SGN Signing Day Sports Inc

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 2, 2024

Registration No. 333-                  

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

Signing Day Sports, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware		87-2792157
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)		(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)

 

 

8355 East Hartford Rd., Suite 100

Scottsdale, AZ 85255

(480) 220-6814

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)

 

 

Daniel Nelson, Chief Executive Officer

8355 East Hartford Rd., Suite 100

Scottsdale, AZ 85255

(480) 220-6814

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

 

 

Copies to:

 

Louis A. Bevilacqua, Esq.

Bevilacqua PLLC

1050 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 500

Washington, DC 20036

(202) 869-0888

 

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: As soon as practicable after the date this registration statement becomes effective.

 

If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box. ☐

 

If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, check the following box. ☒

 

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐

 

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐

 

If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☐

 

If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☐

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer ☐		Accelerated filer ☐
Non-accelerated filer ☒		Smaller reporting company ☒
		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 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ☐

 

The registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this registration statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to such Section 8(a), may determine.

 

  

 

EXPLANATORY NOTE

 

This registration statement contains three prospectuses:

 

●

a resale prospectus which covers the offering and sale of 62,500 shares of common stock of Signing Day Sports, Inc. that may be sold in one or more secondary offerings by the selling stockholder from time to time;

 

●

a base prospectus which covers the offering, issuance and sale by us of up to $100.0 million in the aggregate of the securities identified below from time to time in one or more offerings;

 

●

a prospectus supplement (the “ATM prospectus supplement”) covering the offering, issuance and sale by us of up to a maximum aggregate offering price of $2,709,817 of our common stock that may be issued and sold under an At The Market Offering Agreement, dated December 2, 2024, by and between us and H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC, as sales agent.

 

The specific terms of the securities offered pursuant to the base prospectus will be specified in one or more prospectus supplements to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The $2,709,817 of common stock that may be offered, issued and sold pursuant to the At The Market Offering Agreement with H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC under the ATM prospectus supplement is included in the $100.0 million of securities that may be offered, issued and sold by us under the base prospectus. Upon termination of the At The Market Offering Agreement with H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC, any portion of the $2,709,817 included in the ATM prospectus supplement that is not sold pursuant to the At The Market Offering Agreement will be available for sale in other offerings pursuant to the base prospectus and a corresponding prospectus supplement, and if no shares are sold under the At The Market Offering Agreement, the full $100.0 million of securities may be sold in other offerings pursuant to the base prospectus and a corresponding prospectus supplement.

 

 

The information in this preliminary prospectus is not complete and may be changed. These securities may not be sold until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting offers to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.

 

SUBJECT TO COMPLETION

PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS DATED DECEMBER 2, 2024

 

PROSPECTUS

 

Up to 62,500 Shares of Common Stock

 

 

 

Signing Day Sports, Inc.

 

This prospectus relates to the offer and resale from time to time of up to 62,500 shares of our common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“common stock”), pursuant to a Termination Agreement, dated as of September 18, 2024 (the “Termination Agreement” and as amended by the Termination Agreement Amendment (as defined below), the “Amended Termination Agreement”), between the Company and Boustead Securities, LLC (“Boustead” or the “Selling Stockholder”), a California limited liability company and a registered broker-dealer and member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”), as amended by a letter agreement, dated as of October 15, 2024, between the Company and Boustead (the “Termination Agreement Amendment”).

 

We are not selling any securities under this prospectus and will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of our common stock by the Selling Stockholder.

 

The Selling Stockholder may resell the shares of common stock included in this prospectus in a number of different ways and at varying prices. We provide more information about how the Selling Stockholder may resell the shares of common stock to which this prospectus relates in the section entitled “Plan of Distribution”. The Selling Stockholder may be deemed an “underwriter” within the meaning of Section 2(a)(11) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).

 

The Selling Stockholder will pay all brokerage fees and commissions and similar expenses in connection with the offer and resale of the shares being offered by the Selling Stockholder by means of this prospectus. We will pay the expenses (except brokerage fees and commissions and similar expenses) incurred in registering under the Securities Act the offer and resale of the shares included in this prospectus by the Selling Stockholder, including legal and accounting fees. See “Plan of Distribution”.

 

Our shares of common stock are listed on the NYSE American LLC (“NYSE American”) under the symbol “SGN”. On November 29, 2024, the last reported sale price of our common stock on the NYSE American was $8.50 per share.

 

Unless otherwise noted, the share and per share information in this prospectus have been adjusted to give effect to the one-for-five (1-for-5) reverse stock split of the outstanding common stock which became effective on April 14, 2023 (the “April 2023 Reverse Stock Split”) and the one-for-forty-eight (1-for-48) reverse stock split of the outstanding common stock which became effective on November 16, 2024 (the “November 2024 Reverse Stock Split”).

 

We are an “emerging growth company”, as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012, under applicable U.S. federal securities laws, and are eligible for reduced public company reporting requirements. See Item 1A. “Risk Factors – Risks Related to Our Common Stock and Securities Convertible into Our Common Stock – We are subject to ongoing public reporting requirements that are less rigorous than Exchange Act rules for companies that are not emerging growth companies and our stockholders could receive less information than they might expect to receive from more mature public companies.” in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 (the “2023 Annual Report”), which is incorporated by reference into this prospectus.

 

Investing in our securities is highly speculative and involves a high degree of risk.  See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 9 of this prospectus, in any applicable prospectus supplement and as described in certain of the documents we may incorporate by reference herein, for a discussion of information that should be considered in connection with an investment in our securities.

 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state or provincial securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete.  Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

 

The date of this prospectus is                      , 2024.

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

	Page
About This Prospectus	ii
Prospectus Summary	1
The Offering	5
Description of Securities	6
Risk Factors	9
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements	11
Use of Proceeds	12
Dividend Policy	12
Selling Stockholder	13
Plan of Distribution	14
Legal Matters	15
Experts	15
Where You Can Find More Information; Documents Incorporated by Reference	15

 

 

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

 

This prospectus is part of a registration statement on Form S-3 that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) utilizing a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration process, the Selling Stockholder may offer and sell, from time to time, in one or more offerings, up to 62,500 shares of our common stock.

 

We may file one or more prospectus supplements, or, if appropriate, post-effective amendments, to accompany this prospectus to add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. If the information varies between this prospectus and the accompanying prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment, if any, you should rely on the information in the accompanying prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment. We may also authorize one or more free writing prospectuses to be provided to you that may contain material information relating to the offering. You should read both this prospectus and the accompanying prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment, if any, and any free writing prospectus together with the additional information described under “Where You Can Find More Information; Documents Incorporated by Reference”. You should also carefully consider, among other things, the matters discussed in the section entitled “Risk Factors” herein, and the accompanying prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment, if any, and any related free writing prospectus, and under similar headings in any other documents that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus, and the accompanying prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment, if any, and any related free writing prospectus.

 

This prospectus contains summaries of certain provisions contained in some of the documents described herein, but reference is made to the actual documents for complete information. All of the summaries are qualified in their entirety by the actual documents. Copies of some of the documents referred to herein have been filed, will be filed or will be incorporated by reference as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, and you may obtain copies of those documents as described below under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information; Documents Incorporated by Reference”.

 

You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or in any prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment or free-writing prospectus we may authorize to be delivered or made available to you. Neither we nor the Selling Stockholder have authorized anyone to provide you with information different from that contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any free writing prospectus we have prepared. We and the Selling Stockholder take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you. Offers to sell, and solicitations of offers to buy, shares of our common stock are being made only in jurisdictions where offers and sales are permitted. The information in this prospectus is accurate only as of the date of this prospectus, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus or of any sale of our common stock. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since the date of this prospectus.

 

This prospectus contains forward-looking statements that are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control. See “Risk Factors” and “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” appearing in this prospectus and in the documents we file with the SEC that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus.

 

For investors outside of the United States: Neither we nor the Selling Stockholder have done anything that would permit this offering or possession or distribution of this prospectus in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required, other than in the United States. Persons outside the United States who come into possession of this prospectus must inform themselves about, and observe any restrictions relating to, the offering of our securities and the distribution of this prospectus outside the United States.

 

In this prospectus, unless the context indicates otherwise, “we,” “us,” “our,” “Signing Day Sports,” “the Company,” “our company” and similar references refer to the operations of Signing Day Sports, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

 

Trademarks, Trade Names and Service Marks

 

We use various trademarks, trade names and service marks in our business. For convenience, we may not include the “℠”, “^®” or “^™” status symbols for these marks, but such omission is not meant to indicate that we would not protect our intellectual property rights to the fullest extent allowed by law. Any other trademarks, trade names or service marks referred to in this prospectus are the property of their respective owners.

 

Industry and Market Data

 

We are responsible for the information contained in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus. This prospectus includes or incorporates by reference industry and market data that we obtained from periodic industry publications, third-party studies and surveys, filings of public companies in our industry or internal company surveys. These sources generally state that the information they provide has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but that the accuracy and completeness of the information are not guaranteed. The forecasts and projections are based on historical market data, and there is no assurance that any of the forecasts or projected amounts will be achieved. Industry and market data could be wrong because of the method by which sources obtained their data and because information cannot always be verified with complete certainty due to the limits on the availability and reliability of raw data, the voluntary nature of the data gathering process and other limitations and uncertainties. The market and industry data used in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus involve risks and uncertainties that are subject to change based on various factors, including those discussed in or incorporated by reference into the section titled “Risk Factors”, any applicable prospectus supplement, and the documents incorporated by reference herein. These and other factors could cause results to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, the estimates made by independent parties and by us. Furthermore, we cannot assure you that a third party using different methods to assemble, analyze or compute industry and market data would obtain the same results.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RISK FACTORS

 

An investment in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the following risk factors, together with the other information contained in this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement, the information set forth under Item 1A. “Risk Factors” of the 2023 Annual Report, which is incorporated herein by reference except to the extent that the risk factors stated therein are amended, restated and updated hereby, and in other filings we make with the SEC, before purchasing our common stock. We have listed below (not necessarily in order of importance or probability of occurrence) what we believe to be the most significant risk factors applicable to us, but they do not constitute all of the risks that may be applicable to us. Any of the following factors could harm our business, financial condition, results of operations or prospects, and could result in a partial or complete loss of your investment. Some statements in this prospectus and in the reports incorporated herein by reference, including statements in the following risk factors, constitute forward-looking statements. Please refer to the section titled “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements”.

 

Risks Related to the Company’s Business, Operations and Industry

 

Our current liabilities could adversely affect our financial condition or liquidity, and we could have difficulty fulfilling our financial obligations, which may have a material adverse effect on us.

 

As of September 30, 2024, we had outstanding indebtedness and other liabilities totaling approximately $2.682 million, compared to approximately $1,000 in cash and cash equivalents. Our current level of indebtedness and other financial obligations increases the risk that we may be unable to generate cash sufficient to pay amounts due in respect of our indebtedness and other financial obligations. The level of our indebtedness and other financial obligations could have other important consequences on our business, including:

 

●

making it more difficult for us to satisfy our obligations with respect to indebtedness and other financial obligations;

 

●

increasing our vulnerability to adverse changes in general economic, industry, and competitive conditions;

 

●

requiring us to dedicate a significant portion of our cash flows from operations to make payments on our indebtedness and other financial obligations, thereby reducing the availability of our cash flows to fund working capital and other general corporate purposes;

 

●

limiting our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in our business and the industry in which we operate;

 

●

restricting us from capitalizing on business opportunities;

 

●

placing us at a competitive disadvantage compared to our competitors that have less debt and other financial obligations;

 

●

limiting our ability to borrow additional funds for working capital, acquisitions, debt service requirements, execution of our business strategy, or other general corporate purposes;

 

●

requiring us to provide additional credit support, such as letters of credit or other financial guarantees, to our customers or suppliers, thereby limiting our availability of funds;

 

●

limiting our ability to enter into certain commercial arrangements because of concerns of counterparty risks; and

 

●

limiting our ability to adjust to changing market conditions and placing us at a competitive disadvantage compared to our competitors that have less debt.

 

The occurrence of any one or more of these circumstances could have a material adverse effect on us.

 

Our ability to pay off our indebtedness and other financial obligations depends on and is subject to our financial and operating performance, which in turn is affected by general and regional economic, financial, competitive, business, and other factors (many of which are beyond our control), including the availability of financing in the international banking and capital markets. We cannot be certain that our business will generate sufficient cash flows from operations or that capital will be available to us in an amount sufficient to enable us to pay off our indebtedness and other financial obligations, or to fund our other liquidity needs.

 

If we are unable to meet our debt and other financial obligations or to fund our other liquidity needs, we will need to restructure or refinance all or a portion of our debt and other financial obligations. Failure to successfully restructure or refinance our debt and other financial obligations could cause us to default on our debt and other financial obligations and would impair our liquidity. Our ability to restructure or refinance our debt and other financial obligations will depend on the condition of the capital markets, which is outside of our control, and our financial condition at such time. Any refinancing of our debt and other financial obligations could be at higher interest rates and may require us to comply with more onerous covenants that could further restrict our business operations.

 

 

Moreover, in the event that we fail to make a required payment on our debt and other financial obligations when due, if not cured or waived, the affected creditor could elect to declare all the funds borrowed or owed to be immediately due and payable, together with accrued and unpaid interest. Our assets or cash flows may not be sufficient to fully pay off debt and other financial obligations upon such demand. Any failure to repay our indebtedness or other financial obligations when due, if not cured or waived, could force us into bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, or liquidation.

 

We will need to obtain additional funding to continue operations. If we fail to obtain the necessary financing or fail to become profitable or are unable to sustain profitability on a continuing basis, then we may be unable to continue our operations and be forced to significantly delay, scale back or discontinue our operations or explore other strategies.

 

Our current cash runway is insufficient for us to be able to achieve or maintain positive cash flow. We have incurred losses for each period from our inception and a significant accumulated deficit. For the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, our net loss was approximately $5.413 million and approximately $2.676 million, respectively, and our net cash used in operating activities was approximately $3.489 million and approximately $1.497 million, respectively. For the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, our net loss was approximately $5.478 million and approximately $6.674 million, respectively, and our cash used in operating activities was approximately $4.848 million and approximately $4.928 million, respectively. As of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, we had an accumulated deficit of approximately $22.372 million and approximately $16.959 million, respectively. As of September 30, 2024, we had total current liabilities of approximately $2.605 million, compared to approximately $1,000 in cash and cash equivalents.

 

As a result of our critical financial condition, we are actively seeking to raise funds, primarily to pay off existing indebtedness and accounts payable to avoid loan defaults, lawsuits, bankruptcy, and liquidation, rather than for growth or expansion. Even if we are successful in this regard, we will require substantial additional capital to fund our planned operations, and if we fail to obtain necessary financing, our business plans may not be successful.

 

Our ability to obtain the necessary financing to carry out our operating plans or remain in operation is subject to a number of factors, including general market conditions and investor acceptance of our business model. These factors may make the timing, amount, terms and conditions of such financing unattractive or unavailable to us. If we are unable to raise sufficient funds on acceptable terms, we will have to significantly reduce our spending, delay or cancel our planned activities, substantially change our corporate or capital structure, terminate major unprofitable business operations that have defined our company since inception, and sell the related assets. Any of these contingency plans may at minimum change our business focus to one with which you do not agree or that may not meet your investment objectives, and if they are not successful, we may be forced into bankruptcy or dissolution and your investment could lose all value.

 

Risks Related to This Offering

 

Sales by the Selling Stockholder of our common stock in the public markets, or the perception of such sales, could depress the trading price of our common stock.

 

The sale of a substantial number of shares of our common stock or other equity-related securities in the public markets, or the perception that such sales could occur, could depress the market price of our common stock and impair our ability to raise capital through the sale of additional equity securities. The Selling Stockholder may sell significant quantities of our common stock at any time pursuant to this prospectus. We cannot predict the effect that such sales of common stock or other equity-related securities would have on the market price of our common stock.

 

Investors who buy shares at different times will likely pay different prices.

 

Investors who purchase shares in this offering at different times will likely pay different prices, and so may experience different levels of dilution and different outcomes in their investment results. The Selling Stockholder may sell the shares being offered by means of this prospectus at different times and at different prices.

 

 

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

This prospectus contains, and any prospectus supplement or documents incorporated by reference herein or therein may contain, forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Exchange Act and Section 27A of the Securities Act that are based on our management’s beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to us. All statements other than statements of historical facts are forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements are contained principally in, but not limited to, the section “Prospectus Summary” in this prospectus, under Item 1. “Business” and Item 7. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” of the 2023 Annual Report, Part 1. Financial Information – Item 2. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” of the Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on each of May 15, 2024, August 19, 2024, and November 14, 2024, and may be contained in our prospectus supplements or future SEC reports. These statements relate to future events or to our future financial performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about:

 

●

the benefits from the anticipated acquisition of the majority of the outstanding equity of DRCR, which presumes, among other things, the Company’s ability to obtain securities exchange clearance of an initial listing application of the post-acquisition Company, obtain stockholder approval of the acquisition, integrate DRCR’s business into the Company’s business, and derive the benefits of the expected resources and synergies from the acquisition;

 

●

anticipated benefits from strategic alliances and collaborations with certain sports organizations or celebrity professional sports consultants;

 

●

our ability to implement certain desired artificial intelligence features into our platform;

 

●

our anticipated ability to obtain additional funding to develop additional services and offerings;

 

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expected market acceptance of our existing and new offerings;

 

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anticipated competition from existing online offerings or new offerings that may emerge;

 

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anticipated favorable impacts from strategic changes to our business on our net sales, revenues, income from continuing operations, or other results of operations;

 

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our expected ability to attract new users and customers, with respect to football, sports other than football, or both;

 

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our expected ability to increase the rate of subscription renewals;

 

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our expected ability to slow the rate of user attrition;

 

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our expected ability and third parties’ abilities to protect intellectual property rights;

 

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our expected ability to adequately support future growth;

 

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our expected ability to comply with user data privacy laws and other legal requirements;

 

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anticipated legal and regulatory requirements and our ability to comply with such requirements; and

 

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our expected ability to attract and retain key personnel to manage our business effectively.

 

In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as “may,” “could,” “will,” “should,” “would,” “expect,” “plan,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” “project” or “continue” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. These statements are only predictions. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include, among other things, those listed under the heading “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this prospectus, in the 2023 Annual Report  under Item 1A. “Risk Factors”, the other documents incorporated by reference herein and under a similar heading in any applicable prospectus supplement, and the risks detailed from time to time in our future SEC reports or registration statements. If one or more of these risks or uncertainties occur, or if our underlying assumptions prove to be incorrect, actual events or results may vary significantly from those implied or projected by the forward-looking statements. No forward-looking statement is a guarantee of future performance.

 

The forward-looking statements made in this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement and documents incorporated by reference herein relate only to events or information as of the date they are made. Except as expressly required by the federal securities laws, there is no undertaking to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, changed circumstances or any other reason.

 

 

USE OF PROCEEDS

 

We will not receive any proceeds from the sale of common stock by the Selling Stockholder.

 

The Selling Stockholder will pay any underwriting discounts and commissions and expenses incurred by it for brokerage, accounting, tax or legal services or any other expenses incurred by it in disposing of the shares. We will bear all other costs, fees and expenses incurred in effecting the registration of the shares covered by this prospectus, including, without limitation, all registration and filing fees and fees and expenses of our counsel and our accountants.

 

DIVIDEND POLICY

 

We have never declared or paid cash dividends on our common stock. We currently intend to retain all available funds and any future earnings for use in the operation of our business and do not anticipate paying any cash dividends on our common stock in the near future. We may also enter into credit agreements or other borrowing arrangements in the future that will restrict our ability to declare or pay cash dividends on our common stock. Any future determination to declare dividends will be made at the discretion of our board of directors and will depend on our financial condition, operating results, capital requirements, contractual restrictions, general business conditions and other factors that our board of directors may deem relevant. See also Item 1A. “Risk Factors – Risks Related to Our Common Stock – We do not expect to declare or pay dividends on our common stock in the foreseeable future.” in the 2023 Annual Report, which is incorporated by reference herein.

 

 

SELLING STOCKHOLDER

 

The shares of common stock being offered by the Selling Stockholder consist of up to all 62,500 of the Initial Termination Shares. We are registering the shares for resale in order to permit the Selling Stockholder to offer the shares for resale from time to time and to comply with certain obligations under the Amended Termination Agreement.

 

Except as disclosed below, the Selling Stockholder has not had any position, office, or other material relationship with us or any of our predecessors or affiliates within the past three years other than with respect to the ownership of these securities.

 

The table below lists the Selling Stockholder and other information regarding the beneficial ownership of our common stock by the Selling Stockholder. The second column lists the number of shares of common stock beneficially owned by the Selling Stockholder. The third column lists the number of shares of common stock that may be offered by means of this prospectus by the Selling Stockholder. The fourth column assumes the sale of all of the shares of common stock being offered by the Selling Stockholder pursuant to this prospectus.

 

Applicable percentage ownership is based on 773,715 shares of common stock outstanding as of November 29, 2024. We have determined beneficial ownership in accordance with the rules of the SEC. In computing the number of shares beneficially owned by a person and the percentage ownership of that person, we deemed to be outstanding all shares subject to warrants, convertible notes, or other exercisable or convertible securities held by that person that are currently exercisable or convertible or that will become exercisable or convertible within 60 days of November 29, 2024. We did not deem these shares outstanding, however, for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of any other person. Where noted in the footnotes to the table below, the amount and percentage of common stock beneficially owned listed in the table have been reduced to give effect to the Offered Securities Beneficial Ownership Limitation.

 

The Selling Stockholder may sell all, some or none of the shares being offered in this offering. See “Plan of Distribution”.

 

Common Stock Beneficially Owned Prior to this Offering

Common Stock Beneficially Owned After this Offering

Name

Number of Shares

Percentage of Outstanding Shares(1)

Number of Shares Being Offered

Number of Shares

Percentage of Outstanding Shares

Boustead Securities, LLC(2)

71,888

​(2)

9.2

%

62,500

​(2)

9,388

​(2)

0.2

%

 

(1)

Based on 773,715 shares of common stock issued and outstanding as of November 29, 2024. Any exercisable or convertible securities exercisable or convertible within 60 days of November 29, 2024 have been included in the denominator with respect to the respective beneficial owner only.

 

(2)

The number of shares of common stock that are beneficially owned consists of (i) 63,799 shares of common stock, (ii) 3,678 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of a warrant issued to Boustead in December 2021 (the “December 2021 Boustead Warrant”), (iii) 1,750 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of a warrant issued to Boustead in November 2023 (the “Representative’s Warrant”), (iv) 168 shares of common stock in aggregate issuable upon exercise of certain warrants issued to Boustead during March 2024 (the “March 2024 Boustead Warrants”), (v) 2,006 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the May 2024 Boustead Warrant, and (vi) 487 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the July 2024 Boustead Warrant. The number of shares of common stock being offered consists of the 62,500 Initial Termination Shares. Lincoln Smith has sole voting and investment power over the securities held by Boustead. Boustead is a registered broker-dealer and a member of FINRA. Boustead acted as the representative of the underwriters of our initial public offering and received the Representative’s Warrant as partial consideration for underwriter services. Boustead was issued 1,299 shares of common stock, the December 2021 Boustead Warrant, the March 2024 Boustead Warrants, the May 2024 Boustead Warrant, and the July 2024 Boustead Warrant pursuant to the Boustead Engagement Letter. Boustead received the Initial Termination Shares pursuant to the Amended Termination Agreement.

 

 

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

 

The Selling Stockholder and any of its pledgees, assignees and successors-in-interest may, from time to time, sell any or all of its securities covered hereby on any stock exchange, market or trading facility on which the securities are traded or in private transactions. These dispositions may be at fixed prices, at prevailing market prices at the time of sale, at prices related to the prevailing market price, at varying prices determined at the time of sale, or at negotiated prices. The Selling Stockholder may use any one or more of the following methods when selling securities:

 

●

ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker-dealer solicits purchasers;

 

●

block trades in which the broker-dealer will attempt to sell the securities as agent but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction;

 

●

purchases by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by the broker-dealer for its account;

 

●

an exchange distribution in accordance with the rules of the applicable exchange;

 

●

privately negotiated transactions;

 

●

settlement of short sales;

 

●

in transactions through broker-dealers that agree with the Selling Stockholder to sell a specified number of such securities at a stipulated price per security;

 

●

through the writing or settlement of options or other hedging transactions, whether through an options exchange or otherwise;

 

●

a combination of any such methods of sale; or

 

●

any other method permitted pursuant to applicable law.

 

The Selling Stockholder may also sell shares of common stock offered by this prospectus under Rule 144 or any other exemption from registration under the Securities Act, if available, rather than under this prospectus.

 

Broker-dealers engaged by the Selling Stockholder may arrange for other brokers-dealers to participate in sales. Broker-dealers may receive commissions or discounts from the Selling Stockholder (or, if any broker-dealer acts as agent for the purchaser of shares of common stock offered by this prospectus, from the purchaser) in amounts to be negotiated, but, except as set forth in a supplement to this prospectus, in the case of an agency transaction, not in excess of a customary brokerage commission in compliance with FINRA Rule 2121; and in the case of a principal transaction, a markup or markdown in compliance with FINRA Rule 2121.  

 

In connection with the sale of shares of common stock offered by this prospectus or interests therein, the Selling Stockholder may enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions, which may in turn engage in short sales of the shares of common stock in the course of hedging the positions they assume. The Selling Stockholder may also sell shares of common stock offered by this prospectus short and deliver these shares to close out its short positions, or loan or pledge the shares to broker-dealers that in turn may sell these shares. The Selling Stockholder may also enter into option or other transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions or create one or more derivative securities which require the delivery to such broker-dealers or other financial institutions of shares of common stock offered by this prospectus, which shares such broker-dealers or other financial institutions may resell pursuant to this prospectus (as supplemented or amended to reflect such transactions).

 

The Selling Stockholder and any broker-dealers or agents that are involved in selling the shares of common stock offered by this prospectus may be deemed to be “underwriters” within the meaning of the Securities Act in connection with such sales. In such event, any commissions received by such broker-dealers or agents and any profit on the resale of the shares of common stock purchased by them may be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts under the Securities Act.

 

The shares of common stock offered by this prospectus will be sold only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers if required under applicable state securities laws. In addition, in certain states, the shares of common stock may not be sold unless they have been registered or qualified for sale in the applicable state or an exemption from the registration or qualification requirement is available and is complied with.

 

Under applicable rules and regulations under the Exchange Act, any person engaged in the distribution of the shares of common stock offered by this prospectus may not simultaneously engage in market making activities with respect to the common stock for the applicable restricted period, as defined in Regulation M, prior to the commencement of the distribution. In addition, the Selling Stockholder will be subject to applicable provisions of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, including Regulation M, which may limit the timing of purchases and sales of the common stock by the Selling Stockholder or any other person. We will make copies of this prospectus available to the Selling Stockholder and have informed it of the need to deliver a copy of this prospectus to each purchaser at or prior to the time of the sale (including by compliance with Rule 172 under the Securities Act).

 

The Amended Termination Agreement contains certain registration requirements with respect to certain of the shares of common stock being offered by means of this prospectus. See “Prospectus Summary – Transaction Relating to this Offering”. The registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part is intended to address these registration requirements. We are also required to pay certain fees and expenses incurred by the Company incident to the registration of the securities.

 

Our common stock is currently listed on the NYSE American under the symbol “SGN”.

 

 

LEGAL MATTERS

 

Certain legal matters relating to the offering and sale of the securities offered hereby will be passed upon for us by Bevilacqua PLLC.

 

EXPERTS

 

The financial statements of the Company as of and for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022 are incorporated into this prospectus by reference in reliance upon the report incorporated by reference of BARTON CPA PLLC, an independent registered public accounting firm, appearing therein (which contains an explanatory paragraph describing conditions that raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern as disclosed in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements), and upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

 

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION; DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

 

Available Information

 

We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements, and other information with the SEC. The SEC maintains a website that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding companies, such as ours, that file documents electronically with the SEC. The website address is https://www.sec.gov. Copies of certain information filed by us with the SEC are also available on our website at https://www.ir.signingdaysports.com. Information accessible on or through our website is not a part of this prospectus.

 

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the SEC and does not contain all of the information in the registration statement. You should review the information and exhibits in the registration statement for further information on us and the securities that we are offering. Statements in this prospectus about these documents are summaries and each statement is qualified in all respects by reference to the document to which it refers. You should read the actual documents for a more complete description of the relevant matters.

 

 

Incorporation by Reference

 

The SEC allows us to incorporate by reference much of the information that we file with the SEC, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those publicly available documents. The information that we incorporate by reference in this prospectus is considered to be part of this prospectus. Because we are incorporating by reference future filings with the SEC, this prospectus is continually updated and those future filings may modify or supersede some of the information included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. This means that you must look at all of the SEC filings that we incorporate by reference to determine if any of the statements in this prospectus or in any document previously incorporated by reference have been modified or superseded. This prospectus incorporates by reference the documents listed below and any future filings we make with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (in each case, other than those documents or the portions of those documents furnished pursuant to Items 2.02 or 7.01 of any Current Report on Form 8-K and, except as may be noted in any such Form 8-K, exhibits filed on such form that are related to such information), including after the date of the initial registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part was filed and prior to effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, until the offering of the securities under the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part is terminated:

 

●

our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, filed with the SEC on March 29, 2024;

 

●

our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2024, filed with the SEC on November 14, 2024;

 

●

our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2024, filed with the SEC on August 19, 2024;

 

●

our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2024, filed with the SEC on May 15, 2024;

 

●

our Current Reports on Form 8-K (and any amendments thereto on Form 8-K/A) filed with the SEC on January 8, 2024, January 29, 2024, February 14, 2024, February 28, 2024, March 6, 2024, March 11, 2024, April 11, 2024, April 17, 2024, April 26, 2024, May 3, 2024, May 17, 2024, May 21, 2024, June 14, 2024, June 20, 2024, July 10, 2024, July 18, 2024, July 24, 2024,  July 26, 2024, August 12, 2024, September 16, 2024, September 19, 2024, September 19, 2024, September 27, 2024, October 8, 2024, October 10, 2024, October 15, 2024, October 16, 2024, October 17, 2024, November 6, 2024, November 13, 2024, and November 18, 2024, and November  26, 2024 (other than information furnished and not filed); and

 

●

The description of the common stock which is contained in the Company’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A   filed with the SEC on November 9, 2023 (File No. 001-41863) pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act, including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description.

 

Any statement made in a document incorporated by reference into this prospectus or any prospectus supplement will be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus or such prospectus supplement to the extent that a statement contained in this prospectus or such prospectus supplement modifies or supersedes that statement. Any statement so modified or superseded will not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus or such prospectus supplement.

 

We will provide to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom this prospectus is delivered, at no cost, upon written or oral request, a copy of any or all of the documents that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus, other than exhibits to such documents unless such exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference into such documents. Requests should be directed to Signing Day Sports, Inc., Attn: Secretary, 8355 East Hartford Rd., Suite 100, Scottsdale, AZ 85255, or by calling us at (480) 220-6814.

 

 

 

 

Signing Day Sports, Inc.

 

 

Up to 62,500

Shares of Common Stock

 

 

PROSPECTUS

 

 

_______, 2024

 

 

The information in this preliminary prospectus is not complete and may be changed. These securities may not be sold until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting offers to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.

 

SUBJECT TO COMPLETION

PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS DATED DECEMBER 2, 2024

 

PROSPECTUS

 

$100,000,000

 

 

Signing Day Sports, Inc.

 

Common Stock

Preferred Stock

Debt Securities

Warrants

Subscription Rights

Units

 

 

We may issue securities from time to time in one or more offerings, in amounts, at prices and on terms determined at the time of offering. This prospectus describes the general terms of these securities and the general manner in which these securities will be offered. We will provide the specific terms of these securities in supplements to this prospectus, which will also describe the specific manner in which these securities will be offered and may also supplement, update or amend information contained in this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement before you invest. The aggregate offering price of the securities we sell pursuant to this prospectus will not exceed $100,000,000.

 

The securities may be sold directly to you, through agents or through underwriters and dealers. If agents, underwriters or dealers are used to sell the securities, we will name them and describe their compensation in a prospectus supplement. The price to the public of those securities and the net proceeds we expect to receive from that sale will also be set forth in a prospectus supplement.

 

Our shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“common stock”), are listed on the NYSE American under the symbol “SGN”. On November 29, 2024, the last reported sale price of our common stock on the NYSE American was $8.50 per share. Each prospectus supplement will indicate whether the securities offered thereby will be listed on any securities exchange.

 

Unless otherwise noted, the share and per share information in this prospectus have been adjusted to give effect to the one-for-five (1-for-5) reverse stock split of the outstanding common stock which became effective on April 14, 2023 (the “April 2023 Reverse Stock Split”) and the one-for-forty-eight (1-for-48) reverse stock split of the outstanding common stock which became effective on November 16, 2024 (the “November 2024 Reverse Stock Split”).

 

We are an “emerging growth company”, as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012, under applicable U.S. federal securities laws, and are eligible for reduced public company reporting requirements. See Item 1A. “Risk Factors – Risks Related to Our Common Stock and Securities Convertible into Our Common Stock – We are subject to ongoing public reporting requirements that are less rigorous than Exchange Act rules for companies that are not emerging growth companies and our stockholders could receive less information than they might expect to receive from more mature public companies.” in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 (the “2023 Annual Report”), which is incorporated by reference into this prospectus.

 

As of November 29, 2024, the aggregate market value of our outstanding common stock held by non-affiliates was $8,129,453 based upon 773,715 shares of outstanding common stock, of which 639,108 shares were held by non-affiliates, and the last reported sale price of our common stock of $12.72 per share on October 9, 2024. Pursuant to General Instruction I.B.6. of Form S-3, in no event will we sell shares pursuant to this prospectus having a value exceeding more than one-third of our public float in any 12-month period so long as our public float remains below $75,000,000. In the event that subsequent to the date of this prospectus the aggregate market value of our outstanding common stock held by non-affiliates equals or exceeds $75,000,000, such one-third limitation on sales shall not apply to sales subsequently made pursuant to this prospectus. As of the date of this prospectus, we have not sold any securities pursuant to General Instruction I.B.6 of Form S-3 during the 12-calendar month period that ends on and includes the date hereof.

 

Investing in our securities is highly speculative and involves a high degree of risk.  See “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-5 of this prospectus, in any applicable prospectus supplement and as described in certain of the documents we may incorporate by reference herein, for a discussion of information that should be considered in connection with an investment in our securities.

 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state or provincial securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete.  Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

The date of this prospectus is                     , 2024.

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

	Page
About This Prospectus	ii
Prospectus Summary	1
Risk Factors	5
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements	7
Use of Proceeds	8
Dividend Policy	8
Description of Capital Stock	9
Description of Debt Securities	13
Description of Warrants	21
Description of Subscription Rights	22
Description of Units	23
Plan of Distribution	24
Legal Matters	26
Experts	26
Where You Can Find More Information; Documents Incorporated by Reference	26

 

 

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

 

This prospectus is part of a registration statement on Form S-3 that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) utilizing a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we may offer and sell, from time to time, in one or more offerings, up to $100.0 million of our common stock.

 

We may file one or more prospectus supplements, or, if appropriate, post-effective amendments, to accompany this prospectus to add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. Each time we offer securities, we will provide you with this prospectus and a prospectus supplement, or post-effective amendment, if applicable, that will describe, among other things, the specific amounts and prices and terms of the shares of the securities being offered. If the information varies between this prospectus and the accompanying prospectus supplement, or post-effective amendment, if any, you should rely on the information in the accompanying prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment. We may also authorize one or more free writing prospectuses to be provided to you that may contain material information relating to the offering. You should read both this prospectus and the accompanying prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment, if any, and any free writing prospectus together with the additional information described under “Where You Can Find More Information; Documents Incorporated by Reference”. You should also carefully consider, among other things, the matters discussed in the section entitled “Risk Factors” herein, and the accompanying prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment, if any, and any related free writing prospectus, and under similar headings in any other documents that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus, and the accompanying prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment, if any, and any related free writing prospectus.

 

This prospectus contains summaries of certain provisions contained in some of the documents described herein, but reference is made to the actual documents for complete information. All of the summaries are qualified in their entirety by the actual documents. Copies of some of the documents referred to herein have been filed, will be filed or will be incorporated by reference as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, and you may obtain copies of those documents as described below under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information; Documents Incorporated by Reference”.

 

You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or in any prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment or free-writing prospectus we may authorize to be delivered or made available to you. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with information different from that contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any free writing prospectus we have prepared. We take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you. Offers to sell, and solicitations of offers to buy, shares of our common stock are being made only in jurisdictions where offers and sales are permitted. The information in this prospectus is accurate only as of the date of this prospectus, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus or of any sale of our common stock. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since the date of this prospectus.

 

This prospectus contains forward-looking statements that are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control. See “Risk Factors” and “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” appearing in this prospectus and in the documents we file with the SEC that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus.

 

For investors outside of the United States: We have not done anything that would permit this offering or possession or distribution of this prospectus in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required, other than in the United States. Persons outside the United States who come into possession of this prospectus must inform themselves about, and observe any restrictions relating to, the offering of our securities and the distribution of this prospectus outside the United States.

 

In this prospectus, unless the context indicates otherwise, “we,” “us,” “our,” “Signing Day Sports,” “the Company,” “our company” and similar references refer to the operations of Signing Day Sports, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

 

Trademarks, Trade Names and Service Marks

 

We use various trademarks, trade names and service marks in our business. For convenience, we may not include the “℠”, “^®” or “^™” status symbols for these marks, but such omission is not meant to indicate that we would not protect our intellectual property rights to the fullest extent allowed by law. Any other trademarks, trade names or service marks referred to in this prospectus are the property of their respective owners.

 

Industry and Market Data

 

We are responsible for the information contained in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus. This prospectus includes or incorporates by reference industry and market data that we obtained from periodic industry publications, third-party studies and surveys, filings of public companies in our industry or internal company surveys. These sources generally state that the information they provide has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but that the accuracy and completeness of the information are not guaranteed. The forecasts and projections are based on historical market data, and there is no assurance that any of the forecasts or projected amounts will be achieved. Industry and market data could be wrong because of the method by which sources obtained their data and because information cannot always be verified with complete certainty due to the limits on the availability and reliability of raw data, the voluntary nature of the data gathering process and other limitations and uncertainties. The market and industry data used in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus involve risks and uncertainties that are subject to change based on various factors, including those discussed in or incorporated by reference into the section titled “Risk Factors”, any applicable prospectus supplement, and the documents incorporated by reference herein. These and other factors could cause results to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, the estimates made by independent parties and by us. Furthermore, we cannot assure you that a third party using different methods to assemble, analyze or compute industry and market data would obtain the same results.

 

 

RISK FACTORS

 

An investment in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the following risk factors, together with the other information contained in this prospectus, the prospectus supplement applicable to each offering of our securities pursuant to this prospectus, the information set forth under Item 1A. “Risk Factors” of the 2023 Annual Report, which is incorporated herein by reference except to the extent that the risk factors stated therein are amended, restated and updated hereby, and in other filings we make with the SEC, before purchasing our securities. We have listed below (not necessarily in order of importance or probability of occurrence) what we believe to be the most significant risk factors applicable to us, but they do not constitute all of the risks that may be applicable to us. Any of the following factors could harm our business, financial condition, results of operations or prospects, and could result in a partial or complete loss of your investment. Some statements in this prospectus and in the reports incorporated herein by reference, including statements in the following risk factors, constitute forward-looking statements. Please refer to the section titled “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements”.

 

Risks Related to the Company’s Business, Operations and Industry

 

Our current liabilities could adversely affect our financial condition or liquidity, and we could have difficulty fulfilling our financial obligations, which may have a material adverse effect on us.

 

As of September 30, 2024, we had outstanding indebtedness and other liabilities totaling approximately $2.682 million, compared to approximately $1,000 in cash and cash equivalents. Our current level of indebtedness and other financial obligations increases the risk that we may be unable to generate cash sufficient to pay amounts due in respect of our indebtedness and other financial obligations. The level of our indebtedness and other financial obligations could have other important consequences on our business, including:

 

●

making it more difficult for us to satisfy our obligations with respect to indebtedness and other financial obligations;

 

●

increasing our vulnerability to adverse changes in general economic, industry, and competitive conditions;

 

●

requiring us to dedicate a significant portion of our cash flows from operations to make payments on our indebtedness and other financial obligations, thereby reducing the availability of our cash flows to fund working capital and other general corporate purposes;

 

●

limiting our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in our business and the industry in which we operate;

 

●

restricting us from capitalizing on business opportunities;

 

●

placing us at a competitive disadvantage compared to our competitors that have less debt and other financial obligations;

 

●

limiting our ability to borrow additional funds for working capital, acquisitions, debt service requirements, execution of our business strategy, or other general corporate purposes;

 

●

requiring us to provide additional credit support, such as letters of credit or other financial guarantees, to our customers or suppliers, thereby limiting our availability of funds;

 

●

limiting our ability to enter into certain commercial arrangements because of concerns of counterparty risks; and

 

●

limiting our ability to adjust to changing market conditions and placing us at a competitive disadvantage compared to our competitors that have less debt.

 

The occurrence of any one or more of these circumstances could have a material adverse effect on us.

 

 

Our ability to pay off our indebtedness and other financial obligations depends on and is subject to our financial and operating performance, which in turn is affected by general and regional economic, financial, competitive, business, and other factors (many of which are beyond our control), including the availability of financing in the international banking and capital markets. We cannot be certain that our business will generate sufficient cash flows from operations or that capital will be available to us in an amount sufficient to enable us to pay off our indebtedness and other financial obligations, or to fund our other liquidity needs.

 

If we are unable to meet our debt and other financial obligations or to fund our other liquidity needs, we will need to restructure or refinance all or a portion of our debt and other financial obligations. Failure to successfully restructure or refinance our debt and other financial obligations could cause us to default on our debt and other financial obligations and would impair our liquidity. Our ability to restructure or refinance our debt and other financial obligations will depend on the condition of the capital markets, which is outside of our control, and our financial condition at such time. Any refinancing of our debt and other financial obligations could be at higher interest rates and may require us to comply with more onerous covenants that could further restrict our business operations.

 

Moreover, in the event that we fail to make a required payment on our debt and other financial obligations when due, if not cured or waived, the affected creditor could elect to declare all the funds borrowed or owed to be immediately due and payable, together with accrued and unpaid interest. Our assets or cash flows may not be sufficient to fully pay off debt and other financial obligations upon such demand. Any failure to repay our indebtedness or other financial obligations when due, if not cured or waived, could force us into bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, or liquidation.

 

We will need to obtain additional funding to continue operations. If we fail to obtain the necessary financing or fail to become profitable or are unable to sustain profitability on a continuing basis, then we may be unable to continue our operations and be forced to significantly delay, scale back or discontinue our operations or explore other strategies.

 

Our current cash runway is insufficient for us to be able to achieve or maintain positive cash flow. We have incurred losses for each period from our inception and a significant accumulated deficit. For the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, our net loss was approximately $5.413 million and approximately $2.676 million, respectively, and our net cash used in operating activities was approximately $3.489 million and approximately $1.497 million, respectively. For the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, our net loss was approximately $5.478 million and approximately $6.674 million, respectively, and our cash used in operating activities was approximately $4.848 million and approximately $4.928 million, respectively. As of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, we had an accumulated deficit of approximately $22.372 million and approximately $16.959 million, respectively. As of September 30, 2024, we had total current liabilities of approximately $2.605 million, compared to approximately $1,000 in cash and cash equivalents.

 

As a result of our critical financial condition, we are actively seeking to raise funds, primarily to pay off existing indebtedness and accounts payable to avoid loan defaults, lawsuits, bankruptcy, and liquidation, rather than for growth or expansion. Even if we are successful in this regard, we will require substantial additional capital to fund our planned operations, and if we fail to obtain necessary financing, our business plans may not be successful.

 

Our ability to obtain the necessary financing to carry out our operating plans or remain in operation is subject to a number of factors, including general market conditions and investor acceptance of our business model. These factors may make the timing, amount, terms and conditions of such financing unattractive or unavailable to us. If we are unable to raise sufficient funds on acceptable terms, we will have to significantly reduce our spending, delay or cancel our planned activities, substantially change our corporate or capital structure, terminate major unprofitable business operations that have defined our company since inception, and sell the related assets. Any of these contingency plans may at minimum change our business focus to one with which you do not agree or that may not meet your investment objectives, and if they are not successful, we may be forced into bankruptcy or dissolution and your investment could lose all value.

 

 

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

This prospectus contains, and any prospectus supplement or documents incorporated by reference herein or therein may contain, forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Exchange Act and Section 27A of the Securities Act that are based on our management’s beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to us. All statements other than statements of historical facts are forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements are contained principally in, but not limited to, the section “Prospectus Summary” in this prospectus, under Item 1. “Business” and Item 7. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” of the 2023 Annual Report, Part 1. Financial Information – Item 2. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” of the Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on each of May 15, 2024, August 19, 2024, and November 14, 2024, and may be contained in our prospectus supplements or future SEC reports. These statements relate to future events or to our future financial performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about:

 

●

the benefits from the anticipated acquisition of the majority of the outstanding equity of DRCR, which presumes, among other things, the Company’s ability to obtain securities exchange clearance of an initial listing application of the post-acquisition Company, obtain stockholder approval of the acquisition, integrate DRCR’s business into the Company’s business, and derive the benefits of the expected resources and synergies from the acquisition;

 

●

anticipated benefits from strategic alliances and collaborations with certain sports organizations or celebrity professional sports consultants;

 

●

our ability to implement certain desired artificial intelligence features into our platform;

 

●

our anticipated ability to obtain additional funding to develop additional services and offerings;

 

●

expected market acceptance of our existing and new offerings;

 

●

anticipated competition from existing online offerings or new offerings that may emerge;

 

●

anticipated favorable impacts from strategic changes to our business on our net sales, revenues, income from continuing operations, or other results of operations;

 

●

our expected ability to attract new users and customers, with respect to football, sports other than football, or both;

 

●

our expected ability to increase the rate of subscription renewals;

 

●

our expected ability to slow the rate of user attrition;

 

●

our expected ability and third parties’ abilities to protect intellectual property rights;

 

●

our expected ability to adequately support future growth;

 

●

our expected ability to comply with user data privacy laws and other legal requirements;

 

●

anticipated legal and regulatory requirements and our ability to comply with such requirements; and

 

●

our expected ability to attract and retain key personnel to manage our business effectively.

 

In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as “may,” “could,” “will,” “should,” “would,” “expect,” “plan,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” “project” or “continue” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. These statements are only predictions. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include, among other things, those listed under the heading “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this prospectus, in the 2023 Annual Report  under Item 1A. “Risk Factors”, the other documents incorporated by reference herein and under a similar heading in any applicable prospectus supplement, and the risks detailed from time to time in our future SEC reports or registration statements. If one or more of these risks or uncertainties occur, or if our underlying assumptions prove to be incorrect, actual events or results may vary significantly from those implied or projected by the forward-looking statements. No forward-looking statement is a guarantee of future performance.

 

The forward-looking statements made in this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement and documents incorporated by reference herein relate only to events or information as of the date they are made. Except as expressly required by the federal securities laws, there is no undertaking to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, changed circumstances or any other reason.

 

 

USE OF PROCEEDS

 

Except as described in any prospectus supplement and any free writing prospectus in connection with a specific offering, we currently intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of the securities offered by us under this prospectus for working capital and general corporate purposes, including repayment of the following indebtedness:

 

●

a Convertible Promissory Note issued to DRCR, dated October 7, 2024, in the principal amount of $150,000 (the “October 2024 Note”), which accrues interest at an annual rate of 35%, and will become payable on the date of written demand any time after the closing of the Company’s next financing transaction;

 

●

a promissory note issued to Daniel Nelson, the Chief Executive Officer, Chairman and a director of the Company, dated September 16, 2024, in the principal amount of $100,000, and any additional advances of up to $100,000, which accrue interest at a monthly rate of 20%, compounded monthly, from the 30th day following the date of issuance to the 150th day following the date of issuance, which will become payable on the earlier of December 16, 2024 or the date of which the Company receiving any funding of $1,000,000, and which must be repaid within two business days of receiving a written demand from Mr. Nelson on or after such date; and

 

●

a promissory note issued to Daniel Nelson, the Chief Executive Officer, Chairman and a director of the Company, dated April 25, 2024, in the principal amount of $100,000, under which Mr. Nelson made an advance of $75,000 on May 1, 2024 and an advance of $2,500 on June 14, 2024, which accrued interest at a monthly rate of 3.5%, compounded monthly, from the 30th day following the date of issuance to the 150th day following the date of issuance, which became payable on June 25, 2024, and which must be repaid within two business days of receiving a written demand from Mr. Nelson.

