board of Directors determines could be material to a reasonable stockholder’s understanding of the background, qualifications, experience, independence, or lack thereof, of such proposed nominee. The number of nominees a stockholder may nominate for election at the annual meeting on its own behalf (or in the case of a stockholder giving the notice on behalf of a beneficial owner, the number of nominees a stockholder may nominate for election at the annual meeting on behalf of such beneficial owner) shall not exceed the number of directors to be elected at such annual meeting. A stockholder may not designate any substitute nominees unless the stockholder provides timely notice of such substitute nominee(s) in accordance with this Section 5(b)(i), in the case of an annual meeting, or Section 6, in the case of a special meeting (and such notice contains all of the information, representations, questionnaires and certifications with respect to such substitute nominee(s) that are required by the Bylaws with respect to nominees for director).

 

2


(ii) Other than proposals sought to be included in the corporation’s proxy materials pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the 1934 Act, for business other than nominations for the election to the Board of Directors to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder pursuant to clause (iii) of Section 5(a), the stockholder must deliver written notice to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the corporation on a timely basis as set forth in Section 5(b)(iii), and must update and supplement the information contained in such written notice on a timely basis as set forth in Section 5(c). Such stockholder’s notice shall set forth: (A) as to each matter such stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting, a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the meeting, the text of the proposal or business (including the text of any resolutions proposed for consideration and in the event that such business includes a proposal to amend the Bylaws, the language of the proposed amendment), the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting, and any material interest (including any anticipated benefit of such business to any Proponent (as defined below) other than solely as a result of its ownership of the corporation’s capital stock, that is material to any Proponent individually, or to the Proponents in the aggregate) in such business of any Proponent; and (B) all of the information required by Section 5(b)(iv).

(iii) To be timely, the written notice required by Section 5(b)(i) or 5(b)(ii) must be received by the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the corporation not later than the close of business on the 90th day, nor earlier than the close of business on the 120th day, prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting; provided, however, that, subject to the last sentence of this Section 5(b)(iii), in the event that the date of the annual meeting is advanced more than 30 days prior to or delayed by more than 70 days after the anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting, or if the corporation did not hold an annual meeting in the preceding year, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so received not earlier than the close of business on the 120th day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the 90th day prior to such annual meeting or, if later than the 90th day prior to such annual meeting, the tenth day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made by the corporation. In no event shall an adjournment or postponement (or the public announcement thereof) of an annual meeting for which notice has been given, or for which a public announcement of the date of the meeting has been made by the corporation, commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above.

(iv) The written notice required by Sections 5(b)(i) or 5(b)(ii) shall also set forth, as of the date of the notice and as to the stockholder giving the notice, the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made and any affiliate who controls either of the foregoing stockholder or beneficial owner, directly or indirectly (each, a “Proponent” and collectively, the “Proponents”): (A) the name and address of each Proponent who is a record stockholder, as they appear on the corporation’s books, and the name and address of each other Proponent; (B) the class or series and number of shares of the capital stock of the corporation that are, directly or indirectly, owned of record or beneficially (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the 1934 Act) by each Proponent (provided, that for purposes of this Section 5(b)(iv), such Proponent shall in all events be deemed to beneficially own all shares of any class or series of capital stock of the corporation as to which such Proponent or any of its affiliates or associates has a right to acquire beneficial ownership at any time in the future); (C) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether oral or in writing) with respect to such nomination or proposal (and/or the voting of shares of any class or series of capital stock of the corporation) between or among any Proponent and any of its affiliates or associates, the nominee (if applicable), and/or any other person (including their names), including, without limitation, any agreements, arrangements or understandings required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 5 or Item 6 of Schedule 13D under the 1934 Act, regardless of whether the requirement to file a Schedule 13D is applicable; (D) a representation that the stockholder is a holder of record of shares of the corporation at the time of giving notice, that such stockholder will be entitled to vote at the meeting and that such stockholder (or a qualified representative thereof) intends to appear at the meeting to nominate the person or persons specified in the notice (with respect to a notice under Section 5(b)(i)) or to propose the business that is specified in the notice (with respect to a notice under Section 5(b)(ii)); (E) a representation whether any Proponent or any other participant (as defined in Item 4 of Schedule 14A under the 1934 Act) will engage in a solicitation with respect to such nomination

 

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or proposal and, if so, the name of each participant in such solicitation and the amount of the cost of solicitation that has been and will be borne, directly or indirectly, by each participant in such solicitation and a representation as to whether the Proponents intend or are part of a group that intends (x) to deliver, or make available, a proxy statement and/or form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the corporation’s voting shares required to approve or adopt the proposal or elect the nominee, (y) to otherwise solicit proxies or votes from stockholders in support of such proposal or nomination, and/or (z) to solicit proxies in support of any proposed nominee in accordance with Rule 14a-19 promulgated under the 1934 Act; (F) to the extent known by any Proponent, the name and address of any other stockholder supporting the proposal on the date of such stockholder’s notice; (G) a description of all Derivative Transactions (as defined below) by each Proponent during the previous 12-month period, including the date of the transactions and the class, series and number of securities involved in, and the material economic or voting terms of, such Derivative Transactions; (H) a certification regarding whether each Proponent has complied with all applicable federal, state and other legal requirements in connection with such Proponent’s acquisition of shares of capital stock or other securities of the corporation and/or such Proponent’s acts or omissions as a stockholder or beneficial owner of the corporation; and (I) any other information relating to each Proponent required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for, as applicable, the proposal and/or for the election of directors in an election contest pursuant to and in accordance with Section 14 of the 1934 Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

(c) A stockholder providing the written notice required by Section 5(b)(i) or 5(b)(ii) shall update and supplement such notice in writing, if necessary, so that the information (other than the representations required by Section 5(b)(iv)(E)) provided or required to be provided in such notice is true and correct in all material respects as of (i) the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting and (ii) the date that is five Business Days (as defined below) prior to the meeting and, in the event of any adjournment or postponement thereof, five Business Days prior to such adjourned or postponed meeting; provided, that no such update or supplement shall cure or affect the accuracy (or inaccuracy) of any representations made by any Proponent, any of its affiliates or associates, or a nominee or the validity (or invalidity) of any nomination or proposal that failed to comply with this Section 5 or is rendered invalid as a result of any inaccuracy therein. In the case of an update and supplement pursuant to clause (i) of this Section 5(c), such update and supplement shall be received by the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the corporation not later than five Business Days after the later of the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting or the public announcement of the record date. In the case of an update and supplement pursuant to clause (ii) of this Section 5(c), such update and supplement shall be received by the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the corporation not later than two Business Days prior to the date for the meeting, and, in the event of any adjournment or postponement thereof, two Business Days prior to such adjourned or postponed meeting.

(d) Notwithstanding anything in Section 5(b)(iii) to the contrary, in the event that the number of directors in an Expiring Class (as defined below) is increased and no public announcement (1) of the appointment of a director to such class, or (2) if no appointment was made, of the newly created directorship in such class, is made by the corporation at least ten days before the last day a stockholder may deliver a notice of nomination in accordance with Section 5(b)(iii), a stockholder’s notice required by this Section 5 and that complies with the requirements in Section 5(b)(i), other than the timing requirements in Section 5(b)(iii), shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for any new positions in such Expiring Class created by such increase, if it shall be received by the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the corporation not later than the close of business on the tenth day following the day on which such public announcement is first made by the corporation. For purposes of this section, an “Expiring Class” shall mean a class of directors whose term shall expire at the next annual meeting of stockholders. 

 

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(e) To be eligible to be a nominee for election or re-election as a director of the corporation pursuant to a nomination under clause (iii) of Section 5(a) or clause (ii) of Section 6(c) of these Bylaws (with respect to any special meeting of stockholders), each Proponent must deliver (in accordance with the time periods prescribed for delivery of notice under Sections 5(b)(iii), 5(d) or 6(c), as applicable) to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the corporation a written questionnaire with respect to the background, qualifications, stock ownership and independence of such proposed nominee and the background of any other person or entity on whose behalf the nomination is being made (in the form provided by the Secretary within ten days following a written request therefor by a stockholder of record) and a written representation and agreement (in the form provided by the Secretary within ten days following a written request therefor by a stockholder of record) that such person (i) is not and will not become a party to (A) any agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether oral or in writing) with, and has not given any commitment or assurance to, any person or entity as to how such person, if elected as a director of the corporation, will act or vote on any issue or question (a “Voting Commitment”) that has not been disclosed to the corporation in the questionnaire or (B) any Voting Commitment that could limit or interfere with such person’s ability to comply, if elected as a director of the corporation, with such person’s fiduciary duties under applicable law; (ii) is not and will not become a party to any agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether oral or in writing) with any person or entity other than the corporation with respect to any direct or indirect compensation, reimbursement or indemnification in connection with service or action as a director of the corporation or nominee that has not been disclosed in such questionnaire; (iii) would be in compliance, if elected as a director of the corporation, and will comply with, all applicable publicly disclosed corporate governance, conflict of interest, confidentiality and stock ownership and trading policies and guidelines of the corporation; and (iv) if elected as a director of the corporation, intends to serve the entire term until the next meeting at which such candidate would face re-election.

(f) A person shall not be eligible for election or re-election as a director unless the person is nominated, in the case of an annual meeting, in accordance with either clause (ii) or (iii) of Section 5(a), and in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 5(b), Section 5(c), Section 5(d), Section 5(e), Section 5(f) and Section 5(g), as applicable, or in the case of any special meeting of stockholders, in accordance with Section 6(c) and the requirements thereof. Only such business shall be conducted at any annual meeting of the stockholders of the corporation as shall have been brought before the meeting in accordance with clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) of Section 5(a) and in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 5(b), Section 5(c), Section 5(f) and Section 5(g), as applicable. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in these Bylaws, unless otherwise required by applicable law, if any Proponent (i) provides notice pursuant to Rule 14a-19(b) promulgated under the 1934 Act with respect to any proposed nominee and (ii) subsequently (x) fails to comply with the requirements of Rule 14a-19 promulgated under the 1934 Act (or fails to timely provide reasonable evidence sufficient to satisfy the corporation that such Proponent has met the requirements of Rule 14a-19(a)(3) promulgated under the 1934 Act in accordance with the next sentence) or (y) fails to inform the corporation that such Proponent no longer plans to solicit proxies in accordance with the requirements of Rule 14a-19 promulgated under the 1934 Act by delivering a written notice to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the corporation within two Business Days after the occurrence of such change, then the nomination of each such proposed nominee shall be disregarded (and such nominee disqualified from standing for election or re-election), notwithstanding that the nominee is included (as applicable) as a nominee in the corporation’s proxy statement, notice of meeting or other proxy materials for any stockholder meeting (or any supplement thereto) and notwithstanding that proxies or votes in respect of the election of such proposed nominees may have been received by the corporation (which proxies and votes shall be disregarded). If any Proponent provides notice pursuant to Rule 14a-19(b) promulgated under the 1934 Act, such Proponent shall deliver to the corporation, no later than five Business Days prior to the applicable meeting, reasonable evidence that it has met the requirements of Rule 14a-19(a)(3) promulgated under the 1934 Act. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, and for the avoidance of doubt, the nomination of any person whose name is included (as applicable) as a nominee in the corporation’s proxy statement, notice of meeting or other proxy materials for any

 

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stockholder meeting (or any supplement thereto) as a result of any notice provided by any Proponent pursuant to Rule 14a-19(b) promulgated under the 1934 Act with respect to such proposed nominee and whose nomination is not made by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or any authorized committee thereof shall not be deemed (for purposes of clause (i) of Section 5(a) or otherwise) to have been made pursuant to the corporation’s notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto) and any such nominee may only be nominated by a Proponent pursuant to clause (iii) of Section 5(a) (and, in the case of a special meeting of stockholders pursuant to and to the extent permitted under Section 6(c) of these Bylaws). Except as otherwise required by applicable law, the chairperson of the meeting shall have the power and duty to determine whether a nomination or any business proposed to be brought before the meeting was made, or proposed, as the case may be, in accordance with the procedures and requirements set forth in these Bylaws (including, without limitation, compliance with Rule 14a-19 promulgated under the 1934 Act) and, if any proposed nomination or business is not in compliance with these Bylaws, or the Proponent does not act in accordance with the representations required by this Section 5, to declare that such proposal or nomination shall not be presented for stockholder action at the meeting and shall be disregarded (and such nominee disqualified from standing for election or re-election), or that such business shall not be transacted, notwithstanding that such proposal or nomination is set forth in (as applicable) the corporation’s proxy statement, notice of meeting, or other proxy materials and notwithstanding that proxies or votes in respect of such nomination or such business may have been solicited or received. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 5, unless otherwise required by applicable law, if the stockholder (or a qualified representative of the stockholder) does not appear at the annual meeting of stockholders of the corporation to present a nomination or proposed business, such nomination shall be disregarded (and such nominee disqualified from standing for election or re-election) and such proposed business shall not be transacted, notwithstanding that such nomination or proposed business is set forth in (as applicable) the corporation’s proxy statement, notice of meeting or other proxy materials and notwithstanding that proxies or votes in respect of such vote may have been solicited or received by the corporation. For purposes of this Section 5, to be considered a qualified representative of the stockholder, a person must be a duly authorized officer, manager or partner of such stockholder or must be authorized by a writing executed by such stockholder or an electronic transmission delivered by such stockholder to act for such stockholder as proxy at the meeting of stockholders, which writing or electronic transmission, or a reliable reproduction of the writing or electronic transmission, shall be provided to the Secretary of the corporation at least five Business Days prior to the meeting of stockholders.

(g) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 5, in order to include information with respect to a stockholder proposal in the proxy statement and form of proxy for a stockholders’ meeting, a stockholder must also comply with all applicable requirements of the 1934 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder and any violation thereof shall be deemed a violation of these Bylaws. Nothing in these Bylaws shall be deemed to affect any rights of (i) stockholders to request inclusion of proposals in the corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the 1934 Act; provided, however, that any references in these Bylaws to the 1934 Act or the rules and regulations thereunder are not intended to and shall not limit the requirements applicable to proposals and/or nominations to be considered pursuant to Section 5(a)(iii) of these Bylaws, or (ii) the holders of any class or series of stock having a preference over the common stock as to dividends or upon liquidation to make nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors if and to the extent provided for under applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws.

(h) For purposes of Sections 5 and 6,

(i) affiliates” and “associates” shall have the meanings set forth in Rule 405 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”);

 

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(ii) Business Day” means any day other than Saturday, Sunday or a day on which banks are closed in New York City, New York;

(iii) close of business” means 5:00 p.m. local time at the principal executive offices of the corporation on any calendar day, whether or not the day is a Business Day;

(iv) Derivative Transaction” means any agreement, arrangement, interest or understanding entered into by, or on behalf or for the benefit of, any Proponent or any of its affiliates or associates, whether record or beneficial:

(A) the value of which is derived in whole or in part from the value of any class or series of shares or other securities of the corporation;

(B) that otherwise provides any direct or indirect opportunity to gain or share in any gain derived from a change in the value of securities of the corporation;

(C) the effect or intent of which is to mitigate loss, manage risk or benefit from changes in value or price with respect to any securities of the corporation; or

(D) that provides the right to vote or increase or decrease the voting power of, such Proponent, or any of its affiliates or associates, directly or indirectly, with respect to any securities of the corporation,

which agreement, arrangement, interest or understanding may include, without limitation, any option, warrant, debt position, note, bond, convertible security, swap, stock appreciation or similar right, short position, profit interest, hedge, right to dividends, voting agreement, performance-related fee or arrangement to borrow or lend shares (whether or not subject to payment, settlement, exercise or conversion in any such class or series), and any proportionate interest of such Proponent in the securities of the corporation held by any general or limited partnership, or any limited liability company, of which such Proponent is, directly or indirectly, a general partner or managing member; and

(v) public announcement” shall mean disclosure in a press release reported by the Dow Jones Newswires, Associated Press, Business Wire, GlobeNewswire or comparable national news service or in a document publicly filed by the corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the 1934 Act or by such other means reasonably designed to inform the public or security holders in general of such information, including, without limitation, posting on the corporation’s investor relations website.

Section 6. Special Meetings.

(a) Special meetings of the stockholders of the corporation may be called, for any purpose as is a proper matter for stockholder action under Delaware law, by (i) the Chairperson of the Board of Directors, (ii) any Chief Executive Officer, or (iii) the Board of Directors pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the total number of authorized directors (whether or not there exist any vacancies in previously authorized directorships at the time any such resolution is presented to the Board of Directors for adoption). The corporation may postpone, reschedule, or cancel any special meeting of stockholders previously scheduled by the Board of Directors at any time, before or after notice of such meeting has been sent to the stockholders.

 

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(b) The Board of Directors shall determine the time and place, if any, of such special meeting. Upon determination of the time and place, if any, of the meeting, the Secretary shall cause a notice of meeting to be given to the stockholders entitled to vote, in accordance with the provisions of Section 7. No business may be transacted at such special meeting otherwise than specified in the notice of meeting.

(c) Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors may be made at a special meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected (i) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or a duly authorized committee thereof or (ii) by any stockholder of the corporation who is a stockholder of record at the time of giving notice provided for in this paragraph, who is a stockholder of record at the time of the special meeting of stockholders, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who complied with Sections 5(b)(i), 5(b)(iv), 5(c), 5(e) and 5(f). The number of nominees a stockholder may nominate for election at the special meeting on its own behalf (or in the case of a stockholder giving the notice on behalf of a beneficial owner, the number of nominees a stockholder may nominate for election at the special meeting on behalf of such beneficial owner) shall not exceed the number of directors to be elected at such special meeting. In the event the corporation calls a special meeting of stockholders for the purpose of electing one or more directors to the Board of Directors, any such stockholder of record entitled to vote in such election of directors may nominate a person or persons (as the case may be), for election to such position(s) as specified in the corporation’s notice of meeting, if written notice setting forth the information required by Section 5(b)(i) of these Bylaws shall be received by the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the corporation not earlier than the close of business on the 120th day prior to such special meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the 90th day prior to such meeting or the tenth day following the day on which the corporation first makes a public announcement of the date of the special meeting and of the nominees proposed by the Board of Directors to be elected at such meeting. In no event shall an adjournment or a postponement of a special meeting for which notice has been given, or the public announcement thereof has been made, commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above.

(d) A person shall not be eligible for election or re-election as a director at the special meeting unless the person is nominated either in accordance with clause (i) or clause (ii) of Section 6(c) of these Bylaws. Except as otherwise required by applicable law, the chairperson of the special meeting shall have the power and duty to determine whether a nomination was made in accordance with the procedures and requirements set forth in these Bylaws and, if any proposed nomination or business is not in compliance with these Bylaws (including, without limitation, compliance with Rule 14a-19 promulgated under the 1934 Act), or if the Proponent does not act in accordance with the representations required by Section 5, to declare that such nomination shall not be presented for stockholder action at the meeting and shall be disregarded (and such nominee disqualified from standing for election or re-election), notwithstanding that such nomination is set forth in (as applicable) the corporation’s proxy statement, notice of meeting or other proxy materials and notwithstanding that proxies or votes in respect of such nomination may have been solicited or received. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 6, unless otherwise required by applicable law, if the stockholder (or a qualified representative of the stockholder (meeting the requirements specified in Section 5(f)) does not appear at the special meeting of stockholders of the corporation to present a nomination, such nomination shall be disregarded (and such nominee disqualified from standing for election or re-election), notwithstanding that the nomination is set forth in (as applicable) the corporation’s proxy statement, notice of meeting or other proxy materials and notwithstanding that proxies or votes in respect of such nomination may have been solicited or received by the corporation.

(e) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 6, a stockholder must also comply with all applicable requirements of the 1934 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to matters set forth in this Section 6 and any violation thereof shall be deemed a violation of these Bylaws. Nothing in these Bylaws shall be deemed to affect any rights of (i) stockholders to request inclusion of proposals in the corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the 1934 Act; provided, however, that any references in these Bylaws to the 1934 Act or the rules and regulations thereunder are not intended to and shall not limit the requirements applicable to nominations for the election to the Board

 

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of Directors or proposals of other business to be considered pursuant to Section 6(c) of these Bylaws, or (ii) the holders of any class or series of stock having a preference over the common stock as to dividends or upon liquidation to make nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors if and to the extent provided for under applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws.

Section 7. Notice of Meetings. Except as otherwise provided by applicable law, notice of each meeting of stockholders shall be given not less than ten nor more than 60 days before the date of the meeting to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting as of the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of such meeting. Such notice shall specify the place, if any, date and hour of such meeting, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, if such record date is different from the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting, in the case of special meetings, the purpose or purposes of the meeting, and the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxyholders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at any such meeting. Notice shall be deemed given as provided in Section 232 of the DGCL.

Section 8. Quorum and Vote Required. At all meetings of stockholders, except where otherwise required by statute or by the Certificate of Incorporation, or by the Bylaws, the presence, in person, by remote communication, if applicable, or by proxy duly authorized, of the holders of one-third of the voting power of the outstanding shares of stock entitled to vote at the meeting shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. In the absence of a quorum, any meeting of stockholders may be adjourned, from time to time, either by the chairperson of the meeting or by vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of the shares represented thereat and entitled to vote thereon, but no other business shall be transacted at such meeting. The stockholders present at a duly called or convened meeting, at which a quorum is present, may continue to transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough stockholders to leave less than a quorum.

Except as otherwise provided by statute or by applicable stock exchange rules, or by the Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws, in all matters other than the election of directors, the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of the shares present in person, by remote communication, if applicable, or represented by proxy duly authorized at the meeting and voting affirmatively or negatively (excluding abstentions and broker non-votes) on such matter shall be the act of the stockholders. Except as otherwise required by statute, the Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws, directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes of the shares present in person, by remote communication, if applicable, or represented by proxy duly authorized at the meeting and entitled to vote generally on the election of directors. Where a separate vote by a class or classes or series is required, except where otherwise required by statute or by the Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws or any applicable stock exchange rules, a majority of the voting power of the outstanding shares of such class or classes or series, present in person, by remote communication, if applicable, or represented by proxy duly authorized at the meeting, shall constitute a quorum entitled to take action with respect to that vote on that matter. Except where otherwise provided by statute or by the Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws or any applicable stock exchange rules, the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority (plurality, in the case of the election of directors) of the voting power of the shares of such class or classes or series present in person, by remote communication, if applicable, or represented by proxy duly authorized at the meeting and voting affirmatively or negatively (excluding abstention and broker non-votes) on such matter shall be the act of such class or classes or series.

Section 9. Adjournment and Notice of Adjourned Meetings. Any meeting of stockholders, whether annual or special, may be adjourned from time to time either by the chairperson of the meeting, by any duly authorized officer of the corporation, or by the holders of a majority of the voting power of the shares present in person, by remote communication, if applicable, or represented by proxy duly authorized at the meeting and entitled to vote on the matter. The meeting may be adjourned for any purpose, including, but not limited to, allowing additional time to solicit votes on one or more matters, to disseminate additional

 

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information to stockholders, or to count votes. When a meeting is adjourned to another time or place, if any, including an adjournment taken to address a technical failure to convene or continue a meeting using remote communication, notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting if the time and place, if any, thereof and the means of remote communication, if any, by which stockholders and proxyholders may be deemed present in person and may vote at such meeting are (i) announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken, (ii) displayed, during the time scheduled for the meeting, on the same electronic network used to enable stockholders and proxyholders to participate in the meeting by means of remote communication, or (iii) set forth in the notice of meeting given in accordance with Section 7 of these Bylaws. Upon being reconvened, the adjourned meeting shall be deemed to be a continuation of the original meeting. At the adjourned meeting, the corporation may transact any business that might have been transacted at the original meeting. If the adjournment is for more than 30 days, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting. If after the adjournment a new record date for stockholders entitled to vote is fixed for the adjourned meeting, the Board of Directors shall fix a new record date for notice of such adjourned meeting in accordance with Section 39(a) of these Bylaws, and shall give notice of the adjourned meeting to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at such adjourned meeting as of the record date fixed for notice of such adjourned meeting.

Section 10. Voting Rights. For the purpose of determining those stockholders entitled to vote at any meeting of the stockholders or adjournment thereof, except as otherwise provided by applicable law, only persons in whose names shares stand on the stock records of the corporation on the record date, as provided in Section 12 of these Bylaws, shall be entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders. Each stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders may authorize another person or persons to act for such stockholder by proxy. No proxy shall be voted after three years from its date of creation unless the proxy provides for a longer period. Any stockholder directly or indirectly soliciting proxies from other stockholders must use a proxy card color other than white, which shall be reserved for the exclusive use of the Board of Directors.

Section 11. Joint Owners of Stock. If shares or other securities having voting power stand of record in the names of two or more persons, whether fiduciaries, members of a partnership, joint tenants, tenants in common, tenants by the entirety, or otherwise, or if two or more persons have the same fiduciary relationship respecting the same shares, unless the Secretary is given written notice to the contrary and is furnished with a copy of the instrument or order appointing them or creating the relationship wherein it is so provided, their acts with respect to voting shall have the following effect: (a) if only one votes, his or her act binds all; (b) if more than one votes, the act of the majority so voting binds all; or (c) if more than one votes, but the vote is evenly split on any particular matter, each faction may vote the securities in question proportionally, or any person voting the shares, or a beneficiary, if any, may apply to the Delaware Court of Chancery or such other court as may have jurisdiction for relief as provided in Section 217(b) of the DGCL. If the instrument filed with the Secretary shows that any such tenancy is held in unequal interests, a majority or even-split for the purpose of subsection (c) shall be a majority or even-split in interest.

Section 12. List of Stockholders. The corporation shall prepare, no later than the tenth day before each meeting of stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at said meeting, arranged in alphabetical order, showing the address of each stockholder and the number of shares registered in the name of each stockholder; provided, however, if the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote is less than ten days before the meeting date, the list shall reflect all of the stockholders entitled to vote as of the tenth day before the meeting date. Nothing in this Section 12 shall require the corporation to include electronic mail addresses or other electronic contact information on such list. Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting for a period of ten days ending on the day before the meeting date, (a) on a reasonably accessible electronic network, provided that the information required to gain access to such list is provided with the notice of the meeting, or (b) during ordinary business hours, at the principal place of business of the corporation. In the event that the corporation determines to make the list available on an electronic network, the corporation may take reasonable steps to ensure that such information is available only to stockholders of the corporation.

 

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Section 13. Action without Meeting. No action shall be taken by the stockholders of the corporation except at an annual or special meeting of stockholders duly called in accordance with the Bylaws, and no action shall be taken by the stockholders by written consent or by electronic transmission.

Section 14. Remote Communication. For the purposes of the Bylaws, if authorized by the Board of Directors in its sole discretion, and subject to such guidelines and procedures as the Board of Directors may adopt, stockholders and proxyholders not physically present at a meeting of stockholders may, by means of remote communication:

(a) participate in a meeting of stockholders; and

(b) be deemed present in person and vote at a meeting of stockholders whether such meeting is to be held at a designated place or solely by means of remote communication, provided that (i) the corporation shall implement reasonable measures to verify that each person deemed present and permitted to vote at the meeting by means of remote communication is a stockholder or proxyholder, (ii) the corporation shall implement reasonable measures to provide such stockholders and proxyholders a reasonable opportunity to participate in the meeting and to vote on matters submitted to the stockholders, including an opportunity to read or hear the proceedings of the meeting substantially concurrently with such proceedings, and (iii) if any stockholder or proxyholder votes or takes other action at the meeting by means of remote communication, a record of such vote or other action shall be maintained by the corporation.

Section 15. Organization.

(a) At every meeting of stockholders, the Chairperson of the Board of Directors, or, if a Chairperson has not been appointed, is absent or refuses to act, the Lead Independent Director, or if no Lead Independent Director is then serving or the Lead Independent Director is absent or refuses to act, any Chief Executive Officer, or if no Chief Executive Officer is then serving or the Chief Executive Officer is absent or refuses to act, the President, or, if the President is absent or refuses to act, a chairperson of the meeting designated by the Board of Directors, or, if the Board of Directors does not designate such chairperson, a chairperson of the meeting chosen by a majority of the voting power of the stockholders entitled to vote, present in person or by proxy, shall act as chairperson of the meeting of stockholders. The Chairperson of the Board of Directors may appoint any Chief Executive Officer as chairperson of the meeting. The Secretary, or, in his or her absence, an Assistant Secretary or other officer or other person directed to do so by the chairperson of the meeting, shall act as secretary of the meeting.

(b) The Board of Directors shall be entitled to make such rules or regulations for the conduct of meetings of stockholders as it shall deem necessary, appropriate or convenient. Subject to such rules and regulations of the Board of Directors, if any, the chairperson of the meeting shall have the right and authority to convene and (for any or no reason) to recess and/or adjourn the meeting, to prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures and to do all such acts as, in the judgment of such chairperson, are necessary, appropriate or convenient for the proper conduct of the meeting, including, without limitation, establishing an agenda or order of business for the meeting, rules and procedures for maintaining order at the meeting and the safety of those present, limitations on participation in such meeting to stockholders of record of the corporation and their duly authorized and constituted proxies and such other persons as the chairperson shall permit, restrictions on entry to the meeting after the time fixed for the commencement thereof, limitations on the time allotted to questions or comments by participants and regulation of the opening and closing of the polls for balloting on matters that are to be voted on by ballot. The date and time of the opening and closing of the polls for each matter upon which the stockholders will vote at the meeting shall be announced at the meeting. Unless and to the extent determined by the Board of Directors or the chairperson of the meeting, meetings of stockholders shall not be required to be held in accordance with rules of parliamentary procedure.

 

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(c) Whenever this Article III requires one or more persons (including a record or beneficial owner of stock) to deliver a document or information (other than a document authorizing another person to act for a stockholder by proxy at a meeting of stockholders pursuant to Section 212 of the DGCL) to the corporation or any officer, employee or agent thereof (including any notice, request, questionnaire, revocation, representation or other document or agreement), the corporation shall not be required to accept delivery of such document or information unless the document or information is in writing exclusively (and not in an electronic transmission) and delivered exclusively by hand (including, without limitation, overnight courier service) or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested.

