As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 23, 2024

 

Registration No. 333-

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM S-1

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

APPLIED DIGITAL CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Nevada   7374   95-4863690

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(Primary Standard Industrial

Classification Code Number)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification Number)

 

3811 Turtle Creek Blvd., Suite 2100

Dallas, Texas 75219

(214) 427-1704

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including

area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)

 

Wes Cummins

Chief Executive Officer

Applied Digital Corporation

3811 Turtle Creek Blvd., Suite 2100

Dallas, Texas 75219

(214) 427-1704

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

 

Copies to:

 

Steven E. Siesser, Esq.

Lowenstein Sandler LLP

1251 Avenue of the Americas

New York, New York 10020

Telephone: (212) 204-8688

 

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public:

 

From time to time after this Registration Statement becomes effective.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Large accelerated filer ☐ Accelerated filer ☐
Non-accelerated filer ☒ Smaller reporting company ☒
  Emerging growth company ☐

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ☐

 

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

 

 

 

 
 

 

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

 

PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS   SUBJECT TO COMPLETION   DATED SEPTEMBER 23, 2024

 

 

Up to 2,500,000

 

Series E-1 Redeemable Preferred Stock

 

This is an offering by Applied Digital Corporation (the “Company”) of up to 2,500,000 shares of our Series E-1 Redeemable Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share (“Series E-1 Preferred Stock”), at a price per share of $25.00 per share (the “Offering”). We will pay cumulative dividends on the Series E-1 Preferred Stock at a fixed annual rate of 9% per annum of the stated value of $25.00 per share (the “Stated Value”) of the Series E-1 Preferred Stock per year (computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months). Each holder of shares of Series E-1 Preferred Stock is entitled to redeem any portion of the outstanding shares of Series E-1 Preferred Stock held by such holder at any time, subject to certain early redemption fees. Such redemptions may be settled in either cash or common stock of the Company, par value $0.001 (the “Common Stock”), at the Company’s option, subject to certain limitations on the number of shares of Common Stock that may be used for such payments without the approval of the Company’s stockholders, if applicable; provided that no such shares of Series E-1 Preferred Stock may be redeemed for Common Stock prior to the first anniversary of the date of its issuance. The Company may, at its option, redeem shares of Series E-1 Preferred Stock on or after the second anniversary of the date on which such shares of Series E-1 Preferred Stock have been issued upon not less than 10 calendar days nor more than 90 calendar days written notice to the holders prior to the date fixed for redemption thereof, subject to certain limitations on the number of shares of Common Stock that may be used for such payments without the Company’s stockholders’ consent, if appliable. The Company intends to rely on the exemption provided by Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), for the issuance of any shares of Common Stock for which the Series E-1 Preferred Stock may be redeemed.

 

There is currently no public market for our Series E-1 Preferred Stock. We do not intend to apply for listing of the Series E-1 Preferred Stock on a national securities exchange or over the counter market.

 

The dealer manager of this Offering is Preferred Capital Securities, LLC (“PCS” or the “Dealer Manager”). The Dealer Manager is not required to sell any specific number or dollar amount of the Series E-1 Preferred Stock but will use its “reasonable best efforts” to sell the Series E-1 Preferred Stock offered. The minimum permitted purchase is generally $5,000 but purchases of less than $5,000 may be made in our sole discretion. We may terminate this Offering at any time.

 

   Per share of Series E-1 Preferred Stock   Maximum Offering Before Expenses 
Public Offering Price  $25.00   $62,500,000 
Selling Commission(1)(2)(3)  $1.50   $3,750,000 
           
Dealer Manager fee(1)(2)(3)  $0.50   $1,250,000 
Proceeds to Applied Digital Corporation(3)(4)  $23.00   $57,500,000 

 

(1) We will pay a selling commission of up to 6% of the Stated Value of the Series E-1 Preferred Stock and a dealer manager fee equal to 2% of the Stated Value of the Series E-1 Preferred Stock. The selling commission and the dealer manager fee are payable by us to our Dealer Manager. Reductions in selling commissions on sales of Series E-1 Preferred Stock will be reflected in reduced public offering prices as described in the “Plan of Distribution” section of this prospectus and the net proceeds to us will not be impacted by such reductions. We or our affiliates also may provide permissible forms of non-cash compensation to registered representatives of our Dealer Manager and the participating broker-dealers. The value of such items will be considered underwriting compensation in connection with this offering, and, if incurred by our Dealer Manager, the corresponding payments of our dealer manager fee will be reduced by the aggregate value of such items. The combined selling commission, dealer manager fee and cash and non-cash underwriting compensation as described in “The Offering - Other Expenses” for this Offering will not exceed 8% of the aggregate gross proceeds of this Offering, subject to FINRA’s 8% underwriting compensation cap. See “Plan of Distribution.”