 

Our management will have broad discretion in the allocation of the net proceeds and investors will be relying on the judgment of our management regarding the application of the proceeds of any sale of the securities. Any specific allocation of the net proceeds of an offering of securities to a specific purpose will be determined at the time of such offering and will be described in the related prospectus supplement.

 

DIVIDEND POLICY

 

We have never declared or paid cash dividends on our common stock. We currently intend to retain all available funds and any future earnings for use in the operation of our business and do not anticipate paying any cash dividends on our common stock in the near future. We may also enter into credit agreements or other borrowing arrangements in the future that will restrict our ability to declare or pay cash dividends on our common stock. Any future determination to declare dividends will be made at the discretion of our board of directors and will depend on our financial condition, operating results, capital requirements, contractual restrictions, general business conditions and other factors that our board of directors may deem relevant. See also Item 1A. “Risk Factors – Risks Related to Our Common Stock – We do not expect to declare or pay dividends on our common stock in the foreseeable future.” in the 2023 Annual Report, which is incorporated by reference herein.

 

 

DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

 

The description of our authorized capital stock and our outstanding securities as of the date of the filing of the 2023 Annual Report is incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the 2023 Annual Report, and supplemented or updated as follows:

 

General

 

The authorized capital stock of the Company consists of 150,000,000 shares of common stock and 15,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“preferred stock”). No other classes of securities are authorized under the Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended.

 

As of November 29, 2024, there were 773,715 shares of common stock, and owned by 70 stockholders of record, which does not include holders whose shares are held in nominee or “street name” accounts through banks, brokers or other financial institutions, and no shares of preferred stock were issued and outstanding.

 

Common Stock

 

The holders of common stock are entitled to one vote for each share held of record on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders, subject to the rights of holders of preferred stock. Under our Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, and Second Amended and Restated Bylaws, as amended, any corporate action to be taken by vote of stockholders other than for election of directors shall be authorized by the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the matter, subject to the rights of holders of preferred stock. Directors are elected by a plurality of votes, subject to the rights of holders of preferred stock to elect directors. Stockholders entitled to vote in an election of directors may remove any director from office at any time, with or without cause, by the affirmative vote of a majority in voting power thereof, subject to the rights of holders of preferred stock. The holders of one-third of the outstanding shares of stock entitled to vote, present in person, by remote communication, or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at all meetings of the stockholders, subject to the rights of holders of preferred stock. Stockholders do not have cumulative voting rights.

 

Holders of common stock are entitled to receive ratably those dividends, if any, as may be declared from time to time by the board of directors out of legally available funds, subject to the rights of holders of preferred stock. In the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, holders of common stock will be entitled to share ratably in the net assets legally available for distribution to stockholders after the payment of all of our debts and other liabilities, subject to the rights of holders of preferred stock.

 

Holders of common stock have no preemptive, conversion or subscription rights and there are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to the common stock.

 

Below is a description of outstanding securities into which common stock may be converted or as to which common stock will be issued upon proper exercise thereof as of November 29, 2024.

 

 

Options

 

On August 31, 2022, we established the Signing Day Sports, Inc. 2022 Equity Incentive Plan (as amended, the “Plan”). On February 27, 2024, the stockholders of the Company approved Amendment No. 1 to the Plan to increase the number of shares of common stock reserved for issuance under the Plan. On September 18, 2024, the stockholders of the Company approved the Signing Day Sports, Inc. Amended and Restated 2022 Equity Incentive Plan, which further increased the number of shares of common stock reserved for issuance under the Plan to 93,750 shares of common stock. The purpose of the Plan is to grant restricted stock, stock options and other forms of incentive compensation to our officers, employees, directors and consultants. Cancelled and forfeited stock options and stock awards may again become available for grant under the Plan. As of November 29, 2024, 263 shares remain available for issuance under the Plan. For a further description of the terms of the Plan, please see Item 11. “Executive Compensation – Signing Day Sports, Inc. 2022 Equity Incentive Plan” in the 2023 Annual Report.

 

As of November 29, 2024, we have granted stock options to certain employees, consultants, officers, and directors that may be exercised to purchase a total of 6,170 shares of common stock at a weighted-average exercise price of $130.33 per share. A number of these options remain subject to certain vesting conditions. The options will terminate on dates ranging from September 2032 to November 2033 except that options will generally terminate within three months of termination of the Continuous Service (as defined in the Plan) of the grantee. The description above does not include granted stock options or portions of granted stock options that subsequently terminated unexercised due to employee departures.

 

We have filed registration statements on Form S-8 with the SEC to register the issuance of shares of common stock upon exercise of these options.

 

Warrants

 

Warrants Issued to Boustead Securities, LLC

 

On May 20, 2024, the Company issued a warrant to Boustead to purchase 2,006 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $14.40 per share (the “May 2024 Boustead Warrant”). On July 25, 2024, the Company also issued a warrant to Boustead to purchase 487 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $14.40 per share (the “July 2024 Boustead Warrant”). Each of these warrants is exercisable for a period of five years from the date of issuance, contains cashless exercise provisions, and may have certain registration rights.

 

Warrant Issued to FirstFire Global Opportunities Fund, LLC

 

On May 16, 2024, the Company issued a warrant (the “May 2024 FF Warrant”) to FirstFire Global Opportunities Fund, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“FirstFire”), to purchase up to 28,646 shares of common stock at an initial exercise price of $14.40 per share, as amended by the Amendment to Senior Secured Promissory Note and Warrants, dated as of May 20, 2024, between the Company and FirstFire. The First May 2024 FF Warrant will be exercisable from the date of issuance until the fifth anniversary of the date of issuance. The holder may exercise the May 2024 FF Warrant by a “cashless” exercise if the Market Price (as defined below) is less than the exercise price then in effect and there is no effective registration statement for the resale of the shares. The “Market Price” is defined as the highest traded price of the common stock during the 30 trading days before the date of the cashless exercise. The number of shares issuable upon cashless exercise will equal (i) the product of (a) the number of shares of common stock that the holder elects to purchase under the May 2024 FF Warrant, times (b) the Market Price less the exercise price, divided by (ii) the Market Price.

 

Under the May 2024 FF Warrant, the holder of the May 2024 FF Warrant may at any time and from time to time, subject to a limitation on beneficial ownership to 4.99% of the common stock that would be outstanding immediately after conversion or exercise, exercise the May 2024 FF Warrant to purchase shares of common stock at an initial exercise price of $14.40 per share, subject to adjustment, including adjustments under full-ratchet anti-dilution provisions for any issuances of securities at a lower price per share or per underlying share of common stock other than for an Excluded Issuance (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as of May 16, 2024, by and between the Company and FirstFire, or for any issuances of securities at a price which varies or may vary with the market price of the common stock, to match the price of such lower-priced or variable-priced securities, or for other dilution events. Simultaneous with any adjustment to the exercise price as a result of an anti-dilution adjustment, the number of shares underlying the May 2024 FF Warrant will be adjusted proportionately so that after such adjustment the aggregate exercise price payable under the May 2024 FF Warrant for the adjusted number of shares underlying the May 2024 FF Warrant will be the same as the aggregate exercise price in effect immediately prior to such adjustment (without regard to any limitations on exercise). The May 2024 FF Warrant also contains rights to any rights to purchase securities of the Company distributed pro rata to the stockholders of the Company.

 

 

On August 12, 2024, the Company entered into a Redemption Agreement (the “FirstFire Warrants Redemption Agreement”), dated as of August 12, 2024, between the Company and FirstFire. The FirstFire Warrants Redemption Agreement provides, among other things, that the Company will have the right (the “FirstFire Warrants Redemption Right”) to purchase the unexercised portion of the May 2024 FF Warrant and (ii) a warrant issued by the Company to FirstFire on June 18, 2024 to purchase up to 13,793 shares of common stock at an initial exercise price of $14.40 per share on substantially the same terms as the May 2024 FF Warrant (the “June 2024 FF Warrant” and together with the May 2024 FF Warrants, the “FirstFire Warrants”), from August 12, 2024 to February 12, 2025, for up to an aggregate consideration of $100,000, reduced pro rata to the extent that the May 2024 FF Warrant and the June 2024 FF Warrant are exercised prior to the Company’s exercise of the FirstFire Warrants Redemption Right.

 

On November 12, 2024, the Company delivered a letter (the “November 2024 Reduced Exercise Price Offer”) to FirstFire, containing an offer to voluntarily temporarily reduce the exercise price under the FirstFire Warrants (as defined in “—Debt – May 2024 Private Placement of Convertible Senior Secured Promissory Note and Warrants – May 2024 FF Warrants – First May 2024 FF Warrant”) from the initial applicable exercise price of $14.40 per share to $5.76 per share (the November 2024 Reduced Exercise Price”). On the same date, FirstFire accepted and executed the November 2024 Reduced Exercise Price Offer. The November 2024 Reduced Exercise Price Offer is subject to certain terms and conditions, including the following: (i) The FirstFire Warrants may only be exercised at the Reduced Exercise Price on or prior to December 13, 2024; (ii) no adjustment to the number of shares issuable upon exercise of the FirstFirst Warrants will occur as a result of the November 2024 Reduced Exercise Price Offer or any exercise of the FirstFire Warrants according to its terms; (iii) the November 2024 Reduced Exercise Price Offer will have no effect on the terms and conditions of the FirstFire Warrants Redemption Agreement, such that any exercise of the FirstFire Warrants at the November 2024 Reduced Exercise Price will reduce the Redemption Price (as defined by the FirstFire Warrants Redemption Agreement) for the remaining unexercised portion of the FirstFire Warrants by the same amount as would apply to an exercise of the FirstFire Warrants at the initial exercise price of $14.40 per share; and (iv) the November 2024 Reduced Exercise Price Offer was conditioned on its approval by the board of directors of the Company. In addition, under the terms of the November 2024 Reduced Exercise Price Offer, any attempt to exercise the FirstFire Warrants by cashless exercise at the Reduced Exercise Price will be null and void.

 

On November 13, 2024, the June 2024 FF Warrant was fully exercised pursuant to the November 2024 Reduced Exercise Price Offer. As of November 29, 2024, the May 2024 FF Warrant remained outstanding and unexercised.

 

Convertible Promissory Note Issued to Dear Cashmere Group Holding Company

 

On October 7, 2024, the Company issued the October 2024 Note to DRCR, in the principal amount of $150,000. The principal will accrue interest at an annual rate of 35%. The principal and accrued interest will become payable on the date of written demand any time after the closing of the Company’s next financing transaction (the “October 2024 Note Payment Date”). The Company is required to make full payment of the balance of all principal and accrued interest on the October 2024 Note Payment Date. The Company may prepay the principal and any interest then due without penalty. If any amount is not paid when due, such overdue amount will accrue default interest at a rate of 37%. The October 2024 Note contains customary representations, warranties, and events of default provisions.

 

In addition, the October 2024 Note provides that at any time after an event of default, the holder of the October 2024 Note may convert the outstanding principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest into shares of common stock at a conversion price of $14.40 per share, subject to adjustment for stock splits and similar transactions. The conversion right is subject to prior authorization of the NYSE American. The October 2024 Note will be amended to incorporate any modifications requested by the NYSE American.

 

Preferred Stock

 

Our Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, authorizes our board of directors, subject to any limitations prescribed by Delaware law, without further stockholder approval, to establish and to issue from time to time one or more series of preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share, covering up to an aggregate of 15,000,000 shares of preferred stock. Each series of preferred stock will cover the number of shares and will have the powers, preferences, rights, qualifications, limitations and restrictions determined by the board.

 

We will fix the voting rights, designations, preferences and rights of the preferred stock of each series, as well as the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, in the certificate of designation relating to such series. Each series of preferred stock offered by us pursuant to this prospectus will be more fully described in the particular prospectus supplement that will accompany this prospectus. We file also an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, or will incorporate by reference from reports that we file with the SEC, the form of any certificate of designation that describes the terms of the series of preferred stock we are offering before the issuance of that series of preferred stock. This description will include, as applicable:

 

●

the designation of the series, which may be by distinguishing number, letter or title;

 

●

the number of shares of the series, which number the board may thereafter (except where otherwise provided in the certificate of designation) increase or decrease (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding);

 

 

●

the amounts or rates at which dividends will be payable on, and the preferences, if any, of shares of the series in respect of dividends, and whether such dividends, if any, will be cumulative or noncumulative;

 

●

the dates on which dividends, if any, will be payable;

 

●

the redemption rights and price or prices, if any, for shares of the series;

 

●

the terms and amount of any sinking fund, if any, provided for the purchase or redemption of shares of the series;

 

●

the amounts payable on, and the preferences, if any, of shares of the series in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Company;

 

●

whether the shares of the series will be convertible into or exchangeable for, shares of any other class or series, or any other security, of the Company or any other corporation, and, if so, the specification of such other class or series or such other security, the conversion or exchange price or prices or rate or rates, any adjustments thereof, the date or dates at which such shares shall be convertible or exchangeable and all other terms and conditions upon which such conversion or exchange may be made;

 

●

restrictions on the issuance of shares of the same series or any other class or series;

 

●

the voting rights, if any, of the holders of shares of the series generally or upon specified events; and

 

●

any other powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights of each series of Preferred Stock, and any qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such shares, all as may be determined from time to time by the Board and stated in the resolution or resolutions providing for the issuance of such Preferred Stock.

 

Our board of directors could authorize the issuance of shares of preferred stock with terms and conditions that could have the effect of discouraging a takeover or other transaction that might involve a premium price for holders of the shares or which holders might believe to be in their best interests. The issuance of preferred stock could adversely affect the voting power, conversion or other rights of holders of common stock and reduce the likelihood that common stockholders will receive dividend payments and payments upon liquidation.

 

The laws of the State of Delaware provide that the holders of preferred stock will have the right to vote separately as a class on any proposal involving fundamental changes to the rights of holders of such preferred stock. This right is in addition to any voting rights that may be provided for in the applicable certificate of designation.

 

The transfer agent and registrar for any series of preferred stock will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

 

DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

 

The following is a summary of the general terms of the debt securities that we may issue. We will file a prospectus supplement that may contain additional terms when we issue debt securities. The terms presented here, together with the terms in a related prospectus supplement, will be a description of the material terms of the debt securities. You should also read the indenture under which the debt securities are to be issued. We have filed a form of indenture governing different types of debt securities with the SEC as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. All capitalized terms have the meanings specified in the indenture.

 

We may issue, from time to time, debt securities, in one or more series, that will consist of senior debt, senior subordinated debt or subordinated debt. We refer to the subordinated debt securities and the senior subordinated debt securities together as the subordinated securities. The debt securities that we may offer will be issued under an indenture between us and an entity, identified in the applicable prospectus supplement, as trustee. Debt securities, whether senior, senior subordinated or subordinated, may be issued as convertible debt securities or exchangeable debt securities. The following is a summary of the material provisions of the indenture filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.

 

As you read this section, please remember that for each series of debt securities, the specific terms of your debt security as described in the applicable prospectus supplement will supplement and, if applicable, may modify or replace the general terms described in the summary below. The statement we make in this section may not apply to your debt security. Prospective investors should rely on information in the applicable prospectus supplement and not on the following information to the extent that the information in such prospectus supplement is different from the following information.

 

General Terms of the Indenture

 

The indenture does not limit the amount of debt securities that we may issue. It provides that we may issue debt securities up to the principal amount that we may authorize and may be in any currency or currency unit that we may designate. We may, without the consent of the holders of any series, increase the principal amount of securities in that series in the future, on the same terms and conditions and with the same CUSIP numbers as that series. Except for the limitations on consolidation, merger and sale of all or substantially all of our assets contained in the indenture, the terms of the indenture do not contain any covenants or other provisions designed to give holders of any debt securities protection against changes in our operations, financial condition or transactions involving us.

 

We may issue the debt securities issued under the indenture as “discount securities,” which means they may be sold at a discount below their stated principal amount. These debt securities, as well as other debt securities that are not issued at a discount, may be issued with “original issue discount”, or OID, for U.S. federal income tax purposes because of interest payment and other characteristics. Material U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to debt securities issued with original issue discount will be described in more detail in any applicable prospectus supplement.

 

The applicable prospectus supplement for a series of debt securities that we issue will describe, among other things, the following terms of the offered debt securities:

 

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the title and authorized denominations of the series of debt securities;

 

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any limit on the aggregate principal amount of the series of debt securities;

 

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whether such debt securities will be issued in fully registered form without coupons or in a form registered as to principal only with coupons or in bearer form with coupons;

 

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whether issued in the form of one or more global securities and whether all or a portion of the principal amount of the debt securities is represented thereby;

 

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the price or prices at which the debt securities will be issued;

 

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the date or dates on which principal is payable;

 

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the place or places where and the manner in which principal, premium or interest, if any, will be payable and the place or places where the debt securities may be presented for transfer and, if applicable, conversion or exchange;

 

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interest rates, and the dates from which interest, if any, will accrue, and the dates when interest is payable and the maturity;

 

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the right, if any, to extend the interest payment periods and the duration of the extensions;

 

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our rights or obligations to redeem or purchase the debt securities;

 

 

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any sinking fund or other provisions that would obligate us to repurchase or otherwise redeem some or all of the debt securities;

 

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conversion or exchange provisions, if any, including conversion or exchange prices or rates and adjustments thereto;

 

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the currency or currencies of payment of principal or interest;

 

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the terms applicable to any debt securities issued at a discount from their stated principal amount;

 

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the terms, if any, under which any debt securities will rank junior to any of our other debt;

 

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whether and upon what terms the debt securities may be defeased, if different from the provisions set forth in the indenture;

 

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if the amount of payments of principal or interest is to be determined by reference to an index or formula, or based on a coin or currency other than that in which the debt securities are stated to be payable, the manner in which these amounts are determined and the calculation agent, if any, with respect thereto;

 

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the provisions, if any, relating to any collateral provided for the debt securities;

 

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if other than the entire principal amount of the debt securities when issued, the portion of the principal amount payable upon acceleration of maturity as a result of a default on our obligations;

 

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the events of default and covenants relating to the debt securities that are in addition to, modify or delete those described in this prospectus;

 

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the nature and terms of any security for any secured debt securities; and

 

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any other specific terms of any debt securities.

 

The applicable prospectus supplement will present material U.S. federal income tax considerations for holders of any debt securities and the securities exchange or quotation system on which any debt securities are to be listed or quoted.

 

Senior Debt Securities

 

Payment of the principal of, premium and interest, if any, on senior debt securities will rank on a parity with all of our other secured/unsecured and unsubordinated debt.

 

Senior Subordinated Debt Securities

 

Payment of the principal of, premium and interest, if any, on senior subordinated debt securities will be junior in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all of our unsubordinated debt, including senior debt securities and any credit facility. We will state in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to any senior subordinated debt securities the subordination terms of the securities as well as the aggregate amount of outstanding debt, as of the most recent practicable date, that by its terms would be senior to the senior subordinated debt securities. We will also state in such prospectus supplement limitations, if any, on issuance of additional senior debt.

 

Subordinated Debt Securities

 

Payment of the principal of, premium and interest, if any, on subordinated debt securities will be subordinated and junior in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all of our senior debt, including our senior debt securities and senior subordinated debt securities. We will state in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to any subordinated debt securities the subordination terms of the securities as well as the aggregate amount of outstanding indebtedness, as of the most recent practicable date, that by its terms would be senior to the subordinated debt securities. We will also state in such prospectus supplement limitations, if any, on issuance of additional senior indebtedness.

 

 

Conversion or Exchange Rights

 

Debt securities may be convertible into or exchangeable for other securities being registered in this registration statement, including, for example, shares of our equity securities. The terms and conditions of conversion or exchange will be stated in the applicable prospectus supplement. The terms will include, among others, the following:

 

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the conversion or exchange price;

 

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the conversion or exchange period;

 

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provisions regarding the ability of us or the holder to convert or exchange the debt securities;

 

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events requiring adjustment to the conversion or exchange price; and

 

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provisions affecting conversion or exchange in the event of our redemption of the debt securities.

 

Consolidation, Merger or Sale

 

We cannot consolidate or merge with or into, or transfer or lease all or substantially all of our assets to, any person, and we cannot permit any other person to consolidate with or merge into us, unless (1) we will be the continuing corporation or (2) the successor corporation or person to which our assets are transferred or leased is a corporation organized under the laws of the United States, any state of the United States or the District of Columbia and it expressly assumes our obligations under the debt securities and the indenture. In addition, we cannot complete such a transaction unless immediately after completing the transaction, no event of default under the indenture, and no event which, after notice or lapse of time or both, would become an event of default under the indenture, shall have occurred and be continuing. When the person to whom our assets are transferred or leased has assumed our obligations under the debt securities and the indenture, we shall be discharged from all our obligations under the debt securities and the indenture except in limited circumstances.

 

This covenant would not apply to any recapitalization transaction, a change of control of us or a highly leveraged transaction, unless the transaction or change of control were structured to include a merger or consolidation or transfer or lease of all or substantially all of our assets.

 

Events of Default

 

The term “Event of Default,” when used in the indenture, unless otherwise indicated, means any of the following:

 

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failure to pay interest for 30 days after the date payment is due and payable;

 

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failure to pay principal or premium, if any, on any debt security when due, either at maturity, upon any redemption, by declaration or otherwise;

 

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failure to make sinking fund payments when due;

 

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failure to perform other covenants for 60 days after notice that performance was required;

 

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events in bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization relating to us; or

 

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any other Event of Default provided in the applicable officer’s certificate, resolution of our board of directors or the supplemental indenture under which we issue a series of debt securities.

 

An Event of Default for a particular series of debt securities does not necessarily constitute an Event of Default for any other series of debt securities issued under the indenture.

 

If an Event of Default with respect to any series of senior debt securities occurs and is continuing, then either the trustee for such series or the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of such series, by notice in writing, may declare the principal amount of and interest on all of the debt securities of such series to be due and payable immediately; provided, however, unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, if such an Event of Default occurs and is continuing with respect to more than one series of senior debt securities under the indenture, the trustee for such series or the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of all such series of senior debt securities of equal ranking (or, if any of such senior debt securities are discount securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of that series), voting as one class, may make such declaration of acceleration as to all series of such equal ranking and not the holders of the debt securities of any one of such series of senior debt securities.

 

 

If an Event of Default with respect to any series of subordinated securities occurs and is continuing, then either the trustee for such series or the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of such series, by notice in writing, may declare the principal amount of and interest on all of the debt securities of such series to be due and payable immediately; provided, however, unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, if such an Event of Default occurs and is continuing with respect to more than one series of subordinated securities under the indenture, the trustee for such series or the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of all such series of subordinated securities of equal ranking (or, if any of such subordinated securities are discount securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of that series), voting as one class, may make such declaration of acceleration as to all series of equal ranking and not the holders of the debt securities of any one of such series of subordinated securities. The holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of all affected series of equal ranking may, after satisfying certain conditions, rescind and annul any of the above-described declarations and consequences involving such series.

 

If an Event of Default relating to events in bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of us occurs and is continuing, then the principal amount of all of the debt securities outstanding, and any accrued interest, will automatically become due and payable immediately, without any declaration or other act by the trustee or any holder.

 

The indenture imposes limitations on suits brought by holders of debt securities against us. Except for actions for payment of overdue principal or interest, no holder of debt securities of any series may institute any action against us under the indenture unless:

 

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the holder has previously given to the trustee written notice of default and continuance of such default;

 

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the holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of the affected series of equal ranking have requested that the trustee institute the action;

 

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the requesting holders have offered the trustee reasonable indemnity for expenses and liabilities that may be incurred by bringing the action;

 

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the trustee has not instituted the action within 60 days of the request; and

 

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the trustee has not received inconsistent direction by the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of the affected series of equal ranking.

 

We will be required to file annually with the trustee a certificate, signed by one of our officers, stating whether or not the officer knows of any default by us in the performance, observance or fulfillment of any condition or covenant of the indenture.

 

Registered Global Securities and Book Entry System

 

The debt securities of a series may be issued in whole or in part in book-entry form and may be represented by one or more fully registered global securities or in unregistered form with or without coupons. We will deposit any registered global securities with a depositary or with a nominee for a depositary identified in the applicable prospectus supplement and registered in the name of such depositary or nominee. In such case, we will issue one or more registered global securities denominated in an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of all of the debt securities of the series to be issued and represented by such registered global security or securities. This means that we will not issue certificates to each holder.

 

Unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for debt securities in definitive registered form, a registered global security may not be transferred except as a whole:

 

●

by the depositary for such registered global security to its nominee;

 

●

by a nominee of the depositary to the depositary or another nominee of the depositary; or

 

●

by the depositary or its nominee to a successor of the depositary or a nominee of the successor.

 

The prospectus supplement relating to a series of debt securities will describe the specific terms of the depositary arrangement involving any portion of the series represented by a registered global security. We anticipate that the following provisions will apply to all depositary arrangements for registered debt securities:

 

●

ownership of beneficial interests in a registered global security will be limited to persons that have accounts with the depositary for such registered global security, these persons being referred to as “participants,” or persons that may hold interests through participants;

 

 

●

upon the issuance of a registered global security, the depositary for the registered global security will credit, on its book-entry registration and transfer system, the participants’ accounts with the respective principal amounts of the debt securities represented by the registered global security beneficially owned by the participants;

 

●

any dealers, underwriters, or agents participating in the distribution of the debt securities represented by a registered global security will designate the accounts to be credited; and

 

●

ownership of beneficial interest in such registered global security will be shown on, and the transfer of such ownership interest will be effected only through, records maintained by the depositary for such registered global security for interests of participants, and on the records of participants for interests of persons holding through participants.

 

The laws of some states may require that specified purchasers of securities take physical delivery of the securities in definitive form. These laws may limit the ability of those persons to own, transfer or pledge beneficial interests in registered global securities.

 

So long as the depositary for a registered global security, or its nominee, is the registered owner of such registered global security, the depositary or such nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner or holder of the debt securities represented by the registered global security for all purposes under the indenture. Except as stated below, owners of beneficial interests in a registered global security:

 

●

will not be entitled to have the debt securities represented by a registered global security registered in their names;

 

●

will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of the debt securities in the definitive form; and

 

●

will not be considered the owners or holders of the debt securities under the relevant indenture.

 

Accordingly, each person owning a beneficial interest in a registered global security must rely on the procedures of the depositary for the registered global security and, if the person is not a participant, on the procedures of a participant through which the person owns its interest, to exercise any rights of a holder under the indenture.

 

We understand that under existing industry practices, if we request any action of holders or if an owner of a beneficial interest in a registered global security desires to give or take any action that a holder is entitled to give or take under the indenture, the depositary for the registered global security would authorize the participants holding the relevant beneficial interests to give or take the action, and the participants would authorize beneficial owners owning through the participants to give or take the action or would otherwise act upon the instructions of beneficial owners holding through them.

 

We will make payments of principal and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on debt securities represented by a registered global security registered in the name of a depositary or its nominee to the depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered owners of the registered global security. None of us, the trustee or any other agent of ours or the trustee will be responsible or liable for any aspect of the records relating to, or payments made on account of, beneficial ownership interests in the registered global security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to the beneficial ownership interests.

 

We expect that the depositary for any debt securities represented by a registered global security, upon receipt of any payments of principal and premium, if any, and interest, if any, in respect of the registered global security, will immediately credit participants’ accounts with payments in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in the registered global security as shown on the records of the depositary. We also expect that standing customer instructions and customary practices will govern payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests in the registered global security held through the participants, as is now the case with the securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in “street name.” We also expect that any of these payments will be the responsibility of the participants.

 

If the depositary for any debt securities represented by a registered global security is at any time unwilling or unable to continue as depositary or stops being a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, we will appoint an eligible successor depositary. If we fail to appoint an eligible successor depositary within 90 days, we will issue the debt securities in definitive form in exchange for the registered global security. In addition, we may at any time and in our sole discretion decide not to have any of the debt securities of a series represented by one or more registered global securities. In that event, we will issue debt securities of the series in a definitive form in exchange for all of the registered global securities representing the debt securities. The trustee will register any debt securities issued in definitive form in exchange for a registered global security in the name or names as the depositary, based upon instructions from its participants, shall instruct the trustee.

 

 

We may also issue bearer debt securities of a series in the form of one or more global securities, referred to as “bearer global securities”. The prospectus supplement relating to a series of debt securities represented by a bearer global security will describe the applicable terms and procedures. These will include the specific terms of the depositary arrangement and any specific procedures for the issuance of debt securities in definitive form in exchange for a bearer global security, in proportion to the series represented by a bearer global security.

 

Discharge, Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance

 

We can discharge or decrease our obligations under the indenture as stated below.

 

We may discharge obligations to holders of any series of debt securities that have not already been delivered to the trustee for cancellation and that have either become due and payable or are by their terms to become due and payable, or are scheduled for redemption, within sixty (60) days. We may effect a discharge by irrevocably depositing with the trustee cash or U.S. government obligations, as trust funds, in an amount certified to be enough to pay when due, whether at maturity, upon redemption or otherwise, the principal of, premium and interest, if any, on the debt securities and any mandatory sinking fund payments.

 

Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, we may also discharge any and all of our obligations to holders of any series of debt securities at any time, which we refer to as defeasance. We may also be released from the obligations imposed by any covenants of any outstanding series of debt securities and provisions of the indenture, and we may omit to comply with those covenants without creating an event of default under the trust declaration, which we refer to as covenant defeasance. We may effect defeasance and covenant defeasance only if, among other things:

 

●

we irrevocably deposit with the trustee cash or U.S. government obligations, as trust funds, in an amount certified to be enough to pay at maturity, or upon redemption, the principal, premium and interest, if any, on all outstanding debt securities of the series;

 

●

we deliver to the trustee an opinion of counsel from a nationally recognized law firm to the effect that the holders of the series of debt securities will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of the defeasance or covenant defeasance and that defeasance or covenant defeasance will not otherwise alter the holders’ U.S. federal income tax treatment of principal, premium and interest, if any, payments on the series of debt securities; and

 

●

in the case of subordinated debt securities, no event or condition shall exist that, based on the subordination provisions applicable to the series, would prevent us from making payments of principal of, premium and interest, if any, on any of the applicable subordinated debt securities at the date of the irrevocable deposit referred to above or at any time during the period ending on the 91st day after the deposit date.

 

In the case of a defeasance by us, the opinion we deliver must be based on a ruling of the Internal Revenue Service issued, or a change in U.S. federal income tax law occurring, after the date of the indenture, since such a result would not occur under the U.S. federal income tax laws in effect on such date.

 

Although we may discharge or decrease our obligations under the indenture as described in the two preceding paragraphs, we may not avoid, among other things, our duty to register the transfer or exchange of any series of debt securities, to replace any temporary, mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen series of debt securities or to maintain an office or agency in respect of any series of debt securities.

 

Modification of the Indenture

 

The indenture provides that we and the trustee may enter into supplemental indentures without the consent of the holders of debt securities to:

 

●

secure any debt securities and provide the terms and conditions for the release or substitution of the security;

 

 

●

evidence the assumption by a successor corporation of our obligations;

 

●

add covenants for the protection of the holders of debt securities;

 

●

add any additional events of default;

 

●

cure any ambiguity or correct any inconsistency or defect in the indenture;

 

●

add to, change or eliminate any of the provisions of the indenture in a manner that will become effective only when there is no outstanding debt security which is entitled to the benefit of the provision as to which the modification would apply;

 

●

establish the forms or terms of debt securities of any series;

 

●

eliminate any conflict between the terms of the indenture and the Trust Indenture Act of 1939;

 

●

evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment by a successor trustee and add to or change any of the provisions of the indenture as is necessary for the administration of the trusts by more than one trustee; and

 

●

make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under the indenture that will not be inconsistent with any provision of the indenture as long as the new provisions do not adversely affect the interests of the holders of any outstanding debt securities of any series created prior to the modification.

 

The indenture also provides that we and the trustee may, with the consent of the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of debt securities of all series of senior debt securities or of Subordinated Securities of equal ranking, as the case may be, then outstanding and affected, voting as one class, add any provisions to, or change in any manner, eliminate or modify in any way the provisions of, the indenture or modify in any manner the rights of the holders of the debt securities. We and the trustee may not, however, without the consent of the holder of each outstanding debt security affected thereby:

 

●

extend the final maturity of any debt security;

 

●

reduce the principal amount or premium, if any;

 

●

reduce the rate or extend the time of payment of interest;

 

●

reduce any amount payable on redemption or impair or affect any right of redemption at the option of the holder of the debt security;

 

●

change the currency in which the principal, premium or interest, if any, is payable;

 

●

reduce the amount of the principal of any debt security issued with an original issue discount that is payable upon acceleration or provable in bankruptcy;

 

●

alter provisions of the relevant indenture relating to the debt securities not denominated in U.S. dollars;

 

●

impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on any debt security when due;

 

●

if applicable, adversely affect the right of a holder to convert or exchange a debt security; or

 

●

reduce the percentage of holders of debt securities of any series whose consent is required for any modification of the indenture.

 

 

The indenture provides that the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding debt securities of any and all affected series of equal ranking, by notice to the relevant trustee, may on behalf of the holders of the debt securities of any and all such series of equal ranking waive any default and its consequences under the indenture except:

 

●

a continuing default in the payment of interest on, premium, if any, or principal of, any such debt security held by a non-consenting holder; or

 

●

a default in respect of a covenant or provision of the indenture that cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the holder of each outstanding debt security of each series affected.

 

Concerning the Trustee

 

The indenture provides that there may be more than one trustee under the indenture, each for one or more series of debt securities. If there are different trustees for different series of debt securities, each trustee will be a trustee of a trust under the indenture separate and apart from the trust administered by any other trustee under that indenture.

 

Except as otherwise indicated in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement, any action permitted to be taken by a trustee may be taken by such trustee only on the one or more series of debt securities for which it is the trustee under the indenture. Any trustee under the indenture may resign or be removed from one or more series of debt securities. All payments of principal of, premium and interest, if any, on, and all registration, transfer, exchange, authentication and delivery of, the debt securities of a series will be effected by the trustee for that series at an office designated by the trustee.

 

If the trustee becomes a creditor of ours, the indenture places limitations on the right of the trustee to obtain payment of claims or to realize on property received in respect of any such claim as security or otherwise. The trustee may engage in other transactions. If it acquires any conflicting interest relating to any duties concerning the debt securities, however, it must eliminate the conflict or resign as trustee.

 

The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of any and all affected series of debt securities of equal ranking then outstanding will have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for exercising any remedy available to the trustee concerning the applicable series of debt securities, provided that the direction:

 

●

would not conflict with any rule of law or with the relevant indenture;

 

●

would not be unduly prejudicial to the rights of another holder of the debt securities; and

 

●

would not involve any trustee in personal liability.

 

The indenture provides that in case an Event of Default shall occur, not be cured and be known to any trustee, the trustee must use the same degree of care as a prudent person would use in the conduct of his or her own affairs in the exercise of the trustee’s power. The trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the indenture at the request of any of the holders of the debt securities, unless they shall have offered to the trustee security and indemnity satisfactory to the trustee.

 

No Individual Liability of Incorporators, Stockholders, Officers or Directors

 

No recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement of this Indenture, or of any debt security thereunder, or for any claim based thereon or otherwise in respect thereof, shall be had against any incorporator, stockholder, officer or director, as such, past, present or future, of the Company or of any successor corporation, either directly or through the Company, whether by virtue of any constitution, statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any assessment or penalty or otherwise; it being expressly understood that this Indenture and the obligations issued hereunder are solely corporate obligations of the Company, and that no such personal liability whatever shall attach to, or is or shall be incurred by, the incorporators, stockholders, officers or directors, as such, of the Company or of any successor corporation, or any of them.

 

Governing Law

 

The indenture and the debt securities will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

 

 

DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

 

We may issue warrants for the purchase of our common stock, preferred stock, or debt securities in one or more series. We may issue warrants independently or together with our common stock, preferred stock, or debt securities, and the warrants may be attached to or traded separate and apart from these securities. Each series of warrants will be issued under a warrant agreement, all as set forth in the prospectus supplement. The applicable prospectus supplement or term sheet will describe the terms of the warrants offered thereby, any warrant agreement relating to such warrants and the warrant certificates, including but not limited to the following:

 

●

the title of the warrants;

 

●

the offering price or prices of the warrants, if any;

 

●

the minimum or maximum amount of the warrants which may be exercised at any one time;

 

●

the currency or currency units in which the offering price, if any, and the exercise price are payable;

 

●

the number of securities, if any, with which such warrants are being offered and the number of such warrants being offered with each security;

 

●

the date, if any, on and after which such warrants and the related securities, if any, will be transferable separately;

 

●

the amount of securities purchasable upon exercise of each warrant and the price at which the securities may be purchased upon such exercise, and events or conditions under which the amount of securities may be subject to adjustment;

 

●

the date on which the right to exercise such warrants shall commence and the date on which such right shall expire;

 

●

the circumstances, if any, which will cause the warrants to be deemed to be automatically exercised;

 

●

any material risk factors, if any, relating to such warrants;

 

●

the identity of any warrant agent; and

 

●

any other material terms of the warrants.

 

Prior to the exercise of any warrants, holders of such warrants will not have any rights of holders of the securities purchasable upon such exercise, including the right to receive payments of dividends or the right to vote such underlying securities. Prospective purchasers of warrants should be aware that material U.S. federal income tax, accounting and other considerations may be applicable to instruments such as warrants.

 

 

DESCRIPTION OF SUBSCRIPTION RIGHTS

 

We may issue subscription rights to purchase our common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, warrants or units consisting of some or all of these securities. These subscription rights may be offered independently or together with any other security offered hereby and may or may not be transferable by the stockholder receiving the subscription rights in such offering. In connection with any offering of subscription rights, we may enter into a standby arrangement with one or more underwriters or other purchasers pursuant to which the underwriters or other purchasers may be required to purchase any securities remaining unsubscribed for after such offering.

 

The prospectus supplement relating to any subscription rights we offer, if any, will, to the extent applicable, include specific terms relating to the offering, including some or all of the following:

 

●

the price, if any, for the subscription rights;

 

●

the exercise price payable for our common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, warrants or units consisting of some or all of these securities upon the exercise of the subscription rights;

 

●

the number of subscription rights to be issued to each stockholder;

 

●

the number and terms of our common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, warrants or units consisting of some or all of these securities which may be purchased per each subscription right;

  

●

the extent to which the subscription rights are transferable;

 

●

any other terms of the subscription rights, including the terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of the subscription rights;

 

●

the date on which the right to exercise the subscription rights shall commence, and the date on which the subscription rights shall expire;

 

●

the extent to which the subscription rights may include an over-subscription privilege with respect to unsubscribed securities or an over-allotment privilege to the extent the securities are fully subscribed; and

 

●

if applicable, the material terms of any standby underwriting or purchase arrangement which may be entered into by us in connection with the offering of subscription rights.

 

The descriptions of the subscription rights in this prospectus and in any prospectus supplement are summaries of the material provisions of the applicable subscription right agreements. These descriptions do not restate those subscription right agreements in their entirety and may not contain all the information that you may find useful. We urge you to read the applicable subscription right agreements because they, and not the summaries, define your rights as holders of the subscription rights. For more information, please review the forms of the relevant subscription right agreements, which will be filed with the SEC promptly after the offering of subscription rights and will be available as described in the section of this prospectus titled “Where You Can Find More Information”.

 

 

DESCRIPTION OF UNITS

 

We may issue units comprised of one or more of the other securities described in this prospectus in any combination. Each unit will be issued so that the holder of the unit is also the holder of each security included in the unit. Thus, the holder of a unit will have the rights and obligations of a holder of each included security. The unit agreement under which a unit is issued may provide that the securities included in the unit may not be held or transferred separately, at any time or at any time before a specified date.

 

The applicable prospectus supplement may describe:

 

●

the designation and terms of the units and of the securities comprising the units, including whether and under what circumstances those securities may be held or transferred separately;

 

●

any provisions for the issuance, payment, settlement, transfer or exchange of the units or of the securities comprising the units; and

 

●

any additional terms of the governing unit agreement.

 

The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms of any units. The preceding description and any description of units in the applicable prospectus supplement does not purport to be complete and is subject to and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the unit agreement and, if applicable, collateral arrangements and depositary arrangements relating to such units.

 

 

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

 

We may sell the securities offered by this prospectus in any one or more of the following ways (or in any combination) from time to time:

 

●

directly to investors, including through privately negotiated transactions, a specific bidding, auction or other process;

 

●

to investors through agents;

 

●

directly to agents;

 

●

to or through underwriters or dealers;

 

●

in “at the market” offerings, within the meaning of the Rule 415(a)(4) of the Securities Act, to or through a market maker or into an existing trading market on an exchange or otherwise;

 

●

through a combination of any such methods of sale; or

 

●

through any other method permitted by applicable law and described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

The accompanying prospectus supplement will set forth the terms of the offering and the method of distribution and will identify any firms acting as underwriters, dealers or agents in connection with the offering, including:

 

●

the names and addresses of any underwriters, dealers or agents;

 

●

the purchase price of the securities and the proceeds to us from the sale, if any;

 

●

any over-allotment options under which underwriters may purchase additional securities from us;

 

●

any underwriting discounts and other items constituting compensation to underwriters, dealers or agents;

 

●

any public offering price, any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers; and

 

●

any securities exchange or market on which the securities offered in the prospectus supplement may be listed.

 

If underwriters are used in the sale, the underwriters will acquire the offered securities for their own account and may resell them from time to time in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale. The offered securities may be offered either to the public through underwriting syndicates represented by one or more managing underwriters or by one or more underwriters without a syndicate. Unless otherwise set forth in a prospectus supplement, the obligations of the underwriters to purchase any series of securities will be subject to certain conditions precedent and the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of such series of securities if any are purchased. Only those underwriters identified in such prospectus supplement are deemed to be underwriters in connection with the securities offered in the prospectus supplement. Any underwritten offering may be on a best efforts or a firm commitment basis.

 

 

In connection with the sale of our securities, underwriters or agents may receive compensation (in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions) from us, or from purchasers of securities for whom they may act as agents. Underwriters may sell securities to or through dealers, and such dealers may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the underwriters and/or commissions from the purchasers for whom they may act as agents. Underwriters, dealers and agents that participate in the distribution of our securities may be deemed to be “underwriters” as that term is defined in the Securities Act, and any discounts allowed or commissions paid, and any profit on the resale of the securities they realize may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act. Any person who may be deemed to be an underwriter will be identified, and the compensation received from us will be described, in the prospectus supplement. Maximum compensation to any underwriters, dealers or agents will not exceed any applicable Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. limitations.

 

Underwriters and agents may be entitled to indemnification by us against some civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contributions with respect to payments which the underwriters or agents may be required to make relating to these liabilities. Underwriters and agents may be customers of, engage in transactions with, or perform services for us in the ordinary course of business.

 

Any common stock sold pursuant to a prospectus supplement will be listed on the NYSE American, or listed on the exchange where our common stock is then listed, subject where applicable, to official notice of issuance and where applicable, subject to the requirements of the exchange (which in some cases require stockholder approval for any transactions which would result in the issuance of 20% or more of our then outstanding shares of common stock or voting rights representing 20% or more of our then outstanding shares of stock). We may elect to list any series of debt securities or preferred stock, on an exchange, but we are not obligated to do so. It is possible that one or more underwriters may make a market in the securities, but such underwriters will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market making at any time without notice. No assurance can be given as to the liquidity of, or the trading market for, any offered securities.

 

The aggregate proceeds to us from the sale of our common stock will be the purchase price of our common stock less discounts or commissions, if any. We reserve the right to accept and, together with our agents from time to time, to reject, in whole or in part, any proposed purchase of our common stock to be made directly or through agents.

 

To facilitate the offering of the common stock offered by us, certain persons participating in the offering may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of our common stock. This may include over-allotments or short sales, which involve the sale by persons participating in the offering of more shares than were sold to them. In these circumstances, these persons would cover such over-allotments or short positions by making purchases in the open market or by exercising their over-allotment option, if any. In addition, these persons may stabilize or maintain the price of our common stock by bidding for or purchasing shares in the open market or by imposing penalty bids, whereby selling concessions allowed to dealers participating in the offering may be reclaimed if shares sold by them are repurchased in connection with stabilization transactions. The effect of these transactions may be to stabilize or maintain the market price of our common stock at a level above that which might otherwise prevail in the open market. These transactions may be discontinued at any time.

 

 

LEGAL MATTERS

 

Certain legal matters relating to the issuance and sale of the securities offered hereby will be passed upon for us by Bevilacqua PLLC. Additional legal matters may be passed on for us, or any underwriters, dealers or agents, by counsel that we will name in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

EXPERTS

 

The financial statements of the Company as of and for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022 are incorporated into this prospectus by reference in reliance upon the report incorporated by reference of BARTON CPA PLLC, an independent registered public accounting firm, appearing therein (which contains an explanatory paragraph describing conditions that raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern as disclosed in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements), and upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

 

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION; DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

 

Available Information

 

We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements, and other information with the SEC. The SEC maintains a website that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding companies, such as ours, that file documents electronically with the SEC. The website address is https://www.sec.gov. Copies of certain information filed by us with the SEC are also available on our website at https://www.ir.signingdaysports.com. Information accessible on or through our website is not a part of this prospectus.

 

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the SEC and does not contain all of the information in the registration statement. You should review the information and exhibits in the registration statement for further information on us and the securities that we are offering. Statements in this prospectus about these documents are summaries and each statement is qualified in all respects by reference to the document to which it refers. You should read the actual documents for a more complete description of the relevant matters.

 

 

Incorporation by Reference

 

The SEC allows us to incorporate by reference much of the information that we file with the SEC, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those publicly available documents. The information that we incorporate by reference in this prospectus is considered to be part of this prospectus. Because we are incorporating by reference future filings with the SEC, this prospectus is continually updated and those future filings may modify or supersede some of the information included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. This means that you must look at all of the SEC filings that we incorporate by reference to determine if any of the statements in this prospectus or in any document previously incorporated by reference have been modified or superseded. This prospectus incorporates by reference the documents listed below and any future filings we make with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (in each case, other than those documents or the portions of those documents furnished pursuant to Items 2.02 or 7.01 of any Current Report on Form 8-K and, except as may be noted in any such Form 8-K, exhibits filed on such form that are related to such information), including after the date of the initial registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part was filed and prior to effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, until the offering of the securities under the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part is terminated:

 

●

our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, filed with the SEC on March 29, 2024;

 

●

our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2024, filed with the SEC on November 14, 2024;

 

●

our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2024, filed with the SEC on August 19, 2024;

 

●

our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2024, filed with the SEC on May 15, 2024;

 

●

our Current Reports on Form 8-K (and any amendments thereto on Form 8-K/A) filed with the SEC on January 8, 2024, January 29, 2024, February 14, 2024, February 28, 2024, March 6, 2024, March 11, 2024, April 11, 2024, April 17, 2024, April 26, 2024, May 3, 2024, May 17, 2024, May 21, 2024, June 14, 2024, June 20, 2024, July 10, 2024, July 18, 2024, July 24, 2024,  July 26, 2024, August 12, 2024, September 16, 2024, September 19, 2024, September 19, 2024, September 27, 2024, October 8, 2024, October 10, 2024, October 15, 2024, October 16, 2024, October 17, 2024, November 6, 2024, November 13, 2024, November 18, 2024, and November  26, 2024  (other than information furnished and not filed); and

 

●

The description of the common stock which is contained in the Company’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed with the SEC on November 9, 2023 (File No. 001-41863) pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act, including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description.

 

Any statement made in a document incorporated by reference into this prospectus or any prospectus supplement will be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus or such prospectus supplement to the extent that a statement contained in this prospectus or such prospectus supplement modifies or supersedes that statement. Any statement so modified or superseded will not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus or such prospectus supplement.

 

We will provide to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom this prospectus is delivered, at no cost, upon written or oral request, a copy of any or all of the documents that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus, other than exhibits to such documents unless such exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference into such documents. Requests should be directed to Signing Day Sports, Inc., Attn: Secretary, 8355 East Hartford Rd., Suite 100, Scottsdale, AZ 85255, or by calling us at (480) 220-6814.

 

 

 

Signing Day Sports, Inc.

 

 

$100,000,000

 

Common Stock

Preferred Stock

Debt Securities

Warrants

Subscription Rights

Units

 

 

PROSPECTUS

 

 

_______, 2024

 

 

 

The information in this preliminary prospectus supplement is not complete and may be changed. These securities may not be sold until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This preliminary prospectus supplement is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting offers to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.

 

SUBJECT TO COMPLETION

PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT DATED DECEMBER 2, 2024

 

PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

(To Prospectus dated                       , 2024)

 

Up to $2,709,817

Shares of Common Stock

 

 

Signing Day Sports, Inc.

 

We have entered into an At The Market Offering Agreement (the “ATM Agreement”) with H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC (“Wainwright”), dated December 2, 2024, relating to the sale of shares of our common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“common stock”), offered by this prospectus supplement. In accordance with the terms of the ATM Agreement, under this prospectus supplement we may offer and sell shares of our common stock having an aggregate offering price of up to $2,709,817 from time to time through Wainwright, acting as sales agent or principal.