ARTICLE IV

DIRECTORS

Section 16. Number and Term of Office. The authorized number of directors of the corporation shall be fixed in accordance with the Certificate of Incorporation. Directors need not be stockholders unless so required by the Certificate of Incorporation. If for any cause, the directors shall not have been elected at an annual meeting, they may be elected as soon thereafter as convenient at a special meeting of the stockholders called for that purpose in the manner provided in the Bylaws.

Section 17. Powers. The business and affairs of the corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors, except as may be otherwise provided by the Certificate of Incorporation or the DGCL.

Section 18. Classes of Directors. The directors shall be divided into classes as and to the extent provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, except as otherwise required by applicable law.

Section 19. Vacancies. Vacancies on the Board of Directors shall be filled as provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, except as otherwise required by applicable law.

Section 20. Resignation. Any director may resign at any time by delivering his or her notice in writing or by electronic transmission to the Board of Directors or the Secretary. Such resignation shall take effect at the time of delivery of the notice or at any later time specified therein. Acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective. When one or more directors shall resign from the Board of Directors, effective at a future date, a majority of the directors then in office, including those who have so resigned, shall have power to fill such vacancy or vacancies, the vote thereon to take effect when such resignation or resignations shall become effective, and each director so chosen shall hold office for the unexpired portion of the term of the director whose place shall be vacated and until his or her successor shall have been duly elected and qualified or until his or her earlier death, resignation or removal.

Section 21. Removal. Subject to the rights of holders of any series of preferred stock to elect additional directors under specified circumstances, the Board of Directors or any individual director may be removed only in the manner specified in the Certificate of Incorporation, except as otherwise required by applicable law.

 

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Section 22. Meetings.

(a) Regular Meetings. Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation, regular meetings of the Board of Directors may be held at any time or date and at any place, if any, within or without the State of Delaware that has been designated by the Board of Directors and publicized among all directors, either orally or in writing, by telephone, including a voice-messaging system or other system designed to record and communicate messages, or by electronic mail or other electronic means. No further notice shall be required for regular meetings of the Board of Directors.

(b) Special Meetings. Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation, special meetings of the Board of Directors may be held at any time and place, if any, within or without the State of Delaware as designated and called by the Chairperson of the Board of Directors, the Lead Independent Director, any Chief Executive Officer or the Board of Directors. 

(c) Meetings by Electronic Communications Equipment. Any member of the Board of Directors, or of any committee thereof, may participate in a meeting by means of conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and participation in a meeting by such means shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.

(d) Notice of Special Meetings. Notice of the time and place, if any, of all special meetings of the Board of Directors shall be transmitted orally or in writing, by telephone, including a voice messaging system or other system or technology designed to record and communicate messages, or by electronic mail or other electronic means at least 24 hours before the date and time of the meeting. If notice is sent by U.S. mail, it shall be sent by first class mail, postage prepaid, at least three days before the date of the meeting.

Section 23. Quorum and Voting.

(a) Unless the Certificate of Incorporation requires a greater number, and except with respect to questions related to indemnification arising under Section 46 for which a quorum shall be one-third of the exact number of directors fixed from time to time by the Board of Directors in accordance with the Certificate of Incorporation, a quorum of the Board of Directors shall consist of a majority of the total number of directors then serving on the Board of Directors or, if greater, one-third of the exact number of directors fixed from time to time by the Board of Directors in accordance with the Certificate of Incorporation. At any meeting whether a quorum be present or otherwise, a majority of the directors present may adjourn from time to time until the time fixed for the next regular meeting of the Board of Directors, without notice other than by announcement at the meeting.

(b) At each meeting of the Board of Directors at which a quorum is present, all questions and business shall be determined by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors present, unless a different vote be required by applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws.

Section 24. Action without Meeting. Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws, any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors or of any committee thereof may be taken without a meeting, if all members of the Board of Directors or committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing or by electronic transmission. After an action is taken, such consent or consents shall be filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board of Directors or committee. Such filing shall be in paper form if the minutes are maintained in paper form and shall be in electronic form if the minutes are maintained in electronic form.

(a) Fees and Compensation. Directors shall be entitled to such compensation for their services as may be approved by the Board of Directors, or a committee thereof to which the Board of Directors has delegated such responsibility and authority, including, if so approved, by resolution of the Board of Directors or a committee thereof to which the Board of Directors has delegated such responsibility

 

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and authority, a fixed sum and reimbursement of expenses incurred, if any, for attendance at each regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors and at any meeting of a committee of the Board of Directors, as well as reimbursement for other reasonable expenses incurred with respect to duties as a member of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof. Nothing herein contained shall be construed to preclude any director from serving the corporation in any other capacity as an officer, agent, employee, or otherwise and receiving compensation therefor.

Section 25. Committees.

(a) Executive Committee. The Board of Directors may appoint an Executive Committee to consist of one or more members of the Board of Directors. The Executive Committee, to the extent permitted by applicable law and provided in the resolution of the Board of Directors shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board of Directors in the management of the business and affairs of the corporation, and may authorize the seal of the corporation to be affixed to all papers that may require it; but no such committee shall have the power or authority in reference to (i) approving or adopting, or recommending to the stockholders, any action or matter (other than the election or removal of directors) expressly required by the DGCL to be submitted to stockholders for approval, or (ii) adopting, amending or repealing any Bylaw of the corporation.

(b) Other Committees. The Board of Directors may, from time to time, appoint such other committees as may be permitted by applicable law. Such other committees appointed by the Board of Directors shall consist of one or more members of the Board of Directors and shall have such powers and perform such duties as may be prescribed by the resolution or resolutions creating such committees, but in no event shall any such committee have the powers denied to the Executive Committee in the Bylaws.

(c) Term. The Board of Directors, subject to any requirements of any outstanding series of preferred stock and the provisions of subsections (a) or (b) of this Section 25, may at any time increase or decrease the number of members of a committee or terminate the existence of a committee. The membership of a committee member shall terminate on the date of his or her death or voluntary resignation from the committee or from the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may at any time for any reason remove any individual committee member and the Board of Directors may fill any committee vacancy created by death, resignation, removal or increase in the number of members of the committee. The Board of Directors may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee, and, in addition, in the absence or disqualification of any member of a committee, the member or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not such member or members constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in the place of any such absent or disqualified member.

(d) Meetings. Unless the Board of Directors shall otherwise provide, regular meetings of the Executive Committee or any other committee appointed pursuant to this Section 25 shall be held at such times and places, if any, as are determined by the Board of Directors, or by any such committee, and when notice thereof has been given to each member of such committee, no further notice of such regular meetings need be given thereafter. Special meetings of any such committee may be held at such place, if any, that has been determined from time to time by such committee, and may be called by any director who is a member of such committee, upon notice to the members of such committee of the time and place, if any, of such special meeting given in the manner provided for the giving of notice to members of the Board of Directors of the time and place, if any, of special meetings of the Board of Directors. Unless otherwise provided by the Board of Directors in the resolutions authorizing the creation of the committee, a majority of the authorized number of members of any such committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, and the act of a majority of those present at any meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of such committee.

 

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Section 26. Duties of Chairperson of the Board of Directors. The Chairperson of the Board of Directors, when present, shall preside at all meetings of the stockholders and the Board of Directors. The Chairperson of the Board of Directors shall perform such other duties customarily associated with the office and shall also perform such other duties and have such other powers, as the Board of Directors shall designate from time to time.

Section 27. Lead Independent Director. The Chairperson of the Board of Directors, or if the Chairperson is not an independent director, one of the independent directors, may be designated by the Board of Directors as lead independent director to serve until replaced by the Board of Directors (“Lead Independent Director”). If appointed, the Lead Independent Director will preside over meetings of the independent directors and perform such other duties as may be established or delegated by the Board of Directors and perform such other duties as may be established or delegated by the Chairperson of the Board of Directors

Section 28. Organization. At every meeting of the directors, the Chairperson of the Board of Directors, or, if a Chairperson has not been appointed or is absent, the Lead Independent Director, or if the Lead Independent Director has not been appointed or is absent, any Chief Executive Officer (if a director), or, if a Chief Executive Officer is absent, the President (if a director), or if the President is absent, the most senior Vice President (if a director), or, in the absence of any such person, a chairperson of the meeting chosen by a majority of the directors present, shall preside over the meeting. The Secretary, or in his or her absence, any Assistant Secretary or other officer, director or other person directed to do so by the person presiding over the meeting, shall act as secretary of the meeting.

ARTICLE V

OFFICERS

Section 29. Officers Designated. The officers of the corporation shall include, if and when designated by the Board of Directors, one or more Chief Executive Officers, the President, one or more Vice Presidents, the Secretary, the Chief Financial Officer and the Treasurer. The Board of Directors may also appoint one or more Assistant Secretaries and Assistant Treasurers and such other officers and agents with such powers and duties as it shall deem appropriate or necessary. The Board of Directors may assign such additional titles to one or more of the officers as it shall deem appropriate. Any one person may hold any number of offices of the corporation at any one time unless specifically prohibited therefrom by applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws. The salaries and other compensation of the officers of the corporation shall be fixed by or in the manner designated by the Board of Directors or by a committee thereof to which the Board of Directors has delegated such responsibility.

Section 30. Tenure and Duties of Officers.

(a) General. All officers shall hold office at the pleasure of the Board of Directors and until their successors shall have been duly elected and qualified, unless sooner removed. If the office of any officer becomes vacant for any reason, the vacancy may be filled by the Board of Directors or by a committee thereof to which the Board of Directors has delegated such responsibility or, if so authorized by the Board of Directors, by any Chief Executive Officer or another officer of the corporation.

 

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(b) Duties of Chief Executive Officer. Any Chief Executive Officer shall preside at all meetings of the stockholders and, if a director, at all meetings of the Board of Directors, unless a Chairperson of the Board of Directors or Lead Independent Director has been appointed and is present. Each Chief Executive Officer shall be the chief executive officer of the corporation and, subject to the supervision, direction and control of the Board of Directors, shall have the general powers and duties of supervision, direction, management and control of the business and officers of the corporation as are customarily associated with the position of Chief Executive Officer. To the extent that any Chief Executive Officer has been appointed and no President has been appointed, all references in the Bylaws to the President shall be deemed references to any Chief Executive Officer. The Chief Executive Officer shall perform other duties customarily associated with the office and shall also perform such other duties and have such other powers, as the Board of Directors shall designate from time to time. If the Board of Directors appoints more than one Chief Executive Officer, the Board may prescribe such duties, responsibilities, and powers to each Chief Executive Officer as it determines appropriate. In the absence of a prescription by the Board otherwise, each reference to the Chief Executive Officer in these Bylaws or in any other corporate authorization shall mean each and either such person, acting individually.

(c) Duties of President. The President shall preside at all meetings of the stockholders and, if a director, at all meetings of the Board of Directors, unless a Chairperson of the Board of Directors, Lead Independent Director, or Chief Executive Officer has been appointed and is present. Unless another officer has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of the corporation, the President shall be the chief executive officer of the corporation and, subject to the supervision, direction and control of the Board of Directors, shall have the general powers and duties of supervision, direction, management and control of the business and officers of the corporation as are customarily associated with the position of President. The President shall perform other duties customarily associated with the office and shall also perform such other duties and have such other powers, as the Board of Directors (or any Chief Executive Officer, if the Chief Executive Officer and President are not the same person and the Board of Directors has delegated the designation of the President’s duties to the Chief Executive Officer) shall designate from time to time.

(d) Duties of Vice Presidents. A Vice President may assume and perform the duties of the President in the absence or disability of the President or whenever the office of President is vacant (unless the duties of the President are being filled by any Chief Executive Officer). A Vice President shall perform other duties customarily associated with the office and shall also perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board of Directors or any Chief Executive Officer, or, if no Chief Executive Officer has been appointed or is absent, the President shall designate from time to time.

(e) Duties of Secretary and Assistant Secretary. The Secretary shall attend all meetings of the stockholders and of the Board of Directors and shall record all acts, votes and proceedings thereof in the minute books of the corporation. The Secretary shall give notice in conformity with the Bylaws of all meetings of the stockholders and of all meetings of the Board of Directors and any committee thereof requiring notice. The Secretary shall perform all other duties provided for in the Bylaws and other duties customarily associated with the office and shall also perform such other duties and have such other powers, as the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer, or if no Chief Executive Officer is then serving, the President shall designate from time to time. Any Chief Executive Officer, or if no Chief Executive Officer is then serving, the President may direct any Assistant Secretary or other officer to assume and perform the duties of the Secretary in the absence or disability of the Secretary, and each Assistant Secretary shall perform other duties customarily associated with the office and shall also perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board of Directors or any Chief Executive Officer, or if no Chief Executive Officer is then serving, the President shall designate from time to time.

(f) Duties of Chief Financial Officer. The Chief Financial Officer shall keep or cause to be kept the books of account of the corporation in a thorough and proper manner and shall render statements of the financial affairs of the corporation in such form and as often as required by the Board of Directors, any Chief Executive Officer, or the President. The Chief Financial Officer, subject to the order of the Board

 

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of Directors, shall have the custody of all funds and securities of the corporation. The Chief Financial Officer shall perform other duties customarily associated with the office and shall also perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board of Directors or any Chief Executive Officer, or if no Chief Executive Officer is then serving, the President shall designate from time to time. To the extent that a Chief Financial Officer has been appointed and no Treasurer has been appointed, all references in the Bylaws to the Treasurer shall be deemed references to the Chief Financial Officer. The President may direct the Treasurer, if any, or any Assistant Treasurer to assume and perform the duties of the Chief Financial Officer in the absence or disability of the Chief Financial Officer.

(g) Duties of Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer. Unless another officer has been appointed Chief Financial Officer of the corporation, the Treasurer shall be the chief financial officer of the corporation, shall keep or cause to be kept the books of account of the corporation in a thorough and proper manner and shall render statements of the financial affairs of the corporation in such form and as often as required by the Board of Directors, any Chief Executive Officer or the President. Unless another officer has been appointed Chief Financial Officer of the corporation, the Treasurer, subject to the order of the Board of Directors, shall have the custody of all funds and securities of the corporation. The Treasurer shall perform other duties customarily associated with the office and shall also perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board of Directors or any Chief Executive Officer, or if no Chief Executive Officer is then serving, the President shall designate from time to time. Any Chief Executive Officer, or if no Chief Executive Officer is then serving, the President may direct any Assistant Treasurer or other officer to assume and perform the duties of the Treasurer in the absence or disability of the Treasurer, and each Assistant Treasurer shall perform other duties commonly incident to the office and shall also perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board of Directors or any Chief Executive Officer, or if no Chief Executive Officer is then serving, the President shall designate from time to time.

Section 31. Delegation of Authority. The Board of Directors may from time to time delegate the powers or duties of any officer to any other officer or agent, notwithstanding any provision hereof.

Section 32. Resignations. Any officer may resign at any time by giving notice in writing or by electronic transmission to the Board of Directors, the Chairperson of the Board of Directors, any Chief Executive Officer, the President or the Secretary. Any such resignation shall be effective when received by the person or persons to whom such notice is given, unless a later time is specified therein, in which event the resignation shall become effective at such later time. Unless otherwise specified in such notice, the acceptance of any such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective. Any resignation shall be without prejudice to the rights, if any, of the corporation under any contract with the resigning officer.

Section 33. Removal. Any officer may be removed from office at any time, either with or without cause, by the Board of Directors, or by any committee thereof or any superior officer upon whom such power of removal may have been conferred by the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE VI

EXECUTION OF CORPORATE INSTRUMENTS AND VOTING OF SECURITIES OWNED BY THE CORPORATION

Section 34. Execution of Corporate Instruments. The Board of Directors may, in its discretion, determine the method and designate the signatory officer or officers, or other person or persons, to execute, sign or endorse on behalf of the corporation any corporate instrument or document, or to sign on behalf of the corporation the corporate name without limitation, or to enter into contracts on behalf of the corporation, except where otherwise provided by applicable law or the Bylaws, and such execution or signature shall be binding upon the corporation.

 

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All checks and drafts drawn on banks or other depositaries on funds to the credit of the corporation or in special accounts of the corporation shall be signed by such person or persons as the Board of Directors shall from time to time authorize so to do.

Unless otherwise specifically determined by the Board of Directors or otherwise required by applicable law, the execution, signing or endorsement of any corporate instrument or document may be effected manually, by facsimile or (to the extent permitted by applicable law and subject to such policies and procedures as the corporation may have in effect from time to time) by electronic signature.

Unless authorized or ratified by the Board of Directors or within the agency power of an officer, no officer, agent or employee shall have any power or authority to bind the corporation by any contract or engagement or to pledge its credit or to render it liable for any purpose or for any amount.

Section 35. Voting of Securities Owned by the Corporation. All stock and other securities of or interests in other corporations or entities owned or held by the corporation for itself, or for other parties in any capacity, shall be voted, and all proxies with respect thereto shall be executed, by the person authorized so to do by resolution of the Board of Directors, or, in the absence of such authorization, by the Chairperson of the Board of Directors, any Chief Executive Officer, the President, or any Vice President.

ARTICLE VII

SHARES OF STOCK

Section 36. Form and Execution of Certificates. The shares of the corporation shall be represented by certificates, or shall be uncertificated if so provided by resolution or resolutions of the Board of Directors. Certificates for the shares of stock, if any, shall be in such form as is consistent with the Certificate of Incorporation and applicable law. Every holder of stock in the corporation represented by certificates shall be entitled to have a certificate signed by or in the name of the corporation by any two authorized officers of the corporation, including, without limitation, the Chairperson of the Board of Directors, any Chief Executive Officer, the President, any Vice President, the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, certifying the number, and the class or series, of shares owned by such holder in the corporation. Any or all of the signatures on the certificate may be facsimiles. In case any officer, transfer agent, or registrar who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon a certificate shall have ceased to be such officer, transfer agent, or registrar before such certificate is issued, it may be issued with the same effect as if he were such officer, transfer agent, or registrar at the date of issue.

Section 37. Lost Certificates. The corporation may issue a new certificate or certificates or uncertificated shares in place of any certificate or certificates theretofore issued by the corporation alleged to have been lost, stolen, or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the person claiming the certificate of stock to be lost, stolen, or destroyed. The corporation may require, as a condition precedent to the issuance of a new certificate or certificates, the owner of such lost, stolen, or destroyed certificate or certificates, or the owner’s legal representative, to give the corporation a bond (or other adequate security) sufficient to indemnify it against any claim that may be made against the corporation with respect to the certificate alleged to have been lost, stolen, or destroyed or the issuance of such new certificate or uncertificated shares.

Section 38. Transfers.

(a) Transfers of record of shares of stock of the corporation shall be made only upon its books by the holders thereof, in person or by attorney duly authorized, and, in the case of stock represented by certificate, upon the surrender of a properly endorsed certificate or certificates for a like number of shares.

 

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(b) The corporation shall have power to enter into and perform any agreement with any number of stockholders of any one or more classes or series of stock of the corporation to restrict the transfer of shares of stock of the corporation of any one or more classes or series owned by such stockholders in any manner not prohibited by the DGCL.

Section 39. Fixing Record Dates.

(a) In order that the corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors, and which record date shall, subject to applicable law, not be more than 60 nor less than ten days before the date of such meeting. If the Board of Directors so fixes a record date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of any meeting of stockholders, such date shall also be the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting, unless the Board of Directors determines, at the time it fixes the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of such meeting, that a later date on or before the date of the meeting shall be the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting. If no record date is fixed by the Board of Directors, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be at the close of business on the day immediately preceding the day on which notice is given, or if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day immediately preceding the day on which the meeting is held. A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided, however, that the Board of Directors may fix a new record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at the adjourned meeting, and in such case shall also fix as the record date for stockholders entitled to notice of such adjourned meeting the same or an earlier date as that fixed for determination of stockholders entitled to vote in accordance with the foregoing provisions of this Section 39(a) at the adjourned meeting.

(b) In order that the corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights or the stockholders entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock, or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board of Directors may fix, in advance, a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted, and which record date shall be not more than 60 days prior to such action. If no record date is fixed, the record date for determining stockholders for any such purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution relating thereto.

Section 40. Registered Stockholders. The corporation shall be entitled to recognize the exclusive right of a person registered on its books as the owner of shares to receive dividends, and to vote as such owner, and shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such share or shares on the part of any other person whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise provided by the laws of Delaware.

Section 41. Additional Powers of the Board. In addition to, and without limiting, the powers set forth in the Bylaws, the Board of Directors shall have power and authority to make all such rules and regulations as it shall deem expedient concerning the issue, transfer, and registration of certificates for shares of stock of the corporation, including the use of uncertificated shares of stock, subject to the provisions of the DGCL, other applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation and the Bylaws. The Board of Directors may appoint and remove transfer agents and registrars of transfers, and may require all stock certificates to bear the signature of any such transfer agent and/or any such registrar of transfers.

 

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ARTICLE VIII

OTHER SECURITIES OF THE CORPORATION

Section 42. Execution of Other Securities. All bonds, debentures and other corporate securities of the corporation, other than stock certificates (covered in Section 36), may be signed by the Chairperson of the Board of Directors, any Chief Executive Officer, the President or any Vice President, or such other person as may be authorized by the Board of Directors; provided, however, that where any such bond, debenture or other corporate security shall be authenticated by the manual signature, or where permissible facsimile signature, of a trustee under an indenture pursuant to which such bond, debenture or other corporate security shall be issued, the signatures of the persons signing and attesting the corporate seal on such bond, debenture or other corporate security may be the imprinted facsimile of the signatures of such persons. Interest coupons appertaining to any such bond, debenture or other corporate security, authenticated by a trustee as aforesaid, shall be signed by an executive officer of the corporation or such other person as may be authorized by the Board of Directors, or bear imprinted thereon the facsimile signature of such person. In case any officer who shall have signed or attested any bond, debenture or other corporate security, or whose facsimile signature shall appear thereon or on any such interest coupon, shall have ceased to be such officer before the bond, debenture or other corporate security so signed or attested shall have been delivered, such bond, debenture or other corporate security nevertheless may be adopted by the corporation and issued and delivered as though the person who signed the same or whose facsimile signature shall have been used thereon had not ceased to be such officer of the corporation.

ARTICLE IX

DIVIDENDS

Section 43. Declaration of Dividends. Dividends upon the capital stock of the corporation, subject to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation and applicable law, if any, may be declared by the Board of Directors. Dividends may be paid in cash, in property, or in shares of the corporation’s capital stock, subject to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation and applicable law.

Section 44. Dividend Reserve. Before payment of any dividend, there may be set aside out of any funds of the corporation available for dividends such sum or sums as the Board of Directors from time to time, in its absolute discretion, determines proper as a reserve or reserves to meet contingencies, or for equalizing dividends, or for repairing or maintaining any property of the corporation, or for such other purpose or purposes as the Board of Directors shall determine to be conducive to the interests of the corporation, and the Board of Directors may modify or abolish any such reserve in the manner in which it was created.

ARTICLE X

FISCAL YEAR

Section 45. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the corporation shall be fixed by resolution of the Board of Directors.

 

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ARTICLE XI

INDEMNIFICATION

Section 46. Indemnification of Directors, Executive Officers, Employees and Other Agents.

(a) Directors and Executive Officers. The corporation shall indemnify to the full extent permitted under and in any manner permitted under the DGCL, any person who is made or threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise involved (as a witness or otherwise) in any threatened, pending, or completed action, suit, or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, or investigative (hereinafter, a “Proceeding”), by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director or executive officer (for the purposes of this Article XI, “executive officers” shall be those persons designated by the corporation as (a) executive officers for purposes of the disclosures required in the corporation’s proxy and periodic reports or (b) officers for purposes of Section 16 of the 1934 Act) of the corporation, or while serving as a director or executive officer of the corporation, is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee, or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, or other enterprise, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan (collectively, “Another Enterprise”), whether the basis of such Proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a director or executive officer or in any other capacity while serving as a director or executive officer, against expenses, judgments, fines (including ERISA excise taxes or penalties) and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him or her in connection with such Proceeding if he or she acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or Proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful; provided, however, that the corporation shall not be required to indemnify any such person in connection with any Proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such person unless (i) such indemnification is expressly required to be made by applicable law, (ii) the Proceeding was authorized by the Board of Directors, (iii) such indemnification is provided by the corporation, in its sole discretion, pursuant to the powers vested in the corporation under the DGCL or (iv) such indemnification is required to be made under subsection (d) of this Section 46.

(b) Other Officers, Employees and Other Agents. The corporation shall have power to indemnify (including the power to advance expenses in a manner consistent with subsection (c) of this Section 46) its other officers, employees and other agents as set forth in the DGCL. The Board of Directors shall have the power to delegate the determination of whether indemnification shall be given to any such person except executive officers to such officers or other persons as the Board of Directors shall determine.

(c) Expenses. The corporation shall advance to any current or former director or executive officer of the corporation or to any person, who while serving as a director or executive officer of the corporation, is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director or executive officer of Another Enterprise, prior to the final disposition of the Proceeding, promptly following request therefor, all expenses incurred by any such person in connection with defending (or participating as a witness in) a Proceeding; provided, however, that if the DGCL requires, an advancement of expenses incurred by a current or former director or executive officer in his or her capacity as a director or executive officer (and not in any other capacity in which service was or is rendered by such indemnitee, including, without limitation, service to an employee benefit plan) shall be made only upon delivery to the corporation of an undertaking (hereinafter an “undertaking”), by or on behalf of such indemnitee, to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined by final judicial decision from which there is no further right to appeal (hereinafter a “final adjudication”) that such indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified for such expenses under this Section 46 or otherwise.

 

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Notwithstanding the foregoing, unless otherwise determined pursuant to paragraph (d) of this Section 46, no advance shall be made by the corporation to a current or former executive officer of the corporation (except by reason of the fact that such executive officer is or was a director of the corporation in which event this paragraph shall not apply) in any Proceeding, if a determination is reasonably and promptly made (i) by a majority vote of directors who were not parties to the Proceeding, even if not a quorum, or (ii) by a committee of such directors designated by a majority vote of such directors, even though less than a quorum, or (iii) if there are no such directors, or such directors so direct, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion, that the facts known to the decision-making party at the time such determination is made demonstrate clearly and convincingly that such person acted in bad faith or in a manner that such person did not believe to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, or with respect to a criminal action or Proceeding that such person had reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful.

(d) Enforcement. Without the necessity of entering into an express contract, all rights to indemnification and advances to directors and executive officers under this Section 46 shall be deemed to be contractual rights, shall vest when the person becomes a director or executive officer of the corporation, shall continue as vested contract rights even if such person ceases to be a director or executive officer of the corporation, and shall be effective to the same extent and as if provided for in a contract between the corporation and the director or executive officer. Any right to indemnification or advances granted by this Section 46 to a current or former director or executive officer shall be enforceable by or on behalf of the person holding such right in any court of competent jurisdiction if (i) the claim for indemnification or advances is denied, in whole or in part, or (ii) no disposition of such claim is made within 90 days of request therefor. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the claimant in such enforcement action, if successful in whole or in part, shall be entitled to be paid also the expense of prosecuting the claim. In connection with any claim for indemnification, the corporation shall be entitled to raise as a defense to any such action that the claimant has not met the standards of conduct that make it permissible under the DGCL for the corporation to indemnify the claimant for the amount claimed. In connection with any claim by a current or former executive officer of the corporation (except in any Proceeding, by reason of the fact that such executive officer is or was a director of the corporation) for advances, the corporation shall be entitled to raise a defense as to any such action clear and convincing evidence that such person acted in bad faith or in a manner that such person did not believe to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, or with respect to any criminal action or Proceeding that such person had reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful. Neither the failure of the corporation (including its Board of Directors, independent legal counsel or its stockholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such action that indemnification of the claimant is proper in the circumstances because he or she has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the DGCL, nor an actual determination by the corporation (including its Board of Directors, independent legal counsel or its stockholders) that the claimant has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall be a defense to the action or create a presumption that claimant has not met the applicable standard of conduct. In any suit brought by a current or former director or executive officer to enforce a right to indemnification or to an advancement of expenses hereunder, the burden of proving that the director or executive officer is not entitled to be indemnified, or to such advancement of expenses, under this Section 46 or otherwise shall be on the corporation.

(e) Non-Exclusivity of Rights. The rights conferred on any person by this Section 46 shall not be exclusive of any other right that such person may have or hereafter acquire under any applicable statute, provision of the Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in his or her official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding office. The corporation is specifically authorized to enter into individual contracts with any or all of its directors, officers, employees or agents respecting indemnification and advances, to the fullest extent not prohibited by the DGCL.

 

22


(f) Survival of Rights. The rights conferred on any person by this Bylaw shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, executive officer, officer, employee or other agent and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person.

(g) Insurance. To the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, the corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person required or permitted to be indemnified pursuant to this Section 46.

(h) Amendments. Any repeal or modification of this Section 46 shall only be prospective and shall not affect the rights under this Section 46 as in effect at the time of the alleged occurrence of any action or omission to act that is the cause of any Proceeding against any current or former director or executive officer of the corporation.

(i) Saving Clause. If this Article XI or any portion hereof shall be invalidated on any ground by any court of competent jurisdiction, then the corporation shall nevertheless indemnify each director and executive officer to the full extent not prohibited by any applicable portion of this Article XI that shall not have been invalidated. If this Article XI shall be invalid due to the application of the indemnification provisions of another jurisdiction, then the corporation shall indemnify each director and executive officer to the full extent under any other applicable law.

(j) Certain Definitions and Construction of Terms. For the purposes of Article XI of the Bylaws, the following definitions and rules of construction shall apply:

(i) The term “Proceeding” shall be broadly construed and shall include, without limitation, the investigation, preparation, prosecution, defense, settlement, arbitration and appeal of, and the giving of testimony in, any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative.

