UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC  20549

 


 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT

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

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):  February 19, 2015

 

NETLIST, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware

 

001-33170

 

95-4812784

(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation)

 

(Commission
File Number)

 

(I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number)

 

175 Technology Drive, Suite 150

Irvine, California 92618

(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

 

(949) 435-0025

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 

 



 

Item 1.01 Entry Into a Material Definitive Agreement.

 

Common Stock Offering

 

On February 19, 2015, Netlist, Inc. (the “Company”) entered into an underwriting agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) with Craig-Hallum Capital Group LLC (the “Underwriter”) in connection with a registered firm commitment underwritten public offering (the “Offering”) of 7,692,308 shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share (“Common Stock”). Subject to the terms and conditions of the Underwriting Agreement, the Company has agreed to sell to the Underwriter, and the Underwriter has agreed to purchase from the Company, an aggregate of 7,692,308 shares of Common Stock. The Underwriter has agreed to purchase the shares from the Company pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement at a price of $1.209 per share, and the price to the public is $1.30 per share.  Pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, the Company also granted the Underwriter a 30 day option to purchase up to an additional 1,153,846 shares of its common stock to cover over-allotments, if any, at a price of $1.209 per share.  The Company expects to close the sale of the Common Stock on February 24, 2015, subject to customary closing conditions.

 

The Company estimates net proceeds from the offering to be approximately $9.0 million (assuming no exercise of the underwriter’s option to purchase additional shares of Common Stock), after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the offering for general corporate purposes.

 

The shares of Common Stock have been registered pursuant to the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Registration Statement No. 333-177118) (the “Registration Statement”) previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on September 30, 2011 and declared effective by the SEC on October 18, 2011, including the preliminary prospectus supplement dated February 18, 2015 and a prospectus supplement dated February 19, 2015, to the prospectus contained in the Registration Statement dated October 18, 2011.

 

The Underwriting Agreement contains customary representations, warranties and agreements by the Company, customary conditions to closing, indemnification obligations of the Company and the Underwriter, including for liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, other obligations of the parties and termination provisions. The representations, warranties and covenants contained in the Underwriting Agreement were made only for purposes of such agreement and as of specific dates, were solely for the benefit of the parties to such agreement, and may be subject to limitations agreed upon by the contracting parties.

 

Pursuant to the terms of the Underwriting Agreement and related lock-up agreements, the Company and all of its directors and executive officers also agreed not to sell or transfer any Common Stock held by them for 90 days after February 19, 2015 without first obtaining the written consent of the Underwriter, subject to certain exceptions, extensions and terms as set forth in the Underwriting Agreement.

 

A copy of the Underwriting Agreement is filed as Exhibit 1.1 to this Current Report and is incorporated herein by reference, and the description of the terms of the Underwriting Agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference to such exhibit. The Underwriting Agreement is also filed with reference to, and is hereby incorporated by reference into, the Registration Statement.

 

Attached as Exhibit 5.1 to this Current Report and incorporated herein by reference is a copy of the opinion of Morrison & Foerster LLP relating to the validity of the shares of Common Stock that may be sold in the Offering (the “Legal Opinion”). The Legal Opinion is also filed with reference to, and is hereby incorporated by reference into, the Registration Statement.

 

Item 8.01.     Other Events.

 

On February 19, 2015, the Company issued a press release announcing the pricing of the Common Stock in the Offering.  A copy of the press release is filed as Exhibit 99.1 to this report and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

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Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d) Exhibits.

 

Exhibit No.

 

Description

1.1

 

Underwriting Agreement, dated February 19, 2015.

5.1

 

Opinion of Morrison & Foerster LLP

23.1

 

Consent of Morrison & Foerster LLP (contained in Exhibit 5.1)

99.1

 

Press Release of Netlist, Inc., dated February 19, 2015.

 

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SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

 

 

NETLIST, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dated: February 19, 2015

By:

/s/ Gail M. Sasaki

 

 

Gail M. Sasaki
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

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EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit No.

 

Description

1.1

 

Underwriting Agreement, dated February 19, 2015.

5.1

 

Opinion of Morrison & Foerster LLP

23.1

 

Consent of Morrison & Foerster LLP (contained in Exhibit 5.1)

99.1

 

Press Release of Netlist, Inc., dated February 19, 2015.

 

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Exhibit 1.1

 

EXECUTION VERSION

 

7,692,308 Shares(1)

 

NETLIST, INC.

 

Common Stock, $0.001 par value per share

 

PURCHASE AGREEMENT

 

February 19, 2015

 

CRAIG-HALLUM CAPITAL GROUP LLC

222 South 9th Street, Suite 350

Minneapolis, Minnesota  55402

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

Netlist, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) proposes to sell to Craig-Hallum Capital Group LLC (“you” or the “Underwriter”) an aggregate of 7,692,308 shares (the “Firm Shares”) of Common Stock, $0.001 par value per share (the “Common Stock”), of the Company.  The Firm Shares consist of authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock to be issued and sold by the Company.  The Company also has granted to the Underwriter an option to purchase up to 1,153,846 additional shares of Common Stock on the terms and for the purposes set forth in Section 3 hereof (the “Option Shares”).  The Firm Shares and any Option Shares purchased pursuant to this Purchase Agreement are herein collectively called the “Securities.”

 

The Company and the Underwriter hereby confirm their agreement with respect to the sale of the Securities by the Company to the Underwriter as follows:

 

1.                                      Registration Statement and Prospectus.  The Company has prepared and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) a registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-177118) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act” or  “Act”) and the rules and regulations (the “Rules and Regulations”) of the Commission thereunder, and such amendments to such registration statement as may have been required to the date of this Agreement.  Such registration statement has been declared effective by the Commission.  Each part of such registration statement, including the amendments, exhibits and any schedules thereto, the documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 under the Securities Act and the documents and information otherwise deemed to be a part thereof or included therein by Rule 430B under the Securities Act (the “Rule 430B Information”) or otherwise pursuant to the Rules and Regulations, as of the time the Registration Statement became effective, is herein called the “Registration Statement.”  Any registration statement filed by the Company pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act is called the “Rule 462(b) Registration Statement” and, from and after the date and time of filing of the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, the term “Registration Statement” shall include the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement.  The Company also has filed a

 


(1)                                 Plus an option to purchase up to 1,153,846 additional shares to cover over-allotments.

 



 

registration statement (the “New Registration Statement”) on Form S-3 (File No. 333-199446) under the Securities Act prior to the third anniversary of the initial effective date of the Registration Statement.

 

The prospectus in the form in which it has most recently been filed with the Commission on or prior to the date of this Agreement is herein called the “Base Prospectus.”  Each preliminary prospectus supplement to the Base Prospectus (including the Base Prospectus as so supplemented), that describes the Securities and the offering thereof, that omitted the Rule 430B Information and that was used prior to the filing of the final prospectus supplement referred to in the following sentence is herein called a “Preliminary Prospectus.” Promptly after execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Company will prepare and file with the Commission a final prospectus supplement to the Base Prospectus relating to the Securities and the offering thereof in accordance with the provisions Rule 430B and Rule 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations.  Such final supplemental form of prospectus (including the Base Prospectus as so supplemented), in the form filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) is herein called the “Prospectus.”  Any reference herein to the Base Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to include the documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 under the Securities Act as of the date of such prospectus.

 

For purposes of this Agreement, all references to the Registration Statement, the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing shall be deemed to include the copy filed with the Commission pursuant to its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval System or any successor system thereto (“EDGAR”).  All references in this Agreement to financial statements and schedules and other information which is “described,” “contained,” “included” or “stated” in the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus (or other references of like import) shall be deemed to mean and include all such financial statements and schedules and other information which is incorporated by reference in or otherwise deemed by the Rules and Regulations to be a part of or included in the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be; and all references in this Agreement to amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to mean and include the subsequent filing of any document under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) and which is deemed to be incorporated therein by reference therein or otherwise deemed by the Rules and Regulations to be a part thereof.

 

2.                                      Representations and Warranties of the Company.

 

(a)                                 Representations and Warranties of the Company.  The Company represents and warrants to, and agrees with, the Underwriter as follows:

 

(i)                                     Registration Statement and Prospectuses.  No order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus (or any supplement thereto) has been issued by the Commission and no proceeding for that purpose has been initiated or is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened by the Commission.  As of the time each part of the Registration Statement (or any post-effective amendment

 

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thereto) became or becomes effective (including each deemed effective date with respect to the Underwriter pursuant to Rule 430B or otherwise under the Securities Act), such part conformed or will conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Act and the Rules and Regulations.  The New Registration Statement and the prospectus included therein include at the time of filing thereof with the Commission all the information that would be required at that time in a prospectus relating to all offering(s) that it covers.  Upon the filing or first use within the meaning of the Rules and Regulations, each Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus (or any supplement to either) conformed or will conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Act and the Rules and Regulations.  The Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto has become effective under the Securities Act.  The Company has complied to the Commission’s satisfaction with all requests of the Commission for additional or supplemental information.  No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, any post-effective amendment or any part thereof is in effect and no proceedings for such purpose have been instituted or are pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, are threatened by the Commission.

 

(ii)                                  Accurate Disclosure.  Each Preliminary Prospectus, at the time of filing thereof or the time of first use within the meaning of the Rules and Regulations, did not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.  Neither the Registration Statement nor any amendment thereto, at the effective time of each part thereof, at the First Closing Date (as defined below) or at the Second Closing Date (as defined below), contained, contains or will contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted, omits or will omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading. As of the Time of Sale (as defined below), the Time of Sale Disclosure Package (as defined below) did not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. Neither the Prospectus nor any supplement thereto, as of its issue date, at the time of any filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations, at the First Closing Date or at the Second Closing, included, includes or will include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted, omits or will omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.  The representations and warranties in this Section 2(a)(ii) shall not apply to statements in or omissions from any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), the Time of Sale Disclosure Package or the Prospectus (or any supplement thereto) made in reliance upon, and in conformity with, written information furnished to the Company by you specifically for use in the preparation of such document, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by the Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 6(e).

 

Each reference to an “issuer free writing prospectus” herein means an issuer free writing prospectus as defined in Rule 433 of the Rules and Regulations.

 

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“Time of Sale Disclosure Package” means the Preliminary Prospectus dated February 18, 2015, and the information on Schedule I, all considered together.

 

Each reference to a “free writing prospectus” herein means a free writing prospectus as defined in Rule 405 of the Rules and Regulations.

 

“Time of Sale” means 7:00 am (Eastern time) on the date of this Agreement.

 

(iii)                               Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses. (A) Each issuer free writing prospectus, if any, does not include any information that conflicts with the information contained in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus.  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 you specifically for use therein; it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by the Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 6(e).

 

(B)                               (1) 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) under the Securities Act) of the Securities and (2) at the date hereof, the Company was not and is not an “ineligible issuer,” as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act, including the Company or any subsidiary in the preceding three years not having been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor or having been made the subject of a judicial or administrative decree or order as described in Rule 405 of the Rules and Regulations (without taking account of any determination by the Commission pursuant to Rule 405 of the Rules and Regulations that it is not necessary that the Company be considered an ineligible issuer), nor an “excluded issuer” as defined in Rule 164 under the Securities Act.