 

Sales of our common stock, if any, under this prospectus supplement will be made by any method permitted by law that is deemed an “at the market offering” as defined in Rule 415(a)(4) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), including sales made directly on or through the NYSE American LLC (“NYSE American”), any other existing trading market of our common stock, to or through a market maker, directly to Wainwright as principal, or in privately negotiated transactions at market prices prevailing at the time of sale. Wainwright is not required to sell any specific amount, but will act as our sales agent using commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices on mutually agreed terms between Wainwright and us. There is no arrangement for funds to be received in any escrow, trust or similar arrangement.

 

Wainwright will be entitled to compensation at a commission rate equal to 3.0% of the gross sales price of the shares of our common stock sold through it pursuant to the ATM Agreement and reimbursement of certain expenses. See “Plan of Distribution” beginning on page S-10 for additional information regarding the compensation to be paid to Wainwright. In connection with the sale of the common stock on our behalf, Wainwright may be deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act and the compensation of Wainwright may be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts. We have also agreed to provide indemnification and contribution to Wainwright with respect to certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.

 

Our shares of common stock are listed on the NYSE American under the symbol “SGN”. On November 29, 2024, the last reported sale price of our common stock on the NYSE American was $8.50 per share.

 

 

Unless otherwise noted, the share and per share information in this prospectus supplement have been adjusted to give effect to the one-for-five (1-for-5) reverse stock split of the outstanding common stock which became effective on April 14, 2023 (the “April 2023 Reverse Stock Split”) and the one-for-forty-eight (1-for-48) reverse stock split of the outstanding common stock which became effective on November 16, 2024 (the “November 2024 Reverse Stock Split”).

 

We are an “emerging growth company”, as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012, under applicable U.S. federal securities laws, and are eligible for reduced public company reporting requirements. See Item 1A. “Risk Factors – Risks Related to Our Common Stock and Securities Convertible into Our Common Stock – We are subject to ongoing public reporting requirements that are less rigorous than Exchange Act rules for companies that are not emerging growth companies and our stockholders could receive less information than they might expect to receive from more mature public companies.” in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 (the “2023 Annual Report”), which is incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement.

 

As of November 29, 2024, the aggregate market value of our outstanding common stock held by non-affiliates was $8,129,453 based upon 773,715 shares of outstanding common stock, of which 639,108 shares were held by non-affiliates, and the last reported sale price of our common stock of $12.72 per share on October 9, 2024. Pursuant to General Instruction I.B.6. of Form S-3, in no event will we sell shares pursuant to this prospectus supplement having a value exceeding more than one-third of our public float in any 12-month period so long as our public float remains below $75,000,000. In the event that subsequent to the date of this prospectus the aggregate market value of our outstanding common stock held by non-affiliates equals or exceeds $75,000,000, such one-third limitation on sales shall not apply to sales subsequently made pursuant to this prospectus supplement. As of the date of this prospectus supplement, we have not sold any securities pursuant to General Instruction I.B.6 of Form S-3 during the 12-calendar month period that ends on and includes the date hereof.

 

Investing in our securities is highly speculative and involves a high degree of risk.  See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 7 of this prospectus supplement and as described in certain of the documents we may incorporate by reference herein, for a discussion of information that should be considered in connection with an investment in our securities.

 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state or provincial securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete.  Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

 

H.C. Wainwright & Co. 

 

The date of this prospectus supplement is                , 2024.

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

		Page
About This Prospectus Supplement		S-ii
Prospectus Supplement Summary		S-1
The Offering		S-4
Risk Factors		S-5
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements		S-8
Use of Proceeds		S-9
Dividend Policy		S-9
Plan of Distribution		S-10
Legal Matters		S-11
Experts		S-11
Where You Can Find More Information; Documents Incorporated by Reference		S-11

 

 

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

 

This prospectus supplement is part of a registration statement on Form S-3 that we have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) utilizing a “shelf” registration process. By using a shelf registration statement, we may offer and sell shares of our common stock having an aggregate offering price of up to $2,709,817 from time to time under this prospectus supplement at prices and on terms to be determined by market conditions at the time of offering.

 

We provide information to you about this offering of our common stock in two separate documents that are bound together: (1) this prospectus supplement, which describes the specific details regarding this offering; and (2) the accompanying base prospectus, which provides general information, some of which may not apply to this offering. Generally, when we refer to this “prospectus supplement,” we are referring to both documents combined. If information in this prospectus supplement is inconsistent with the accompanying base prospectus, you should rely on this prospectus supplement. To the extent there is a conflict between the information contained in this prospectus supplement, on the one hand, and the information contained in any document incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement, on the other hand, you should rely on the information in this prospectus supplement. If any statement in one of these documents is inconsistent with a statement in another document having a later date – for example, a document incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement – the statement in the document having the later date modifies or supersedes the earlier statement.

 

We have not, and Wainwright has not, authorized anyone to provide you with information other than that contained in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying base prospectus and any free writing prospectus. We are not, and Wainwright is not, making an offer to sell or soliciting any offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted or in which the person making that offer or solicitation is not qualified to do so or to anyone to whom it is unlawful to make an offer or solicitation. You should assume that the information appearing in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying base prospectus, the documents incorporated by reference herein and therein and any free writing prospectus that we have authorized for use in connection with this offering is accurate only as of the date of those respective documents. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates. You should read this prospectus supplement, the accompanying base prospectus, the documents incorporated by reference herein and therein and any free writing prospectus that we have authorized for use in connection with this offering in their entirety before making an investment decision.

 

Before buying any of the common stock that we are offering, we urge you to carefully read this prospectus supplement, the accompanying base prospectus and all of the documents incorporated by reference herein and therein, as well as the additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information; Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference”. This prospectus supplement contains summaries of certain provisions contained in some of the documents described herein, but reference is made to the actual documents for complete information. All of the summaries are qualified in their entirety by the actual documents. Copies of some of the documents referred to herein have been filed, will be filed or will be incorporated by reference as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus supplement is a part, and you may obtain copies of those documents as described below under the heading ”Where You Can Find More Information; Documents Incorporated by Reference”. These documents contain important information that you should consider when making your investment decision.

 

This prospectus supplement contains forward-looking statements that are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control. See “Risk Factors” and “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” appearing in this prospectus supplement and in the documents we file with the SEC that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement.

 

 

For investors outside of the United States: Neither we nor Wainwright have not done anything that would permit this offering or possession or distribution of this prospectus supplement in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required, other than in the United States. Persons outside the United States who come into possession of this prospectus supplement must inform themselves about, and observe any restrictions relating to, the offering of our securities and the distribution of this prospectus supplement outside the United States.

 

In this prospectus supplement, unless the context indicates otherwise, “we,” “us,” “our,” “Signing Day Sports,” “the Company,” “our company” and similar references refer to the operations of Signing Day Sports, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

 

Trademarks, Trade Names and Service Marks

 

We use various trademarks, trade names and service marks in our business. For convenience, we may not include the “℠”, “^®” or “^™” status symbols for these marks, but such omission is not meant to indicate that we would not protect our intellectual property rights to the fullest extent allowed by law. Any other trademarks, trade names or service marks referred to in this prospectus supplement are the property of their respective owners.

 

Industry and Market Data

 

We are responsible for the information contained in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement. This prospectus supplement includes or incorporates by reference industry and market data that we obtained from periodic industry publications, third-party studies and surveys, filings of public companies in our industry or internal company surveys. These sources generally state that the information they provide has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but that the accuracy and completeness of the information are not guaranteed. The forecasts and projections are based on historical market data, and there is no assurance that any of the forecasts or projected amounts will be achieved. Industry and market data could be wrong because of the method by which sources obtained their data and because information cannot always be verified with complete certainty due to the limits on the availability and reliability of raw data, the voluntary nature of the data gathering process and other limitations and uncertainties. The market and industry data used in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement involve risks and uncertainties that are subject to change based on various factors, including those discussed in or incorporated by reference into the section titled “Risk Factors”, any applicable prospectus supplement, and the documents incorporated by reference herein. These and other factors could cause results to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, the estimates made by independent parties and by us. Furthermore, we cannot assure you that a third party using different methods to assemble, analyze or compute industry and market data would obtain the same results.

 

 

RISK FACTORS

 

An investment in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the following risk factors, together with the other information contained in this prospectus supplement applicable to each offering of our securities pursuant to this prospectus supplement, the information set forth under Item 1A. “Risk Factors” of the 2023 Annual Report, which is incorporated herein by reference except to the extent that the risk factors stated therein are amended, restated and updated hereby, and in other filings we make with the SEC, before purchasing our securities. We have listed below (not necessarily in order of importance or probability of occurrence) what we believe to be the most significant risk factors applicable to us, but they do not constitute all of the risks that may be applicable to us. Any of the following factors could harm our business, financial condition, results of operations or prospects, and could result in a partial or complete loss of your investment. Some statements in this prospectus supplement and in the reports incorporated herein by reference, including statements in the following risk factors, constitute forward-looking statements. Please refer to the section titled “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements”.

 

Risks Related to the Company’s Business, Operations and Industry

 

Our current liabilities could adversely affect our financial condition or liquidity, and we could have difficulty fulfilling our financial obligations, which may have a material adverse effect on us.

 

As of September 30, 2024, we had outstanding indebtedness and other liabilities totaling approximately $2.682 million, compared to approximately $1,000 in cash and cash equivalents. Our current level of indebtedness and other financial obligations increases the risk that we may be unable to generate cash sufficient to pay amounts due in respect of our indebtedness and other financial obligations. The level of our indebtedness and other financial obligations could have other important consequences on our business, including:

 

●

making it more difficult for us to satisfy our obligations with respect to indebtedness and other financial obligations;

 

●

increasing our vulnerability to adverse changes in general economic, industry, and competitive conditions;

 

●

requiring us to dedicate a significant portion of our cash flows from operations to make payments on our indebtedness and other financial obligations, thereby reducing the availability of our cash flows to fund working capital and other general corporate purposes;

 

●

limiting our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in our business and the industry in which we operate;

 

●

restricting us from capitalizing on business opportunities;

 

●

placing us at a competitive disadvantage compared to our competitors that have less debt and other financial obligations;

 

●

limiting our ability to borrow additional funds for working capital, acquisitions, debt service requirements, execution of our business strategy, or other general corporate purposes;

 

●

requiring us to provide additional credit support, such as letters of credit or other financial guarantees, to our customers or suppliers, thereby limiting our availability of funds;

 

●

limiting our ability to enter into certain commercial arrangements because of concerns of counterparty risks; and

 

●

limiting our ability to adjust to changing market conditions and placing us at a competitive disadvantage compared to our competitors that have less debt.

 

 

The occurrence of any one or more of these circumstances could have a material adverse effect on us.

 

Our ability to pay off our indebtedness and other financial obligations depends on and is subject to our financial and operating performance, which in turn is affected by general and regional economic, financial, competitive, business, and other factors (many of which are beyond our control), including the availability of financing in the international banking and capital markets. We cannot be certain that our business will generate sufficient cash flows from operations or that capital will be available to us in an amount sufficient to enable us to pay off our indebtedness and other financial obligations, or to fund our other liquidity needs.

 

If we are unable to meet our debt and other financial obligations or to fund our other liquidity needs, we will need to restructure or refinance all or a portion of our debt and other financial obligations. Failure to successfully restructure or refinance our debt and other financial obligations could cause us to default on our debt and other financial obligations and would impair our liquidity. Our ability to restructure or refinance our debt and other financial obligations will depend on the condition of the capital markets, which is outside of our control, and our financial condition at such time. Any refinancing of our debt and other financial obligations could be at higher interest rates and may require us to comply with more onerous covenants that could further restrict our business operations.

 

Moreover, in the event that we fail to make a required payment on our debt and other financial obligations when due, if not cured or waived, the affected creditor could elect to declare all the funds borrowed or owed to be immediately due and payable, together with accrued and unpaid interest. Our assets or cash flows may not be sufficient to fully pay off debt and other financial obligations upon such demand. Any failure to repay our indebtedness or other financial obligations when due, if not cured or waived, could force us into bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, or liquidation.

 

We will need to obtain additional funding to continue operations. If we fail to obtain the necessary financing or fail to become profitable or are unable to sustain profitability on a continuing basis, then we may be unable to continue our operations and be forced to significantly delay, scale back or discontinue our operations or explore other strategies.

 

Our current cash runway is insufficient for us to be able to achieve or maintain positive cash flow. We have incurred losses for each period from our inception and a significant accumulated deficit. For the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, our net loss was approximately $5.413 million and approximately $2.676 million, respectively, and our net cash used in operating activities was approximately $3.489 million and approximately $1.497 million, respectively. For the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, our net loss was approximately $5.478 million and approximately $6.674 million, respectively, and our cash used in operating activities was approximately $4.848 million and approximately $4.928 million, respectively. As of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, we had an accumulated deficit of approximately $22.372 million and approximately $16.959 million, respectively. As of September 30, 2024, we had total current liabilities of approximately $2.605 million, compared to approximately $1,000 in cash and cash equivalents.

 

As a result of our critical financial condition, we are actively seeking to raise funds, primarily to pay off existing indebtedness and accounts payable to avoid loan defaults, lawsuits, bankruptcy, and liquidation, rather than for growth or expansion. Even if we are successful in this regard, we will require substantial additional capital to fund our planned operations, and if we fail to obtain necessary financing, our business plans may not be successful.

 

Our ability to obtain the necessary financing to carry out our operating plans or remain in operation is subject to a number of factors, including general market conditions and investor acceptance of our business model. These factors may make the timing, amount, terms and conditions of such financing unattractive or unavailable to us. If we are unable to raise sufficient funds on acceptable terms, we will have to significantly reduce our spending, delay or cancel our planned activities, substantially change our corporate or capital structure, terminate major unprofitable business operations that have defined our company since inception, and sell the related assets. Any of these contingency plans may at minimum change our business focus to one with which you do not agree or that may not meet your investment objectives, and if they are not successful, we may be forced into bankruptcy or dissolution and your investment could lose all value.

 

 

Risks Relating to this Offering

 

Investors may experience immediate and substantial dilution in the book value per share you purchase.

 

The offering price per share in this offering may exceed the net tangible book value per share outstanding prior to this offering. Because the sales of the shares offered hereby will be made directly into the market, the prices at which we sell these shares will vary and these variations may be significant. Purchasers of the shares we sell, as well as holders of our existing shares, will experience significant dilution if we sell shares at prices significantly below the price at which they invested.

 

We have broad discretion to determine how to use the funds raised in this offering, and may use them in ways that may not enhance our operating results or the price of our common stock.

Our management will have broad discretion over the use of proceeds from this offering, and we could spend the proceeds from this offering in ways our stockholders may not agree with or that do not yield a favorable return, if at all. Because of the number and variability of factors that will determine our use of the proceeds from this offering, their ultimate use may vary substantially from their currently intended use. We expect to use the net proceeds from this offering for working capital and general corporate purposes, which may include, among other things, repayment or refinancing of debt. If we do not invest or apply the proceeds from this offering in ways that enhance stockholder value, we may fail to achieve expected financial results, which could cause our stock price to decline.

 

Future sales or issuances of our common stock in the public markets, or the perception of such sales, could depress the trading price of our common stock.

 

The sale of a substantial number of shares of our common stock or other equity-related securities in the public markets, or the perception that such sales could occur, could depress the market price of our common stock and impair our ability to raise capital through the sale of additional equity securities. We may sell large quantities of our common stock at any time pursuant to this prospectus supplement or in one or more separate offerings. We cannot predict the effect that future sales of common stock or other equity-related securities would have on the market price of our common stock.

 

The actual number of shares we will issue under the ATM Agreement, at any one time or in total, is uncertain.

 

Subject to certain limitations in the ATM Agreement and compliance with applicable law, we have the discretion to deliver a sales notice to Wainwright at any time throughout the term of the ATM Agreement. The number of shares that are sold by Wainwright after delivering a sales notice will fluctuate based on the market price of our common stock during the sales period and limits we set with Wainwright. Because the price per share of each share sold will fluctuate based on the market price of our common stock during the sales period, it is not possible at this stage to predict the number of shares that will be ultimately issued.

 

The common stock offered hereby will be sold in “at-the-market offerings,” and investors who buy shares at different times will likely pay different prices.

 

Investors who purchase shares in this offering at different times will likely pay different prices, and so may experience different outcomes in their investment results. We will have discretion, subject to market demand, to vary the timing, prices, and numbers of shares sold, and there is no minimum or maximum sales price. Investors may experience a decline in the value of their shares as a result of share sales made at prices lower than the prices they paid.

 

 

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

This prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus, and the documents incorporated by reference herein and therein and any prospectus supplement that we have authorized for use in connection with this offering may contain, forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Exchange Act and Section 27A of the Securities Act that are based on our management’s beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to us. All statements other than statements of historical facts are forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements are contained principally in, but not limited to, the section “Prospectus Summary” in this prospectus supplement, under Item 1. “Business” and Item 7. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” of the 2023 Annual Report, Part 1. Financial Information – Item 2. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” of the Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on each of May 15, 2024, August 19, 2024, and November 14, 2024, and may be contained in our prospectus supplements or future SEC reports. These statements relate to future events or to our future financial performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about:

 

●

the benefits from the anticipated acquisition of the majority of the outstanding equity of DRCR, which presumes, among other things, the Company’s ability to obtain securities exchange clearance of an initial listing application of the post-acquisition Company, obtain stockholder approval of the acquisition, integrate DRCR’s business into the Company’s business, and derive the benefits of the expected resources and synergies from the acquisition;

 

●

anticipated benefits from strategic alliances and collaborations with certain sports organizations or celebrity professional sports consultants;

 

●

our ability to implement certain desired artificial intelligence features into our platform;

 

●

our anticipated ability to obtain additional funding to develop additional services and offerings;

 

●

expected market acceptance of our existing and new offerings;

 

●

anticipated competition from existing online offerings or new offerings that may emerge;

 

●

anticipated favorable impacts from strategic changes to our business on our net sales, revenues, income from continuing operations, or other results of operations;

 

●

our expected ability to attract new users and customers, with respect to football, sports other than football, or both;

 

●

our expected ability to increase the rate of subscription renewals;

 

●

our expected ability to slow the rate of user attrition;

 

●

our expected ability and third parties’ abilities to protect intellectual property rights;

 

●

our expected ability to adequately support future growth;

 

●

our expected ability to comply with user data privacy laws and other legal requirements;

 

●

anticipated legal and regulatory requirements and our ability to comply with such requirements; and

 

●

our expected ability to attract and retain key personnel to manage our business effectively.

 

In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as “may,” “could,” “will,” “should,” “would,” “expect,” “plan,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” “project” or “continue” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. These statements are only predictions. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include, among other things, those listed under the heading “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this prospectus supplement, in the 2023 Annual Report under Item 1A. “Risk Factors”, the other documents incorporated by reference herein and under a similar heading in any applicable prospectus supplement, and the risks detailed from time to time in our future SEC reports or registration statements. If one or more of these risks or uncertainties occur, or if our underlying assumptions prove to be incorrect, actual events or results may vary significantly from those implied or projected by the forward-looking statements. No forward-looking statement is a guarantee of future performance.

 

The forward-looking statements made in this prospectus supplement and documents incorporated by reference herein relate only to events or information as of the date they are made. Except as expressly required by the federal securities laws, there is no undertaking to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, changed circumstances or any other reason.

 

 

USE OF PROCEEDS

 

We may issue and sell shares of our common stock having aggregate sales proceeds of up to $2,709,817 from time to time. Because there is no minimum offering amount required as a condition to close this offering, the actual total public offering amount, commissions and proceeds to us, if any, are not determinable at this time. There can be no assurance that we will be able to sell any shares under or fully utilize the ATM Agreement.

 

We intend to use the net proceeds, if any, from this offering for working capital and other general corporate purposes, including repayment of the following indebtedness:

 

●

a Convertible Promissory Note issued to DRCR, dated October 7, 2024, in the principal amount of $150,000 (the “October 2024 Note”), which accrues interest at an annual rate of 35%, and will become payable on the date of written demand any time after the closing of the Company’s next financing transaction;

 

●

a promissory note issued to Daniel Nelson, the Chief Executive Officer, Chairman and a director of the Company, dated September 16, 2024, in the principal amount of $100,000, and any additional advances of up to $100,000, which accrue interest at a monthly rate of 20%, compounded monthly, from the 30th day following the date of issuance to the 150th day following the date of issuance, which will become payable on the earlier of December 16, 2024 or the date of which the Company receiving any funding of $1,000,000, and which must be repaid within two business days of receiving a written demand from Mr. Nelson on or after such date; and

 

●

a promissory note issued to Daniel Nelson, the Chief Executive Officer, Chairman and a director of the Company, dated April 25, 2024, in the principal amount of $100,000, under which Mr. Nelson made an advance of $75,000 on May 1, 2024 and an advance of $2,500 on June 14, 2024, which accrued interest at a monthly rate of 3.5%, compounded monthly, from the 30th day following the date of issuance to the 150th day following the date of issuance, which became payable on June 25, 2024, and which must be repaid within two business days of receiving a written demand from Mr. Nelson.

 

Our management will have broad discretion in the allocation of the net proceeds and investors will be relying on the judgment of our management regarding the application of the proceeds of any sale of the securities.

 

DIVIDEND POLICY

 

We have never declared or paid cash dividends on our common stock. We currently intend to retain all available funds and any future earnings for use in the operation of our business and do not anticipate paying any cash dividends on our common stock in the near future. We may also enter into credit agreements or other borrowing arrangements in the future that will restrict our ability to declare or pay cash dividends on our common stock. Any future determination to declare dividends will be made at the discretion of our board of directors and will depend on our financial condition, operating results, capital requirements, contractual restrictions, general business conditions and other factors that our board of directors may deem relevant. See also Item 1A. “Risk Factors – Risks Related to Our Common Stock – We do not expect to declare or pay dividends on our common stock in the foreseeable future.” in the 2023 Annual Report, which is incorporated by reference herein.

 

 

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

 

We have entered into the ATM Agreement with Wainwright under which we may issue and sell shares of our common stock from time to time having an aggregate gross sales price of up to the amount set forth on the cover page of this prospectus supplement, as supplemented from time to time, through or to Wainwright acting as sales agent or principal. The ATM Agreement has been filed with the SEC as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus supplement forms a part.

 

Upon delivery of a placement notice, subject to the Company’s instructions, including any price, time or size limits specified by the Company, and the terms and conditions of the ATM Agreement, Wainwright may offer and sell our common stock by any method permitted by law deemed to be an “at-the-market” offering as defined in Rule 415(a)(4) promulgated under the Securities Act, including sales made directly on or through the NYSE American LLC (“NYSE American”), any other existing trading market of our common stock, to or through a market maker, directly to Wainwright as principal, or in privately negotiated transactions at market prices prevailing at the time of sale. We may instruct Wainwright not to sell common stock if the sales cannot be effected at or above the price designated by us from time to time. We or Wainwright may suspend the offering of common stock upon notice and subject to other conditions. If we and Wainwright agree on any method of distribution other than sales of shares of our common stock on or through the NYSE American or another existing trading market in the United States at market prices, we will file a prospectus supplement providing all information about such offering as required by Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act.

 

We will pay Wainwright commissions, in cash, for its services in acting as agent in the sale of our common stock. Wainwright will be entitled to compensation at a commission rate of 3.0% of the gross sales price per share sold pursuant to the ATM Agreement. Because there is no minimum offering amount required as a condition of this offering, the actual total public offering amount, commissions and proceeds to us, if any, are not determinable at this time. We have also agreed to reimburse Wainwright for certain specified expenses, including the fees and disbursements of its legal counsel, in an amount up to $50,000, in addition to up to $2,500 per due diligence update session for Wainwright’s counsel’s fees. We estimate that the total expenses for the offering, excluding compensation and reimbursements payable to Wainwright under the terms of the ATM Agreement, will be approximately $0.1 million.

 

Settlement for sales of common stock will generally occur on the first trading day following the date on which any sales are made (or any such shorter settlement cycle as may be in effect under Exchange Act Rule 15c6-1 from time to time), or on some other date that is agreed upon by us and Wainwright in connection with a particular transaction, in return for payment of the net proceeds to us. Sales of our common stock as contemplated in this prospectus supplement will be settled through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company or by such other means as we and Wainwright may agree upon. There is no arrangement for funds to be received in an escrow, trust or similar arrangement.

 

Wainwright will use its commercially reasonable efforts, consistent with normal sales and trading practices, to solicit offers to purchase shares of our common stock under the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the ATM Agreement. In connection with the sale of the common stock on our behalf, Wainwright will be deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act and the compensation of Wainwright will be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts. We have agreed to provide indemnification and contribution to Wainwright against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.

 

The offering of our common stock pursuant to the ATM Agreement will terminate upon termination of the ATM Agreement or as otherwise permitted therein. We and Wainwright may each terminate the ATM Agreement at any time as provided in the ATM Agreement.

 

To the extent required by Regulation M, Wainwright will not engage in any market making activities involving our common stock while the offering is ongoing under this prospectus supplement. Wainwright and each of its affiliates may in the future provide various investment banking and other financial services for us and our affiliates, for which services they may in the future receive customary fees. 

 

This summary of the material provisions of the ATM Agreement does not purport to be a complete statement of its terms and conditions. A copy of the ATM Agreement is filed with the SEC as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus supplement forms a part.

 

This prospectus supplement and the accompanying base prospectus in electronic format may be made available on a website maintained by Wainwright and Wainwright may distribute this prospectus supplement and the accompanying base prospectus electronically.

 

 

LEGAL MATTERS

 

Certain legal matters relating to the issuance and sale of the securities offered hereby will be passed upon for us by Bevilacqua PLLC. H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC is being represented in connection with this offering by Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP.

 

EXPERTS

 

The financial statements of the Company as of and for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022 are incorporated into this prospectus supplement by reference in reliance upon the report incorporated by reference of BARTON CPA PLLC, an independent registered public accounting firm, appearing therein (which contains an explanatory paragraph describing conditions that raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern as disclosed in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements), and upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

 

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION; DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

 

Available Information

 

We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements, and other information with the SEC. The SEC maintains a website that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding companies, such as ours, that file documents electronically with the SEC. The website address is https://www.sec.gov. Copies of certain information filed by us with the SEC are also available on our website at https://www.ir.signingdaysports.com. Information accessible on or through our website is not a part of this prospectus supplement.

 

This prospectus supplement is part of a registration statement that we filed with the SEC and does not contain all of the information in the registration statement. You should review the information and exhibits in the registration statement for further information on us and the securities that we are offering. Statements in this prospectus supplement about these documents are summaries and each statement is qualified in all respects by reference to the document to which it refers. You should read the actual documents for a more complete description of the relevant matters.

 

 

Incorporation by Reference

 

The SEC allows us to incorporate by reference much of the information that we file with the SEC, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those publicly available documents. The information that we incorporate by reference in this prospectus supplement is considered to be part of this prospectus supplement. Because we are incorporating by reference future filings with the SEC, this prospectus supplement is continually updated and those future filings may modify or supersede some of the information included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement. This means that you must look at all of the SEC filings that we incorporate by reference to determine if any of the statements in this prospectus supplement or in any document previously incorporated by reference have been modified or superseded. This prospectus supplement incorporates by reference the documents listed below and any future filings we make with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (in each case, other than those documents or the portions of those documents furnished pursuant to Items 2.02 or 7.01 of any Current Report on Form 8-K and, except as may be noted in any such Form 8-K, exhibits filed on such form that are related to such information), including after the date of the initial registration statement of which this prospectus supplement forms a part was filed and prior to effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus supplement forms a part, until the offering of the securities under the registration statement of which this prospectus supplement forms a part is terminated:

 

●

our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, filed with the SEC on March 29, 2024;

 

●

our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2024, filed with the SEC on November 14, 2024;

 

●

our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2024, filed with the SEC on August 19, 2024;

 

●

our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2024, filed with the SEC on May 15, 2024;

 

●

our Current Reports on Form 8-K (and any amendments thereto on Form 8-K/A) filed with the SEC on January 8, 2024, January 29, 2024, February 14, 2024, February 28, 2024, March 6, 2024, March 11, 2024, April 11, 2024, April 17, 2024, April 26, 2024, May 3, 2024, May 17, 2024, May 21, 2024, June 14, 2024, June 20, 2024, July 10, 2024, July 18, 2024, July 24, 2024,  July 26, 2024, August 12, 2024, September 16, 2024, September 19, 2024, September 19, 2024, September 27, 2024, October 8, 2024, October 10, 2024, October 15, 2024, October 16, 2024, October 17, 2024, November 6, 2024, November 13, 2024, and November 18, 2024, and November  26, 2024  (other than information furnished and not filed); and

 

●

The description of the common stock which is contained in the Company’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed with the SEC on November 9, 2023 (File No. 001-41863) pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act, including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description.

 

Any statement made in a document incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement will be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus supplement to the extent that a statement contained in this prospectus supplement modifies or supersedes that statement. Any statement so modified or superseded will not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus supplement.

 

We will provide to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom this prospectus supplement is delivered, at no cost, upon written or oral request, a copy of any or all of the documents that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement, other than exhibits to such documents unless such exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference into such documents. Requests should be directed to Signing Day Sports, Inc., Attn: Secretary, 8355 East Hartford Rd., Suite 100, Scottsdale, AZ 85255, or by calling us at (480) 220-6814.

 

 

 

 

Signing Day Sports, Inc.

 

Up to $2,709,817

Shares of Common Stock

 

 

PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

 

 

H.C. Wainwright & Co. 

 

_______, 2024

 

 

PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN THE PROSPECTUS

 

Unless the context indicates otherwise, “we,” “us,” “our,” “Signing Day Sports,” “the Company,” “our company” and similar references in this “Part II. Information Not Required in the Prospectus” refer to the operations of Signing Day Sports, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

 

Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution

 

The following table sets forth the costs and expenses, other than underwriting discounts, commissions and non-accountable expense allowance, payable by us in connection with the sale of shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“common stock”), being registered. All amounts, other than the registration fee of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and the fee of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”), are estimates. We will pay all these expenses.

 

		Amount
SEC registration fee		$	15,376.07
FINRA fee			15,500
Printing expenses			*
Legal fees and expenses			*
Accounting fees and expenses			*
Blue Sky, qualification fees and expenses			*
Transfer agent fees and expenses			*
Trustee fees and expenses			*
Warrant agent fees and expenses			*
Miscellaneous			*
Total		$	*

 

*

The amount of securities and number of offerings are indeterminable, and the expenses cannot be estimated at this time. The foregoing sets forth the general categories of fees and expenses (other than underwriting discounts and commissions) that we anticipate we will incur in connection with the offering of securities under this registration statement.

 

Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers

 

Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (“DGCL”) provides that a corporation has the power to indemnify a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or a person serving at the request of the corporation for another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise in related capacities against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with an action, suit or proceeding to which he was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, ending or completed action, suit or proceeding by reason of such position, if such person acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, in any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe such person’s conduct was unlawful, except that, in the case of actions brought by or in the right of the corporation, no indemnification shall be made with respect to any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless and only to the extent that the Court of Chancery or other adjudicating court determines that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all of the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.

 

The Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as amended, authorizes the Company to indemnify, and advance expenses to, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any person who was or is a party to or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company, or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise.

 

 

The Second Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company (as amended, the “Second Amended and Restated Bylaws”), require that we indemnify our directors and executive officers to the fullest extent permitted by law, provided that we may modify the extent of such indemnification by individual contracts with directors and executive officers, and also provided that we are not required to indemnify any director or executive officer in connection with any proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such person unless (i) such indemnification is expressly required to be made by law, (ii) the proceeding was authorized by our board of directors, (iii) such indemnification is provided by the Company, in its sole discretion, pursuant to the powers vested in the Company under the DGCL or any other applicable law, or (iv) such indemnification is required to be made under the indemnification rights enforcement provision of the Second Amended and Restated Bylaws. Our obligation, if any, to indemnify any person pursuant to the Second Amended and Restated Bylaws who was or is serving at its request as a director, officer, employee, or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, enterprise, or nonprofit entity shall be reduced by any amount such person may collect as indemnification from such other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, enterprise, or nonprofit entity.

 

The Second Amended and Restated Bylaws also provide for advancement of expenses to any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director or executive officer of the Company, or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director or executive officer of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, prior to the final disposition of the proceeding, promptly following request therefor, all expenses actually and reasonably incurred by any director or executive officer in defending such proceeding, upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such person to repay all amounts advanced if it shall ultimately be determined by final judicial decision from which there is no further right to appeal that such person is not entitled to be indemnified for such expenses. Notwithstanding the foregoing, generally no advance shall be made by the Company to an executive officer of the Company (except by reason of the fact that such executive officer is or was a director of the Company) in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, if a determination is reasonably and promptly made (i) by a majority vote of a quorum consisting 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 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 Company’s interest. The Company’s obligation, if any, to indemnify any person pursuant to the Second Amended and Restated Bylaws who was or is serving at its request as a director, officer, employee, or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, enterprise, or nonprofit entity shall be reduced by any amount such person may collect as indemnification from such other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, enterprise, or nonprofit entity. The Second Amended and Restated Bylaws also permit the Company to indemnity its other officers, employees and other agents as set forth in the DGCL. The board of directors has 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.

 

 

We have also separately entered into an indemnification agreement with each of our directors and executive officers. Each indemnification agreement provides for indemnification to the fullest extent permitted by law, including: (i) all expenses, judgments, penalties, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by a director or executive officer, or on their behalf, in connection with any proceeding other than proceedings by or in the right of the Company or any claim, issue or matter therein, if the director or executive officer acted in good faith and in a manner the director or executive officer reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company, and with respect to any criminal proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe the director or executive officer’s conduct was unlawful; (ii) all expenses actually and reasonably incurred by a director or executive officer, or on their behalf, in connection with a proceeding by or in the right of the Company if the director or executive officer acted in good faith and in a manner the director or executive officer reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company, provided that if applicable law so provides, no indemnification against such expenses shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter in such proceeding as to which the director or executive officer shall have been adjudged to be liable to the Company unless and to the extent that the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware shall determine that such indemnification may be made; (iii) to the extent that a director or executive officer is, by reason of the director or executive officer’s director or executive officer status, a party to and is successful, on the merits or otherwise, in any proceeding, including by dismissal of such proceeding with or without prejudice, then the director or executive officer shall be indemnified to the maximum extent permitted by law, as such may be amended from time to time, against all expenses actually and reasonably incurred by the director or executive officer or on the director or executive officer’s behalf in connection therewith; and (iv) all expenses, judgments, penalties, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by a director or executive officer or on a director or executive officer’s behalf if, by reason of the director or executive officer’s status as a director or executive officer, the director or executive officer is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or participant in any proceeding (including a proceeding by or in the right of the Company), including, without limitation, all liability arising out of the negligence or active or passive wrongdoing of the director or executive officer, except where the payment is finally determined (under the procedures, and subject to the presumptions, set forth in the indemnification agreements) to be unlawful. The Company shall also advance all such expenses incurred by or on behalf of each director or executive officer in connection with any of the above proceedings by reason of the director or executive officer’s director or executive officer status within 30 days after the receipt by the Company of a statement or statements from the director or executive officer requesting such advance or advances from time to time, whether prior to or after final disposition of such proceeding. Such statement or statements shall reasonably evidence the expenses incurred by the director or executive officer and shall include or be preceded or accompanied by a written undertaking by or on behalf of the director or executive officer to repay any expenses advanced if it shall ultimately be determined that the director or executive officer is not entitled to be indemnified against such expenses. Any advances and undertakings to repay shall be unsecured and interest free. The indemnification agreements also provide for payments by the Company for the entire amount of any judgment or settlement of any action, suit or proceeding in which it is liable or would be liable if joined in such action, subject to the other terms and provisions of the indemnification agreements, and certain other indemnification and payment obligations. The indemnification agreements also provide that if we maintain a directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policy, that each director and executive officer will be covered by the policy to the maximum extent of the coverage available for any of the Company’s directors or executive officers.

 

We have obtained standard directors and officers liability insurance under which coverage is provided (a) to our directors and officers against loss rising from claims made by reason of breach of duty or other wrongful act, and (b) to us with respect to payments which we may make to such officers and directors pursuant to the indemnification agreements described above or otherwise as a matter of law.

 

The underwriting agreement with the underwriters of the Company’s initial public offering, filed as Exhibit 1.1 to this registration statement, provides for indemnification, under certain circumstances, by the underwriters of us and our officers and directors for certain liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), or otherwise.

 

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling us under the foregoing provisions, we have been informed that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.

 

 

Item 16. Exhibits.

 

(a) Exhibits.

 

Exhibit No.		Description
1.1		Underwriting Agreement, dated as of November 13, 2023, by and between Signing Day Sports, Inc. and Boustead Securities, LLC (as representative of the underwriters named therein) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on November 17, 2023)
1.2*		Form of Underwriting Agreement
1.3**		At The Market Offering Agreement, dated as of December 2, 2024, by and between Signing Day Sports, Inc. and H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC, as sales agent
2.1		Agreement and Plan of Merger of Signing Day Sports, LLC, Signing Day Sports Baseball, LLC, and Signing Day Sports Football, LLC, with and into Signing Day Sports, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed on May 15, 2023)
4.1		Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Signing Day Sports, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 29, 2024)
4.2		Certificate of Amendment of Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Signing Day Sports, Inc. filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on November 15, 2024 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on November 18, 2024)
4.3		Second Amended and Restated Bylaws of Signing Day Sports, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed on May 15, 2023)
4.4		Amendment No. 1 to the Second Amended and Restated Bylaws of Signing Day Sports, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 8, 2023)
4.5		Representative’s Warrant issued to Boustead Securities, LLC, dated November 16, 2023 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on November 17, 2023)
4.6		Warrant to Purchase Common Stock issued to Boustead Securities, LLC, dated as of December 23, 2021 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.4 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed on May 15, 2023)
4.7		Form of 8% Unsecured Promissory Note (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.8 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed on May 15, 2023)
4.8		Form of Warrant to Purchase Equity Securities issued with 8% Convertible Unsecured Note (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.6 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed on May 15, 2023)
4.9		Form of Warrants to Purchase Common Stock issued to Boustead Securities, LLC, as placement agent for purchases pursuant to Common Stock Purchase Agreement, dated January 5, 2024, between Signing Day Sports, Inc. and Tumim Stone Capital LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.18 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 29, 2024)
4.10		Promissory Note issued to Daniel Nelson, dated as of April 25, 2024 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 26, 2024)
4.11		Form of Common Stock Purchase Warrant issued to FirstFire Global Opportunities Fund, LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 17, 2024)
4.12		Form of Warrant to Purchase Common Stock issued to Boustead Securities, LLC, dated as of May 20, 2024 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.4 to the Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed on May 21, 2024)
4.13		Warrant to Purchase Common Stock issued to Boustead Securities, LLC, dated as of July 25, 2024 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on July 26, 2024)
4.14		Promissory Note issued to Daniel Nelson, dated as of September 16, 2024 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 16, 2024)
4.15		Convertible Promissory Note issued to Dear Cashmere Group Holding Company, dated as of October 7, 2024 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 8, 2024)
4.16*		Form of Certificate of Designation for Preferred Stock
4.17*		Form of Preferred Stock Certificate
4.18**		Form of Indenture
4.19*		Form of Warrant Agreement
4.20*		Form of Warrant Certificate
4.21*		Form of Subscription Rights Agreement
4.22*		Form of Subscription Rights Certificate
4.23*		Form of Unit Agreement
4.24*		Form of Unit Certificate
5.1**		Opinion of Bevilacqua PLLC
5.2**		Opinion of Bevilacqua PLLC
5.3**		Opinion of Bevilacqua PLLC
23.1**		Consent of BARTON CPA PLLC
23.2**		Consent of Bevilacqua PLLC (included in Exhibit 5.1, Exhibit 5.2, and Exhibit 5.3 hereto)
24.1		Power of Attorney (included on the signature page of this registration statement)
25.1***		Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility to act as trustee under Indenture
107**		Calculation of Filing Fee Table

 

*

To be filed, if applicable, as an exhibit to a post-effective amendment to this registration statement or as an exhibit to a report of the registrant filed pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and incorporated herein by reference.

**

Filed herewith.

***

To be filed separately pursuant to Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, if applicable.

 

 

(b) Financial Statement Schedules.

 

All financial statement schedules are omitted because the information called for is not required or is shown either in the financial statements or in the notes thereto.

 

Item 17. Undertakings

 

(a)

The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

 

(1)

To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

 

(i)

To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Securities Act”);

 

(ii)

To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of this registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in this registration statement; notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and

 

(iii)

To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in this registration statement or any material change to such information in this registration statement;   provided, however, that: paragraphs (i), (ii) and (iii) do not apply if the registration statement is on Form S-1 and the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement;

 

(2)

That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered herein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof;

 

(3)

To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering;

 

 

(4)

That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act to any purchaser:

 

(i)

Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement;

 

(ii)

Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date; and

 

(5)

That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, the undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:

 

(i)

Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;

 

(ii)

Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;

 

(iii)

The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and

 

(iv)

Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.

 

(b)

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Scottsdale, State of Arizona, on December 2, 2024.

 

	Signing Day Sports, Inc.
	By:	/s/ Daniel Nelson
		Daniel Nelson Chief Executive Officer

 

POWER OF ATTORNEY

 

Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints each of Daniel Nelson and Craig Smith as his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any or all amendments (including pre- and post-effective amendments) to this registration statement, any subsequent registration statement for the same offering which may be filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and pre- or post-effective amendments thereto, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the foregoing, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or their substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Signature		Title		Date
/s/ Daniel Nelson		Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer),		December 2, 2024
Daniel Nelson		Chairman, and Director
/s/ Damon Rich		Interim Chief Financial Officer (principal financial officer		December 2, 2024
Damon Rich		and principal accounting officer)
/s/ Jeffry Hecklinski		President and Director		December 2, 2024
Jeffry Hecklinski
/s/ Greg Economou		Director		December 2, 2024
Greg Economou
/s/ Roger Mason Jr.		Director		December 2, 2024
Roger Mason Jr.
/s/ Peter Borish		Director		December 2, 2024
Peter Borish

 

 

II-7

 

Exhibit 1.3

 

AT THE MARKET OFFERING AGREEMENT

 

December 2, 2024

 

H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC

430 Park Avenue

New York, New York 10022

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

Signing Day Sports, Inc., a corporation organized under the laws of Delaware (collectively with its successors and assigns, including, without limitation, any successor entity or entities in the event of any change of control, the “Company”), confirms its agreement (this “Agreement”) with H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC (the “Manager”) as follows:

 

1. Definitions. The terms that follow, when used in this Agreement and any Terms Agreement, shall have the meanings indicated.

 

“Accountants” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 4(m).

 

“Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.

 

“Action” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3(p).

 

“Affiliate” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3(o).

 

“Applicable Time” shall mean, with respect to any Shares, the time of sale of such Shares pursuant to this Agreement or any relevant Terms Agreement.

 

“Base Prospectus” shall mean the base prospectus contained in the Registration Statement at the Effective Time.

 

“Board” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2(b)(iii).

 

“Broker Fee” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2(b)(v).

 

“Business Day” shall mean 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, that, for purposes of clarity, 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.

 

 

“Commission” shall mean the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

“Common Stock” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.

 

”Common Stock Equivalents” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3(g).

 

“Company Counsel” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 4(l).

 

“DTC” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2(b)(vii).

 

“Effective Date” shall mean each date and time that the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment or amendments thereto became or becomes effective.

 

“Effective Time” shall mean the first date and time that the Registration Statement becomes effective.

 

“Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.

 

“Execution Time” shall mean the date and time that this Agreement is executed and delivered by the parties hereto.

 

“Free Writing Prospectus” shall mean a free writing prospectus, as defined in Rule 405.

 

“GAAP” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3(m).

 

“Incorporated Documents” shall mean the documents or portions thereof filed with the Commission on or prior to the Effective Date that are incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus and any documents or portions thereof filed with the Commission after the Effective Date that are deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus.

 

 

“Intellectual Property Rights” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3(v).

 

“Issuer Free Writing Prospectus” shall mean an issuer free writing prospectus, as defined in Rule 433.

 

“Losses” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 7(d).

 

“Material Adverse Effect” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3(b).

 

“Material Permits” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3(t).

 

“Net Proceeds” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2(b)(v).

 

“Permitted Free Writing Prospectus” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 4(g).

 

“Placement” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2(c).

 

“Proceeding” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3(b).

 

“Prospectus” shall mean the Base Prospectus, as supplemented by the Prospectus Supplement included in the Registration Statement at the Effective Time and any subsequently filed Prospectus Supplement.

 

“Prospectus Supplement” shall mean the prospectus supplement relating to the Shares included in the Registration Statement at the Effective Time and any other prospectus supplement relating to the Shares prepared and filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) from time to time.

 

“Registration Statement” shall mean the shelf registration statement on Form S-3 registering $100,000,000 of securities of the Company to be filed on or about the Execution Time, including exhibits and financial statements and any prospectus supplement relating to the Shares that is filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) and deemed part of such registration statement pursuant to Rule 430B, as amended on each Effective Date and, in the event any post-effective amendment thereto becomes effective, shall also mean such registration statement as so amended.

 

“Representation Date” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 4(k).

 

 

“Required Approvals” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3(e).

 

“Rule 158”, “Rule 164”, “Rule 172”, “Rule 173”, “Rule 405”, “Rule 415”, “Rule 424”, “Rule 430B” and “Rule 433” refer to such rules under the Act.

 

“Sales Notice” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2(b)(i).

 

“SEC Reports” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3(m).

 

“Settlement Date” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2(b)(vii).

 

“Subsidiary” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3(a).

 

“Terms Agreement” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2(a).

 

“Time of Delivery” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2(c).

 

“Trading Day” means a day on which the Trading Market is open for trading.

 

“Trading Market” means the NYSE American.

 

2. Sale and Delivery of Shares. The Company proposes to issue and sell through or to the Manager, as sales agent and/or principal, from time to time during the term of this Agreement and on the terms set forth herein, up to such number of shares (the “Shares”) of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“Common Stock”), that does not exceed (a) the number or dollar amount of shares of Common Stock registered on the Registration Statement and as reflected on the Prospectus Supplement, pursuant to which the offering is being made, (b) the number of authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock (less the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise, conversion or exchange of any outstanding securities of the Company or otherwise reserved from the Company’s authorized capital stock), or (c) the number or dollar amount of shares of Common Stock that would cause the Company or the offering of the Shares to not satisfy the eligibility and transaction requirements for use of Form S-3, including, if applicable, General Instruction I.B.6 of Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the lesser of (a), (b) and (c), the “Maximum Amount”). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the parties hereto agree that compliance with the limitations set forth in this Section 2 on the number and aggregate sales price of Shares issued and sold under this Agreement shall be the sole responsibility of the Company and that the Manager shall have no obligation in connection with such compliance.

 

(a) Appointment of Manager as Selling Agent; Terms Agreement. For purposes of selling the Shares through the Manager, the Company hereby appoints the Manager as exclusive agent of the Company for the purpose of selling the Shares of the Company pursuant to this Agreement and the Manager agrees to use its commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices to sell the Shares on the terms and subject to the conditions stated herein. The Company agrees that, whenever it determines to sell the Shares directly to the Manager as principal, it will enter into a separate agreement (each, a “Terms Agreement”) in substantially the form of Annex I hereto, relating to such sale in accordance with Section 2 of this Agreement.

 

 

(b) Agent Sales. Subject to the terms and conditions and in reliance upon the representations and warranties herein set forth, following the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, the Company will issue and agrees to sell Shares from time to time through the Manager, acting as sales agent, and the Manager agrees to use its commercially reasonable efforts to sell, as sales agent for the Company, on the following terms:

 

(i) The Shares are to be sold on a daily basis or otherwise as shall be agreed to by the Company and the Manager on any day that (A) is a Trading Day, (B) the Company has instructed the Manager by telephone (confirmed promptly by electronic mail) to make such sales (“Sales Notice”) and (C) the Company has satisfied its obligations under Section 6 of this Agreement. The Company will designate the maximum amount of the Shares to be sold by the Manager daily (subject to the limitations set forth in Section 2(d)) and the minimum price per Share at which such Shares may be sold. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Manager shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to sell on a particular day all of the Shares designated for the sale by the Company on such day. The gross sales price of the Shares sold under this Section 2(b) shall be the market price for the shares of Common Stock sold by the Manager under this Section 2(b) on the Trading Market at the time of sale of such Shares.

 

(ii) The Company acknowledges and agrees that (A) there can be no assurance that the Manager will be successful in selling the Shares, (B) the Manager will incur no liability or obligation to the Company or any other person or entity if it does not sell the Shares for any reason other than a failure by the Manager to use its commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices and applicable law and regulations to sell such Shares as required under this Agreement, and (C) the Manager shall be under no obligation to purchase Shares on a principal basis pursuant to this Agreement, except as otherwise specifically agreed by the Manager and the Company pursuant to a Terms Agreement.