 

(2) We expect our Dealer Manager to authorize third-party broker-dealers that are members of FINRA, which we refer to as participating broker-dealers, to sell our Series E-1 Preferred Stock, pursuant to the terms of a Selected Dealer Agreement, a form of which is filed with this registration statement as Exhibit 10.72. In addition to the selling commissions, our Dealer Manager may reallow a portion of its dealer manager fee to participating broker-dealers as a marketing fee as described further in “Plan of Distribution.”

 

(3) Assumes all shares sold were subject to maximum selling commission and dealer manager fee applicable to Series E-1 Preferred Stock.

 

(4) We expect that our own Offering Expenses, as defined in “The Offering - Offering Expenses” and including legal, accounting, printing, mailing, registration qualification and associated securities offering filing costs and expenses, will through the course of the Offering, be an aggregate of approximately $124,600, but for purposes of illustrating the proceeds to the Company based on the maximum investment, such Offering Expenses are not reflected. As further described in “The Offering - Offering Expenses.” Offering Expenses will not exceed the greater of $700,000 or 3.5% of gross offering proceeds. However, our Board of Directors (the “Board”) may, in its discretion, authorize the Company to incur Offering Expenses in excess of such amounts.

 

We will sell the Series E-1 Preferred Stock through Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) settlement (“DTC Settlement”) or through Direct Registration System settlement (“DRS Settlement”). See the section entitled “Plan of Distribution” in this prospectus for a description of these settlement methods. All monies collected for subscription through DRS Settlement will be held in a separate escrowed bank account at UMB Bank, N.A., which is serving as the escrow agent (the “Escrow Agent”). Investors will pay the full purchase price for their Series E-1 Preferred Stock to the Escrow Agent (as set forth in the subscription agreement), to be held in trust for the investors’ benefit pending release to us as described herein.

 

Delivery of the Series E-1 Preferred Stock will be made from time to time, if at all, on or prior to . Delivery of the Common Stock will be made from time to time, if at all, upon redemption of the Series E-1 Preferred Stock as further described in this prospectus.

 

Our Common Stock is listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market (“Nasdaq”) under the symbol “APLD.” On September 20, 2024, the last reported sale price of our Common Stock as reported on Nasdaq was $6.02.

 

You should read this prospectus, together with additional information described under the headings “Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference” and “Where You Can Find More Information,” carefully before you invest in any of our securities.

 

An investment in our securities involves a high degree of risk. Before deciding whether to invest in our securities, you should consider carefully the risks and uncertainties described in the section captioned “Risk Factors” contained in this prospectus and in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2024, filed with the SEC, on August 30, 2024 and the other filings we make with the SEC from time to time, which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety, together with other information in this prospectus and the information incorporated by reference herein.

 

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

 

Preferred Capital Securities

 

As Dealer Manager

 

The date of this prospectus is            , 2024

 

 
 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

PROSPECTUS SUMMARY 1
THE OFFERING 6
RISK FACTORS 11
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS 15
USE OF PROCEEDS 16
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION 17
DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES WE ARE OFFERING 24
LEGAL MATTERS 26
EXPERTS 26
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION 26
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE 27

 

i
 

 


ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

 

This prospectus forms part of a registration statement that we filed with the SEC, and that includes exhibits that provide more detail of the matters discussed in this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and the related exhibits filed with the SEC, together with the additional information described under the headings “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference” before making your investment decision.

 

You should rely only on the information provided in this prospectus or in a prospectus supplement or any free writing prospectuses or amendments thereto. We have not authorized anyone else to provide you with different information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. You should assume that the information in this prospectus is accurate only as of the date hereof. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since that date.

 

We are not offering to sell or seeking offers to purchase these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale of these securities is not permitted. We have not done anything that would permit this offering or possession or distribution of this prospectus in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required, other than in the United States. Persons outside the United States who come into possession of this prospectus must inform themselves about, and observe any restrictions relating to, the offering of the securities as to distribution of the prospectus outside of the United States.

 

ii
 

 


PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

 

This summary highlights information contained elsewhere in this prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein. This summary does not contain all of the information that you should consider before deciding to invest in our securities. You should read this entire prospectus carefully, including the section entitled “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-11, our consolidated financial statements and the related notes and the other information incorporated by reference into this prospectus before making an investment decision.