 

(C)                               Each issuer free writing prospectus satisfied, as of its issue date and at all subsequent times to the Time of Sale, all other conditions to use thereof as set forth in Rules 164 and 433 under the Securities Act.

 

(iv)                              No Other Offering Materials.  The Company has not distributed and will not distribute any prospectus or other offering material in connection with the offering and sale of the Securities other than any Preliminary Prospectus, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package or the Prospectus or other materials permitted by the Act to be distributed by the Company; provided, however, that the Company has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Securities that would constitute a free writing prospectus, except in accordance with the provisions of Section 4(a)(xv) of this Agreement.

 

(v)                                 Financial Statements.  The financial statements of the Company, together with the related notes, set forth or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Prospectus comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and fairly present the financial condition of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries as of the dates

 

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indicated and the results of operations and changes in cash flows for the periods therein specified in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States consistently applied throughout the periods involved; the supporting schedules included in the Registration Statement present fairly the information required to be stated therein; all non-GAAP financial information included in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Prospectus complies with the requirements of Regulation G and Item 10 of Regulation S-K under the Act; and, except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there are no material off-balance sheet arrangements (as defined in Regulation S-K under the Act, Item 303(a)(4)(ii)) or any other relationships with unconsolidated entities or other persons, that may have a material current or, to the Company’s knowledge, material future effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures, capital resources or significant components of revenue or expenses.  No other financial statements or schedules are required to be included in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package or the Prospectus.  To the Company’s knowledge, KMJ Corbin & Company LLP, which has expressed its opinion with respect to the financial statements and schedules filed as a part of the Registration Statement and included in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, is (x) an independent public accounting firm within the meaning of the Act and the Rules and Regulations, (y) a registered public accounting firm (as defined in Section 2(a)(12) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”)) and (z) not in violation of the auditor independence requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

 

(vi)                              Organization and Good Standing.  Each of the Company and its subsidiaries has been duly organized and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation. Each of the Company and its subsidiaries has full corporate power and authority to own its properties and conduct its business as currently being carried on and as described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, and is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation in good standing in each jurisdiction in which it owns or leases real property or in which the conduct of its business makes such qualification necessary and in which the failure to so qualify would have a material adverse effect upon the business, prospects, management, properties, operations, condition (financial or otherwise) or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole (“Material Adverse Effect”).

 

(vii)                           Absence of Certain Events.  Except as contemplated in the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and in the Prospectus, subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is given in the Time of Sale Disclosure Package, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has incurred any material liabilities or obligations (other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices), direct or contingent, or entered into any material transactions (other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices), or declared or paid any dividends or made any distribution of any kind with respect to its capital stock; and there has not been any change in the capital stock (other than a change in the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock due to the issuance of shares upon the exercise of outstanding options or warrants or conversion of

 

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convertible securities), or any material change in the short-term or long-term debt (other than as a result of the conversion of convertible securities), or any issuance of options, warrants, convertible securities or other rights to purchase the capital stock (other than issuances of equity compensation awards under the Company’s equity compensation plans), of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or any Material Adverse Effect or any development which could reasonably be expected to result in any Material Adverse Effect.

 

(viii)                        Absence of Proceedings.  Except as set forth in the Registration Statement, Time of Sale Disclosure Package and in the Prospectus , there is not pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened or contemplated, any action, suit or proceeding (a) to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or (b) which has as the subject thereof any officer or director of the Company or any subsidiary (in their capacity as such), any employee benefit plan sponsored by the Company or any subsidiary or any property or assets owned or leased by the Company or any subsidiary before or by any court or Governmental Authority (as defined below), or any arbitrator, which, individually or in the aggregate, might result in any Material Adverse Effect, or would materially and adversely affect the ability of the Company to perform its obligations under this Agreement or which are otherwise material in the context of the sale of the Securities.  There are no current or, to the knowledge of the Company, pending, legal, governmental or regulatory actions, suits or proceedings (x) to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject or (y) which has as the subject thereof any officer or director of the Company or any subsidiary (in their capacity as such), any employee plan sponsored by the Company or any subsidiary or any property or assets owned or leased by the Company or any subsidiary, that are required to be described in the Registration Statement, Time of Sale Disclosure Package and Prospectus by the Act or by the Rules and Regulations and that have not been so described.

 

(ix)                              Disclosure of Legal Matters. There are no statutes, regulations, contracts or documents that are required to be described in the Registration Statement, in the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and in the Prospectus or required to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement by the Securities Act or by the Rules and Regulations that have not been so described or filed.

 

(x)                                 Authorization; No Conflicts; Authority.  This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company, and constitutes a valid, legal and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as rights to indemnity hereunder may be limited by federal or state securities laws and except as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting the rights of creditors generally and subject to general principles of equity.  The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions herein contemplated will not (A) conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries pursuant to any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is bound or to which any of the property

 

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or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject, (B) result in any violation of the provisions of the Company’s charter or by-laws or (C) result in the violation of any law or statute or any judgment, order, rule, regulation or decree of any court or arbitrator or federal, state, local or foreign governmental agency or regulatory authority having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their properties or assets (each, a “Governmental Authority”), except in the case of clause (A) and (C) as would not result in a Material Adverse Effect.  No consent, approval, authorization or order of, or registration or filing with any Governmental Authority is required for the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement or for the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, including the issuance or sale of the Securities by the Company, except such as may be required under the Act, the rules of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) or state securities or blue sky laws or relating to the issuance of the Securities with the NASDAQ Stock Market; and the Company has full power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, including the authorization, issuance and sale of the Securities as contemplated by this Agreement.

 

(xi)          Capitalization; the Securities; Registration Rights.  All of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company, including the outstanding shares of Common Stock, are duly authorized and validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, have been issued in compliance with all federal and state and foreign securities laws, were not issued in violation of or subject to any preemptive rights or other rights to subscribe for or purchase securities that have not been waived in writing, and the holders thereof are not subject to personal liability by reason of being such holders; the Securities which may be sold hereunder by the Company have been duly authorized and, when issued, delivered and paid for in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, will have been validly issued and will be fully paid and nonassessable, and the holders thereof will not be subject to personal liability by reason of being such holders; and the capital stock of the Company, including the Common Stock, conforms to the description thereof in the Registration Statement, in the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and in the Prospectus.  Except for rights to participate in pro rata offerings to existing securityholders set forth in the outstanding warrants of the Company, or as otherwise stated in the Registration Statement, in the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and in the Prospectus, (A) there are no preemptive rights or other rights to subscribe for or to purchase, or any restriction upon the voting or transfer of, any shares of Common Stock pursuant to the Company’s charter, by-laws or any agreement or other instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is bound; (B) neither the filing of the Registration Statement nor the offering or sale of the Securities as contemplated by this Agreement gives rise to any rights for or relating to the registration of any shares of Common Stock or other securities of the Company (collectively “Registration Rights”) and (C) any person to whom the Company has granted Registration Rights has agreed not to exercise such rights until after expiration of the Lock-Up Period (as defined below).  All of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of each of the Company’s subsidiaries have been duly and validly authorized and issued and are fully paid and nonassessable, and, except as set forth in that certain Loan and Security Agreement, dated as of July 18, 2013, by and between the Company and Fortress Credit Opportunities I LP (an affiliate of Fortress Investment Group

 

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LLC and successor to DBD Credit Funding LLC), as amended, that certain Loan and Security Agreement, dated as of October 31, 2009, by and between the Company and Silicon Valley Bank, as amended, or otherwise described in the Registration Statement, in the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and in the Prospectus, the Company owns of record and beneficially, free and clear of any security interests, claims, liens, proxies, equities or other encumbrances, all of the issued and outstanding shares of such stock.  The Company has an authorized and outstanding capitalization as set forth in the Registration Statement, in the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and in the Prospectus.

 

(xii)         Stock Options.  Except as described in the Registration Statement, in the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and in the Prospectus, there are no options, warrants, agreements, contracts or other rights in existence to purchase or acquire from the Company or any subsidiary of the Company any shares of the capital stock of the Company or any subsidiary of the Company.  The description of the Company’s stock option, stock bonus and other stock plans or arrangements (the “Company Stock Plans”), and the options (the “Options”) or other rights granted thereunder, set forth in the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Prospectus accurately and fairly presents the information required to be shown with respect to such plans, arrangements, options and rights.  Each grant of an Option (A) was duly authorized no later than the date on which the grant of such Option was by its terms to be effective by all necessary corporate action, including, as applicable, approval by the board of directors of the Company (or a duly constituted and authorized committee thereof) and any required stockholder approval by the necessary number of votes or written consents, and the award agreement governing such grant (if any) was duly executed and delivered by each party thereto and (B) was made in accordance with the terms of the applicable Company Stock Plan, and all applicable laws and regulatory rules or requirements, including all applicable federal securities laws.

 

(xiii)        Compliance with Laws.  To the Company’s knowledge, the Company and each of its subsidiaries holds, and is operating in compliance in all material respects with, all franchises, grants, authorizations, licenses, permits, easements, consents, certificates and orders of any Governmental Authority or self-regulatory body required for the conduct of its business and all such franchises, grants, authorizations, licenses, permits, easements, consents, certifications and orders are valid and in full force and effect; and neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received notice of any revocation or modification of any such franchise, grant, authorization, license, permit, easement, consent, certification or order or has reason to believe that any such franchise, grant, authorization, license, permit, easement, consent, certification or order will not be renewed in the ordinary course; and the Company and each of its subsidiaries is in compliance in all material respects with all applicable federal, state, local and foreign laws, regulations, orders and decrees.

 

(xiv)        Ownership of Assets.  The Company and its subsidiaries have good and marketable title to all property (whether real or personal) described in the Registration Statement, in the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and in the Prospectus as being owned by them, in each case free and clear of all liens, claims, security interests, other encumbrances or defects except such as are not material to the Company or are described in the

 

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Registration Statement, in the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and in the Prospectus.  The property held under lease by the Company and its subsidiaries is held by them under valid, subsisting and enforceable leases with only such exceptions with respect to any particular lease as do not interfere in any material respect with the conduct of the business of the Company or its subsidiaries.

 

(xv)         Intellectual Property.

 

(A)          The Company and each of its subsidiaries owns, possesses, has a valid license to use, or can acquire on reasonable terms, all Intellectual Property necessary for the conduct of the Company’s and its subsidiaries’ business as now conducted or as described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Prospectus to be conducted, except as such failure to own, possess, license or acquire such rights would not result in a Material Adverse Effect.  “Intellectual Property” means all patents, patent applications, trade and service marks, trade and service mark registrations, trade names, copyrights, licenses, inventions, trade secrets, domain names, technology, know-how and other intellectual property.