 

 

(iii) The Company shall not authorize the issuance and sale of, and the Manager shall not be obligated to use its commercially reasonable efforts to sell, any Share at a price lower than the minimum price therefor designated from time to time by the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”), or a duly authorized committee thereof, or such duly authorized officers of the Company, and notified to the Manager in writing. The Company or the Manager may, upon notice to the other party hereto by telephone (confirmed promptly by electronic mail), suspend the offering of the Shares for any reason and at any time; provided, however, that such suspension or termination shall not affect or impair the parties’ respective obligations with respect to the Shares sold hereunder prior to the giving of such notice.

 

(iv) The Manager may sell Shares by any method permitted by law deemed to be an “at the market offering” as defined in Rule 415 under the Act, including without limitation sales made directly on the Trading Market, on any other existing trading market for the Common Stock or to or through a market maker. The Manager may also sell Shares in privately negotiated transactions, provided that the Manager receives the Company’s prior written approval for any sales in privately negotiated transactions and if so provided in the “Plan of Distribution” section of the Prospectus Supplement or a supplement to the Prospectus Supplement or a new Prospectus Supplement disclosing the terms of such privately negotiated transaction.

 

(v) The compensation to the Manager for sales of the Shares under this Section 2(b) shall be a placement fee of 3.0% of the gross sales price of the Shares sold pursuant to this Section 2(b) (“Broker Fee”). The foregoing rate of compensation shall not apply when the Manager acts as principal, in which case the Company may sell Shares to the Manager as principal at a price agreed upon at the relevant Applicable Time pursuant to a Terms Agreement. The remaining proceeds, after deduction of the Broker Fee and deduction of any transaction fees imposed by any clearing firm, execution broker, or governmental or self-regulatory organization in respect of such sales, shall constitute the net proceeds to the Company for such Shares (the “Net Proceeds”).

 

(vi) The Manager shall provide written confirmation (which may be by facsimile or electronic mail) to the Company following the close of trading on the Trading Market each day in which the Shares are sold under this Section 2(b) setting forth the number of the Shares sold on such day, the aggregate gross sales proceeds and the Net Proceeds to the Company, and the compensation payable by the Company to the Manager with respect to such sales.

 

 

(vii) Unless otherwise agreed between the Company and the Manager, settlement for sales of the Shares will occur at 10:00 a.m. (New York City time) on the first (1st) Trading Day (or any such shorter settlement cycle as may be in effect pursuant to Rule 15c6-1 under the Exchange Act from time to time) following the date on which such sales are made (each, a “Settlement Date”). On or before the Trading Day prior to each Settlement Date, the Company will, or will cause its transfer agent to, electronically transfer the Shares being sold by crediting the Manager’s or its designee’s account (provided that the Manager shall have given the Company written notice of such designee at least one Trading Day prior to the Settlement Date) at The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) through its Deposit and Withdrawal at Custodian System or by such other means of delivery as may be mutually agreed upon by the parties hereto which Shares in all cases shall be freely tradable, transferable, registered shares in good deliverable form. On each Settlement Date, the Manager will deliver the related Net Proceeds in same day funds to an account designated by the Company. The Company agrees that, if the Company, or its transfer agent (if applicable), defaults in its obligation to deliver duly authorized Shares on a Settlement Date, in addition to and in no way limiting the rights and obligations set forth in Section 7 hereto, the Company will (i) hold the Manager harmless against any loss, claim, damage, or reasonable, documented expense (including reasonable and documented legal fees and expenses), as incurred, arising out of or in connection with such default by the Company, and (ii) pay to the Manager any commission, discount or other compensation to which the Manager would otherwise have been entitled absent such default.

 

(viii) At each Applicable Time, Settlement Date, and Representation Date, the Company shall be deemed to have affirmed each representation and warranty contained in this Agreement as if such representation and warranty were made as of such date, modified as necessary to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended as of such date. Any obligation of the Manager to use its commercially reasonable efforts to sell the Shares on behalf of the Company shall be subject to the continuing accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Company herein, to the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder and to the continuing satisfaction of the additional conditions specified in Section 6 of this Agreement.

 

 

(ix) If the Company shall declare or make any dividend or other distribution of its assets (or rights to acquire its assets) to 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) (a “Distribution” and the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to receive the Distribution, the “Record Date”), the Company hereby covenants that, in connection with any sales of Shares pursuant to a Sales Notice on the Record Date, the Company shall issue and deliver such Shares to the Manager on the Record Date and the Record Date shall be the Settlement Date and the Company shall cover any additional costs of the Manager in connection with the delivery of Shares on the Record Date.

 

(c) Term Sales. If the Company wishes to sell the Shares pursuant to this Agreement in a manner other than as set forth in Section 2(b) of this Agreement (each, a “Placement”), the Company will notify the Manager of the proposed terms of such Placement. If the Manager, acting as principal, wishes to accept such proposed terms (which it may decline to do for any reason in its sole discretion) or, following discussions with the Company wishes to accept amended terms, the Manager and the Company will enter into a Terms Agreement setting forth the terms of such Placement. The terms set forth in a Terms Agreement will not be binding on the Company or the Manager unless and until the Company and the Manager have each executed such Terms Agreement accepting all of the terms of such Terms Agreement. In the event of a conflict between the terms of this Agreement and the terms of a Terms Agreement, the terms of such Terms Agreement will control. A Terms Agreement may also specify certain provisions relating to the reoffering of such Shares by the Manager. The commitment of the Manager to purchase the Shares pursuant to any Terms Agreement shall be deemed to have been made on the basis of the representations and warranties of the Company herein contained and shall be subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth. Each Terms Agreement shall specify the number of the Shares to be purchased by the Manager pursuant thereto, the price to be paid to the Company for such Shares, any provisions relating to rights of, and default by, underwriters acting together with the Manager in the reoffering of the Shares, and the time and date (each such time and date being referred to herein as a “Time of Delivery”) and place of delivery of and payment for such Shares. Such Terms Agreement shall also specify any requirements for opinions of counsel, accountants’ letters and officers’ certificates pursuant to Section 6 of this Agreement and any other information or documents required by the Manager.

 

(d) Maximum Number of Shares. Under no circumstances shall the Company cause or request the offer or sale of any Shares if, after giving effect to the sale of such Shares, the aggregate amount of Shares sold pursuant to this Agreement would exceed the lesser of (A) together with all sales of Shares under this Agreement, the Maximum Amount, (B) the amount available for offer and sale under the currently effective Registration Statement and (C) the amount authorized from time to time to be issued and sold under this Agreement by the Board, a duly authorized committee thereof or a duly authorized executive committee, and notified to the Manager in writing. Under no circumstances shall the Company cause or request the offer or sale of any Shares pursuant to this Agreement at a price lower than the minimum price authorized from time to time by the Board, a duly authorized committee thereof or a duly authorized executive officer, and notified to the Manager in writing. Further, under no circumstances shall the Company cause or permit the aggregate offering amount of Shares sold pursuant to this Agreement to exceed the Maximum Amount.

 

 

(e) Regulation M Notice. Unless the exceptive provisions set forth in Rule 101(c)(1) of Regulation M under the Exchange Act are satisfied with respect to the Shares, the Company shall give the Manager at least one (1) Business Day’s prior notice of its intent to sell any Shares in order to allow the Manager time to comply with Regulation M.

 

3. Representations and Warranties. The Company represents and warrants to, and agrees with, the Manager at the Execution Time and the Effective Time and on each such time that the following representations and warranties are repeated or deemed to be made pursuant to this Agreement, as set forth below, except as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or the Incorporated Documents.

 

(a) Subsidiaries. All of the direct and indirect subsidiaries (individually, a “Subsidiary”) of the Company are set forth on Exhibit 21.1 to the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Commission. The Company owns, directly or indirectly, all of the capital stock or other equity interests of each Subsidiary free and clear of any “Liens” (which for purposes of this Agreement shall mean a lien, charge, security interest, encumbrance, right of first refusal, preemptive right or other restriction), and all of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of each Subsidiary are validly issued and are fully paid, non-assessable and free of preemptive and similar rights to subscribe for or purchase securities.

 

(b) Organization and Qualification. The Company and each of the Subsidiaries is an entity duly incorporated or otherwise organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, with the requisite power and authority to own and use its properties and assets and to carry on its business as currently conducted. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is in violation nor in default of any of the provisions of its respective certificate or articles of incorporation, bylaws or other organizational or charter documents. Each of the Company and the Subsidiaries is duly qualified to conduct business and is in good standing as a foreign corporation or other entity in each jurisdiction in which the nature of the business conducted or property owned by it makes such qualification necessary, except where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing, as the case may be, could not have or reasonably be expected to result in: (i) a material adverse effect on the legality, validity or enforceability of this Agreement, (ii) a material adverse effect on the results of operations, assets, business, prospects or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Company and the Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, from that set forth in the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus, any Prospectus Supplement, the Prospectus or the Incorporated Documents, or (iii) a material adverse effect on the Company’s ability to perform in any material respect on a timely basis its obligations under this Agreement (any of (i), (ii) or (iii), a “Material Adverse Effect”) and no “Proceeding” (which for purposes of this Agreement shall mean any action, claim, suit, investigation or proceeding (including, without limitation, an informal investigation or partial proceeding, such as a deposition), whether commenced or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened) has been instituted in any such jurisdiction revoking, limiting or curtailing or seeking to revoke, limit or curtail such power and authority or qualification.

 

 

(c) Authorization and Enforcement. The Company has the requisite corporate power and authority to enter into and to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and otherwise to carry out its obligations hereunder. The execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of the Company and no further action is required by the Company, the Board or the Company’s stockholders in connection herewith other than in connection with the Required Approvals. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Company and, when delivered in accordance with the terms hereof, will constitute the valid and binding obligation of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except (i) as limited by general equitable principles and applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general application affecting enforcement of creditors’ rights generally, (ii) as limited by laws relating to the availability of specific performance, injunctive relief or other equitable remedies and (iii) insofar as indemnification and contribution provisions may be limited by applicable law.

 

(d) No Conflicts. The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement, the issuance and sale of the Shares and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated hereby do not and will not (i) conflict with or violate any provision of the Company’s or any Subsidiary’s certificate or articles of incorporation, bylaws or other organizational or charter documents, or (ii) conflict with, or constitute a default (or an event that with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default) under, result in the creation of any Lien upon any of the properties or assets of the Company or any Subsidiary, or give to others any rights of termination, amendment, anti-dilution or similar adjustments, acceleration or cancellation (with or without notice, lapse of time or both) of, any agreement, credit facility, debt or other instrument (evidencing a Company or Subsidiary debt or otherwise) or other understanding to which the Company or any Subsidiary is a party or by which any property or asset of the Company or any Subsidiary is bound or affected, or (iii) subject to the Required Approvals, conflict with or result in a violation of any law, rule, regulation, order, judgment, injunction, decree or other restriction of any court or governmental authority to which the Company or a Subsidiary is subject (including federal and state securities laws and regulations), or by which any property or asset of the Company or a Subsidiary is bound or affected; except in the case of each of clauses (ii) and (iii), such as could not, individually or in the aggregate, have or reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

 

(e) Filings, Consents and Approvals. The Company is not required to obtain any consent, waiver, authorization or order of, give any notice to, or make any filing or registration with, any court or other federal, state, local or other governmental authority or other “Person” (defined as an individual or corporation, partnership, trust, incorporated or unincorporated association, joint venture, limited liability company, joint stock company, government (or an agency or subdivision thereof) or other entity of any kind, including the Trading Market) in connection with the execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement, other than (i) the filings required by this Agreement, (ii) the filing with the Commission of the Prospectus Supplement, (iii) the filing of application(s) to and approval by the Trading Market for the listing of the Shares for trading thereon in the time and manner required thereby, and (iv) such filings as are required to be made under applicable state securities laws and the rules and regulations of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) (collectively, the “Required Approvals”).

 

(f) Issuance of Shares. The Shares are duly authorized and, when issued and paid for in accordance with this Agreement, will be duly and validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, free and clear of all Liens imposed by the Company. The Company has reserved from its duly authorized capital stock the maximum number of shares of Common Stock issuable pursuant to this Agreement. On and after the Effective Time, the issuance by the Company of the Shares has been registered under the Act and all of the Shares are freely transferable and tradable by the purchasers thereof without restriction (other than any restrictions arising solely from an act or omission of such a purchaser). On and after the Effective Time, the Shares are being issued pursuant to the Registration Statement and the issuance of the Shares has been registered by the Company under the Act. The “Plan of Distribution” section within the Registration Statement permits the issuance and sale of the Shares as contemplated by this Agreement. Upon receipt of the Shares, the purchasers of such Shares will have good and marketable title to such Shares and the Shares will be freely tradable on the Trading Market.

 

 

(g) Capitalization. The capitalization of the Company is as set forth in the SEC Reports. The Company has not issued any capital stock since its most recently filed periodic report under the Exchange Act, other than as disclosed in subsequent SEC Reports or pursuant to the exercise of employee stock options under the Company’s stock option plans, the issuance of shares of Common Stock to employees pursuant to the Company’s employee stock purchase plan and pursuant to the conversion and/or exercise of securities exercisable, exchangeable or convertible into Common Stock (“Common Stock Equivalents”) outstanding as of the date of the most recently filed periodic report under the Exchange Act. No Person has any right of first refusal, preemptive right, right of participation, or any similar right to participate in the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Except as set forth in the SEC Reports, there are no outstanding options, warrants, scrip rights to subscribe to, calls or commitments of any character whatsoever relating to, or securities, rights or obligations convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for, or giving any Person any right to subscribe for or acquire, any shares of Common Stock or the capital stock of any Subsidiary, or contracts, commitments, understandings or arrangements by which the Company or any Subsidiary is or may become bound to issue additional shares of Common Stock or Common Stock Equivalents or capital stock of any Subsidiary. The issuance and sale of the Shares will not obligate the Company or any Subsidiary to issue shares of Common Stock or other securities to any Person. Except as set forth in the SEC Reports, there are no outstanding securities or instruments of the Company or any Subsidiary with any provision that adjusts the exercise, conversion, exchange or reset price of such security or instrument upon an issuance of securities by the Company or any Subsidiary. There are no outstanding securities or instruments of the Company or any Subsidiary that contain any redemption or similar provisions, and there are no contracts, commitments, understandings or arrangements by which the Company or any Subsidiary is or may become bound to redeem a security of the Company or such Subsidiary. The Company does not have any stock appreciation rights or “phantom stock” plans or agreements or any similar plan or agreement. All of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, have been issued in compliance with all federal and state securities laws, and none of such outstanding shares was issued in violation of any preemptive rights or similar rights to subscribe for or purchase securities. No further approval or authorization of any stockholder, the Board or others is required for the issuance and sale of the Shares. There are no stockholders agreements, voting agreements or other similar agreements with respect to the Company’s capital stock to which the Company is a party or, to the knowledge of the Company, between or among any of the Company’s stockholders.

 

 

(h) Registration Statement. The Company meets the requirements for use of Form S-3 under the Act and has prepared and filed (or will file concurrently with the execution of this Agreement) with the Commission the Registration Statement, including a related Base Prospectus, for registration under the Act of the offering and sale of the Shares. Upon the Effective Time, the Registration Statement shall be effective and available for the offer and sale of the Shares as of the date hereof. As filed, the Base Prospectus contains all information required by the Act and the rules thereunder, and, except to the extent the Manager shall agree in writing to a modification, shall be in all substantive respects in the form furnished to the Manager prior to the Execution Time or prior to any such time this representation is repeated or deemed to be made. The Registration Statement, at the Execution Time, each such time this representation is repeated or deemed to be made, and at all times during which a prospectus is required by the Act to be delivered (whether physically or through compliance with Rule 172, 173 or any similar rule) in connection with any offer or sale of the Shares, meets the requirements set forth in Rule 415(a)(1)(x). The Company meets the transaction requirements as set forth in General Instruction I.B.1 of Form S-3 or, if applicable, as set forth in General Instruction I.B.6 of Form S-3 with respect to the aggregate market value of securities being sold pursuant to this offering and during the twelve (12) calendar months prior to such time that this representation is made or deemed to be made.

 

(i) Accuracy of Incorporated Documents. The Incorporated Documents, when they were filed with the Commission, conformed in all material respects to the requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules thereunder, and none of the Incorporated Documents, when they were filed with the Commission, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made not misleading; and any further documents so filed and incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement or the Prospectus, when such documents are filed with the Commission, will conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules thereunder, as applicable, and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

 

(j) Ineligible Issuer. (i) At the earliest time after the filing of the Registration Statement that the Company or another offering participant made a bona fide offer (within the meaning of Rule 164(h)(2)) of the Shares and (ii) as of the Execution Time and on each such time this representation is repeated or deemed to be made (with such date being used as the determination date for purposes of this clause (ii)), the Company was not and is not an Ineligible Issuer (as defined in Rule 405), without taking account of any determination by the Commission pursuant to Rule 405 that it is not necessary that the Company be considered an Ineligible Issuer.

 

 

(k) Free Writing Prospectus. The Company is eligible to use Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses. Each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus does not include any information the substance of which conflicts with the information contained in the Registration Statement, including any Incorporated Documents and any prospectus supplement deemed to be a part thereof that has not been superseded or modified; and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The foregoing sentence does not apply to statements in or omissions from any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus based upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by the Manager specifically for use therein. Any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that the Company is required to file pursuant to Rule 433(d) has been, or will be, filed with the Commission in accordance with the requirements of the Act and the rules thereunder. Each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that the Company has filed, or is required to file, pursuant to Rule 433(d) or that was prepared by or behalf of or used by the Company complies or will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Act and the rules thereunder. The Company will not, without the prior consent of the Manager, prepare, use or refer to, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses.

 

(l) Proceedings Related to Registration Statement. The Registration Statement is not the subject of a pending proceeding or examination under Section 8(d) or 8(e) of the Act, and the Company is not the subject of a pending proceeding under Section 8A of the Act in connection with the offering of the Shares. The Company has not received any notice that the Commission has issued or intends to issue a stop-order with respect to the Registration Statement or that the Commission otherwise has suspended or withdrawn the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, either temporarily or permanently, or intends or has threatened in writing to do so.

 

(m) SEC Reports. The Company has filed all reports, schedules, forms, statements and other documents required to be filed by the Company under the Act and the Exchange Act, including pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) thereof, for the two years preceding the date hereof (or such shorter period as the Company was required by law or regulation to file such material) (the foregoing materials, including the exhibits thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein, together with the Prospectus and the Prospectus Supplement, being collectively referred to herein as the “SEC Reports”) on a timely basis or has received a valid extension of such time of filing and has filed any such SEC Reports prior to the expiration of any such extension. As of their respective dates, the SEC Reports complied in all material respects with the requirements of the Act and the Exchange Act, as applicable, and none of the SEC Reports, when filed, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The financial statements of the Company included in the SEC Reports comply in all material respects with applicable accounting requirements and the rules and regulations of the Commission with respect thereto as in effect at the time of filing. Such financial statements have been prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis during the periods involved (“GAAP”), except as may be otherwise specified in such financial statements or the notes thereto and except that unaudited financial statements may not contain all footnotes required by GAAP, and fairly present in all material respects the financial position of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of and for the dates thereof and the results of operations and cash flows for the periods then ended, subject, in the case of unaudited statements, to normal, immaterial, year-end audit adjustments.

 

 

(n)  [RESERVED]

 

(o) Material Changes; Undisclosed Events, Liabilities or Developments. Since the date of the latest audited financial statements included within the SEC Reports, except as specifically disclosed in a subsequent SEC Report filed prior to the date on which this representation is being made, (i) there has been no event, occurrence or development that has had or that could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, (ii) the Company has not incurred any liabilities (contingent or otherwise) other than (A) trade payables and accrued expenses incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice and (B) liabilities not required to be reflected in the Company’s financial statements pursuant to GAAP or disclosed in filings made with the Commission, (iii) the Company has not altered its method of accounting, (iv) the Company has not declared or made any dividend or distribution of cash or other property to its stockholders or purchased, redeemed or made any agreements to purchase or redeem any shares of its capital stock, (v) the Company has not issued any equity securities to any officer, director or “Affiliate” (defined as any Person that, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls or is controlled by or is under common control with a Person, as such terms are used in and construed under Rule 144 under the Act), except pursuant to existing Company stock option plans, and (vi) no executive officer of the Company or member of the Board has resigned from any position with the Company. The Company does not have pending before the Commission any request for confidential treatment of information. Except for the issuance of the Shares contemplated by this Agreement, no event, liability, fact, circumstance, occurrence or development has occurred or exists or is reasonably expected to occur or exist with respect to the Company or its Subsidiaries or their respective businesses, prospects, properties, operations, assets or financial condition that would be required to be disclosed by the Company under applicable securities laws at the time this representation is made or deemed made that has not been publicly disclosed at least one (1) Trading Day prior to the date that this representation is made.

 

 

(p) Litigation. Except as set forth in the SEC Reports, there is no action, suit, inquiry, notice of violation, proceeding or investigation pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against or affecting the Company, any Subsidiary or any of their respective properties before or by any court, arbitrator, governmental or administrative agency or regulatory authority (federal, state, county, local or foreign) (collectively, an “Action”). None of the Actions set forth in the SEC Reports, (i) adversely affects or challenges the legality, validity or enforceability of this Agreement or the Shares or (ii) could, if there were an unfavorable decision, have or reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary, nor any director or officer thereof, is or has been the subject of any Action involving a claim of violation of or liability under federal or state securities laws or a claim of breach of fiduciary duty. There has not been, and to the knowledge of the Company, there is not pending or contemplated, any investigation by the Commission involving the Company or any current or former director or officer of the Company. The Commission has not issued any stop order or other order suspending the effectiveness of any registration statement filed by the Company or any Subsidiary under the Exchange Act or the Act.

 

(q) Labor Relations. No labor dispute exists or, to the knowledge of the Company, is imminent with respect to any of the employees of the Company, which could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. None of the Company’s or its Subsidiaries’ employees is a member of a union that relates to such employee’s relationship with the Company or such Subsidiary, and neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to a collective bargaining agreement, and the Company and its Subsidiaries believe that their relationships with their employees are good. To the knowledge of the Company, no executive officer of the Company or any Subsidiary, is, or is now expected to be, in violation of any material term of any employment contract, confidentiality, disclosure or proprietary information agreement or non-competition agreement, or any other contract or agreement or any restrictive covenant in favor of any third party, and the continued employment of each such executive officer does not subject the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to any liability with respect to any of the foregoing matters. The Company and its Subsidiaries are in compliance with all applicable U.S. federal, state, local and foreign laws and regulations relating to employment and employment practices, terms and conditions of employment and wages and hours, except where the failure to be in compliance could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(r) Compliance. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary: (i) is in default under or in violation of (and no event has occurred that has not been waived that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would result in a default by the Company or any Subsidiary under), nor has the Company or any Subsidiary received notice of a claim that it is in default under or that it is in violation of, any indenture, loan or credit agreement or any other agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it or any of its properties is bound (whether or not such default or violation has been waived), (ii) is in violation of any judgment, decree or order of any court, arbitrator or other governmental authority or (iii) is or has been in violation of any statute, rule, ordinance or regulation of any governmental authority, including without limitation all foreign, federal, state and local laws relating to taxes, environmental protection, occupational health and safety, product quality and safety and employment and labor matters, except in each case as could not have or reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

 

(s) Environmental Laws. The Company and its Subsidiaries (i) are in compliance with all federal, state, local and foreign laws relating to pollution or protection of human health or the environment (including ambient air, surface water, groundwater, land surface or subsurface strata), including laws relating to emissions, discharges, releases or threatened releases of chemicals, pollutants, contaminants, or toxic or hazardous substances or wastes (collectively, “Hazardous Materials”) into the environment, or otherwise relating to the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport or handling of Hazardous Materials, as well as all authorizations, codes, decrees, demands, or demand letters, injunctions, judgments, licenses, notices or notice letters, orders, permits, plans or regulations, issued, entered, promulgated or approved thereunder (“Environmental Laws”); (ii) have received all permits licenses or other approvals required of them under applicable Environmental Laws to conduct their respective businesses; and (iii) are in compliance with all terms and conditions of any such permit, license or approval where in each clause (i), (ii) and (iii), the failure to so comply could be reasonably expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(t) Regulatory Permits. The Company and the Subsidiaries possess all certificates, authorizations and permits issued by the appropriate federal, state, local or foreign regulatory authorities necessary to conduct their respective businesses as described in the SEC Reports, except where the failure to possess such permits could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect (“Material Permits”), and neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any Material Permit.

 

(u) Title to Assets. The Company and the Subsidiaries have good and marketable title in fee simple to all real property owned by them and good and marketable title in all personal property owned by them that is material to the business of the Company and the Subsidiaries, in each case free and clear of all Liens, except for (i) Liens as do not materially affect the value of such property and do not materially interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property by the Company and the Subsidiaries and (ii) Liens for the payment of federal, state or other taxes, for which appropriate reserves have been made therefor in accordance with GAAP and, the payment of which is neither delinquent nor subject to penalties. Any real property and facilities held under lease by the Company and the Subsidiaries are held by them under valid, subsisting and enforceable leases with which the Company and the Subsidiaries are in compliance in all material respects.

 

 

(v) Intellectual Property. The Company and the Subsidiaries have, or have rights to use, all patents, patent applications, trademarks, trademark applications, service marks, trade names, trade secrets, inventions, copyrights, licenses and other intellectual property rights and similar rights necessary or required for use in connection with their respective businesses as described in the SEC Reports and which the failure to so have could have a Material Adverse Effect (collectively, the “Intellectual Property Rights”). None of, and neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has received a notice (written or otherwise) that any of, the Intellectual Property Rights has expired, terminated or been abandoned, or is expected to expire or terminate or be abandoned, within two (2) years from the date of this Agreement. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has received, since the date of the latest audited financial statements included within the SEC Reports, a written notice of a claim or otherwise has any knowledge that the Intellectual Property Rights violate or infringe upon the rights of any Person, except as could not have or reasonably be expected to not have a Material Adverse Effect. To the knowledge of the Company, all such Intellectual Property Rights are enforceable and there is no existing infringement by another Person of any of the Intellectual Property Rights. The Company and its Subsidiaries have taken reasonable security measures to protect the secrecy, confidentiality and value of all of their intellectual properties, except where failure to do so could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(w) Insurance. The Company and the Subsidiaries are insured by insurers of recognized financial responsibility against such losses and risks and in such amounts as are prudent and customary in the businesses in which the Company and the Subsidiaries are engaged, including, but not limited to, directors and officers insurance coverage. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has any reason to believe that it will not be able to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business without a significant increase in cost.

 

(x) Affiliate Transactions. Except as set forth in the SEC Reports, none of the officers or directors of the Company or any Subsidiary and, to the knowledge of the Company, none of the employees of the Company or any Subsidiary is presently a party to any transaction with the Company or any Subsidiary (other than for services as employees, officers and directors), including any contract, agreement or other arrangement providing for the furnishing of services to or by, providing for rental of real or personal property to or from, providing for the borrowing of money from or lending of money to or otherwise requiring payments to or from any officer, director or such employee or, to the knowledge of the Company, any entity in which any officer, director, or any such employee has a substantial interest or is an officer, director, trustee, stockholder, member or partner, in each case in excess of $120,000 other than for (i) payment of salary or consulting fees for services rendered, (ii) reimbursement for expenses incurred on behalf of the Company and (iii) other employee benefits, including stock option agreements under any stock option plan of the Company.

 

 

(y) Sarbanes Oxley Compliance. The Company and the Subsidiaries are in compliance with any and all applicable requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended, that are effective as of the date hereof, and any and all applicable rules and regulations promulgated by the Commission thereunder that are effective as of the date hereof. The Company and the Subsidiaries maintain a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that: (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations, (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain asset accountability, (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization, and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences. The Company and the Subsidiaries have established disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) for the Company and the Subsidiaries and designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms. The Company’s certifying officers have evaluated the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures of the Company and the Subsidiaries as of the end of the period covered by the most recently filed periodic report under the Exchange Act (such date, the “Evaluation Date”). The Company presented in its most recently filed periodic report under the Exchange Act the conclusions of the certifying officers about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based on their evaluations as of the Evaluation Date. Since the Evaluation Date, there have been no changes in the internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in the Exchange Act) of the Company and its Subsidiaries that have materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the internal control over financial reporting of the Company and its Subsidiaries.

 

(z) Certain Fees. Other than payments to be made to the Manager, and except as otherwise required pursuant to the Termination Agreement, dated as of September 18, 2024, between the Company and Boustead Securities, LLC, a California limited liability company (“Boustead”), as amended by the Letter Agreement, dated as of October 15, 2024, between Signing Day Sports, Inc. and Boustead (as amended, the “Termination Agreement”), no brokerage or finder’s fees or commissions are or will be payable by the Company or any Subsidiary to any broker, financial advisor or consultant, finder, placement agent, investment banker, bank or other Person with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. The Manager shall have no obligation with respect to any fees or with respect to any claims made by or on behalf of other Persons for fees of a type contemplated in this Section that may be due in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, nothing herein shall be construed as an admission that any cash, equity, or other obligation of any nature shall be payable or otherwise owed to Boustead with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

 

(aa) No Other Sales Agency Agreement. The Company has not entered into any other sales agency agreements or other similar arrangements with any agent or any other representative in respect of at the market offerings of the Shares.

 

(bb) Investment Company.  The Company is not, and is not an Affiliate of, and immediately after receipt of payment for the Shares from the Manager pursuant to this Agreement, will not be or be an Affiliate of, an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

 

(cc) Listing and Maintenance Requirements. The Common Stock is listed on the Trading Market and the issuance of the Shares as contemplated by this Agreement does not contravene the rules and regulations of the Trading Market. The Common Stock is registered pursuant to Section 12(b) or 12(g) of the Exchange Act, and the Company has taken no action designed to, or which to its knowledge is likely to have the effect of, terminating the registration of the Common Stock under the Exchange Act nor has the Company received any notification that the Commission is contemplating terminating such registration. The Company has not, in the 12 months preceding the date hereof, received notice from any Trading Market on which the Common Stock is or has been listed or quoted to the effect that the Company is not in compliance with the listing or maintenance requirements of such Trading Market other than as disclosed in the SEC Reports. The Company is, and has no reason to believe that it will not in the foreseeable future continue to be, in compliance with all such listing and maintenance requirements. The Common Stock is currently eligible for electronic transfer through the Depository Trust Company or another established clearing corporation and the Company is current in payment of the fees to the Depository Trust Company (or such other established clearing corporation) in connection with such electronic transfer.

 

(dd) Application of Takeover Protections. The Company and the Board have taken all necessary action, if any, in order to render inapplicable any control share acquisition, business combination, poison pill (including any distribution under a rights agreement) or other similar anti-takeover provision under the Company’s certificate of incorporation (or similar charter documents) or the laws of its state of incorporation that is or could become applicable to the Shares.

 

 

(ee) Solvency. The Company does not intend to incur debts beyond its ability to pay such debts as they mature (taking into account the timing and amounts of cash to be payable on or in respect of its debt) within one year from the date hereof. The SEC Reports set forth as of the date hereof all outstanding secured and unsecured Indebtedness of the Company or any Subsidiary, or for which the Company or any Subsidiary has commitments. For the purposes of this Agreement, “Indebtedness” means (x) any liabilities for borrowed money or amounts owed in excess of $50,000 (other than trade accounts payable incurred in the ordinary course of business), (y) all guaranties, endorsements and other contingent obligations in respect of indebtedness of others, whether or not the same are or should be reflected in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet (or the notes thereto), except guaranties by endorsement of negotiable instruments for deposit or collection or similar transactions in the ordinary course of business; and (z) the present value of any lease payments in excess of $50,000 due under leases required to be capitalized in accordance with GAAP. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is in default with respect to any Indebtedness.

 

(ff) Tax Status. Except for matters that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have or reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, the Company and its Subsidiaries each (i) has made or filed all United States federal, state and local income and all foreign income and franchise tax returns, reports and declarations required by any jurisdiction to which it is subject, (ii) has paid all taxes and other governmental assessments and charges that are material in amount, shown or determined to be due on such returns, reports and declarations and (iii) has set aside on its books provision reasonably adequate for the payment of all material taxes for periods subsequent to the periods to which such returns, reports or declarations apply. There are no unpaid taxes in any material amount claimed to be due by the taxing authority of any jurisdiction, and the officers of the Company or of any Subsidiary know of no basis for any such claim.

 

(gg) Foreign Corrupt Practices. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary, nor to the knowledge of the Company or any Subsidiary, any agent or other person acting on behalf of the Company or any Subsidiary, has (i) directly or indirectly, used any funds for unlawful contributions, gifts, entertainment or other unlawful expenses related to foreign or domestic political activity, (ii) made any unlawful payment to foreign or domestic government officials or employees or to any foreign or domestic political parties or campaigns from corporate funds, (iii) failed to disclose fully any contribution made by the Company or any Subsidiary (or made by any person acting on its behalf of which the Company is aware) which is in violation of law, or (iv) violated in any material respect any provision of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended.

 

(hh) Accountants. The Company’s accounting firm is set forth in the SEC Reports. To the knowledge and belief of the Company, such accounting firm (i) is a registered public accounting firm as required by the Exchange Act and (ii) shall express its opinion with respect to the financial statements to be included in the Company’s Annual Report for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024.

 

 

(ii) Regulation M Compliance.  The Company has not, and to its knowledge no one acting on its behalf has, (i) taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed to cause or to result in the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of any of the Shares, (ii) sold, bid for, purchased, or, paid any compensation for soliciting purchases of, any of the Shares, or (iii) paid or agreed to pay to any Person any compensation for soliciting another to purchase any other securities of the Company, other than, in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii), compensation paid to the Manager in connection with the Shares.

 

(jj) [RESERVED]

 

(kk) Stock Option Plans. Each stock option granted by the Company under the Company’s stock option plan was granted (i) in accordance with the terms of the Company’s stock option plan and (ii) with an exercise price at least equal to the fair market value of the Common Stock on the date such stock option would be considered granted under GAAP and applicable law. No stock option granted under the Company’s stock option plan has been backdated. The Company has not knowingly granted, and there is no and has been no Company policy or practice to knowingly grant, stock options prior to, or otherwise knowingly coordinate the grant of stock options with, the release or other public announcement of material information regarding the Company or its Subsidiaries or their financial results or prospects.

 

(ll) Cybersecurity.  Other than as disclosed in the SEC Reports, (i)(x) There has been no security breach or other compromise of or relating to any of the Company’s or any Subsidiary’s information technology and computer systems, networks, hardware, software, data (including the data of its respective customers, employees, suppliers, vendors and any third party data maintained by or on behalf of it), equipment or technology (collectively, “IT Systems and Data”) and (y) the Company and the Subsidiaries have not been notified of, and has no knowledge of any event or condition that would reasonably be expected to result in, any security breach or other compromise to its IT Systems and Data; (ii) the Company and the Subsidiaries are presently in compliance with all applicable laws or statutes and all judgments, orders, rules and regulations of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority, internal policies and contractual obligations relating to the privacy and security of IT Systems and Data and to the protection of such IT Systems and Data from unauthorized use, access, misappropriation or modification, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect; (iii) the Company and the Subsidiaries have implemented and maintained commercially reasonable safeguards to maintain and protect its material confidential information and the integrity, continuous operation, redundancy and security of all IT Systems and Data; and (iv) the Company and the Subsidiaries have implemented backup and disaster recovery technology consistent with industry standards and practices.

 

 

(mm) Compliance with Data Privacy Laws. (i) The Company and the Subsidiaries are, and at all times during the past three years were, in compliance with all applicable data privacy and security laws and regulations, including, as applicable, the European Union General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”) (EU 2016/679) (collectively, “Privacy Laws”); (ii) the Company and the Subsidiaries have in place, comply with, and take appropriate steps reasonably designed to ensure compliance with their policies and procedures relating to data privacy and security and the collection, storage, use, disclosure, handling and analysis of Personal Data (the “Policies”); (iii) the Company provides accurate notice of its applicable Policies to its customers, employees, third party vendors and representatives as required by Privacy Laws; and (iv) applicable Policies provide accurate and sufficient notice of the Company’s then-current privacy practices relating to its subject matter, and do not contain any material omissions of the Company’s then-current privacy practices, as required by Privacy Laws. “Personal Data” means (i) a natural person’s name, street address, telephone number, email address, photograph, social security number, bank information, or customer or account number; (ii) any information which would qualify as “personally identifying information” under the Federal Trade Commission Act, as amended; (iii) “personal data” as defined by GDPR; and (iv) any other piece of information that allows the identification of such natural person, or his or her family, or permits the collection or analysis of any identifiable data related to an identified person’s health or sexual orientation. (i) None of such disclosures made or contained in any of the Policies have been inaccurate, misleading, or deceptive in violation of any Privacy Laws and (ii) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement will not result in a breach of any Privacy Laws or Policies.  Neither the Company nor the Subsidiaries, (i) has, to the knowledge of the Company, received written notice of any actual or potential liability of the Company or the Subsidiaries under, or actual or potential violation by the Company or the Subsidiaries of, any of the Privacy Laws; (ii) is currently conducting or paying for, in whole or in part, any investigation, remediation or other corrective action pursuant to any regulatory request or demand pursuant to any Privacy Law; or (iii) is a party to any order, decree, or agreement by or with any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority that imposed any obligation or liability under any Privacy Law.

 

(nn) Office of Foreign Assets Control. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries, nor to the knowledge of the Company, any of the directors, officers or employees of the Company or its Subsidiaries, is an individual or entity that is, or is owned or controlled by an individual or entity that is: (i) the subject of any sanctions administered or enforced by the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, His Majesty’s Treasury, or other relevant sanctions authority (collectively, “Sanctions”), nor (ii) located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is the subject of Sanctions. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries intends, directly or indirectly, to use the proceeds of the transactions contemplated hereby, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any Subsidiary, joint venture partner or other individual or entity: (i) to fund or facilitate any activities or business of or with any individual or entity or in any country or territory that, at the time of such funding or facilitation, is the subject of Sanctions or (ii) in any other manner that will result in a violation of Sanctions by any individual or entity (including any individual or entity participating in the transactions contemplated hereby, whether as underwriter, advisor, investor or otherwise). For the past five years, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has knowingly engaged in, and is not now knowingly engaged in, any dealings or transactions with any individual or entity, or in any country or territory, that at the time of the dealing or transaction is or was the subject of Sanctions.

 

 

(oo) U.S. Real Property Holding Corporation. The Company is not and has never been a U.S. real property holding corporation within the meaning of Section 897 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the Company shall so certify upon the Manager’s request.

 

(pp) Bank Holding Company Act. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates is subject to the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended (the “BHCA”) and to regulation by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the “Federal Reserve”). Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates owns or controls, directly or indirectly, five percent (5%) or more of the outstanding shares of any class of voting securities or twenty-five percent (25%) or more of the total equity of a bank or any entity that is subject to the BHCA and to regulation by the Federal Reserve. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates exercises a controlling influence over the management or policies of a bank or any entity that is subject to the BHCA and to regulation by the Federal Reserve.

 

(qq) Money Laundering. The operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with applicable financial record-keeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, applicable money laundering statutes and applicable rules and regulations thereunder (collectively, the “Money Laundering Laws”), and no Action or Proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any Subsidiary with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company or any Subsidiary, threatened.

 

(rr) FINRA Member Shareholders. There are no affiliations with any FINRA member firm among the Company’s officers, directors or, to the knowledge of the Company, any five percent (5%) or greater stockholder of the Company, except as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus, any Prospectus Supplement or the Prospectus.

 

 

4. Agreements. The Company agrees with the Manager that:

 

(a) Right to Review Amendments and Supplements to Registration Statement and Prospectus. During any period when the delivery of a prospectus relating to the Shares is required (including in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172, 173 or any similar rule) to be delivered under the Act in connection with the offering or the sale of Shares, the Company will not file any amendment to the Registration Statement or supplement (including any Prospectus Supplement) to the Base Prospectus unless the Company has furnished to the Manager a copy for its review prior to filing and will not file any such proposed amendment or supplement to which the Manager reasonably objects (provided, however, that the Company will have no obligation to provide the Manager any advance copy of such filing or to provide the Manager an opportunity to object to such filing if the filing does not name the Manager and does not relate to the transactions under this Agreement). The Company will cause any supplement to the Prospectus filed after the Effective Time to be properly completed, in a form approved by the Manager, and will file such supplement with the Commission pursuant to the applicable paragraph of Rule 424(b) within the time period prescribed thereby and will provide evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Manager of such timely filing. The Company will promptly advise the Manager (i) when the Prospectus, and any supplement thereto, shall have been filed (if required) with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b), (ii) when, during any period when the delivery of a prospectus (whether physically or through compliance with Rule 172, 173 or any similar rule) is required under the Act in connection with the offering or sale of the Shares, any amendment to the Registration Statement shall have been filed or become effective (other than any annual report of the Company filed pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act), (iii) of any request by the Commission or its staff for any amendment of the Registration Statement, or for any supplement to the Prospectus or for any additional information, (iv) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or of any notice objecting to its use or the institution or threatening of any proceeding for that purpose and (v) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Shares for sale in any jurisdiction or the institution or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose. The Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to prevent the issuance of any such stop order or the occurrence of any such suspension or objection to the use of the Registration Statement and, upon such issuance, occurrence or notice of objection, to obtain as soon as reasonably possible the withdrawal of such stop order or relief from such occurrence or objection, including, if necessary, by filing an amendment to the Registration Statement or a new registration statement and using its commercially reasonable efforts to have such amendment or new registration statement declared effective as soon as practicable.

 

 

(b) Subsequent Events. If, at any time on or after an Applicable Time but prior to the related Settlement Date, any event occurs as a result of which the Registration Statement or Prospectus would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein in the light of the circumstances under which they were made or the circumstances then prevailing not misleading, the Company will (i) notify promptly the Manager so that any use of the Registration Statement or Prospectus may cease until such are amended or supplemented; (ii) amend or supplement the Registration Statement or Prospectus to correct such statement or omission; and (iii) supply any such amendment or supplement to the Manager in such quantities as the Manager may reasonably request.

 

(c) Notification of Subsequent Filings. During any period when the delivery of a prospectus relating to the Shares is required (including in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172, 173 or any similar rule) to be delivered under the Act, any event occurs as a result of which the Prospectus as then supplemented would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein in the light of the circumstances under which they were made not misleading, or if it shall be necessary to amend the Registration Statement, file a new registration statement or supplement the Prospectus to comply with the Act or the Exchange Act or the respective rules thereunder, including in connection with use or delivery of the Prospectus, the Company promptly will (i) notify the Manager of any such event, (ii) subject to Section 4(a), prepare and file with the Commission an amendment or supplement or new registration statement which will correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance, (iii) use its commercially reasonable efforts to have any amendment to the Registration Statement or new registration statement declared effective as soon as practicable in order to avoid any disruption in use of the Prospectus and (iv) supply any supplemented Prospectus to the Manager in such quantities as the Manager may reasonably request.

 

(d) Earnings Statements. As soon as practicable, the Company will make generally available to its security holders and to the Manager an earnings statement or statements of the Company and its Subsidiaries which will satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Act and Rule 158. For the avoidance of doubt, the Company’s compliance with the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act shall be deemed to satisfy the requirements of this Section 4(d).

 

(e) Delivery of Registration Statement. Upon the request of the Manager, the Company will furnish to the Manager and counsel for the Manager, without charge, signed copies of the Registration Statement (including exhibits thereto) and, so long as delivery of a prospectus by the Manager or dealer may be required by the Act (including in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172, 173 or any similar rule), as many copies of the Prospectus and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and any supplement thereto as the Manager may reasonably request. The Company will pay the expenses of printing or other production of all documents relating to the offering.

 

 

(f) Qualification of Shares. The Company will arrange, if necessary, for the qualification of the Shares for sale under the laws of such jurisdictions as the Manager may designate and will maintain such qualifications in effect so long as required for the distribution of the Shares; provided that in no event shall the Company be obligated to qualify to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not now so qualified or to take any action that would subject it to service of process in suits, other than those arising out of the offering or sale of the Shares, in any jurisdiction where it is not now so subject.

 

(g) Free Writing Prospectus. The Company agrees that, unless it has or shall have obtained the prior written consent of the Manager, and the Manager agrees with the Company that, unless it has or shall have obtained, as the case may be, the prior written consent of the Company, it has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Shares that would constitute an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or that would otherwise constitute a “free writing prospectus” (as defined in Rule 405) required to be filed by the Company with the Commission or retained by the Company under Rule 433. Any such free writing prospectus consented to by the Manager or the Company is hereinafter referred to as a “Permitted Free Writing Prospectus.” The Company agrees that (i) it has treated and will treat, as the case may be, each Permitted Free Writing Prospectus as an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and (ii) it has complied and will comply, as the case may be, with the requirements of Rules 164 and 433 applicable to any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, including in respect of timely filing with the Commission, legending and record keeping.

 

(h) Subsequent Equity Issuances. The Company shall not deliver any Sales Notice hereunder (and any Sales Notice previously delivered shall not apply during such two (2) Trading Days) for at least two (2) Trading Days prior to any date on which the Company or any Subsidiary offers, sells, issues, contracts to sell, contracts to issue or otherwise disposes of, directly or indirectly, any other shares of Common Stock or any Common Stock Equivalents (other than the Shares), subject to Manager’s right to waive this obligation, provided that, without compliance with the foregoing obligation, the Company may issue and sell Common Stock pursuant to any employee equity plan, stock ownership plan or dividend reinvestment plan of the Company in effect at the Execution Time and the Company may issue Common Stock issuable upon the conversion or exercise of Common Stock Equivalents outstanding at the Execution Time.

 

(i) Market Manipulation. Until the termination of this Agreement, the Company will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that would constitute or that might reasonably be expected to cause or result in, under the Exchange Act or otherwise, stabilization or manipulation in violation of the Act, Exchange Act or the rules and regulations thereunder of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Shares or otherwise violate any provision of Regulation M under the Exchange Act.

 

 

(j) Notification of Incorrect Certificate. The Company will, at any time during the term of this Agreement, as supplemented from time to time, advise the Manager immediately after it shall have received notice or obtained knowledge thereof, of any information or fact that would alter or affect any opinion, certificate, letter and other document provided to the Manager pursuant to Section 6 herein.

 

(k) Certification of Accuracy of Disclosure. Upon commencement of the offering of the Shares under this Agreement (and upon the recommencement of the offering of the Shares under this Agreement following the termination of a suspension of sales hereunder lasting more than 30 Trading Days), and each time that (i) a new Registration Statement is filed and declared effective by the Commission, (ii) the Registration Statement or Prospectus shall be amended or supplemented, other than by means of Incorporated Documents, (iii) the Company files its Annual Report on Form 10-K under the Exchange Act, (iv) the Company files its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q under the Exchange Act, (v) the Company files a Current Report on Form 8-K containing amended financial information (other than information that is furnished and not filed), if the Manager reasonably determines that the information in such Form 8-K is material, or (vi) the Shares are delivered to the Manager as principal at the Time of Delivery pursuant to a Terms Agreement (such commencement or recommencement date and each such date referred to in (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v) and (vi) above, a “Representation Date”), the Company shall furnish or cause to be furnished to the Manager forthwith a certificate dated and delivered on the Representation Date, in form reasonably satisfactory to the Manager to the effect that the statements contained in the certificate referred to in Section 6 of this Agreement which were last furnished to the Manager are true and correct at the Representation Date, as though made at and as of such date (except that such statements shall be deemed to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended and supplemented to such date) or, in lieu of such certificate, a certificate of the same tenor as the certificate referred to in said Section 6, modified as necessary to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended and supplemented to the date of delivery of such certificate.

 

(l) Bring Down Opinions; Negative Assurance. Within five (5) Trading Days of each Representation Date, the Company shall furnish or cause to be furnished forthwith to the Manager and to counsel to the Manager a written opinion of counsel to the Company (“Company Counsel”) addressed to the Manager and dated and delivered within five (5) Trading Days of such Representation Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Manager, including a negative assurance representation. The requirement to furnish or cause to be furnished an opinion (but not with respect to a negative assurance representation) under this Section 4(l) shall be waived for any Representation Date other than a Representation Date on which a new Registration Statement is filed and declared effective by the Commission or a material amendment to the Registration Statement or Prospectus is made or the Company files its Annual Report on Form 10-K or a material amendment thereto under the Exchange Act, unless the Manager reasonably requests such deliverable required by this Section 4(l) in connection with a Representation Date, upon which request such deliverable shall be deliverable hereunder.