(ii) The term “expenses” shall be broadly construed and shall include, without limitation, court costs, attorneys’ fees, witness fees, fines, amounts paid in settlement or judgment and any other costs and expenses of any nature or kind incurred in connection with any Proceeding.

(iii) The term the “corporation” shall include, in addition to the resulting corporation, any constituent corporation (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a consolidation or merger that, if its separate existence had continued, would have had power and authority to indemnify its directors, officers, and employees or agents, so that any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of such constituent corporation, or is or was serving at the request of such constituent corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, shall stand in the same position under the provisions of this Section 46 with respect to the resulting or surviving corporation as such person would have with respect to such constituent corporation if its separate existence had continued.

(iv) References to a “director,” “executive officer,” “officer,” “employee,” or “agent” of the corporation shall include, without limitation, situations where such person, while serving the corporation in such capacity, is also serving at the request of the corporation as, respectively, a director, executive officer, officer, employee, trustee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise.

 

23


(v) References to “Another Enterprise” shall include employee benefit plans; references to “fines” shall include any excise taxes assessed on a person with respect to an employee benefit plan; and references to “serving at the request of the corporation” shall include any service as a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation that imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, officer, employee, or agent with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants, or beneficiaries; and a person who acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan shall be deemed to have acted in a manner “not opposed to the best interests of the corporation” as referred to in this Section 46.

ARTICLE XII

NOTICES

Section 47. Notices.

(a) Notice to Stockholders. Notice to stockholders of stockholder meetings shall be given as provided in Section 7. Without limiting the manner by which notice may otherwise be given effectively to stockholders under any agreement or contract with such stockholder, and except as otherwise required by applicable law, written notice to stockholders for purposes other than stockholder meetings may be sent by U.S. mail or courier service, or by facsimile, electronic mail or other means of electronic transmission.

(b) Notice to Directors. Any notice required to be given to any director may be given by the method stated in subsection (a), as otherwise provided in these Bylaws, with notice other than one which is delivered personally to be sent to such address or electronic mail address as such director shall have filed in writing with the Secretary, or, in the absence of such filing, to the last known address or electronic mail address of such director.

(c) Affidavit of Notice. An affidavit of notice, executed by a duly authorized and competent employee of the corporation or its transfer agent appointed with respect to the class of stock affected, or other agent, specifying the name and address or the names and addresses of the stockholder or stockholders, or director or directors, to whom any such notice or notices was or were given, and the time and method of giving the same, shall in the absence of fraud, be prima facie evidence of the facts therein contained.

(d) Methods of Notice. It shall not be necessary that the same method of giving notice be employed in respect of all recipients of notice, but one permissible method may be employed in respect of any one or more, and any other permissible method or methods may be employed in respect of any other or others.

(e) Notice to Person with Whom Communication is Unlawful. Whenever notice is required to be given, under applicable law or any provision of the Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws of the corporation, to any person with whom communication is unlawful, the giving of such notice to such person shall not be required and there shall be no duty to apply to any governmental authority or agency for a license or permit to give such notice to such person. Any action or meeting that shall be taken or held without notice to any such person with whom communication is unlawful shall have the same force and effect as if such notice had been duly given. In the event that the action taken by the corporation is such as to require the filing of a certificate under any provision of the DGCL, the certificate shall state, if such is the fact and if notice is required, that notice was given to all persons entitled to receive notice except such persons with whom communication is unlawful.

(f) Notice to Stockholders Sharing an Address. Except as otherwise prohibited under the DGCL, any notice given under the provisions of the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws shall be effective if given by a single written notice to stockholders who share an address if consented to by the stockholders at that address to whom such notice is given. Such consent shall have been deemed to have been given if such stockholder fails to object in writing to the corporation within 60 days of having been given notice by the corporation of its intention to send the single notice. Any consent shall be revocable by the stockholder by written notice to the corporation.

 

24


(g) Waiver. Whenever notice is required to be given under any provision of the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, a written waiver, signed by the person entitled to notice, or a waiver by electronic transmission by the person entitled to notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to notice. Attendance of a person at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except when the person attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any regular or special meeting of the stockholders, directors or members of a committee of directors need be specified in any written waiver of notice or any waiver by electronic transmission unless so required by the Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws.

ARTICLE XIII

AMENDMENTS

Section 48. Amendments. Subject to the limitations set forth in Section 46(h) or the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, the Board of Directors is expressly empowered to adopt, amend or repeal the Bylaws of the corporation. Any adoption, amendment or repeal of the Bylaws of the corporation by the Board of Directors shall require the approval of a majority of the authorized number of directors. The stockholders also shall have power to adopt, amend or repeal the Bylaws of the corporation; provided, however, that, in addition to any vote of the holders of any class or series of stock of the corporation required by applicable law or by the Certificate of Incorporation, such action by stockholders shall require the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66-2/3% of the voting power of all of the then-outstanding shares of the capital stock of the corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class.

ARTICLE XIV

LOANS TO OFFICERS

Section 49. Loans to Officers. Except as otherwise prohibited by applicable law, the corporation may lend money to, or guarantee any obligation of, or otherwise assist any officer or other employee of the corporation or of its subsidiaries, including any officer or employee who is a director of the corporation or its subsidiaries, whenever, in the judgment of the Board of Directors, such loan, guarantee or assistance may reasonably be expected to benefit the corporation. The loan, guarantee or other assistance may be with or without interest and may be unsecured, or secured in such manner as the Board of Directors shall approve, including, without limitation, a pledge of shares of stock of the corporation. Nothing in the Bylaws shall be deemed to deny, limit or restrict the powers of guaranty or warranty of the corporation at common law or under any statute.

 

25

EX-10.1

Exhibit 10.1

EXECUTION VERSION

[Certain portions of this document have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(b)(10) of Regulation S-K and, where applicable, have been marked with “[*]” to indicate where omissions have been made. The marked information has been omitted because it is (i) not material and (ii) is the type that the registrant treats as private or confidential.]

AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO AMENDED AND RESTATED SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT

THIS AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO AMENDED AND RESTATED SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT (this “Amendment”) is dated as of June 15, 2026, by and between Allbirds, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) and the investor identified on the signature page hereto (the “Investor”), and amends that certain Amended and Restated Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as of April 19, 2026 (the “Securities Purchase Agreement”), by and among the Company and the Investor. Capitalized terms used herein but not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings set forth in the Securities Purchase Agreement.

WHEREAS, the Company and the Investor desire to amend certain provisions of the Securities Purchase Agreement pursuant to Section 9(e) thereof, to, among other things, increase the aggregate principal amount of Additional Notes issuable pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement from $44,750,000 to $94,750,000 (such incremental additional $50 million of Additional Notes, collectively, the “Amendment Notes”).

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the covenants and agreements contained therein, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company and the Investor, intending to be legally bound, hereto agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

AMENDMENTS

SECTION 1.1. Amendments. As of the Effective Time (as defined herein):

(a) Recital D of the Securities Purchase Agreement is hereby amended by replacing the reference to “$50,000,000” with “$100,000,000”.

(b) Recital F of the Securities Purchase Agreement is hereby amended by replacing the reference to “$44,750,000” with “$94,750,000”.

(c) The defined term “Transaction Documents” is hereby amended to include this Amendment.

(d) Exhibit A to the Securities Purchase Agreement is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced with Exhibit A attached hereto.

 

1


(e) The Schedule of Buyers to the Securities Purchase Agreement is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced with Schedule I (the “Amended and Restated Schedule of Buyers”) attached hereto.

ARTICLE II

MISCELLANEOUS

SECTION 2.1. Acknowledgement; Ratification of Obligations. The Company and the Investor hereby confirm and agree that, except as set forth in Article I above, (i) the Securities Purchase Agreement and each of the other Transaction Documents are, and shall continue to be, in full force and effect, constitute legal and binding obligations of all parties thereto in accordance with its terms and are hereby ratified and confirmed in all respects, and (ii) the execution, delivery and effectiveness of this Amendment shall not operate as an amendment of any right, power or remedy of the Company or the Investor under any Transaction Document, nor constitute an amendment of any provision of any Transaction Document. This Amendment forms an integral and inseparable part of the Securities Purchase Agreement.

SECTION 2.2. Additional Stockholder Approval. In addition to the stockholder approval obtained on June 3, 2026 relating to the issuance and potential issuance of securities hereunder as of that date, the Company shall provide each stockholder entitled to vote at a Stockholder Meeting, which shall be promptly called and held not later than September 30, 2026 (the “Additional Stockholder Meeting Deadline”), a proxy statement, in a form reasonably acceptable to the Buyers (the “Additional Proxy Statement”), soliciting each of the Company’s stockholder’s affirmative vote at such Stockholder Meeting for the approval of a proposal to permit the issuance of all of the Amendment Notes issuable pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement (as amended hereby) and all Additional Conversion Shares issuable upon conversion of the Amendment Notes, in each case, in compliance with the rules and regulations of the Principal Market (without regard to any limitations on conversion set forth in the Amendment Notes) (such affirmative approval by stockholders being referred to herein as the “Additional Stockholder Approval”, and the date such Additional Stockholder Approval is obtained, the “Additional Stockholder Approval Date”), and the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to solicit the Additional Stockholder Approval and to cause the Board of Directors of the Company to recommend to the stockholders that they approve such proposal. The Company shall be obligated to seek to obtain the Additional Stockholder Approval by the Additional Stockholder Meeting Deadline. If, despite the Company’s reasonable best efforts the Additional Stockholder Approval is not obtained on or prior to the Additional Stockholder Meeting Deadline, the Company shall cause subsequent Stockholder Meetings to be held on or prior to the sixty (60) day anniversary of the prior Stockholder Meeting thereafter until such Additional Stockholder Approval is obtained.

SECTION 2.3. Disclosure of Transactions and Other Material Information. The Company shall file a Current Report on Form 8-K with the SEC describing the terms of the transactions contemplated by this Amendment in the form and within the timeframe required by the Exchange Act and attaching the form of this Amendment as an exhibit to such filing (including all attachments, the “8-K Filing”). From and after the filing of the 8-K Filing with the SEC, the Investor shall not be in possession of any material, nonpublic information received

 

2


from the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective officers, directors, employees or agents, that is not disclosed in the 8-K Filing. In addition, upon the filing of the 8-K Filing, the Company acknowledges and agrees that any and all confidentiality or similar obligations under any agreement with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby or as otherwise disclosed in the 8-K Filing, whether written or oral, between the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective officers, directors, affiliates, employees or agents, on the one hand, and the Investor or any of its affiliates, on the other hand, shall terminate. Neither the Company, its Subsidiaries nor the Investor shall issue any press releases or any other public statements with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby; provided, however, the Company shall be entitled, without the prior approval of the Investor, to issue a press release or make such other public disclosure with respect to such transactions (i) in substantial conformity with the 8-K Filing and contemporaneously therewith or (ii) as is required by applicable law and regulations (provided that in the case of clause (i) the Investor shall be consulted by the Company in connection with any such press release or other public disclosure prior to its release). Without the prior written consent of the Investor (which may be granted or withheld in the Investor’s sole discretion), except as required by applicable law and in any Registration Statement, the Company shall not (and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries and affiliates to not) disclose the name of the Investor in any filing, announcement, release or otherwise.

SECTION 2.4. Independent Nature of Investor’s Obligations and Rights. The obligations of the Investor under this Amendment or any other Transaction Document are several and not joint with the obligations of any other Buyer, and the Investor shall not be responsible in any way for the performance of the obligations of any other Buyer under any Transaction Document. Nothing contained herein or in any other Transaction Document, and no action taken by the Investor pursuant hereto, shall be deemed to constitute the Investor and other Buyers as a partnership, an association, a joint venture or any other kind of entity, or create a presumption that the Investor and other Buyers are in any way acting in concert or as a group with respect to such obligations or the transactions contemplated by this Amendment, or any other Transaction Document and the Company acknowledges that the Investor and the other Buyers are not acting in concert or as a group with respect to such obligations or the transactions contemplated by this Amendment, any other amendment and any other Transaction Document. The Company and the Investor confirm that the Investor has independently participated in the negotiation of the transactions contemplated hereby with the advice of its own counsel and advisors. The Investor shall be entitled to independently protect and enforce its rights, including, without limitation, the rights arising out of this Amendment, any other amendment or out of any other Transaction Documents, and it shall not be necessary for any other Buyers to be joined as an additional party in any proceeding for such purpose.

SECTION 2.5. Effectiveness. Article 1 of this Amendment shall become effective upon the due execution and delivery by the Company and the Investor of this Amendment (the “Effective Time”).

SECTION 2.6. References. As of the Effective Time, all references to the “Agreement” (including “hereof,” “herein,” “hereunder,” “hereby” and “this Agreement”) in the Securities Purchase Agreement and the other Transaction Documents shall refer to the Securities Purchase Agreement as amended by this Amendment. Notwithstanding the foregoing, references to the date of the Securities Purchase Agreement (as amended hereby) and references in the Securities Purchase Agreement to “the date hereof,” “the date of this Agreement” and terms of similar import shall in all instances continue to refer to April 19, 2026.

 

3


SECTION 2.7. Miscellaneous. Section 9 of the Securities Purchase Agreement are hereby incorporated by reference herein, mutatis mutandis.

[THE REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE IS INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK.]

 

4


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has caused this Amendment to be executed personally or by a duly authorized representative thereof as of the day and year first written above.

 

ALLBIRDS, INC.
By:  

/s/ Joe Vernachio

Name: Joe Vernachio
Title: President, Chief Executive Officer and Secretary
[*]
By:  

/s/ [*]

Name: [*]
Title: [*]

 

Signature Page to Amendment No. 1 to Amended and Restated Securities Purchase Agreement


Schedule I

AMENDED AND RESTATED SCHEDULE OF BUYERS

 

(1)

   (2)   (3)      (4)      (5)      (6)      (7)      (8)

Buyer

   Mailing
Address
and

E-mail
Address
  Original
Principal
Amount of
Initial

Notes
     Original
Principal
Amount of
Additional
Notes for the
Additional
Mandatory
Closing
     Aggregate
Maximum
Original
Principal
Amount of

Additional
Notes for
Additional
Optional
Closings
     Initial
Purchase
Price
     Aggregate
Maximum
Additional

Purchase
Price
     Legal
Representative’s

Mailing Address
and E-mail
Address

[*]

   [*]   $ 3,250,000      $ 2,000,000      $ 94,750,000      $ 3,087,500      $ 92,512,500      [*]
    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

TOTAL

  $ 3,250,000      $ 2,000,000      $ 94,750,000      $ 3,087,500      $ 92,512,500     
    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    
EX-10.2

Exhibit 10.2

FINAL FORM

[FORM OF SENIOR SECURED CONVERTIBLE NOTE]

NEITHER THE ISSUANCE AND SALE OF THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE NOR THE SECURITIES INTO WHICH THESE SECURITIES ARE CONVERTIBLE HAVE BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. THE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE OFFERED FOR SALE, SOLD, TRANSFERRED OR ASSIGNED (I) IN THE ABSENCE OF (A) AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT FOR THE SECURITIES UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR (B) AN OPINION OF COUNSEL TO THE HOLDER (IF REQUESTED BY THE COMPANY), IN A FORM REASONABLY ACCEPTABLE TO THE COMPANY, THAT REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED UNDER SAID ACT OR (II) UNLESS SOLD OR ELIGIBLE TO BE SOLD PURSUANT TO RULE 144 OR RULE 144A UNDER SAID ACT. NOTWITHSTANDING THE FOREGOING, THE SECURITIES MAY BE PLEDGED IN CONNECTION WITH A BONA FIDE MARGIN ACCOUNT OR OTHER LOAN OR FINANCING ARRANGEMENT SECURED BY THE SECURITIES. ANY TRANSFEREE OF THIS NOTE SHOULD CAREFULLY REVIEW THE TERMS OF THIS NOTE, INCLUDING SECTIONS 3(c)(iii) AND 20(a) HEREOF. THE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT REPRESENTED BY THIS NOTE AND, ACCORDINGLY, THE SECURITIES ISSUABLE UPON CONVERSION HEREOF MAY BE LESS THAN THE AMOUNTS SET FORTH ON THE FACE HEREOF PURSUANT TO SECTION 3(c)(iii) OF THIS NOTE.

THIS NOTE AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS EVIDENCED HEREBY ARE SUBORDINATE TO THE SENIOR DEBT (AS HEREINAFTER DEFINED) IN THE MANNER AND TO THE EXTENT SET FORTH IN THAT CERTAIN SUBORDINATION AGREEMENT, DATED AS OF APRIL 19, 2026, BY AND AMONG THE HOLDER, THE COMPANY AND SECOND AVENUE CAPITAL PARTNERS LLC (THE “SUBORDINATION AGREEMENT”). THE HOLDER OF THIS INSTRUMENT, BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF, SHALL BE BOUND BY THE SUBORDINATION PROVISIONS SET FORTH IN THE SUBORDINATION AGREEMENT.

THIS NOTE HAS BEEN ISSUED WITH ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT. PURSUANT TO TREASURY REGULATION §1.1275-3(b)(1), JOE VERNACHIO, A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE COMPANY HEREOF WILL, BEGINNING TEN DAYS AFTER THE ISSUANCE DATE OF THIS NOTE, PROMPTLY MAKE AVAILABLE TO THE HOLDER UPON REQUEST THE INFORMATION DESCRIBED IN TREASURY REGULATION §1.1275-3(b)(1)(i). JOE VERNACHIO MAY BE REACHED AT TELEPHONE NUMBER [].

ALLBIRDS, INC.

SENIOR SECURED CONVERTIBLE NOTE

 

Issuance Date: [●] 20__   Original Principal Amount: U.S. $[●]


FOR VALUE RECEIVED, Allbirds, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), hereby promises to pay to the order of [BUYER] or its registered assigns (“Holder”) the amount set forth above as the Original Principal Amount (as reduced pursuant to the terms hereof pursuant to redemption, conversion or otherwise, the “Principal”) when due, whether upon the Maturity Date, or upon acceleration, redemption or otherwise (in each case in accordance with the terms hereof) and to pay interest (“Interest”) on any outstanding Principal at the applicable Interest Rate (as defined below) from the date set forth above as the Issuance Date (the “Issuance Date”) until the same becomes due and payable, whether upon the Maturity Date or upon acceleration, conversion, redemption or otherwise (in each case in accordance with the terms hereof). This Senior Secured Convertible Note (including all Senior Secured Convertible Notes issued in exchange, transfer or replacement hereof, this “Note”) is one of an issue of Senior Secured Convertible Notes issued pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as of April 19, 2026 (the “Subscription Date”), by and among the Company and the investors (the “Buyers”) referred to therein, as amended from time to time (collectively, the “Notes”, and such other Senior Secured Convertible Notes, the “Other Notes”). Certain capitalized terms used herein are defined in Section 33.

1. PAYMENTS OF PRINCIPAL. On the Maturity Date, the Company shall pay to the Holder an amount in cash representing all outstanding Principal, accrued and unpaid Interest and accrued and unpaid Late Charges (as defined in Section 26(c)) on such Principal and Interest. Other than as specifically permitted by this Note, the Company may not prepay any portion of the outstanding Principal, accrued and unpaid Interest or accrued and unpaid Late Charges on Principal and Interest, if any.

2. INTEREST; INTEREST RATE.

(a) Interest on this Note shall commence accruing on the Issuance Date and shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year and twelve 30-day months and shall be payable in arrears for on the first calendar day of each calendar quarter (each, an “Interest Date”) with the first Interest Date being [    ]1. Interest shall be payable on each Interest Date, to the record holder of this Note on the applicable Interest Date, in shares of Common Stock (“Interest Shares”) so long as there has been no Equity Conditions Failure; provided however, that the Company may, at its option following notice to the Holder, pay Interest on any Interest Date in cash (“Cash Interest”) or in a combination of Cash Interest and Interest Shares. The Company shall deliver a written notice (each, an “Interest Election Notice”) to each holder of the Notes on or prior to the Interest Notice Due Date (the date such notice is delivered to all of the holders, the “Interest Notice Date”) which notice (i) either (A) confirms that Interest to be paid on such Interest Date shall be paid entirely in Interest Shares or (B) elects to pay Interest as Cash Interest or a combination of Cash Interest and Interest Shares and specifies the amount of Interest that shall be paid as Cash Interest and the amount of Interest, if any, that shall be paid in Interest Shares and

 
1

Insert in Initial Notes the three month anniversary of the Initial Closing Date

 

Insert in Additional Notes the first calendar day of the calendar quarter immediately following Applicable Closing Date of such Additional Note

 

2


(ii) certifies that there has been no Equity Conditions Failure. If an Equity Conditions Failure has occurred as of the Interest Notice Date, then unless the Company has elected to pay such Interest as Cash Interest, the Interest Election Notice shall indicate that unless the Holder waives the Equity Conditions Failure, the Interest shall be paid as Cash Interest. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if no Equity Conditions Failure has occurred as of the Interest Notice Date but an Equity Conditions Failure occurs at any time prior to the Interest Date, (A) the Company shall provide the Holder a subsequent notice to that effect and (B) unless the Holder waives the Equity Conditions Failure, the Interest shall be paid in cash. Interest to be paid on an Interest Date in Interest Shares shall be paid in a number of fully paid and nonassessable shares (rounded to the nearest whole share in accordance with Section 3(a)) of Common Stock equal to the quotient of (1) the amount of Interest payable on such Interest Date less any Cash Interest paid and (2) the Alternate Conversion Price in effect on the applicable Interest Date.

(b) When any Interest Shares are to be paid on an Interest Date, the Company shall (i) (A) provided that the Company’s transfer agent (the “Transfer Agent”) is participating in the Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) Fast Automated Securities Transfer Program, credit such aggregate number of Interest Shares to which the Holder shall be entitled to the Holder’s or its designee’s balance account with DTC through its Deposit/Withdrawal at Custodian system, or (B) if the Transfer Agent is not participating in the DTC Fast Automated Securities Transfer Program (“FAST”), issue and deliver on the applicable Interest Date, to the address set forth in the register maintained by the Company for such purpose pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement or to such address as specified by the Holder in writing to the Company at least two (2) Business Days prior to the applicable Interest Date, a certificate, registered in the name of the Holder or its designee, for the number of Interest Shares to which the Holder shall be entitled and (ii) with respect to each Interest Date, pay to the Holder, in cash by wire transfer of immediately available funds, the amount of any Cash Interest.

(c) Prior to the payment of Interest on an Interest Date, Interest on this Note shall accrue at the Interest Rate and be payable by way of inclusion of the Interest in the Conversion Amount on each Conversion Date in accordance with Section 3(b)(i) or upon any redemption in accordance with Section 13 or any required payment upon any Bankruptcy Event of Default. From and after the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default, the Interest Rate shall automatically be increased to seventeen percent (17.0%) per annum (the “Default Rate”). In the event that such Event of Default is subsequently cured (and no other Event of Default then exists, including, without limitation, for the Company’s failure to pay such Interest at the Default Rate on the applicable Interest Date), the adjustment referred to in the preceding sentence shall cease to be effective as of the calendar day immediately following the date of such cure; provided that the Interest as calculated and unpaid at such increased rate during the continuance of such Event of Default shall continue to apply to the extent relating to the days after the occurrence of such Event of Default through and including the date of such cure of such Event of Default.

 

3


3. CONVERSION OF NOTES. At any time after the earlier of (x) the record date for the Shoe Business Sale Dividend and (y) June 15, 2026, this Note shall be convertible into validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable shares of Common Stock (as defined below), on the terms and conditions set forth in this Section 3.

(a) Conversion Right. Subject to the provisions of Section 3(d), at any time or times on or after the Issuance Date, the Holder shall be entitled to convert any portion of the outstanding and unpaid Conversion Amount (as defined below) into validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable shares of Common Stock in accordance with Section 3(c), at the Conversion Rate (as defined below). The Company shall not issue any fraction of a share of Common Stock upon any conversion. If the issuance would result in the issuance of a fraction of a share of Common Stock, the Company shall round such fraction of a share of Common Stock up to the nearest whole share. The Company shall pay any and all transfer, stamp, issuance and similar taxes, costs and expenses (including, without limitation, fees and expenses of the Transfer Agent (as defined below)) that may be payable with respect to the issuance and delivery of Common Stock upon conversion of any Conversion Amount.

(b) Conversion Rate. The number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of any Conversion Amount pursuant to Section 3(a) shall be determined by dividing (x) such Conversion Amount by (y) the Conversion Price (the “Conversion Rate”).

(i) “Conversion Amount” means the sum of (A) the portion of the Principal of this Note to be converted, redeemed or otherwise with respect to which this determination is being made, (B) accrued and unpaid Interest with respect to such Principal of this Note, (D) accrued and unpaid Late Charges with respect to such Principal of this Note and Interest, and (E) any other unpaid amounts pursuant to the Transaction Documents, if any.

(ii) “Conversion Price” means, as of any Conversion Date or other date of determination, $[   ]2, subject to adjustment as provided herein.

(c) Mechanics of Conversion.

(i) Optional Conversion. To convert any Conversion Amount into shares of Common Stock on any date (a “Conversion Date”), the Holder shall deliver (whether via electronic mail or otherwise), for receipt on or prior to 11:59 p.m., New York time, on such date, a copy of an executed notice of conversion in the form attached hereto as Exhibit I (each, a “Conversion Notice”) to the Company. If required by Section 3(c)(iii), within one (1) Trading Day following a conversion of this Note as aforesaid, the Holder shall surrender this Note to a nationally recognized overnight delivery service for delivery to the Company (or an indemnification undertaking with respect to this Note in the case of its loss, theft or destruction as contemplated by Section 20(b)). On the date of receipt of a Conversion Notice, the Company shall transmit by electronic mail an acknowledgment, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit

 
2 

Insert for Notes (up to the first $50,000,000 of Original Principal Amount issued): $2.988

 

Insert for all other Notes: $4.000.

 

4


II, of confirmation of receipt of such Conversion Notice and representation as to whether such shares of Common Stock may then be resold pursuant to Rule 144 or an effective and available registration statement (each, an “Acknowledgement”) to the Holder and the Transfer Agent which confirmation shall constitute an instruction to the Transfer Agent to process such Conversion Notice in accordance with the terms herein. On or before the first (1st) Trading Day following the date on which the Company has received a Conversion Notice (or such earlier date as required pursuant to the 1934 Act or other applicable law, rule or regulation for the settlement of a trade initiated on the applicable Conversion Date of such shares of Common Stock issuable pursuant to such Conversion Notice) (the “Share Delivery Deadline”), the Company shall (1) provided that the Transfer Agent is participating in FAST, credit such aggregate number of shares of Common Stock to which the Holder shall be entitled pursuant to such conversion to the Holder’s or its designee’s balance account with DTC through its Deposit/Withdrawal at Custodian system or (2) if the Transfer Agent is not participating in FAST, upon the request of the Holder, issue and deliver (via reputable overnight courier) to the address as specified in the Conversion Notice, a certificate, registered in the name of the Holder or its designee, for the number of shares of Common Stock to which the Holder shall be entitled pursuant to such conversion. If this Note is physically surrendered for conversion pursuant to Section 3(c)(iii) and the outstanding Principal of this Note is greater than the Principal portion of the Conversion Amount being converted, then the Company shall as soon as practicable and in no event later than one (1) Business Day after receipt of this Note and at its own expense, issue and deliver to the Holder (or its designee) a new Note (in accordance with Section 20(d)) representing the outstanding Principal not converted; provided, that during such period the Holder shall be permitted to convert such new Note regardless of the date the actual certificate evidencing such new Note is delivered to the Holder (or its designee). The Person or Persons entitled to receive the shares of Common Stock issuable upon a conversion of this Note shall be treated for all purposes as the record holder or holders of such shares of Common Stock on the Conversion Date; provided, that the Holder shall be deemed to have waived any voting rights of any such Common Stock, that may arise with respect to the period commencing on such Conversion Date, through, and including, such applicable Share Delivery Deadline (each, an “Conversion Period”), as necessary, such that the aggregate voting rights of any Common Stock beneficially owned by the Holder and/or any Attribution Parties, collectively, on any date of determination shall not exceed the Maximum Percentage (as defined below) as a result of any such conversion of this Note. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Note or the Registration Rights Agreement, after the effective date of the Registration Statement (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) and prior to the Holder’s receipt of the notice of a Grace Period (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement), the Company shall cause the Transfer Agent to deliver unlegended shares of Common Stock to the Holder (or its designee) in connection with any sale of Registrable Securities (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) with respect to which the Holder has entered into a contract for sale, and delivered a copy of the prospectus included as part of the particular Registration Statement to the extent applicable, and for which the Holder has not yet settled.