 

(B)          Except as described in the Registration Statement, in the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and in the Prospectus, (1) to the knowledge of the Company, there is no infringement, misappropriation or violation by third parties of any such Intellectual Property; (2) there is no pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened, action, suit, proceeding or claim by others challenging the Company’s or any of its subsidiaries’ rights in or to any such Intellectual Property, and the Company is unaware of any facts which would form a reasonable basis for any such claim; (3) the Intellectual Property owned by the Company and its subsidiaries, and to the knowledge of the Company, the Intellectual Property licensed to the Company and its subsidiaries, has not been adjudged invalid or unenforceable, in whole or in part, and there is no pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened action, suit, proceeding or claim by others challenging the validity or scope of any such Intellectual Property, and the Company is unaware of any facts which would form a reasonable basis for any such claim; (4) there is no pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened action, suit, proceeding or claim by others that the Company or any of its subsidiaries infringes, misappropriates or otherwise violates any Intellectual Property or other proprietary rights of others, neither the Company or any of its subsidiaries has received any written notice of such claim and the Company is unaware of any other fact which would form a reasonable basis for any such claim; and (5) to the Company’s knowledge, no employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is in or has ever been in violation of any term of any employment contract, patent disclosure agreement, invention assignment agreement, non-competition agreement, non-solicitation agreement, nondisclosure agreement or any restrictive covenant to or with a former employer where the basis of such violation relates to such employee’s employment with the Company nor any of its subsidiaries or actions undertaken by the employee while employed

 

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with the Company or any of its subsidiaries, except as such violation would not result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(C)          The Company and its subsidiaries have taken reasonable security measures to protect the secrecy, confidentiality and value of all of their Intellectual Property, except where failure to do so would not result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(D)          All patent applications owned by the Company or its subsidiaries and filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (the “PTO”) or any foreign or international patent authority that have resulted in patents or currently pending applications that describe inventions necessary to conduct the business of the Company or its subsidiaries in the manner described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (collectively, the “Company Patent Applications”) have been or were duly and properly filed.

 

(E)           The Company and its subsidiaries have complied in all material respects with their duty of candor and disclosure to the PTO for the Company Patent Applications. To the Company’s knowledge, there are no facts required to be disclosed to the PTO that were not disclosed to the PTO and which would preclude the grant of a patent for the Company Patent Applications.  The Company has no knowledge of any facts which would preclude it from having clear title to the Company Patent Applications that have been identified by the Company as being exclusively owned by the Company.

 

(xvi)        No Violations or Defaults.  Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in violation of its respective charter, by-laws or other organizational documents, or in breach of or otherwise in default, and no event has occurred which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute such a default in the performance of any obligation, agreement or condition contained in any bond, debenture, note, indenture, loan agreement or any other contract, lease or other instrument to which it is subject or by which any of them may be bound, or to which any of the property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject, which would result in result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(xvii)       Taxes.  The Company and its subsidiaries have timely filed all federal, state, local and foreign income and franchise tax returns required to be filed and are not in default in the payment of any material taxes which were payable pursuant to said returns or any assessments with respect thereto, other than any which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is contesting in good faith.  There is no pending dispute with any taxing authority relating to any of such returns, and the Company has no knowledge of any liability for any tax to be imposed upon the properties or assets of the Company for which there is not an adequate reserve reflected in the Company’s financial statements included in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

 

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(xviii)      Exchange Listing and Exchange Act Registration.  The Common Stock is registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and is included or approved for listing on the NASDAQ Global Market and, except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Company has taken no action designed to, or likely to have the effect of, terminating the registration of the Common Stock under the Exchange Act or delisting the Common Stock from the NASDAQ Global Market nor, except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, has the Company received any notification that the Commission or the NASDAQ Global Market is contemplating terminating such registration or listing. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Company has complied in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the NASDAQ Global Market for maintenance of inclusion of the Common Stock thereon. The Company has filed an application to include the Securities on the NASDAQ Global Market.  Except as previously disclosed to counsel for the Underwriter or as set forth in the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, to the knowledge of the Company, no beneficial owners of the Company’s capital stock or subordinated debt who, together with their associated persons and affiliates, hold in the aggregate 10% or more of such capital stock or subordinated debt, have any direct or indirect association or affiliate with a FINRA member.

 

(xix)        Ownership of Other Entities.  Other than the subsidiaries of the Company listed in Exhibit 21.1 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 28, 2013, the Company, directly or indirectly, owns no capital stock or other equity or ownership or proprietary interest in any corporation, partnership, association, trust or other entity.

 

(xx)         Internal Controls.  The Company and its subsidiaries maintain a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States and to maintain accountability for assets; (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 existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences.  Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, in the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and in the Prospectus, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting is effective and none of the Company, its board of directors and audit committee is aware of any “significant deficiencies” or “material weaknesses” (each as defined by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board) in its internal control over financial reporting, or any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees of the Company or its subsidiaries who have a significant role in the Company’s internal controls; and since the end of the latest audited fiscal year, there has been no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (whether or not remediated) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.  The Company’s board of directors has, subject to the exceptions, cure periods and the phase in periods

 

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specified in the applicable stock exchange rules (“Exchange Rules”), validly appointed an audit committee to oversee internal accounting controls whose composition satisfies the applicable requirements of the Exchange Rules and the Company’s board of directors and/or the audit committee has adopted a charter that satisfies the requirements of the Exchange Rules.

 

(xxi)        No Brokers or Finders.  Other than as contemplated by this Agreement, the Company has not incurred any liability for any finder’s or broker’s fee or agent’s commission in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

(xxii)       Insurance.  The Company and each of its subsidiaries carries, or is covered by, insurance from reputable insurers in such amounts and covering such risks as is adequate for the conduct of its business and the value of its properties and as is customary for companies engaged in similar businesses in similar industries; all policies of insurance and any fidelity or surety bonds insuring the Company or any of its subsidiaries or its business, assets, employees, officers and directors are in full force and effect; the Company and its subsidiaries are in compliance with the terms of such policies and instruments in all material respects; there are no claims by the Company or any of its subsidiaries under any such policy or instrument as to which any insurance company is denying liability or defending under a reservation of rights clause; neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has been refused any insurance coverage sought or applied for; and neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has reason to believe that it will not be able to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business at a cost that would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(xxiii)      Investment Company Act.  The Company is not and, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Securities, will not be an “investment company,” as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

 

(xxiv)     Eligibility to use Form S-3.  The conditions for use of Form S-3 in connection with the offer and sale of the Securities, as set forth in the General Instructions thereto, have been satisfied.

 

(xxv)      Incorporated Documents.  The documents incorporated by reference in the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and in the Prospectus, when they became effective or were filed with the Commission, as the case may be, conformed in all material respects to the requirements of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, as applicable, and were filed on a timely basis with the Commission (except to the extent such untimely filing did not affect the Company’s eligibility to use Form S-3) and none of such documents contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; any further documents so filed and incorporated by reference in the Time of Sale Disclosure Package or in the Prospectus, when such documents are filed with the Commission, will conform in all material

 

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respects to the requirements of the Exchange Act, and will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

 

(xxvi)                Sarbanes-Oxley Act.  The Company is in compliance with all applicable provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

 

(xxvii)             Disclosure Controls.  The Company has established and maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14 under the Exchange Act) and such controls and procedures are effective in ensuring that material information relating to the Company, including its subsidiaries, is made known to the principal executive officer and the principal financial officer.  The Company has utilized such controls and procedures in preparing and evaluating the disclosures in the Registration Statement, in the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and in the Prospectus.

 

(xxviii)          Anti-Bribery and Anti-Money Laundering Laws.  Each of the Company, its subsidiaries, and any of their respective officers, directors, supervisors, managers, agents, or employees (in their capacity as such), has not violated, its participation in the offering will not violate, and the Company and each of its subsidiaries has instituted and maintains policies and procedures designed to ensure continued compliance with, each of the following laws:  anti-bribery laws, including but not limited to, any applicable law, rule, or regulation of any locality, including but not limited to any law, rule, or regulation promulgated to implement the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions, signed December 17, 1997, including the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, the U.K. Bribery Act 2010, or any other law, rule or regulation of similar purposes and scope, or anti-money laundering laws, including but not limited to, applicable federal, state, international, foreign or other laws, regulations or government guidance regarding anti-money laundering, including, without limitation, Title 18 US. Code section 1956 and 1957, the Patriot Act, the Bank Secrecy Act, and international anti-money laundering principles or procedures by an intergovernmental group or organization, such as the Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering, of which the United States is a member and with which designation the United States representative to the group or organization continues to concur, all as amended, and any Executive order, directive, or regulation pursuant to the authority of any of the foregoing, or any orders or licenses issued thereunder.

 

(xxix)                OFAC.

 

(A)                               Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries, nor any or their directors, officers or employees, nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any agent, affiliate or representative 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:

 

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(1)                                 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, Her Majesty’s Treasury, or other relevant sanctions authority (collectively, Sanctions”), nor

 

(2)                                 located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is the subject of Sanctions (including, without limitation, Burma/Myanmar, Cuba, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Sudan and Syria).

 

(B)                               Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries will, directly or indirectly, use the proceeds of the offering, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other individual or entity:

 

(1)                                 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

 

(2)                                 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 offering, whether as underwriter, advisor, investor or otherwise).

 

(C)                               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.

 

(xxx)                   Compliance with Environmental Laws.  Except as disclosed in the Time of Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in violation of any statute, any rule, regulation, decision or order of any Governmental Authority or any court, domestic or foreign, relating to the use, disposal or release of hazardous or toxic substances or relating to the protection or restoration of the environment or human exposure to hazardous or toxic substances (collectively, “Environmental Laws”), owns or operates any real property contaminated with any substance that is subject to any Environmental Laws, is liable for any off-site disposal or contamination pursuant to any Environmental Laws, or is subject to any claim relating to any Environmental Laws, which violation, contamination,  liability or claim would individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect; and the Company is not aware of any pending investigation which might lead to such a claim.  Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries anticipates incurring any material capital expenditures relating to compliance with Environmental Laws.

 

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(xxxi)                Compliance with Occupational Laws.  To its knowledge, the Company and each of its subsidiaries (A) is in compliance, in all material respects, with any and all applicable foreign, federal, state and local laws, rules, regulations, treaties, statutes and codes promulgated by any and all Governmental Authorities (including pursuant to the Occupational Health and Safety Act) relating to the protection of human health and safety in the workplace (“Occupational Laws”); (B) has received all material permits, licenses or other approvals required of it under applicable Occupational Laws to conduct its business as currently conducted; and (C) is in compliance, in all material respects, with all terms and conditions of such permit, license or approval.  No material action, proceeding, revocation proceeding, writ, injunction or claim is pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened against the Company or any of its subsidiaries relating to Occupational Laws, and the Company does not have knowledge of any facts, circumstances or developments relating to its operations or cost accounting practices that could reasonably be expected to form the basis for or give rise to such actions, suits, investigations or proceedings.