 

Our Business

 

We are a United States (“U.S.”) designer, developer, and operator of next-generation digital infrastructure across North America. We provide digital infrastructure solutions and cloud services to the rapidly growing industries of High-Performance Computing (“HPC”) and Artificial Intelligence (“AI”). We operate in three distinct business segments, including, Blockchain datacenter hosting (the “Datacenter Hosting Business”), cloud services, through a wholly owned subsidiary (the “Cloud Services Business”) and HPC datacenter hosting (the “HPC Hosting Business”), as further discussed below.

 

We completed our initial public offering in April 2022 and our Common Stock began trading on Nasdaq on April 13, 2022. In November 2022, we changed our name from Applied Blockchain, Inc. to Applied Digital Corporation.

 

Datacenter Hosting Business

 

Our Data Center Hosting Business provides energized infrastructure services to crypto mining customers. Our custom-designed datacenters allow customers to rent space based on their power requirements. We currently serve seven crypto-mining customers, all of which have entered into contracts with us ranging from three to five years. This business segment accounts for the majority of the revenue we generate from our operations (approximately 83% for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2024).

 

We currently operate sites in Jamestown and Ellendale, North Dakota, with a total hosting capacity of approximately 286 MW:

 

Jamestown, North Dakota: 106 MW facility.
   
Ellendale, North Dakota: 180 MW facility.

 

In March 2021, we executed a strategy planning and portfolio advisory services agreement (the “Services Agreement”) with GMR Limited, a British Virgin Island limited liability company (“GMR”), Xsquared Holding Limited, a British Virgin Island limited liability company (“SparkPool”) and Valuefinder, a British Virgin Islands limited liability company (“Valuefinder” and, together with GMR and SparkPool, the “Service Provider(s)”). Under the Services Agreement, the Service Providers agreed to provide crypto asset mining management and analysis and assist us in securing difficult-to-obtain mining equipment. Under the terms of the Services Agreement, we issued 7,440,148 shares of our Common Stock to each of GMR and SparkPool and 3,156,426 shares of our Common Stock to Valuefinder. In June 2022, SparkPool ceased all operations and forfeited 4,965,432 shares of our Common Stock back to us.

 

In March 2022, we decided to terminate our crypto mining operations, shifting our focus and our business strategy to developing the HPC Hosting Business and our other two business segments (including the Datacenter Hosting Business). Each Service Provider advised us concerning the design and buildout of our hosting operations. We continue to partner with GMR, and other providers as they remain our strategic equity investors. Our partners have strong relationships across the cryptocurrency ecosystem, which we may leverage to identify leads for the expansion of our operations and business segments.

 

1
 

 

Compared to our previous mining operations, co-hosting revenues are less subject to volatility related to the underlying crypto-asset markets. We have a contractual ceiling for our energy costs through our Amended and Restated Electric Service Agreement, entered into in September 2023 with a utility in the upper Midwest (the “Electric Service Agreement”). One of the main benefits of the Electric Service Agreement is the low cost of power for mining. Even before the recently imposed crypto mining restrictions in China, power capacity available for Bitcoin mining was scarce, especially at scalable sites with over 100 MW of potential capacity. This scarcity of mining power allows us to realize attractive hosting rates in the current market. The Electric Service Agreement has also enabled us to launch our hosting business with long-term customer contracts.

 

In March 2024, we announced that we entered into a definitive agreement to sell our 200 MW campus in Garden City, TX, to Mara Garden City LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and subsidiary of Marathon Digital Holdings (Nasdaq: MARA). We completed the sale transaction on April 1, 2024.

 

Cloud Services Business

 

We officially launched our Cloud Services Business in May 2023. We operate our Cloud Services Business through our wholly owned subsidiary, Applied Digital Cloud Corporation (“Applied Digital Cloud”), which provides cloud services to customers, such as AI and machine learning developers. Our Cloud Services Business specializes in providing GPU computing solutions to empower customers in executing critical workloads related to AI, machine learning (“ML”), rendering, and other HPC tasks. Our managed hosting cloud service allows customers to sign service contracts, utilizing our Company-provided equipment for seamless and cost-effective operations.

 

We are rolling out multiple GPU clusters, each comprising 1,024 GPUs, which are available for lease by our customers. Additionally, we have secured contracts with colocation service providers to ensure secure space and energy for our hosting services. Our strategy is to utilize a blend of third-party colocation and our own HPC datacenters to deliver Cloud services to our customers.