 

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(ii) Companys Failure to Timely Convert. If the Company shall fail, for any reason or for no reason, on or prior to the applicable Share Delivery Deadline, either (I) if the Transfer Agent is not participating in FAST, to issue and deliver to the Holder (or its designee) a certificate for the number of shares of Common Stock to which the Holder is entitled and register such shares of Common Stock on the Company’s share register or, if the Transfer Agent is participating in FAST, to credit the balance account of the Holder or the Holder’s designee with DTC for such number of shares of Common Stock to which the Holder is entitled upon the Holder’s conversion of this Note (as the case may be) or (II) if the Registration Statement covering the resale of the shares of Common Stock that are the subject of the Conversion Notice (the “Unavailable Conversion Shares”) is not available for the resale of such Unavailable Conversion Shares and the Company fails to promptly, but in no event later than as required pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement (x) so notify the Holder and (y) deliver the shares of Common Stock electronically without any restrictive legend by crediting such aggregate number of shares of Common Stock to which the Holder is entitled pursuant to such conversion to the Holder’s or its designee’s balance account with DTC through its Deposit/Withdrawal At Custodian system (the event described in the immediately foregoing clause (II) is hereinafter referred as a “Notice Failure” and together with the event described in clause (I) above, a “Conversion Failure”), then, in addition to all other remedies available to the Holder, (1) the Company shall pay in cash to the Holder on each day after such Share Delivery Deadline that the issuance of such shares of Common Stock is not timely effected an amount equal to 2% of the product of (A) the sum of the number of shares of Common Stock not issued to the Holder on or prior to the Share Delivery Deadline and to which the Holder is entitled, multiplied by (B) any trading price of the Common Stock selected by the Holder in writing as in effect at any time during the period beginning on the applicable Conversion Date and ending on the applicable Share Delivery Deadline and (2) the Holder, upon written notice to the Company, may void its Conversion Notice with respect to, and retain or have returned (as the case may be) any portion of this Note that has not been converted pursuant to such Conversion Notice, provided that the voiding of a Conversion Notice shall not affect the Company’s obligations to make any payments which have accrued prior to the date of such notice pursuant to this Section 3(c)(ii) or otherwise. In addition to the foregoing, if on or prior to the Share Delivery Deadline either (A) if the Transfer Agent is not participating in FAST, the Company shall fail to issue and deliver to the Holder (or its designee) a certificate and register such shares of Common Stock on the Company’s share register or, if the Transfer Agent is participating in FAST, the Transfer Agent shall fail to credit the balance account of the Holder or the Holder’s designee with DTC for the number of shares of Common Stock to which the Holder is entitled upon the Holder’s conversion hereunder or pursuant to the Company’s obligation pursuant to clause (II) below or (B) a Notice Failure occurs, and if on or after such Share Delivery Deadline the Holder acquires (in an open market transaction, stock loan or otherwise) shares of Common Stock corresponding to all or any portion of the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon such conversion that the Holder is entitled to receive from the Company and has not received from the Company in connection with such Conversion Failure or Notice Failure, as applicable (a “Buy-In”), then, in addition to all other remedies available to the Holder, the Company shall, within two (2) Business Days

 

6


after receipt of the Holder’s request and in the Holder’s discretion, either: (I) pay cash to the Holder in an amount equal to the Holder’s total purchase price (including brokerage commissions, stock loan costs and other out-of-pocket expenses, if any) for the shares of Common Stock so acquired (including, without limitation, by any other Person in respect, or on behalf, of the Holder) (the “Buy-In Price”), at which point the Company’s obligation to so issue and deliver such certificate (and to issue such shares of Common Stock) or credit the balance account of such Holder or such Holder’s designee, as applicable, with DTC for the number of shares of Common Stock to which the Holder is entitled upon the Holder’s conversion hereunder (as the case may be) (and to issue such shares of Common Stock) shall terminate, or (II) promptly honor its obligation to so issue and deliver to the Holder a certificate or certificates representing such shares of Common Stock or credit the balance account of such Holder or such Holder’s designee, as applicable, with DTC for the number of shares of Common Stock to which the Holder is entitled upon the Holder’s conversion hereunder (as the case may be) and pay cash to the Holder in an amount equal to the excess (if any) of the Buy-In Price over the product of (x) such number of shares of Common Stock multiplied by (y) the lowest Closing Sale Price of the Common Stock on any Trading Day during the period commencing on the date of the applicable Conversion Notice and ending on the date of such issuance and payment under this clause (II) (the “Buy-In Payment Amount”). Nothing shall limit the Holder’s right to pursue any other remedies available to it hereunder, at law or in equity, including, without limitation, a decree of specific performance and/or injunctive relief with respect to the Company’s failure to timely deliver certificates representing shares of Common Stock (or to electronically deliver such shares of Common Stock) upon the conversion of this Note as required pursuant to the terms hereof.

(iii) Registration; Book-Entry. The Company shall maintain a register (the “Register”) for the recordation of the names and addresses of the holders of each Note and the principal amount of the Notes held by such holders (the “Registered Notes”). The entries in the Register shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes absent manifest error. The Company and the holders of the Notes shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register as the owner of a Note for all purposes (including, without limitation, the right to receive payments of Principal and Interest hereunder) notwithstanding notice to the contrary. A Registered Note may be assigned, transferred or sold in whole or in part only by registration of such assignment or sale on the Register. Upon its receipt of a written request to assign, transfer or sell all or part of any Registered Note by the holder thereof, the Company shall record the information contained therein in the Register and issue one or more new Registered Notes in the same aggregate principal amount as the principal amount of the surrendered Registered Note to the designated assignee or transferee pursuant to Section 20, provided that if the Company does not so record an assignment, transfer or sale (as the case may be) of all or part of any Registered Note within two (2) Business Days of such a request, then the Register shall be automatically deemed updated to reflect such assignment, transfer or sale (as the case may be). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Section 3, following conversion of any portion of this Note in accordance with the terms hereof, the Holder shall not be required to physically surrender this Note to the Company unless (A) the full Conversion Amount

 

7


represented by this Note is being converted (in which event this Note shall be delivered to the Company following conversion thereof as contemplated by Section 3(c)(i)) or (B) the Holder has provided the Company with prior written notice (which notice may be included in a Conversion Notice) requesting reissuance of this Note upon physical surrender of this Note. The Holder and the Company shall maintain records showing the Principal, Interest and Late Charges converted and/or paid (as the case may be) and the dates of such conversions, and/or payments (as the case may be) or shall use such other method, reasonably satisfactory to the Holder and the Company, so as not to require physical surrender of this Note upon conversion. If the Company does not update the Register to record such Principal, Interest and Late Charges converted and/or paid (as the case may be) and the dates of such conversions, and/or payments (as the case may be) within two (2) Business Days of such occurrence, then the Register shall be automatically deemed updated to reflect such occurrence.

(iv) Pro Rata Conversion; Disputes. In the event that the Company receives a Conversion Notice from more than one holder of Notes for the same Conversion Date and the Company can convert some, but not all, of such portions of the Notes submitted for conversion, the Company, subject to Section 3(d), shall convert from each holder of Notes electing to have Notes converted on such date a pro rata amount of such holder’s portion of its Notes submitted for conversion based on the principal amount of Notes submitted for conversion on such date by such holder relative to the aggregate principal amount of all Notes submitted for conversion on such date. In the event of a dispute as to the number of shares of Common Stock issuable to the Holder in connection with a conversion of this Note, the Company shall issue to the Holder the number of shares of Common Stock not in dispute and resolve such dispute in accordance with Section 25.

(d) Limitations on Conversions.

(i) Beneficial Ownership. The Company shall not effect the conversion of any portion of this Note, and the Holder shall not have the right to convert any portion of this Note pursuant to the terms and conditions of this Note and any such conversion shall be null and void and treated as if never made, to the extent that after giving effect to such conversion, the Holder together with the other Attribution Parties collectively would beneficially own in excess of 4.99% (the “Maximum Percentage”) of the shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to such conversion. For purposes of the foregoing sentence, the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by the Holder and the other Attribution Parties shall include the number of shares of Common Stock held by the Holder and all other Attribution Parties plus the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of this Note with respect to which the determination of such sentence is being made, but shall exclude shares of Common Stock which would be issuable upon (A) conversion of the remaining, nonconverted portion of this Note beneficially owned by the Holder or any of the other Attribution Parties and (B) exercise or conversion of the unexercised or nonconverted portion of any other securities of the Company (including, without limitation, any convertible notes or convertible preferred stock or warrants) beneficially owned by the Holder or any other Attribution Party subject to a

 

8


limitation on conversion or exercise analogous to the limitation contained in this Section 3(d)(i). For purposes of this Section 3(d)(i), beneficial ownership shall be calculated in accordance with Section 13(d) of the 1934 Act. For purposes of determining the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock the Holder may acquire upon the conversion of this Note without exceeding the Maximum Percentage, the Holder may rely on the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock as reflected in (x) the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, Current Report on Form 8-K or other public filing with the SEC, as the case may be, (y) a more recent public announcement by the Company or (z) any other written notice by the Company or the Transfer Agent, if any, setting forth the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding (the “Reported Outstanding Share Number”). If the Company receives a Conversion Notice from the Holder at a time when the actual number of outstanding shares of Common Stock is less than the Reported Outstanding Share Number, the Company shall notify the Holder in writing of the number of shares of Common Stock then outstanding and, to the extent that such Conversion Notice would otherwise cause the Holder’s beneficial ownership, as determined pursuant to this Section 3(d)(i), to exceed the Maximum Percentage, the Holder must notify the Company of a reduced number of shares of Common Stock to be purchased pursuant to such Conversion Notice. For any reason at any time, upon the written or oral request of the Holder, the Company shall within one (1) Business Day confirm orally and in writing or by electronic mail to the Holder the number of shares of Common Stock then outstanding. In any case, the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock shall be determined after giving effect to the conversion or exercise of securities of the Company, including this Note, by the Holder and any other Attribution Party since the date as of which the Reported Outstanding Share Number was reported. In the event that the issuance of shares of Common Stock to the Holder upon conversion of this Note results in the Holder and the other Attribution Parties being deemed to beneficially own, in the aggregate, more than the Maximum Percentage of the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock (as determined under Section 13(d) of the 1934 Act), the number of shares so issued by which the Holder’s and the other Attribution Parties’ aggregate beneficial ownership exceeds the Maximum Percentage (the “Excess Shares”) shall be deemed null and void and shall be cancelled ab initio, and the Holder shall not have the power to vote or to transfer the Excess Shares. Upon delivery of a written notice to the Company, the Holder may from time to time increase (with such increase not effective until the sixty-first (61st) day after delivery of such notice) or decrease the Maximum Percentage to any other percentage not in excess of 9.99% as specified in such notice; provided that (i) any such increase in the Maximum Percentage will not be effective until the sixty-first (61st) day after such notice is delivered to the Company and (ii) any such increase or decrease will apply only to the Holder and the other Attribution Parties and not to any other holder of Notes that is not an Attribution Party of the Holder. For purposes of clarity, the shares of Common Stock issuable pursuant to the terms of this Note in excess of the Maximum Percentage shall not be deemed to be beneficially owned by the Holder for any purpose including for purposes of Section 13(d) or Rule 16a-1(a)(1) of the 1934 Act. No prior inability to convert this Note pursuant to this paragraph shall have any effect on the applicability of the provisions of this paragraph with respect to any

 

9


subsequent determination of convertibility. The provisions of this paragraph shall be construed and implemented in a manner otherwise than in strict conformity with the terms of this Section 3(d)(i) to the extent necessary to correct this paragraph (or any portion of this paragraph) which may be defective or inconsistent with the intended beneficial ownership limitation contained in this Section 3(d)(i) or to make changes or supplements necessary or desirable to properly give effect to such limitation. The limitation contained in this paragraph may not be waived or amended and shall apply to a successor holder of this Note.

(ii) [INSERT IN INITIAL NOTE ONLY: Principal Market Regulation The Company shall not issue any shares of Common Stock upon conversion of this Note or otherwise pursuant to the terms of this Note, if the issuance of such shares of Common Stock would exceed the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock which the Company may issue upon conversion of the Notes or otherwise pursuant to the terms of this Note (as the case may be) without breaching the Company’s obligations under the rules or regulations of the Principal Market (the number of shares which may be issued without violating such rules and regulations, including rules related to the aggregate of offerings under NASDAQ Listing Rule 5635(d), the “Exchange Cap”), except that such limitation shall not apply in the event that the Company (A) obtains the approval of its stockholders as required by the applicable rules of the Principal Market for issuances of shares of Common Stock in excess of such amount or (B) obtains a written opinion from counsel to the Company that such approval is not required, which opinion shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Holder. Until such approval or such written opinion is obtained, no Buyer shall be issued in the aggregate, upon conversion of any Notes or otherwise pursuant to the terms of the Notes, shares of Common Stock in an amount greater than the product of (i) the Exchange Cap as of the Issuance Date multiplied by (ii) the quotient of (1) the original principal amount of Notes issued to such Buyer pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement on the Initial Closing Date (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement) divided by (2) the aggregate original principal amount of all Notes issued to the Buyers pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement on the Initial Closing Date (with respect to each Buyer, the “Exchange Cap Allocation”). In the event that any Buyer shall sell or otherwise transfer any of such Buyer’s Notes, the transferee shall be allocated a pro rata portion of such Buyer’s Exchange Cap Allocation with respect to such portion of such Notes so transferred, and the restrictions of the prior sentence shall apply to such transferee with respect to the portion of the Exchange Cap Allocation so allocated to such transferee. Upon conversion in full of a holder’s Notes, the difference (if any) between such holder’s Exchange Cap Allocation and the number of shares of Common Stock actually issued to such holder upon such holder’s conversion in full of such Notes shall be allocated, to the respective Exchange Cap Allocations of the remaining holders of Notes on a pro rata basis in proportion to the shares of Common Stock underlying the Notes then held by each such holder of Notes.][INSERT IN ADDITIONAL NOTES: [Intentionally Omitted]]

 

10


(e) Right of Alternate Conversion.

(i) General.

(1) Alternate Optional Conversion. Subject to Section 3(d), at any time, at the option of the Holder, the Holder may convert (each, an “Alternate Optional Conversion”, and the date of such Alternate Optional Conversion, an “Alternate Optional Conversion Date”) all, or any part, of this Note into shares of Common Stock (such portion of the Conversion Amount subject to such Alternate Optional Conversion, the “Alternate Optional Conversion Amount”) at the Alternate Conversion Price.

(2) Alternate Conversion Upon an Event of Default. Subject to Section 3(d), at any time after the occurrence of an Event of Default (regardless of whether such Event of Default has been cured, or if the Company has delivered an Event of Default Notice to the Holder or if the Holder has delivered an Event of Default Redemption Notice to the Company or otherwise notified the Company that an Event of Default has occurred), the Holder may, at the Holder’s option, convert (each, an “Alternate Event of Default Conversion” and together with each Alternate Optional Conversion, each, an “Alternate Conversion”, and the date of such Alternate Event of Default Conversion, each, an “Alternate Event of Default Conversion Date”, and together with each Alternate Optional Conversion Date, each, an “Alternate Conversion Date”) all, or any part of, the Conversion Amount (such portion of the Conversion Amount subject to such Alternate Conversion, the “Alternate Event of Default Conversion Amount” and together with each Alternate Optional Conversion Amount, each, an “Alternate Conversion Amount”) into shares of Common Stock at the Alternate Conversion Price.

(ii) Mechanics of Alternate Conversion. On any Alternate Conversion Date, the Holder may voluntarily convert any Alternate Conversion Amount pursuant to Section 3(c) (with “Alternate Conversion Price” replacing “Conversion Price” for all purposes hereunder with respect to such Alternate Conversion and, solely with respect to the calculation of the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of any Conversion Amount in an Alternate Event of Default Conversion, with “Redemption Premium of the Conversion Amount” replacing “Conversion Amount” in clause (x) of the definition of Conversion Rate above with respect to such Alternate Conversion) by designating in the Conversion Notice delivered pursuant to this Section 3(e) of this Note that the Holder is electing to use the Alternate Conversion Price for such conversion; provided that in the event of the Conversion Floor Price Condition, on the applicable Alternate Conversion Date the Company shall also deliver to the Holder the applicable Alternate Conversion Floor Amount. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 3(e), but subject to Section 3(d), until the Company delivers shares of Common Stock representing the applicable Alternate Conversion Amount to the Holder, such Alternate Conversion Amount may be converted by the Holder into shares of Common Stock pursuant to Section 3(c) without regard to this Section 3(e). In the event of an Alternate Conversion pursuant to this Section 3(e) of all, or any portion, of this Note, the Holder’s damages would be uncertain and difficult to estimate because of the parties’ inability to predict future interest rates and the uncertainty of the availability of a suitable substitute investment opportunity for the Holder. Accordingly, any redemption premium due under this Section 3(e), together the Alternate Conversion Price used in such Alternate Conversion, as applicable, is intended by the parties to be, and shall be deemed, a reasonable estimate of, the Holder’s actual loss of its investment opportunity and not as a penalty.

 

11


4. RIGHTS UPON EVENT OF DEFAULT.

(a) Event of Default. Each of the following events shall constitute an “Event of Default” and each of the events in clauses (ix), (x) and (xi) shall constitute a “Bankruptcy Event of Default”:

(i) the failure of the applicable Registration Statement (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) to be filed with the SEC on or prior to the date that is five (5) Business Days after the applicable Filing Deadline (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) or the failure of the applicable Registration Statement to be declared effective by the SEC on or prior to the date that is five (5) Business Days after the applicable Effectiveness Deadline (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement);

(ii) while the applicable Registration Statement is required to be maintained effective pursuant to the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement, the effectiveness of the applicable Registration Statement lapses for any reason (including, without limitation, the issuance of a stop order) or such Registration Statement (or the prospectus contained therein) is unavailable to any holder of Registrable Securities (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) for sale of all of such holder’s Registrable Securities in accordance with the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement, and such lapse or unavailability continues for a period of five (5) consecutive Trading Days or for more than an aggregate of ten (10) Trading Days in any 365-day period (excluding days during an Allowable Grace Period (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement));

(iii) the suspension (or threatened suspension) from trading or the failure (or threatened failure) of the Common Stock to be trading or listed (as applicable) on an Eligible Market for a period of five (5) consecutive Trading Days;

(iv) the Company’s (A) failure to cure a Conversion Failure by delivery of the required number of shares of Common Stock within five (5) Trading Days after the applicable Conversion Date or exercise date (as the case may be) or (B) notice, written or oral, to any holder of the Notes, including, without limitation, by way of public announcement or through any of its agents, at any time, of its intention not to comply, as required, with a request for conversion of any Notes into shares of Common Stock that is requested in accordance with the provisions of the Notes, other than pursuant to Section 3(d);

(v) except to the extent the Company is in compliance with Section 12(b) below, at any time following the tenth (10th) consecutive day that the Holder’s Authorized Share Allocation (as defined in Section 12(a) below) is less than the number of shares of Common Stock that the Holder would be entitled to receive upon a conversion of the full Conversion Amount of this Note (without regard to any limitations on conversion set forth in Section 3(d) or otherwise);

 

12


(vi) the Company’s or any Subsidiary’s failure to pay to the Holder any amount of Principal, Interest, Late Charges or other amounts when and as due under this Note (including, without limitation, the Company’s or any Subsidiary’s failure to pay any redemption payments or amounts hereunder) or any other Transaction Document (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement) or any other agreement, document, certificate or other instrument delivered in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, except, in the case of a failure to pay Interest and Late Charges when and as due, in which case only if such failure remains uncured for a period of at least two (2) Trading Days;

(vii) the Company fails to remove any restrictive legend on any certificate or any shares of Common Stock issued to the Holder upon conversion or exercise (as the case may be) of any Securities (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement) acquired by the Holder under the Securities Purchase Agreement (including this Note) as and when required by such Securities or the Securities Purchase Agreement, unless otherwise then prohibited by applicable federal securities laws, and any such failure remains uncured for at least five (5) Trading Days;

(viii) the occurrence of any default under, redemption of or acceleration prior to maturity of at least an aggregate of (A) if on or prior to the Shoe Business Sale, $50,000 or (B) after the Shoe Business Sale, $125,000 (as applicable, the “Applicable Default Dollar Threshold”) of Indebtedness (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement) of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, other than with respect to any Other Notes;

(ix) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or liquidation proceedings or other proceedings for the relief of debtors shall be instituted by or against the Company or any Subsidiary and, if instituted against the Company or any Subsidiary by a third party, shall not be dismissed within thirty (30) days of their initiation;

(x) the commencement by the Company or any Subsidiary of a voluntary case or proceeding under any applicable federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law or of any other case or proceeding to be adjudicated a bankrupt or insolvent, or the consent by it to the entry of a decree, order, judgment or other similar document in respect of the Company or any Subsidiary in an involuntary case or proceeding under any applicable federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law or to the commencement of any bankruptcy or insolvency case or proceeding against it, or the filing by it of a petition or answer or consent seeking reorganization or relief under any applicable federal, state or foreign law, or the consent by it to the filing of such petition or to the appointment of or taking possession by a custodian, receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or other similar official of the Company or any Subsidiary or of any substantial part of its property, or the making by it of an assignment for the benefit

 

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of creditors, or the execution of a composition of debts, or the occurrence of any other similar federal, state or foreign proceeding, or the admission by it in writing of its inability to pay its debts generally as they become due, the taking of corporate action by the Company or any Subsidiary in furtherance of any such action or the taking of any action by any Person to commence a Uniform Commercial Code foreclosure sale or any other similar action under federal, state or foreign law;

(xi) the entry by a court of (i) a decree, order, judgment or other similar document in respect of the Company or any Subsidiary of a voluntary or involuntary case or proceeding under any applicable federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law or (ii) a decree, order, judgment or other similar document adjudging the Company or any Subsidiary as bankrupt or insolvent, or approving as properly filed a petition seeking liquidation, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition of or in respect of the Company or any Subsidiary under any applicable federal, state or foreign law or (iii) a decree, order, judgment or other similar document appointing a custodian, receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or other similar official of the Company or any Subsidiary or of any substantial part of its property, or ordering the winding up or liquidation of its affairs, and the continuance of any such decree, order, judgment or other similar document or any such other decree, order, judgment or other similar document unstayed and in effect for a period of thirty (30) consecutive days;

(xii) a final judgment or judgments for the payment of money aggregating in excess of the Applicable Default Dollar Threshold are rendered against the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries and which judgments are not, within thirty (30) days after the entry thereof, bonded, discharged, settled or stayed pending appeal, or are not discharged within thirty (30) days after the expiration of such stay; provided, however, any judgment which is covered by insurance or an indemnity from a credit worthy party shall not be included in calculating the Applicable Default Dollar Threshold amount set forth above so long as the Company provides the Holder a written statement from such insurer or indemnity provider (which written statement shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Holder) to the effect that such judgment is covered by insurance or an indemnity and the Company or such Subsidiary (as the case may be) will receive the proceeds of such insurance or indemnity within thirty (30) days of the issuance of such judgment;

(xiii) the Company and/or any Subsidiary, individually or in the aggregate, fails to pay, when due, or within any applicable grace period, any payment with respect to any Indebtedness in excess of the Applicable Default Dollar Threshold due to any third party (other than, with respect to unsecured Indebtedness only, payments contested by the Company and/or such Subsidiary (as the case may be) in good faith by proper proceedings and with respect to which adequate reserves have been set aside for the payment thereof in accordance with GAAP) or is otherwise in breach or violation of any agreement for monies owed or owing in an amount in excess of the Applicable Default Dollar Threshold, which breach or violation permits the other party thereto to declare a default or otherwise accelerate amounts due thereunder;

 

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(xiv) other than as specifically set forth in another clause of this Section 4(a), the Company or any Subsidiary breaches any representation or warranty, or any covenant or other term or condition of any Transaction Document, except, in the case of a breach of a covenant or other term or condition that is curable, only if such breach remains uncured for a period of two (2) consecutive Trading Days;

(xv) a false or inaccurate certification (including a false or inaccurate deemed certification) by the Company that either (A) the Equity Conditions are satisfied, (B) there has been no Equity Conditions Failure, or (C) as to whether any Event of Default has occurred;

(xvi) any breach or failure in any respect by the Company or any Subsidiary to comply with any provision of Section 15 of this Note;

(xvii) the Shoe Business Sale fails to occur on or prior to June 30, 2026;

(xviii) immediately following the Shoe Sale Closing Time (as defined below) no more than $5 million of indebtedness (including, without limitation, Indebtedness, but excluding the Notes and the Other Notes) of the Company and its Subsidiaries, in the aggregate, remains outstanding;

(xix) any breach of the GPU Lease (including, without limitation, the failure to sweep all, or any part, of any payment amounts thereunder into the Blocked Controlled Account (as defined in the Security Agreement) and/or the failure by the lessee to make any payments as and when required thereunder and/or); or

(xx) any Material Adverse Effect (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement) occurs;

(xxi) any provision of any Transaction Document (including, without limitation, the Security Documents and the Guaranties) shall at any time for any reason (other than pursuant to the express terms thereof) cease to be valid and binding on or enforceable against the parties thereto, or the validity or enforceability thereof shall be contested by any party thereto, or a proceeding shall be commenced by the Company or any Subsidiary or any governmental authority having jurisdiction over any of them, seeking to establish the invalidity or unenforceability thereof, or the Company or any Subsidiary shall deny in writing that it has any liability or obligation purported to be created under any Transaction Document (including, without limitation, the Security Documents and the Guaranties);

(xxii) any Security Document shall for any reason fail or cease to create a separate valid and perfected and, except to the extent permitted by the terms hereof or thereof, first priority Lien (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement) on the Collateral (as defined in the Security Documents) in favor of the Collateral Agent (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement) or any material provision of any Security Document shall at any time for any reason cease to be valid and binding on or enforceable against the Company or the validity or enforceability thereof shall be contested by any party thereto, or a proceeding shall be commenced by the Company or any governmental authority having jurisdiction over the Company, seeking to establish the invalidity or unenforceability thereof;

 

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(xxiii) any material damage to, or loss, theft or destruction of, any Collateral, whether or not insured, or any strike, lockout, labor dispute, embargo, condemnation, act of God or public enemy, or other casualty which causes, for more than fifteen (15) consecutive days, the cessation or substantial curtailment of revenue producing activities at any facility of the Company or any Subsidiary, if any such event or circumstance would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; or

(xxiv) any Event of Default (as defined in the Other Notes) occurs with respect to any Other Notes.

(b) Notice of an Event of Default; Redemption Right. Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to this Note or any Other Note, the Company shall within two (2) Business Days after the occurrence of such Event of Default deliver written notice thereof via electronic mail and overnight courier (with next day delivery specified) (an “Event of Default Notice”) to the Holder. At any time after the earlier of the Holder’s receipt of an Event of Default Notice and the Holder becoming aware of an Event of Default, the Holder may require the Company to redeem (regardless of whether such Event of Default has been cured) all or any portion of this Note by delivering written notice thereof (the “Event of Default Redemption Notice”) to the Company, which Event of Default Redemption Notice shall indicate the portion of this Note the Holder is electing to redeem. Each portion of this Note subject to redemption by the Company pursuant to this Section 4(b) shall be redeemed by the Company at a price equal to the greater of (i) the product of (A) the Conversion Amount to be redeemed multiplied by (B) the Redemption Premium and (ii) the product of (X) the Conversion Rate with respect to the Conversion Amount in effect at such time as the Holder delivers an Event of Default Redemption Notice multiplied by (Y) the product of (1) the Redemption Premium multiplied by (2) the greatest Closing Sale Price of the Common Stock on any Trading Day during the period commencing on the date immediately preceding such Event of Default and ending on the date the Company makes the entire payment required to be made under this Section 4(b) (the “Event of Default Redemption Price”). Redemptions required by this Section 4(b) shall be made in accordance with the provisions of Section 13. To the extent redemptions required by this Section 4(b) are deemed or determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to be prepayments of this Note by the Company, such redemptions shall be deemed to be voluntary prepayments. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 3(e), but subject to Section 3(d), until the Event of Default Redemption Price (together with any Late Charges thereon) is paid in full, the Conversion Amount submitted for redemption under this Section 4(b) (together with any Late Charges thereon) may be converted, in whole or in part, by the Holder into Common Stock pursuant to the terms of this Note. In the event of the Company’s redemption of any portion of this Note under this Section 4(b), the Holder’s damages would be uncertain and difficult to estimate because of the parties’ inability to predict future interest rates and the uncertainty of the availability of a suitable substitute investment opportunity for the Holder. Accordingly, any redemption premium due under this Section 4(b) is intended by the parties to be, and shall be deemed, a reasonable estimate of the Holder’s actual loss of its investment opportunity and not as a penalty. Any redemption upon an Event of Default shall not constitute an election of remedies by the Holder, and all other rights and remedies of the Holder shall be preserved.

 

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(c) Mandatory Redemption upon Bankruptcy Event of Default. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, and notwithstanding any conversion that is then required or in process, upon any Bankruptcy Event of Default, whether occurring prior to or following the Maturity Date, the Company shall immediately pay to the Holder an amount in cash representing (i) all outstanding Principal, accrued and unpaid Interest and accrued and unpaid Late Charges on such Principal and Interest, multiplied by (ii) the Redemption Premium, in addition to any and all other amounts due hereunder, without the requirement for any notice or demand or other action by the Holder or any other person or entity, provided that the Holder may, in its sole discretion, waive such right to receive payment upon a Bankruptcy Event of Default, in whole or in part, and any such waiver shall not affect any other rights of the Holder hereunder, including any other rights in respect of such Bankruptcy Event of Default, any right to conversion, and any right to payment of the Event of Default Redemption Price or any other Redemption Price, as applicable.

5. RIGHTS UPON FUNDAMENTAL TRANSACTION.

(a) Assumption. The Company shall not enter into or be party to a Fundamental Transaction unless (i) the Successor Entity assumes in writing all of the obligations of the Company under this Note and the other Transaction Documents in accordance with the provisions of this Section 5(a) pursuant to written agreements in form and substance satisfactory to the Holder and approved by the Holder prior to such Fundamental Transaction, including agreements to deliver to each holder of Notes in exchange for such Notes a security of the Successor Entity evidenced by a written instrument substantially similar in form and substance to the Notes, including, without limitation, having a principal amount and interest rate equal to the principal amounts then outstanding and the interest rates of the Notes held by such holder, having similar conversion rights as the Notes and having similar ranking and security to the Notes, and satisfactory to the Holder and (ii) the Successor Entity (including its Parent Entity) is a publicly traded corporation whose common stock is quoted on or listed for trading on an Eligible Market. Upon the occurrence of any Fundamental Transaction, the Successor Entity shall succeed to, and be substituted for (so that from and after the date of such Fundamental Transaction, the provisions of this Note and the other Transaction Documents referring to the “Company” shall refer instead to the Successor Entity), and may exercise every right and power of the Company and shall assume all of the obligations of the Company under this Note and the other Transaction Documents with the same effect as if such Successor Entity had been named as the Company herein. Upon consummation of a Fundamental Transaction, the Successor Entity shall deliver to the Holder confirmation that there shall be issued upon conversion or redemption of this Note at any time after the consummation of such Fundamental Transaction, in lieu of the shares of Common Stock (or other securities, cash, assets or other property (except such items still issuable under Sections 6 and 17, which shall continue to be receivable thereafter)) issuable upon the conversion or redemption of the Notes prior to such Fundamental Transaction, such shares of the publicly traded common stock (or their equivalent) of the Successor Entity (including its Parent Entity)

 

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which the Holder would have been entitled to receive upon the happening of such Fundamental Transaction had this Note been converted immediately prior to such Fundamental Transaction (without regard to any limitations on the conversion of this Note), as adjusted in accordance with the provisions of this Note. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Holder may elect, at its sole option, by delivery of written notice to the Company to waive this Section 5(a) to permit the Fundamental Transaction without the assumption of this Note. The provisions of this Section 5 shall apply similarly and equally to successive Fundamental Transactions and shall be applied without regard to any limitations on the conversion of this Note.