 

(xxxii)             ERISA and Employee Benefits Matters. (A) To the knowledge of the Company, no “prohibited transaction” as defined under Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code and not exempt under ERISA Section 408 and the regulations and published interpretations thereunder has occurred with respect to any Employee Benefit Plan.  At no time has the Company or any ERISA Affiliate maintained, sponsored, participated in, contributed to or has or had any liability or obligation in respect of any Employee Benefit Plan subject to Part 3 of Subtitle B of Title I of ERISA, Title IV of ERISA, or Section 412 of the Code or any “multiemployer plan” as defined in Section 3(37) of ERISA or any multiple employer plan for which the Company or any ERISA Affiliate has incurred or could incur liability under Section 4063 or 4064 of ERISA.  No Employee Benefit Plan provides or promises, or at any time provided or promised, retiree health, life insurance, or other retiree welfare benefits except as may be required by the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended, or similar state law.  Each Employee Benefit Plan is and has been operated in material compliance with its terms and all applicable laws, including but not limited to ERISA and the Code and, to the knowledge of the Company, no event has occurred (including a “reportable event” as such term is defined in Section 4043 of ERISA) and no condition exists that would subject the Company or any ERISA Affiliate to any material tax, fine, lien, penalty or liability imposed by ERISA, the Code or other applicable law.  Each Employee Benefit Plan intended to be qualified under Code Section 401(a) is so qualified and has a favorable determination or opinion letter from the IRS upon which it can rely, and any such determination or opinion letter remains in effect and has not been revoked; to the knowledge of the Company, nothing has occurred since the date of any such determination or opinion letter that is reasonably likely to adversely affect such qualification; (B) with respect to each Foreign Benefit Plan, such Foreign Benefit Plan (1) if intended to qualify for special tax treatment, meets, in all material respects, the requirements for such treatment, and (2) if required to be funded, is funded to the extent required by applicable law, and with respect to all other Foreign Benefit Plans, adequate reserves therefor have been established on the accounting statements of the applicable Company or subsidiary; (C) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has any

 

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obligations under any collective bargaining agreement with any union and no organization efforts are underway with respect to employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries.  As used in this Agreement, “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended; “Employee Benefit Plan” means any “employee benefit plan” within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA, including, without limitation, all stock purchase, stock option, stock-based severance, employment, change-in-control, medical, disability, fringe benefit, bonus, incentive, deferred compensation, employee loan and all other employee benefit plans, agreements, programs, policies or other arrangements, whether or not subject to ERISA, under which (1) any current or former employee, director or independent contractor of the Company or its subsidiaries has any present or future right to benefits and which are contributed to, sponsored by or maintained by the Company or any of its respective subsidiaries or (2) the Company or any of its subsidiaries has had or has any present or future obligation or liability; “ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended; “ERISA Affiliate” means any member of the company’s controlled group as defined in Code Section 414(b), (c), (m) or (o); and “Foreign Benefit Plan” means any Employee Benefit Plan established, maintained or contributed to outside of the United States of America or which covers any employee working or residing outside of the United States.

 

(xxxiii)          Business Arrangements.  Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or as otherwise entered into in the ordinary course of business, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has granted exclusive rights to develop, manufacture, produce, assemble, distribute, license, market or sell its products to any other person and is not bound by any agreement that affects the exclusive right of the Company or such subsidiary to develop, manufacture, produce, assemble, distribute, license, market or sell its products (other than agreements granting third parties non-exclusive rights relating to the foregoing).

 

(xxxiv)         Labor Matters.  No labor problem or dispute with the employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries exists or is threatened or imminent, and the Company is not aware of any existing or imminent labor disturbance by the employees of any of its or its subsidiaries’ principal suppliers, contractors or customers, that could have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(xxxv)            Restrictions on Subsidiary Payments to the Company.  No subsidiary of the Company is currently prohibited, directly or indirectly, from paying any dividends to the Company, from making any other distribution on such subsidiary’s capital stock, from repaying to the Company any loans or advances to such subsidiary from the Company or from transferring any of such subsidiary’s property or assets to the Company or any other subsidiary of the Company, except as provided by applicable law or as described in or contemplated by the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

 

(xxxvi)         Statistical Information.  Any third-party statistical and market-related data included in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package

 

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and the Prospectus are based on or derived from sources that the Company believes to be reliable and accurate in all material respects.

 

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

 

(b)                                 Effect of Certificates.  Any certificate signed by any officer of the Company and delivered to you or to counsel for the Underwriter shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Company to the Underwriter as to the matters covered thereby.

 

3.                                      Purchase, Sale and Delivery of Securities.

 

(a)                                 Firm Shares.  On the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements herein contained, but subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company agrees to issue and sell the Firm Shares to the Underwriter, and the Underwriter agrees to purchase from the Company the Firm Shares.  The purchase price for each Firm Share shall be $1.209 per share.

 

The Firm Shares will be delivered by the Company to you against payment of the purchase price therefor by wire transfer of same day funds payable to the order of the Company at the offices of Craig-Hallum Capital Group LLC, 222 South 9th Street, Suite 350, Minneapolis, Minnesota, or such other location as may be mutually acceptable, at 9:00 a.m. Central time on the third (or if the Securities are priced, as contemplated by Rule 15c6-1(c) under the Exchange Act, after 4:30 p.m. Eastern time, the fourth) full business day following the date hereof, or at such other time and date as you and the Company determine pursuant to Rule 15c6-1(a) under the Exchange Act, such time and date of delivery being herein referred to as the “First Closing Date.”

 

(b)                                 Option Shares.  On the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements herein contained, but subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company hereby grants to the Underwriter an option to purchase all or any portion of the Option Shares at the same purchase price as the Firm Shares, for use solely in covering any over-allotments made by the Underwriter in the sale and distribution of the Firm Shares.  The option granted hereunder may be exercised in whole or in part at any time (but not more than once) within 30 days after the effective date of this Agreement upon notice (confirmed in writing) by the Underwriter to the Company (the “Option Notice”) setting forth the aggregate number of Option Shares as to which the Underwriter is exercising the option, the names and denominations in which the certificates for the Option Shares are to be registered and the date and time, as determined by you, when the Option Shares are to be delivered, such time and date being herein referred to as the “Second Closing” and “Second Closing Date”, respectively; provided, however, that the Second Closing Date shall not be earlier than the First Closing Date nor earlier than the third business day after receipt of the Option Notice by the Company, provided that if the Option Notice is received by the Company two business days prior to the First Closing Date it shall be deemed timely.  No Option Shares shall be sold and delivered unless the Firm Shares previously have been, or simultaneously are, sold and delivered.

 

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The Option Shares will be delivered by the Company to you against payment of the purchase price therefor by wire transfer of same day funds payable to the order of the Company at the offices of Craig-Hallum Capital Group LLC, 222 South 9th Street, Suite 350, Minneapolis, Minnesota, or such other location as may be mutually acceptable at 9:00 a.m., Central time, on the Second Closing Date.

 

(c)                                  Delivery.  If the Underwriter so elects, delivery of the Firm Shares or the Option Shares may be made by credit through full fast transfer to the accounts at The Depository Trust Company designated by the Underwriter.  Certificates representing the Firm Shares and the Option Shares in definitive form and in such denominations and registered in such names as you have set forth in your notice of option exercise, or evidence of their issuance, will be made available for checking at a reasonable time preceding the First Closing Date or the Second Closing Date, as applicable, at the office of Craig-Hallum Capital Group LLC, 222 South 9th Street, Suite 350, Minneapolis, Minnesota, or such other location as may be mutually acceptable.

 

4.                                      Covenants.

 

(a)                                 Covenants of the Company.  The Company covenants and agrees with the Underwriter as follows:

 

(i)                                     Required Filings.  During the period beginning on the date hereof and ending on the later of the Second Closing Date or such date, as in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriter, the Prospectus is no longer required by law to be delivered (assuming the absence of Rule 172 under the Securities Act), in connection with sales by the Underwriter or a dealer (the Prospectus Delivery Period”), prior to amending or supplementing the Registration Statement (including any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement), the Time of Sale Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, the Company shall furnish to the Underwriter for review a copy of each such proposed amendment or supplement, and the Company shall not file any such proposed amendment or supplement to which the Underwriter or counsel to the Underwriter reasonably object; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not restrict the Company from filing any such proposed amendment or supplement to the extent the Company, upon advice of counsel, deems such proposed amendment or supplement necessary to comply with applicable law.  Subject to this Section 4(a)(i), immediately following execution of this Agreement, the Company will prepare the Prospectus containing the Rule 430B Information and other selling terms of the Securities, the plan of distribution thereof and such other information as may be required by the Securities Act or the Rules and Regulations or as the Underwriter and the Company may deem appropriate and will file or transmit for filing with the Commission, in accordance with Rule 424(b) or Rule 433, as the case may be, copies of the Prospectus.

 

(ii)                                  Notification of Certain Commission Actions.  After the date of this Agreement, the Company shall promptly advise the Underwriter in writing (A) of the receipt of any comments of, or requests for additional or supplemental information from, the Commission, (B) of the time and date of any filing of any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to any Preliminary Prospectus, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, (C) of the time and date that any post-

 

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effective amendment to the Registration Statement becomes effective, (D) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto or of any order preventing or suspending its use or the use of any Preliminary Prospectus, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package, the Prospectus or any issuer free writing prospectus, or (E) of any proceedings to remove, suspend or terminate from listing or quotation the Common Stock from any securities exchange upon which it is listed for trading or included or designated for quotation, or of the threatening or initiation of any proceedings for any of such purposes.  If the Commission shall enter any such stop order at any time, the Company will use its best efforts to obtain the lifting of such order at the earliest possible moment.  Additionally, the Company agrees that it shall comply with the provisions of Rules 424(b), 430A and 430B, as applicable, under the Securities Act and will use its reasonable efforts to confirm that any filings made by the Company under Rule 424(b), Rule 433 or Rule 462 were received in a timely manner by the Commission (without reliance on Rule 424(b)(8) or Rule 164(b)).

 

(iii)                               Continued Compliance with Securities Laws.  (A)  During the Prospectus Delivery Period, the Company will comply as far as it is able with all requirements imposed upon it by the Securities Act, as now and hereafter amended, and by the Rules and Regulations, as from time to time in force, and by the Exchange Act so far as necessary to permit the continuance of sales of or dealings in the Securities as contemplated by the provisions hereof, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.  If during such period any event occurs as a result of which the Prospectus (or if the Prospectus is not yet available to prospective purchasers, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package) would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances then existing, not misleading, or if during such period it is necessary to amend the Registration Statement or supplement the Prospectus (or, if the Prospectus is not yet available to prospective purchasers, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package) to comply with the Securities Act or to file under the Exchange Act any document which would be deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Prospectus in order to comply with the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, the Company promptly will (x) notify you of such untrue statement or omission, (y) amend the Registration Statement or supplement the Prospectus (or, if the Prospectus is not yet available to prospective purchasers, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package) or file such document (at the expense of the Company) so as to correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance, and (z) notify you when any amendment to the Registration Statement is filed or becomes effective or when any supplement to the Prospectus (or, if the Prospectus is not yet available to prospective purchasers, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package) is filed.

 

(B)                               If at any time following issuance of an issuer free writing prospectus there occurred or occurs an event or development as a result of which such issuer free writing prospectus conflicted or would conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or included or would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or would omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances prevailing at that subsequent time, not misleading, the Company (x) has promptly notified or

 

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promptly will notify the Underwriter of such conflict, untrue statement or omission, (y) has promptly amended or will promptly amend or supplement, at its own expense, such issuer free writing prospectus to eliminate or correct such conflict, untrue statement or omission, and (z) has notified or promptly will notify you when such amendment or supplement was or is filed with the Commission where so required to be filed.