 

We currently rely on a few major suppliers for our products in this business segment: NVIDIA Corp. (“NVIDIA”), Super Micro Computer Inc. (“Super Micro”), Hewlett Packard Enterprise (“HPE”) and Dell Technologies Inc. (“Dell”). In May 2023, we partnered with Super Micro, a renowned provider of Application-Optimized Total IT Solutions. Together, we aim to deliver the Company’s Cloud service to our customers. Super Micro’s high-performance server and storage solutions are designed to address a wide range of computational-intensive workloads. Their next-generation GPU servers are incredibly power-efficient, which is vital for datacenters as the power requirements for large-scale AI models continue to increase. Optimizing the Total Cost of Ownership (“TCO”) and Total Cost to Environment (“TCE”) is critical for datacenter operators to ensure sustainable operations.

 

In June 2023, we announced a partnership with HPE, a global company specializing in edge-to-cloud technology. As part of this collaboration, HPE will provide its powerful and energy-efficient supercomputers to support large-scale AI through our cloud service. HPE has been supportive in core design considerations and engineering of Company-owned facilities which will support Applied Digital Cloud’s infrastructure. In addition, we have supply agreements with Dell for delivery of AI and GPU servers.

 

By May 31, 2024, the Company had received and deployed a total of 6,144 GPUs; 4,096 GPUs were actively recognizing revenue and 2,048 GPUs were pending customer acceptance to start revenue recognition. The Cloud Services Business currently serves two customers and accounted for approximately 17% of our revenue in fiscal year 2024. As we ramp up operations in this business segment, we expect to acquire and deploy additional GPUs, increase revenue from the Cloud Services Business and increase the percentage of our revenue produced by our Cloud Services Business.

 

HPC Hosting Business

 

Our HPC Hosting Business specializes in designing, constructing, and managing datacenters tailored to support HPC applications, including AI.

 

The Company is currently building two HPC focused data centers. The first facility, which is nearing completion, is a 7.5 MW facility in Jamestown, ND location adjacent to the Company’s 106 MW Data center hosting facility. The Company also broke ground on a 100 MW HPC data center in project in Ellendale, ND, on land located adjacent to its existing 180 MW Data center hosting facility. These separate and unique buildings, designed and purpose-built for GPUs, will sit separate from the Company’s current buildings and host more traditional HPC applications, such as natural language processing, machine learning, and additional HPC developments.

 

2
 

 

The Company has entered into exclusivity and executed a letter of intent with a US-based hyperscaler for a 400 MW capacity lease, inclusive of our current 100 MW facility and two forthcoming buildings in Ellendale, North Dakota. On July 26, 2024, the Company extended the initial exclusivity period under the previously announced letter of intent with the U.S. based hyperscaler for leasing the HPC Ellendale Facility. The Company is in advanced discussions with traditional financing counterparties for this investment-grade tenant.

 

We anticipate that this business segment will begin generating meaningful revenues once the HPC Ellendale Facility becomes operational, which is expected in calendar year 2025.

 

Recent Developments

 

Series E-1 Preferred Stock

 

On September 23, 2024, we entered into a Dealer Manager Agreement with the Dealer Manager hereunder pursuant to which the Dealer Manager agreed to serve as the Company’s agent and dealer manager for this Offering of up to 2,500,000 shares of our Series E-1 Preferred Stock, to be offered and sold pursuant to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.

 

Series E Preferred Stock and Series E-1 Preferred Stock

 

On May 16, 2024, we entered into a Dealer Manager Agreement with the Dealer Manager hereunder pursuant to which the Dealer Manager agreed to serve as the Company’s agent and dealer manager for an offering (the “Series E Offering”) of up to 2,000,000 shares of our Series E Redeemable Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 (the “Series E Preferred Stock”) (the “Series E Dealer Manager Agreement”). The Company has closed on several offerings of its Series E Redeemable Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Series E Preferred Stock”), subsequent to May 31, 2024. As of the date of this prospectus, we sold 301,673 shares of Series E Preferred Stock for net proceeds of approximately $6.9 million in total. The Series E Dealer Manager Agreement was terminated upon the termination of the Series E Preferred Stock offering on August 9, 2024.

 

Series F Preferred Stock

 

On August 29, 2024, the Company entered into a securities purchase agreement (the “Series F Purchase Agreement”) with YA II PN, LTD. (“YA Fund”) for the private placement (the “Series F Offering”) of 53,191 shares of Series F Convertible Preferred Stock of the Company, par value $0.001 per share (the “Series F Preferred Stock”), including 3,191 shares representing an original issue discount of 6%. The transaction closed on August 30, 2024, for total net proceeds to the Company of $50.0 million.