(b) Notice of a Change of Control; Redemption Right. No sooner than twenty (20) Trading Days nor later than ten (10) Trading Days prior to the consummation of a Change of Control (the “Change of Control Date”), but not prior to the public announcement of such Change of Control, the Company shall deliver written notice thereof via electronic mail and overnight courier to the Holder (a “Change of Control Notice”). At any time during the period beginning after the Holder’s receipt of a Change of Control Notice or the Holder becoming aware of a Change of Control if a Change of Control Notice is not delivered to the Holder in accordance with the immediately preceding sentence (as applicable) and ending on twenty (20) Trading Days after the later of (A) the date of consummation of such Change of Control or (B) the date of receipt of such Change of Control Notice or (C) the date of the announcement of such Change of Control, the Holder may require the Company to redeem all or any portion of this Note by delivering written notice thereof (“Change of Control Redemption Notice”) to the Company, which Change of Control Redemption Notice shall indicate the Conversion Amount the Holder is electing to redeem. The portion of this Note subject to redemption pursuant to this Section 5 shall be redeemed by the Company in cash at a price equal to the greatest of (i) the product of (w) the Change of Control Redemption Premium multiplied by (y) the Conversion Amount being redeemed, (ii) the product of (x) the Change of Control Redemption Premium multiplied by (y) the product of (A) the Conversion Amount being redeemed multiplied by (B) the quotient determined by dividing (I) the greatest Closing Sale Price of the shares of Common Stock during the period beginning on the date immediately preceding the earlier to occur of (1) the consummation of the applicable Change of Control and (2) the public announcement of such Change of Control and ending on the date the Holder delivers the Change of Control Redemption Notice by (II) the Conversion Price then in effect and (iii) the product of (y) the Change of Control Redemption Premium multiplied by (z) the product of (A) the Conversion Amount being redeemed multiplied by (B) the quotient of (I) the aggregate cash consideration and the aggregate cash value of any non-cash consideration per share of Common Stock to be paid to the holders of the shares of Common Stock upon consummation of such Change of Control (any such non-cash consideration constituting publicly-traded securities shall be valued at the highest of the Closing Sale Price of such securities as of the Trading Day immediately prior to the consummation of such Change of Control, the Closing Sale Price of such securities on the Trading Day immediately following the public announcement of such proposed Change of Control and the Closing Sale Price of such securities on the Trading Day immediately prior to the public announcement of such proposed Change of Control) divided by (II) the Conversion Price then in effect (the “Change of Control Redemption Price”). Redemptions required by this Section 5 shall be made in accordance with the provisions of

 

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Section 13 and shall have priority to payments to stockholders in connection with such Change of Control. To the extent redemptions required by this Section 5(b) are deemed or determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to be prepayments of this Note by the Company, such redemptions shall be deemed to be voluntary prepayments. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 5, but subject to Section 3(d), until the Change of Control Redemption Price (together with any Late Charges thereon) is paid in full, the Conversion Amount submitted for redemption under this Section 5(b) (together with any Late Charges thereon) may be converted, in whole or in part, by the Holder into Common Stock pursuant to Section 3. In the event of the Company’s redemption of any portion of this Note under this Section 5(b), the Holder’s damages would be uncertain and difficult to estimate because of the parties’ inability to predict future interest rates and the uncertainty of the availability of a suitable substitute investment opportunity for the Holder. Accordingly, any redemption premium due under this Section 5(b) is intended by the parties to be, and shall be deemed, a reasonable estimate of the Holder’s actual loss of its investment opportunity and not as a penalty.

6. RIGHTS UPON ISSUANCE OF PURCHASE RIGHTS AND OTHER CORPORATE EVENTS.

(a) Purchase Rights. In addition to any adjustments pursuant to Sections 7 or 17 below, if at any time the Company grants, issues or sells any Options, Convertible Securities or rights to purchase stock, warrants, securities or other property pro rata to all or substantially all of the record holders of any class of Common Stock (the “Purchase Rights”), then the Holder will be entitled to acquire, upon the terms applicable to such Purchase Rights, the aggregate Purchase Rights which the Holder could have acquired if the Holder had held the number of shares of Common Stock acquirable upon complete conversion of this Note (without taking into account any limitations or restrictions on the convertibility of this Note and assuming for such purpose that the Note was converted at the Alternate Conversion Price as of the applicable record date) immediately prior to the date on which a record is taken for the grant, issuance or sale of such Purchase Rights, or, if no such record is taken, the date as of which the record holders of shares of Common Stock are to be determined for the grant, issue or sale of such Purchase Rights (provided, however, that to the extent that the Holder’s right to participate in any such Purchase Right would result in the Holder and the other Attribution Parties exceeding the Maximum Percentage, then the Holder shall not be entitled to participate in such Purchase Right to the extent of the Maximum Percentage (and shall not be entitled to beneficial ownership of such shares of Common Stock as a result of such Purchase Right (and beneficial ownership) to the extent of any such excess) and such Purchase Right to such extent shall be held in abeyance (and, if such Purchase Right has an expiration date, maturity date or other similar provision, such term shall be extended by such number of days held in abeyance, if applicable) for the benefit of the Holder until such time or times, if ever, as its right thereto would not result in the Holder and the other Attribution Parties exceeding the Maximum Percentage, at which time or times the Holder shall be granted such right (and any Purchase Right granted, issued or sold on such initial Purchase Right or on any subsequent Purchase Right held similarly in abeyance (and, if such Purchase Right has an expiration date, maturity date or other similar provision, such term shall be extended by such number of days held in abeyance, if applicable)) to the same extent as if there had been no such limitation).

 

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(b) Other Corporate Events. In addition to and not in substitution for any other rights hereunder, prior to the consummation of any Fundamental Transaction pursuant to which holders of shares of Common Stock are entitled to receive securities or other assets with respect to or in exchange for shares of Common Stock (a “Corporate Event”), the Company shall make appropriate provision to ensure that the Holder will thereafter have the right to receive upon a conversion of this Note, at the Holder’s option (i) in addition to the shares of Common Stock receivable upon such conversion, such securities or other assets to which the Holder would have been entitled with respect to such shares of Common Stock had such shares of Common Stock been held by the Holder upon the consummation of such Corporate Event (without taking into account any limitations or restrictions on the convertibility of this Note) or (ii) in lieu of the shares of Common Stock otherwise receivable upon such conversion, such securities or other assets received by the holders of shares of Common Stock in connection with the consummation of such Corporate Event in such amounts as the Holder would have been entitled to receive had this Note initially been issued with conversion rights for the form of such consideration (as opposed to shares of Common Stock) at a conversion rate for such consideration commensurate with the Conversion Rate. Provision made pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be in a form and substance satisfactory to the Holder. The provisions of this Section 6 shall apply similarly and equally to successive Corporate Events and shall be applied without regard to any limitations on the conversion or redemption of this Note.

7. RIGHTS UPON ISSUANCE OF OTHER SECURITIES.

(a) Adjustment of Conversion Price upon Issuance of Common Stock. If and whenever on or after the Subscription Date the Company grants, issues or sells (or enters into any agreement to grant, issue or sell), or in accordance with this Section 7(a) is deemed to have granted, issued or sold, any shares of Common Stock (including the granting, issuance or sale of shares of Common Stock owned or held by or for the account of the Company, but excluding any Excluded Securities granted, issued or sold or deemed to have been granted, issued or sold) for a consideration per share (the “New Issuance Price”) less than a price equal to the Conversion Price in effect immediately prior to such granting, issuance or sale or deemed granting, issuance or sale (such Conversion Price then in effect is referred to herein as the “Applicable Price”) (the foregoing a “Dilutive Issuance”), then, immediately after such Dilutive Issuance, the Conversion Price then in effect shall be reduced to an amount equal to the New Issuance Price. For all purposes of the foregoing (including, without limitation, determining the adjusted Conversion Price and the New Issuance Price under this Section 7(a)), the following shall be applicable:

(i) Issuance of Options. If the Company in any manner grants, issues or sells (or enters into any agreement to grant, issue or sell) any Options and the lowest price per share for which one share of Common Stock is at any time issuable upon the exercise of any such Option or upon conversion, exercise or exchange of any Convertible Securities issuable upon exercise of any such Option or otherwise pursuant to the terms thereof is less than the Applicable Price, then such share of Common Stock shall be deemed to be outstanding and to have been issued and sold by the Company at

 

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the time of the granting, issuance or sale of such Option for such price per share. For purposes of this Section 7(a)(i), the “lowest price per share for which one share of Common Stock is at any time issuable upon the exercise of any such Option or upon conversion, exercise or exchange of any Convertible Securities issuable upon exercise of any such Option or otherwise pursuant to the terms thereof” shall be equal to (1) the lower of (x) the sum of the lowest amounts of consideration (if any) received or receivable by the Company with respect to any one share of Common Stock upon the granting, issuance or sale of such Option, upon exercise of such Option and upon conversion, exercise or exchange of any Convertible Security issuable upon exercise of such Option or otherwise pursuant to the terms thereof and (y) the lowest exercise price set forth in such Option for which one share of Common Stock is issuable (or may become issuable assuming all possible market conditions) upon the exercise of any such Options or upon conversion, exercise or exchange of any Convertible Securities issuable upon exercise of any such Option or otherwise pursuant to the terms thereof, minus (2) the sum of all amounts paid or payable to the holder of such Option (or any other Person) with respect to any one share of Common Stock upon the granting, issuance or sale of such Option, upon exercise of such Option and upon conversion, exercise or exchange of any Convertible Security issuable upon exercise of such Option or otherwise pursuant to the terms thereof plus the value of any other consideration (including, without limitation, consideration consisting of cash, debt forgiveness, assets or any other property) received or receivable by, or benefit conferred on, the holder of such Option (or any other Person). Except as contemplated below, no further adjustment of the Conversion Price shall be made upon the actual issuance of such share of Common Stock or of such Convertible Securities upon the exercise of such Options or otherwise pursuant to the terms thereof or upon the actual issuance of such shares of Common Stock upon conversion, exercise or exchange of such Convertible Securities.

(ii) Issuance of Convertible Securities. If the Company in any manner issues or sells (or enters into any agreement to issue or sell) any Convertible Securities and the lowest price per share for which one share of Common Stock is at any time issuable upon the conversion, exercise or exchange thereof or otherwise pursuant to the terms thereof is less than the Applicable Price, then such share of Common Stock shall be deemed to be outstanding and to have been issued and sold by the Company at the time of the issuance or sale (or the time of execution of such agreement to issue or sell, as applicable) of such Convertible Securities for such price per share. For the purposes of this Section 7(a)(ii), the “lowest price per share for which one share of Common Stock is at any time issuable upon the conversion, exercise or exchange thereof or otherwise pursuant to the terms thereof” shall be equal to (1) the lower of (x) the sum of the lowest amounts of consideration (if any) received or receivable by the Company with respect to one share of Common Stock upon the issuance or sale (or pursuant to the agreement to issue or sell, as applicable) of the Convertible Security and upon conversion, exercise or exchange of such Convertible Security or otherwise pursuant to the terms thereof and (y) the lowest conversion price set forth in such Convertible Security for which one share of Common Stock is issuable (or may become issuable assuming all possible market conditions) upon conversion, exercise or exchange thereof or otherwise pursuant to the terms thereof minus (2) the sum of all amounts

 

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paid or payable to the holder of such Convertible Security (or any other Person) with respect to any one share of Common Stock upon the issuance or sale (or the agreement to issue or sell, as applicable) of such Convertible Security plus the value of any other consideration received or receivable (including, without limitation, any consideration consisting of cash, debt forgiveness, assets or other property) by, or benefit conferred on, the holder of such Convertible Security (or any other Person). Except as contemplated below, no further adjustment of the Conversion Price shall be made upon the actual issuance of such shares of Common Stock upon conversion, exercise or exchange of such Convertible Securities or otherwise pursuant to the terms thereof, and if any such issuance or sale of such Convertible Securities is made upon exercise of any Options for which adjustment of the Conversion Price has been or is to be made pursuant to other provisions of this Section 7(a), except as contemplated below, no further adjustment of the Conversion Price shall be made by reason of such issuance or sale.

(iii) Change in Option Price or Rate of Conversion. If the purchase or exercise price provided for in any Options, the additional consideration, if any, payable upon the issue, conversion, exercise or exchange of any Convertible Securities, or the rate at which any Convertible Securities are convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of Common Stock increases or decreases at any time (other than proportional changes in conversion or exercise prices, as applicable, in connection with an event referred to in Section 7(b) below), the Conversion Price in effect at the time of such increase or decrease shall be adjusted to the Conversion Price which would have been in effect at such time had such Options or Convertible Securities provided for such increased or decreased purchase price, additional consideration or increased or decreased conversion rate (as the case may be) at the time initially granted, issued or sold. For purposes of this Section 7(a)(i), if the terms of any Option or Convertible Security (including, without limitation, any Option or Convertible Security that was outstanding as of the Subscription Date) are increased or decreased in the manner described in the immediately preceding sentence, then such Option or Convertible Security and the shares of Common Stock deemed issuable upon exercise, conversion or exchange thereof shall be deemed to have been issued as of the date of such increase or decrease. No adjustment pursuant to this Section 7(a) shall be made if such adjustment would result in an increase of the Conversion Price then in effect.

(iv) Calculation of Consideration Received. If any Option and/or Convertible Security and/or Adjustment Right is issued in connection with the issuance or sale or deemed issuance or sale of any other securities of the Company (as determined by the Holder, the “Primary Security”, and such Option and/or Convertible Security and/or Adjustment Right, the “Secondary Securities”), together comprising one integrated transaction (or one or more transactions if such issuances or sales or deemed issuances or sales of securities of the Company either (A) have at least one investor or purchaser in common, (B) are consummated in reasonable proximity to each other and/or (C) are consummated under the same plan of financing), the aggregate consideration per share of Common Stock with respect to such Primary Security shall be deemed to be equal to the difference of (x) the lowest price per share for which one share of Common Stock was issued (or was deemed to be issued pursuant

 

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to Section 7(a)(i) or 7(a)(ii) above, as applicable) in such integrated transaction solely with respect to such Primary Security, minus (y) with respect to such Secondary Securities, the sum of (I) the Black Scholes Consideration Value of each such Option, if any, (II) the fair market value (as determined by the Holder in good faith) or the Black Scholes Consideration Value, as applicable, of such Adjustment Right, if any, and (III) the fair market value (as determined by the Holder) of such Convertible Security, if any, in each case, as determined on a per share basis in accordance with this Section 7(a)(iv). If any shares of Common Stock, Options or Convertible Securities are issued or sold or deemed to have been issued or sold for cash, the consideration received therefor (for the purpose of determining the consideration paid for such Common Stock, Option or Convertible Security, but not for the purpose of the calculation of the Black Scholes Consideration Value) will be deemed to be the net amount of consideration received by the Company therefor. If any shares of Common Stock, Options or Convertible Securities are issued or sold for a consideration other than cash, the amount of such consideration received by the Company (for the purpose of determining the consideration paid for such Common Stock, Option or Convertible Security, but not for the purpose of the calculation of the Black Scholes Consideration Value) will be the fair value of such consideration, except where such consideration consists of publicly traded securities, in which case the amount of consideration received by the Company for such securities will be the arithmetic average of the VWAPs of such security for each of the five (5) Trading Days immediately preceding the date of receipt. If any shares of Common Stock, Options or Convertible Securities are issued to the owners of the non-surviving entity in connection with any merger in which the Company is the surviving entity, the amount of consideration therefor (for the purpose of determining the consideration paid for such Common Stock, Option or Convertible Security, but not for the purpose of the calculation of the Black Scholes Consideration Value) will be deemed to be the fair value of such portion of the net assets and business of the non-surviving entity as is attributable to such shares of Common Stock, Options or Convertible Securities (as the case may be). The fair value of any consideration other than cash or publicly traded securities will be determined jointly by the Company and the Holder. If such parties are unable to reach agreement within ten (10) days after the occurrence of an event requiring valuation (the “Valuation Event”), the fair value of such consideration will be determined within five (5) Trading Days after the tenth (10th) day following such Valuation Event by an independent, reputable appraiser jointly selected by the Company and the Holder. The determination of such appraiser shall be final and binding upon all parties absent manifest error and the fees and expenses of such appraiser shall be borne by the Company.

(v) Record Date. If the Company takes a record of the holders of shares of Common Stock for the purpose of entitling them (A) to receive a dividend or other distribution payable in shares of Common Stock, Options or in Convertible Securities or (B) to subscribe for or purchase shares of Common Stock, Options or Convertible Securities, then such record date will be deemed to be the date of the issuance or sale of the shares of Common Stock deemed to have been issued or sold upon the declaration of such dividend or the making of such other distribution or the date of the granting of such right of subscription or purchase (as the case may be).

 

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(b) Adjustment of Conversion Price upon Subdivision or Combination of Common Stock. Without limiting any provision of Section 6, Section 17 or Section 7(a), if the Company at any time on or after the Subscription Date subdivides (by any stock split, stock dividend, stock combination, recapitalization or other similar transaction) one or more classes of its outstanding shares of Common Stock into a greater number of shares, the Conversion Price in effect immediately prior to such subdivision will be proportionately reduced. Without limiting any provision of Section 6, Section 17 or Section 7(a), if the Company at any time on or after the Subscription Date combines (by any stock split, stock dividend, stock combination, recapitalization or other similar transaction) one or more classes of its outstanding shares of Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, the Conversion Price in effect immediately prior to such combination will be proportionately increased. Any adjustment pursuant to this Section 7(b) shall become effective immediately after the effective date of such subdivision or combination. If any event requiring an adjustment under this Section 7(b) occurs during the period that a Conversion Price is calculated hereunder, then the calculation of such Conversion Price shall be adjusted appropriately to reflect such event.

(c) Holder’s Right of Adjusted Conversion Price. In addition to and not in limitation of the other provisions of this Section 7, if the Company in any manner issues or sells or enters into any agreement to issue or sell, any Common Stock, Options or Convertible Securities (any such securities, “Variable Price Securities”), after the Subscription Date that are issuable pursuant to such agreement or convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for shares of Common Stock at a price which varies or may vary with the market price of the shares of Common Stock, including by way of one or more reset(s) to a fixed price, but exclusive of such formulations reflecting customary anti-dilution provisions (such as share splits, share combinations, share dividends and similar transactions) (each of the formulations for such variable price being herein referred to as, the “Variable Price”), the Company shall provide written notice thereof via electronic mail and overnight courier to the Holder on the date of such agreement and the issuance of such Common Stock, Convertible Securities or Options. From and after the date the Company enters into such agreement or issues any such Variable Price Securities, the Holder shall have the right, but not the obligation, in its sole discretion to substitute the Variable Price for the Conversion Price upon conversion of this Note by designating in the Conversion Notice delivered upon any conversion of this Note that solely for purposes of such conversion the Holder is relying on the Variable Price rather than the Conversion Price then in effect. The Holder’s election to rely on a Variable Price for a particular conversion of this Note shall not obligate the Holder to rely on a Variable Price for any future conversion of this Note.

(d) Stock Combination Event Adjustments. If at any time and from time to time on or after the Subscription Date there occurs any stock split, stock dividend, stock combination recapitalization or other similar transaction involving the Common Stock (each, a “Stock Combination Event”, and such date thereof, the “Stock Combination Event Date”) and the Event Market Price is less than the Conversion Price then in effect (after giving effect to the adjustment in Section 7(b) above), then on the sixteenth (16th) Trading Day immediately following such Stock Combination Event Date, the Conversion Price then in effect on such sixteenth (16th) Trading Day (after giving effect to the adjustment in Section 7(b) above) shall be reduced (but in no event increased) to the Event Market Price. For the avoidance of doubt, if the adjustment in the immediately preceding sentence would otherwise result in an increase in the Conversion Price hereunder, no adjustment shall be made.

 

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(e) Other Events. In the event that the Company (or any Subsidiary) shall take any action to which the provisions hereof are not strictly applicable, or, if applicable, would not operate to protect the Holder from dilution or if any event occurs of the type contemplated by the provisions of this Section 7 but not expressly provided for by such provisions (including, without limitation, the granting of stock appreciation rights, phantom stock rights or other rights with equity features), then the Company’s board of directors shall in good faith determine and implement an appropriate adjustment in the Conversion Price so as to protect the rights of the Holder, provided that no such adjustment pursuant to this Section 7(e) will increase the Conversion Price as otherwise determined pursuant to this Section 7, provided further that if the Holder does not accept such adjustments as appropriately protecting its interests hereunder against such dilution, then the Company’s board of directors and the Holder shall agree, in good faith, upon an independent investment bank of nationally recognized standing to make such appropriate adjustments, whose determination shall be final and binding absent manifest error and whose fees and expenses shall be borne by the Company.

(f) Calculations. All calculations under this Section 7 shall be made by rounding to the nearest cent or the nearest 1/100th of a share, as applicable. The number of shares of Common Stock outstanding at any given time shall not include shares owned or held by or for the account of the Company, and the disposition of any such shares shall be considered an issue or sale of Common Stock.

(g) Voluntary Adjustment by Company. Subject to the rules and regulations of the Principal Market, the Company may at any time during the term of this Note, with the prior written consent of the Required Holders (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement), reduce the then current Conversion Price of each of the Notes to any amount and for any period of time deemed appropriate by the board of directors of the Company.

8. SUBSEQUENT PLACEMENT OPTIONAL REDEMPTION

(a) General. At any time from and after the earlier of (x) the date the Holder (the “Holder Subsequent Placement Notice Date”) becomes aware of the occurrence of a Subsequent Placement (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement) (in each case, other than with respect to Excluded Securities (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement)) (each, an “Eligible Subsequent Placement”), and (y) the time of consummation of such Eligible Subsequent Placement, the Holder shall have the right, in its sole discretion, to require that the Company redeem (each, a “Subsequent Placement Optional Redemption”) all, or any portion, of the Outstanding Amount under this Note not in excess of (together with any Subsequent Placement Optional Redemption Amount (as defined in the applicable other Note of the Holder) of any other Notes of the Holder) the Holder’s Holder Pro Rata Amount of 25% of the net proceeds of such Eligible Subsequent Placement (the “Eligible Subsequent Placement Optional Redemption

 

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Amount”) by delivering written notice thereof (an “Subsequent Placement Optional Redemption Notice”) to the Company. The Company shall notify the Holder in writing no later than five (5) Trading Days after the occurrence of any Eligible Subsequent Placement, which notice shall include (i) the sale price of each Eligible Subsequent Placement, (ii) the date of each Eligible Subsequent Placement and (iii) the aggregate gross proceeds of each Eligible Subsequent Placement.

(b) Mechanics. Each Subsequent Placement Optional Redemption Notice shall indicate that all, or such applicable portion, as set forth in the applicable Subsequent Placement Optional Redemption Notice, of the Outstanding Amount of this Note (with a Subsequent Placement Optional Redemption Price not in excess of such applicable Eligible Subsequent Placement Optional Redemption Amount) the Holder is electing to have redeemed (the “Subsequent Placement Optional Redemption Amount”) and the date of such Subsequent Placement Optional Redemption (the “Subsequent Placement Optional Redemption Date”), which shall be the later of (x) the fifth (5th) Business Day after the date of the applicable Subsequent Placement Optional Redemption Notice and (y) the date of the consummation of such Eligible Subsequent Placement. The portion of the Outstanding Amount of this Note subject to redemption pursuant to this Section 8 shall be redeemed by the Company in cash at a price equal to 100% of the Subsequent Placement Optional Redemption Amount being redeemed as of the Subsequent Placement Optional Redemption Date (the “Subsequent Placement Optional Redemption Price”). Redemptions required by this Section 8 shall be made in accordance with the provisions of Section 13.

9. ASSET SALE OPTIONAL REDEMPTION

(a) General. At any time from and after the earlier of (x) the date the Holder becomes aware of the occurrence of an Asset Sale (as defined below)(including any insurance and condemnation proceeds thereof) (each, a “Holder Asset Sale Notice Date”) and (y) the time of consummation of an Asset Sale (other than sales of inventory and product in the ordinary course of business) (each, an “Eligible Asset Sale”), the Holder shall have the right, in its sole discretion, to require that the Company redeem (each an “Asset Sale Optional Redemption”) all, or any portion, of the Outstanding Amount under this Note not in excess of (together with any Asset Sale Optional Redemption Amount (as defined in the applicable other Note of the Holder) of any other Notes of the Holder) the Holder’s Holder Pro Rata Amount of 100% of the net proceeds (including any insurance and condemnation proceeds with respect thereto) of such Eligible Asset Sale (each, an “Eligible Asset Sale Optional Redemption Amount”) by delivering written notice thereof (each, an “Asset Sale Optional Redemption Notice”, and each date thereof, an “Asset Sale Redemption Notice Date”) to the Company.

(b) Mechanics. Each Asset Sale Optional Redemption Notice shall indicate that all, or such applicable portion, as set forth in the applicable Asset Sale Optional Redemption Notice, of the Outstanding Amount of this Note (with an Asset Sale Optional Redemption Price not in excess of such applicable Eligible Asset Sale Optional Redemption Amount) the Holder is electing to have redeemed (each, an “Asset Sale Optional Redemption Amount”) and the date of such Asset Sale Optional Redemption

 

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(each, an “Asset Sale Optional Redemption Date”), which shall be the later of (x) the fifth (5th) Business Day after the date of the applicable Asset Sale Optional Redemption Notice and (y) the date of the consummation of such Eligible Asset Sale. The portion of the Outstanding Amount of this Note subject to redemption pursuant to this Section 9 shall be redeemed by the Company in cash at a price equal to the greater of (i) the Asset Sale Optional Redemption Amount being redeemed as of the Asset Sale Optional Redemption Date and (ii) the product of (1) the quotient of (A) the Asset Sale Optional Redemption Amount being redeemed divided by (b) the Alternate Conversion Price then in effect as of the Asset Sale Optional Redemption Date multiplied by (2) the greatest Closing Sale Price of the Common Stock on any Trading Day during the period commencing on the date immediately preceding such Asset Sale Redemption Notice Date and ending on the Trading Day immediately prior to the date the Company makes the entire payment required to be made under this Section 9 (each, an “Asset Sale Optional Redemption Price”). Redemptions required by this Section 9 shall be made in accordance with the provisions of Section 13.

10. REDEMPTIONS AT THE COMPANY’S ELECTION.

(a) Company Optional Redemption. At any time after Shoe Sale Closing Time (as defined below), the Company shall have the right to redeem all, but not less than all, of the Conversion Amount then remaining under this Note (the “Company Optional Redemption Amount”) on the Company Optional Redemption Date (each as defined below) (a “Company Optional Redemption”). The portion of this Note subject to redemption pursuant to this Section 10(a) shall be redeemed by the Company in cash at a price (the “Company Optional Redemption Price”) equal to 120% of the greater of (i) the Conversion Amount being redeemed as of the Company Optional Redemption Date and (ii) the product of (1) the Conversion Rate (assuming an Alternate Conversion) with respect to the Conversion Amount being redeemed as of the Company Optional Redemption Date multiplied by (2) the greatest Closing Sale Price of the Common Stock on any Trading Day during the period commencing on the date immediately preceding such Company Optional Redemption Notice Date and ending on the Trading Day immediately prior to the date the Company makes the entire payment required to be made under this Section 10(a). The Company may exercise its right to require redemption under this Section 10(a) by delivering a written notice thereof by electronic mail and overnight courier to all, but not less than all, of the holders of Notes (the “Company Optional Redemption Notice” and the date all of the holders of Notes received such notice is referred to as the “Company Optional Redemption Notice Date”). The Company may deliver only one Company Optional Redemption Notice hereunder and such Company Optional Redemption Notice shall be irrevocable. The Company Optional Redemption Notice shall (x) state the date on which the Company Optional Redemption shall occur (the “Company Optional Redemption Date”) which date shall not be less than ninety (90) Trading Days nor more than one hundred (100) Trading Days following the Company Optional Redemption Notice Date, (y) certify that there has been no Equity Conditions Failure and (z) state the aggregate Conversion Amount of the Notes which is being redeemed in such Company Optional Redemption from the Holder and all of the other holders of the Notes pursuant to this Section 10(a) (and analogous provisions under the Other Notes) on the Company Optional Redemption Date. Notwithstanding anything

 

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herein to the contrary, (i) if no Equity Conditions Failure has occurred as of the Company Optional Redemption Notice Date but an Equity Conditions Failure occurs at any time prior to the Company Optional Redemption Date, (A) the Company shall provide the Holder a subsequent notice to that effect and (B) unless the Holder waives the Equity Conditions Failure, the Company Optional Redemption shall be cancelled and the applicable Company Optional Redemption Notice shall be null and void and (ii) at any time prior to the date the Company Optional Redemption Price is paid, in full, the Company Optional Redemption Amount may be converted, in whole or in part, by the Holder into shares of Common Stock pursuant to Section 3. All Conversion Amounts converted by the Holder after the Company Optional Redemption Notice Date shall reduce the Company Optional Redemption Amount of this Note required to be redeemed on the Company Optional Redemption Date. Redemptions made pursuant to this Section 10(a) shall be made in accordance with Section 13. In the event of the Company’s redemption of any portion of this Note under this Section 10(a), the Holder’s damages would be uncertain and difficult to estimate because of the parties’ inability to predict future interest rates and the uncertainty of the availability of a suitable substitute investment opportunity for the Holder. Accordingly, any redemption premium due under this Section 10(a) is intended by the parties to be, and shall be deemed, a reasonable estimate of the Holder’s actual loss of its investment opportunity and not as a penalty. For the avoidance of doubt, the Company shall have no right to effect a Company Optional Redemption if any Event of Default has occurred and continuing, but any Event of Default shall have no effect upon the Holder’s right to convert this Note in its discretion.