 

 

(m) Auditor Bring Down “Comfort” Letter. Within five (5) Trading Days of each Representation Date, the Company shall cause (1) the Company’s auditors (the “Accountants”), or other independent accountants satisfactory to the Manager forthwith to furnish the Manager a letter, and (2) the Chief Financial Officer of the Company forthwith to furnish the Manager a certificate, in each case dated within five (5) Trading Days of such Representation Date, in form satisfactory to the Manager, of the same tenor as the letters and certificate referred to in Section 6 of this Agreement but modified to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, as amended and supplemented to the date of such letters and certificate. The requirement to furnish or cause to be furnished a “comfort” letter under this Section 4(m) shall be waived for any Representation Date other than a Representation Date on which a new Registration Statement is filed and declared effective by the Commission or a material amendment to the Registration Statement or Prospectus is made or the Company files its Annual Report on Form 10-K or a material amendment thereto under the Exchange Act, unless the Manager reasonably requests the deliverables required by this Section 4(m) in connection with a Representation Date, upon which request such deliverable shall be deliverable hereunder.

 

(n) Due Diligence Session. Upon commencement of the offering of the Shares under this Agreement (and upon the recommencement of the offering of the Shares under this Agreement following the termination of a suspension of sales hereunder lasting more than 30 Trading Days), and at each Representation Date, the Company will conduct a due diligence session, in form and substance, reasonably satisfactory to the Manager, which shall include representatives of management, Company Counsel and Accountants. The Company shall cooperate timely with any reasonable due diligence request from or review conducted by the Manager or its agents from time to time in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including, without limitation, providing information and available documents and access to appropriate corporate officers and the Company’s agents during regular business hours, and timely furnishing or causing to be furnished such certificates, letters and opinions from the Company, its officers and its agents, as the Manager may reasonably request. The Company shall reimburse the Manager for Manager’s counsel’s fees in each such Representation Date, up to a maximum of $2,500  per Representation Date, plus any incidental expense incurred by the Manager in connection therewith.

 

(o) Acknowledgment of Trading. The Company consents to the Manager trading in the Common Stock for the Manager’s own account and for the account of its clients at the same time as sales of the Shares occur pursuant to this Agreement or pursuant to a Terms Agreement.

 

 

(p) Disclosure of Shares Sold. The Company will disclose in its Annual Reports on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, as applicable, the number of Shares sold through the Manager under this Agreement, the Net Proceeds to the Company and the compensation paid by the Company with respect to sales of Shares pursuant to this Agreement during the relevant quarter; and, if required by any subsequent change in Commission policy or request, more frequently by means of a Current Report on Form 8-K or a further Prospectus Supplement.

 

(q) Rescission Right. If to the knowledge of the Company, the conditions set forth in Section 6 shall not have been satisfied as of the applicable Settlement Date, the Company will offer to any person who has agreed to purchase Shares from the Company as the result of an offer to purchase solicited by the Manager the right to refuse to purchase and pay for such Shares.

 

(r) Bring Down of Representations and Warranties. Each acceptance by the Company of an offer to purchase the Shares hereunder, and each execution and delivery by the Company of a Terms Agreement, shall be deemed to be an affirmation to the Manager that the representations and warranties of the Company contained in or made pursuant to this Agreement are true and correct as of the date of such acceptance or of such Terms Agreement as though made at and as of such date, and an undertaking that such representations and warranties will be true and correct as of the Settlement Date for the Shares relating to such acceptance or as of the Time of Delivery relating to such sale, as the case may be, as though made at and as of such date (except that such representations and warranties shall be deemed to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended and supplemented relating to such Shares).

 

(s) Reservation of Shares. The Company shall ensure that there are at all times sufficient shares of Common Stock to provide for the issuance, free of any preemptive rights, out of its authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock or shares of Common Stock held in treasury, of the maximum aggregate number of Shares authorized for issuance by the Board pursuant to the terms of this Agreement. The Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Shares to be listed for trading on the Trading Market and to maintain such listing.

 

(t) Obligation Under Exchange Act. During any period when the delivery of a prospectus relating to the Shares is required (including in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172, 173 or any similar rule) to be delivered under the Act, the Company will file all documents required to be filed with the Commission pursuant to the Exchange Act within the time periods required by the Exchange Act and the regulations thereunder.

 

 

(u) DTC Facility. The Company shall cooperate with the Manager and use its commercially reasonable efforts to permit the Shares to be eligible for clearance and settlement through the facilities of DTC.

 

(v) Use of Proceeds. The Company will apply the Net Proceeds from the sale of the Shares in the manner set forth in the Prospectus.

 

(w) Filing of Prospectus Supplement. If any sales are made pursuant to this Agreement which are not made in “at the market” offerings as defined in Rule 415, including, without limitation, any Placement pursuant to a Terms Agreement, the Company shall file a Prospectus Supplement describing the terms of such transaction, the amount of Shares sold, the price thereof, the Manager’s compensation, and such other information as may be required pursuant to Rule 424 and Rule 430B, as applicable, within the time required by Rule 424.

 

(x) Additional Registration Statement. To the extent that the Registration Statement is not available for the sales of the Shares as contemplated by this Agreement, the Company shall file a new registration statement with respect to any additional shares of Common Stock necessary to complete such sales of the Shares and shall cause such registration statement to become effective as promptly as practicable. After the effectiveness of any such registration statement, all references to “Registration Statement” included in this Agreement shall be deemed to include such new registration statement, including all documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3, and all references to “Base Prospectus” included in this Agreement shall be deemed to include the final form of base prospectus, including all documents incorporated therein by reference, included in any such registration statement at the time such registration statement became effective.

 

(y) Investment Company. The Company shall conduct its business in a manner so as to reasonably ensure that it or its Subsidiaries will not become an “investment company” subject to registration under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

 

 

5. Payment of Expenses. The Company agrees to pay the costs and expenses incident to the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated, including without limitation: (i) the preparation, printing or reproduction and filing with the Commission of the Registration Statement (including financial statements and exhibits thereto), the Prospectus and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, and each amendment or supplement to any of them; (ii) the printing (or reproduction) and delivery (including postage, air freight charges and charges for counting and packaging) of such copies of the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, and all amendments or supplements to any of them, as may, in each case, be reasonably requested for use in connection with the offering and sale of the Shares; (iii) the preparation, printing, authentication, issuance and delivery of certificates for the Shares, including any stamp or transfer taxes in connection with the original issuance and sale of the Shares; (iv) the printing (or reproduction) and delivery of this Agreement, any blue sky memorandum and all other agreements or documents printed (or reproduced) and delivered in connection with the offering of the Shares; (v) the registration of the Shares under the Exchange Act, if applicable, and the listing of the Shares on the Trading Market; (vi) any registration or qualification of the Shares for offer and sale under the securities or blue sky laws of the several states (including filing fees and the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel for the Manager relating to such registration and qualification); (vii) the transportation and other expenses incurred by or on behalf of Company representatives in connection with presentations to prospective purchasers of the Shares; (viii) the fees and expenses of the Company’s accountants and the fees and expenses of counsel (including local and special counsel) for the Company; (ix) the filing fee under FINRA Rule 5110; (x) the reasonable fees and expenses of the Manager’s counsel, not to exceed $50,000 (excluding any periodic due diligence fees provided for under Section 4(n)), which shall be paid upon the Effective Time; and (xi) all other costs and expenses incident to the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder.

 

6. Conditions to the Obligations of the Manager. The obligations of the Manager under this Agreement and any Terms Agreement shall be subject to (i) the accuracy of the representations and warranties on the part of the Company contained herein as of the Execution Time, each Representation Date, and as of each Applicable Time, Settlement Date and Time of Delivery, (ii) the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder and (iii) the following additional conditions:

 

(a) Effectiveness of the Registration Statement; Filing of Prospectus Supplement. The Registration Statement shall have been declared effective by the Commission and the Prospectus, and any supplement thereto, required by Rule 424 to be filed with the Commission shall have been filed in the manner and within the time period required by Rule 424(b) with respect to any sale of Shares; each Prospectus Supplement shall have been filed in the manner required by Rule 424(b) within the time period required hereunder and under the Act; any other material required to be filed by the Company pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Act, shall have been filed with the Commission within the applicable time periods prescribed for such filings by Rule 433; and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any notice objecting to its use shall have been issued and no proceedings for that purpose shall have been instituted or threatened.

 

(b) Delivery of Opinion. The Company shall have caused the Company Counsel to furnish to the Manager its opinion and negative assurance statement, dated as of such date and addressed to the Manager in form and substance acceptable to the Manager.

 

 

(c) Delivery of Officer’s Certificate. The Company shall have furnished or caused to be furnished to the Manager a certificate of the Company signed by the Chief Executive Officer or the President and the principal financial or accounting officer of the Company, dated as of such date, to the effect that the signers of such certificate have carefully examined the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any Prospectus Supplement and any documents incorporated by reference therein and any supplements or amendments thereto and this Agreement and that:

 

(i) the representations and warranties of the Company in this Agreement are true and correct on and as of such date with the same effect as if made on such date and the Company has complied with all the agreements and satisfied all the conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied at or prior to such date;

 

(ii) no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any notice objecting to its use has been issued and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened; and

 

(iii) since the date of the most recent financial statements included in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Incorporated Documents, there has been no Material Adverse Effect on the condition (financial or otherwise), earnings, business or properties of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business, except as set forth in or contemplated in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.

 

(d) Delivery of Accountants’ “Comfort” Letter. The Company shall have requested and caused the Accountants to have furnished to the Manager letters (which may refer to letters previously delivered to the Manager), dated as of such date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Manager, confirming that they are independent accountants within the meaning of the Act and the Exchange Act and the respective applicable rules and regulations adopted by the Commission thereunder and that they have performed a review of any unaudited interim financial information of the Company included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and provide customary “comfort” as to such review in form and substance satisfactory to the Manager.

 

 

(e) No Material Adverse Event. Since the respective dates as of which information is disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Incorporated Documents, except as otherwise stated therein, there shall not have been (i) any change or decrease in previously reported results specified in the letter or letters referred to in paragraph (d) of this Section 6 or (ii) any change, or any development involving a prospective change, in or affecting the condition (financial or otherwise), earnings, business or properties of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business, except as set forth in or contemplated in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Incorporated Documents (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto) the effect of which, in any case referred to in clause (i) or (ii) above, is, in the sole judgment of the Manager, so material and adverse as to make it impractical or inadvisable to proceed with the offering or delivery of the Shares as contemplated by the Registration Statement (exclusive of any amendment thereof), the Incorporated Documents and the Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto).

 

(f) Payment of All Fees. The Company shall have paid the required Commission filing fees relating to the Shares within the time period required by Rule 456(b)(1)(i) of the Act without regard to the proviso therein and otherwise in accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r) of the Act and, if applicable, shall have updated the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in accordance with Rule 456(b)(1)(ii) either in a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or on the cover page of a prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b).

 

(g) No FINRA Objections. FINRA shall not have raised any objection with respect to the fairness and reasonableness of the terms and arrangements under this Agreement.

 

(h) Shares Listed on Trading Market. The Shares shall have been listed and admitted and authorized for trading on the Trading Market, and satisfactory evidence of such actions shall have been provided to the Manager provided, however, at the Execution Time and for a reasonable period following such Execution Time, this Section 6(h) shall be satisfied if the Company shall have filed an application for listing of the Shares on the Trading Market, and satisfactory evidence of such actions shall have been provided to the Manager.

 

(i) Other Assurances. Prior to each Settlement Date and Time of Delivery, as applicable, the Company shall have furnished to the Manager such further information, certificates and documents as the Manager may reasonably request.

 

If any of the conditions specified in this Section 6 shall not have been fulfilled when and as provided in this Agreement, or if any of the opinions and certificates mentioned above or elsewhere in this Agreement shall not be reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Manager and counsel for the Manager, this Agreement and all obligations of the Manager hereunder may be canceled at, or at any time prior to, any Settlement Date or Time of Delivery, as applicable, by the Manager. Notice of such cancellation shall be given to the Company in writing or by telephone and confirmed in writing by email.

 

 

The documents required to be delivered by this Section 6 shall be delivered to the office of Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP, counsel for the Manager, at 1345 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10105, email: capmkts@egsllp.com, on each such date as provided in this Agreement.

 

7. Indemnification and Contribution.

 

(a) Indemnification by Company. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Manager, the directors, officers, employees and agents of the Manager and each person who controls the Manager within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act against any and all losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which they or any of them may become subject under the Act, the Exchange Act or other Federal or state statutory law or regulation, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement for the registration of the Shares as originally filed or in any amendment thereof, or in the Base Prospectus, any Prospectus Supplement, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, or in any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or arise out of or are based upon any Proceeding, commenced or threatened (whether or not the Manager is a target of or party to such Proceeding) or result from or relate to any breach of any of the representations, warranties, covenants or agreements made by the Company in this Agreement, and agrees to reimburse each such indemnified party for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action; provided, however, that the Company will not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon any such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made therein in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by the Manager specifically for inclusion therein. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability that the Company may otherwise have.

 

(b) Indemnification by Manager. The Manager agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each of its directors, each of its officers who signs the Registration Statement, and each person who controls the Company within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act, to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Company to the Manager, but only with reference to written information relating to the Manager furnished to the Company by the Manager specifically for inclusion in the documents referred to in the foregoing indemnity; provided, however, that in no case shall the Manager be responsible for any amount in excess of the Broker Fee applicable to the Shares and paid hereunder. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which the Manager may otherwise have.

 

 

(c) Indemnification Procedures. Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 7 of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under this Section 7, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof; but the failure so to notify the indemnifying party (i) will not relieve it from liability under paragraph (a) or (b) above unless and to the extent it did not otherwise learn of such action and such failure results in the forfeiture by the indemnifying party of substantial rights and defenses and (ii) will not, in any event, relieve the indemnifying party from any obligations to any indemnified party other than the indemnification obligation provided in paragraph (a) or (b) above. The indemnifying party shall be entitled to appoint counsel of the indemnifying party’s choice at the indemnifying party’s expense to represent the indemnified party in any action for which indemnification is sought (in which case the indemnifying party shall not thereafter be responsible for the fees and expenses of any separate counsel retained by the indemnified party or parties except as set forth below); provided, however, that such counsel shall be reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party. Notwithstanding the indemnifying party’s election to appoint counsel to represent the indemnified party in an action, the indemnified party shall have the right to employ separate counsel (including local counsel), and the indemnifying party shall bear the reasonable fees, costs and expenses of such separate counsel if (i) the use of counsel chosen by the indemnifying party to represent the indemnified party would present such counsel with a conflict of interest, (ii) the actual or potential defendants in, or targets of, any such action include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have reasonably concluded that there may be legal defenses available to it and/or other indemnified parties which are different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party, (iii) the indemnifying party shall not have employed counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified party within a reasonable time after notice of the institution of such action or (iv) the indemnifying party shall authorize the indemnified party to employ separate counsel at the expense of the indemnifying party. An indemnifying party will not, without the prior written consent of the indemnified parties, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any pending or threatened claim, action, suit or proceeding in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties to such claim or action) unless such settlement, compromise or consent includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising out of such claim, action, suit or proceeding.

 

 

(d) Contribution. In the event that the indemnity provided in paragraph (a), (b) or (c) of this Section 7 is unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party for any reason, the Company and the Manager agree to contribute to the aggregate losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with investigating or defending the same) (collectively “Losses”) to which the Company and the Manager may be subject in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and by the Manager on the other from the offering of the Shares; provided, however, that in no case shall the Manager be responsible for any amount in excess of the Broker Fee applicable to the Shares and paid hereunder. If the allocation provided by the immediately preceding sentence is unavailable for any reason, the Company and the Manager severally shall contribute in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only such relative benefits but also the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and of the Manager on the other in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such Losses as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. Benefits received by the Company shall be deemed to be equal to the total net proceeds from the offering (before deducting expenses) received by it, and benefits received by the Manager shall be deemed to be equal to the Broker Fee applicable to the Shares and paid hereunder as determined by this Agreement. Relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any untrue or any alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information provided by the Company on the one hand or the Manager on the other, the intent of the parties and their relative knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such untrue statement or omission. The Company and the Manager agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution were determined by pro rata allocation or any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above. Notwithstanding the provisions of this paragraph (d), no person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. For purposes of this Section 7, each person who controls the Manager within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act and each director, officer, employee and agent of the Manager shall have the same rights to contribution as the Manager, and each person who controls the Company within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act, each officer of the Company who shall have signed the Registration Statement and each director of the Company shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company, subject in each case to the applicable terms and conditions of this paragraph (d).

 

8. Termination.

 

(a) The Company shall have the right, by giving written notice as hereinafter specified, to terminate the provisions of this Agreement relating to the solicitation of offers to purchase the Shares in its sole discretion at any time upon seven (7) Business Days’ prior written notice. Any such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except that (i) with respect to any pending sale, through the Manager for the Company, the obligations of the Company, including in respect of compensation of the Manager, shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding the termination and (ii) the provisions of Sections 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, the second sentence of 13, 14, 15 and 16 of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding such termination.

 

 

(b) The Manager shall have the right, by giving written notice as hereinafter specified, to terminate the provisions of this Agreement relating to the solicitation of offers to purchase the Shares in its sole discretion at any time upon seven (7) Business Days’ prior written notice. Any such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except that the provisions of Sections 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, the second sentence of 13, 14, 15 and 16 of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding such termination.

 

(c) This Agreement shall remain in full force and effect until such date that this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Sections 8(a) or (b) above or otherwise by mutual agreement of the parties, provided that any such termination by mutual agreement shall in all cases be deemed to provide that Sections 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, the second sentence of 13, 14, 15 and 16 of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.

 

(d) Any termination of this Agreement shall be effective on the date specified in such notice of termination, provided that such termination shall not be effective until the close of business on the date of receipt of such notice by the Manager or the Company, as the case may be. If such termination shall occur prior to the Settlement Date or Time of Delivery for any sale of the Shares, such sale of the Shares shall settle in accordance with the provisions of Section 2(b) of this Agreement.

 

(e) In the case of any purchase of Shares by the Manager pursuant to a Terms Agreement, the obligations of the Manager pursuant to such Terms Agreement shall be subject to termination, in the absolute discretion of the Manager, by prompt oral notice given to the Company prior to the Time of Delivery relating to such Shares, if any, and confirmed promptly by electronic mail, if since the time of execution of the Terms Agreement and prior to such delivery and payment, (i) trading in the Common Stock shall have been suspended by the Commission or the Trading Market or trading in securities generally on the Trading Market shall have been suspended or limited or minimum prices shall have been established on such exchange, (ii) a banking moratorium shall have been declared either by Federal or New York State authorities or (iii) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of hostilities, declaration by the United States of a national emergency or war, or other calamity or crisis the effect of which on financial markets is such as to make it, in the sole judgment of the Manager, impractical or inadvisable to proceed with the offering or delivery of the Shares as contemplated by the Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto).

 

 

9. Representations and Indemnities to Survive. The respective agreements, representations, warranties, indemnities and other statements of the Company or its officers and of the Manager set forth in or made pursuant to this Agreement will remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation made by the Manager or the Company or any of the officers, directors, employees, agents or controlling persons referred to in Section 7, and will survive delivery of and payment for the Shares.

 

10. Notices. All communications hereunder will be in writing and effective only on receipt, and will be mailed, delivered, or e-mailed to the addresses of the Company and the Manager, respectively, set forth on the signature page hereto.

 

11. Successors. This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and the officers, directors, employees, agents and controlling persons referred to in Section 7, and no other person will have any right or obligation hereunder.

 

12. No Fiduciary Duty. The Company hereby acknowledges that (a) the purchase and sale of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement is an arm’s-length commercial transaction between the Company, on the one hand, and the Manager and any affiliate through which it may be acting, on the other, (b) the Manager is acting solely as sales agent and/or principal in connection with the purchase and sale of the Company’s securities and not as a fiduciary of the Company and (c) the Company’s engagement of the Manager in connection with the offering and the process leading up to the offering is as independent contractors and not in any other capacity. Furthermore, the Company agrees that it is solely responsible for making its own judgments in connection with the offering (irrespective of whether the Manager has advised or is currently advising the Company on related or other matters). The Company agrees that it will not claim that the Manager has rendered advisory services of any nature or respect, or owe an agency, fiduciary or similar duty to the Company, in connection with such transaction or the process leading thereto.

 

13. Integration. This Agreement and any Terms Agreement supersede all prior agreements and understandings (whether written or oral) between the Company and the Manager with respect to the subject matter hereof. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the letter agreement, dated November 20, 2024, by and between the Company and the Manager shall continue to be effective and the terms therein shall continue to survive and be enforceable by the Manager in accordance with its terms, provided that, in the event of a conflict between the terms of the letter agreement and this Agreement, the terms of the letter agreement shall prevail.

 

14. Amendments; Waivers. No provision of this Agreement may be waived, modified, supplemented or amended except in a written instrument signed, in the case of an amendment, by the Company and the Manager. No waiver of any default with respect to any provision, condition or requirement of this Agreement shall be deemed to be a continuing waiver in the future or a waiver of any subsequent default or a waiver of any other provision, condition or requirement hereof, nor shall any delay or omission of any party to exercise any right hereunder in any manner impair the exercise of any such right.

 

 

15. Applicable Law. This Agreement and any Terms Agreement will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York applicable to contracts made and to be performed within the State of New York. Each of the Company and the Manager: (i) agrees that any legal suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement shall be instituted exclusively in New York Supreme Court, County of New York, or in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, (ii) waives any objection which it may have or hereafter to the venue of any such suit, action or proceeding, and (iii) irrevocably consents to the exclusive jurisdiction of the New York Supreme Court, County of New York, and the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York in any such suit, action or proceeding. Each of the Company and the Manager further agrees to accept and acknowledge service of any and all process which may be served in any such suit, action or proceeding in the New York Supreme Court, County of New York, or in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York and agrees that service of process upon the Company mailed by certified mail to the Company’s address shall be deemed in every respect effective service of process upon the Company, in any such suit, action or proceeding, and service of process upon the Manager mailed by certified mail to the Manager’s address shall be deemed in every respect effective service process upon the Manager, in any such suit, action or proceeding. If either party shall commence an action or proceeding to enforce any provision of this Agreement, then the prevailing party in such action or proceeding shall be reimbursed by the other party for its reasonable attorney’s fees and other costs and expenses incurred with the investigation, preparation and prosecution of such action or proceeding.

 

16. Waiver of Jury Trial. The Company hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and all right to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement, any Terms Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby.

 

17. Counterparts. This Agreement and any Terms Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each one of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon one and the same agreement. Counterparts may be delivered via electronic mail (including any electronic signature covered by the U.S. federal ESIGN Act of 2000, Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, the Electronic Signatures and Records Act or other applicable law, e.g., www.docusign.com) or other transmission method and any counterpart so delivered shall be deemed to have been duly and validly delivered and be valid and effective for all purposes.

 

***************************

 

 

18. Headings. The section headings used in this Agreement and any Terms Agreement are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

 

If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, please sign and return to us the enclosed duplicate hereof, whereupon this letter and your acceptance shall represent a binding agreement among the Company and the Manager.

 

Very truly yours,

 

signing day sports, inc.
By:	/s/ Daniel Nelson
Name:	Daniel Nelson
Title:	Chief Executive Officer

 

Address for Notice:
8355 East Hartford Rd., Suite 100
Scottsdale, Arizona 85255
Attention: Daniel Nelson
E-mail:danny.nelson@signingdaysports.com

 

The foregoing Agreement is hereby confirmed and accepted as of the date first written above.

 

H.C. WAINWRIGHT & CO., LLC
By:	/s/ Edward D. Silvera
Name:	Edward D. Silvera
Title:	Chief Operating Officer

 

Address for Notice:

430 Park Avenue

New York, New York 10022

Attention: Chief Executive Officer

E-mail: notices@hcwco.com

 

 

Form of Terms Agreement

 

ANNEX I

 

signing day sports, inc.

 

TERMS AGREEMENT

 

Dear Sirs:

 

Signing Day Sports, Inc. (the “Company”) proposes, subject to the terms and conditions stated herein and in the At The Market Offering Agreement, dated ______, 2024 (the “At The Market Offering Agreement”), between the Company and H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC (“Manager”), to issue and sell to Manager the securities specified in Schedule I hereto (the “Purchased Shares”).

 

Each of the provisions of the At The Market Offering Agreement not specifically related to the solicitation by the Manager, as agent of the Company, of offers to purchase securities is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, and shall be deemed to be part of this Terms Agreement to the same extent as if such provisions had been set forth in full herein. Each of the representations and warranties set forth therein shall be deemed to have been made at and as of the date of this Terms Agreement and the Time of Delivery, except that each representation and warranty in Section 3 of the At The Market Offering Agreement which makes reference to the Prospectus (as therein defined) shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty as of the date of the At The Market Offering Agreement in relation to the Prospectus, and also a representation and warranty as of the date of this Terms Agreement and the Time of Delivery in relation to the Prospectus as amended and supplemented to relate to the Purchased Shares.

 

An amendment to the Registration Statement (as defined in the At The Market Offering Agreement), or a supplement to the Prospectus, as the case may be, relating to the Purchased Shares, in the form heretofore delivered to the Manager is now proposed to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and in the At The Market Offering Agreement which are incorporated herein by reference, the Company agrees to issue and sell to the Manager and the latter agrees to purchase from the Company the number of shares of the Purchased Shares at the time and place and at the purchase price set forth in the Schedule I hereto.

 

 

If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please sign and return to us a counterpart hereof, whereupon this Terms Agreement, including those provisions of the At The Market Offering Agreement incorporated herein by reference, shall constitute a binding agreement between the Manager and the Company.

 

signing day sports, inc.
By:
Name:	Daniel Nelson
Title:	Chief Executive Officer

 

ACCEPTED as of the date first written above.
H.C. WAINWRIGHT & CO., LLC
By:
Name:
Title:

 

 

43

 

Exhibit 4.18

 

 

SIGNING DAY SPORTS, INC.

 

TO

 

[       ]

 

 

 

 

Trustee

 

 

 

 

Indenture

 

Dated as of __, 20__

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

		Page
	ARTICLE I
	DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION
Section 101.	Definitions	1
Section 102.	Compliance Certificates and Opinions	7
Section 103.	Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee	7
Section 104.	Acts of Holders	8
Section 105.	Notices, Etc. to Trustee and Company	9
Section 106.	Notice to Holders; Waiver	9
Section 107.	Conflict With Trust Indenture Act	9
Section 108.	Effect of Headings and Table of Contents	9
Section 109.	Successors and Assigns	10
Section 110.	Separability Clause	10
Section 111.	Benefits of Indenture	10
Section 112.	Governing Law	10
Section 113.	Legal Holidays	10
Section 114.	Rules by Trustee and Agents	10
Section 115.	No Recourse Against Others	10
ARTICLE II
SECURITY FORMS
Section 201.	Forms Generally	10
Section 202.	Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication	11
ARTICLE III
THE SECURITIES
Section 301.	Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series	11
Section 302.	Denominations	15
Section 303.	Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating	15
Section 304.	Temporary Securities	16
Section 305.	Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange	17
Section 306.	Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities	18
Section 307.	Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved	18
Section 308.	Persons Deemed Owners	19
Section 309.	Cancellation	20
Section 310.	Computation of Interest	20
Section 311.	Global Securities; Exchanges; Registration and Registration of Transfer	20
Section 312.	Extension of Interest Payment	21

 

 

ARTICLE IV
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE
Section 401.	Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture	21
Section 402.	Application of Trust Money	22
Section 403.	Satisfaction, Discharge and Defeasance of Securities of Any Series	23
ARTICLE V
REMEDIES
Section 501.	Events of Default	24
Section 502.	Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment	25
Section 503.	Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee	26
Section 504.	Trustee May File Proofs of Claim	26
Section 505.	Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities or Coupons	27
Section 506.	Application of Money Collected	27
Section 507.	Limitation on Suits	27
Section 508.	Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium and Interest	28
Section 509.	Restoration of Rights and Remedies	28
Section 510.	Rights and Remedies Cumulative	28
Section 511.	Delay or Omission Not Waiver	28
Section 512.	Control by Holders	28
Section 513.	Waiver of Past Defaults	29
Section 514.	Undertaking for Costs	29
Section 515.	Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws	29
ARTICLE VI
THE TRUSTEE
Section 601.	Certain Duties and Responsibilities	29
Section 602.	Notice of Defaults	30
Section 603.	Certain Rights of Trustee	31
Section 604.	Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities	31
Section 605.	May Hold Securities	31
Section 606.	Money Held in Trust	32
Section 607.	Compensation and Reimbursement	32
Section 608.	Disqualification; Conflicting Interests	32
Section 609.	Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility	32
Section 610.	Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor	33
Section 611.	Acceptance of Appointment by Successor	34
Section 612.	Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business	35
Section 613.	Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company	35
Section 614.	Appointment of Authenticating Agent	35

 

 

ARTICLE VII
HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY
Section 701.	Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders	36
Section 702.	Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders	37
Section 703.	Reports by Trustee	38
Section 704.	Reports by Company	38
ARTICLE VIII
CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE OR TRANSFER
Section 801.	Company May Consolidate, Etc. Only on Certain Terms	39
Section 802.	Successor Corporation Substituted	39
ARTICLE IX
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES
Section 901.	Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders	40
Section 902.	Supplemental Indentures With Consent of Holders	41
Section 903.	Execution of Supplemental Indentures	42
Section 904.	Effect of Supplemental Indentures	42
Section 905.	Conformity With Trust Indenture Act	43
Section 906.	Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures	43
Section 907.	Revocation and Effect of Consents	43
Section 908.	Modification Without Supplemental Indenture	43
ARTICLE X
COVENANTS
Section 1001.	Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest	43
Section 1002.	Maintenance of Office or Agency	44
Section 1003.	Money for Securities Payments to Be Held in Trust	45
Section 1004.	Corporate Existence	46
Section 1005.	Defeasance of Certain Obligations	46
Section 1006.	Statement by Officers as to Default	47
Section 1007.	Waiver of Certain Covenants	47
Section 1008.	Maintenance of Properties	48

 

 

ARTICLE XI
REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES
Section 1101.	Applicability of Article	48
Section 1102.	Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee	48
Section 1103.	Selection by Trustee of Securities to Be Redeemed	48
Section 1104.	Notice of Redemption	49
Section 1105.	Securities Payable on Redemption Date	50
Section 1106.	Securities Redeemed in Part	50
ARTICLE XII
SINKING FUNDS
Section 1201.	Applicability of Article	50
Section 1202.	Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments With Securities	50
Section 1203.	Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund	51
ARTICLE XIII
REPAYMENT OF SECURITIES AT OPTION OF HOLDERS
Section 1301.	Applicability of Article	51
Section 1302.	Notice of Repayment Date	51
Section 1303.	Securities Payable on Repayment Date	52
Section 1304.	Securities Repaid in Part	52

 

 

INDENTURE, dated as of [      ], 20__, between Signing Day Sports, Inc., a company organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (herein called the “Company”), and [       ] (herein called the “Trustee”).

 

Recitals Of The Company

 

The Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the issuance from time to time of its unsecured debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness (each herein called a “Security” or collectively the “Securities”), in an unlimited aggregate principal amount to be issued in one or more series as in this Indenture provided.

 

All things necessary to make this Indenture a valid agreement of the Company, in accordance with its terms, have been done.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH:

 

For and in consideration of the premises and the purchase of the Securities by the Holders thereof, it is mutually covenanted and agreed, for the equal and proportionate benefit of all Holders of the Securities or of any series thereof, as follows:

 

ARTICLE I

 

DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION

 

Section 101. Definitions. For all purposes of this Indenture, except as otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires;

 

(1) the terms defined in this Article have the meanings assigned to them in this Article and include the plural as well as the singular;

 

(2) all other terms used herein which are defined in the Trust Indenture Act, either directly or by reference therein, have the meanings assigned to them therein;

 

(3) all accounting terms not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and, except as otherwise herein expressly provided, the term “generally accepted accounting principles” with respect to any computation required or permitted hereunder shall mean such accounting principles as are generally accepted in the United States at the date of such computation or, at the election of the Company from time to time, at the date of the execution and delivery of this Indenture;

 

(4) the word “or” is not exclusive; and

 

(5) the words “herein”, “hereof” and “hereunder” and other words of similar import refer to this Indenture as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or other subdivision.

 

Certain terms, used principally in Article VI, are defined in that Article.

 

“Act”, when used with respect to any Holder, has the meaning specified in Section 104.

 

“Affiliate” of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For the purposes of this definition, “control” when used with respect to any specified Person means the power to direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms “controlling” and “controlled” have meanings correlative to the foregoing.

 

 

“Authenticating Agent” means any Person authorized by the Trustee to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities.

 

“Authorized Newspaper” means a newspaper of general circulation, in an official language of the country of publication or in the English language, customarily published on a daily basis (including newspapers published on a daily basis except not published on Legal Holidays, as defined in Section 113) in such country. Whenever successive weekly publications in an Authorized Newspaper are required hereunder, they may be made (unless otherwise expressly provided herein) on the same or different days of the week and in the same or different Authorized Newspapers.

 

“Authorized Officer” means the Executive Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the Secretary, any Assistant Secretary or any other officer or agent of the Company duly authorized by the Board of Directors to act in respect of matters relating to this Indenture.

 

“Board of Directors” means either the board of directors of the Company or any duly authorized committee of that board.

 

“Board Resolution” means a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary, an Assistant Secretary or director of the Company to have been duly adopted by the Board of Directors and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification, and delivered to the Trustee.

 

“Business Day”, when used with respect to any Place of Payment or any other particular location specified in the Securities or this Indenture, means each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday which is not a day on which banking institutions in that Place of Payment such other location, or the city in which the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee is located, are authorized or obligated by law to close, except as may be otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301.

 

“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

 

“Commission” means the Securities and Exchange Commission, as from time to time constituted, created under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or, if at any time after the execution of this instrument such Commission is not existing and performing the duties now assigned to it under the Trust Indenture Act, then the body performing such duties at such time.

 

“Company” means the Person named as the “Company” in the first paragraph of this instrument until a successor Person shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Company” shall mean such successor Person.

 

“Company Request” or “Company Order” means a written request or order signed in the name of the Company by an Authorized Officer and delivered to the Trustee.

 

“Corporate Trust Office” means the principal office of the Trustee at which at any particular time its corporate trust business shall be administered and, with respect to [    ], shall be located in [    ].

 

“Corporation” includes corporations, associations, joint stock companies, limited liability companies and business trusts.

 

“Defaulted Interest” has the meaning specified in Section 307.

 

“Depository” means, with respect to any series of Securities issuable or issued in the form of a Global Security, an entity named as such in the Indenture, or, if no entity is so named, an entity, if any, named by the Company as such by Board Resolution, or its successor. The Depository is the entity which holds a Global Security, if any, and operates the computerized book-entry system through which ownership interests in the Securities are recorded. Such entity shall at all times be a registered clearing agency under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and in good standing thereunder or, in the case of an entity that holds a Global Security issued outside of the United States, such entity shall at all times be in compliance with any applicable registration requirements and in good standing under application regulations.

 

 

“Dollar” or “$” means a dollar or other equivalent unit in such coin or currency of the United States as at the time shall be legal tender for the payment of public and private debts.

 

“Eligible Obligations” means:

 

(a) with respect to Securities denominated in Dollars, U.S. Government Obligations; or

 

(b) with respect to Securities denominated in a currency other than Dollars or in a composite currency, such other obligations or instruments as shall be specified with respect to such Securities, as contemplated by Section 301(24).

 

“Event of Default” has the meaning specified in Section 501.

 

“Global Security” means a Security, if any, issued to evidence all or a part of a series of Securities in accordance with Section 301.

 

“Holder” means the bearer of an Unregistered Security or coupon appertaining thereto or a Person in whose name a Registered Security is registered in the Security Register or the Person who is the record owner of any ownership interests in a Global Security.

 

“Indenture” means this instrument as originally executed or as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof and shall include the terms of particular series of Securities established as contemplated by Section 301.

 

“Indexed Security” means a Security the terms of which provide that the principal amount thereof payable at Stated Maturity may be more or less than the principal face amount thereof at original issuance.

 

“Interest”, when used with respect to an Original Issue Discount Security that by its terms bears interest only after Maturity, means interest payable after Maturity.

 

“Interest Payment Date”, when used with respect to any Security, means the Stated Maturity of an installment of interest on such Security.

 

“Maturity”, when used with respect to any Security, means the date on which the principal of such Security or an installment of principal becomes due and payable as therein or herein provided, whether at the Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration, upon call for redemption, exercise of repayment option or otherwise.

 

“Officer’s Certificate” means a certificate signed by an Authorized Officer and delivered to the Trustee.

 

“Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion of counsel, who may be an employee of, or counsel for, the Company or an Affiliate of the Company, and who shall be acceptable to the Trustee.

 

“Original Issue Discount Security” means any Security that provides for an amount less than the principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502.

 

“Outstanding”, when used with respect to Securities, means, as of the date of determination, all Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered under this Indenture, except:

 

(a) Securities theretofore cancelled by the Trustee or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation;

 

 

(b) Securities or portions thereof for whose payment or redemption (a) money in the necessary amount has been theretofore deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent (other than the Company) in trust or set aside and segregated in trust by the Company (if the Company shall act as its own Paying Agent) for the Holders of such Securities or (b) Eligible Obligations as contemplated by Sections 401 and 403 in the necessary amount have been theretofore deposited with the Trustee, in trust, for the Holders of such Securities (whether or not the Company’s indebtedness in respect thereof shall be satisfied and discharged for purposes of this Indenture or otherwise), provided that, if such Securities are to be redeemed, notice of such redemption has been duly given pursuant to this Indenture or provision therefor satisfactory to the Trustee has been made; and

 

(c) Securities that have been paid pursuant to Section 306 or in exchange for or in lieu of which other Securities have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to this Indenture, other than any such Securities in respect of which there have been presented to the Trustee proof satisfactory to it and the Company that such Securities are held by a bona fide purchaser in whose hands such Securities are valid obligations of the Company;

 

provided, however, that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of the Outstanding Securities have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder,

 

(w) Securities owned by the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor (unless the Company, such Affiliate or such obligor owns (i) all Securities Outstanding under this Indenture or (ii) except for the purposes of actions to be taken by Holders of more than one series or Tranche voting as a class, all Outstanding Securities of each such series and each such Tranche, as the case may be, determined without regard to this clause) shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding, except that, in determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying upon any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver, only Securities which the Trustee knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded. Securities so owned which have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right so to act with respect to such Securities and that the pledgee is not the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor;

 

(x) in determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of Securities of any series or Tranche have concurred in any direction, waiver or consent, the principal amount of Original Issue Discount Securities that shall be deemed to be outstanding shall be the amount of the principal thereof that would be due and payable as of the date of such determination upon acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502;

 

(y) in the case of any Security the principal of which is payable from time to time without presentment or surrender, the principal amount of such Security that shall be deemed to be Outstanding at any time for all purposes of this Indenture shall be the original principal amount thereof less the aggregate amount of principal thereof theretofore paid; and

 

(z) the principal amount of any Security which is denominated in a currency other than Dollars or in a composite currency that shall be deemed to be Outstanding for such purposes shall be the amount of Dollars that could have been purchased by the principal amount (or, in the case of an Original Issue Discount Security, the Dollar equivalent on the date determined as set forth below of the amount determined as provided in (x) above) of such currency or composite currency evidenced by such Security, in each such case certified to the Trustee in an Officer’s Certificate based (i) on the average of the mean of the buying and selling spot rates quoted by three banks which are members of the New York Clearing House Association selected by the Company in effect at 11:00 A.M. (New York time) in The City of New York on the fifteenth Business Day preceding any such determination or (ii) if on such fifteenth Business Day it is not possible or practicable to obtain such quotations from such three banks, on such other quotations or alternative methods of determination that shall be as consistent as practicable with the method set forth in (i) above.

 

 

“Paying Agent” means any Person, including the Company, authorized by the Company to pay the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on any Securities on behalf of the Company.

 

“Periodic Offering” means an offering of Securities of a series from time to time any or all of the specific terms of which Securities, including without limitation the rate or rates of interest, if any, thereon, the Stated Maturity or Maturities thereof and the redemption provisions, if any, with respect thereto, are to be determined by the Company or its agents from time to time subsequent to the initial request for the authentication and delivery of such Securities by the Trustee, all as contemplated in Section 301 and clause (2) of Section 303.

 

“Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.

 

“Place of Payment”, when used with respect to the Securities of any series, or any Tranche thereof, means the place or places where the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on the Securities of that series or Tranche are payable as specified as contemplated by Section 301.

 

“Predecessor Security” of any particular Security means every previous Security evidencing all or a portion of the same debt as that evidenced by such particular Security, and, for the purposes of this definition, any Security authenticated and delivered under Section 306 in exchange for or in lieu of a mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be deemed to evidence the same debt as the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security.

 

“Redemption Date”, when used with respect to any Security to be redeemed, means the date fixed for such redemption by or pursuant to Section 301 of this Indenture.

 

“Redemption Price”, when used with respect to any Security to be redeemed, means the price at which it is to be redeemed pursuant to this Indenture, exclusive of accrued and unpaid interest, if any.

 

“Registered Security” means any Security issued hereunder and registered by the Security Registrar or any recorded interest in a Global Security issued hereunder.

 

“Regular Record Date” for the interest payable on any Interest Payment Date on the Securities of any series means the date specified for that purpose as contemplated by Section 301.

 

“Repayment Date”, when used with respect to any Security of any series to be repaid or repurchased, means the date, if any, fixed for such repayment or for such repurchase (whether at the option of the Holders or otherwise) pursuant to Section 301 of this Indenture.

 

“Repayment Price”, when used with respect to any Security of any series to be repaid, means the price, if any, at which it is to be repaid pursuant to Section 301.

 

“Responsible Officer”, when used with respect to the Trustee, means any officer within the corporate trust department or any other successor group of the Trustee, including any vice president, assistant vice president, assistant secretary or any other officer of the Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above designated officers and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer of the Trustee to whom such matter is referred because of his knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.

 

“Security” or “Securities” has the meaning stated in the first recital of this Indenture and more particularly means any Security or Securities authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.

 

“Security Register” and “Security Registrar” have the respective meanings specified in Section 305.

 

“Senior Securities” means Securities other than Subordinated Securities.

 

 

“series” or “series of Securities” means a series of Securities issued under this Indenture as determined by Board Resolution or as otherwise determined under this Indenture, and except as otherwise provided in Section 608.

 

“Special Record Date” for the payment of any Defaulted Interest means a date fixed by the Trustee pursuant to Section 307.

 

“Stated Maturity”, when used with respect to any Security or any installment of principal thereof or interest thereon, means the date specified in such Security as the fixed date on which the principal of such Security or such installment of principal or interest is due and payable.

 

“Subordinated Securities” means Securities that by the terms established pursuant to Section 301(10) are subordinate to any specified debt of the Company.

 

“Subsidiary” means (i) any corporation, association or other business entity of which more than 50% of the outstanding total voting stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by the Company or by one or more other Subsidiaries, or by the Company and one or more other Subsidiaries or (ii) any partnership the sole general partner or the managing general partner of which is the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company or the only general partners of which are the Company or of one or more Subsidiaries of the Company (or any combination thereof). For the purposes of this definition, “voting stock” means, in the case of a corporation, stock which ordinarily has voting power for the election of directors, whether at all times or only so long as no senior class of capital stock has such voting power by reason of any contingency, in the case of an association or business entity, any and all shares, interests, participations, rights or other equivalents (however designated) of corporate stock, in the case of a partnership or limited liability company, partnership or membership interests (whether general or limited), and any other interest or participation that confers on a Person the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or distributions of assets of, the issuing Person.

 

“Tranche” means a group of Securities which (a) are of the same series and (b) have identical terms except as to principal amount or date of issuance.

 

“Trustee” means the Person named as the “Trustee” in the first paragraph of this instrument until a successor Trustee shall have been appointed with respect to one or more series of Securities pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Trustee” shall mean or include each Person who is then a Trustee hereunder, and if at any time there is more than one such Person, “Trustee” as used with respect to the Securities of any series shall mean the Trustee with respect to Securities of that series.

 

“Trust Indenture Act” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as in force at the date as of which this instrument was executed, except as provided in Section 905.

 

“U.S. Government Obligations” means (a) direct obligations of the United States for the payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged, or obligations of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States and the payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed by the United States and (b) certificates, depositary receipts or other instruments which evidence a direct ownership interest in obligations described in clause (a) above or in any specific interest or principal payments due in respect thereof; provided, however, that the custodian of such obligations or specific interest or principal payments shall be a bank or trust company (which may include the Trustee or any Paying Agent) subject to federal or state supervision or examination with a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000; and provided, further, that except as may be otherwise required by law, such custodian shall be obligated to pay to the holders of such certificates, depositary receipts or other instruments the full amount received by such custodian in respect of such obligations or specific payments and shall not be permitted to make any deduction therefrom.

 

“U.S. Person” means a citizen, national or resident of the United States, a corporation, partnership, limited liability company, or other entity created or organized in or under the laws of the United States or any political subdivision thereof, or an estate or trust whose income from sources without the United States is includible in gross income for United States federal income tax purposes regardless of its connection with the conduct of a trade or business within the United States.

 

 

“Unregistered Security” means any Security issued hereunder which is not a Registered Security.

 

“Vice President”, when used with respect to the Company or the Trustee, means any vice president, whether or not designated by a number or a word or words added before or after the title “vice president”.

 

“Yield to Maturity” means the yield to maturity, calculated by the Company at the time of issuance of a series of Securities or, if applicable, at the most recent determination of interest on such series in accordance with accepted financial practice.

 

Section 102. Compliance Certificates and Opinions. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Indenture upon any application or request by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under any provision of this Indenture, the Company shall, if requested by the Trustee, furnish to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate stating that all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with and an Opinion of Counsel stating that in the opinion of such counsel all such conditions precedent, if any, have been complied with, except that in the case of any such application or request as to which the furnishing of such documents is specifically required by any provision of this Indenture relating to such particular application or request, no additional certificate or opinion need be furnished.

 

Every certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture (other than certificates provided pursuant to Section 704(4)) shall include:

 

(1) a statement that each individual signing such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition and the definitions herein relating thereto;

 

(2) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based;

 

(3) a statement that, in the opinion of each such individual, he has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and

 

(4) a statement as to whether, in the opinion of each such individual, such condition or covenant has been complied with.

 

Section 103. Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee. In any case where several matters are required to be certified by, or covered by an opinion of, any specified Person, it is not necessary that all such matters be certified by, or covered by the opinion of, only one such Person, or that they be so certified or covered by only one document, but one such Person may certify or give an opinion with respect to some matters and one or more other such Persons as to other matters, and any such Person may certify or give an opinion as to such matters in one or several documents.

 

Any certificate or opinion of an officer of the Company may be based, insofar as it relates to legal matters, upon an Opinion of Counsel. Any such Opinion of Counsel may be based, insofar as it relates to factual matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or representations by, an officer or officers of the Company stating that the information with respect to such factual matters is in the possession of the Company.

 

Where any Person is required to make, give or execute two or more applications, requests, consents, certificates, statements, opinions or other instruments under this Indenture, they may, but need not, be consolidated and form one instrument.

 

 

Section 104. Acts of Holders. (a) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided by this Indenture to be made, given or taken by Holders may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders in person or by an agent duly appointed in writing; and, except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments are delivered to the Trustee and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Company. Such instrument or instruments (and the action embodied therein and evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the “Act” of the Holders signing such instrument or instruments. Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent, or of the holding by any Person of Unregistered Securities, shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture and (subject to Section 601) conclusive in favor of the Trustee and the Company, if made in the manner provided in this Section.

 

(b) The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such instrument or writing may be proved by the affidavit of a witness of such execution or by a certificate of a notary public or other officer authorized by law to take acknowledgments of deeds, certifying that the individual signing such instrument or writing acknowledged to him the execution thereof. Where such execution is by a signer acting in a capacity other than his individual capacity, such certificate or affidavit shall also constitute sufficient proof of his authority. The fact and date of the execution of any such instrument or writing, or the authority of the Person executing the same, may also be proved in any other manner acceptable to the Trustee.

 

(c) The amount of Unregistered Securities held by any Person executing any such instrument or writings as the Holder thereof, and the numbers of such Unregistered Securities, and the date of his holding the same, may be proved by the production of such Unregistered Securities or by a certificate executed, as depositary, by any trust company, bank, banker or member of a national securities exchange (wherever situated), if such certificate is in form satisfactory to the Trustee, showing that at the date therein mentioned such Person had on deposit with such depositary, or exhibited to it, the Unregistered Securities therein described; or such facts may be proved by the certificate or affidavit of the Person executing such instrument or writing as the Holder thereof, if such certificate or affidavit is in form satisfactory to the Trustee. The Trustee and the Company may assume that such ownership of any Unregistered Securities continues until (1) another certificate bearing a later date issued in respect of the same Unregistered Securities is produced, or (2) such Unregistered Securities are produced by some other Person, or (3) such Unregistered Securities are registered as to principal or are surrendered in exchange for Unregistered Securities, or (4) such Unregistered Securities are no longer Outstanding.