 

Each outstanding share of Series F Preferred Stock is entitled to receive, in preference to our Common Stock, cumulative dividends (“Preferential Dividends”), payable quarterly in arrears, at an annual rate of 9.0% of $1,000.00 per share of Series F Preferred Stock (the “Series F Stated Value”). At our discretion, the Preferential Dividends shall be payable either in cash or in kind or accrue and compound in an amount equal to 8.0% multiplied by the Series F Stated Value. In addition, each holder of Series F Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive dividends equal to, on an as-converted to shares of our Common Stock basis, and in the same form as, dividends actually paid on shares of our Common Stock when, as, and if such dividends are paid on shares our Common Stock. The Series F Preferred Stock will initially be non-convertible and will only become convertible upon, and subject to, the receipt of shareholder approval. If shareholder approval is not obtained for any reason, the Series F Preferred Stock will remain non-convertible. The Company filed the Certificate of Designation of the Series F Preferred Stock with the Secretary of State of the State of Nevada on August 30, 2024.

 

The Company and YA Fund also entered into a registration rights agreement (the “Series F Registration Rights Agreement”), pursuant to which the Company agreed to prepare and file with the SEC a Registration Statement on Form S-1, registering the resale of the shares, within 45 days of signing the Series F Registration Rights Agreement (subject to certain exceptions).

 

Additionally, in connection with the Series F Offering, the Company agreed to eliminate the $16.0 million per month conversion limitation that exists in the aggregate across the YA Notes.

 

SEPA

 

On August 28, 2024, the Company entered into a Standby Equity Purchase Agreement with YA Fund, as amended on August 29, 2024 (the “SEPA”). Pursuant to the SEPA, subject to certain conditions and limitations, the Company has the option, but not the obligation, to sell to YA Fund, and YA Fund must subscribe for, an aggregate amount of up to $250.0 million of Common Stock, at the Company’s request any time during the commitment period commencing on September 30, 2024, and terminating on the first day of the month next following the 36-month anniversary of September 30, 2024. The shares of Common Stock issuable pursuant to the SEPA will be offered and sold pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act.

 

In connection with the execution of the SEPA, the Company agreed to pay a structuring fee (in cash) to YA Fund in the amount of $25,000. Additionally, the Company agreed to pay a commitment fee of $2,125,000 to YA Fund, payable on the effective date of the SEPA, in the form of the issuance of 456,287 shares of Common Stock (the “Commitment Shares”), representing $2,125,000 divided by the average of the daily VWAPs of the Common Stock during the three trading days immediately prior to the date of the SEPA.

 

Pursuant to the SEPA, the Company agreed to file a registration statement with the SEC for the resale under the Securities Act by YA Fund of the Common Stock issued under the SEPA, including the Commitment Shares. The Company shall not have the ability to request any advances under the SEPA until such resale registration statement is declared effective by the SEC.

 

CIM Arrangement

 

On June 7, 2024, APLD Holdings 2 LLC (“APLD Holdings”), a subsidiary of the Company, entered into a promissory note (the “CIM Promissory Note”) with CIM APLD Lender Holdings, LLC (the “CIM Lender”). The CIM Promissory Note provides for an initial borrowing of $15 million, which was drawn on June 7, 2024, and subsequent borrowings of up to $110 million, which will be available subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions as outlined in the CIM Promissory Note. In addition to the initial borrowing, the CIM Promissory Note includes an accordion feature that allows for up to an additional $75 million of borrowings. Principal amounts repaid under the CIM Promissory Note will not be available for reborrowing. As partial consideration for the CIM Promissory Note, the Company agreed to issue to the CIM Lender warrants to purchase up to an aggregate of 9,265,366 shares of Common Stock. The warrants were issuable in two tranches, (i) for the purchase of up to 6,300,449 shares of Common Stock (the “Initial Warrant”), and (ii) for the purchase of up to 2,964,917 shares of Common Stock (the “Warrant”). The Initial Warrant was issued on June 17, 2024.

 

On August 11, 2024, we and the CIM Lender entered into a waiver agreement (the “Waiver Agreement”), whereby the CIM Lender agreed to waive the satisfaction of certain conditions for the subsequent borrowings, allowing us to draw an additional $20 million (net of original discount and fees) of borrowings under the CIM Promissory Note. As partial consideration for the Waiver Agreement, we issued the Warrant to the CIM Lender. As of the date of this prospectus, the total balance outstanding under the CIM Promissory Note is approximately $105 million.

 

3
 

 

Yorkville Amendments

 

In connection with the CIM Promissory Note, we also entered into a Consent, Waiver and First Amendment to Prepaid Advance Agreements (the “Consent”) with YA Fund. In exchange for YA Fund’s consent to the transaction with the CIM Lender, we agreed to issue an aggregate of 100,000 shares of Common Stock to YA Fund and to conditionally lower the floor price from $3.00 to $2.00 so long as the daily VWAP is less than $3.00 per share of Common Stock for five out of seven trading days. We further agreed to deliver a security agreement whereby our subsidiary, Applied Digital Cloud Corporation, would grant a springing lien on substantially all of its assets subject to customary carve-outs to secure the promissory notes issued in favor of YA Fund. Pursuant to the Consent, YA Fund also consented to future project-level financing at the HPC Ellendale Facility.