(b) Pro Rata Redemption Requirement. If the Company elects to cause a Company Optional Redemption of this Note pursuant to Section 10(a), then it must simultaneously take the same action with respect to all of the Other Notes.

11. NONCIRCUMVENTION. The Company hereby covenants and agrees that the Company will not, by amendment of its Certificate of Incorporation (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement), Bylaws (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement) or through any reorganization, transfer of assets, consolidation, merger, scheme of arrangement, dissolution, issue or sale of securities, or any other voluntary action, avoid or seek to avoid the observance or performance of any of the terms of this Note, and will at all times in good faith carry out all of the provisions of this Note and take all action as may be required to protect the rights of the Holder of this Note. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing or any other provision of this Note or the other Transaction Documents, the Company (a) shall not increase the par value of any shares of Common Stock receivable upon conversion of this Note above the Conversion Price then in effect, and (b) shall take all such actions as may be necessary or appropriate in order that the Company may validly and legally issue fully paid and nonassessable shares of Common Stock upon the conversion of this Note. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if after the sixty (60) calendar day anniversary of the Issuance Date, the Holder is not permitted to convert this Note in full for any reason (other than pursuant to restrictions set forth in Section 3(d) hereof), the Company shall use its best efforts to promptly remedy such failure, including, without limitation, obtaining such consents or approvals as necessary to permit such conversion into shares of Common Stock.

 

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12. RESERVATION OF AUTHORIZED SHARES.

(a) Reservation. So long as any Notes remain outstanding, the Company shall at all times reserve at least 100% of the number of shares of Common Stock as shall from time to time be necessary to effect the conversion, including without limitation, Alternate Conversions, of all of the Notes then outstanding (without regard to any limitations on conversions and assuming such Notes remain outstanding until the Maturity Date) at the Floor Price then in effect (the “Required Reserve Amount”). The Required Reserve Amount (including, without limitation, each increase in the number of shares so reserved) shall be allocated pro rata among the holders of the Notes based on the original principal amount of the Notes held by each holder on the Applicable Closing Date or increase in the number of reserved shares, as the case may be (the “Authorized Share Allocation”). In the event that a holder shall sell or otherwise transfer any of such holder’s Notes, each transferee shall be allocated a pro rata portion of such holder’s Authorized Share Allocation. Any shares of Common Stock reserved and allocated to any Person which ceases to hold any Notes shall be allocated to the remaining holders of Notes, pro rata based on the principal amount of the Notes then held by such holders.

(b) Insufficient Authorized Shares. If, notwithstanding Section 12(a), and not in limitation thereof, at any time while any of the Notes remain outstanding the Company does not have a sufficient number of authorized and unreserved shares of Common Stock to satisfy its obligation to reserve for issuance upon conversion of the Notes at least a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the Required Reserve Amount (an “Authorized Share Failure”), then the Company shall immediately take all action necessary to increase the Company’s authorized shares of Common Stock to an amount sufficient to allow the Company to reserve the Required Reserve Amount for the Notes then outstanding. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing sentence, as soon as practicable after the date of the occurrence of an Authorized Share Failure, but in no event later than sixty (60) days after the occurrence of such Authorized Share Failure, the Company shall hold a meeting of its stockholders for the approval of an increase in the number of authorized shares of Common Stock. In connection with such meeting, the Company shall provide each stockholder with a proxy statement and shall use its best efforts to solicit its stockholders’ approval of such increase in authorized shares of Common Stock and to cause its board of directors to recommend to the stockholders that they approve such proposal. In the event that the Company is prohibited from issuing shares of Common Stock pursuant to the terms of this Note due to the failure by the Company to have sufficient shares of Common Stock available out of the authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock (such unavailable number of shares of Common Stock, the “Authorized Failure Shares”), in lieu of delivering such Authorized Failure Shares to the Holder, the Company shall pay cash in exchange for the redemption of such portion of the Conversion Amount convertible into such Authorized Failure Shares at a price equal to the sum of (i) the product of (x) such number of Authorized Failure Shares and (y) the greatest Closing Sale Price of the Common Stock on any Trading Day during the period commencing on the date the Holder delivers the applicable Conversion Notice with respect to such Authorized Failure Shares to the Company and ending on the date of such issuance and payment under this Section 12(a); and (ii) to the extent the Holder purchases (in an open market transaction or otherwise) shares of Common Stock to deliver in satisfaction of a sale by the Holder of Authorized Failure Shares, any brokerage commissions and other out-of-pocket expenses, if any, of the Holder incurred in connection therewith. Nothing contained in Section 12(a) or this Section 12(b) shall limit any obligations of the Company under any provision of the Securities Purchase Agreement.

 

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13. REDEMPTIONS.

(a) Mechanics. The Company shall deliver the applicable Event of Default Redemption Price to the Holder in cash within five (5) Business Days after the Company’s receipt of the Holder’s Event of Default Redemption Notice. If the Holder has submitted a Change of Control Redemption Notice in accordance with Section 5(b), the Company shall deliver the applicable Change of Control Redemption Price to the Holder in cash concurrently with the consummation of such Change of Control if such notice is received prior to the consummation of such Change of Control and within five (5) Business Days after the Company’s receipt of such notice otherwise. The Company shall deliver the applicable Company Optional Redemption Price to the Holder in cash on the applicable Company Optional Redemption Date. The Company shall deliver the applicable Asset Sale Optional Redemption Price to the Holder in cash on the applicable Asset Sale Optional Redemption Date. The Company shall deliver the applicable Subsequent Placement Optional Redemption Price to the Holder in cash on the applicable Subsequent Placement Optional Redemption Date. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in connection with any redemption hereunder at a time the Holder is entitled to receive a cash payment under any of the other Transaction Documents, at the option of the Holder delivered in writing to the Company, the applicable Redemption Price hereunder shall be increased by the amount of such cash payment owed to the Holder under such other Transaction Document and, upon payment in full or conversion in accordance herewith, shall satisfy the Company’s payment obligation under such other Transaction Document. In the event of a redemption of less than all of the Conversion Amount of this Note, the Company shall promptly cause to be issued and delivered to the Holder a new Note (in accordance with Section 20(d)) representing the outstanding Principal which has not been redeemed. In the event that the Company does not pay the applicable Redemption Price to the Holder within the time period required, at any time thereafter and until the Company pays such unpaid Redemption Price in full, the Holder shall have the option, in lieu of redemption, to require the Company to promptly return to the Holder all or any portion of this Note representing the Conversion Amount that was submitted for redemption and for which the applicable Redemption Price (together with any Late Charges thereon) has not been paid. Upon the Company’s receipt of such notice, (x) the applicable Redemption Notice shall be null and void with respect to such Conversion Amount, (y) the Company shall immediately return this Note, or issue a new Note (in accordance with Section 20(d)), to the Holder, and in each case the principal amount of this Note or such new Note (as the case may be) shall be increased by an amount equal to the difference between (1) the applicable Redemption Price (as the case may be, and as adjusted pursuant to this Section 13, if applicable) minus (2) the Principal portion of the Conversion Amount submitted for redemption and (z) the Conversion Price of this Note or such new Notes (as the case may be) shall be automatically adjusted with respect to each conversion effected thereafter by the Holder to the lowest of (A) the Conversion Price as in effect on the date on which the applicable Redemption Notice is voided, (B) greater of (x) the Floor Price and (y) 75% of the lowest Closing Bid

 

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Price of the Common Stock during the period beginning on and including the date on which the applicable Redemption Notice is delivered to the Company and ending on and including the date on which the applicable Redemption Notice is voided and (C) greater of (x) the Floor Price and (y) 75% of the quotient of (I) the sum of the five (5) lowest VWAPs of the Common Stock during the twenty (20) consecutive Trading Day period ending and including the applicable Conversion Date divided by (II) five (5) (it being understood and agreed that all such determinations shall be appropriately adjusted for any stock dividend, stock split, stock combination or other similar transaction during such period). The Holder’s delivery of a notice voiding a Redemption Notice and exercise of its rights following such notice shall not affect the Company’s obligations to make any payments of Late Charges which have accrued prior to the date of such notice with respect to the Conversion Amount subject to such notice.

(b) Redemption by Other Holders. Upon the Company’s receipt of notice from any of the holders of the Other Notes for redemption or repayment as a result of an event or occurrence substantially similar to the events or occurrences described in Section 4(b) or Section 5(b) (each, an “Other Redemption Notice”), the Company shall immediately, but no later than one (1) Business Day of its receipt thereof, forward to the Holder by facsimile or electronic mail a copy of such notice. If the Company receives a Redemption Notice and one or more Other Redemption Notices, during the seven (7) Business Day period beginning on and including the date which is two (2) Business Days prior to the Company’s receipt of the Holder’s applicable Redemption Notice and ending on and including the date which is two (2) Business Days after the Company’s receipt of the Holder’s applicable Redemption Notice and the Company is unable to redeem all principal, interest and other amounts designated in such Redemption Notice and such Other Redemption Notices received during such seven (7) Business Day period, then the Company shall redeem a pro rata amount from each holder of the Notes (including the Holder) based on the principal amount of the Notes submitted for redemption pursuant to such Redemption Notice and such Other Redemption Notices received by the Company during such seven (7) Business Day period.

14. VOTING RIGHTS. The Holder shall have no voting rights as the holder of this Note, except as required by law (including, without limitation, the Delaware General Corporation Law) and as expressly provided in this Note.

15. COVENANTS. Until all of the Notes have been converted, redeemed or otherwise satisfied in accordance with their terms:

(a) Rank. All payments due under this Note (a) shall rank pari passu with all Other Notes and (b) shall be senior to all other Indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries (other than Permitted Senior Indebtedness solely with respect to Permitted Senior Indebtedness Collateral).

(b) Incurrence of Indebtedness. The Company shall not, and the Company shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to not, directly or indirectly, incur or guarantee, assume or suffer to exist any Indebtedness (other than (i) the Indebtedness evidenced by this Note and the Other Notes and (ii) other Permitted Indebtedness).

 

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(c) Existence of Liens. The Company shall not, and the Company shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to not, directly or indirectly, allow or suffer to exist any mortgage, lien, pledge, charge, security interest or other encumbrance upon or in any property or assets (including accounts and contract rights) owned by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (collectively, “Liens”) other than Permitted Liens.

(d) Restricted Payments and Investments. The Company shall not, and the Company shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to not, directly or indirectly, redeem, defease, repurchase, repay or make any payments in respect of, by the payment of cash or cash equivalents (in whole or in part, whether by way of open market purchases, tender offers, private transactions or otherwise), all or any portion of any Indebtedness (other than the Notes or the Permitted Senior Indebtedness) whether by way of payment in respect of principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on, such Indebtedness or make any Investment, as applicable, if at the time such payment with respect to such Indebtedness and/or Investment, as applicable, is due or is otherwise made or, after giving effect to such payment, (i) an event constituting an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or (ii) an event that with the passage of time and without being cured would constitute an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.

(e) Restriction on Redemption and Cash Dividends. The Company shall not, and the Company shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to not, directly or indirectly, redeem, repurchase or declare or pay any cash dividend or distribution on any of its capital stock (other than as contemplated by the Shoe Business Sale).

(f) Restriction on Transfer of Assets. The Company shall not, and the Company shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to not, directly or indirectly, sell, lease, license, assign, transfer, spin-off, split-off, close, convey or otherwise dispose of any assets or rights of the Company or any Subsidiary owned or hereafter acquired whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions, other than (i) sales, leases, licenses, assignments, transfers, conveyances and other dispositions of such assets or rights by the Company and its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business consistent with its past practice, (ii) any of (x) the Shoe Business Sale, (y) the sale or disposition of inventory of the shoe business and (z) other assets related to the shoe business as specified on Schedule 15(f) and (iii) sales of inventory and product in the ordinary course of business (each, an “Asset Sale”).

(g) Maturity of Indebtedness. [INSERT IN INITIAL NOTES ONLY: Commencing immediately after the Shoe Sale Closing Time, the][INSERT IN THE ADDITIONAL NOTES ONLY: The] Company shall not, and the Company shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to not, directly or indirectly, permit any Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to mature or accelerate prior to the Maturity Date.

(h) Change in Nature of Business. [INSERT IN INITIAL NOTES ONLY: Commencing immediately after the Shoe Sale Closing Time, the][INSERT IN THE ADDITIONAL NOTES ONLY: The] Company shall not, and the Company shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to not, directly or indirectly, engage in any material line of business substantially different from those lines of business conducted by or publicly contemplated to be conducted by the Company and each of its Subsidiaries on the Subscription Date or any business substantially related or incidental thereto. The Company shall not, and the Company shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to not, directly or indirectly, modify its or their corporate structure or purpose.

 

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(i) Preservation of Existence, Etc. [INSERT IN INITIAL NOTES ONLY: Commencing immediately after the Shoe Sale Closing Time, the][INSERT IN THE ADDITIONAL NOTES ONLY: The] Company shall maintain and preserve, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to maintain and preserve, its existence, rights and privileges, and become or remain, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to become or remain, duly qualified and in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the character of the properties owned or leased by it or in which the transaction of its business makes such qualification necessary.

(j) Maintenance of Properties, Etc. [INSERT IN INITIAL NOTES ONLY: Commencing immediately after the Shoe Sale Closing Time (or as of the Issuance Date with respect to assets purchased with the proceeds of the Initial Notes), the][INSERT IN THE ADDITIONAL NOTES ONLY: The] Company shall maintain and preserve, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to maintain and preserve, all of its properties which are necessary or useful in the proper conduct of its business in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted, and comply, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to comply, at all times with the provisions of all leases to which it is a party as lessee or under which it occupies property, so as to prevent any loss or forfeiture thereof or thereunder.

(k) Maintenance of Intellectual Property. [INSERT IN INITIAL NOTES ONLY: Commencing immediately after the Shoe Sale Closing Time, the][INSERT IN THE ADDITIONAL NOTES ONLY: The] the Company will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, take all action necessary or advisable to maintain all of the Intellectual Property Rights (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement) of the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries that are necessary or material to the conduct of its business in full force and effect.

(l) Maintenance of Insurance. The Company shall maintain, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to maintain, insurance with responsible and reputable insurance companies or associations (including, without limitation, comprehensive general liability, hazard, rent and business interruption insurance) with respect to its properties (including all real properties leased or owned by it) and business, in such amounts and covering such risks as is required by any governmental authority having jurisdiction with respect thereto or as is carried generally in accordance with sound business practice by companies in similar businesses similarly situated.

(m) Transactions with Affiliates. The Company shall not, nor shall it permit any of its Subsidiaries to, enter into, renew, extend or be a party to, any transaction or series of related transactions (including, without limitation, the purchase, sale, lease, transfer or exchange of property or assets of any kind or the rendering of services of any kind) with any affiliate, except transactions disclosed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, for the period ended December 31, 2025 under the section titled “Transactions with Related Persons.”, and transactions in the ordinary course of business in a manner and to an extent consistent with past practice and necessary or desirable for the prudent operation of its business, for fair consideration and on terms no less favorable to it or its Subsidiaries than would be obtainable in a comparable arm’s length transaction with a Person that is not an affiliate thereof.

 

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(n) Restricted Issuances. The Company shall not, directly or indirectly, without the prior written consent of the Required Holders (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement), (i) issue any Notes (other than as contemplated by the Securities Purchase Agreement and the Notes) or (ii) issue any other securities that would cause a breach or default under the Notes.

(o) New Subsidiaries. Simultaneously with the acquisition or formation of each New Subsidiary, the Company shall cause such New Subsidiary to execute, and deliver to each holder of Notes, all Security Documents (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement) and Guaranties (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement) as requested by the Collateral Agent or the Required Holders, as applicable. The Company shall also deliver to the Collateral Agent an opinion of counsel to such New Subsidiary that is reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent and the Required Holders covering such legal matters with respect to such New Subsidiary becoming a guarantor of the Company’s obligations, executing and delivering the Security Document and the Guaranties and any other matters that the Collateral Agent or the Required Holders may reasonably request. The Company shall deliver, or cause the applicable Subsidiary to deliver to the Collateral Agent, each of the physical stock certificates of such New Subsidiary, along with undated stock powers for each such certificates, executed in blank (or, if any such shares of capital stock are uncertificated, confirmation and evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent and the Required Holders that the security interest in such uncertificated securities has been transferred to and perfected by the Collateral Agent, in accordance with Sections 8-313, 8-321 and 9-115 of the Uniform Commercial Code or any other similar or local or foreign law that may be applicable).

(p) Change in Collateral; Collateral Records. The Company shall (i) give the Collateral Agent not less than thirty (30) days’ prior written notice of any change in the location of any Collateral (as defined in the Security Documents), other than to locations set forth in the Perfection Certificate (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement) hereto and with respect to which the Collateral Agent has filed financing statements and otherwise fully perfected its Liens thereon, (ii) advise the Collateral Agent promptly, in sufficient detail, of any material adverse change relating to the type, quantity or quality of the Collateral or the Lien granted thereon and (iii) execute and deliver, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to execute and deliver, to the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Holder and holders of the Other Notes from time to time, solely for the Collateral Agent’s convenience in maintaining a record of Collateral, such written statements and schedules as the Collateral Agent or any Holder may reasonably require, designating, identifying or describing the Collateral.

 

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(q) Stay, Extension and Usury Laws. To the extent that it may lawfully do so, the Company (A) agrees that it will not at any time insist upon, plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay, extension or usury law (wherever or whenever enacted or in force) that may affect the covenants or the performance of this Note; and (B) expressly waives all benefits or advantages of any such law and agrees that it will not, by resort to any such law, hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power granted to the Holder by this Note, but will suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law has been enacted.

(r) Taxes. The Company and its Subsidiaries shall pay when due all taxes, fees or other charges of any nature whatsoever (together with any related interest or penalties) now or hereafter imposed or assessed against the Company and its Subsidiaries or their respective assets or upon their ownership, possession, use, operation or disposition thereof or upon their rents, receipts or earnings arising therefrom (except where the failure to pay would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a material effect on the Company or any of its Subsidiaries). The Company and its Subsidiaries shall file on or before the due date therefor all personal property tax returns (except where the failure to file would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a material effect on the Company or any of its Subsidiaries). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company and its Subsidiaries may contest, in good faith and by appropriate proceedings, taxes for which they maintain adequate reserves therefor in accordance with GAAP.

(s) Financial Covenants; Announcement of Operating Results.

(i) Minimum Liquidity Test. At any time any Notes remain outstanding, the Company’s Available Cash as of the last calendar day in each Fiscal Quarter (each, a “Fiscal Period Measuring Date”) shall equal or exceed $1,000,000 (the “Minimum Liquidity Test”).

(ii) Working Capital Test. As of the time immediately following the time of consummation of the Shoe Business Sale (“Shoe Sale Closing Time”), the Company shall have, in a segregated account subject to an account control agreement of the Collateral Agent, Available Cash of at least $2.5 million (the “Working Capital Test”, and together with the Minimum Liquidity Test, each a “Financial Test”).

(iii) Operating Results Announcement. Commencing on the date hereof, the Company shall publicly disclose and disseminate (such date, the “Announcement Date”), if the Working Capital Test has not been satisfied as of the Shoe Sale Closing Time or if the Minimum Liquidity Test has not been satisfied as of any Fiscal Quarter or Fiscal Year, as applicable, a statement to that effect no later than the tenth (10th) day after the end of such Shoe Sale Closing Time, Fiscal Quarter or Fiscal Year, as applicable, and such announcement shall include a statement to the effect that the Company is (or is not, as applicable) in breach of any Financial Test for such Shoe Sale Closing Time, Fiscal Quarter or Fiscal Year, as applicable. On the Announcement Date, the Company shall also provide to the Holder a certification, executed on behalf of the Company by the Chief Financial Officer of the Company, certifying that the Company satisfied each Financial Test for such Shoe Sale Closing Time, Fiscal Quarter or Fiscal Year, as applicable, if

 

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that is the case. If the Company has failed to meet one or more Financial Tests for such Shoe Sale Closing Time, Fiscal Quarter or Fiscal Year, as applicable, (each a “Financial Covenant Failure”), on or prior to the Announcement Date, the Company shall provide to the Holders a written certification, executed on behalf of the Company by the Chief Financial Officer of the Company, certifying which Financial Test(s) have not been met for such Shoe Sale Closing Time, Fiscal Quarter or Fiscal Year, as applicable (a “Financial Covenant Failure Notice”). Concurrently with the delivery of each Financial Covenant Failure Notice to the Holders, the Company shall also make publicly available (as part of a Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, Annual Report on Form 10-K or on a Current Report on Form 8-K, or otherwise) the Financial Covenant Failure Notice and the fact that an Event of Default has occurred under the Notes.

(t) Independent Investigation. At the request of the Holder either (x) at any time when an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, (y) upon the occurrence of an event that with the passage of time or giving of notice would constitute an Event of Default or (z) at any time the Holder reasonably believes an Event of Default may have occurred or be continuing, the Company shall hire an independent, reputable investment bank selected by the Company and approved by the Holder to investigate as to whether any breach of this Note has occurred (the “Independent Investigator”). If the Independent Investigator determines that such breach of this Note has occurred, the Independent Investigator shall notify the Company of such breach and the Company shall deliver written notice to each holder of a Note of such breach. In connection with such investigation, the Independent Investigator may, during normal business hours, inspect all contracts, books, records, personnel, offices and other facilities and properties of the Company and its Subsidiaries and, to the extent available to the Company after the Company uses reasonable efforts to obtain them, the records of its legal advisors and accountants (including the accountants’ work papers) and any books of account, records, reports and other papers not contractually required of the Company to be confidential or secret, or subject to attorney-client or other evidentiary privilege, and the Independent Investigator may make such copies and inspections thereof as the Independent Investigator may reasonably request. The Company shall furnish the Independent Investigator with such financial and operating data and other information with respect to the business and properties of the Company as the Independent Investigator may reasonably request. The Company shall permit the Independent Investigator to discuss the affairs, finances and accounts of the Company with, and to make proposals and furnish advice with respect thereto to, the Company’s officers, directors, key employees and independent public accountants or any of them (and by this provision the Company authorizes said accountants to discuss with such Independent Investigator the finances and affairs of the Company and any Subsidiaries), all at such reasonable times, upon reasonable notice, and as often as may be reasonably requested.

16. SECURITY. This Note and the Other Notes are secured to the extent and in the manner set forth in the Transaction Documents (including, without limitation, the Security Agreement, the other Security Documents and the Guaranties).

 

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17. DISTRIBUTION OF ASSETS. In addition to any adjustments pursuant to Sections 6(a) or 7, if the Company shall declare or make any dividend or other distributions of its assets (or rights to acquire its assets) to any or all holders of shares of Common Stock, by way of return of capital or otherwise (including without limitation, any distribution of cash, stock or other securities, property or options by way of a dividend, spin off, reclassification, corporate rearrangement, scheme of arrangement or other similar transaction), but excluding any Shoe Business Sale Dividend (the “Distributions”), then the Holder will be entitled to such Distributions as if the Holder had held the number of shares of Common Stock acquirable upon complete conversion of this Note (without taking into account any limitations or restrictions on the convertibility of this Note and assuming for such purpose that the Note was converted at the Alternate Conversion Price as of the applicable record date) immediately prior to the date on which a record is taken for such Distribution or, if no such record is taken, the date as of which the record holders of Common Stock are to be determined for such Distributions (provided, however, that to the extent that the Holder’s right to participate in any such Distribution would result in the Holder and the other Attribution Parties exceeding the Maximum Percentage, then the Holder shall not be entitled to participate in such Distribution to the extent of the Maximum Percentage (and shall not be entitled to beneficial ownership of such shares of Common Stock as a result of such Distribution (and beneficial ownership) to the extent of any such excess) and the portion of such Distribution shall be held in abeyance for the benefit of the Holder until such time or times, if ever, as its right thereto would not result in the Holder and the other Attribution Parties exceeding the Maximum Percentage, at which time or times the Holder shall be granted such Distribution (and any Distributions declared or made on such initial Distribution or on any subsequent Distribution held similarly in abeyance) to the same extent as if there had been no such limitation).

18. AMENDING THE TERMS OF THIS NOTE. Except for Section 3(d) and this Section 18, which may not be amended, modified or waived by the parties hereto, the prior written consent of the Holder shall be required for any change, waiver or amendment to this Note.

19. TRANSFER. This Note and any shares of Common Stock issued upon conversion of this Note may be offered, sold, assigned or transferred by the Holder without the consent of the Company, subject only to the provisions of Section 2(g) of the Securities Purchase Agreement.

20. REISSUANCE OF THIS NOTE.

(a) Transfer. If this Note is to be transferred, the Holder shall surrender this Note to the Company, whereupon the Company will forthwith issue and deliver upon the order of the Holder a new Note (in accordance with Section 20(d)), registered as the Holder may request, representing the outstanding Principal being transferred by the Holder and, if less than the entire outstanding Principal is being transferred, a new Note (in accordance with Section 20(d)) to the Holder representing the outstanding Principal not being transferred. The Holder and any assignee, by acceptance of this Note, acknowledge and agree that, by reason of the provisions of Section 3(c)(iii) following conversion or redemption of any portion of this Note, the outstanding Principal represented by this Note may be less than the Principal stated on the face of this Note.

(b) Lost, Stolen or Mutilated Note. Upon receipt by the Company of evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Company of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of this Note (as to which a written certification and the indemnification contemplated below shall suffice as such evidence), and, in the case of loss, theft or destruction, of any indemnification undertaking by the Holder to the Company in customary and reasonable form and, in the case of mutilation, upon surrender and cancellation of this Note, the Company shall execute and deliver to the Holder a new Note (in accordance with Section 20(d)) representing the outstanding Principal.

 

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(c) Note Exchangeable for Different Denominations. This Note is exchangeable, upon the surrender hereof by the Holder at the principal office of the Company, for a new Note or Notes (in accordance with Section 20(d) and in principal amounts of at least $1,000) representing in the aggregate the outstanding Principal of this Note, and each such new Note will represent such portion of such outstanding Principal as is designated by the Holder at the time of such surrender.

(d) Issuance of New Notes. Whenever the Company is required to issue a new Note pursuant to the terms of this Note, such new Note (i) shall be of like tenor with this Note, (ii) shall represent, as indicated on the face of such new Note, the Principal remaining outstanding (or in the case of a new Note being issued pursuant to Section 20(a) or Section 20(c), the Principal designated by the Holder which, when added to the principal represented by the other new Notes issued in connection with such issuance, does not exceed the Principal remaining outstanding under this Note immediately prior to such issuance of new Notes), (iii) shall have an issuance date, as indicated on the face of such new Note, which is the same as the Issuance Date of this Note, (iv) shall have the same rights and conditions as this Note, and (v) shall represent accrued and unpaid Interest and Late Charges on the Principal and Interest of this Note, from the Issuance Date.

21. REMEDIES, CHARACTERIZATIONS, OTHER OBLIGATIONS, BREACHES AND INJUNCTIVE RELIEF. The remedies provided in this Note shall be cumulative and in addition to all other remedies available under this Note and any of the other Transaction Documents at law or in equity (including a decree of specific performance and/or other injunctive relief), and nothing herein shall limit the Holder’s right to pursue actual and consequential damages for any failure by the Company to comply with the terms of this Note. No failure on the part of the Holder to exercise, and no delay in exercising, any right, power or remedy hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise by the Holder of any right, power or remedy preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or remedy. In addition, the exercise of any right or remedy of the Holder at law or equity or under this Note or any of the documents shall not be deemed to be an election of Holder’s rights or remedies under such documents or at law or equity. The Company covenants to the Holder that there shall be no characterization concerning this instrument other than as expressly provided herein. Amounts set forth or provided for herein with respect to payments, conversion and the like (and the computation thereof) shall be the amounts to be received by the Holder and shall not, except as expressly provided herein, be subject to any other obligation of the Company (or the performance thereof). The Company acknowledges that a breach by it of its obligations hereunder will cause irreparable harm to the Holder and that the remedy at law for any such breach may be inadequate. The Company therefore agrees that, in the event of any such breach or threatened breach, the Holder shall be entitled, in addition to all other available remedies, to specific performance and/or temporary, preliminary and permanent injunctive or other equitable relief from any court of competent jurisdiction in any such case without the necessity of proving actual damages and without posting a bond or other security. The Company shall provide all information and documentation to the Holder that is requested by the Holder to enable the Holder to confirm the Company’s compliance with the terms and conditions of this Note (including, without limitation, compliance with Section 7).

 

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22. PAYMENT OF COLLECTION, ENFORCEMENT AND OTHER COSTS. If (a) this Note is placed in the hands of an attorney for collection or enforcement or is collected or enforced through any legal proceeding or the Holder otherwise takes action to collect amounts due under this Note or to enforce the provisions of this Note or (b) there occurs any bankruptcy, reorganization, receivership of the Company or other proceedings affecting Company creditors’ rights and involving a claim under this Note, then the Company shall pay the costs incurred by the Holder for such collection, enforcement or action or in connection with such bankruptcy, reorganization, receivership or other proceeding, including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees and disbursements. The Company expressly acknowledges and agrees that no amounts due under this Note shall be affected, or limited, by the fact that the purchase price paid for this Note was less than the original Principal amount hereof.

23. CONSTRUCTION; HEADINGS. This Note shall be deemed to be jointly drafted by the Company and the initial Holder and shall not be construed against any such Person as the drafter hereof. The headings of this Note are for convenience of reference and shall not form part of, or affect the interpretation of, this Note. Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, each pronoun herein shall be deemed to include the masculine, feminine, neuter, singular and plural forms thereof. The terms “including,” “includes,” “include” and words of like import shall be construed broadly as if followed by the words “without limitation.” The terms “herein,” “hereunder,” “hereof” and words of like import refer to this entire Note instead of just the provision in which they are found. Unless expressly indicated otherwise, all section references are to sections of this Note. Terms used in this Note and not otherwise defined herein, but defined in the other Transaction Documents, shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms on the Applicable Closing Date in such other Transaction Documents unless otherwise consented to in writing by the Holder.