 

(d) The fact and date of execution of any such instrument or writing and the amount and number of Unregistered Securities held by the Person so executing such instrument or writing may also be proved in any other manner that the Trustee deems sufficient; and the Trustee may in any instance require further proof with respect to any of the matters referred to in this Section.

 

(e) The principal amount (except as otherwise contemplated in clause (x) of the proviso to the definition of “Outstanding”) and serial numbers of Securities held by any Person, and the date of holding the same, shall be proved by the Security Register.

 

(f) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, election, waiver or other Act of the Holder of any Security shall bind every future Holder of the same Security and the Holder of every Security issued upon the registration of transfer thereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu thereof in respect of anything done, omitted or suffered to be done by the Trustee or the Company in reliance thereon, whether or not notation of such action is made upon such Security.

 

(g) The Company may set a record date for purposes of determining the identity of Holders of any Securities of any series entitled to vote or consent to any action by vote or consent authorized or permitted by Section 512 or 513. Such record date shall be the later of 30 days prior to the first solicitation of such consent or the date of the most recent list of Holders of such Securities furnished to the Trustee pursuant to Section 701 prior to such solicitation.

 

(h) If the Company solicits from Holders any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act, the Company may, at its option, fix in advance a record date for the determination of Holders entitled to give such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act, but the Company shall have no obligation to do so. If such a record date is fixed, such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act may be given before or after such record date, but only the Holders of record at the close of business on the record date shall be deemed to be Holders for the purposes of determining whether Holders of the requisite proportion of the Outstanding Securities have authorized or agreed or consented to such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act, and for that purpose the Outstanding Securities shall be computed as of the record date.

 

 

Section 105. Notices, Etc. to Trustee and Company. Except as otherwise provided herein, any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, election, waiver or Act of Holders or other document provided or permitted by this Indenture to be made upon, given or furnished to, or filed with,

 

(1) the Trustee by any Holder or by the Company shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder if made, given, furnished or filed in writing to or with the Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office, Attention: [    ], [    ], or

 

(2) the Company by the Trustee or by any Holder shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to the Company addressed to it at the address of its principal office specified in the first paragraph of this instrument or at any other address previously furnished in writing to the Trustee by the Company.

 

Section 106. Notice to Holders; Waiver. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, where this Indenture provides for notice of any event or reports to Holders, such notice or report shall be sufficiently given if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to each Holder of Registered Securities affected by such event, at the address of such Holder as it appears in the Security Register and to addresses filed with the Trustee or preserved on the Trustee’s list pursuant to Section 702(a) for other Holders (and to such other addressees as may be required in the case of such notice or report under Section 313(c) of the Trust Indenture Act), not later than the latest date, and not earlier than the earliest date, prescribed for the giving of such notice or report.

 

In any case where notice to Holders is given by mail, neither the failure to mail such notice, nor any defect in any notice so mailed, to any particular Holder shall affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Holders.

 

Notice shall be sufficiently given to Holders of Unregistered Securities if published in an Authorized Newspaper in each of The City of New York and, if such Securities are listed on any stock exchange outside of the United States, in the city in which such stock exchange is located, or in such other city or cities as may be specified in the Securities, once in each of two different calendar weeks, the first publication to be not earlier than the earliest date, and not later than the last date, if any, prescribed for the giving of such notice.

 

Where this Indenture provides for notice in any manner, such notice may be waived in writing by the Person entitled to receive such notice, either before or after the event, and such waiver shall be the equivalent of such notice. Waivers of notice by Holders shall be filed with the Trustee, but such filing shall not be a condition precedent to the validity of any action taken in reliance upon such waiver.

 

In case by reason of the suspension of regular mail service or by reason of any other cause is impracticable to give such notice by mail, then such notification that is made with the approval of the Trustee shall constitute a sufficient notification for every purpose hereunder.

 

If it is impractical in the opinion of the Trustee or the Company to make any publication of any notice required hereby in an Authorized Newspaper, any publication or other notice in lieu thereof that is made or given with the approval of the Trustee shall constitute a sufficient publication of such notice.

 

Section 107. Conflict With Trust Indenture Act. If any provision hereof limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by operation of subsection (c) of Section 318 of the Trust Indenture Act, the imposed duties shall control.

 

Section 108. Effect of Headings and Table of Contents. The Article and Section headings herein and the Table of Contents are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

 

 

Section 109. Successors and Assigns. All covenants and agreements in this Indenture by the Company shall bind its successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not.

 

Section 110. Separability Clause. In case any provision in this Indenture or in the Securities is invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

 

Section 111. Benefits of Indenture. Nothing in this Indenture or in the Securities, express or implied, shall give to any Person, other than the parties hereto (including any Paying Agent appointed pursuant to Section 1002 and Authenticating Agent appointed pursuant to Section 614 to the extent provided herein) and their successors hereunder and the Holders, any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Indenture.

 

Section 112. Governing Law. This Indenture and the Securities shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

 

Section 113. Legal Holidays. In any case where any Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date, Repayment Date or Stated Maturity of any Security is not a Business Day at any Place of Payment or the city in which the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee is located, then (notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or of the Securities other than a provision in Securities of any series, or any Tranche thereof, or in the Board Resolution or Officer’s Certificate that establishes the terms of such Securities or Tranche, that specifically states that such provision shall apply in lieu of this Section) payment of interest or principal (and premium, if any) need not be made at such Place of Payment on such date, but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day at such Place of Payment with the same force and effect as if made on the Interest Payment Date or Redemption Date, Repayment Date, or at the Stated Maturity, provided that no interest shall accrue with respect to such payment for the period from and after such Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date, Repayment Date or Stated Maturity, as the case may be.

 

Section 114. Rules by Trustee and Agents. The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or at a meeting of Holders of one or more series. The Paying Agent or Security Registrar may make reasonable rules and set reasonable requirements for its functions.

 

Section 115. No Recourse Against Others. No past, present or future director, officer, stockholder or employee, as such, of the Company or any successor corporation shall have any liability for any obligation of the Company under the Securities or the Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of such obligations or their creation. Each Holder by accepting a Security waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the execution of this Indenture and the issue of the Securities.

 

ARTICLE II

SECURITY FORMS

 

Section 201. Forms Generally. The Securities of each series and related coupons, if any, shall be in substantially the form as shall be established by or pursuant to a Board Resolution or in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, in each case with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as are required or permitted by this Indenture and may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification and such legends or endorsements placed thereon as may be required to comply with the rules of any securities exchange or as may, consistently herewith, be determined by the officers executing such Securities, as evidenced by their execution of the Securities. When the form of Securities of any series is established by action taken pursuant to a Board Resolution, a copy of an appropriate record of such action shall be delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Company Order contemplated by Section 303 for the authentication and delivery of such Securities.

 

 

If required or appropriate under applicable law, Unregistered Securities and their coupons must have the following statement on their face: “Any United States person who holds this obligation will be subject to limitations under the United States income tax laws, including the limitations provided in Sections 165(j) and 1287(a) of the Internal Revenue Code”. If required or appropriate under applicable law, Unregistered Securities and their coupons must have the following statement on their face: “By accepting this obligation, the Holder represents and warrants that it is not a U.S. Person (other than an exempt recipient described in section 6049(b)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code and the regulations thereunder) and that it is not acting for or on behalf of a U.S. Person (other than an exempt recipient described in section 6049(b)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code and the regulations thereunder).”

 

The definitive Securities shall be produced in such manner or combination of manners, all as determined by the officers executing such Securities, as evidenced by their execution of such Securities.

 

Section 202. Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication. The Trustee’s certificate of authentication shall be in substantially the following form:

 

This is one of the Securities of the series designated herein, referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

 

	[        ]
	as Trustee
	By
		Authorized Officer

 

ARTICLE III

 

THE SECURITIES

 

Section 301. Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series. The aggregate principal amount of Securities that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited.

 

The Securities may be issued in one or more series. There may be Registered Securities and Unregistered Securities within a series. Registered and Unregistered Securities may be in temporary or permanent global form. Unregistered Securities may be issued with or without coupons attached. Unregistered Securities may be subject to such restrictions, and contain such legends, as may be required by United States laws and regulations. Subject to the last paragraph of this Section, there shall be established in or pursuant to a Board Resolution, and set forth in an Officer’s Certificate, or established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, prior to the issuance of Securities of any series,

 

(1) the title of the Securities of the series (which shall distinguish the Securities of the series from all other Securities);

 

(2) any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of the series that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture (except for Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Securities of the series pursuant to Section 304, 305, 306, 906, 1107 or 1305 and except for any Securities that, pursuant to Section 303, are deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered hereunder);

 

(3) the price or prices (expressed as a percentage of the principal amount thereof) at which the securities will be issued and the date or dates on which the principal (and premium, if any) of the Securities of the series, or any Tranche thereof, is payable;

 

(4) the date or dates on which the principal of the Securities of such series, or any Tranche thereof, is payable or any formula or other method or other means by which such date or dates shall be determined, by reference to an index or other fact or event ascertainable outside of this Indenture or otherwise (without regard to any provisions for redemption, prepayment, acceleration, purchase or extension);

 

 

(5) the rate or rates at which the Securities of such series, or any Tranche thereof, shall bear interest, if any (including the rate or rates at which overdue principal shall bear interest, if different from the rate or rates at which such Securities shall bear interest prior to Maturity, and, if applicable, the rate or rates at which overdue premium or interest shall bear interest, if any), or any formula or other method or other means by which such rate or rates shall be determined, by reference to an index or other fact or event ascertainable outside of this Indenture or otherwise; the date or dates from which such interest shall accrue; the Interest Payment Dates on which such interest shall be payable and the Regular Record Date, if any, for the interest payable on such Securities on any Interest Payment Date; the right of the Company, if any, to extend the interest payment periods and the duration of any such extension as contemplated by Section 312; and the basis of computation of interest, if other than as provided in Section 310;

 

(6) the place or places where the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on Securities of the series, or any Tranche thereof, shall be payable, any Registered Securities of the series, or any Tranche thereof, may be surrendered for registration of transfer, Securities of the series, or any Tranche thereof, may be surrendered for exchange, and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of the series, or any Tranche thereof, and this Indenture may be served and notices to Holders pursuant to Section 106 will be published; the Security Registrar and any Paying Agent or Agents for such series or Tranche; and if such is the case, that the principal of such Securities shall be payable without presentment or surrender thereof;

 

(7) if applicable, the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which Securities of the series, or any Tranche thereof, may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company;

 

(8) the obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem or purchase Securities of the series, or any Tranche thereof, pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions and the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which Securities of the series, or any Tranche thereof, shall be redeemed or purchased, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation;

 

(9) the obligation, if any, of the Company to offer to repay or repurchase Securities of the series, or any Tranche thereof, in circumstances described therein, and the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which Securities of the series, or any Tranche thereof, shall be repaid or repurchased, in whole or in part, at the option of the Holders;

 

(10) the terms, if any, on which the Securities of such series will be subordinate in right and priority of payment to other debt of the Company;

 

(11) the right, if any, of the Company to execute and deliver to the Trustee, and to direct the Trustee to authenticate and deliver in accordance with a Company Order, a Security of any series, or any Tranche thereof, in lieu of or in exchange for any Securities of such series, or any Tranche thereof, cancelled upon redemption or repayment;

 

(12) the denominations in which any Registered Securities of the series, or any Tranche thereof, shall be issuable, if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof, and the denomination or denominations in which any Unregistered Securities of the series, or any Tranche thereof, shall be issuable, if other than the denomination of $5,000;

 

(13) if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of Securities of the series, or any Tranche thereof, that shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502;

 

 

(14) whether Securities of the series are to be issuable as Registered Securities, Unregistered Securities, or both, whether Securities of the series are to be issuable with or without coupons, whether any Securities of the series are to be issuable initially in temporary global form (and, if so, the identity of the depositary for such Securities) and the circumstances under which such Securities in temporary global form may be exchanged for definitive Securities, and whether any Securities of the series are to be issuable in permanent global form (and, if so, the identity of the depositary for such Securities) with or without coupons and, if so, whether beneficial owners of interests in any such permanent Global Security may exchange such interests for Securities of such series and of like tenor of any authorized form and denomination and the circumstances under which any such exchanges may occur, if other than in the manner provided in Section 311;

 

(15) whether and under what circumstances the Company will pay additional amounts on the Securities of that series held by a person who is not a U.S. Person in respect of taxes or similar charges withheld or deducted and, if so, whether the Company will have the option to redeem such Securities rather than pay such additional amounts;

 

(16) the currency or currencies, including composite currencies, in which payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on the Securities of the series, or any Tranche thereof, shall be payable (if other than the currency of the United States of America) and the formula or other method or other means by which the equivalent of any such amount in Dollars is to be determined for any purpose, including for the purpose of determining the principal amount of such Securities deemed to be Outstanding at any time;

 

(17) if the principal of or premium, if any, or interest, if any, on the Securities of such series, or any Tranche thereof, are to be payable, at the election of the Company or a Holder thereof, in a coin or currency other than that in which the Securities are stated to be payable, the period or periods within which, and the terms and conditions upon which, such election may be made;

 

(18) if the principal of or premium, if any, or interest, if any, on the Securities of such series, or any Tranche thereof, are to be payable, or are to be payable at the election of the Company or a Holder thereof, in securities or other property, the type and amount of such securities or other property, or the formula or other method or other means by which such amount shall be determined, and the period or periods within which, and the terms and conditions upon which, any such election may be made;

 

(19) if the amount of payments of principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on the Securities of the series may be determined with reference to an index or other fact or event ascertainable outside of this Indenture, the manner in which such amounts shall be determined to the extent not established pursuant to paragraph (5) of this Section;

 

(20) the form or forms of the Securities, including such legends as may be required by United States laws or regulations, the form of any coupons or temporary Global Security, if any, which may be issued and the forms of any certificates which may be required hereunder or under United States laws or regulations in connection with the offering, sale, delivery or exchange of Unregistered Securities, if any;

 

(21) the Person to whom any interest on any Registered Security of the series, or any Tranche thereof, shall be payable, if other than the Person in whose name that Security is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest, and the manner in which, or the Person to whom, any interest on any Unregistered Security of the series, or any Tranche thereof, shall be payable, if otherwise than upon presentation and surrender of the coupons appertaining thereto as they severally mature, and the extent to which, or the manner in which, any interest payable on a temporary or permanent Global Security on an interest payment date will be paid;

 

(22) any Events of Default, in addition to those specified in Section 501, with respect to the Securities of such series, and any covenants of the Company for the benefit of the Holders of the Securities of such series, or any Tranche thereof, in addition to those set forth in Article X;

 

 

(23) the terms, if any, pursuant to which the Securities of such series, or any Tranche thereof, may be converted into or exchanged for shares of capital stock or other securities of the Company or any other Person;

 

(24) the obligations or instruments, if any, that shall be considered to be Eligible Obligations in respect of the Securities of such series, or any Tranche thereof, denominated in a currency other than Dollars or in a composite currency, and any additional or alternative provisions for the reinstatement of the Company’s indebtedness in respect of such Securities after the satisfaction and discharge thereof as provided in Section 401;

 

(25) any exceptions to Section 113, or variation in the definition of Business Day, with respect to the Securities of such series, or any Tranche thereof;

 

(26) any collateral security, assurance or guarantee for the Securities of such series;

 

(27) the non-applicability of Section 608 to the Securities of such series or any exceptions or modifications of Section 608 with respect to the Securities of such series;

 

(28) any rights or duties of another Person to assume the obligations of the Company with respect to the Securities of such series (whether as joint obligor, primary obligor, secondary obligor or substitute obligor) and any rights or duties to discharge and release any obligor with respect to the Securities of such series or this Indenture to the extent related to such series;

 

(29) if a service charge will be made for the registration of transfer or exchange of Securities of such series, or any Tranche thereof, the amount or terms thereof; and

 

(30) any other terms, conditions and rights of the series (which terms, conditions and rights shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture, except as permitted by Section 901(5)).

 

All Securities of any one series and the coupons appertaining to any Unregistered Securities of such series shall be substantially identical except in the case of Registered Securities as to denomination and except as may otherwise be provided in or pursuant to such Board Resolution and set forth in such Officer’s Certificate or in any such indenture supplemental hereto and as reasonably acceptable to the Trustee. Securities of different series may differ in any respect.

 

If the terms and form or forms of any series of Securities are established by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, the Company shall deliver a copy of such Board Resolution to the Trustee at or prior to the issuance of such series with (1) the form or forms of Security that have been approved attached thereto, or (2) if such Board Resolution authorizes a specific officer or officers to approve the terms and form or forms of the Securities, a certificate of such officer or officers approving the terms and form or forms of Security with such form or forms of Securities attached thereto. Such Board Resolution or certificate may provide general terms or parameters for Securities of any series and may provide that the specific terms of particular Securities of a series may be determined in accordance with or pursuant to the Company Order referred to in Section 303 hereof.

 

With respect to Securities of a series subject to a Periodic Offering, the indenture supplemental hereto or the Board Resolution that establishes such series, or the Officer’s Certificate pursuant to such supplemental indenture or Board Resolution, as the case may be, may provide general terms or parameters for Securities of such series and provide either that the specific terms of Securities of such series, or any Tranche thereof, shall be specified in a Company Order or that such terms shall be determined by the Company or its agents in accordance with procedures specified in a Company Order as contemplated by the third paragraph of Section 303.

 

Unless otherwise specified with respect to a series of Securities pursuant to paragraph (2) of this Section, any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of a series of Securities may be increased without the consent of any Holders and additional Securities of such series may be authenticated and delivered up to the limit upon the aggregate principal amount authorized with respect to such series as so increased.

 

 

Section 302. Denominations. The Securities of each series shall be issuable in registered or unregistered form with or without coupons in such denominations as shall be specified as contemplated by Section 301. In the absence of any such provisions with respect to the Securities of any series, the Registered Securities of such series shall be issuable in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof and the Unregistered Securities of the series shall be issuable in denominations of $5,000 and any integral multiple thereof.

 

Section 303. Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating. The Securities shall be executed on behalf of the Company by its Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, its President, its Senior Vice President, Finance, or its Treasurer, under its corporate seal reproduced thereon attested by its Secretary or one of its Assistant Secretaries. The signature of any of these officers on the Securities may be manual or facsimile. The coupons, if any, of Unregistered Securities shall bear the manual or facsimile signature of any one of the officers or assistant officers referred to in the first sentence of this Section.

 

Securities bearing the manual or facsimile signatures of individuals who were at any time the proper officers of the Company shall bind the Company, notwithstanding that such individuals or any of them have ceased to hold such offices prior to the authentication and delivery of such Securities or did not hold such offices at the date of such Securities.

 

At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company may deliver Securities of any series executed by the Company to the Trustee for authentication, together with a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of such Securities, and the Trustee in accordance with the Company Order shall authenticate and deliver such Securities provided, however, that, with respect to Securities of a series subject to a Periodic Offering, (a) such Company Order may be delivered by the Company to the Trustee prior to the delivery to the Trustee of such Securities for authentication and delivery, (b) the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver Securities of such series for original issue from time to time, in an aggregate principal amount not exceeding the aggregate principal amount established for such series, all pursuant to a Company Order or pursuant to such procedures acceptable to the Trustee as may be specified from time to time by a Company Order, (c) the maturity date or dates, original issue date or dates, interest rate or rates and any other terms of Securities of such series shall be determined by Company Order or pursuant to such procedures and (d) if provided for in such procedures, such Company Order may authorize authentication and delivery pursuant to oral or electronic instructions from the Company or its duly authorized agent or agents, which oral instructions shall be promptly confirmed in writing.

 

In authenticating such Securities, and accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Securities, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 601) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel stating:

 

(a) that such form of Securities has been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture;

 

(b) that such terms have been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture; and

 

(c) that such Securities, when authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and issued by the Company in the manner and subject to any conditions specified in such Opinion of Counsel, will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization and other laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally and to general equity principles.

 

Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 301 and of the preceding paragraphs, if all Securities of a series are not to be originally issued at one time, it shall not be necessary to deliver the Officer’s Certificate otherwise required pursuant to Section 301 or the Company Order and Opinion of Counsel otherwise required pursuant to such preceding paragraphs at or prior to the time of authentication of each Security of such series if such documents are delivered at or prior to the authentication upon original issuance of the first Security of such series to be issued.

 

 

If such form or terms have been so established, the Trustee shall not be required to authenticate such Securities if the issuance of such Securities pursuant to this Indenture will affect the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under the Securities and this Indenture or otherwise in a manner which is not reasonably acceptable to the Trustee.

 

Each Registered Security shall be dated the date of its authentication and each Unregistered Security shall be dated the date of its original issuance.

 

No Security shall be entitled to any benefit under this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose unless there appears on such Security a certificate of authentication substantially in the form provided for herein executed by the Trustee by manual signature and no coupon shall be valid until the Security to which it appertains has been so authenticated, and such certificate upon any Security shall be conclusive evidence, and the only evidence, that such Security has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder and is entitled to the benefits of this Indenture.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, until the Company has delivered an Officer’s Certificate to the Trustee and the Security Registrar stating that, as a result of the action described, the Company would not suffer adverse consequences under the provisions of United States law or regulations in effect at the time of the delivery of Unregistered Securities, the Trustee or the Security Registrar will (i) deliver Unregistered Securities only outside the United States and its possessions and (ii) release Unregistered Securities in definitive form to the person entitled to physical delivery thereof only upon presentation of a certificate in the form prescribed by the Company.

 

Section 304. Temporary Securities. Pending the preparation of definitive Registered Securities of any series (including Global Securities), the Company may execute, and upon Company Order the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, temporary Registered Securities which are printed, lithographed, typewritten, mimeographed or otherwise produced, in any authorized denomination, substantially of the tenor of the definitive Registered Securities in lieu of which they are issued and with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as the officers executing such Securities may determine, as evidenced by their execution of such Securities. Every temporary Registered Security shall be executed by the Company and authenticated by the Trustee, and registered by the Security Registrar, upon the same conditions, and with like effect, as a definitive Registered Security.

 

If temporary Securities of any series are issued, the Company will cause definitive Registered Securities of that series to be prepared without unreasonable delay. After the preparation of definitive Registered Securities of such series, the temporary Registered Securities of such series shall be exchangeable for definitive Registered Securities of such series upon surrender of the temporary Registered Securities of such series at the office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment for that series, without charge to the Holder. Upon surrender for cancellation of any one or more temporary Registered Securities of any series the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a like principal amount of definitive Registered Securities of the same series of authorized denominations. Until so exchanged the temporary Registered Securities of any series shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Registered Securities of such series.

 

Until definitive Unregistered Securities of any series (including Global Securities) are ready for delivery, the Company may prepare and execute and the Trustee shall authenticate one or more temporary Unregistered Securities, which may have coupons attached or which may be in the form of one or more temporary Global Unregistered Securities of that series without coupons. The temporary Unregistered Security or Securities of any series shall be substantially in the form approved by or pursuant to a Board Resolution and shall be delivered to one of the Paying Agents located outside the United States and its possessions or to such other person or persons as the Company shall direct against such certification as the Company may from time to time prescribe by or pursuant to a Board Resolution. The temporary Unregistered Security or Securities of a series shall be executed by the Company and authenticated by the Trustee upon the same conditions, and with like effect, as a definitive Unregistered Security of such series, except as provided herein or in the Board Resolution or supplemental Indenture relating thereto. A temporary Unregistered Security or Securities shall be exchangeable for definitive Unregistered Securities at the time and on the conditions, if any, specified in the temporary Security.

 

 

Upon any exchange of a part of a temporary Unregistered Security of a series for definitive Unregistered Securities of such series, the temporary Unregistered Security shall be endorsed by the Trustee or Paying Agent to reflect the reduction of its principal amount by an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of the definitive Unregistered Securities of such series so exchanged and endorsed.

 

Section 305. Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange. The Company shall cause to be kept at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee a register (the register maintained in such office and in any other office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment being herein sometimes collectively referred to as the “Security Register”) in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Company shall provide for the registration of Securities and of transfers of Securities. The Trustee is hereby appointed “Security Registrar” for the purpose of registering Securities and transfers of Securities as herein provided.

 

Except in the case of Securities issued in the form of a Global Security, upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Registered Security of any series at the office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment for that series, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more new Registered Securities of the same series, of any authorized denominations and of a like aggregate principal amount.

 

If both Registered and Unregistered Securities are authorized for a series of Securities and the terms of such Securities permit, (i) Unregistered Securities may be exchanged for an equal principal amount of Registered or Unregistered Securities of the same series and date of maturity in any authorized denominations upon delivery to the Security Registrar (or a Paying Agent (as herein defined), if the exchange is for Unregistered Securities) of the Unregistered Security with all unmatured coupons and all matured coupons in default appertaining thereto and if all other requirements of the Security Registrar (or such Paying Agent) and such Securities for such exchange are met, and (ii) Registered Securities, other than Securities issued in the form of a Global Security (except as provided in Section 311), may be exchanged for an equal principal amount of Unregistered Securities of the same series and date of maturity in any authorized denominations (except that any coupons appertaining to such Unregistered Securities which have matured and have been paid shall be detached) upon delivery to the Security Registrar of the Registered Securities and if all other requirements of the Security Registrar and such Securities for such exchange are met.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the exchange of Unregistered Securities for Registered Securities or Registered Securities for Unregistered Securities will be subject to the satisfaction of the provisions of United States law and regulations in effect at the time of such exchange, and no exchange of Registered Securities for Unregistered Securities will be made until the Company has notified the Trustee in an Officer’s Certificate and the Security Registrar that, as a result of such exchange, the Company would not suffer adverse consequences under such law or regulations.

 

All Securities issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities shall be the valid obligations of the Company, evidencing the same debt, and entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture, as the Securities surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange.

 

Every Security presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange shall (if so required by the Company or the Trustee) be duly endorsed, or be accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar duly executed by the Holder thereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing.

 

Unless otherwise provided in a Board Resolution or an Officer’s Certificate pursuant to a Board Resolution, or in an indenture supplemental hereto, with respect to Securities of any series, or any Tranche thereof, no service charge shall be made to the Holder for any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, other than exchanges pursuant to Section 304, 906 or 1106 not involving any transfer.

 

 

The Company shall not be required (i) to issue, register the transfer of or exchange Securities of any series during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of the mailing of a notice of redemption of Securities of that series selected for redemption under Section 1103 and ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing, or (ii) to register the transfer of or exchange any Security so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Security being redeemed in part. Unregistered Securities or any coupons appertaining thereto shall be transferable by delivery thereof.

 

Section 306. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities. If any mutilated Security or a Security with a mutilated coupon or coupons appertaining to it is surrendered to the Trustee, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a replacement Registered Security, if such surrendered security was a Registered Security, or a replacement Unregistered Security with coupons corresponding to the coupons appertaining to the surrendered Security, if such surrendered Security was an Unregistered Security, of the same series and of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.

 

If there shall be delivered to the Company and the Trustee (i) evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Security or any coupon or coupons appertaining thereto, and (ii) such bond, security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them and any agent of either of them harmless, then, in the absence of actual notice to the Company or the Trustee that such Security or any coupon or coupons appertaining thereto has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, the Company shall execute and upon its request the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, a replacement Registered Security, if such Holder’s claim pertains to a Registered Security, or a replacement Unregistered Security with coupons corresponding to the coupons appertaining to the destroyed, lost or stolen Unregistered Security or the Unregistered Security to which such destroyed, lost or stolen coupon or coupons appertains, if such Holder’s claim pertains to an Unregistered Security, of the same series and of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.

 

In case any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security or any coupon or coupons appertaining thereto has become or is about to become due and payable, the Company in its discretion may, instead of issuing a new Security, pay such Security or any coupon or coupons appertaining thereto.

 

Upon the issuance of any new Security under this Section or any coupon or coupons appertaining thereto, the Company may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Trustee) connected therewith.

 

Every new Security or any coupon or coupons appertaining thereto of any series issued pursuant to this Section in lieu of any destroyed, lost or stolen Security or any coupon or coupons appertaining thereto shall constitute an original additional contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Security or any coupon or coupons appertaining thereto is at any time enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Securities or any coupon or coupons appertaining thereto of that series duly issued hereunder.

 

The provisions of this Section are exclusive and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities or any coupon or coupons appertaining thereto.

 

Section 307. Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved. Unless otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 301 with respect to the Securities of any series, or any Tranche thereof, interest on any Registered Security that is payable, and is punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date shall be paid to the Person in whose name that Registered Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest. In case an Unregistered Security of any series is surrendered in exchange for a Registered Security of such series after the close of business (at an office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment for such series) on any Regular Record Date and before the opening of business (at such office or agency) on the next succeeding Interest Payment Date, such Unregistered Security shall be surrendered without the coupon relating to such Interest Payment Date and interest will not be payable on such Interest Payment Date in respect of the Registered Security issued in exchange for such Unregistered Security, but will be payable only to the Holder of such coupon when due in accordance with provisions of this Indenture.

 

 

Any interest on any Registered Security of any series that is payable, but is not punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date (herein called “Defaulted Interest”) shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on the relevant Regular Record Date by virtue of having been such Holder, and such Defaulted Interest may be paid by the Company, at its election in each case, as provided in clause (1) or (2) below:

 

(1) The Company may elect to make payment of any Defaulted Interest to the Persons in whose names the Registered Securities of such series (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which shall be fixed in the following manner. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on each Registered Security of such series and the date of the proposed payment, and at the same time the Company shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit prior to the date of the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Interest as in this clause provided. Thereupon the Trustee shall fix a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest which shall be not more than 15 days and not less than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed payment and not less than 10 days after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment. The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company of such Special Record Date and, in the name and at the expense of the Company, shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor to be mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to each Holder of Registered Securities of such series at the address of such Holder as it appears in the Security Register, not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date. Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor having been so mailed, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Persons in whose names the Registered Securities of such series (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on such Special Record Date and shall no longer be payable pursuant to the following clause (2). In case an Unregistered Security of any series is surrendered at the office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment for such series in exchange for a Registered Security of such series after the close of business at such office or agency on any Special Record Date and before the opening of business at such office or agency on the related proposed date for payment of Defaulted Interest, such Unregistered Security shall be surrendered without the coupon relating to such proposed date of payment and Defaulted Interest will not be payable on such proposed date of payment in respect of the Registered Security issued in exchange for such Unregistered Security, but will be payable only to the Holder of such coupon when due in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture.

 

(2) The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest on the Registered Securities of any series in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which such Securities may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, if, after notice given by the Company to the Trustee of the proposed payment pursuant to this clause, such manner of payment shall be deemed practicable by the Trustee.

 

Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section, each Registered Security delivered under this Indenture upon registration of transfer of or in exchange for or in lieu of any other Registered Security shall carry the rights to interest accrued and unpaid, and to accrue, which were carried by such other Registered Security.

 

Subject to the limitations set forth in Section 1002, the Holder of any coupon appertaining to an Unregistered Security shall be entitled to receive the interest payable on such coupon upon presentation and surrender of such coupon on or after the Interest Payment Date of such coupon at an office or agency maintained for such purpose pursuant to Section 1002.

 

Section 308. Persons Deemed Owners. Prior to due presentment of a Registered Security for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name such Registered Security is registered as the owner of such Registered Security for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of (and premium, if any) and (subject to Section 301 and Section 307) interest, if any, on such Registered Security and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Registered Security be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any agent of the Company or the Trustee shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

 

 

Ownership of Registered Securities of a series shall be proved by the computerized book-entry system of the Depository in the case of Registered Securities issued in the form of a Global Security. Ownership of Unregistered Securities may be proved by the production of such Unregistered Securities or by a certificate or affidavit executed by the person holding such Unregistered Securities or by a depository with whom such Unregistered Securities were deposited, if the certificate or affidavit is satisfactory to the Trustee and the Company. The Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company may treat the bearer of any Unregistered Security or coupon and the person in whose name a Registered Security is registered as the absolute owner thereof for all purposes.

 

None of the Company, the Trustee, any Paying Agent or the Security Registrar will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests of a Global Security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.

 

Section 309. Cancellation. Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for Securities of any series, all Securities and coupons surrendered for payment, redemption, registration of transfer or exchange or for credit against any sinking fund payment shall, if surrendered to any Person other than the Trustee, be delivered to the Trustee and, if not theretofore cancelled, shall be promptly cancelled by it. Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for Securities of any series, the Company may at any time deliver to the Trustee for cancellation any Securities or coupons previously authenticated and delivered hereunder that the Company may have acquired in any manner whatsoever or that the Company has not issued and sold, and all Securities or coupons so delivered shall be promptly cancelled by the Trustee. No Securities shall be authenticated in lieu of or in exchange for any Securities or coupons cancelled as provided in this Section, except as expressly permitted by this Indenture. All cancelled Securities or coupons held by the Trustee shall be destroyed and the Trustee shall furnish an affidavit to the Company (setting forth the serial numbers of such Securities) attesting to such destruction unless by a Company Order the Company shall direct that the cancelled Securities or coupons be returned to it.

 

Section 310. Computation of Interest. Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for Securities of any series, interest on the Securities of each series shall be computed on the basis of a year of twelve 30-day months.

 

Section 311. Global Securities; Exchanges; Registration and Registration of Transfer. If specified as contemplated by Section 301, the Securities may be issued in the form of one or more Global Securities, which shall be deposited with the Depository, and, unless otherwise specified in the form of Global Security adopted pursuant to Section 301, be registered in the name of the Depository’s nominee.

 

Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301, any permanent Global Security shall be exchangeable only as provided in this paragraph. If the beneficial owners of interests in a permanent Global Security are entitled to exchange such interests for Securities of such series of like tenor and principal amount of another authorized form, as specified as contemplated by Section 301, then without unnecessary delay but in any event not later than the earliest date on which such interests may be so exchanged, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee definitive Securities of that series in aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such permanent Global Security, executed by the Company. On or after the earliest date on which such interests may be so exchanged, such permanent Global Security shall be surrendered from time to time in accordance with instructions given to the Trustee and the Depository (which instructions shall be in writing but need not comply with Section 102 or be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel) by the Depository or such other depository as shall be specified in the Company Order with respect thereto to the Trustee, as the Company’s agent for such purpose, to be exchanged, in whole or in part, for definitive Securities of the same series without charge and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in exchange for each portion of such permanent Global Security, a like aggregate principal amount of definitive Securities of the same series of authorized denominations and of like tenor as the portion of such permanent Global Security to be exchanged which, unless the Securities of the series are not issuable both as Unregistered Securities and as Registered Securities, as specified as contemplated by Section 301, shall be in the form of Unregistered Securities or Registered Securities, or any combination thereof, as shall be specified by the beneficial owner thereof; provided, however, that no such exchanges may occur during the periods specified by Section 305; and provided, further, that no Unregistered Security delivered in exchange for a portion of a permanent Global Security shall be mailed or otherwise delivered to any location in the United States unless the Company has complied with the fourth paragraph of Section 305. Promptly following any such exchange in part, such permanent Global Security shall be returned by the Trustee, to the Depository or such other depository referred to above, in accordance with the instructions of the Company referred to above.

 

 

The Global Security may be transferred to another nominee of the Depository, or to a successor Depository selected by the Company, and upon surrender for registration of transfer of the Global Security to the Trustee, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee, a new Global Security in the same aggregate principal amount. If at any time the Depository notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depository and a successor Depository satisfactory to the Company is not appointed within 90 days after the Company receives such notice, the Company will execute, and the Trustee will authenticate and deliver, Securities in definitive form to the Depository in exchange for the Global Security. In addition, if at any time the Company determines that it is not in the best interest of the Company or the beneficial owners of Securities to continue to have a Global Security representing all of the Securities held by a Depository, the Company may, at its option, execute, and the Trustee will authenticate and deliver, Securities in definitive form to the Depository in exchange for all or a portion of the Global Security. Promptly after any such exchange of Securities in definitive form for all or a portion of the Global Security pursuant to this paragraph, the Company shall promulgate regulations governing registration of transfers and exchanges of Securities in definitive form, which regulations shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee and shall thereafter bind every Holder of such Securities.

 

Section 312. Extension of Interest Payment. The Company shall have the right at any time, so long as the Company is not in default in the payment of interest on the Securities of any series hereunder, to extend interest payment periods on all Securities of one or more series, if so specified as contemplated by Section 301 with respect to such Securities and upon such terms as may be specified as contemplated by Section 301 with respect to such Securities. If the Company ever so extends any such interest payment period, the Company shall promptly notify the Trustee.

 

ARTICLE IV

 
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

 

Section 401. Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture. (a) This Indenture shall upon Company Request cease to be of further effect (except as to any surviving rights of registration of transfer or exchange of Securities herein expressly provided for), and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, when

 

(1) either

 

(A) all Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than (i) Securities which have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 306 and (ii) Securities that are deemed paid and discharged pursuant to Section 403) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or

 

(B) all such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation

 

(i) have become due and payable, or

 

(ii) will become due and payable at their Stated Maturity within one year, or

 

(iii) are to be called for redemption pursuant to Article XI hereof under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Company, or

 

(iv) are deemed paid and discharged pursuant to Section 403, as applicable,

 

 

and the Company, in the case of clause (i), (ii) or (iii) above, has deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust for such purpose an amount of (a) money, or (b) (I) Eligible Obligations which through the payment of interest and principal in respect thereof in accordance with their terms will provide on or before the Stated Maturity or Redemption Date, as the case may be, money in an amount, or (II) a combination of money or Eligible Obligations as provided in clause (I) above, in each case sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent certified public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, to the date of such deposit (in the case of Securities that have become due and payable) or to the Stated Maturity or Redemption Date, as the case may be;

 

(2) the Company has paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Company; and

 

(3) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture have been met.

 

Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the obligations of the Company to the Trustee under Section 607, the obligations of the Trustee to any Authenticating Agent under Section 614 and, if money or Eligible Obligations have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to subclause (B) of clause (1) of this Section or if money or Eligible Obligations shall have been deposited with or received by the Trustee pursuant to Section 403, the obligations of the Trustee under Section 402 and the last paragraph of Section 1003 shall survive.

 

(b) Upon satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture as provided in this Section 401, the Trustee shall assign, transfer and turn over to the Company, subject to the lien provided by Section 607, any and all money, securities and other property then held by the Trustee for the benefit of the Holders of the Securities other than money and Eligible Obligations held by the Trustee pursuant to Section 402.

 

Section 402. Application of Trust Money. (a) Neither the Eligible Obligations nor the money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 403(e), nor the principal or interest payments on any such Eligible Obligations, shall be withdrawn or used for any purpose other than, and shall be held in trust for, the payment of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on the Securities or portions of principal amount thereof in respect of which such deposit was made, all subject, however, to the provisions of Section 1003; provided, however, that, so long as there shall not have occurred and be continuing an Event of Default, any cash received from such principal or interest payments on such Eligible Obligations deposited with the Trustee, if not then needed for such purpose, shall, to the extent practicable, be invested in Eligible Obligations of the type described in Section 403(e)(2)(A) maturing at such times and in such amounts as shall be sufficient to pay when due the principal of and premium, if any, and interest, if any, due and to become due on such Securities or portions thereof on and prior to the Maturity thereof, and interest earned from such reinvestment shall be paid over to the Company as received by the Trustee, free and clear of any trust, lien or pledge under this Indenture except the lien provided by Section 607; and provided, further, that, so long as there shall not have occurred and be continuing an Event of Default, any moneys held by the Trustee in accordance with this Section on the Maturity of all such Securities in excess of the amount required to pay the principal of and premium, if any, and interest, if any, then due on such Securities shall be paid over to the Company free and clear of any trust, lien or pledge under this Indenture except the lien provided by Section 607.

 

(b) The Company shall pay and shall indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against Eligible Obligations deposited pursuant to Section 401, 403 or 1007 or the interest and principal received in respect of such obligations other than any payable by or on behalf of Holders.

 

 

Section 403. Satisfaction, Discharge and Defeasance of Securities of Any Series. The Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness on all the Outstanding Securities of any series or Tranche, or any portion of the principal amount thereof, on the 91st day after the date of the deposit referred to in subparagraph (e) hereof, and the provisions of this Indenture, as it relates to such Outstanding Securities of such series, shall be satisfied and discharged and shall no longer be in effect (and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall at Company Request execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except as to:

 

(a) the rights of Holders of Securities of such series to receive, solely from the trust funds described in subparagraph (e) hereof, (i) payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and each installment of principal of (and premium, if any) or interest, if any, on the Outstanding Securities of such series, or portions thereof, on the Stated Maturity of such principal or installment of principal or interest or to and including the Redemption Date irrevocably designated by the Company pursuant to subparagraph (k) hereof and (ii) the benefit of any mandatory sinking fund payments applicable to the Securities of such series on the day on which such payments are due and payable in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and the Securities of such series;

 

(b) the obligations of the Company and the Trustee with respect to such Securities of such series under Sections 304, 305, 306, 614, 1002, 1003 and 1203 and, if the Company shall have irrevocably designated a Redemption Date pursuant to subparagraph (k) hereof, Sections 1104 and 1106; and

 

(c) the Company’s obligations with respect to the Trustee under Section 607;

 

provided that, the following conditions shall have been satisfied:

 

(d) the Company has deposited or caused to be irrevocably deposited (except as provided in Section 402) with the Trustee as trust funds in trust, specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely to, the benefit of the Holders of the Securities of such series, (i) money in an amount, or (ii) (A) Eligible Obligations which through the payment of interest and principal in respect thereof in accordance with their terms will provide on or before the due date of any payment referred to in clause (x) or (y) of this subparagraph (e) money in an amount or (B) a combination thereof, sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent certified public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay and discharge (x) the principal of (and premium, if any) and each installment of principal (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on such Securities on the Stated Maturity of such principal or installment of principal or interest or to and including the Redemption Date irrevocably designated by the Company pursuant to subparagraph (k) hereof and (y) any mandatory sinking fund payments applicable to the Securities of such series on the day on which such payments are due and payable in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and of the Securities of such series;

 

(e) such deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, this Indenture or any other agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound;

 

(f) such provision would not cause any Outstanding Securities of such series then listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market or other securities exchange to be delisted as a result thereof;

 

(g) no Event of Default or event that with notice or lapse of time would become an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of such series has occurred and is continuing on the date of such deposit or during the period ending on the 91st day after such date;

 

(h) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that (x) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling or (y) there has been a change in law or regulation occurring after the date hereof, to the effect that Holders of the Securities of such series will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit, defeasance and discharge and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amount and in the same manner and at the same times, as would have been the case if such deposit, defeasance and discharge had not occurred;

 

(i) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent provided for relating to the defeasance contemplated by this Section have been complied with; and

 

 

(j) if the Company has deposited or caused to be deposited money or Eligible Obligations to pay or discharge the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Outstanding Securities of a series to and including a Redemption Date pursuant to subparagraph (e) hereof, such Redemption Date shall be irrevocably designated by a Board Resolution delivered to the Trustee on or prior to the date of deposit of such money or Eligible Obligations, and such Board Resolution shall be accompanied by an irrevocable Company Request that the Trustee give notice of such redemption in the name and at the expense of the Company not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to such Redemption Date in accordance with Section 1104.

 

ARTICLE V

 

REMEDIES

 

Section 501. Events of Default. “Event of Default”, wherever used herein with respect to Securities of any series, means any one of the following events:

 

(1) default in the payment of any interest upon any Security of that series when it becomes due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days; provided, however, that a valid extension of the interest payment period by the Company as contemplated in Section 312 shall not constitute a failure to pay interest for this purpose; or

 

(2) default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) any Security of that series at its Maturity; or

 

(3) default in the deposit of any sinking fund payment, when and as due by the terms of a Security of that series; or

 

(4) default in the performance, or breach, of any covenant or warranty of the Company in this Indenture (other than a covenant or warranty a default in whose performance or whose breach is elsewhere in this Section specifically dealt with or which has expressly been included in this Indenture solely for the benefit of one or more series of Securities other than that series), and continuance of such default or breach for a period of 60 days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Company by the Trustee or to the Company and the Trustee by the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series a written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder; or

 

(5) the entry by a court having jurisdiction in the premises of (A) a decree or order for relief in respect of the Company in an involuntary case or proceeding under any applicable federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law or (B) a decree or order adjudging the Company a bankrupt or insolvent, or approving as properly filed a petition seeking reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition of or in respect of the Company under any applicable federal or state law, or appointing a custodian, receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or other similar official of the Company 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 or order for relief or any such other decree or order unstayed and in effect for a period of 60 consecutive days; or

 

(6) the commencement by the Company of a voluntary case or proceeding under any applicable federal or state 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 or order for relief in respect of the Company in an involuntary case or proceeding under any applicable federal or state 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 or state 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 similar official of the Company or of any substantial part of its property, or the making by it of an assignment for the benefit of creditors, or the admission by it in writing of its inability to pay its debts generally as they become due, or the taking of corporate action by the Company in furtherance of any such action; or

 

 

(7) any other Event of Default provided with respect to Securities of such series as contemplated by Sections 301 and 901(3).

 

Section 502. Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment. If an Event of Default with respect to any series or Tranche of Senior Securities at the time Outstanding occurs and is continuing, then, unless the principal of and interest on such series or Tranche of Senior Securities has already become due and payable, either the Trustee or the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of such series or Tranche of Senior Securities then outstanding, by notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by such Holders), may declare the principal of and interest on all the Senior Securities of such series or Tranche (or if any of the Senior Securities are Original Issue Discount Securities or Indexed Securities, such portion of the principal amount of such Securities as may be specified in the terms thereof) to be due and payable immediately and upon any such declaration the same shall become immediately due and payable, anything in this Indenture or in the Senior Securities of such series or Tranche contained to the contrary notwithstanding; provided, however, that if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing with respect to more than one series or Tranche of Senior Securities, the Trustee or the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Senior Securities (or if any of the Senior Securities are Original Issue Discount Securities or Indexed Securities, such portion of the principal amount of such Securities as may be specified in the terms thereof) of all such series or Tranches (voting as one class) may make such declaration of acceleration, and not the Holders of the Senior Securities of any one of such series or Tranches.

 

If an Event of Default with respect to any series or Tranche of Subordinated Securities at the time Outstanding occurs and is continuing, then, unless the principal of and interest on such series or Tranche of Subordinated Securities has already become due and payable, either the Trustee or the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Subordinated Securities of such series or Tranche then outstanding, by notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by such Holders), may declare the principal of and interest on all the Subordinated Securities of such series or Tranche (or if any of the Subordinated Securities are Original Issue Discount Securities or Indexed Securities, such portion of the principal amount of such Securities as may be specified in the terms thereof) to be due and payable immediately and upon any such declaration the same shall become immediately due and payable, anything in this Indenture or in the Subordinated Securities of such series contained to the contrary notwithstanding; provided, however, that if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing with respect to more than one series or Tranche of Subordinated Securities, the Trustee or the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Subordinated Securities (or if any of the Subordinated Securities are Original Issue Discount Securities or Indexed Securities, such portion of the principal amount of such Securities as may be specified in the terms thereof) of all such series or Tranche (voting as one class) may make such declaration of acceleration, and not the Holders of the Subordinated Securities of any one of such series or Tranches.

 

In the case of any declaration of acceleration of the Stated Maturity of any Original Issue Discount Securities or Indexed Securities of a series, the Company shall furnish the Trustee with an Officer’s Certificate stating the amount of principal to be paid to a Holder of $1,000 principal amount of such Securities.

 

At any time after such a declaration of acceleration with respect to Securities of any series has been made and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the Trustee as hereinafter in this Article provided, the Event or Events of Default giving rise to such declaration of acceleration shall, without further act, be deemed to have been waived, and such declaration and its consequences shall, without further act, be deemed to have been rescinded and annulled, if

 

(1) the Company has paid or deposited with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay

 

(A) all overdue interest on all Securities of any such series,

 

 

 

(B) the principal of (and premium, if any, on) any Securities of such series that have become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration and interest thereon at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities,

 

(C) to the extent that payment of such interest is lawful, interest upon overdue interest at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities, and

 

(D) all amounts due to the Trustee under Section 607;

 

and

 

(2) all Events of Default with respect to Securities of that series, other than the non-payment of the principal of Securities of that series that have become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in Section 513.

 

No such rescission shall affect any subsequent Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon.

 

Section 503. Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee. If an Event of Default described in clause (1) or (2) of Section 501 has occurred and is continuing, the Company shall, upon demand of the Trustee, pay to it, for the benefit of the Holders of the Securities of the series with respect to which such Event of Default has occurred, the whole amount then due and payable on such Securities for principal (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, and, to the extent that payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable, interest on any overdue principal (and premium, if any) and on any overdue interest, at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities, and, in addition thereto, such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover any amounts due to the Trustee under Section 607.

 

If the Company fails to pay such amounts forthwith upon such demand, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, may institute a judicial proceeding for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, may prosecute such proceeding to judgment or final decree and may enforce the same against the Company or any other obligor upon such Securities and collect the moneys adjudged or decreed to be payable in the manner provided by law out of the property of the Company or any other obligor upon such Securities, wherever situated.