 

(C)                               The Company shall not take any action to have the New Registration Statement declared effective by the Commission prior to the later of the day following (x) the Second Closing Date and (y) the date on which the Underwriter’s over-allotment option to purchase the Option Shares expires pursuant to the term of this Agreement.

 

(iv)                              Blue Sky Qualifications.  The Company shall take or cause to be taken all necessary action to qualify the Securities for sale under the securities laws of such jurisdictions as you reasonably designate and to continue such qualifications in effect so long as required for the distribution of the Securities, except that the Company shall not be required in connection therewith to qualify as a foreign corporation or to execute a general consent to service of process in any state.  The parties acknowledge and agree that to the extent that the Securities qualify as Covered Securities (as defined under Section 18 of the Securities Act), no such actions shall be required with respect to the qualification of the Securities in any state.

 

(v)                                 Provision of Documents.  The Company will furnish or make available via EDGAR, at its own expense, to the Underwriter and counsel for the Underwriter copies of the Registration Statement.  The Company will furnish, at its own expense,  to the Underwriter and any dealer each Preliminary Prospectus, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package, the Prospectus, any issuer free writing prospectus, and all amendments and supplements to such documents, in each case as soon as available and in such quantities as you may from time to time reasonably request.

 

(vi)                              Rule 158.  The Company will make generally available to its security holders as soon as practicable, but in no event later than 15 months after the end of the Company’s current fiscal quarter, an earnings statement (which need not be audited) covering a 12-month period that shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 of the Rules and Regulations.

 

(vii)                           Payment and Reimbursement of Expenses.  The Company, whether or not the transactions contemplated hereunder are consummated or this Agreement is terminated, will pay or cause to be paid (A) all expenses (including transfer taxes allocated to the respective transferees) incurred in connection with the delivery to the Underwriter of the Securities, (B) all expenses and fees (including, without limitation, fees and expenses of the Company’s accountants and counsel but, except as otherwise provided in (H) below, not including fees of the Underwriter or Underwriter’s counsel) in connection with the preparation, printing, filing, delivery, and shipping of the Registration Statement (including the financial statements therein and all amendments, schedules, and exhibits thereto), the Securities, each Preliminary Prospectus, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package, the Prospectus, any issuer free writing prospectus and any amendment thereof or supplement

 

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thereto, and the printing, delivery, and shipping of this Agreement and other underwriting documents, including Blue Sky Memoranda (covering the states and other applicable jurisdictions), (C) all reasonable filing fees incurred in connection with the qualification of the Securities for offering and sale by the Underwriter or by dealers under the securities or blue sky laws of the states and other jurisdictions which you shall designate, (D) the fees and expenses of the transfer agent or registrar, (E) the filing fees incident to any required review and approval by FINRA of the terms of the sale of the Securities, (F) listing fees, if any, (G) the cost and expenses of the Company relating to investor presentations or any “roadshow” undertaken in connection with marketing of the Securities, (H) all reasonable, out-of-pocket, accountable expenses of the Underwriter (including but not limited to reasonable fees and disbursements of the Underwriter’s counsel and the Underwriter’s reasonable travel, database, printing, postage, facsimile and telephone expenses) incurred in connection with the Underwriter’s investigation of the Company, preparing to market and marketing the Securities, sale of the Securities or in contemplation of performing its obligations hereunder, which amount will not exceed $75,000 without the Company’s consent, and (I) all other costs and expenses of the Company incident to the performance of its obligations hereunder that are not otherwise specifically provided for herein.

 

(viii)                        Use of Proceeds.  The Company will apply the net proceeds from the sale of the Securities to be sold by it hereunder for the purposes set forth in the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and in the Prospectus.

 

(ix)                              Company Lock Up.  The Company will not, without the prior written consent of the Underwriter, from the date of execution of this Agreement and continuing to and including the date 90 days after the date of the Prospectus (the “Lock-Up Period”), (A) offer, pledge, announce the intention to sell, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock or (B) enter into any swap or other agreement that transfers, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the Common Stock, whether any such transaction described in clause (A) or (B) above is to be settled by delivery of Common Stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise, except, in each case, for (x) the sale of the Securities as contemplated by this Agreement, (y) issuances of shares of Common Stock upon the exercise or conversion of Options, warrants or convertible securities outstanding as of the date of this Agreement, and (z) the issuance of employee stock options not exercisable during the Lock-Up Period pursuant to the Company Stock Plans as in effect on the date hereof in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices.  The Company agrees not to accelerate the vesting of any option or warrant or the lapse of any repurchase right prior to the expiration of the Lock-Up Period.  If (1) during the last 17 days of the Lock-Up Period, (a) the Company issues an earnings release, (b) the Company publicly announces material news or (c) a material event relating to the Company occurs; or (2) prior to the expiration of the Lock-Up Period, the Company announces that it will release earnings results during the 16-day period beginning on the last day of the Lock-Up Period, then the restrictions in this Agreement, unless otherwise waived by the Underwriter in writing, shall continue to apply until the expiration of the date that is 18 calendar days after

 

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the date on which (a) the Company issues the earnings release, (b) the Company publicly announces material news or (c) a material event relating to the Company occurs.  The Company will provide the Underwriter and each shareholder subject to the Lock-Up Agreement (as defined below) with prior notice of any such announcement that gives rise to the extension of the Lock-Up Period.

 

(x)                                 Stockholder Lock-Ups.  The Company has caused to be delivered to you prior to the date of this Agreement a letter, in the form of Exhibit A hereto (the “Lock-Up Agreement”), from each individual listed on Schedule II.  The Company will enforce the terms of each Lock-Up Agreement and issue stop-transfer instructions to the transfer agent for the Common Stock with respect to any transaction or contemplated transaction that would constitute a breach of or default under the applicable Lock-Up Agreement.

 

(xi)                              No Market Stabilization or Manipulation.  The Company has not taken and will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or which might reasonably be expected to cause or result in, or which has constituted, the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities.

 

(xii)                           SEC Reports.  During the Prospectus Delivery Period, the Company will file on a timely basis with the Commission such periodic and special reports as required by the Rules and Regulations.

 

(xiii)                        Internal Controls.  The Company and its subsidiaries will maintain such controls and other procedures, including without limitation those required by Sections 302 and 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the applicable regulations thereunder, that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that 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, including without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its principal executive officer and its principal financial officer, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure, to ensure that material information relating to Company, including its subsidiaries, is made known to them by others within those entities.

 

(xiv)                       Sarbanes-Oxley.  The Company will comply with all applicable provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

 

(xv)                          Free Writing Prospectuses.  The Company represents and agrees that, unless it obtains the prior written consent of the Underwriter, it has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Securities that would constitute an issuer free writing prospectus or that would otherwise constitute a free writing prospectus required to be filed with the Commission.  Any such free writing prospectus consented to by the

 

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Underwriter is hereinafter referred to as a “Permitted Free Writing Prospectus.”  The Company represents that it has treated or agrees that it will treat each Permitted Free Writing Prospectus as an issuer free writing prospectus and has complied and will comply with the requirements of Rule 164 and Rule 433 applicable to any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus.

 

(xvi)                       Future Services.  If within six months after the First Closing Date, the Company determines to undertake any public or private offering of securities, whether on its own behalf or on behalf of its stockholders, for the primary purpose of financing (other than to financial institutions, lessors or similar parties in connection with commercial credit arrangements, equipment financings, commercial property lease transactions or similar transactions), then the Company will offer the Underwriter the right to serve as exclusive placement agent (in the case of a private offering) or sole underwriter (in the case of a public offering). If the Underwriter agrees to act in such capacity, then the Company and the Underwriter will enter into an appropriate form of separate agreement containing customary terms and conditions to be mutually agreed upon. This Section 4(a)(xvi) is neither an expressed nor implied commitment by the Underwriter to act in any capacity in any such transaction or to purchase any securities in connection therewith, which commitment will only be set forth in a separate agreement.  The Underwriter acknowledges that, in accordance with FINRA Rule 5110(f)(2)(F)(ii), it may not waive or terminate the right of first refusal provided for this paragraph more than once in consideration of any payment or fee.

 

(b)                                 Covenants of the Underwriter.  The Underwriter covenants and agrees with the Company that the Underwriter will offer for sale to the public, as described in the Prospectus, the Securities as soon after this Agreement has been executed by the Underwriter as the Underwriter has determined is advisable and practicable.

 

5.                                      Conditions of Underwriter’s Obligations.  The obligations of the Underwriter hereunder are subject to the accuracy, as of the date hereof and at each of the First Closing Date and the Second Closing Date (as if made at such Closing Date), of and compliance with all representations, warranties and agreements of the Company contained herein, to the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder and to the following additional conditions:

 

(a)                                 Required Filings; Absence of Certain Commission Actions.  If filing of the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or any issuer free writing prospectus, is required under the Securities Act or the Rules and Regulations, the Company shall have filed the Prospectus (or such amendment or supplement) or such issuer free writing prospectus with the Commission in the manner and within the time period so required (without reliance on Rule 424(b)(8) or Rule 164(b)); the Registration Statement shall remain effective; no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any part thereof, any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, or any amendment thereof, nor suspending or preventing the use of the Time of Sale Disclosure Package, the Prospectus or any issuer free writing prospectus shall have been issued; no proceedings for the issuance of such an order shall have been initiated or threatened; any request of the Commission for additional information (to be included in the Registration

 

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Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package, the Prospectus, any issuer free writing prospectus or otherwise) shall have been complied with.

 

(b)                                 Continued Compliance with Securities Laws.  You shall not have advised the Company that (i) the Registration Statement or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto contains an untrue statement of a material fact which, in your reasonable good faith opinion, is material or omits to state a material fact which, in your reasonable good faith opinion, is required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or (ii) the Time of Sale Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, or any issuer free writing prospectus contains an untrue statement of fact which, in your reasonable good faith opinion, is material, or omits to state a fact which, in your reasonable good faith opinion, is material and is required to be stated therein, or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading.

 

(c)                                  Absence of Certain Events.  Except as contemplated in the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and in the Prospectus, subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is given in the Time of Sale Disclosure Package, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries shall have incurred any material liabilities or obligations (other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices), direct or contingent, or entered into any material transactions (other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices), or declared or paid any dividends or made any distribution of any kind with respect to its capital stock; and there shall not have been any change in the capital stock (other than a change in the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock due to the issuance of shares upon the exercise of outstanding options or warrants or conversion of convertible securities), or any material change in the short-term or long-term debt of the Company (other than as a result of the conversion of convertible securities), or any issuance of options, warrants, convertible securities or other rights to purchase the capital stock of the Company or any of its subsidiaries (other than pursuant to Company Stock Plans in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices), or any Material Adverse Effect or any development which could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, which, in your reasonable good faith judgment, makes it impractical or inadvisable to offer or deliver the Securities on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and in the Prospectus.

 

(d)                                 Opinion of Company Counsel.  On each Closing Date, there shall have been furnished to you the opinion of Morrison & Foerster LLP, special counsel for the Company, dated such Closing Date and addressed to you in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit B.