24. FAILURE OR INDULGENCE NOT WAIVER. No failure or delay on the part of the Holder in the exercise of any power, right or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such power, right or privilege preclude other or further exercise thereof or of any other right, power or privilege. No waiver shall be effective unless it is in writing and signed by an authorized representative of the waiving party. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing contained in this Section 24 shall permit any waiver of any provision of Section 3(d).

25. DISPUTE RESOLUTION.

(a) Submission to Dispute Resolution.

(i) In the case of a dispute relating to a Closing Bid Price, a Closing Sale Price, a Conversion Price, an Alternate Conversion Price, a Black-Scholes Consideration Value, a VWAP or a fair market value or the arithmetic calculation of a Conversion Rate, or the applicable Redemption Price (as the case may be) (including, without limitation, a dispute relating to the determination of any of the

 

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foregoing), the Company or the Holder (as the case may be) shall submit the dispute to the other party via electronic mail (A) if by the Company, within two (2) Business Days after the occurrence of the circumstances giving rise to such dispute or (B) if by the Holder at any time after the Holder learned of the circumstances giving rise to such dispute. If the Holder and the Company are unable to promptly resolve such dispute relating to such Closing Bid Price, such Closing Sale Price, such Conversion Price, such Alternate Conversion Price, such Black-Scholes Consideration Value, such VWAP or such fair market value, or the arithmetic calculation of such Conversion Rate or such applicable Redemption Price (as the case may be), at any time after the second (2nd) Business Day following such initial notice by the Company or the Holder (as the case may be) of such dispute to the Company or the Holder (as the case may be), then the Holder may, at its sole option, select an independent, reputable investment bank to resolve such dispute.

(ii) The Holder and the Company shall each deliver to such investment bank (A) a copy of the initial dispute submission so delivered in accordance with the first sentence of this Section 25 and (B) written documentation supporting its position with respect to such dispute, in each case, no later than 5:00 p.m. (New York time) by the fifth (5th) Business Day immediately following the date on which the Holder selected such investment bank (the “Dispute Submission Deadline”) (the documents referred to in the immediately preceding clauses (A) and (B) are collectively referred to herein as the “Required Dispute Documentation”) (it being understood and agreed that if either the Holder or the Company fails to so deliver all of the Required Dispute Documentation by the Dispute Submission Deadline, then the party who fails to so submit all of the Required Dispute Documentation shall no longer be entitled to (and hereby waives its right to) deliver or submit any written documentation or other support to such investment bank with respect to such dispute and such investment bank shall resolve such dispute based solely on the Required Dispute Documentation that was delivered to such investment bank prior to the Dispute Submission Deadline). Unless otherwise agreed to in writing by both the Company and the Holder or otherwise requested by such investment bank, neither the Company nor the Holder shall be entitled to deliver or submit any written documentation or other support to such investment bank in connection with such dispute (other than the Required Dispute Documentation).

(iii) The Company and the Holder shall cause such investment bank to determine the resolution of such dispute and notify the Company and the Holder of such resolution no later than ten (10) Business Days immediately following the Dispute Submission Deadline. The fees and expenses of such investment bank shall be borne solely by the Company, and such investment bank’s resolution of such dispute shall be final and binding upon all parties absent manifest error.

 

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(b) Miscellaneous. The Company expressly acknowledges and agrees that (i) this Section 25 constitutes an agreement to arbitrate between the Company and the Holder (and constitutes an arbitration agreement) under the Delaware Uniform Arbitration Act, as amended, (ii) a dispute relating to a Conversion Price includes, without limitation, disputes as to (A) whether an issuance or sale or deemed issuance or sale of Common Stock occurred under Section 7(a), (B) the consideration per share at which an issuance or deemed issuance of Common Stock occurred, (C) whether any issuance or sale or deemed issuance or sale of Common Stock was an issuance or sale or deemed issuance or sale of Excluded Securities, (D) whether an agreement, instrument, security or the like constitutes and Option or Convertible Security and (E) whether a Dilutive Issuance occurred, (iii) the terms of this Note and each other applicable Transaction Document shall serve as the basis for the selected investment bank’s resolution of the applicable dispute, such investment bank shall be entitled (and is hereby expressly authorized) to make all findings, determinations and the like that such investment bank determines are required to be made by such investment bank in connection with its resolution of such dispute and in resolving such dispute such investment bank shall apply such findings, determinations and the like to the terms of this Note and any other applicable Transaction Documents, (iv) the Holder (and only the Holder), in its sole discretion, shall have the right to submit any dispute described in this Section 25 to any state or federal court sitting in Wilmington, Delaware in lieu of utilizing the procedures set forth in this Section 25 and (v) nothing in this Section 25 shall limit the Holder from obtaining any injunctive relief or other equitable remedies (including, without limitation, with respect to any matters described in this Section 25).

26. NOTICES; CURRENCY; PAYMENTS.

(a) Notices. Whenever notice is required to be given under this Note, unless otherwise provided herein, such notice shall be given in accordance with Section 9(f) of the Securities Purchase Agreement. The Company shall provide the Holder with prompt written notice of all actions taken pursuant to this Note, including in reasonable detail a description of such action and the reason therefore. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company will give written notice to the Holder (i) immediately upon any adjustment of the Conversion Price, setting forth in reasonable detail, and certifying, the calculation of such adjustment and (ii) at least fifteen (15) days prior to the date on which the Company closes its books or takes a record (A) with respect to any dividend or distribution upon the Common Stock, (B) with respect to any grant, issuances, or sales of any Options, Convertible Securities or rights to purchase stock, warrants, securities or other property to holders of shares of Common Stock or (C) for determining rights to vote with respect to any Fundamental Transaction, dissolution or liquidation, provided in each case that such information shall be made known to the public prior to or in conjunction with such notice being provided to the Holder.

(b) Currency. All dollar amounts referred to in this Note are in United States Dollars (“U.S. Dollars”), and all amounts owing under this Note shall be paid in U.S. Dollars. All amounts denominated in other currencies (if any) shall be converted into the U.S. Dollar equivalent amount in accordance with the Exchange Rate on the date of calculation. “Exchange Rate means, in relation to any amount of currency to be converted into U.S. Dollars pursuant to this Note, the U.S. Dollar exchange rate as published in the Wall Street Journal on the relevant date of calculation (it being understood and agreed that where an amount is calculated with reference to, or over, a period of time, the date of calculation shall be the final date of such period of time).

 

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(c) Payments. Whenever any payment of cash is to be made by the Company to any Person pursuant to this Note, unless otherwise expressly set forth herein, such payment shall be made in lawful money of the United States of America by a certified check drawn on the account of the Company and sent via overnight courier service to such Person at such address as previously provided to the Company in writing (which address, in the case of each of the Buyers, shall initially be as set forth on the Schedule of Buyers attached to the Securities Purchase Agreement), provided that the Holder may elect to receive a payment of cash via wire transfer of immediately available funds by providing the Company with prior written notice setting out such request and the Holder’s wire transfer instructions. Whenever any amount expressed to be due by the terms of this Note is due on any day which is not a Business Day, the same shall instead be due on the next succeeding day which is a Business Day. Any amount of Principal or other amounts due under the Transaction Documents which is not paid when due shall result in a late charge being incurred and payable by the Company in an amount equal to interest on such amount at the rate of seventeen percent (17%) per annum from the date such amount was due until the same is paid in full (“Late Charge”).

27. CANCELLATION. After all Principal, accrued Interest, Late Charges and other amounts at any time owed on this Note have been paid in full, this Note shall automatically be deemed canceled, shall be surrendered to the Company for cancellation and shall not be reissued.

28. WAIVER OF NOTICE. To the extent permitted by law, the Company hereby irrevocably waives demand, notice, presentment, protest and all other demands and notices in connection with the delivery, acceptance, performance, default or enforcement of this Note and the Securities Purchase Agreement.

29. GOVERNING LAW. This Note shall be construed and enforced in accordance with, and all questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and performance of this Note shall be governed by, the internal laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to any provision or rule (whether of the State of Delaware or any other jurisdictions) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdictions other than the State of Delaware. Except as otherwise required by Section 25 above, the Company hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts sitting in Wilmington Delaware, for the adjudication of any dispute hereunder or in connection herewith or with any transaction contemplated hereby or discussed herein, and hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert in any suit, action or proceeding, any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of any such court, that such suit, action or proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum or that the venue of such suit, action or proceeding is improper. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit in any way any right to serve process in any manner permitted by law. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit in any way any right to serve process in any manner permitted by law. Nothing contained herein (i) shall be deemed or operate to preclude the Holder from bringing suit or taking other legal action against the Company in any other jurisdiction to collect on the Company’s obligations to the Holder, to realize on any collateral or any other security for such obligations, or to enforce a judgment or other court ruling in favor of the Holder or (ii) shall limit, or shall be deemed or construed to limit, any provision of Section 25. THE COMPANY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO, AND AGREES NOT TO REQUEST, A JURY TRIAL FOR THE ADJUDICATION OF ANY DISPUTE HEREUNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH OR ARISING OUT OF THIS NOTE OR ANY TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

 

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30. JUDGMENT CURRENCY.

(a) If for the purpose of obtaining or enforcing judgment against the Company in any court in any jurisdiction it becomes necessary to convert into any other currency (such other currency being hereinafter in this Section 30 referred to as the “Judgment Currency”) an amount due in U.S. dollars under this Note, the conversion shall be made at the Exchange Rate prevailing on the Trading Day immediately preceding:

(i) the date actual payment of the amount due, in the case of any proceeding in the courts of Delaware or in the courts of any other jurisdiction that will give effect to such conversion being made on such date: or

(ii) the date on which the foreign court determines, in the case of any proceeding in the courts of any other jurisdiction (the date as of which such conversion is made pursuant to this Section 30(a)(ii) being hereinafter referred to as the “Judgment Conversion Date”).

(b) If in the case of any proceeding in the court of any jurisdiction referred to in Section 30(a)(ii) above, there is a change in the Exchange Rate prevailing between the Judgment Conversion Date and the date of actual payment of the amount due, the applicable party shall pay such adjusted amount as may be necessary to ensure that the amount paid in the Judgment Currency, when converted at the Exchange Rate prevailing on the date of payment, will produce the amount of US dollars which could have been purchased with the amount of Judgment Currency stipulated in the judgment or judicial order at the Exchange Rate prevailing on the Judgment Conversion Date.

(c) Any amount due from the Company under this provision shall be due as a separate debt and shall not be affected by judgment being obtained for any other amounts due under or in respect of this Note.

31. SEVERABILITY. If any provision of this Note is prohibited by law or otherwise determined to be invalid or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, the provision that would otherwise be prohibited, invalid or unenforceable shall be deemed amended to apply to the broadest extent that it would be valid and enforceable, and the invalidity or unenforceability of such provision shall not affect the validity of the remaining provisions of this Note so long as this Note as so modified continues to express, without material change, the original intentions of the parties as to the subject matter hereof and the prohibited nature, invalidity or unenforceability of the provision(s) in question does not substantially impair the respective expectations or reciprocal obligations of the parties or the practical realization of the benefits that would otherwise be conferred upon the parties. The parties will endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the prohibited, invalid or unenforceable provision(s) with a valid provision(s), the effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the prohibited, invalid or unenforceable provision(s).

 

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32. MAXIMUM PAYMENTS. Without limiting Section 9(d) of the Securities Purchase Agreement, nothing contained herein shall be deemed to establish or require the payment of a rate of interest or other charges in excess of the maximum permitted by applicable law. In the event that the rate of interest required to be paid or other charges hereunder exceed the maximum permitted by such law, any payments in excess of such maximum shall be credited against amounts owed by the Company to the Holder and thus refunded to the Company.

33. CERTAIN DEFINITIONS. For purposes of this Note, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

(a) “1933 Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder.

(b) “1934 Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder.

(c) “Adjusted Floor Price” means as determined on each six month anniversary of the Issuance Date (each, a “Six Month Anniversary Date”) hereunder, the lower of (i) the Floor Price then in effect and (ii) 20% of the lower of (x) the closing price of the Common Stock of the Principal Market (as reported by the Principal Market) as of the Trading Day ended immediately prior to such applicable Six Month Anniversary Date and (y) the quotient of (I) the sum of each the closing price of the Common Stock of the Principal Market (as reported by the Principal Market) on each Trading Day of the five (5) Trading Day period ended on, and including, the Trading Day ended immediately prior to such applicable Six Month Anniversary Date, divided by (II) five (5). All such determinations to be appropriately adjusted for any share split, share dividend, share combination or other similar transaction during any such measuring period.

(d) “Adjustment Right” means any right granted with respect to any securities issued in connection with, or with respect to, any issuance or sale (or deemed issuance or sale in accordance with Section 7) of shares of Common Stock (other than rights of the type described in Section 6(a) hereof) that could result in a decrease in the net consideration received by the Company in connection with, or with respect to, such securities (including, without limitation, any cash settlement rights, cash adjustment or other similar rights).

(e) “Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such Person, it being understood for purposes of this definition that “control” of a Person means the power directly or indirectly either to vote 10% or more of the stock having ordinary voting power for the election of directors of such Person or direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person whether by contract or otherwise.

(f) “Alternate Conversion Floor Amount” means an amount in cash, to be delivered by wire transfer of immediately available funds pursuant to wire instructions delivered to the Company by the Holder in writing, equal to the product obtained by multiplying (A) higher of (I) the highest price that the Common Stock trades at on the Trading Day immediately preceding the relevant Alternate Conversion Date and (II) the applicable Alternate Conversion Price and (B) the difference obtained by subtracting (I) the number of shares of Common Stock delivered (or to be delivered) to the Holder on the applicable Share Delivery Deadline with respect to such Alternate Conversion from (II) the quotient obtain by dividing (x) the applicable Conversion Amount that the Holder has elected to be the subject of the applicable Alternate Conversion, by (y) the applicable Alternate Conversion Price without giving effect to clause (x) of such definition.

 

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(g) “Alternate Conversion Price” means, with respect to any Alternate Conversion that price which shall be the lower of (i) the applicable Conversion Price as in effect on the applicable Conversion Date of the applicable Alternate Conversion, and (ii) the greater of (x) the Floor Price and (y) either (A) if an Event of Default then exists and is continuing, 85% of the lowest VWAP of the Common Stock of any Trading Day during the fifteen (15) consecutive Trading Day period ending and including the Trading Day immediately preceding the delivery or deemed delivery of the applicable Conversion Notice or (B) otherwise, 93% of the lowest VWAP of the Common Stock of any Trading Day during the ten (10) consecutive Trading Day period ending and including the Trading Day immediately preceding the delivery or deemed delivery of the applicable Conversion Notice (such applicable period, the “Alternate Conversion Measuring Period”). All such determinations to be appropriately adjusted for any stock dividend, stock split, stock combination, reclassification or similar transaction that proportionately decreases or increases the Common Stock during such Alternate Conversion Measuring Period.

(h) “Applicable Closing Date” means the applicable date the Company initially issued this Note pursuant to the terms of the Securities Purchase Agreement.

(i) “Approved Stock Plan” means any employee benefit plan which has been approved by the board of directors of the Company prior to or subsequent to the Subscription Date pursuant to which shares of Common Stock and standard options to purchase Common Stock may be issued to any employee, officer or director for services provided to the Company in their capacity as such.

(j) “Attribution Parties” means, collectively, the following Persons and entities: (i) any investment vehicle, including, any funds, feeder funds or managed accounts, currently, or from time to time after the Issuance Date, directly or indirectly managed or advised by the Holder’s investment manager or any of its Affiliates or principals, (ii) any direct or indirect Affiliates of the Holder or any of the foregoing, (iii) any Person acting or who could be deemed to be acting as a Group together with the Holder or any of the foregoing and (iv) any other Persons whose beneficial ownership of the Company’s Common Stock would or could be aggregated with the Holder’s and the other Attribution Parties for purposes of Section 13(d) of the 1934 Act. For clarity, the purpose of the foregoing is to subject collectively the Holder and all other Attribution Parties to the Maximum Percentage.

(k) “Available Cash” means, with respect to any date of determination, an amount equal to the aggregate amount of the Cash of the Company and its Subsidiaries (excluding for this purpose cash held in restricted accounts or otherwise unavailable for unrestricted use by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries for any reason) as of such date of determination held in bank accounts of financial banking institutions in the United States of America.

 

45


(l) “Black Scholes Consideration Value” means the value of the applicable Option, Convertible Security or Adjustment Right (as the case may be) as of the date of issuance thereof calculated using the Black Scholes Option Pricing Model obtained from the “OV” function on Bloomberg utilizing (i) an underlying price per share equal to the Closing Sale Price of the Common Stock on the Trading Day immediately preceding the public announcement of the execution of definitive documents with respect to the issuance of such Option, Convertible Security or Adjustment Right (as the case may be), (ii) a risk-free interest rate corresponding to the U.S. Treasury rate for a period equal to the remaining term of such Option, Convertible Security or Adjustment Right (as the case may be) as of the date of issuance of such Option, Convertible Security or Adjustment Right (as the case may be), (iii) a zero cost of borrow and (iv) an expected volatility equal to the greater of 100% and the 100 day volatility obtained from the “HVT” function on Bloomberg (determined utilizing a 365 day annualization factor) as of the Trading Day immediately following the date of issuance of such Option, Convertible Security or Adjustment Right (as the case may be).

(m) “Bloomberg” means Bloomberg, L.P.

(n) “Business Day” means any day other than Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in The City of New York are authorized or required by law to remain closed; provided, however, for clarification, commercial banks shall not be deemed to be authorized or required by law to remain closed due to “stay at home”, “shelter-in-place”, “non-essential employee” or any other similar orders or restrictions or the closure of any physical branch locations at the direction of any governmental authority so long as the electronic funds transfer systems (including for wire transfers) of commercial banks in The City of New York generally are open for use by customers on such day.

(o) “Cash” of the Company and its Subsidiaries on any date shall be determined from such Persons’ books maintained in accordance with GAAP, and means, without duplication, cash, cash equivalents (excluding any cryptocurrencies or any other digital currencies) and treasury bonds issued by the United States of America, accrued by the Company and its wholly owned Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis on such date, and the aggregate amount of any accounts receivable (to the extent less than 30 days from invoice date).

(p) “Change of Control” means any Fundamental Transaction other than (i) any merger of the Company or any of its, direct or indirect, wholly-owned Subsidiaries with or into any of the foregoing Persons, (ii) any reorganization, recapitalization or reclassification of the shares of Common Stock in which holders of the Company’s voting power immediately prior to such reorganization, recapitalization or reclassification continue after such reorganization, recapitalization or reclassification to hold publicly traded securities and, directly or indirectly, are, in all material respects, the holders of the voting power of the surviving entity (or entities with the authority or voting power to elect the members of the board of directors (or their equivalent if other than a corporation) of such entity or entities) after such reorganization, recapitalization or reclassification, (iii) pursuant to a migratory merger effected solely for the purpose of changing the jurisdiction of incorporation of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (iv) the Shoe Business Sale and the Shoe Business Sale Dividend or (v) the liquidation, dissolution, or sale of all or substantially all of the assets of any Current Subsidiary (other than the New Subsidiary (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement)).

 

46


(q) “Change of Control Redemption Premium” means 125%.

(r) “Closing Bid Price” and “Closing Sale Price” means, for any security as of any date, the last closing bid price and last closing trade price, respectively, for such security on the Principal Market, as reported by Bloomberg, or, if the Principal Market begins to operate on an extended hours basis and does not designate the closing bid price or the closing trade price (as the case may be) then the last bid price or last trade price, respectively, of such security prior to 4:00:00 p.m., New York time, as reported by Bloomberg, or, if the Principal Market is not the principal securities exchange or trading market for such security, the last closing bid price or last trade price, respectively, of such security on the principal securities exchange or trading market where such security is listed or traded as reported by Bloomberg, or if the foregoing do not apply, the last closing bid price or last trade price, respectively, of such security in the over-the-counter market on the electronic bulletin board for such security as reported by Bloomberg, or, if no closing bid price or last trade price, respectively, is reported for such security by Bloomberg, the average of the bid prices, or the ask prices, respectively, of any market makers for such security as reported in The Pink Open Market (or a similar organization or agency succeeding to its functions of reporting prices). If the Closing Bid Price or the Closing Sale Price cannot be calculated for a security on a particular date on any of the foregoing bases, the Closing Bid Price or the Closing Sale Price (as the case may be) of such security on such date shall be the fair market value as mutually determined by the Company and the Holder. If the Company and the Holder are unable to agree upon the fair market value of such security, then such dispute shall be resolved in accordance with the procedures in Section 25. All such determinations shall be appropriately adjusted for any stock splits, stock dividends, stock combinations, recapitalizations or other similar transactions during such period.

(s) “Common Stock” means (i) the Company’s shares of Class A common stock, $0.0001 par value per share, and (ii) any capital stock into which such common stock shall have been changed or any share capital resulting from a reclassification of such common stock.

(t) “Convertible Securities” means any stock or other security (other than Options) that is at any time and under any circumstances, directly or indirectly, convertible into, exercisable or exchangeable for, or which otherwise entitles the holder thereof to acquire, any shares of Common Stock.

(u) “Conversion Floor Price Condition” means that the relevant Alternate Conversion Price is being determined based on clause (x) of such definition.

(v) “Current Subsidiary” means any Person in which the Company on the Subscription Date, directly or indirectly, (i) owns any of the outstanding capital stock or holds any equity or similar interest of such Person or (ii) controls or operates all or any part of the business, operations or administration of such Person, and all of the foregoing, collectively, “Current Subsidiaries”.

 

47


(w) “Eligible Market” means The New York Stock Exchange, the NYSE American, the Nasdaq Capital Market, the Nasdaq Global Select Market, the Nasdaq Global Market or the Principal Market.

(x) “Equity Conditions” means, with respect to an given date of determination: (i) on each day during the period beginning thirty calendar days prior to such applicable date of determination and ending on and including such applicable date of determination (or, with respect to any Additional Closing (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement) determination in the Securities Purchase Agreement, as of the applicable Additional Closing Date (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement)) either (x) one or more Registration Statements filed pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement shall be effective and the prospectus contained therein shall be available on such applicable date of determination (with, for the avoidance of doubt, any shares of Common Stock previously sold pursuant to such prospectus deemed unavailable) for the resale of all shares of Common Stock to be issued in connection with the event requiring this determination (or issuable upon conversion of the Conversion Amount being redeemed, as applicable, in the event requiring this determination at the Alternate Conversion Price then in effect (without regard to any limitations on conversion set forth herein)) (each, a “Required Minimum Securities Amount”), in each case, in accordance with the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement and there shall not have been during such period any Grace Periods (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) or (y) all Registrable Securities shall be eligible for sale pursuant to Rule 144 (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement) without the need for registration under any applicable federal or state securities laws (in each case, disregarding any limitation on conversion of the Notes, other issuance of securities with respect to the Notes) and no Current Public Information Failure (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) exists or is continuing; (ii) on each day during the period beginning thirty calendar days prior to the applicable date of determination and ending on and including the applicable date of determination (the “Equity Conditions Measuring Period”), the Common Stock (including all Registrable Securities) is listed or designated for quotation (as applicable) on an Eligible Market and shall not have been suspended from trading on an Eligible Market (other than suspensions of not more than two (2)Trading Days and occurring prior to the applicable date of determination due to business announcements by the Company) nor shall delisting or suspension by an Eligible Market have been threatened (with a reasonable prospect of delisting occurring after giving effect to all applicable notice, appeal, compliance and hearing periods) or reasonably likely to occur or pending as evidenced by (A) a writing by such Eligible Market or (B) the Company falling below the minimum listing maintenance requirements of the Eligible Market on which the Common Stock is then listed or designated for quotation (as applicable); (iii) during the Equity Conditions Measuring Period, the Company shall have delivered all shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of this Note on a timely basis as set forth in Section 3 hereof and all other shares of capital stock required to be delivered by the Company on a timely basis as set forth in the other Transaction Documents; (iv) any shares of Common Stock to be issued in connection with the event requiring determination (or issuable upon conversion of the

 

48


Conversion Amount being redeemed in the event requiring this determination) may be issued in full without violating Section 3(d) hereof; (v) any shares of Common Stock to be issued in connection with the event requiring determination (or issuable upon conversion of the Conversion Amount being redeemed in the event requiring this determination (without regards to any limitations on conversion set forth herein)) may be issued in full without violating the rules or regulations of the Eligible Market on which the Common Stock is then listed or designated for quotation (as applicable); (vi) on each day during the Equity Conditions Measuring Period, no public announcement of a pending, proposed or intended Fundamental Transaction shall have occurred which has not been abandoned, terminated or consummated; (vii) the Company shall have no knowledge of any fact that would reasonably be expected to cause (1) any Registration Statement required to be filed pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement to not be effective or the prospectus contained therein to not be available for the resale of the applicable Required Minimum Securities Amount of Registrable Securities in accordance with the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement or (2) any Registrable Securities to not be eligible for sale pursuant to Rule 144 without the need for registration under any applicable federal or state securities laws (in each case, disregarding any limitation on conversion of the Notes, other issuance of securities with respect to the Notes) and no Current Public Information Failure exists or is continuing; (viii) the Holder shall not be in (and no other holder of Notes shall be in) possession of any material, non-public information provided to any of them by the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective affiliates, employees, officers, representatives, agents or the like; (ix) on each day during the Equity Conditions Measuring Period, the Company otherwise shall have been in compliance with each, and shall not have breached any representation or warranty in any material respect (other than representations or warranties subject to material adverse effect or materiality, which may not be breached in any respect) or any covenant or other term or condition of any Transaction Document, including, without limitation, the Company shall not have failed to timely make any payment pursuant to any Transaction Document; (x) on each Trading Day during the Equity Conditions Measuring Period, there shall not have occurred any Volume Failure or Price Failure as of such applicable date of determination; (xi) on the applicable date of determination (A) no Authorized Share Failure shall exist or be continuing and the applicable Required Minimum Securities Amount of shares of Common Stock are available under the certificate of incorporation of the Company and reserved by the Company to be issued pursuant to the Notes and (B) all shares of Common Stock to be issued in connection with the event requiring this determination (or issuable upon conversion of the Conversion Amount being redeemed in the event requiring this determination (without regards to any limitations on conversion set forth herein)) may be issued in full without resulting in an Authorized Share Failure; (xii) on each day during the Equity Conditions Measuring Period, there shall not have occurred and there shall not exist an Event of Default or an event that with the passage of time or giving of notice would constitute an Event of Default; (xiii) no bone fide dispute shall exist, by and between any of holder of Notes, the Company, the Principal Market (or such applicable Eligible Market in which the Common Stock of the Company is then principally trading) and/or FINRA with respect to any term or provision of any Note or any other Transaction Document and (xiv) the shares of Common Stock issuable pursuant the event requiring the satisfaction of the Equity Conditions are duly authorized and listed and eligible for trading without restriction on an Eligible Market.

 

49


(y) “Equity Conditions Failure” means that on any day during the period commencing twenty (20) Trading Days prior to the applicable date of determination (or, with respect to any Additional Closing determination in the Securities Purchase Agreement, as of the applicable Additional Closing Date), the Equity Conditions have not been satisfied (or waived in writing by the Holder).

(z) “Event Market Price” means, with respect to any Stock Combination Event Date, the quotient determined by dividing (x) the sum of the VWAP of the Common Stock for each of the five (5) Trading Days with the lowest VWAP of the Common Stock during the fifteen (15) consecutive Trading Day period ending and including the Trading Day immediately preceding the sixteenth (16th) Trading Day after such Stock Combination Event Date, divided by (y) five (5).

(aa) “Excluded Securities” means (i) shares of Common Stock or standard options to purchase Common Stock issued to directors, officers or employees of the Company for services rendered to the Company in their capacity as such pursuant to an Approved Stock Plan (as defined above), provided that (A) all such issuances (taking into account the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of such options) after the Subscription Date pursuant to this clause (i) do not, in the aggregate, exceed more than 5% of the Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Subscription Date and (B) the exercise price of any such options is not lowered, none of such options are amended to increase the number of shares issuable thereunder and none of the terms or conditions of any such options are otherwise materially changed in any manner that adversely affects any of the Buyers; (ii) shares of Common Stock issued upon the conversion or exercise of Convertible Securities or Options (other than standard options to purchase Common Stock issued pursuant to an Approved Stock Plan that are covered by clause (i) above) issued prior to the Subscription Date, provided that the conversion price of any such Convertible Securities (other than standard options to purchase Common Stock issued pursuant to an Approved Stock Plan that are covered by clause (i) above) is not lowered, none of such Convertible Securities or Options (other than standard options to purchase Common Stock issued pursuant to an Approved Stock Plan that are covered by clause (i) above) are amended to increase the number of shares issuable thereunder and none of the terms or conditions of any such Convertible Securities or Options (other than standard options to purchase Common Stock issued pursuant to an Approved Stock Plan that are covered by clause (i) above) are otherwise materially changed in any manner that adversely affects any of the Buyers; and (iii) the shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Notes or otherwise pursuant to the terms of the Notes; provided, that the terms of the Notes are not amended, modified or changed on or after the Subscription Date (other than antidilution adjustments pursuant to the terms thereof in effect as of the Subscription Date).

(bb) “Fiscal Quarter means each of the fiscal quarters adopted by the Company for financial reporting purposes that correspond to the Company’s fiscal year as of the date hereof that ends on December 31.

 

50


(cc) “Fiscal Year means the fiscal year adopted by the Company for financial reporting purposes as of the date hereof that ends on December 31.

(dd) “Floor Price” means $[__]3 (as adjusted for share splits, share dividends, share combinations, recapitalizations and similar events) provided that if on the six month anniversary of the Issuance Date (each, an “Adjustment Date”), the Floor Price then in effect is higher than the Adjusted Floor Price with respect to the Adjustment Date, on the Adjustment Date the Floor Price shall be automatically lowered to such applicable Adjusted Floor Price.