 

If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of any series occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and enforce its rights and the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee deems most effectual to protect and enforce any such rights, whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement in this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted herein, or to enforce any other proper remedy.

 

Section 504. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim. In case of the pendency of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or other judicial proceeding relative to the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or the property of the Company or of such other obligor or their creditors, the Trustee (irrespective of whether the principal of the Securities shall then be due and payable as therein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Trustee shall have made any demand on the Company for the payment of overdue principal or interest) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise,

 

(i) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of principal (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, owing and unpaid in respect of the Securities and to file such other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for amounts due to the Trustee under Section 607 and of the Holders allowed in such judicial proceeding, and

 

(ii) to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same;

 

 

and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Trustee and, if the Trustee consents to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due it under Section 607.

 

Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Securities or the rights of any Holder thereof or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.

 

Section 505. Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities or Coupons. All rights of action and claims under this Indenture or the Securities or coupons may be prosecuted and enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the Securities or coupons or the production thereof in any proceeding relating thereto, and any such proceeding instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of judgment shall, after provision for the payment of the amounts due to the Trustee under Section 607, be for the ratable benefit of the Holders of the Securities and coupons in respect of which such judgment has been recovered.

 

Section 506. Application of Money Collected. Any money collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article shall be applied in the following order, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee, and, in case of the distribution of such money on account of principal (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, upon presentation of the Securities in respect of which or for the benefit of which such money shall have been collected and the notation thereon of the payment if only partially paid and upon surrender thereof if fully paid:

 

FIRST: To the payment of all amounts due the Trustee under Section 607;

 

SECOND: To the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid for principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on the Securities in respect of which or for the benefit of which such money has been collected, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on such Securities for principal (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, respectively; and

 

THIRD: The balance, if any, to the Company.

 

The Trustee may fix a record date (with respect to Registered Securities) and payment date for any such payment to Holders of Securities.

 

Section 507. Limitation on Suits. No Holder of any Security of any series shall have any right to institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to this Indenture, or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy hereunder, unless

 

(1) such Holder has previously given written notice to the Trustee of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Securities of that series;

 

(2) the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of all series of Senior Securities in respect of which an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, considered as one class, shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default in its own name as Trustee hereunder if such holder is a Holder of Senior Securities or the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of all series of Subordinated Securities in respect of which an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, considered as one class, shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default in its own name as Trustee hereunder if such Holder is a Holder of Subordinated Securities;

 

(3) such Holder or Holders have offered to the Trustee indemnity against the reasonable costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred in compliance with such request;

 

 

(4) the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity has failed to institute any such proceeding; and

 

(5) no direction inconsistent with such written request has been given to the Trustee during such 60-day period by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of all series;

 

it being understood and intended that (subject to Section 508) no one or more of such Holders shall have any right in any manner whatever by virtue of, or by availing of, any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any other of such Holders, or to obtain or to seek to obtain priority or preference over any other of such Holders or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal and ratable benefit of all of such Holders.

 

Section 508. Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium and Interest. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, the Holder of any Security shall have the right, which is absolute and unconditional, to receive payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and (subject to Section 307) interest, if any, on such Security on the Stated Maturity or Maturities expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption, on the Redemption Date, or, in the case of repayment at the option of the Holder, on the Repayment Date) and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment, and such rights shall not be impaired without the consent of such Holder.

 

Section 509. Restoration of Rights and Remedies. If the Trustee or any Holder has instituted any proceeding to enforce any right or remedy under this Indenture and such proceeding has been discontinued or abandoned for any reason, or has been determined adversely to the Trustee or to such Holder, then and in every such case, subject to any determination in such proceeding, the Company, the Trustee and such Holder shall be restored severally and respectively to their former positions hereunder and thereafter all rights and remedies of the Trustee and such Holder shall continue as though no such proceeding had been instituted.

 

Section 510. Rights and Remedies Cumulative. Except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities in the last paragraph of Section 306, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every right and remedy shall, to the extent permitted by law, be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.

 

Section 511. Delay or Omission Not Waiver. No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder of any Securities to exercise any right or remedy accruing upon any Event of Default shall impair any such right or remedy or constitute a waiver of any such Event of Default or an acquiescence therein. Every right and remedy given by this Article or by law to the Trustee or to the Holders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as may be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Holders, as the case may be.

 

Section 512. Control by Holders. If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing in respect of a series of Securities, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee, with respect to the Securities of such series or Tranche; provided, however, that if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing with respect to more than one series of Senior Securities, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of all such series, considered as one class, shall have the right to make such direction, an not the Holders of the Senior Securities of any one of such series, and if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing with respect to more than one series of Subordinated Securities, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of all such series, considered as one class, shall have the right to make such direction, and not the Holders of the Subordinated Securities of any one of such series; provided, further that

 

(1) such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or with this Indenture, and

 

(2) the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee which is not inconsistent with such direction.

 

 

Section 513. Waiver of Past Defaults. The Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series may on behalf of the Holders of all the Securities of such series waive any past default hereunder with respect to such series and its consequences; provided that if any such past default has occurred with respect to more than one series of Senior Securities, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of all such series, considered as one class, may make such waiver, and not the Holders of any one of such series; provided further that if any such past default has occurred with respect to more than one series of Subordinated Securities, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of all such series, considered as one class, may make such waiver, and not the Holders of any one of such series, in each case except a default

 

(1) in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on any Security of such series, or

 

(2) in respect of a covenant or provision hereof that under Section 902 cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security of such series affected.

 

Upon any such waiver, such default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, for every purpose of this Indenture; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or impair any right consequent thereon.

 

Section 514. Undertaking for Costs. All parties to this Indenture agree, and each Holder of any Security by his acceptance thereof shall be deemed to have agreed, that any court may in its discretion require, in any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it as Trustee, the filing by any party litigant in such suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and that such court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, against any party litigant in such suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant; but the provisions of this Section shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Company, to any suit instituted by the Trustee, to any suit instituted by any Holder, or group of Holders, holding in the aggregate more than 10% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of all series in respect of which such suit may be brought, considered as one class, or to any suit instituted by any Holder for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on any Security on or after the Stated Maturity or Maturities expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the Redemption Date, or, in the case of repayment at the option of the Holder, on or after the Repayment Date).

 

Section 515. Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws. The Company covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it will not at any time insist upon, or plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay or extension law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, which may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and the Company (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law and covenants that it will not hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but will suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law had been enacted.

 

ARTICLE VI

THE TRUSTEE

 

Section 601. Certain Duties and Responsibilities. (a) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default with respect to Securities of any series,

 

(1) the Trustee undertakes to perform, with respect to Securities of such series, such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and

 

 

(2) in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may, with respect to Securities of such series, conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture; but in the case of any such certificates or opinions which by any provision hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture.

 

(b) If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of any series has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall exercise, with respect to Securities of such series, such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a prudent man would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his own affairs.

 

(c) No provision of this Indenture shall be construed to relieve the Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own wilful misconduct, except that

 

(1) this subsection shall not be construed to limit the effect of sub-section (a) of this Section;

 

(2) the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer, unless it shall be proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts;

 

(3) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with the direction of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any one or more series, as provided herein, relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee, under this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such series; and

 

(4) no provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if it has reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.

 

(d) Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of this Section.

 

Section 602. Notice of Defaults. Within 90 days after the occurrence of any default hereunder with respect to the Securities of any series, the Trustee shall transmit by mail to all Holders of Securities of such series entitled to receive reports pursuant to Section 704(3) (and, if Unregistered Securities of that series are outstanding, shall cause to be published at least once in an Authorized Newspaper in The City of New York and, if Securities of that series are listed on any stock exchange outside of the United States, in the city in which such stock exchange is located) notice of such default hereunder known to the Trustee, unless such default shall have been cured or waived; provided, however, that, except in the case of a default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on any Security of such series or in the payment of any sinking fund installment with respect to Securities of such series, the Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as the board of directors, the executive committee or a trust committee of directors or Responsible Officers of the Trustee in good faith determine that the withholding of such notice is in the interest of the Holders of Securities of such series; and provided, further, that in the case of any default of the character specified in Section 501(4) with respect to Securities of such series, no such notice to Holders shall be given until at least 75 days after the occurrence thereof. For the purpose of this Section, the term “default” means any event that is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would become, an Event of Default with respect to Securities of such series.

 

 

Section 603. Certain Rights of Trustee. Subject to the provisions of Section 601 and to the applicable provisions of the Trust Indenture Act:

 

(a) the Trustee may rely and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document reasonably believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties;

 

(b) any request or direction of the Company mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Company Request or Company Order, or as otherwise expressly provided herein, and any resolution of the Board of Directors may be sufficiently evidenced by a Board Resolution;

 

(c) whenever in the administration of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking, suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the Trustee (unless other evidence be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of bad faith on its part, rely upon an Officer’s Certificate or a certificate of an officer or officers delivered pursuant to Section 301 and such Officer’s Certificate or certificate of an officer or officers, in the absence of negligence or bad faith on the part of the Trustee, shall be full warrant to the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it under the provisions of this Indenture upon the faith thereof;

 

(d) the Trustee may consult with counsel and the written advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon;

 

(e) the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders pursuant to this Indenture, unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee reasonable security or indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities that might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction;

 

(f) the Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit, and, if the Trustee shall determine to make such further inquiry or investigation, it shall (subject to applicable legal requirements) be entitled to examine, during normal business hours, the books, records and premises of the Company, personally or by agent or attorney; and

 

(g) the Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through agents or attorneys and the Trustee shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any agent or attorney appointed with due care by it hereunder; no Depository or Paying Agent shall be deemed an agent of the Trustee and the Trustee shall not be responsible for any act or omission by any of them.

 

Section 604. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities. The recitals contained herein and in the Securities, except the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, shall be taken as the statements of the Company, and the Trustee or any Authenticating Agent assumes no responsibility for their correctness. The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Securities of any series or any coupons. The Trustee or any Authenticating Agent shall not be accountable for the use or application by the Company of Securities or the proceeds thereof. The Trustee shall not be responsible for and makes no representations as to the Company’s ability or authority to issue the Unregistered Securities or the lawfulness thereof.

 

Section 605. May Hold Securities. The Trustee, any Authenticating Agent, any Paying Agent, any Security Registrar or any other agent of the Company or the Trustee, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and, subject to Sections 608 and 613, may otherwise deal with the Company with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, Authenticating Agent, Paying Agent, Security Registrar or such other agent.

 

 

Section 606. Money Held in Trust. Money held by the Trustee or by any Paying Agent (other than the Company if the Company shall act as Paying Agent) in trust hereunder need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law. Neither the Trustee nor any Paying Agent shall be liable for interest on any money received by it hereunder except as expressly provided herein or otherwise agreed with the Company.

 

Section 607. Compensation and Reimbursement. The Company agrees

 

(1) to pay to the Trustee from time to time reasonable compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder (which compensation shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust);

 

(2) except as otherwise expressly provided herein, to reimburse the Trustee upon its request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustee in accordance with any provision of this Indenture (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its agents and counsel), except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may be attributable to its negligence, wilful misconduct or bad faith; and

 

(3) to indemnify the Trustee for, and to hold it harmless against, any loss, liability or expense reasonably incurred without negligence, wilful misconduct or bad faith on its part, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of the trust or trusts hereunder or performance of its duties hereunder, including the costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder.

 

As security for the performance of the obligations of the Company under this Section, the Trustee shall have a claim prior to the Securities and any coupons upon all property and funds held or collected by the Trustee as such, except property and funds held in trust for the payment of principal of (and premium, if any) or interest, if any, on particular Securities or any coupons.

 

Section 608. Disqualification; Conflicting Interests. If the Trustee has or acquires any conflicting interest within the meaning of the Trust Indenture Act with respect to the Securities of any series, it shall either eliminate such conflicting interest or resign to the extent, in the manner and with the effect, and subject to the conditions, provided in the Trust Indenture Act and this Indenture. For purposes of Section 310(b)(1) of the Trust Indenture Act and to the extent permitted thereby, the Trustee, in its capacity as trustee in respect of the equally ranked and unsecured Securities of any series, shall not be deemed to have a conflicting interest arising from its capacity as trustee in respect of the equally ranked and unsecured Securities of any other series under this Indenture or any securities issued under the Indenture dated as of [ ] between the Company and the Trustee [specifically describe other outstanding indentures with the Trustee].

 

Section 609. Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility. There shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder that shall be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia (or such other Person as may be permitted to act as Trustee by the Commission), authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers, having a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000, subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authority and qualified and eligible under this Article, provided that, neither the Company nor any Affiliate of the Company may serve as Trustee of any Securities. If such corporation publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of said supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section, the combined capital and surplus of such corporation shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time the Trustee ceases to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect hereinafter specified in this Article.

 

 

Section 610. Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor. (a) No resignation or removal of the Trustee and no appointment of a successor Trustee pursuant to this Article shall become effective until the acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee in accordance with the applicable requirements of Section 611.

 

(b) The Trustee may resign at any time with respect to the Securities of one or more series by giving written notice thereof to the Company. If the instrument of acceptance by a successor Trustee required by Section 611 has not been delivered to the Trustee within 30 days after the giving of such notice of resignation, the resigning Trustee may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series.

 

(c) The Company may at any time by a Board Resolution remove the Trustee with respect to the Securities of any or all series.

 

(d) The Trustee may be removed at any time with respect to the Securities of any series by Act of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series, delivered to the Trustee and to the Company.

 

(e) If at any time:

 

(1) the Trustee fails to comply with Section 608 with respect to the Securities of any series, after written request therefor by the Company or by any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security of such series for at least six months, or

 

(2) the Trustee ceases to be eligible under Section 609 and fails to resign after written request therefor by the Company or by any such Holder, or

 

(3) the Trustee becomes incapable of acting or becomes adjudged a bankrupt or insolvent or a receiver of the Trustee or of its property is appointed or any public officer takes charge or control of the Trustee or of its property or affairs for the purpose of rehabilitation, conservation or liquidation,

 

then, in any such case, subject to Section 514, any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee with respect to all Securities and the appointment of a successor Trustee or Trustees.

 

(f) If the Trustee resigns, is removed or becomes incapable of acting, or if a vacancy shall occur in the office of Trustee for any cause, with respect to the Securities of one or more series, the Company, by a Board Resolution, shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee or Trustees with respect to the Securities of that or those series (it being understood that any such successor Trustee may be appointed with respect to the Securities of one or more or all of such series and that at any time there shall be only one Trustee with respect to the Securities of any particular series) and shall comply with the applicable requirements of Section 611. If, within one year after such resignation, removal or incapability, or the occurrence of such vacancy, a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series is appointed by Act of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series delivered to the Company and the retiring Trustee, the successor Trustee so appointed shall, forthwith upon its acceptance of such appointment in accordance with the applicable requirements of Section 611, become the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series and to that extent supersede the successor Trustee appointed by the Company. If no successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series has been so appointed by the Company or the Holders and accepted appointment in the manner required by Section 611, any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security of such series for at least six months may, subject to Section 514, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series.

 

 

(g) The Company shall give notice of each resignation and each removal of the Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series and each appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series by mailing written notice of such event by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to all Holders of Securities of such series entitled to receive reports pursuant to Section 704(3) and, if any Unregistered Securities are outstanding, by publishing notice of such event once in an Authorized Newspaper in The City of New York and, if any Unregistered Securities are listed on any stock exchange outside of the United States, in the city in which such stock exchange is located. Each notice shall include the name of the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series and the address of its Corporate Trust Office.

 

(h) All provisions of this Section except subparagraph (d) and Section 611(b) (except for the last clause, after omitting the words “after deducting all amounts owed to the retiring Trustee pursuant to Section 607,” which shall apply) shall apply also to any Paying Agent located outside the United States and its possessions.

 

Section 611. Acceptance of Appointment by Successor. (a) In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of all series, every such successor Trustee so appointed shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Company and to the retiring Trustee an instrument accepting such appointment, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective and such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee; but, on the request of the Company or the successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall, upon payment of its charges, execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor Trustee all the rights, powers and trusts of the retiring Trustee and shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder, subject nevertheless to its lien provided for in Section 607.

 

(b) In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more (but not all) series, the Company, the retiring Trustee and each successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more series shall execute and deliver an indenture supplemental hereto wherein each successor Trustee shall accept such appointment and which (1) shall contain such provisions as shall be necessary or desirable to transfer and confirm to, and to vest in, each successor Trustee all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates, (2) if the retiring Trustee is not retiring with respect to all Securities, shall contain such provisions as shall be deemed necessary or desirable to confirm that all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series as to which the retiring Trustee is not retiring shall continue to be vested in the retiring Trustee, and (3) shall add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, it being understood that nothing herein or in such supplemental indenture shall constitute such Trustees co-trustees of the same trust and that each such Trustee shall be trustee of a trust or trusts hereunder separate and apart from any trust or trusts hereunder administered by any other such Trustee; and upon the execution and delivery of such supplemental indenture the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective to the extent provided therein and each such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates; but, on request of the Company or any successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee, after deducting all amounts owed to the retiring Trustee pursuant to Section 607, all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates.

 

(c) Upon request of any such successor Trustee, the Company shall execute any and all instruments for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming to such successor Trustee all such rights, powers and trusts referred to in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section, as the case may be.

 

(d) No successor Trustee shall accept its appointment unless at the time of such acceptance such successor Trustee shall be qualified and eligible under this Article.

 

 

Section 612. Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business. Any corporation into which the Trustee may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to all or substantially all the corporate trust business of the Trustee, shall be the successor of the Trustee hereunder, provided such corporation shall be otherwise qualified and eligible under this Article, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto. In case any Securities shall have been authenticated, but not delivered, by the Trustee then in office, any successor by merger, conversion or consolidation to such authenticating Trustee may adopt such authentication and deliver the Securities so authenticated with the same effect as if such successor Trustee had itself authenticated such Securities. In case any Securities shall not have been authenticated by such predecessor Trustee, any such successor Trustee may authenticate and deliver such Securities, in either its own name or that of its predecessor Trustee, with the full force and effect which this Indenture provides for the certificate of authentication of the Trustee.

 

Section 613. Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company. The Trustee shall comply with TIA § 311(a), excluding any creditor relationship listed in TIA § 311(b). A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to TIA § 311(a) to the extent indicated therein.

 

Section 614. Appointment of Authenticating Agent. At any time when any of the Securities remain Outstanding the Trustee may appoint an Authenticating Agent or Agents (which may include any Person that owns, directly or indirectly, all of the capital stock of the Trustee or a corporation that is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Trustee or of such other Person) with respect to one or more series of Securities, or any Tranche thereof, that shall be authorized to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities of such series or Tranche issued upon original issuance, exchange, registration of transfer or partial redemption thereof or pursuant to Section 306, and Securities so authenticated shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture and shall be valid and obligatory for all purposes as if authenticated by the Trustee hereunder. The Trustee shall mail written notice of such appointment by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to all Holders of Securities of the series or Tranche with respect to which such Authenticating Agent will serve, and which are entitled to receive reports pursuant to Section 704(3) and, if any Unregistered Securities are outstanding, by publishing notice of such event once in an Authorized Newspaper in The City of New York and, if any Unregistered Securities are listed on any stock exchange outside of the United States, in the city in which such stock exchange is located. Wherever reference is made in this Indenture to the authentication and delivery of Securities by the Trustee or the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, such reference shall be deemed to include authentication and delivery on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent and a certificate of authentication executed on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent. Each Authenticating Agent shall be acceptable to the Company and shall at all times be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America, any state thereof or the District of Columbia, authorized under such laws to act as Authenticating Agent, having a combined capital and surplus of not less than $1,000,000 and subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authority. If such Authenticating Agent publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of said supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section, the combined capital and surplus of such Authenticating Agent shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time an Authenticating Agent ceases to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, such Authenticating Agent shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in this Section.

 

Any corporation into which an Authenticating Agent may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which such Authenticating Agent shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to the corporate agency or corporate trust business of an Authenticating Agent, shall continue to be an Authenticating Agent, provided such corporation shall be otherwise eligible under this Section, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent.

 

An Authenticating Agent may resign with respect to one or more series of Securities at any time by giving written notice thereof to the Trustee and to the Company. The Trustee may at any time terminate the agency of an Authenticating Agent with respect to one or more series of Securities by giving written notice thereof to such Authenticating Agent and to the Company. Upon receiving such a notice of resignation or upon such a termination, or in case at any time such Authenticating Agent ceases to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, the Trustee may appoint a successor Authenticating Agent that is acceptable to the Company and shall provide notice of such appointment to all Holders of Securities of the series or Tranche with respect to which such Authenticating Agent will serve, as provided in paragraph (a) of this Section. Any successor Authenticating Agent upon acceptance of its appointment hereunder shall become vested with all the rights, powers and duties of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as an Authenticating Agent. No successor Authenticating Agent shall be appointed unless eligible under the provisions of this Section. An Authenticating Agent appointed pursuant to this Section shall be entitled to rely on Sections 111, 308, 604 and 605 hereunder.

 

 

The Trustee agrees to pay to each Authenticating Agent from time to time reasonable compensation for its services under this Section, and the Trustee shall be entitled to be reimbursed for such payments, subject to the provisions of Section 607.

 

If an appointment with respect to the Securities of one or more series, or any Tranche thereof, is made pursuant to this Section, the Securities of such series or Tranche may have endorsed thereon, in addition to the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, an alternate certificate of authentication in the following form:

 

This is one of the Securities of the series designated pursuant to and issued under the within-mentioned Indenture.

 

	[                   ]
	As Trustee
	By
		As Authenticating Agent on behalf of the Trustee
	By
		Authorized Officer of Authenticating Agent

 

Dated:                                 

 

If all of the Securities of a series may not be originally issued at one time, and if the Trustee does not have an office capable of authenticating Securities upon original issuance located in a Place of Payment where the Company wishes to have Securities of such series authenticated upon original issuance, the Trustee, if so requested by the Company in writing (which writing need not comply with Section 102 and need not be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel), shall appoint, in accordance with this Section and in accordance with such procedures as shall be acceptable to the Trustee, an Authenticating Agent (which, if so requested by the Company, may be an Affiliate of the Company) having an office in a Place of Payment designated by the Company with respect to such series of Securities.

 

ARTICLE VII

HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY

 

Section 701. Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders. The Company will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee

 

(a) semi-annually, not later than the 15th day after each Regular Record Date for each series of Registered Securities at the time Outstanding or on June 30 and December 31 of each year with respect to each series of Securities for which there are no Regular Record Dates, a list, in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require, containing all the information in the possession or control of the Company, or any of its Paying Agents other than the Trustee, of the names and addresses of the Holders of Registered Securities of such series, including Holders of interests in Global Securities, as of such preceding Regular Record Date or on June 15 or December 15, as the case may be, or, in the case of a series of non-interest bearing Securities, on a date to be determined as contemplated pursuant to Section 301, and

 

 

(b) at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, within 30 days after the receipt by the Company of any such request, a list of similar form and content as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the time such list is furnished;

 

excluding from any such list names and addresses received by the Trustee in its capacity as Security Registrar for Registered Securities other than Global Securities.

 

Section 702. Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders. (a) The Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably practicable, the names and addresses of Holders of Registered Securities contained in the most recent list furnished to the Trustee as provided in Section 701 and the names and addresses of Holders of Registered Securities received by the Trustee in its capacity as Security Registrar or Paying Agent. The Trustee may destroy any list furnished to it as provided in Section 701 upon receipt of a new list so furnished.

 

(b) If three or more Holders (herein referred to as “applicants”) apply in writing to the Trustee, and furnish to the Trustee reasonable proof that each such applicant has owned a Security for a period of at least six months preceding the date of such application, and such application states that the applicants desire to communicate with other Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or under the Securities and is accompanied by a copy of the form of proxy or other communication that such applicants propose to transmit, then the Trustee shall, within five business days after the receipt of such application, at its election, either

 

(i) afford such applicants access to the information preserved at the time by the Trustee in accordance with Section 702(a), or

 

(ii) inform such applicants as to the approximate number of Holders whose names and addresses appear in the information preserved at the time by the Trustee in accordance with Section 702(a), and as to the approximate cost of mailing to such Holders the form of proxy or other communication, if any, specified in such application.

 

If the Trustee elects not to afford such applicants access to such information, the Trustee shall, upon the written request of such applicants, mail to each Holder whose name and address appear in the information preserved at the time by the Trustee in accordance with Section 702(a) a copy of the form of proxy or other communication that is specified in such request, with reasonable promptness after a tender to the Trustee by the applicants of the material to be mailed and of payment, or provision for the payment, of the reasonable expenses of mailing, unless within five days after such tender the Trustee shall mail to such applicants and file with the Commission, together with a copy of the material to be mailed, a written statement to the effect that, in the opinion of the Trustee, such mailing would be contrary to the best interest of the Holders or would be in violation of applicable law. Such written statement shall specify the basis of such opinion. If the Commission, after opportunity for a hearing upon the objections specified in the written statement so filed, enters an order refusing to sustain any of such objections or if, after the entry of an order sustaining one or more of such objections, the Commission finds, after notice and opportunity for hearing, that all the objections so sustained have been met and enters an order so declaring, the Trustee shall mail copies of such material to all such Holders with reasonable promptness after the entry of such order and the renewal of such tender by such applicants; otherwise the Trustee shall be relieved of any obligation or duty to such applicants respecting their application.

 

(c) Every Holder of Securities or coupons, by receiving and holding the same, agrees with the Company and the Trustee that neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any agent of either of them shall be held accountable by reason of the disclosure of any such information as to the names and addresses of the Holders in accordance with Section 702(b), regardless of the source from which such information was derived, and that the Trustee shall not be held accountable by reason of mailing any material pursuant to a request made under Section 702(b).

 

 

Section 703. Reports by Trustee. (a) Within 60 days after May 15 of each year commencing with the year 20__, the Trustee shall transmit by mail to all Holders of Registered Securities of any series, as their names and addresses appear in the Security Register and to all other Holders who are entitled to receive reports pursuant to Section 704(3), a brief report dated as of such May 15 with respect to any of the following events which may have occurred within the previous 12 months (but if no such event has occurred within such period no report need be transmitted):

 

(1) any change to its eligibility under Section 609 and its qualifications under Section 608;

 

(2) the creation of or any material change to a relationship specified in paragraphs (1) through (10) of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act;

 

(3) the character and amount of any advances (and if the Trustee elects so to state, the circumstances surrounding the making thereof) made by the Trustee (as such) which remain unpaid on the date of such report, and for the reimbursement of which it claims or may claim a lien or charge, prior to that of the Securities of such series or any related coupons, on any property or funds held or collected by it as Trustee, except that the Trustee shall not be required (but may elect) to report such advances if such advances so remaining unpaid aggregate not more than one-half of 1% of the principal amount of the Securities of such series Outstanding on the date of such report;

 

(4) the amount, interest rate and maturity date of all other indebtedness owing by the Company (or by any other obligor on the Securities of such series) to the Trustee in its individual capacity, on the date of such report, with a brief description of any property held as collateral security therefor, except an indebtedness based upon a creditor relationship arising in any manner described in paragraphs (2), (3), (4) or (6) of Section 311(b) of the Trust Indenture Act;

 

(5) any change to the property and funds, if any, physically in the possession of the Trustee as such on the date of such report;

 

(6) any additional issue of Securities which the Trustee has not previously reported; and

 

(7) any action taken by the Trustee in the performance of its duties hereunder which it has not previously reported and which in its opinion materially affects the Securities of such series, except action in respect of a default, notice of which has been or is to be withheld by the Trustee in accordance with Section 602.

 

(b) The Trustee shall transmit by mail to all Holders of Registered Securities of any series, as their names and addresses appear in the Security Register and to all Holders who are entitled to receive reports pursuant to Section 704(3), a brief report with respect to the character and amount of any advances (and if the Trustee elects so to state, the circumstances surrounding the making thereof) made by the Trustee (as such) since the date of the last report transmitted pursuant to subsection (a) of this Section (or if no such report has yet been so transmitted, since the date of execution of this instrument) for the reimbursement of which it claims or may claim a lien or charge, prior to that of the Securities of such series, on property or funds held or collected by it as Trustee and which it has not previously reported pursuant to this subsection, except that the Trustee shall not be required (but may elect) to report such advances if such advances remaining unpaid at any time aggregate 10% or less of the principal amount of the Securities of such series Outstanding at such time, such report to be transmitted within 90 days after such time.

 

(c) A copy of each such report shall, at the time of such transmission to Holders, be filed by the Trustee with each stock exchange upon which any Securities are listed, with the Commission and with the Company. The Company will notify the Trustee in writing when any Securities are listed on any stock exchange.

 

Section 704. Reports by Company. The Company shall:

 

(1) file with the Trustee, within 45 days after the Company is required to file the same with the Commission, copies of the annual reports and of the information, documents and other reports (or copies of such portions of any of the foregoing as the Commission may from time to time by rules and regulations prescribe) that the Company may be required to file with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; or, if the Company is not required to file information, documents or reports pursuant to either of said Sections, then it shall file with the Trustee and the Commission, in accordance with rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the Commission, such of the supplementary and periodic information, documents and reports that may be required pursuant to Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 in respect of a security listed and registered on a national securities exchange as may be prescribed from time to time in such rules and regulations;

 

 

(2) file with the Trustee and the Commission, in accordance with rules and regulations prescribed by the Commission, such additional information, documents and reports with respect to compliance by the Company with the conditions and covenants of this Indenture as may be required from time to time by such rules and regulations; and

 

(3) transmit by mail to all Holders of Registered Securities, as their names and addresses appear in the Security Register, to such Holders of Unregistered Securities as have, within the two years preceding such transmission, filed their names and addresses with the Trustee for that purpose and to each Holder whose name and address is then preserved on the Trustee’s list pursuant to the first sentence of Section 702(a), within 30 days after the filing thereof with the Trustee, such summaries of any information, documents and reports required to be filed by the Company pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2) of this Section as may be required by rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the Commission.

 

ARTICLE VIII

CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE OR TRANSFER

 

Section 801. Company May Consolidate, Etc. Only on Certain Terms. The Company shall not consolidate with or merge into any other corporation or convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of its properties and assets to any Person, unless:

 

(1) the corporation formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or the Person that acquires by conveyance, transfer or lease the properties and assets of the Company substantially as an entirety shall be a Person organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia and shall expressly assume, by an indenture supplemental hereto, executed and delivered to the Trustee, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, the due and punctual payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on all the Outstanding Securities and the performance of every covenant of this Indenture on the part of the Company to be performed or observed;

 

(2) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Event of Default and no event that, after notice or lapse of time or both, would become an Event of Default, shall have occurred and be continuing;

 

(3) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger, conveyance, transfer or lease and such supplemental indenture comply with this Article and that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to such transaction have been met.

 

Section 802. Successor Corporation Substituted. Upon any consolidation or merger or any conveyance, transfer or lease of all or substantially all the properties and assets of the Company in accordance with Section 801, the successor corporation formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or to which such conveyance, transfer or lease is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor corporation had been named as the Company herein and thereafter, in the case of a conveyance, transfer or lease of properties and assets of the Company substantially as an entirety, such conveyance, transfer or lease shall have the effect of releasing the Person named as the “Company” in the first paragraph of this instrument or any successor corporation which shall theretofore have become such in the manner prescribed in this Article from its liability as obligor and maker on any of the Securities.

 

 

ARTICLE IX

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

 

Section 901. Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders. Without the consent of any Holders, the Company and the Trustee, at any time and from time to time, may enter into one or more indentures supplemental hereto, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, for any of the following purposes:

 

(1) to evidence the succession of another Person to the Company and the assumption by any such successor of the covenants of the Company herein and in the Securities; or

 

(2) to add to the covenants of the Company for the benefit of the Holders of all or any series of Securities, or any Tranche thereof (and if such covenants are to be for the benefit of less than all series of Securities, stating that such covenants are expressly being included solely for the benefit of such series), or to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the Company; or

 

(3) to add any additional Events of Default with respect to all or any series of Securities Outstanding hereunder; or

 

(4) to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture to such extent as shall be necessary to permit or facilitate the issuance of Securities in bearer form, registrable or not registrable as to principal, and with or without interest coupons; or

 

(5) to change or eliminate any of the provisions of this Indenture, or to add any new provision to this Indenture, in respect of one or more series or Tranches of Securities; provided, however, that any such change, elimination or addition (A) shall neither (i) apply to any Security Outstanding on the date of such indenture supplemental hereto nor (ii) modify the rights of the Holder of any such Security with respect to such provision in effect prior to the date of such indenture supplemental hereto or (B) shall become effective only when no Security of such series or Tranche remains Outstanding; or

 

(6) to secure the Securities pursuant to the requirements of any covenant on liens in respect of such series of Securities or otherwise; or

 

(7) to establish for the issuance of and establish the form or terms and conditions of Securities of any series or Tranche as permitted by Section 301, and to establish the form of any certificates required to be furnished pursuant to the terms of this Indenture or any series of Securities; or

 

(8) to provide for uncertificated Securities in addition to or in place of all, or any series or Tranche of, certificated Securities; or

 

(9) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder by a separate or successor Trustee or co-trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more series and to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, pursuant to the requirements of Section 611(b); or

 

(10) to change any place or places where (a) the principal of or premium, if any, or interest, if any, on all or any series of Securities, or any Tranche thereof, shall be payable, (b) all or any series of Securities, or any Tranche thereof, may be surrendered for registration or transfer, (c) all or any series of Securities, or any Tranche thereof, may be surrendered for exchange and (d) notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of all or any series of Securities, or any Tranche thereof, and this Indenture may be served;

 

(11) to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any provision herein that may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision herein, provided such action shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Securities of any series or Tranche in any material respect; or

 

 

(12) to make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under this Indenture, provided such action shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of any Securities of any series or Tranche Outstanding on the date of such indenture supplemental hereto.

 

Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, if the Trust Indenture Act as in effect at the date of the execution and delivery of this Indenture or at any time thereafter becomes amended and

 

(x) if any such amendment requires one or more changes to any provisions hereof or the inclusion herein of any additional provisions, or by operation of law is deemed to effect such changes or incorporate such provisions by reference or otherwise, this Indenture shall be deemed to have been amended so as to conform to such amendment to the Trust Indenture Act, and the Company and the Trustee may, without the consent of any Holders, enter into an indenture supplemental hereto to effect or evidence such changes or additional provisions; or

 

(y) if any such amendment permits one or more changes to, or the elimination of, any provisions hereof that, at the date hereof or at any time thereafter, are required by the Trust Indenture Act to be contained herein (or if it is no longer required by the TIA for the Indenture to contain one or more provisions), this Indenture shall be deemed to have been amended to effect such changes or elimination, and the Company and the Trustee may, without the consent of any Holders, enter into an indenture supplemental hereto to evidence such amendment hereof; or

 

(z) if, by reason of any such amendment, it shall be no longer necessary for this Indenture to contain one or more provisions that, at the date of the execution and delivery hereof, are required by the Trust Indenture Act to be contained herein, the Company and the Trustee may, without the consent of any Holders, enter into an indenture supplemental hereto to effect the elimination of such provisions.

 

Section 902. Supplemental Indentures With Consent of Holders. (a) Except as set forth in paragraph (c) below, with the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Senior Securities of all series then Outstanding (considered as one class), the Company, when authorized by a resolution of its Board of Directors (which resolution may provide general terms or parameters for such action and may provide that the specific terms of such action may be determined in accordance with or pursuant to a Company Order), and the Trustee may, from time to time and at any time, enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or of any supplemental indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of the Securities of each such series or Tranche or of the Coupons appertaining to such Securities or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series or Tranche under this Indenture; provided, however, that if there are Senior Securities of more than one series Outstanding hereunder and if a proposed supplemental indenture shall directly affect the rights of the Holders of Senior Securities of one or more, but less than all, of such series, then the consent only of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of all series so directly affected, considered as one class, shall be required; and provided, further, that if the Securities of any series have been issued in more than one Tranche and if the proposed supplemental indenture shall directly affect the rights of the Holders of Senior Securities of one or more, but less than all, of such Tranches, then the consent only of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of all Tranches so directly affected, considered as one class, shall be required.

 

(b) Except as set forth in paragraph (c) below, with the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Subordinated Securities of all series then Outstanding (considered as one class), the Company, when authorized by a resolution of its Board of Directors (which resolution may provide general terms or parameters for such action and may provide that the specific terms of such action may be determined in accordance with or pursuant to a Company Order), and the Trustee may, from time to time and at any time, enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or of any supplemental indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of the Securities of each such series or of the Coupons appertaining to such Securities or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series or Tranche under this Indenture; provided, however, that if there are Subordinated Securities of more than one series Outstanding hereunder and if a proposed supplemental indenture shall directly affect the rights of the Holders of Subordinated Securities of one or more, but less than all, of such series, then the consent only of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of all series so directly affected, considered as one class, shall be required; and provided, further, that if the Securities of any series have been issued in more than one Tranche and if the proposed supplemental indenture shall directly affect the rights of the Holders of Subordinated Securities of one or more, but less than all, of such Tranches, then the consent only of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of all Tranches so directly affected, considered as one class, shall be required.

 

 

(c)  No such supplemental indenture or waiver shall, without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected thereby,

 

(1) change the Stated Maturity of the principal of, or any installment of principal of or interest on, any Security, or reduce the principal amount thereof or the rate of interest thereon (or the amount of any installment of interest thereon) or any premium payable upon the redemption thereof, or change the method of calculating the rate of interest thereon, or reduce the amount of the principal of an Original Issue Discount Security that would be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502, or change the coin or currency (or other property) in which, any Security or any premium or the interest thereon is payable, or impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after the Stated Maturity thereof (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the Redemption Date, or, in the case of repayment at the option of the Holders, on or after the Repayment Date), or modify any provisions of this Indenture with respect to the conversion or exchange of the Securities into Securities of another series or into any other debt or equity securities in a manner adverse to the Holders, or

 

(2) reduce the percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series, or any Tranche thereof, the consent of whose Holders is required for any such supplemental indenture, or the consent of whose Holders is required for any waiver of compliance with certain provisions of this Indenture or certain defaults hereunder and their consequences provided for in this indenture, or

 

(3) modify any of the provisions of this Section, Section 513 or Section 1007, except to increase any such percentage or to provide that certain other provisions of this Indenture cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected thereby, provided, however, that this clause shall not be deemed to require the consent of any Holder with respect to changes in the references to “the Trustee” and concomitant changes in this Section and Section 1007, or the deletion of this proviso, in accordance with the requirements of Sections 611(b) and 901(9).

 

A supplemental indenture that changes or eliminates any covenant or other provision of this Indenture that has expressly been included solely for the benefit of one or more particular series of Securities, or one or more Tranches thereof, or that modifies the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series or Tranches with respect to such covenant or other provision, shall be deemed not to affect the rights under this Indenture of the Holders of Securities of any other series or Tranche.

 

It shall not be necessary for any Act of Holders under this Section to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such Act shall approve the substance thereof. A waiver by a Holder of such Holder’s rights to consent under this Section shall be deemed to be a consent of such Holder.

 

Section 903. Execution of Supplemental Indentures. In executing, or accepting the additional trusts created by, any supplemental indenture permitted by this Article or the modifications thereby of the trusts created by this Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 601) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture. The Trustee may, but shall not be obligated to, enter into any such supplemental indenture that affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.

 

Section 904. Effect of Supplemental Indentures. Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture under this Article, this Indenture shall be modified in accordance therewith, and such supplemental indenture shall form a part of this Indenture for all purposes; and every Holder of Securities theretofore or thereafter authenticated and delivered hereunder shall be bound thereby. Any supplemental indenture permitted by this Article may restate this Indenture in its entirety, and, upon the execution and delivery thereof, any such restatement shall supersede this Indenture as theretofore in effect for all purposes.

 

 

Section 905. Conformity With Trust Indenture Act. Every supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this Article shall conform to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act as then in effect.

 

Section 906. Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures. Securities of any series, or any Tranche thereof, authenticated and delivered after the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to this Article may, and shall if required by the Trustee, bear a notation in form approved by the Trustee as to any matter provided for in such supplemental indenture. If the Company so determines, new Securities of any series, or any Tranche thereof, and any appertaining coupons so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Trustee and the Company, to any such supplemental indenture may be prepared and executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee in exchange for Outstanding Securities of such series or Tranche and any appertaining coupons.

 

Section 907. Revocation and Effect of Consents. Until an amendment or waiver becomes effective, a consent to it by a Holder of a Security is a continuing consent by the Holder and every subsequent Holder of a Security or portion of a Security that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Security, even if notation of the consent is not made on any Security. However, any such Holder or subsequent Holder may revoke the consent as to his Security or portion of a Security if the Trustee receives the notice of revocation before the date on which the Trustee receives an Officer’s Certificate certifying that the Holders of the requisite principal amount of Securities have consented to the amendment or waiver. After an amendment or waiver becomes effective, it shall bind every Holder of each series of Securities affected by such amendment or waiver.

 

The Company may, but shall not be obligated to, fix a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders entitled to consent to any amendment or waiver. If a record date is fixed, then notwithstanding the provisions of the immediately preceding paragraph, those persons who were Holders at such record date (or their duly designated proxies), and only those persons, shall be entitled to consent to such amendment or waiver or to revoke any consent previously given, whether or not such persons continue to be Holders after such record date.

 

After an amendment or waiver becomes effective it shall bind every Holder, unless it is of the type described in any of clauses (1) through (3) of Section 902(c). In such case, the amendment or waiver shall bind each Holder of a Security who has consented to it and every subsequent Holder of a Security that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Security.

 

Section 908. Modification Without Supplemental Indenture. If the terms of any particular series of Securities have been established in a Board Resolution or an Officer’s Certificate as contemplated by Section 301, and not in an indenture supplemental hereto, additions to, changes in or the elimination of any of such terms may be effected by means of a supplemental Board Resolution or Officer’s Certificate, as the case may be, delivered to, and accepted by, the Trustee; provided, however, that such supplemental Board Resolution or Officer’s Certificate shall not be accepted by the Trustee or otherwise be effective unless all conditions set forth in this Indenture that would be required to be satisfied if such additions, changes or elimination were contained in a supplemental indenture shall have been appropriately satisfied. Upon the acceptance thereof by the Trustee, any such supplemental Board Resolution or Officer’s Certificate shall be deemed to be a “supplemental indenture” for purposes of Sections 904 and 906.

 

ARTICLE X

COVENANTS

 

Section 1001. Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest. Subject to the following provisions, the Company will pay to the Trustee the amounts, in such coin or currency as is at the time legal tender for the payment of public or private debt, in the manner, at the times and for the purposes set forth herein and in the text of the Securities for each series, and the Company hereby authorizes and directs the Trustee from funds so paid to it to make or cause to be made payment of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on the Securities and coupons of each series as set forth herein and in the text of such Securities and coupons. Unless otherwise provided in the Securities of a series, the Trustee will arrange directly with any Paying Agents for the payment, or the Trustee will make payment, from funds furnished by the Company, of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on the Securities and coupons of each series by check or draft.

 

 

Unless otherwise provided in the Securities of a series, interest, if any, on Registered Securities of a series shall be paid by check or draft on each Interest Payment Date for such series to the Holder thereof at the close of business on the relevant record dates specified in the Securities of such series. The Company may pay such interest by check or draft mailed to such Holder’s address as it appears on the register for Securities of such series. Unless otherwise provided in the Securities of a series, principal of Registered Securities shall be payable by check or draft and only against presentation and surrender of such Registered Securities at the office of the Paying Agent, unless the Company shall have otherwise instructed the Trustee in writing.

 

Unless otherwise provided in the Securities of a series, (i) interest, if any, on Unregistered Securities shall be paid by check or draft and only against presentation and surrender of the coupons for such interest installments as are evidenced thereby as they mature and (ii) original issue discount (as defined in Section 1273 of the Code), if any, on Unregistered Securities shall be paid by check or draft and only against presentation and surrender of such Securities, in either case at the office of a Paying Agent located outside of the United States and its possessions, unless the Company has otherwise instructed the Trustee in an Officer’s Certificate. Unless otherwise provided in the Securities of a series, principal of and premium, if any, of Unregistered Securities shall be paid by check or draft and only against presentation and surrender of such Securities as provided in the Securities of a series. If at the time a payment of principal of and premium, if any, or interest, if any, or original issue discount, if any, on an Unregistered Security or coupon becomes due and the payment of the full amount so payable at the office or offices of all the Paying Agents outside the United States and its possessions is illegal or effectively precluded because of the imposition of exchange controls or other similar restrictions on the payment of such amount in United States currency, then the Company may instruct the Trustee in an Officer’s Certificate to make such payments at the office of a Paying Agent located in the United States. The Company hereby covenants and agrees that it shall not so instruct the Trustee with respect to payment in the United States if such payment would cause such Unregistered Security to be treated as a “registration-required obligation” under United States law and regulations.

 

At the election of the Company, any payments by the Company provided for in this Indenture or in any of the Securities may be made by electronic funds transfer.

 

Section 1002. Maintenance of Office or Agency. The Company will maintain in each Place of Payment for any series of Securities, or any Tranche thereof, an office or agency where Registered Securities, or any Tranche thereof, of that series may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange and a Place of Payment where (subject to Sections 305 and 307) Securities may be presented for payment or exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of that series and this Indenture may be served. Unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301 with respect to any such series, the Company shall maintain such offices or agencies in connection with each series in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, State of New York. With respect to any series of Securities issued in whole or in part as Unregistered Securities, the Company shall maintain one or more Paying Agents located outside the United States and its possessions and shall maintain such Paying Agents for a period of one year after the principal of such Unregistered Securities has become due and payable. During any period thereafter for which it is necessary in order to conform to United States tax law or regulations, the Company will maintain a Paying Agent outside the United States and its possessions to which the Unregistered Securities or coupons appertaining thereto may be presented for payment and will provide the necessary funds therefor to such Paying Agent upon reasonable notice. The Security Registrar shall keep a register with respect to each series of Securities issued in whole or in part as Registered Securities and to their transfer and exchange. The Company may appoint one or more co-Security Registrars acceptable to the Trustee and one or more additional Paying Agents for each series of Securities, and the Company may terminate the appointment of any co-Security Registrar or Paying Agent at any time upon written notice. The term “Security Registrar” includes any co-Security Registrar. The term “Paying Agent” includes any additional Paying Agent. The Company shall notify the Trustee of the name and address of any Agent not a party to this Indenture. Subject to Section 305, if the Company fails to maintain a Security Registrar or Paying Agent, the Trustee shall act as such. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any time the Company fails to maintain any such required office or agency or fails to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and the Company hereby appoints the Trustee as its agent to receive all such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands.

 

 

The Company may also from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies where the Securities of one or more series may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations; provided, however, that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Company of its obligation to maintain an office or agency in each Place of Payment for Securities of any series for such purposes. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the location of any such other office or agency.

 

In the case of Original Issue Discount Securities of a series, the Company shall, prior to any Redemption Date or any Repayment Date applicable thereto, furnish the Trustee with an Officer’s Certificate stating the amount of principal to be paid to a Holder of $1,000 principal amount of such Securities.

 

Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, any office or agency required by this Section may be maintained at any office of the Company in which event the Company shall perform all functions to be performed at such office or agency.

 

Section 1003. Money for Securities Payments to Be Held in Trust. If the Company at any time acts as its own Paying Agent with respect to any series of Securities, or any Tranche thereof, it will, on or before each due date of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest, if any, on any of such Securities, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto a sum sufficient to pay the principal (and premium, if any) or interest so becoming due until such sums are paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided and will promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure so to act.

 

Whenever the Company has one or more Paying Agents for any series of Securities, it will, on or prior to (and if on, then before 11:00 a.m. (New York City time)) each due date of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest, if any, on such Securities, deposit with a Paying Agent a sum sufficient (in immediately available funds, if payment is made on the due date) to pay the principal (and premium, if any) or interest so becoming due, such sum to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such principal, premium or interest, and (unless such Paying Agent is the Trustee) the Company will promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure so to act.

 

The Company will cause each Paying Agent for any series of Securities, or any Tranche thereof, other than the Trustee, to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such Paying Agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the provisions of this Section, that such Paying Agent will:

 

(1) hold all sums held by it for the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest, if any, on Securities of such series or Tranche in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto until such sums are paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided;

 

(2) give the Trustee notice of any default by the Company (or any other obligor upon the Securities of such series or Tranche) in the making of any payment of principal (and premium, if any) or interest, if any, on the Securities of such series or Tranche; and

 

(3) at any time during the continuance of any such default, upon the written request of the Trustee, forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums so held in trust by such Paying Agent.

 

The Company may at any time, for the purpose of obtaining the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture or for any other purpose, pay, or by Company Order direct any Paying Agent to pay, to the Trustee all sums held in trust by the Company or such Paying Agent, such sums to be held by the Trustee upon the same trusts as those upon which such sums were held by the Company or such Paying Agent; and, upon such payment by any Paying Agent to the Trustee, such Paying Agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to such money.