 

In addition, pursuant to the terms of the Consent, the Prepaid Advance Agreement entered into between the Company and YA Fund on March 27, 2024 (the “March PPA”) and the Prepaid Advance Agreement entered into between the Company and YA Fund on May 24, 2024 (the “May PPA” and, together with the March PPA, the “Prepaid Advance Agreements”) were amended to provide for prepayment of the convertible unsecured promissory note in the amount of up to $42.1 million issued pursuant to the May PPA (the “May Note” and together with the two convertible unsecured promissory notes in the amount of up to $50 million issued pursuant to the March PPA (the “Initial YA Notes”), the “YA Notes”), in pro rata weekly installments of $2.5 million in cash or (at YA Fund’s sole election) $5.0 million in Common Stock, commencing on July 8, 2024, for so long as either the Registration Statement on Form S-3 filed by the Company on April 15, 2024 or the Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed by the Company on May 31, 2024 (the “May Registration Statement”) is ineffective, or if the SEC does not declare the May Registration Statement effective by such date. If elected to be paid in Common Stock, such shares would be issued at 95% of the lowest daily VWAP during the five trading day period immediately preceding the prepayment date. As of the date of this prospectus, the aggregate principal amount outstanding under the Initial YA Notes is $6.2 million and the May Note is no longer outstanding.

 

In connection with the Series F Offering (as defined below), the Company entered into a Second Amendment (“Amendment No. 2”) and a Third Amendment (“Amendment No. 3”) to the March PPA and the May PPA. Pursuant to the terms of Amendment No. 2, the March PPA and the May PPA, and the Optional Redemption provisions set forth in the YA Notes, were amended such that the Company may only redeem early a portion or all amounts outstanding under the YA Notes in cash after January 1, 2025. Pursuant to Amendment No. 3, the March PPA and the May PPA were amended to eliminate the $16.0 million per month conversion limitation that exists in the aggregate across the YA Notes.

 

Increase In Authorized Shares

 

On June 11, 2024, we filed a Certificate of Amendment (the “Certificate of Amendment”) to our Second Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended (the “Articles of Incorporation”). Pursuant to the Certificate of Amendment, the number of authorized shares of Common Stock was increased to 300,000,000. The Certificate of Amendment became effective upon filing on June 11, 2024.

 

At-the-Market Sales Agreement

 

On July 9, 2024, we entered into a Sales Agreement with B. Riley Securities, Inc., BTIG, LLC, Lake Street Capital Markets, LLC, Northland Securities, Inc. and Roth Capital Partners, LLC (the “Sales Agreement”). Up to $125,000,000 of shares of our Common Stock may be issued if and when sold pursuant to the Sales Agreement. As of the date of this prospectus, approximately 2.9 million shares of our Common Stock have been issued and sold under the Sales Agreement for approximate proceeds to us of $16.4 million.

 

Garden City Release of Escrow Funds

 

On July 30, 2024, we announced that the conditional approval requirements related to the release of the escrowed funds from the sale of our Garden City hosting facility have been met. As of the date of this prospectus, we have received the remaining $25 million of the purchase price, previously held in escrow pending such conditional approval.

 

4
 

 

PIPE

 

On September 5, 2024, the Company entered into a securities purchase agreement (the “PIPE Purchase Agreement”) with the purchasers named therein (the “PIPE Purchasers”), for the private placement of 49,382,720 shares of the Company’s Common Stock, at a purchase price of $3.24 per share, representing the last closing price of the Common Stock on Nasdaq on September 4, 2024. The private placement closed on September 9, 2024, with aggregate gross proceeds to the Company of approximately $160 million, before deducting offering expenses.

 

The Company and the PIPE Purchasers also entered into a registration rights agreement (the “PIPE Registration Rights Agreement”), pursuant to which the Company agreed to prepare and file with the SEC a Registration Statement on Form S-1, registering the resale of the shares, within 30 days of signing the PIPE Registration Rights Agreement (subject to certain exceptions).

 

Corporate Information

 

Our executive office is located at 3811 Turtle Creek Blvd., Suite 2100, Dallas, Texas 75219, and our phone number is (214) 427-1704. Our principal website address is www.applieddigital.com.