 

(e)                                  Opinion of IP Counsel.  On each Closing Date, there shall have been furnished to you the opinion of Noel Whitley, dated such Closing Date and addressed to you in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit C.

 

(f)                                   Opinion of Underwriter’s Counsel.  On each Closing Date, there shall have been furnished to you such opinion or opinions from Faegre Baker Daniels LLP, counsel for the Underwriter, dated such Closing Date and addressed to you, with respect to the formation of the Company, the validity of the Securities, the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package, the Prospectus and other related matters as you reasonably may request, and such counsel

 

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shall have received such papers and information as they request to enable them to pass upon such matters.

 

(g)                                  Comfort Letter.  On the date hereof, on the effective date of any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement filed after the date hereof and on each Closing Date you shall have received an accountant’s “comfort” letter of KMJ Corbin & Company LLP, dated such date and addressed to you, in form and substance satisfactory to you.

 

(h)                                 Officers’ Certificate.  On each Closing Date, there shall have been furnished to you a certificate, dated such Closing Date and addressed to you, signed by the chief executive officer and by the chief financial officer of the Company, to the effect that:

 

(i)                                     The representations and warranties of the Company in this Agreement are true and correct as if made at and as of such Closing 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 Closing Date;

 

(ii)                                  No stop order or other order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any part thereof or any amendment thereof or the qualification of the Securities for offering or sale nor suspending or preventing the use of the Time of Sale Disclosure Package, the Prospectus or any issuer free writing prospectus, has been issued, and no proceeding for that purpose has been instituted or, to the best of their knowledge, is contemplated by the Commission or any state or regulatory body; and

 

(iii)                               Affirms the accuracy of the matters set forth in subsection (c) of this Section 5.

 

(i)                                     Lock-Up Agreement.  The Underwriter shall have received all of the Lock-Up Agreements referenced in Section 4 and the Lock-Up Agreements shall remain in full force and effect (unless otherwise terminated or waived with the Underwriter’s consent).

 

(j)                                    FINRA No Objections.  FINRA shall have raised no objection to the fairness and reasonableness of the underwriting terms and arrangements.

 

(k)                                 Other Documents.  The Company shall have furnished to you and counsel for the Underwriter such additional documents, certificates and evidence as you or they may have reasonably requested.

 

(l)                                     Exchange Listing.  The Securities to be delivered on such Closing Date have been approved for listing on the NASDAQ Global Market, subject to official notice of issuance.

 

(m)                             CFO Certificate.  On each Closing Date, there shall have been furnished to you, in the form you reasonably request, a certificate, dated such Closing Date and addressed to you, signed by the Chief Financial Officer of the Company, regarding specified financial

 

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information contained in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Prospectus relating to the Company’s fiscal quarter ended December 27, 2014.

 

All such opinions, certificates, letters and other documents will be in compliance with the provisions hereof only if they are satisfactory in form and substance to you and counsel for the Underwriter in their respective good faith reasonable judgment.  The Company will furnish you with such conformed copies of such opinions, certificates, letters and other documents as you shall reasonably request.

 

6.                                      Indemnification and Contribution.

 

(a)                                 Indemnification by the Company.  The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Underwriter, its affiliates, directors and officers and each person, if any, who controls the Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, from and against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which the Underwriter may become subject, under the Act or otherwise (including in settlement of any litigation if such settlement is effected with the written consent of the Company), insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, including the 430B Information and any other information deemed to be a part of the Registration Statement at the time of effectiveness and at any subsequent time pursuant to the Rules and Regulations, if applicable, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package, the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, any issuer free writing prospectus, or any issuer information that the Company has filed or is required to file pursuant to Rule 433(d) of the Rules and Regulations, 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, and will reimburse the Underwriter for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by it in connection with investigating or defending against such loss, claim, damage, liability or action as such expenses are incurred; provided, however, that the Company will not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by you specifically for use in the preparation thereof; it being understood and agreed that the only information furnished by the Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 6(e).

 

(b)                                 Indemnification by the Underwriter.  The Underwriter will indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its affiliates, directors and officers and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act and Section 20 of the Exchange Act, from and against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which the Company may become subject, under the Act or otherwise (including in settlement of any litigation, if such settlement is effected with the written consent of the Underwriter), insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package, the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or any issuer free writing prospectus, or any issuer information that the Company has filed

 

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or is required to file pursuant to Rule 433(d) of the Rules and Regulations, 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, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by you specifically for use in the preparation thereof (it being understood and agreed that the only information furnished by the Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 6(e)), and will reimburse the Company for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Company in connection with investigating or defending against any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action as such expenses are incurred.

 

(c)                                  Notice and Procedures.  Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under subsection (a) or (b) above of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under such subsection, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof; but the omission so to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve the indemnifying party from any liability that it may have to any indemnified party except to the extent such indemnifying party has been materially prejudiced by such failure (through the forfeiture of substantive rights or defenses).  In case any such action shall be brought against any indemnified party, and it shall notify the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate in, and, to the extent that it shall wish, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to such indemnified party, and after notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of the indemnifying party’s election so to assume the defense thereof, the indemnifying party shall not be liable to such indemnified party under such subsection for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation; provided, however, that if, in the sole judgment of the Underwriter, it is advisable for the Underwriter to be represented by separate counsel, the Underwriter shall have the right to employ a single counsel (in addition to local counsel) to represent the Underwriter, in which event the reasonable fees and expenses of such separate counsel shall be borne by the indemnifying party or parties and reimbursed to the Underwriter as incurred.  An indemnifying party shall not be obligated under any settlement agreement relating to any action under this Section 6 to which it has not agreed in writing.  In addition, no indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed) effect any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding unless such settlement includes an unconditional release of such indemnified party for all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such proceeding and does not include a statement as to, or an admission of, fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of an indemnified party.

 

(d)                                 Contribution; Limitations on Liability; Non-Exclusive Remedy.  If the indemnification provided for in this Section 6 is unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under subsection (a) or (b) above, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to in subsection (a) or (b) above, (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriter on the other from the offering of the Securities or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) above is not

 

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permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the Underwriter on the other in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.  The relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriter on the other shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds from the offering (before deducting expenses) received by the Company bear to the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriter, in each case as set forth in the table on the cover page of the Prospectus.  The relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company or the Underwriter and the parties’ relevant intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such untrue statement or omission.  The Company and the Underwriter agree that it would not be just and equitable if contributions pursuant to this subsection (d) were to be determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in the first sentence of this subsection (d).  The amount paid by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to in the first sentence of this subsection (d) shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending against any action or claim which is the subject of this subsection (d).  Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection (d), the Underwriter shall not be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriter with respect to the Securities purchased by it hereunder exceeds the amount of any damages that the Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.  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.  The remedies provided for in this Section 6 are not exclusive and shall not limit any rights or remedies that might otherwise be available to any indemnified party at law or in equity.

 

(e)                                  Information Provided by the Underwriter.  The Underwriter confirms and the Company acknowledges that the statements with respect to the public offering of the Securities by the Underwriter set forth in the second, ninth, tenth, eleventh and twelfth paragraphs under the caption “Underwriting” in the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and in the Prospectus are correct and constitute the only information concerning the Underwriter furnished in writing to the Company by the Underwriter specifically for inclusion in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package, the Prospectus or any issuer free writing prospectus.

 

7.                                      Representations and Agreements to Survive Delivery.  All representations, warranties, and agreements of the Company herein or in certificates delivered pursuant hereto, including but not limited to the agreement of the Company contained in Section 6 hereof, and the agreements of the Underwriter, shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the Underwriter or any controlling person thereof, or the Company or any of its officers, directors, or controlling persons, and shall survive delivery of, and payment for, the Securities to and by the Underwriter hereunder.

 

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8.                                      Termination of this Agreement.

 

(a)                                 Right to Terminate.  You shall have the right to terminate this Agreement by giving notice to the Company as hereinafter specified at any time at or prior to the First Closing Date, and the option referred to in Section 3(b), if exercised, may be cancelled at any time prior to the Second Closing Date, if (i) the Company shall have failed, refused or been unable, at or prior to such Closing Date, to perform any agreement on its part to be performed hereunder, (ii) any condition of the Underwriter’s obligations hereunder is not fulfilled, (iii) trading in the Company’s Common Stock shall have been suspended by the Commission or The NASDAQ Stock Market or trading in securities generally on the NASDAQ Stock Market or the New York Stock Exchange shall have been suspended, (iv) minimum or maximum prices for trading shall have been fixed, or maximum ranges for prices for securities shall have been required, on the NASDAQ Stock Market or the New York Stock Exchange, by such Exchange or by order of the Commission or any other Governmental Authority having jurisdiction, (v) a banking moratorium shall have been declared by federal or New York state authorities or a material disruption in commercial banking or securities settlement or clearance services in the United States, or (vi) there shall have occurred any attack on, outbreak or escalation of hostilities or act of terrorism involving the United States, any declaration by the United States of a national emergency or war, any change in financial markets, any substantial change or development involving a prospective substantial change in United States or international political, financial or economic conditions, or any other calamity or crisis that, in your good faith reasonable judgment, is material and adverse and makes it impractical or inadvisable to proceed with the completion of the sale of and payment for the Securities.

 

(b)                                 Notice of Termination.  If you elect to terminate this Agreement as provided in this Section, the Company shall be notified promptly by you by telephone, confirmed by letter.

 

9.                                      Notices.  Except as otherwise provided herein, all communications hereunder shall be in writing and, if to the Underwriter, shall be mailed via overnight delivery service or hand delivered via courier to Craig-Hallum Capital Group LLC, 222 South 9th Street, Suite 350, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402, Attention: General Counsel; if to the Company, shall be mailed or delivered to it at 175 Technology Drive, Suite 150, Irvine, California 92618, Attention: Chief Executive Officer; or in each case to such other address as the person to be notified may have requested in writing.  Any party to this Agreement may change such address for notices by sending to the parties to this Agreement written notice of a new address for such purpose.

 

10.                               Persons Entitled to Benefit of Agreement.  This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns and the controlling persons, officers and directors referred to in Section 6.  Nothing in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give to any other person, firm or corporation any legal or equitable remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement or any provision herein contained.  The term “successors and assigns” as herein used shall not include any purchaser, as such purchaser, of any of the Securities from the Underwriter.

 

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11.                               Absence of Fiduciary Relationship.  The Company acknowledges and agrees that: (a) the Underwriter has been retained solely to act as an underwriter in connection with the sale of the Securities and that no fiduciary, advisory or agency relationship between the Company and the Underwriter has been created in respect of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, irrespective of whether the Underwriter has advised or is advising the Company on other matters; (b) the price and other terms of the Securities set forth in this Agreement were established by the Company following discussions and arms-length negotiations with the Underwriter and the Company is capable of evaluating and understanding and understands and accepts the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; (c) it has been advised that the Underwriter and its affiliates are engaged in a broad range of transactions which may involve interests that differ from those of the Company and that the Underwriter has no obligation to disclose such interest and transactions to the Company by virtue of any fiduciary, advisory or agency relationship; (d) it has been advised that the Underwriter is acting, in respect of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, solely for the benefit of the Underwriter, and not on behalf of the Company; (e) it waives to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims it may have against the Underwriter for breach of fiduciary duty or alleged breach of fiduciary duty in respect of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and agrees that the Underwriter shall have no liability (whether direct or indirect) to the Company in respect of such a fiduciary duty claim on behalf of or in right of the Company, including stockholders, employees or creditors of the Company.