(ee) “Fundamental Transaction” means (A) that the Company shall, directly or indirectly, including through subsidiaries, Affiliates or otherwise, in one or more related transactions, (i) consolidate or merge with or into (whether or not the Company is the surviving corporation) another Subject Entity, or (ii) sell, assign, transfer, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of the Company or any of its “significant subsidiaries” (as defined in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X) to one or more Subject Entities, or (iii) make, or allow one or more Subject Entities to make, or allow the Company to be subject to or have its Common Stock be subject to or party to one or more Subject Entities making, a purchase, tender or exchange offer that is accepted by the holders of at least either (x) 50% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, (y) 50% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock calculated as if any shares of Common Stock held by all Subject Entities making or party to, or Affiliated with any Subject Entities making or party to, such purchase, tender or exchange offer were not outstanding; or (z) such number of shares of Common Stock such that all Subject Entities making or party to, or Affiliated with any Subject Entity making or party to, such purchase, tender or exchange offer, become collectively the beneficial owners (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the 1934 Act) of at least 50% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, or (iv) consummate a stock or share purchase agreement or other business combination (including, without limitation, a reorganization, recapitalization, spin-off or scheme of arrangement) with one or more Subject Entities whereby all such Subject Entities, individually or in the aggregate, acquire in any transaction or series or related transactions, either (x) at least 50% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, (y) at least 50% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock calculated as if any shares of Common Stock held by all the Subject Entities making or party to, or Affiliated with any Subject Entity making or party to, such stock purchase agreement or other business combination were not outstanding; or (z) such number of shares of Common Stock such that the Subject Entities become collectively the beneficial owners (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the 1934 Act) of at least 50% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, or (v) reorganize, recapitalize or reclassify its Common Stock, (B) that the Company shall, directly or indirectly, including through subsidiaries, Affiliates or otherwise, in one or more related transactions, allow any Subject Entity individually or the Subject Entities in the aggregate to be or become the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the 1934 Act), directly or indirectly, whether through acquisition, purchase, assignment, conveyance, tender, tender offer, exchange, reduction in outstanding shares of Common Stock, merger, consolidation, business

 
3 

Insert 20% of the Nasdaq Minimum Price as of the Trading Day ended immediately prior to the applicable Closing Date.

 

51


combination, reorganization, recapitalization, spin-off, scheme of arrangement, reorganization, recapitalization or reclassification or otherwise in any manner whatsoever, of either (x) at least 50% of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by issued and outstanding Common Stock, (y) at least 50% of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by issued and outstanding Common Stock not held by all such Subject Entities as of the date of this Note calculated as if any shares of Common Stock held by all such Subject Entities were not outstanding, or (z) a percentage of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock or other equity securities of the Company sufficient to allow such Subject Entities to effect a statutory short form merger or other transaction requiring other stockholders of the Company to surrender their shares of Common Stock without approval of the stockholders of the Company or (C) directly or indirectly, including through subsidiaries, Affiliates or otherwise, in one or more related transactions, the issuance of or the entering into any other instrument or transaction structured in a manner to circumvent, or that circumvents, the intent of this definition in which case this definition shall be construed and implemented in a manner otherwise than in strict conformity with the terms of this definition to the extent necessary to correct this definition or any portion of this definition which may be defective or inconsistent with the intended treatment of such instrument or transaction.

(ff) “GAAP” means United States generally accepted accounting principles, consistently applied.

(gg) “GPU Lease” means that certain Master Lease Agreement, #0001, dated on or about the date hereof, by and between NewBird AI, LLC, as lessor, and SPRE NKC MO, LLC, as lessee, as the same may be amended, restated, amended restated, supplemented, extended, renewed or otherwise modified from time to time, together with each Lease Schedule attached thereto or delivered pursuant to the terms thereof.

(hh) “Group” means a “group” as that term is used in Section 13(d) of the 1934 Act and as defined in Rule 13d-5 thereunder.

(ii) “Holder Pro Rata Amount” means a fraction (i) the numerator of which is the original Principal amount of this Note on the Applicable Closing Date and (ii) the denominator of which is the aggregate original principal amount of all Notes issued to the initial purchasers pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement on the Applicable Closing Date.

(jj) “Indebtedness” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Securities Purchase Agreement.

(kk) “Interest Date” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2(a) of this Note.

(ii) “Interest Notice Due Date” means, with respect to any given Interest Date, the twenty-first (21st) Trading Day immediately prior to such Interest Date.

(ll) “Interest Rate” means twelve percent (12%) per annum, as may be adjusted from time to time in accordance with Section 2.

 

52


(mm) “Investment” means any beneficial ownership (including stock, partnership or limited liability company interests) of or in any Person, or any loan, advance or capital contribution to any Person or the acquisition of all, or substantially all, of the assets of another Person or the purchase of any assets of another Person for greater than the fair market value of such assets.

(nn) “Maturity Date” shall mean [ ]4; provided, however, the Maturity Date may be extended at the option of the Holder (i) in the event that, and for so long as, an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or any event shall have occurred and be continuing that with the passage of time and the failure to cure would result in an Event of Default or (ii) through the date that is twenty (20) Business Days after the consummation of a Fundamental Transaction in the event that a Fundamental Transaction is publicly announced or a Change of Control Notice is delivered prior to the Maturity Date, provided further that if a Holder elects to convert some or all of this Note pursuant to Section 3 hereof, and the Conversion Amount would be limited pursuant to Section 3(d) hereunder, the Maturity Date shall automatically be extended until such time as such provision shall not limit the conversion of this Note.

(oo) “New Subsidiary” means, as of any date of determination, any Person in which the Company after the Subscription Date, directly or indirectly, (i) owns or acquires any of the outstanding capital stock or holds any equity or similar interest of such Person or (ii) controls or operates all or any part of the business, operations or administration of such Person, and all of the foregoing, collectively, “New Subsidiaries”.

(pp) “Options” means any rights, warrants or options to subscribe for or purchase shares of Common Stock or Convertible Securities.

(qq) “Parent Entity” of a Person means an entity that, directly or indirectly, controls the applicable Person and whose common stock or equivalent equity security is quoted or listed on an Eligible Market, or, if there is more than one such Person or Parent Entity, the Person or Parent Entity with the largest public market capitalization as of the date of consummation of the Fundamental Transaction.

(rr) “Permitted Indebtedness” means (i) Indebtedness evidenced by this Note and the Other Notes, (ii) on or prior to the Shoe Business Sale, Indebtedness set forth on Schedule 3(s) to the Securities Purchase Agreement, as in effect as of the Subscription Date, (iii) Indebtedness secured by Permitted Liens or unsecured but as described in clauses (iv) and (v) of the definition of Permitted Liens and (iv) prior to the Shoe Business Sale, Permitted Senior Indebtedness.

(ss) “Permitted Liens” means (i) any Lien for taxes not yet due or delinquent or being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings for which adequate reserves have been established in accordance with GAAP, (ii) any statutory Lien arising in the ordinary course of business by operation of law with respect to a liability that is not yet due or delinquent, (iii) any Lien created by operation of law, such as materialmen’s liens,

 
4 

Insert second anniversary of the Issuance Date.

 

53


mechanics’ liens and other similar liens, arising in the ordinary course of business with respect to a liability that is not yet due or delinquent or that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, (iv) Liens (A) upon or in any equipment acquired or held by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to secure the purchase price of such equipment or Indebtedness incurred solely for the purpose of financing the acquisition or lease of such equipment, or (B) existing on such equipment at the time of its acquisition, provided that the Lien is confined solely to the property so acquired and improvements thereon, and the proceeds of such equipment, in either case, with respect to Indebtedness in an aggregate amount not to exceed the Applicable Default Dollar Threshold, (v) Liens incurred in connection with the extension, renewal or refinancing of the Indebtedness secured by Liens of the type described in clause (iv) above, provided that any extension, renewal or replacement Lien shall be limited to the property encumbered by the existing Lien and the principal amount of the Indebtedness being extended, renewed or refinanced does not increase, (vi) Liens in favor of customs and revenue authorities arising as a matter of law to secure payments of custom duties in connection with the importation of goods, and (vii) Liens arising from judgments, decrees or attachments in circumstances not constituting an Event of Default under Section 4(a)(xii) and (viii) prior to the Shoe Business Sale, Liens with respect to the Permitted Senior Indebtedness Collateral.

(tt) “Permitted Senior Indebtedness” means that certain Credit Agreement dated as of June 30th, 2025, by and between the Company, Allbirds International, Inc., and Second Avenue Capital Partners LLC, as in effect as of the Subscription Date, provided, however, that the aggregate outstanding principal amount of such Indebtedness permitted hereunder does not at any time exceed the amount of the Senior Debt Cap (as defined in that certain Subordination Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and between Second Avenue Capital Partners LLC, [*], the Company, Allbirds International, Inc. and Newbird AI, LLC, the “Subordination Agreement”) plus the Excluded Obligations (as defined in the Subordination Agreement).

(uu) “Permitted Senior Indebtedness Collateral” means any Excluded Collateral (as defined in the Security Agreement) secured by Permitted Liens by the holders of Permitted Senior Indebtedness as in effect as of the Subscription Date.

(vv) “Person” means an individual, a limited liability company, a partnership, a joint venture, a corporation, a trust, an unincorporated organization, any other entity or a government or any department or agency thereof.

(ww) “Price Failure” means, with respect to a particular date of determination, the VWAP of the Common Stock on any Trading Day during the twenty (20) Trading Day period ending on the Trading Day immediately preceding such date of determination fails to exceed $1.00 (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, stock combinations, recapitalizations or other similar transactions occurring after the Subscription Date). All such determinations to be appropriately adjusted for any stock splits, stock dividends, stock combinations, recapitalizations or other similar transactions during any such measuring period.

(xx) “Principal Market” means The Nasdaq Global Select Market.

 

54


(yy) “Redemption Notices” means, collectively, the Event of Default Redemption Notices, the Company Optional Redemption Notices, the Asset Sale Redemption Notices, the Subsequent Placement Redemption Notices and the Change of Control Redemption Notices, and each of the foregoing, individually, a “Redemption Notice.”

(zz) “Redemption Premium” means 125%.

(aaa) “Redemption Prices” means, collectively, Event of Default Redemption Prices, the Company Optional Redemption Prices, the Asset Sale Redemption Prices, the Subsequent Placement Redemption Prices and the Change of Control Redemption Prices, and each of the foregoing, individually, a “Redemption Price.”

(bbb) “Registration Rights Agreement” means that certain registration rights agreement, dated as of the Initial Closing Date (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement), by and among the Company and the initial holders of the Notes relating to, among other things, the registration of the resale of the Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Notes or otherwise pursuant to the terms of the Notes, as may be amended from time to time.

(ccc) “SEC” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission or the successor thereto.

(ddd) “Securities Purchase Agreement” means that certain amended and restated securities purchase agreement, dated as of the Subscription Date, by and among the Company and the initial holders of the Notes pursuant to which the Company issued the Notes, as may be amended from time to time.

(eee) “Security Agreement” shall have the meaning as set forth in the Securities Purchase Agreement.

(fff) “Shoe Business Sale” means the sale of assets as contemplated in the Asset Purchase Agreement, dated March 29, 2026, as may be amended from time to time, by and between Allbirds, Inc. and Allbirds IP, LLC, and as described in the proxy statement filed by the Company on April 14, 2026 (the “Proxy Statement”)

(ggg) “Shoe Business Sale Dividend” means the dividend or distribution contemplated to paid to stockholders following the consummation of the Shoe Business Sale as described in the Proxy Statement.

(hhh) “Subscription Date” means April 19, 2026.

(iii) “Subsidiaries” means, as of any date of determination, collectively, all Current Subsidiaries and all New Subsidiaries, and each of the foregoing, individually, a “Subsidiary.”

(jjj) “Subject Entity” means any Person, Persons or Group or any Affiliate or associate of any such Person, Persons or Group.

 

55


(kkk) “Successor Entity” means the Person (or, if so elected by the Holder, the Parent Entity) formed by, resulting from or surviving any Fundamental Transaction or the Person (or, if so elected by the Holder, the Parent Entity) with which such Fundamental Transaction shall have been entered into.

(lll) “Trading Day” means, as applicable, (x) with respect to all price or trading volume determinations relating to the Common Stock, any day on which the Common Stock is traded on the Principal Market, or, if the Principal Market is not the principal trading market for the Common Stock, then on the principal securities exchange or securities market on which the Common Stock is then traded, provided that “Trading Day” shall not include any day on which the Common Stock is scheduled to trade on such exchange or market for less than 4.5 hours or any day that the Common Stock is suspended from trading during the final hour of trading on such exchange or market (or if such exchange or market does not designate in advance the closing time of trading on such exchange or market, then during the hour ending at 4:00:00 p.m., New York time) unless such day is otherwise designated as a Trading Day in writing by the Holder or (y) with respect to all determinations other than price determinations relating to the Common Stock, any day on which The New York Stock Exchange (or any successor thereto) is open for trading of securities.

(mmm) “Volume Failure” means, with respect to a particular date of determination, the aggregate daily dollar trading volume (as reported on Bloomberg) of the Common Stock on the Principal Market on any Trading Day during the twenty (20) Trading Day period ending on the Trading Day immediately preceding such date of determination (such period, the “Volume Failure Measuring Period”), is less than $300,000.

(nnn) “VWAP” means, for any security as of any date, the dollar volume-weighted average price for such security on the Principal Market (or, if the Principal Market is not the principal trading market for such security, then on the principal securities exchange or securities market on which such security is then traded), during the period beginning at 9:30 a.m., New York time, and ending at 4:00 p.m., New York time, as reported by Bloomberg through its “VAP” function (set to 09:30 start time and 16:00 end time) or, if the foregoing does not apply, the dollar volume-weighted average price of such security in the over-the-counter market on the electronic bulletin board for such security during the period beginning at 9:30 a.m., New York time, and ending at 4:00 p.m., New York time, as reported by Bloomberg, or, if no dollar volume-weighted average price is reported for such security by Bloomberg for such hours, the average of the highest closing bid price and the lowest closing ask price of any of the market makers for such security as reported in The Pink Open Market (or a similar organization or agency succeeding to its functions of reporting prices). If the VWAP cannot be calculated for such security on such date on any of the foregoing bases, the VWAP of such security on such date shall be the fair market value as mutually determined by the Company and the Holder. If the Company and the Holder are unable to agree upon the fair market value of such security, then such dispute shall be resolved in accordance with the procedures in Section 25. All such determinations shall be appropriately adjusted for any stock dividend, stock split, stock combination, recapitalization or other similar transaction during such period.

 

56


34. DISCLOSURE. Upon delivery by the Company to the Holder (or receipt by the Company from the Holder) of any notice in accordance with the terms of this Note, unless the Company has in good faith determined that the matters relating to such notice do not constitute material, non-public information relating to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, the Company shall on or prior to 9:00 am, New York city time on the Business Day immediately following such notice delivery date, publicly disclose such material, non-public information on a Current Report on Form 8-K or otherwise. In the event that the Company believes that a notice contains material, non-public information relating to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, the Company so shall indicate to the Holder explicitly in writing in such notice (or immediately upon receipt of notice from the Holder, as applicable), and in the absence of any such written indication in such notice (or notification from the Company immediately upon receipt of notice from the Holder), the Holder shall be entitled to presume that information contained in the notice does not constitute material, non-public information relating to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. Nothing contained in this Section 34 shall limit any obligations of the Company, or any rights of the Holder, under Section 4(i) of the Securities Purchase Agreement.

35. ABSENCE OF TRADING AND DISCLOSURE RESTRICTIONS. The Company acknowledges and agrees that the Holder is not a fiduciary or agent of the Company and that the Holder shall have no obligation to (a) maintain the confidentiality of any information provided by the Company or (b) refrain from trading any securities while in possession of such information in the absence of a written non-disclosure agreement signed by an officer of the Holder that explicitly provides for such confidentiality and trading restrictions. In the absence of such an executed, written non-disclosure agreement, the Company acknowledges that the Holder may freely trade in any securities issued by the Company, may possess and use any information provided by the Company in connection with such trading activity, and may disclose any such information to any third party.

[signature page follows]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Note to be duly executed as of the Issuance Date set out above.

 

Allbirds, Inc.
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

Senior Convertible Note - Signature Page


EXHIBIT I

ALLBIRDS, INC.

CONVERSION NOTICE

Reference is made to the Senior Secured Convertible Note (the “Note”) issued to the undersigned by Allbirds, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”). In accordance with and pursuant to the Note, the undersigned hereby elects to convert the Conversion Amount (as defined in the Note) of the Note indicated below into shares of Class A Common Stock, $0.0001 par value per share (the “Common Stock”), of the Company, as of the date specified below. Capitalized terms not defined herein shall have the meaning as set forth in the Note.

 

Date of Conversion:   

 

Aggregate Principal to be converted:

  

 

Aggregate accrued and unpaid Interest and accrued and unpaid Late Charges with respect to such portion of the Aggregate Principal and such Aggregate Interest to be converted:

  

 

 

 

 

AGGREGATE CONVERSION AMOUNT TO BE CONVERTED:   

 

 

Please confirm the following information:

 

Conversion Price:   

 

Number of shares of Common Stock to be issued:   

 

 

 

☐ If this Conversion Notice is being delivered with respect to an Alternate Conversion, check here if Holder is electing to use the following Alternate Conversion Price:____________
Please issue the Common Stock into which the Note is being converted to Holder, or for its benefit, as follows:
☐ Check here if requesting delivery as a certificate to the following name and to the following address:
Issue to:   

 

  

 

  

 


☐ Check here if requesting delivery by Deposit/Withdrawal at Custodian as follows:

DTC Participant:   

 

DTC Number:   

 

Account Number:   

 

 

Date: _____________ __,    

 

Name of Registered Holder
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:
  Tax ID:_____________________
E-mail Address:


Exhibit II

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

The Company hereby (a) acknowledges this Conversion Notice, (b) certifies that the above indicated number of shares of Common Stock [are][are not] eligible to be resold by the Holder either (i) pursuant to Rule 144 (subject to the Holder’s execution and delivery to the Company of a customary 144 representation letter) or (ii) an effective and available registration statement and (c) hereby directs _________________ to issue the above indicated number of shares of Common Stock in accordance with the Transfer Agent Instructions dated _____________, 20__ from the Company and acknowledged and agreed to by ________________________.

 

ALLBIRDS, INC.
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:
EX-10.3

Exhibit 10.3

 

LOGO

June 12, 2026

Dear Nadia,

The Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Allbirds, Inc. (the “Company”) is thrilled to extend this offer of employment for the position of President, Chief Executive Officer and Secretary (“CEO”), reporting to the Company’s Board.

As CEO, you will have such duties, responsibilities and authority as is customary for persons situated in similar executive capacities and as may from time to time reasonably be assigned to you by the Board. Your principal work location will be as a remote employee, subject to required business travel.

Subject to any limitations imposed by applicable law, the Board plans to appoint you as a Class I member of the Board. You will be nominated for election as a member of the Board at the Company’s 2028 annual meeting of stockholders, so long as you continue to serve as the CEO through that date. In addition, while you continue to serve as CEO, the Board and/or the Sustainability, Nomination and Governance Committee of the Board will nominate you for reelection to the Board at each subsequent annual meeting at which your term on the Board is scheduled to expire and that occurs while you are CEO, but subject to the requirements of applicable law (including, without limitation, any rules or regulations of any exchange on which the Class A common stock of the Company is then listed). If your position as CEO is terminated for any reason, you automatically will be deemed to have resigned from the Board and all positions that you hold with the Company and its affiliates, unless requested otherwise in writing by the Board. You will cooperate with the Company in documenting such resignation(s) and will promptly complete and return to the Company all documents reasonably specified by the Company for such purpose.

Your initial base salary will be $700,000 per year, less applicable payroll deductions and withholdings, paid on the Company’s normal payroll schedule. The Company reserves the right to modify your base salary with advance notice in a manner comparable to other Company officers. Your annual base salary will be subject to review and adjustment based upon the Company’s normal performance review practices. As a salaried exempt employee, you will not be entitled to overtime pay and your salary is intended to cover all hours worked including any hours worked in excess of 8 in a day, or 40 in a workweek, or overtime as otherwise mandated by applicable federal or state law.

We are pleased to inform you that you will be eligible for a performance-driven bonus with a target opportunity equal to 100% of base salary (pro-rated based on start date) upon the submission and approval of a strategic business plan by the Board no later than October 31, 2026. This bonus opportunity is payable in cash upon ratification of achievement by the Management, Compensation and Leadership Committee of the Board (the “Compensation Committee”). Starting in January 2027 you will be eligible for an Allbirds performance-driven bonus plan with a target opportunity to be set by the Management Committee. Any bonus is discretionary and shall be decided by the Company in its sole discretion. Target incentives do not constitute a promise on the part of the Company for payment of a bonus. To qualify for bonus payment, you must remain employed with the Company on the date on which the bonus is paid.


During your employment, you will be eligible for employee benefits consistent with the Company’s practices and in accordance with the terms of the applicable benefit plans as they currently exist and subject to any future modifications in the Company’s discretion. A full description of the Company’s current benefits is available upon request. We believe that rest and relaxation is important to a productive workplace, and hence, offer flexible paid time off, subject to applicable federal, state, and local laws. You must request flexible paid time off in accordance with the policies outlined in the Employee Handbook.

We are pleased to inform you that we will recommend to the Board or a committee of the Board that you be granted an award of 1,532,379 restricted stock units (the “RSUs”) (the “RSU Award”), which RSU Award is intended to qualify as an “inducement grant” in accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4). The RSU Award will be granted under and subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable RSU Award agreement and the notice of RSU Award grant, all of which will be provided to you as soon as practicable after the grant date and which you will be required to accept in accordance with Allbirds’ acceptance procedures.

Each RSU represents a contingent right to receive one share of our Class A common stock upon vesting. The RSU Award will be governed by the terms and conditions your grant agreement, and will include an immediate vest of 255,397 RSUs with the remaining 1,276,982 RSUs vesting quarterly over a four year schedule under which 1/16th of your total RSUs will vest three months after the vesting commencement date, and 1/16th of the total RSUs will vest at the end of each quarter thereafter, until either the grant is fully vested or your Continuous Service (as defined in the grant agreement) terminates, whichever occurs first.

In addition to the foregoing, you will be eligible to continue to participate in Allbirds’ Severance and Change in Control Plan, which provides for, among other things, twelve (12) months of base pay and benefits plus equity acceleration in the event of termination related to an applicable “Change in Control” (as such term is defined in the Severance and Change in Control Plan). You will also be eligible for consideration in the Company’s annual equity refresh program, which will target an aggregate refresh grant value determined annually by the Board; provided, however, that any annual refresh grant (including the specific form of such grant or grants) shall be at the Company’s sole discretion and dependent on both company and individual performance.

As a Company employee, you will be expected to abide by Company rules and policies as they currently exist and subject to any future modifications in the Company’s discretion including, without limitation, maintaining as confidential proprietary information of the Company. The requirement that you maintain as confidential proprietary information of the Company shall extend beyond separation of your employment. In your role, you must also comply with the Employee Confidential Information and Inventions Assignment Agreement to be executed with the Company.

 

2


Your employment is at-will. You may terminate your employment with the Company at any time and for any reason whatsoever simply by notifying the Company. Likewise, the Company may terminate your employment at any time, with or without cause or advance notice. Your employment at-will status can only be modified in a written agreement signed by an authorized officer of the Company.

As a condition of employment, you must sign and comply with the Mutual Dispute Resolution Agreement, which will be provided under separate cover. This letter is merely a summary of the principal terms of our employment offer and is not a contract of employment for any definite period of time. This letter supersedes any prior or subsequent oral or written representations regarding the terms of potential employment with the Company, including but not limited to the kind, character, or existence of work, the length of time such work would last, and your compensation for the work By signing below, you acknowledge that you are not relying on any representations other than those set forth in this letter.

Please sign and date the letter, and return them to me if you wish to accept employment at the Company under the terms described above. If you accept our offer, we would like you to start on June 18, 2026.

 

Sincerely,     

/s/ Lily Yan Hughes

    
Lily Yan Hughes     
Chairperson of the     

Board of Directors

    
Understood and Accepted:     

/s/ Nadia Carlsten

     Date: June 12, 2026
Nadia Carlsten     

 

3

EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

Smartbird Appoints New CEO to Advance AI Infrastructure Strategy

Nadia Carlsten, AI and advanced computing industry leader, appointed president,

CEO and board member

Independent Director Lily Yan Hughes appointed as board chair

Allbirds, Inc. name changed to Smartbird, Inc.

SAN FRANCISCO – June 17, 2026 (GlobeNewswire) – Smartbird, Inc. (NASDAQ: BIRD), an AI infrastructure provider, today announced the appointment of Nadia Carlsten as president and chief executive officer. Carlsten has also joined Smartbird’s board of directors.

The company has completed its previously announced definitive agreement to sell the Allbirds brand and footwear assets. With the transition to Smartbird now completed, the company also strengthened its balance sheet by increasing the size of its convertible financing facility from $50 million to $100 million. The expanded capital base provides Smartbird with additional resources to execute its AI infrastructure strategy.

A visionary and builder, Carlsten brings decades of deep technical expertise in AI compute infrastructure combined with commercial execution across platform scaling, go-to-market, partnerships and capital strategy. She has served as a trusted partner to boards and investors, with a strong track record of building high-performing teams, stewarding capital and generating strong returns on investment.

While serving as CEO of DCAI, an AI company delivering large-scale GPU compute infrastructure and enterprise AI, Carlsten launched a sovereign AI supercomputer in partnership with NVIDIA. As vice president of product at Google spin-off SandboxAQ, Carlsten led the product portfolio across AI, security and hardware platforms. She has also done extensive work on advanced computing platforms, including launching Amazon’s quantum computing service during her tenure at Amazon Web Services.

Carlsten actively contributes to global technology discourse, advising on strategy, investment decisions and scaling of AI and digital platforms. As a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Next Generation Computing, Carlsten advises on the strategic implications of advanced computing and AI infrastructure.


Carlsten holds bachelor degrees in chemistry and physics from the University of Virginia, and a doctorate in engineering from the University of California, Berkeley.

Carlsten replaces Joe Vernachio, who is resigning from the company and the board of directors. Annie Mitchell will continue to serve as chief financial officer, a position she has held for the past three years. Lily Yan Hughes, who has served as an independent director of the company since October 2025, has been appointed board chair. Hughes has extensive technology experience and a 30-year track record of operational excellence across corporate governance, capital markets and corporate finance.

“We are thrilled to usher in this new era of the company with Nadia at the helm. Her groundbreaking work and visionary mindset will be instrumental in establishing a foothold in the market and building a scalable long-term solution for enterprise customers,” said Hughes. “The board selected Nadia because of the breadth of her experience and demonstrated success delivering breakthrough ideas and initiatives at scale. The pairing of her vision and expertise with Annie’s continued financial leadership make us confident in the trajectory of the business and our ability to build long-term shareholder value.”

The rise of AI development and adoption has created unprecedented structural demand for specialized, high-performance compute. The AI infrastructure market is entering a new phase as enterprises move from experimentation to production-scale deployment, creating demand for dedicated infrastructure that is more flexible and cost-efficient than traditional hyperscale cloud offerings. Smartbird delivers dedicated AI infrastructure as a managed service, providing the performance, control, and scalability of ownership without the capital investment and operational complexity. The company is in active discussions with prospective customers across its target verticals and is currently designing its first cluster deployments.

“Smartbird is entering the market at a pivotal moment in the evolution of AI infrastructure,” said Dr. Carlsten, CEO of Smartbird. “AI is rapidly becoming mission-critical for organizations across every industry, yet many organizations lack a practical path to deploy and operate the dedicated infrastructure these workloads require.

There is a clear opportunity to meet the growing need for enterprise-grade AI infrastructure that delivers control and performance without the capital and operational burden of hardware ownership. With a differentiated strategy, significant capital, and the opportunity to build an exceptional team, we are uniquely positioned to capitalize on one of the most significant infrastructure opportunities of the next decade.”


About Smartbird, Inc.

Smartbird delivers dedicated AI infrastructure as a service, giving organizations the performance, control, and security of a private AI cluster without requiring them to finance, operate, or maintain the underlying infrastructure. Smartbird manages the entire lifecycle, from procurement and deployment to operations and hardware refreshes, so customers can focus on AI workloads, not AI infrastructure.

Stock Information

Effective today, Allbirds, Inc. has changed its name to Smartbird, Inc. The company’s Class A common stock listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market will continue to trade under the ticker symbol “BIRD” and its CUSIP number remains unchanged.

Inducement Grant

The company has approved, as a material inducement to Dr. Carlsten entering into employment with the company, a restricted stock unit award (“RSU Award”) that is intended to qualify as an “inducement grant” in accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4). The RSU Award is comprised of 1,532,379 RSUs converting into an equal number of shares of the Class A common stock, with 255,397 shares vesting immediately and the remaining shares vesting in 16 equal quarterly installments.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements are based on management’s current beliefs, assumptions, and information, and include statements other than historical facts—such as statements regarding future financial performance, profitability, cost savings, business strategy, and objectives of management. Forward-looking statements can often be identified by words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “project,” “target,” “will,” or similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied, including: our ability to execute our new business strategy and achieve financial targets; future results of operations, financial condition, business strategy and plans; unfavorable economic conditions; and our ability to obtain additional capital. A further discussion of these and other factors that could cause financial results, performance, and achievements to differ materially from any results, performance, or achievements anticipated, expressed, or implied by these forward-looking statements is included in the filings we make with the SEC, including our most recent annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly report on Form 10-Q and other reports we may file with the SEC from time to time. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release, and we undertake no obligation to update them except as required by law. We may not actually achieve the plans, intentions or expectations disclosed in or expressed by, and you should not place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements.


Investor Contact:

ir@smartbird.ai

Media Contact:

Press@smartbird.ai