 

We make available free of charge through the Investor Relations link on our website access to press releases and investor presentations, as well as all materials that we file electronically with the SEC, including our annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports, filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act as soon as reasonably practicable after electronically filing such materials with, or furnishing them to, the SEC. In addition, the SEC maintains an Internet website, www.sec.gov, that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information that we file electronically with the SEC. Information contained in, or accessible through, our website does not constitute part of this prospectus or the registration statement of which it forms a part and inclusions of our website address in this prospectus or the registration statement are inactive textual references only. You should not rely on any such information in making your decision whether to purchase our securities.

 

We are a “smaller reporting company” as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act and may rely on exemptions from certain disclosure requirements that are available to smaller reporting companies under the Exchange Act.

 

5
 

 

THE OFFERING

 

The following summary contains the principal terms of this Offering. The summary is not intended to be complete. You should read the full text and more specific details contained elsewhere in this prospectus.

 

Offered Securities   Up to 2,500,000 shares of Series E-1 Preferred Stock.
     
Maximum Common Stock that may be issued upon Redemption of our Series E-1 Preferred Stock   25,475,751 shares of Common Stock.
     
Common Stock to be outstanding after maximum Redemption of our Series E Preferred Stock   239,987,197 shares of Common Stock, assuming the issuance of 25,475,751 shares of Common Stock issuable upon maximum redemption of the Series E-1 Preferred Stock in this Offering which is equal to 19.99% of the number of shares outstanding shares of Common Stock immediately prior to the commencement of the Series E Offering. The Company does not intend to issue more than 19.99% of the number of shares of our outstanding shares of Common Stock immediately prior to the commencement of the Series E Offering upon redemption of the Series E-1 Preferred Stock in this Offering. The actual number of shares of our Common Stock issued will vary depending on the value of our shares of Common Stock from time to time, if and when, shares of the Series E-1 Preferred Stock are redeemed and whether the Company determines to pay any particular redemption in cash or Common Stock. See “Risk Factors - Substantial blocks of our Common Stock may be sold into the market as a result of the conversion of outstanding Series F Preferred Stock, the SEPA, the Sales Agreement and the March PPA” on page S-14 of this prospectus.
     
Dealer Manager   The dealer manager of this Offering is Preferred Capital Securities, LLC (“PCS” or the “Dealer Manager”). The Dealer Manager is not required to sell any specific number or dollar amount of the Series E-1 Preferred Stock, but will use its “best efforts” to sell the Series E-1 Preferred Stock offered. Our Dealer Manager may reallow a portion of its dealer manager fee to participating broker-dealers as a marketing fee as described further in “Plan of Distribution.”
     
Stated Value   $25.00 per share
     
Ranking   The Series E-1 Preferred Stock ranks, with respect to the payment of dividends and rights upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our affairs: (i) prior or senior to all classes or series of our Common Stock and any other class or series of equity securities, if the holders of Series E-1 Preferred Stock are entitled to the receipt of dividends or of amounts distributable upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up in preference or priority to the holders of shares of such class or series; (ii) on a parity with the Series E Preferred Stock and the Series F Preferred Stock, in proportion to their respective amounts of accrued and unpaid dividends per share or liquidation preferences; (iii) on a parity with other classes or series of our equity securities issued in the future if, pursuant to the specific terms of such class or series of equity securities, the holders of such class or series of equity securities and the holders of Series E-1 Preferred Stock are entitled to the receipt of dividends and of amounts distributable upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up in proportion to their respective amounts of accrued and unpaid dividends per share or liquidation preferences, without preference or priority of one over the other; (iv) junior to any class or series of our equity securities if, pursuant to the specific terms of such class or series, the holders of such class or series are entitled to the receipt of dividends or amounts distributable upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up in preference or priority to the holders of the Series E-1 Preferred Stock (none of which are currently outstanding); and (v) junior to all our existing and future debt indebtedness.

 

Maturity   Shares of the Series E-1 Preferred Stock have no stated maturity. Shares of the Series E-1 Preferred Stock will remain outstanding indefinitely unless they are redeemed or repurchased by the Company. The Company is not required to set apart for payment funds to redeem the Series E-1 Preferred Stock and may pay for any redemption of the Series E-1 Preferred Stock in cash or shares of Common Stock; provided, however, that no Holder Optional Redemption (as defined below) with respect to any share of Series E-1 Preferred Stock may be redeemed for Common Stock prior to the first anniversary of the date of its issuance, and (iii) the Company shall not exercise the Company Optional Redemption (as defined below) with respect to any share of Series E-1 Preferred Stock prior to the second anniversary of the date of its issuance (the “Redemption Eligibility Date”).
     