 

12.                               Governing Law; Waiver of Jury Trial.  This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.  The Company (on its behalf and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, on behalf of its stockholders and affiliates) and the Underwriter hereby irrevocably waive, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and all right to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

13.                               Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts and, if executed in more than one counterpart, the executed counterparts shall each be deemed to be an original and all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument.

 

14.                               General Provisions.  This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement of the parties to this Agreement and supersedes all prior written or oral and all contemporaneous oral agreements, understandings and negotiations with respect to the subject matter hereof.  This Agreement may not be amended or modified unless in writing by all of the parties hereto, and no condition herein (express or implied) may be waived unless waived in writing by each party whom the condition is meant to benefit.  The Section headings herein are for the convenience of the parties only and shall not affect the construction or interpretation of this Agreement.  The invalidity or unenforceability of any Section, paragraph or provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other Section, paragraph or provision hereof.  If any Section, paragraph or provision of this Agreement is for any reason determined to be invalid or unenforceable, there shall be deemed to be made such minor changes (and only such minor changes) as are necessary to make it valid and enforceable.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

30



 

Please sign and return to the Company the enclosed duplicates of this letter whereupon this letter will become a binding agreement between the Company and the Underwriter in accordance with its terms.

 

 

Very truly yours,

 

 

 

NETLIST, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

By

/s/ Gail Sasaki

 

Name

Gail Sasaki

 

Its

CFO

 

 

 

 

Confirmed as of the date first

 

above mentioned.

 

 

 

 

 

CRAIG-HALLUM CAPITAL GROUP LLC

 

 

 

 

 

By

/s/ John L. Flood

 

 

Managing Partner

 

 



 

SCHEDULE I

 

Pricing Information

 

Firm Securities: 7,692,308 shares

 

Option Securities: 1,153,846 shares

 

Price to the public: $1.30 per share

 

Price to the Underwriter: $1.209 per share

 



 

SCHEDULE II

 

List of Individuals and Entities Executing Lock-Up Agreements

 

Chun K. Hong

Charles F. Cargile

Thomas F. Lagatta

Jun S. Cho

Vincent Sheeran

Blake A. Welcher

Gail M. Sasaki

 



 

EXHIBIT A

 

Form of Lock-Up Agreement

 

[   ·   ], 2015

 

CRAIG-HALLUM CAPITAL GROUP LLC

222 South 9th Street, Suite 350

Minneapolis, Minnesota  55402

 

Dear Sirs:

 

As an inducement to Craig-Hallum Capital Group LLC (the “Underwriter”) to execute a purchase agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) providing for a public offering (the “Offering”) of common stock (the “Common Stock”), of Netlist, Inc. and any successor (by merger or otherwise) thereto (the “Company”), the undersigned hereby agrees that without, in each case, the prior written consent of the Underwriter during the period specified in the second succeeding paragraph (the “Lock-Up Period”), the undersigned will not: (1) offer, pledge, announce the intention to sell, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, make any short sale or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of Common Stock or any securities convertible into, exercisable or exchangeable for or that represent the right to receive Common Stock (including without limitation, Common Stock which may be deemed to be beneficially owned by the undersigned in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and securities which may be issued upon exercise of a stock option or warrant) whether now owned or hereafter acquired (the “Undersigned’s Securities”); (2) enter into any swap or other agreement that transfers, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the Undersigned’s Securities, whether any such transaction described in clause (1) or (2) above is to be settled by delivery of Common Stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise; (3) make any demand for or exercise any right with respect to, the registration of any Common Stock or any security convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock; or (4) publicly disclose the intention to do any of the foregoing.

 

The undersigned agrees that the foregoing restrictions preclude the undersigned from engaging in any hedging or other transaction which is designed to or which reasonably could be expected to lead to or result in a sale or disposition of the Undersigned’s Securities even if such Securities would be disposed of by someone other than the undersigned.  Such prohibited hedging or other transactions would include without limitation any short sale or any purchase, sale or grant of any right (including without limitation any put or call option) with respect to any of the Undersigned’s Securities or with respect to any security that includes, relates to, or derives any significant part of its value from such Securities.

 

The initial Lock-Up Period will commence on the date of this Agreement and continue and include the date 90 days after the date of the final prospectus used to sell Common Stock in the Offering pursuant to the Purchase Agreement; provided, however, that if (1) during the last 17 days of the initial Lock-Up Period, the Company releases earnings results or material news or a material event relating to the Company occurs or (2) prior to the expiration of the initial Lock-Up Period, the

 

A-1



 

Company announces that it will release earnings results during the 16-day period beginning on the last day of the initial Lock-Up Period, then in each case the initial Lock-Up Period will be extended until the expiration of the 18-day period beginning on the date of release of such earnings results or material news, or the occurrence of such material event, as applicable, unless the Underwriter waives in writing such extension.

 

The undersigned hereby acknowledges that the Company will be requested to agree in the Purchase Agreement to provide written notice to the undersigned of any event that would result in an extension of the Lock-Up Period pursuant to the previous paragraph and agrees that any such notice properly delivered will be deemed to have been given to, and received by, the undersigned.  The undersigned further agrees that, prior to engaging in any transaction or taking any other action that is subject to the terms of this Agreement during the period from the date of this Agreement to and including the 34th day following the expiration of the initial Lock-Up Period, it will give notice thereof to the Company and will not consummate such transaction or take any such action unless it has received written confirmation from the Company that the Lock-Up Period (as may have been extended pursuant to the previous paragraph) has expired.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the undersigned may transfer the Undersigned’s Securities (i) as a bona fide gift or gifts, (ii) to any trust for the direct or indirect benefit of the undersigned or the immediate family of the undersigned, (iii) if the undersigned is a corporation, partnership, limited liability company, trust or other business entity (1) transfers to another corporation, partnership, limited liability company, trust or other business entity that is a direct or indirect affiliate (as defined in Rule 405 promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended) of the undersigned or (2) distributions of shares of Common Stock or any security convertible into or exercisable for Common Stock to limited partners, limited liability company members or stockholders of the undersigned, (iv) if the undersigned is a trust, transfers to the beneficiary of such trust, (v) transfers by testate succession or intestate succession or (vi) pursuant to the Purchase Agreement; provided, in the case of clauses (i)-(v), that (x) such transfer shall not involve a disposition for value, (y) the transferee agrees in writing with the Underwriter to be bound by the terms of this Lock-Up Agreement, and (z) no filing by any party under Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), shall be required or shall be made voluntarily in connection with such transfer.  For purposes of this Agreement, “immediate family” shall mean any relationship by blood, marriage or adoption, nor more remote than first cousin.

 

In addition, the foregoing restrictions shall not apply to (i) the exercise of stock options granted pursuant to the Company’s equity incentive plans; provided that it shall apply to any of the Undersigned’s Securities issued upon such exercise, or (ii) the establishment of any contract, instruction or plan (a Plan”) that satisfies all of the requirements of Rule 10b5-1(c)(1)(i)(B) under the Exchange Act; provided that no sales of the Undersigned’s Securities shall be made pursuant to such a Plan prior to the expiration of the Lock-Up Period (as such may have been extended pursuant to the provisions hereof), and such a Plan may only be established if no public announcement of the establishment or existence thereof and no filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission or other regulatory authority in respect thereof or transactions thereunder or contemplated thereby, by the undersigned, the Company or any other person, shall be required, and no such announcement or filing is made voluntarily, by the undersigned, the Company or any other person, prior to the expiration of the Lock-Up Period (as such may have been extended pursuant to the provisions hereof).

 

A-2



 

In furtherance of the foregoing, the Company and its transfer agent and registrar are hereby authorized to decline to make any transfer of shares of Common Stock if such transfer would constitute a violation or breach of this Agreement.

 

The undersigned hereby represents and warrants that the undersigned has full power and authority to enter into this Agreement and that upon request, the undersigned will execute and additional documents necessary to ensure the validity or enforcement of this Agreement. All authority herein conferred or agreed to be conferred and any obligations of the undersigned shall be binding upon the successors, assigns, heirs or personal representatives of the undersigned.

 

The undersigned understands that the undersigned shall be released from all obligations under this Agreement if (i) the Company notifies the Underwriter that it does not intend to proceed with the Offering, (ii) the Purchase Agreement does not become effective, or if the Purchase Agreement (other than the provisions thereof which survive termination) shall terminate or be terminated prior to payment for and delivery of the Common Stock to be sold thereunder, or (iii) the Offering is not completed by March 31, 2015.

 

The undersigned understands that the Underwriter are entering into the Purchase Agreement and proceeding with the Offering in reliance upon this Agreement.

 

This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

 

 

Very truly yours,

 

 

 

 

 

Printed Name of Holder

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Signature

 

 

 

 

 

Printed Name of Person Signing

 

(and indicate capacity of person signing if

 

signing as custodian, trustee, or on behalf of

 

an entity)

 

A-3



 

EXHIBIT B

 

Form of Company Counsel Opinion

 

(i)                                     The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware.  The Company has full corporate power and authority to own its properties and conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, and is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation and is in good standing in the State of California.

 

(ii)                                  The Securities conform in all material respects as to legal matters to the description thereof contained under the heading “Description of Capital Stock” in the Prospectus.

 

(iii)                               The Securities to be issued and sold by the Company hereunder have been duly authorized and, when issued, delivered and paid for in accordance with the terms of the Agreement, will have been validly issued and will be fully paid and nonassessable.  Except as otherwise stated in the Registration Statement, in the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and in the Prospectus, the issuance of the Securities is not subject to preemptive rights.  To our knowledge, neither the filing of the Registration Statement nor the offering or sale of the Securities as contemplated by the Agreement gives rise to any rights for or relating to the registration of any shares of Common Stock or other securities of the Company.

 

(iv)                              The Registration Statement has become effective under the Securities Act and, to such counsel’s knowledge, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued and no proceeding for that purpose has been instituted or, to the knowledge of such counsel, threatened by the Commission.

 

(v)                                 The Company has full corporate power and authority to enter into this Agreement, and the Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.

 

(vi)                              The execution, delivery and performance of the Agreement and the performance by the Company of its terms (i) do not violate or result in a violation of the Company’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws, (ii) do not violate in any material respect any judgment, order or decree, or constitute a material breach of the terms, conditions or provisions of or constitute a material default under any contract, undertaking, indenture or other agreement that is listed as an exhibit to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for its fiscal year ended December 28, 2013, as filed with the Commission on March 18, 2014, and (iii) do not violate in any material respect any statute, rule or regulation of the United States known to us to which the Company is bound or to which any of its property is subject.

 

B-1



 

(vii)                           No consent, approval, or authorization of any court or governmental agency is required for the execution, delivery and performance of the Agreement or for the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, including the issuance or sale of the Securities by the Company, except such as may be required under the Securities Act or state securities laws.