 

 

Any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or received by the Trustee in respect of Eligible Obligations deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 401, 403 or 1007, or then held by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest, if any, on any Security of any series and remaining unclaimed for two years (or such shorter period for the return of such moneys to the Company under applicable abandoned property laws) after such principal (and premium, if any) or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Company on Company Request, or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Security shall thereafter, as an unsecured general creditor, look only to the Company for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease; provided, however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, may at the expense of the Company cause to be published once, in a newspaper published in the English language, customarily published on each Business Day and of general circulation in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which shall not be less than 30 days from the date of such publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be repaid to the Company.

 

Section 1004. Corporate Existence. Subject to Article VIII, the Company will do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its corporate existence, rights (charter and statutory) and franchises; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to preserve any such right or franchise if, in the judgment of the Company, the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Company and the loss thereof is not disadvantageous in any material respect to the Holders of Securities of any series or Tranche in any material respect.

 

Section 1005. Defeasance of Certain Obligations. The Company may omit to comply with its obligations under the covenants contained in Sections 1002, 1004 (except with respect to maintaining its corporate existence), 1006, 1008 and Article VIII with respect to any Security or Securities of any series or Tranche or any portion of the principal amount thereof (and in respect of any term, provision or condition set forth in the covenants or restrictions specified for such Securities pursuant to Section 301, in any supplemental indenture, Board Resolution or Officer’s Certificate establishing such Security), provided that the following conditions shall have been satisfied:

 

(1) With reference to this Section, the Company has deposited or caused to be irrevocably deposited (except as provided in Section 402) with the Trustee as trust funds in trust, specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely to, the benefit of the Holders of such Securities or portions thereof, (i) money in an amount, or (ii) if Securities of such series are not subject to repayment at the option of Holders, (A) Eligible Obligations which through the payment of interest and principal in respect thereof in accordance with their terms will provide not later than one day before the due date of any payment referred to in clause (x) or (y) of this subparagraph (1) money in an amount, or (B) a combination thereof, sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent certified public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay and discharge (x) the principal of (and premium, if any) and each installment of principal (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on the Outstanding Securities of such series or portions thereof on the Stated Maturity of such principal or installment of principal or premium or interest or to and including the Redemption Date irrevocably designated by the Company pursuant to subparagraph (7) of this Section and (y) any mandatory sinking fund payments applicable to the Securities of such series or portions thereof on the day on which such payments are due and payable in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and of such Securities or portions thereof;

 

(2) Such deposit shall not, as specified in an Opinion of Counsel, cause the Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series to have a conflicting interest as defined in Section 608 and for purposes of the Trust Indenture Act with respect to the Securities of such series;

 

(3) Such deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, this Indenture or any other agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound;

 

(4) No Event of Default or event which with notice or lapse of time would become an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of such series shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit and no Event of Default specified in Section 501(6) or (7) shall have occurred at any time from the date of such deposit to the 91st calendar day thereafter (it being understood that this condition to defeasance may not be satisfied until such 91st calendar day after the date of deposit);

 

 

(5) The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that Holders of the Securities of such series will not realize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit and defeasance of certain obligations and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amount and in the same manner and at the same times, as would have been the case if such deposit and defeasance had not occurred;

 

(6) The Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to the defeasance contemplated by this Section have been met; and

 

(7) If the Company has deposited or caused to be deposited money or Eligible Obligations to pay or discharge the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on the Outstanding Securities of such series or portion thereof to and including a Redemption Date pursuant to subparagraph (1) of this Section, such Redemption Date shall be irrevocably designated by a Board Resolution delivered to the Trustee on or prior to the date of deposit of such money or Eligible Obligations, and such Board Resolution shall be accompanied by an irrevocable Company Request that the Trustee give notice of such redemption in the name and at the expense of the Company not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to such Redemption Date in accordance with Section 1104.

 

Section 1006. Statement by Officers as to Default. The Company will deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company ending after the date hereof, a written statement, which need not comply with Section 102, signed by the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer or the principal accounting officer of the Company stating, as to each signer thereof, that

 

(1) a review of the activities of the Company during such year and of performance under this Indenture has been made under his supervision, and

 

(2) to the best of his knowledge, based on such review, the Company has fulfilled all its obligations under this Indenture throughout such year, or, if there has been a default in the fulfillment of any such obligation, specifying each such default known to him and the nature and status thereof.

 

Section 1007. Waiver of Certain Covenants. (a) The Company may omit in any particular instance to comply with any term, provision or condition set forth in (i) any additional covenants or restrictions specified with respect to the Senior Securities of any series, or any Tranche thereof, as contemplated by Section 301 if before the time for such compliance the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount (or such larger proportion as may be required in respect of waiving a past default of any such additional covenant or restriction) of the Outstanding Securities of all series and Tranches with respect to which such covenant or restriction was so specified, considered as one class, by Act of such Holders, either waives such compliance in such instance or generally waive compliance with such term, provision or condition and (ii) Sections 1002, 1004, 1006 and 1008 and Article VIII if before the time for such compliance the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of Senior Securities Outstanding under this Indenture by Act of such Holders, either waives such compliance in such instance or generally waive compliance with such term, provision or condition; but, in the case of (i) or (ii) of this paragraph (a), no such waiver shall extend to or affect such term, provision or condition except to the extent so expressly waived, and, until such waiver becomes effective, the obligations of the Company and the duties of the Trustee in respect of any such term, provision or condition shall remain in full force and effect.

 

(b) The Company may omit in any particular instance to comply with any term, provision or condition set forth in (i) any additional covenants or restrictions specified with respect to the Subordinated Securities of any series, or any Tranche thereof, as contemplated by Section 301 if before the time for such compliance the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount (or such larger proportion as may be required in respect of waiving a past default of any such additional covenant or restriction) of the Outstanding Securities of all series and Tranches with respect to which such covenant or restriction was so specified, considered as one class, by Act of such Holders, either waives such compliance in such instance or generally waive compliance with such term, provision or condition and (ii) Sections 1002, 1004, 1006 and 1008 and Article VIII if before the time for such compliance the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of Subordinated Securities Outstanding under this Indenture by Act of such Holders, either waives such compliance in such instance or generally waive compliance with such term, provision or condition; but, in the case of (i) or (ii) of this paragraph (b), no such waiver shall extend to or affect such term, provision or condition except to the extent so expressly waived, and, until such waiver becomes effective, the obligations of the Company and the duties of the Trustee in respect of any such term, provision or condition shall remain in full force and effect.

 

 

Section 1008. Maintenance of Properties. The Company shall cause (or, with respect to property owned in common with others, make reasonable effort to cause) all its properties used or useful in the conduct of its business to be maintained and kept in good condition, repair and working order and shall cause (or, with respect to property owned in common with others, make reasonable effort to cause) to be made all necessary repairs, renewals, replacements, betterments and improvements thereof, all as, in the judgment of the Company, may be necessary so that the business carried on in connection therewith may be properly conducted; provided, however, that nothing in this Section shall prevent the Company from discontinuing, or causing the discontinuance of, the operation and maintenance of any of its properties if, in the judgment of the Company, such discontinuance (i) is desirable in the conduct of its business and (ii) will not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Securities of any series or Tranche in any material respect.

 

ARTICLE XI

REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES

 

Section 1101. Applicability of Article. Securities of any series, or any Tranche thereof, that are redeemable before their Stated Maturity (or, if the principal of the Securities of any series is payable in installments, the Stated Maturity of the final installment of the principal thereof) shall be redeemable in accordance with their terms and (except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for Securities of any series or Tranche) in accordance with this Article.

 

Section 1102. Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee. The election of the Company to redeem any Securities shall be evidenced by a Board Resolution or an Officer’s Certificate. In case of any redemption at the election of the Company of less than all the Securities of any series, the Company shall, at least 45 days prior to the Redemption Date fixed by the Company (unless a shorter notice is satisfactory to the Trustee), notify the Trustee of such Redemption Date and of the principal amount of Securities of such series or Tranche to be redeemed. In the case of any redemption of Securities (a) prior to the expiration of any restriction on such redemption provided in the terms of such Securities or elsewhere in this Indenture, or (b) pursuant to an election of the Company that is subject to a condition specified in the terms of such Securities the Company shall furnish the Trustee with an Officer’s Certificate evidencing compliance with such restriction.

 

Section 1103. Selection by Trustee of Securities to Be Redeemed. If less than all the Securities of any series, or any Tranche thereof, are to be redeemed, the particular Securities to be redeemed shall be selected by the Trustee not more than 45 days prior to the Redemption Date by the Trustee, from the Outstanding Securities of such series or Tranche not previously called for redemption, by such method as is provided for any particular series, or, in the absence of any such provision, by such method as the Trustee deems fair and appropriate and which may provide for the selection for redemption of portions (equal to the minimum authorized denomination for Securities of that series or Tranche or any integral multiple thereof) of the principal amount of Securities of such series or Tranche of a denomination larger than the minimum authorized denomination for Securities of that series or Tranche; provided, however, that if, as indicated in an Officer’s Certificate, the Company has offered to purchase all or any principal amount of the Securities then Outstanding of any series, or any Tranche thereof, and less than all of such Securities as to which such offer was made have been tendered to the Company for such purchase, the Trustee, if so directed by Company Order, shall select for redemption all or any principal amount of such Securities that have not been so tendered.

 

The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company and the Security Registrar in writing of the Securities selected for redemption and, in the case of any Securities selected for partial redemption, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed.

 

 

For all purposes of this Indenture, unless the context otherwise requires, all provisions relating to the redemption of Securities shall relate, in the case of any Securities redeemed or to be redeemed only in part, to the portion of the principal amount of such Securities that has been or is to be redeemed.

 

Section 1104. Notice of Redemption. Unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 with respect to any series of Securities, notice of redemption shall be given by first-class mail, postage prepaid, mailed not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date, to each Holder of Securities to be redeemed, at his address appearing in the Security Register.

 

If Unregistered Securities are to be redeemed, notice of redemption shall be published in an Authorized Newspaper in The City of New York and, if such Securities to be redeemed are listed on any stock exchange outside of the United States, in the city in which such stock exchange is located, or in such other city or cities as may be specified in the Securities, once in each of two different calendar weeks, the first publication to be not less than 30 nor more than 90 days before the redemption date.

 

All notices of redemption shall state:

 

(1) the Redemption Date,

 

(2) the Redemption Price, or the formula pursuant to which the Redemption Price is to be determined if the Redemption Price cannot be determined at the time of notice is given,

 

(3) if less than all the Outstanding Securities of any series or Tranche are to be redeemed, the identification (and, in the case of partial redemption, the principal amounts) of the particular Securities to be redeemed, and the portion of the principal amount of any Security to be redeemed in part and, in the case of any such Security of such series to be redeemed in part, that, on and after the Redemption Date, upon surrender of such Security, a new Security or Securities of such series in principal amount equal to the remaining unpaid principal amount thereof will be issued as provided in Section 1106,

 

(4) that on the Redemption Date the Redemption Price will become due and payable upon each such Security to be redeemed and, if applicable, that interest thereon will cease to accrue on and after said date,

 

(5) the place or places where such Securities and all unmatured coupons are to be surrendered for payment of the Redemption Price and accrued interest, if any,

 

(6) that the redemption is for a sinking fund, if such is the case,

 

(7) the CUSIP numbers, if any, assigned to such Securities; provided however, that such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of CUSIP numbers, and the redemption of such Securities shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such number, and

 

(8) such other matters as the Company shall deem desirable or appropriate.

 

Unless otherwise specified with respect to any Securities in accordance with Section 301, with respect to any notice of redemption of Securities at the election of the Company, unless, upon the giving of such notice, such Securities are deemed to have been paid in accordance with Section 401, such notice may state that such redemption shall be conditional upon the receipt by the Paying Agent or Agents for such Securities, on or prior to the date fixed for such redemption, of money sufficient to pay the principal of and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on such Securities and that if such money has not been so received such notice shall be of no force or effect and the Company shall not be required to redeem such Securities. In the event that such notice of redemption contains such a condition and such money is not so received, the redemption shall not be made and within a reasonable time thereafter notice shall be given, in the manner in which the notice of redemption was given, that such money was not so received and such redemption was not required to be made, and the Paying Agent or Agents for the Securities otherwise to have been redeemed shall promptly return to the Holders thereof any of such Securities that had been surrendered for payment upon such redemption.

 

 

Notice of redemption of Securities to be redeemed at the election of the Company, and any notice of non-satisfaction of a condition for redemption as aforesaid, shall be given by the Company or, at the Company’s request, by the Security Registrar in the name and at the expense of the Company. Notice of mandatory redemption of Securities shall be given by the Security Registrar in the name and at the expense of the Company.

 

Section 1105. Securities Payable on Redemption Date. Notice of redemption having been given as aforesaid, and the conditions, if any, set forth in such notice having been satisfied, the Securities or portions thereof so to be redeemed shall, on the Redemption Date, become due and payable at the Redemption Price therein specified, and from and after such date (unless the Company defaults in the payment of the Redemption Price and accrued interest, if any) such Securities, or portions thereof, if interest-bearing, shall cease to bear interest. Upon surrender of any such Security for redemption in accordance with said notice, such Security or portion thereof together with all unmatured coupons, if any, shall be paid by the Company at the Redemption Price, together with accrued interest, if any, to the Redemption Date but in the case of Unregistered Securities installments of interest due on or prior to the Redemption Date will be payable to the bearers of the coupons for such interest by check or draft upon surrender of such coupons; provided, however, that installments of interest whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to the Redemption Date shall be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, registered as such at the close of business on the relevant Regular Record Dates according to their terms and the provisions of Section 307.

 

If any Security called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender thereof for redemption, the principal (and premium, if any) shall, until paid, bear interest from the Redemption Date at the rate prescribed therefor in the Security.

 

Section 1106. Securities Redeemed in Part. Any Security that is to be redeemed only in part shall be surrendered at a Place of Payment therefor (with, if the Company or the Trustee so requires, due endorsement by, or a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee duly executed by, the Holder thereof or his or her attorney duly authorized in writing), and the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder of such Security without service charge, a new Security or Securities of the same series, of any authorized denomination as requested by such Holder, and of like tenor and in aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed portion of the principal of the Security so surrendered.

 

ARTICLE XII

SINKING FUNDS

 

Section 1201. Applicability of Article. The provisions of this Article shall be applicable to any sinking fund for the retirement of Securities of any series, or any Tranche thereof, except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for Securities of such series or Tranche.

 

The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of Securities of any series, or any Tranche thereof, is herein referred to as a “mandatory sinking fund payment”, and any payment in excess of such minimum amount provided for by the terms of Securities of any series, or any Tranche thereof, is herein referred to as an “optional sinking fund payment”. If provided for by the terms of Securities of any series, or any Tranche thereof, the cash amount of any sinking fund payment may be subject to reduction as provided in Section 1202. Each sinking fund payment shall be applied to the redemption of Securities of the series or Tranche in respect of which it was made as provided for by the terms of Securities of such series.

 

Section 1202. Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments With Securities. The Company (1) may deliver Outstanding Securities of a series or Tranche (other than any previously called for redemption) together, in the case of Unregistered Securities, with all unmatured coupons appertaining thereto, in respect of which a mandatory sinking fund payment is to be made and (2) may apply as a credit Securities of such series or Tranche that have been redeemed either at the election of the Company pursuant to the terms of such Securities or through the application of permitted optional sinking fund payments pursuant to the terms of such Securities, in each case in satisfaction of all or any part of any sinking fund payment with respect to the Securities of such series required to be made pursuant to the terms of such Securities as provided for by the terms of such series, provided that such Securities have not been previously so credited. Such Securities shall be received and credited for such purpose by the Trustee at the Redemption Price specified in such Securities for redemption through operation of the sinking fund and the amount of such sinking fund payment shall be reduced accordingly.

 

 

Section 1203. Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund. Not less than 45 days prior to each sinking fund payment date for any series of Securities, or any Tranche thereof, the Company will deliver to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate specifying the amount of the next ensuing sinking fund payment for that series or Tranche pursuant to the terms of that series, the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by payment of cash and the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by delivering and crediting Securities of that series pursuant to Section 1202 and will also deliver to the Trustee any Securities to be so delivered. If the Company has not delivered such Officer’s Certificate and, to the extent applicable, all such Securities, the next succeeding sinking fund payment for such series or Tranche shall be made entirely in cash in the amount of the mandatory sinking fund payment. Not less than 30 days before each such sinking fund payment date the Trustee shall select the Securities to be redeemed upon such sinking fund payment date in the manner specified in Section 1103 and cause notice of the redemption thereof to be given in the name of and at the expense of the Company in the manner provided in Section 1104. Such notice having been duly given, the redemption of such Securities shall be made upon the terms and in the manner stated in Sections 1105 and 1106.

 

ARTICLE XIII

REPAYMENT OF SECURITIES AT OPTION OF HOLDERS

 

Section 1301. Applicability of Article. Securities of any series or Tranche that are repayable before their Stated Maturity at the option of the Holders shall be repayable in accordance with their terms and (except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for Securities of any series) in accordance with this Article.

 

Section 1302. Notice of Repayment Date. Notice of any Repayment Date with respect to Securities of any series or Tranche thereof shall be given by the Company not less than 45 nor more than 60 days prior to such Repayment Date (or at such other times as may be specified for such repayment or repurchase pursuant to Section 301 of this Indenture) to each Holder of Securities of such series in accordance with Section 106.

 

The notice as to the Repayment Date shall state (unless otherwise specified for such repayment or repurchase pursuant to Section 301 of this Indenture):

 

(1) the Repayment Date, which date shall be no earlier than 30 days and no later than 60 days from the date on which such notice is mailed;

 

(2) the principal amount of the Securities required to be repaid or repurchased and the Repayment Price (or the formula pursuant to which the Repayment Price is to be determined if the Repayment Price cannot be determined at the time the notice is given);

 

(3) the place or places where such Securities are to be surrendered for payment of the Repayment Price, and accrued interest, if any, and the date by which Securities must be so surrendered in order to be repaid or repurchased;

 

(4) that any Security not tendered or accepted for payment shall continue to accrue interest;

 

(5) that, unless the Company defaults in making such payment or the Paying Agent is prohibited from paying such money to the Holders on that date pursuant to the terms of this Indenture, Securities accepted for payment pursuant to any such offer of repayment or repurchase shall cease to accrue interest after the Repayment Date;

 

 

(6) that Holders electing to have a Security repaid or purchased pursuant to such offer may elect to have all or any portion of such Security purchased;

 

(7) that Holders electing to have a Security repaid or repurchased pursuant to any such offer shall be required to surrender the Security, with such customary documents of surrender and transfer as the Company may reasonably request, duly completed, or transfer by book-entry transfer, to the Company or the Paying Agent at the address specified in the notice at least two Business Days prior to the Repayment Date;

 

(8) that Holders shall be entitled to withdraw their election if the Company or the Paying Agent, as the case may be, receives, not later than the expiration of the offer to repay or repurchase, a telegram, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of the Holder, the principal amount of the Security the Holder delivered for purchase and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing its election to have such Security purchased;

 

(9) that, in the case of a repayment or repurchase of less than all Outstanding Securities of a series or Tranche thereof, the method of selection of Securities to be repaid or repurchased to be applied by the Trustee if the principal amount of properly tendered Securities exceeds the principal amount of the Securities to be repaid or repurchased;

 

(10) that Holders whose Securities are purchased only in part shall be issued new Securities of the same series or Tranche thereof equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Securities surrendered (or transferred by book-entry transfer); and

 

(11) the CUSIP or other identification number, if any, printed on the Securities being repurchased and that no representation is made as to the correctness or accuracy of the CUSIP or other identification number, if any, listed in such notice or printed on the Securities.

 

Section 1303. Securities Payable on Repayment Date. The form of option to elect repurchase or repayment having been delivered as specified in the form of Security for such series, the Securities of such series or Tranche so to be repaid (after application of the method of selection described pursuant to clause (9) of Section 1302, if the principal amount of properly tendered Securities exceeds the principal amount of the Securities to be repaid or repurchased) shall, on the Repayment Date, become due and payable at the Repayment Price applicable thereto and from and after such date (unless the Company defaults in the payment of the Repayment Price and accrued interest) such Securities shall cease to bear interest. Upon surrender of any such Security for repayment in accordance with said notice, such Security shall be paid by the Company at the Repayment Price together with accrued interest, if any, to the Repayment Date; provided, however, that if a Security is repaid or repurchased on or after a Record Date but on or prior to the Stated Maturity of any installments of interest, then any accrued and unpaid interest due on such Stated Maturity shall be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, registered as such at the close of business on the relevant Record Dates according to their terms and the provisions of Section 307.

 

If any Security is not paid upon surrender thereof for repayment, the principal (and premium, if any) shall, until paid, bear interest from the Repayment Date at the rate prescribed therefor in such Security.

 

Section 1304. Securities Repaid in Part. Any Security that by its terms may be repaid in part at the option of the Holder and that is to be repaid only in part shall be surrendered at any office or agency of the Company designated for that purpose pursuant to Section 1002 (with, if the Company or the Trustee so requires, due endorsement by, or a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee duly executed by, the Holder thereof or his or her attorney duly authorized in writing), and the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder of such Security without service charge, a new Security or Securities of the same series, as provided in Section 305, of any authorized denomination as requested by such Holder, in aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for the unrepaid portion of the principal of the Security so surrendered.

 

 

This instrument may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly executed, and their respective corporate seals to be hereunto affixed and attested, all as of the date first above written.

 

			SIGNING DAY SPORTS, INC.
[CORPORATE SEAL]
			By:
			Name:
			Title:	Chief Executive Officer
Attest:
Name:
Title:	Secretary
			[             ]
			By:

 

 

STATE OF [     ]		)
		) ss:
CITY OF [     ] AND COUNTY OF [        ])

 

On the             day of [       ] 20__, before me personally came _______, to me known, who, being by me duly sworn, did depose and say that he is a director of SIGNING DAY SPORTS, INC., one of the companies described in and which executed the foregoing instrument; that he knows the seal of said corporation; that the seal affixed to said instruments is such corporate seal; that it was so affixed by authority of the Bylaws of said corporation, and that he signed his name thereto by authority of the Board of Directors of said corporation.

 

 

 

SIGNING DAY SPORTS, INC.

Reconciliation and tie between Trust Indenture Act of 1939 and

Indenture, dated as of __, 20__

 

Trust Indenture		Indenture Sections
Act Section
§ 310(a)(1)		609
(a)(2)		609
(a)(3)		Not Applicable
(a)(4)		Not Applicable
(a)(5)		609
(b)		608
		610
§ 311(a)		613(a)
(b)		613(b)
(b)(2)		703(a)(2)
		703(b)
§ 312(a)		701
		702(a)
(b)		702(b)
(c)		702(c)
§ 313(a)		703(a)
(b)		703(b)
(c)		703(a), 703(b)
(d)		703(c)
§ 314(a)		704
(b)		Not Applicable
(c)(1)		102
(c)(2)		102
(c)(3)		Not Applicable
(d)		Not Applicable
(e)		102
§ 315(a)		601(a)
(b)		602
		703(a)(7)
(c)		601(b)
(d)		601(c)
(d)(l)		601(a)(1)
(d)(2)		601(c)(2)
(d)(3)		601(c)(3)
(e)		514
§ 316(a)		101
(a)(1)(A)		502
		512
(a)(1)(B)		513
(a)(2)		Not Applicable
(b)		508
(c)		104(g)
§ 317(a)(l)		503
(a)(2)		504
(b)		1003
§ 318(a)		107

 

Note: This reconciliation and tie shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be a part of the Indenture.

 

 

 

Exhibit 5.1

 

 

E:

lou@bevilacquapllc.com

T:

202.869.0888

W:

bevilacquapllc.com

 

December 2, 2024

 

Signing Day Sports, Inc.

8355 East Hartford Rd., Suite 100

Scottsdale, AZ 85255

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

We have acted as special counsel to Signing Day Sports, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in connection with its filing of the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the “Registration Statement”) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), on the date hereof, relating to the resale from time to time, pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act, of 62,500 shares (the “Shares”) of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”), by a certain selling stockholder (the “Selling Stockholder”) named in the Registration Statement and the prospectus covering such resale and contained therein (the “Prospectus”).

 

In connection with this opinion, we have examined originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of such records of the Company and such agreements, certificates of public officials, certificates of officers or other representatives of the Company and others, and such other documents, certificates, and records as we have deemed necessary or appropriate as a basis for the opinions set forth herein.

 

In rendering the opinions expressed herein, we have, without independent inquiry or investigation, assumed the legal capacity of all natural persons executing documents, the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity, accuracy and completeness of all documents submitted to us as originals, and the conformity to authentic original documents submitted to us as certified, conformed or reproduced copies. We have relied upon the accuracy and completeness of the information, factual matters, representations, and warranties contained in such documents. We have also assumed that the persons identified as officers of the Company are actually serving in such capacity and that the Registration Statement will be declared effective by the Commission. In our examination of documents, we have assumed that the parties thereto, other than the Company, had the power, corporate or other, to enter into and perform all obligations thereunder, the due authorization of all parties (other than the Company) by all requisite action, corporate or other, the execution and delivery by all parties of the documents, and the validity and binding effect thereof on such parties.

 

Based upon and subject to the foregoing and the other matters set forth herein, we are of the opinion that the Shares are validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

 

The opinion expressed herein is limited to the matters specifically set forth herein and no other opinion shall be inferred beyond the matters expressly stated. Notwithstanding anything in this letter which might be construed to the contrary, our opinion expressed herein is limited to the laws of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. The opinion expressed herein is based upon the law of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware in effect on the date hereof, and we assume no obligation to revise or supplement this opinion after the effective date of the Registration Statement should such law be changed by legislative action, judicial decision, or otherwise. We express no opinion regarding the effect of the laws of any other jurisdiction or state, including any federal securities laws related to the issuance and sale of the Registered Securities.

 

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement and to the reference to our firm appearing under the caption “Legal Matters” in the Prospectus that forms a part of the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not hereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act, or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

	Very truly yours,
	/s/ BEVILACQUA PLLC

 

 

1050 Connecticut Ave., NW, Suite 500

Washington, DC 20036

 

Exhibit 5.2

 

 

E:

lou@bevilacquapllc.com

T:

202.869.0888

W:

bevilacquapllc.com

 

December 2, 2024

 

Signing Day Sports, Inc.

8355 East Hartford Rd., Suite 100

Scottsdale, AZ 85255

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

We have acted as special counsel to Signing Day Sports, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in connection with its filing of the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the “Registration Statement”) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”), on the date hereof, relating to the proposed issuance and sale by the Company, from time to time, pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), as set forth in the Registration Statement, the base prospectus contained therein (the “Prospectus”), and the supplements to the Prospectus referred to therein (each a “Prospectus Supplement”), of up to $100,000,000, or the equivalent thereof, of (a) the Company’s shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”), (b) the Company’s shares of preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Preferred Stock”), (c) the Company’s debt securities, in one or more series (the “Debt Securities”), (d) warrants to purchase Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Debt Securities, or any combination thereof (the “Warrants”), (e) subscription rights to purchase Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Debt Securities, Warrants, or Units (as defined herein) (the “Subscription Rights”), and (f) units consisting of Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Debt Securities, Warrants, Subscription Rights, or any combination thereof (the “Units” and together with the Debt Securities, the Warrants, and the Subscription Rights, the “Documents”). The Common Stock, the Preferred Stock, the Debt Securities, the Warrants, the Subscription Rights and the Units are collectively referred to herein as the “Securities” and individually as a “Security”. The Securities shall include any additional amounts of such securities the offer and sale of which are registered pursuant to any registration statement filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act in connection with the offering by the Company contemplated by the Registration Statement. The Debt Securities will be issued under an indenture of the Company, proposed to be entered into with a trustee to be named therein (the “Trustee”), as such indenture may be supplemented from time to time (the “Indenture”).

 

We have reviewed the Registration Statement and such other agreements, documents, records, certificates and other materials, and have reviewed and are familiar with such corporate proceedings and satisfied ourselves as to such other matters, as we have considered relevant or necessary as a basis for this opinion. In such review, we have assumed: (a) the authenticity of original documents and the genuineness of all signatures; (b) the conformity to the originals of all documents submitted to us as copies; (c) the truth, accuracy and completeness of the information, representations and warranties contained in the instruments, documents, certificates and records we have reviewed; (d) that the Registration Statement, and any amendments thereto (including post-effective amendments), will have become effective under the Securities Act; (e) that a Prospectus Supplement will have been filed with the Commission describing the Securities offered thereby; (f) that the Securities will be issued and sold in compliance with applicable U.S. federal and state securities laws and in the manner stated in the Registration Statement and the applicable Prospectus Supplement; (g) that a definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement with respect to any Securities offered will have been duly authorized and validly executed and delivered by the Company and the other parties thereto; (h) that any Securities issuable upon conversion, exchange, redemption or exercise of any Securities being offered will be duly authorized, created and, if appropriate, reserved for issuance upon such conversion, exchange, redemption or exercise; (i) with respect to shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock, that there will be sufficient shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock authorized under the Company’s organizational documents that are not otherwise reserved for issuance; and (j) the legal capacity of all natural persons. As to any facts material to the opinions expressed herein that were not independently established or verified, we have relied upon oral or written statements and representations of officers and other representatives of the Company. The term “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company or a duly constituted and acting committee thereof.

 

1050 Connecticut Ave., NW, Suite 500

Washington, DC 20036

 

 

PG. 2 December 2, 2024

 

On the basis of the assumptions and subject to the qualifications and limitations set forth herein, we are of the opinion that:

 

1. With respect to shares of Common Stock, when: (a) the Board has taken all necessary corporate action to approve the issuance and the terms of the offering of shares of Common Stock and related matters; and (b) the shares of Common Stock have been duly delivered either (i) in accordance with the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement approved by the Board, or upon the exercise of Warrants to purchase shares of Common Stock, upon payment of the consideration therefor provided for therein or (ii) upon conversion or exercise of any other Security, in accordance with the terms of such Security or the instrument governing such Security providing for such conversion or exercise as approved by the Board, for the consideration approved by the Board, then the shares of Common Stock will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

 

2. With respect to any particular series of shares of Preferred Stock, when: (a) the Board has taken all necessary corporate action to approve the issuance and terms of the shares of Preferred Stock, the terms of the offering thereof, and related matters, including the adoption and filing of a certificate of designation relating to such shares of Preferred Stock in accordance with applicable law; and (b) the shares of Preferred Stock have been duly delivered either (i) in accordance with the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement approved by the Board, or upon the exercise of Warrants to purchase shares of Preferred Stock, upon payment of the consideration therefor provided for therein or (ii) upon conversion or exercise of any other Security, in accordance with the terms of such Security or the instrument governing such Security providing for such conversion or exercise as approved by the Board, for the consideration approved by the Board, then the shares of Preferred Stock will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

 

3. With respect to the Debt Securities to be issued under the Indenture, when: (a) the Trustee is qualified to act as Trustee under the Indenture and the Company has filed a Form T-1 for the Trustee with the Commission; (b) the Trustee has duly executed and delivered the Indenture; (c) the Indenture has been duly authorized and validly executed and delivered by the Company to the Trustee; (d) the Indenture has been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended; (e) the Board has taken all necessary corporate action to approve the issuance and terms of such Debt Securities, the terms of the offering thereof and related matters; and (f) such Debt Securities have been duly executed, authenticated, issued and delivered in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture and the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement approved by the Board, or upon the exercise of Warrants to purchase Debt Securities, upon payment of the consideration therefor provided for therein, such Debt Securities will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.

 

4. With respect to the Warrants to be issued by the Company, when (a) the specific terms of any such Warrants have been duly established in accordance with applicable law and authorized by all necessary corporate action of the Company (including the adoption by the Board of resolutions duly authorizing the issuance and delivery of such Warrants and the Securities that such Warrants may be exercisable for), and (b) any such Warrants have been duly executed and issued by the Company and such Warrants have been duly delivered by or on behalf of the Company against payment therefor in accordance with the Warrants and/or any warrant agreement and in the manner contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, and/or the related Prospectus Supplement and by such corporate action, such Warrants will be the legally valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.

 

5. With respect to the Subscription Rights to be issued by the Company, when: (a) the Board has taken all necessary corporate action to approve the issuance and establish the terms of the Subscription Rights, the terms of the offering thereof, and related matters (including the adoption by the Board of resolutions duly authorizing the issuance and delivery of such Subscription Rights and the Securities that such Subscription Rights may be exercisable for), (b) the subscription rights agreement under which the Subscription Rights are to be issued (a “Subscription Rights Agreement”) has been duly authorized and validly executed and delivered by the Company, (c) such Subscription Rights have been duly executed and authenticated or countersigned in accordance with the terms of such Subscription Rights Agreement, and (d) the Subscription Rights have been issued and sold in the manner contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, and any applicable Prospectus Supplement and in accordance with such Subscription Rights Agreement, such Subscription Rights will constitute the valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.

 

 

PG. 3 December 2, 2024

 

6. With respect to the Units to be issued by the Company, when (a) the Board has taken all necessary corporate action to approve the issuance and establish the terms of securities underlying such Units in connection therewith, the terms of such Units, the terms of the offering of such Units, and related matters (including the adoption by the Board of resolutions duly authorizing the issuance and delivery of such Units and the Securities that such Units may be exercisable for), (b) if applicable, one or more agreements incorporating the terms and other provisions of such Units has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and a unit agent (a “Unit Agreement”), (c) such Units have been duly executed and authenticated or countersigned in accordance with the terms of such Unit Agreement, and (d) the Units have been issued and sold in the manner contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, and any applicable Prospectus Supplement and in accordance with such Unit Agreement (assuming the securities issuable upon exercise of such Units have been duly authorized and reserved for issuance by all necessary corporate action), such Units will constitute the valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.

 

Each opinion in this letter that any Security is a valid and binding obligation or is enforceable in accordance with its terms is subject to: (i) the effect of bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance and other similar laws and judicially developed doctrines in this area such as substantive consolidation and equitable subordination; (ii) the effect of general principles of equity; and (iii) other commonly recognized statutory and judicial constraints on enforceability including statutes of limitations. In addition, we do not express any opinion as to the enforceability of any rights to contribution or indemnification which may be violative of public policy underlying any law, rule or regulation (including any federal or state securities law, rule or regulation). “General principles of equity” include, but are not limited to: Principles limiting the availability of specific performance and injunctive relief; principles which limit the availability of a remedy under certain circumstances where another remedy has been elected; principles requiring reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing in the performance and enforcement of an agreement by the party seeking enforcement; principles which may permit a party to cure a material failure to perform its obligations; and principles affording equitable defenses such as waiver, laches and estoppel. It is possible that terms in a particular contract covered by our opinion may not prove enforceable for reasons other than those explicitly cited in this letter should an actual enforcement action be brought, but (subject to all the exceptions, qualifications, exclusions and other limitations contained in this letter) such unenforceability would not in our opinion prevent the party entitled to enforce that contract from realizing the principal benefits purported to be provided to that party by the terms in that contract which are covered by our opinion.

 

Our advice on every legal issue addressed in this letter is based exclusively on the internal law of the State of New York and the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware as in effect on the date hereof and we express no opinion with respect to the applicability thereto, or the effect thereon, of the laws of any other jurisdiction or as to any matters or municipal law or the laws of any local agencies within any state. For purposes of the opinions herein we have assumed that the governing law under each of the Documents shall be the laws of the State of New York. We express no opinion as to what law might be applied by any other courts to resolve any issue addressed by our opinion and we express no opinion as to whether any relevant differences exist between the laws upon which our opinions are based and any other laws which may actually be applied to resolve issues which may arise under any of the Documents. The manner in which any particular issue would be treated in any actual court case would depend in part on facts and circumstances particular to the case and would also depend on how the court involved chose to exercise the wide discretionary authority generally available to it. This letter is not intended to guarantee the outcome of any legal dispute that may arise in the future. In addition, the Securities may be issued from time to time on a delayed or continuous basis, and this opinion is limited to the laws, including the rules and regulations, as in effect on the date hereof, which laws are subject to change with possible retroactive effect. This opinion speaks only as of the date hereof, and we assume no obligation to revise or supplement this opinion after the date hereof.

 

 

PG. 4 December 2, 2024

  

We have not undertaken any search of court records for purposes of this letter. We have assumed that each applicable party to the Documents, excluding the Company, (i) is an entity duly incorporated or organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization; (ii) has adopted by requisite vote of its board of directors, board of managers or analogous governing body the resolutions or approvals necessary to authorize such party’s execution, delivery and performance of such Documents; (iii) has duly authorized, executed and delivered such Documents; (iv) has all corporate and other organizational power and authority (including without limitation the power and authority under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization) to execute and deliver such Documents and perform its respective obligations under such Documents; (v) has satisfied all legal requirements that are applicable to such party to the extent necessary to entitle such party to enforce such Documents; and (vi) is not required by any law to obtain any consent, approval, authorization or order of any court or governmental agency in order to obtain the right to enter into such Documents or to take any action taken by it in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated in the Documents in accordance with their terms, and the execution and delivery by such party of the Documents, and that the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby in accordance with the terms thereof will not violate any existing provisions of the organizational documents of such party or any law or governmental regulation. For purposes of the opinions above, we have assumed, without conducting any research or investigation with respect thereto, the corporate or other power of, and the due authorization, execution and delivery of the Documents by, the Company, the absence of any conflicts with the organizational documents of the Company and the absence of any conflicts with, or consents required under, the laws, rules and regulations of any jurisdiction other than the State of New York.

 

In preparing this letter we have relied without independent verification upon: (i) information contained in certificates obtained from governmental authorities; and (ii) factual information provided to us by the Company. We have assumed that there has been no relevant change or development between the dates as of which the information cited in the preceding sentence was made available to us and the date of this letter and that the information upon which we have relied is accurate and does not omit disclosures necessary to prevent such information from being misleading. Whenever this letter provides advice about (or based upon) our knowledge of any particular information, such advice is based entirely on the actual knowledge at the time this letter is delivered on the date it bears by the lawyers with Bevilacqua PLLC who have represented or are representing the Company in connection with the issuance of the Securities after consultation with other lawyers with Bevilacqua PLLC who have represented the Company on other substantive matters.

 

None of the opinions or other advice contained in this letter considers or covers: (a) any antifraud laws, rules or regulations; (b) any state securities (or “blue sky”) laws or regulations or securities laws or regulations of jurisdictions outside the United States; (c) any financial statements or supporting schedules (or any notes to any such statements or schedules) or other financial or statistical information derived therefrom set forth in, incorporated by reference into, or omitted from the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and/or any Prospectus Supplement; or (d) any laws, statutes, governmental rules or regulations or decisions which in our experience are not usually considered for or covered by opinions like those contained in this letter or are not generally applicable to transactions of the kind covered by the Documents including any regulatory laws or requirements specific to the industry in which the Company is engaged. In addition, none of the opinions or other advice contained in this letter covers or otherwise addresses any of the following types of provisions which may be contained in the Documents: (i) provisions mandating contribution towards judgments or settlements among various parties; (ii) waivers of benefits and rights to the extent they cannot be waived under applicable law; (iii) provisions providing for liquidated damages, late charges and prepayment charges, in each case if deemed to constitute penalties; or (iv) requirements in the Documents specifying that provisions thereof may only be waived in writing (these provisions may not be valid, binding or enforceable to the extent that an oral agreement or an implied agreement by trade practice or course of conduct has been created modifying any provision of such documents).

 

 

PG. 5 December 2, 2024

  

The opinions set forth in this letter are being furnished in accordance with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K promulgated under the Securities Act, and no opinion is expressed herein as to any matter pertaining to the contents of the Registration Statement, other than as to the specific issues addressed herein, and no opinion may be inferred or implied beyond that expressly stated herein.

 

We hereby consent to the use of this opinion letter as Exhibit 5.2 to the Registration Statement and to the use of our name under the caption “Legal Matters” in the Registration Statement and in the Prospectus forming a part thereof and any Prospectus Supplement. We further consent to the incorporation by reference of this letter and consent into any registration statement or post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act with respect to the Securities. In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

	Very truly yours,
	/s/ BEVILACQUA PLLC

 

 

 

Exhibit 5.3

 

 

E:

lou@bevilacquapllc.com

T:

202.869.0888

W:

bevilacquapllc.com

 

December 2, 2024

 

Signing Day Sports, Inc.

8355 East Hartford Rd., Suite 100

Scottsdale, AZ 85255

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

We have acted as special counsel to Signing Day Sports, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the sale by the Company, from time to time, pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), of shares (the “Shares”) of common stock of the Company, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”), having an aggregate offering price of up to $2,709,817, pursuant to (i) a Registration Statement on Form S-3 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”), on the date hereof (the “Registration Statement”), (ii) the base prospectus contained therein relating to the proposed issuance and sale by the Company, from time to time, pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act, and the supplements to such prospectus referred to therein, of up to $100,000,000, or the equivalent thereof, of the Common Stock and/or certain other securities set forth therein (the “Base Prospectus”), (iii) the prospectus supplement contained therein (together with the Base Prospectus, the “Prospectus”), and (iv) that certain At The Market Offering Agreement, dated as of December 2, 2024, by and between the Company and H.C. Wainwright & Co., LLC (the “Offering Agreement”). The Shares, having an aggregate offering price of up to $2,709,817, offered under the Prospectus, are included in the aggregate offering price of $100,000,000 under the Base Prospectus.

 

We have reviewed the Registration Statement and such other agreements, documents, records, certificates and other materials, and have reviewed and are familiar with such corporate proceedings and satisfied ourselves as to such other matters, as we have considered relevant or necessary as a basis for this opinion. In such review, we have assumed: (a) the authenticity of original documents and the genuineness of all signatures; (b) the conformity to the originals of all documents submitted to us as copies; (c) the truth, accuracy and completeness of the information, representations and warranties contained in the instruments, documents, certificates and records we have reviewed; (d) that the Registration Statement, and any amendments thereto (including post-effective amendments), will have become effective under the Securities Act; (e) that the Shares will be issued and sold in compliance with applicable U.S. federal and state securities laws and in the manner stated in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus; (f) that there will be sufficient shares of Common Stock authorized under the Company’s organizational documents that are not otherwise reserved for issuance; and (g) the legal capacity of all natural persons. As to any facts material to the opinions expressed herein that were not independently established or verified, we have relied upon oral or written statements and representations of officers and other representatives of the Company.

 

1050 Connecticut Ave., NW, Suite 500

Washington, DC 20036

 

 

PG. 2 December 2, 2024

 

On the basis of the assumptions and subject to the qualifications and limitations set forth herein, we are of the opinion that the Shares have been duly authorized, and when issued and sold by the Company pursuant to the terms of the Offering Agreement and upon receipt by the Company of full payment therefor in accordance with the Offering Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

 

Our advice on every legal issue addressed in this letter is based exclusively on the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware as in effect on the date hereof and we express no opinion with respect to the applicability thereto, or the effect thereon, of the laws of any other jurisdiction or as to any matters or municipal law or the laws of any local agencies within any state. The manner in which any particular issue would be treated in any actual court case would depend in part on facts and circumstances particular to the case and would also depend on how the court involved chose to exercise the wide discretionary authority generally available to it. This letter is not intended to guarantee the outcome of any legal dispute that may arise in the future. In addition, the Shares may be issued from time to time on a delayed or continuous basis, and this opinion is limited to the laws, including the rules and regulations, as in effect on the date hereof, which laws are subject to change with possible retroactive effect. This opinion speaks only as of the date hereof, and we assume no obligation to revise or supplement this opinion after the date hereof.

 

In preparing this letter we have relied without independent verification upon: (i) information contained in certificates obtained from governmental authorities; and (ii) factual information provided to us by the Company. We have assumed that there has been no relevant change or development between the dates as of which the information cited in the preceding sentence was made available to us and the date of this letter and that the information upon which we have relied is accurate and does not omit disclosures necessary to prevent such information from being misleading. Whenever this letter provides advice about (or based upon) our knowledge of any particular information, such advice is based entirely on the actual knowledge at the time this letter is delivered on the date it bears by the lawyers with Bevilacqua PLLC who have represented or are representing the Company in connection with the issuance of the Securities after consultation with other lawyers with Bevilacqua PLLC who have represented the Company on other substantive matters.

 

The opinions set forth in this letter are being furnished in accordance with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K promulgated under the Securities Act, and no opinion is expressed herein as to any matter pertaining to the contents of the Registration Statement, other than as to the specific issues addressed herein, and no opinion may be inferred or implied beyond that expressly stated herein.

 

We hereby consent to the use of this opinion letter as Exhibit 5.3 to the Registration Statement and to the use of our name under the caption “Legal Matters” in the Registration Statement and in the Prospectus forming a part thereof. In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

	Very truly yours,
	/s/ BEVILACQUA PLLC

 

 

Exhibit 23.1

 

 

 

Certified Public Accountants and Advisors

A PCAOB Registered Firm

713-489-5635 bartoncpafirm.com Cypress, Texas

 

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

We consent to the use, in this Registration Statement on Form S-3, of our report dated March 29, 2024, with respect to our audit of the financial statements of Signing Day Sports, Inc. as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, and for the years then ended, which includes an explanatory paragraph regarding substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern. We also consent to the reference to us under the heading “Experts” in such Registration Statement.

 

Very truly yours,

 

/s/ BARTON CPA PLLC

BARTON CPA PLLC

Cypress, Texas

 

December 2, 2024

Exhibit 107

 

Calculation of Filing Fee Tables

 

Form S-3

(Form Type)

 

SIGNING DAY SPORTS, INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

 

Table 1: Newly Registered and Carry Forward Securities

 

		Security Type		Security Class Title		Fee Calculation or Carry Forward Rule		Amount Registered				Proposed Maximum Offering Price Per Unit				Maximum Aggregate Offering Price				Fee Rate				Amount of Registration Fee
Fees to be Paid		Equity		Shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share		Rule 457(o)			—	(1)			—	(2)			—	(2)			—				—
Fees to be Paid		Equity		Shares of preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share		Rule 457(o)			—	(1)			—	(2)			—	(2)			—				—
Fees to be Paid		Debt		Debt Securities		Rule 457(o)			—	(1)			—	(2)			—	(2)			—				—
Fees to be Paid		Equity		Warrants		Rule 457(o)			—	(1)			—	(2)			—	(2)			—				—
Fees to be Paid		Other		Subscription Rights		Rule 457(o)			—	(1)			—	(2)			—	(2)			—				—
Fees to be Paid		Other		Units		Rule 457(o)			—	(1)			—	(2)			—	(2)			—				—
Fees to be Paid		Unallocated (Universal) Shelf		Unallocated (Universal) Shelf		Rule 457(o)			—	(1)			—	(2)		$	100,000,000.00	(1)(2)			0.00015310			$	15,310.00
Fees to be Paid		Equity		Shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share(3)		Other(4)			62,500	(3)		$	6.905	(5)		$	431,562.50	(5)			0.00015310			$	66.07
		Total Offering Amounts														$	100,431,562.50							$	15,376.07
		Total Fees Previously Paid																						$	0.00
		Total Fee Offsets																						$	0.00
		Net Fee Due																						$	15,376.07

 

(1)

There are being registered hereunder such indeterminate (a) number of shares of common stock, $0.0001 par value per share (“common stock”), (b) number of shares of preferred stock, $0.0001 par value per share (“preferred stock”), (c) principal amount of debt securities, (d) number of warrants to purchase common stock, preferred stock or debt securities; (e) number of rights to purchase common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, warrants, or units, and (f) number of units consisting of common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, warrants, rights, or any combination thereof, as shall have an aggregate initial offering price not to exceed $100,000,000. If any debt securities are issued at an original issue discount, then the offering price of such debt securities shall be in such greater principal amount as shall result in an aggregate initial offering price not to exceed $100,000,000. Any securities registered hereunder may be sold separately or as units with other securities registered hereunder. The securities registered also include such indeterminate number of common stock, preferred stock, and debt securities as may be issued upon conversion, exercise or exchange of convertible, exercisable or exchangeable securities being registered hereunder or pursuant to the antidilution provisions of any such securities. In addition, pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), the securities being registered hereunder include such indeterminate number of securities as may be issuable with respect to the securities being registered hereunder as a result of stock splits, stock dividends or similar transactions.

 

(2)

The proposed maximum aggregate offering price for each class of securities will be determined from time to time by the registrant in connection with the issuance by the registrant of the securities registered hereunder and is not specified as to each class of securities pursuant to General Instruction II.F. of Form S-3 under the Securities Act.

 

(3)

Consists of 62,500 shares of common stock held by Boustead Securities, LLC.

 

(4)

Registration fee calculated pursuant to Rule 457(c) under the Securities Act.

 

(5)

Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(c) under the Securities Act, based upon the average of the high and low prices of the common stock reported by the NYSE American LLC (the “NYSE American”) on November 26, 2024.

 

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