 

(viii)                        The Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus included in the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, complied as of their respective effective or issue dates as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations (except as to the financial statements and other financial and statistical information included therein, as to which we express no opinion).

 

(ix)                              The Company is not an “investment company,” as that term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

 

(x)                                 The conditions for use of Form S-3 in connection with the offer and sale of the Securities as contemplated by the Agreement, as set forth in the General Instructions thereto, have been satisfied.

 

In addition, such counsel shall include a statement to the effect that on the basis of conferences with officers and other representatives of the Company, representatives of the Underwriter and representatives of the independent accountants for the Company, examination of documents referred to in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and such other procedures as such counsel deemed appropriate, but without independent review or verification and without assuming responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the statements contained in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, nothing has come to the attention of such counsel that causes such counsel to believe that (a) any part of the Registration Statement, at the time it became effective, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or (b) that the documents specified in a schedule to such counsel’s letter, consisting of those included in the Time of Sale Disclosure Package as of the Time of Sale, included any untrue statement of 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; or (c) that the Prospectus (as of its issue date and as of such Closing Date) included any untrue statement of 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; it being understood that such counsel need express no belief as to the financial statements or other financial data or information included in any of the documents mentioned in this paragraph.

 

B-2



 

EXHIBIT C

 

Form of IP Counsel Opinion

 

(i)                                     To my knowledge, the Company and its subsidiaries own or possess all Intellectual Property necessary for the conduct of the Company’s and its subsidiaries’ business as now conducted or as described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Prospectus to be conducted, except where the failure to own or possess such Intellectual Property rights would not result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(ii)                                  To my knowledge, except as described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there is no pending or threatened, action, suit, proceeding or claim by others challenging the Company’s or any of its subsidiaries’ rights in or to any of their Intellectual Property or the validity or scope of any such Intellectual Property.

 

(iii)                               To my knowledge, except as described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, (a) neither the Company nor its subsidiaries is infringing, misappropriating or violating any Intellectual Property of others, and (b) there are no infringements, misappropriations or violations by others of any of the Intellectual Property rights of the Company or its subsidiaries, which in our judgment could affect materially the use thereof by the Company or its subsidiaries.

 

(iv)                              I am not aware of any contracts or other documents relating to the Intellectual Property of the Company or its subsidiaries of a character required to be described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package or the Prospectus or to be filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement that have not been so described or filed as required.

 

(v)                                 Except as described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, I have no knowledge of any facts that would preclude the Company or a subsidiary of the Company from having valid license rights or clear title to the patents or patent applications referenced in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package or the Prospectus.  Except as described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, I am unaware of any facts that form a basis for a finding of unenforceability or invalidity of any Intellectual Property of the Company or its subsidiaries.

 

(vi)                              Except as described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, I am not aware of any material fact with respect to the patent applications of the Company or its subsidiaries that would (a) preclude the issuance of patents with respect to such applications or (b) lead such counsel to conclude that such patents, when issued, would not be valid and enforceable in accordance with applicable regulations.  However, it is my experience that the scope of claims which might issue on a patent application frequently changes during prosecution of an application and I can give no assurances that any currently pending claim will issue as filed.

 

C-1



 

(vii)                           To my knowledge, each inventor named in a patent application of, each attorney who prepares or prosecutes patent applications for, and other persons involved in the preparation or prosecution of patent applications who are associated with the inventor or assignee of the patent application of the Company or its subsidiaries have complied with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s duty of candor and disclosure for the patent applications of the Company and its subsidiaries.

 

(viii)                        To my knowledge, those portions of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Prospectus that concern Intellectual Property are accurate statements or summaries and fairly present the information required to be shown therein.

 

(ix)                              Nothing has come to my attention that would lead me to believe that the information regarding Intellectual Property matters described in (a) the Registration Statement, as of the date it became effective, contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, (b) the Time of Sale Disclosure Package, as of Time of Sale, contained an untrue statement of material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or (c) the Prospectus (as of its date and as of the Closing Date), as amended or supplemented, included any untrue statement of material fact or omitted or omits to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made.

 

C-2




Exhibit 5.1

 

12531 HIGH BLUFF DRIVE
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA
92130-2040

 

TELEPHONE: 858.720.5100

FACSIMILE: 858.720.5125

 

WWW.MOFO.COM

MORRISON  FOERSTER LLP

 

NEW YORK, SAN FRANCISCO,
LOS ANGELES, PALO ALTO,
SACRAMENTO, SAN DIEGO,
DENVER, NORTHERN VIRGINIA,
WASHINGTON, D.C.

 

TOKYO, LONDON, BRUSSELS,
BEIJING, SHANGHAI, HONG KONG

 

February 19, 2015

 

Netlist, Inc.

175 Technology Drive, Suite 150

Irvine, CA 92618

 

Re:                             Issuance and Sale of up to 8,846,154 Shares of Common Stock of Netlist, Inc.

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

We are acting as counsel to Netlist, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the issuance and sale of up to 8,846,154 shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Common Stock”), including 1,153,846 shares that may be sold upon the exercise of an over-allotment option (collectively, the “Shares”), pursuant to a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-177118) (the “Registration Statement”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), and declared effective by the Commission on October 18, 2011, the related prospectus included therein (the “Prospectus”), and the prospectus supplement to be filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) promulgated under the Act (the “Prospectus Supplement”).

 

In connection with this opinion, we have examined originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of: (i) the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as amended through the date hereof; (ii) the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company, as amended through the date hereof; (iii) certain resolutions of the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of the Company and the Pricing Committee of the Board, relating to the issuance, sale and registration of the Shares; (iv) the Registration Statement; (v) the Prospectus and (vi) the Prospectus Supplement. In addition, we have examined originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of certain other corporate records, documents, instruments and certificates of public officials and of the Company, and we have made such inquiries of officers of the Company and public officials and considered such questions of law as we have deemed necessary for purposes of rendering the opinions set forth herein.  Our opinion is limited to the matters stated herein and no opinion is implied or may be inferred beyond the matters expressly stated.  As to certain factual matters, we have relied upon a certificate of an officer of the Company and have not sought to independently verify such matters.

 

Based upon, subject to and limited by the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the Shares have been duly and validly authorized and upon issuance, delivery and payment therefor in the

 



 

manner contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Prospectus Supplement, will be legally issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

 

We express no opinion as to matters governed by any laws other than the Delaware General Corporation Law and the federal laws of the United States of America, as in effect on the date hereof.

 

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the reference to our firm under the caption “Legal Matters” in the Prospectus Supplement.  In giving such permission, we do not admit hereby that we come within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act, or the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.  This opinion is expressed as of the date hereof, and we disclaim any undertaking to advise you of any subsequent changes in the facts stated or assumed herein or of any subsequent changes in applicable law.

 

Very truly yours,

 

/s/ Morrison & Foerster LLP

 

2




Exhibit 99.1

 

 

NETLIST, INC. ANNOUNCES PRICING OF 7,692,308 SHARE FOLLOW-ON OFFERING

 

IRVINE, CA — February 19, 2015 — Netlist, Inc. (“Netlist” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: NLST), a leading provider of high performance and hybrid memory solutions for the cloud computing and storage markets, today announced it has priced an underwritten public offering of 7,692,308 shares of its common stock at a price to public of $1.30 per share. Additionally, the Company has granted the underwriter the option to purchase up to an additional 1,153,846 shares of its common stock to cover over-allotments, if any, at the price to public. The offering is expected to close on or about February 24, 2015, subject to satisfaction of closing conditions.

 

The total gross proceeds of the offering are expected to be approximately $10.0 million. After deducting the underwriter’s discount and other estimated offering expenses payable by Netlist, the net proceeds are expected to be approximately $9.0 million. These amounts assume no exercise of the underwriter’s over-allotment option. The Company intends to use the net proceeds of the offering for general corporate purposes.

 

Craig-Hallum Capital Group LLC is acting as sole underwriter of the offering.

 

A registration statement relating to shares of the common stock of Netlist has been declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 18, 2011. This offering is being made by Netlist by means of a written prospectus supplement forming part of the effective registration statement. A copy of the final prospectus for the offering may be obtained from Craig-Hallum Capital Group LLC at 222 South Ninth Street, Suite 350, Minneapolis, MN 55402, phone number (612) 334-6300, email: prospectus@chlm.com.

 

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell, or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor may there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

 

About Netlist:

 

Netlist, Inc. designs and manufactures high-performance, logic-based memory subsystems for server and storage applications for cloud computing. Netlist’s flagship products include NVvault® and EXPRESSvault™ family of hybrid memory products that significantly accelerate system performance and provide mission critical fault tolerance, HyperCloud®, a patented memory technology that breaks traditional performance barriers, and a broad portfolio of industrial Flash and specialty memory subsystems including VLP (very low profile) DIMMs and Planar-X RDIMMs. Netlist has steadily invested in and grown its worldwide IP portfolio, which now includes 88 issued and pending patents in the areas of high performance memory and hybrid memory technologies.

 



 

Netlist develops technology solutions for customer applications in which high-speed, high-capacity, small form factor and efficient heat dissipation are key requirements for system memory. These customers include OEMs and hyperscale datacenter operators that design and build servers, storage systems and high-performance computing clusters, engineering workstations and telecommunications equipment. Founded in 2000, Netlist is headquartered in Irvine, CA with manufacturing facilities in Suzhou, People’s Republic of China. Learn more at www.netlist.com.

 

Safe Harbor Statement:

 

This news release contains forward-looking statements regarding future events and the future performance of Netlist. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expected or projected. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, risks associated with the launch and commercial success of our products, programs and technologies; the success of product partnerships; continuing development, qualification and volume production of EXPRESSvault™, NVvault™, HyperCloud® and VLP Planar-X RDIMM; the timing and magnitude of the anticipated decrease in sales to our key customer; our ability to leverage our NVvault™ technology in a more diverse customer base; the rapidly-changing nature of technology; risks associated with intellectual property, including patent infringement litigation against us as well as the costs and unpredictability of litigation over infringement of our intellectual property and the possibility of our patents being reexamined by the United States Patent and Trademark office; volatility in the pricing of DRAM ICs and NAND; changes in and uncertainty of customer acceptance of, and demand for, our existing products and products under development, including uncertainty of and/or delays in product orders and product qualifications; delays in the Company’s and its customers’ product releases and development; introductions of new products by competitors; changes in end-user demand for technology solutions; the Company’s ability to attract and retain skilled personnel; the Company’s reliance on suppliers of critical components and vendors in the supply chain; fluctuations in the market price of critical components; evolving industry standards; and the political and regulatory environment in the People’s Republic of China. Other risks and uncertainties are described in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K filed on March 18, 2014, and subsequent filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission made by the Company from time to time. Except as required by law, Netlist undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

 

Company Contact:
Gail M. Sasaki 
Chief Financial Officer 
(949) 435-0025 

Brainerd Communicators, Inc. 
Mike Smargiassi/Jenny Perales (investors) 
Sharon Oh (media) 
NLST@braincomm.com
(212) 986-6667

 


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