Dividends   Holders of the Series E-1 Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive a cumulative dividend at a fixed annual rate of 9% per annum of the Stated Value of the Series E-1 Preferred Stock per year (computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months). Dividends will be declared and accrued monthly. Such dividends shall be payable upon Board approval, which may not be monthly, out of legally available funds in cash. The Series E-1 Preferred Stock shall rank on parity with the Series E Preferred Stock and the Series F Preferred Stock with respect to the right to receive payment of any dividends in proportion to their respective amounts of accrued and unpaid dividends per share. Unless full cumulative dividends on our shares of Series E-1 Preferred Stock for all past dividend periods have been paid (or set apart for payment), we will not declare or pay dividends with respect to any shares of our Common Stock or other stock ranking junior to the Series E-1 Preferred Stock for any period.
     
Liquidation Preference   Subject to the liquidation preference stated in the ranking section above, the Series E-1 Preferred Stock will be entitled to be paid out of the funds and assets available for distribution, an amount per share equal to the Stated Value, plus an amount per share that is issuable as the result of accrued or unpaid dividends. After payment to the holders of the Series E-1 Preferred Stock, and to the holders of shares of any other class or series of capital stock ranking senior to or on a parity with the Series E-1 Preferred Stock, including, without limitation, the Series E Preferred Stock and Series F Preferred Stock, the remaining funds and assets available for distribution to Company stockholders shall be distributed among the holders of shares of Common Stock, pro rata based on the number of shares of Common Stock held by each such holder.

 

6
 

 

Holder Optional Redemption  

Each holder of shares of Series E-1 Preferred Stock is entitled to redeem any portion of the outstanding Series E-1 Preferred Stock held by such holder (a “Holder Optional Redemption”) at any time.

 

At the option of the Company, a Holder Optional Redemption may be redeemed in either cash or our Common Stock; provided, however, that (i) if required by Rule 5635(d) of The Nasdaq Stock Market, the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock issuable to holders of Series E-1 Preferred Stock for dividends and redemption shall not exceed 19.99% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (the “Redemption Share Cap”), unless approval by our stockholders is obtained to exceed the Redemption Share Cap, and (ii) no Holder Optional Redemption with respect to any share of Series E-1 Preferred Stock may be redeemed for Common Stock prior to the first anniversary of the date of its issuance.

 

The Company will settle any Holder Optional Redemption the Company determines to redeem in cash by paying the holder the Settlement Amount (as defined below). The “Settlement Amount” means (A) the Stated Value, plus (B) unpaid dividends accrued to, but not including, the Holder Redemption Exercise Date (as defined below), minus (C) the Holder Optional Redemption Fee (as defined below) applicable on the respective Holder Redemption Deadline (as defined below). The Company will settle any Holder Optional Redemption the Company determines to redeem with Common Stock, subject to the Redemption Share Cap, if applicable, by delivering to the holder a number of shares of our Common Stock equal to (1) the Settlement Amount divided by (2) the closing price per share of our Common Stock on Nasdaq on the last trading day prior to the Holder Redemption Exercise Date (as defined below).

 

Holders of Series E-1 Preferred Stock may elect to redeem their shares of Series E-1 Preferred Stock at any time by delivering to Preferred Shareholder Services, LLC (“PSS”), an affiliate of the Dealer Manager, a notice of redemption (the “Holder Redemption Notice”). See “Plan of Distribution – Operations” for further information regarding the non-distribution services to be provided by PSS. A Holder Redemption Notice will be effective as of the last business day of the month after a Holder Redemption Notice is duly received by PSS (such date, a “Holder Redemption Deadline”). Any Holder Redemption Notice received after 5:00 p.m. Eastern time on a Holder Redemption Deadline will be effective as of the next Holder Redemption Deadline. For all shares of Series E-1 Preferred Stock duly submitted for redemption on or before a Holder Redemption Deadline, we, in our sole discretion, shall determine the Settlement Amount on any business day after such Holder Redemption Deadline but before the next Holder Redemption Deadline (such date, the “Holder Redemption Exercise Date”). The Company may, in our sole discretion, permit a holder to revoke their Holder Redemption Notice at any time prior to 5:00 pm, Eastern time, on the business day immediately preceding the Holder Redemption Exercise Date. Please also see Holder Optional Redemption Fee below.

     
Company Optional Redemption   Subject to the restrictions described herein and unless prohibited by Nevada law, a share of Series E-1 Preferred Stock may be redeemed at our option (the “Company Optional Redemption”) on or after the Redemption Eligibility Date upon not less than 10 calendar days nor more than 90 calendar days written notice (the date upon which such written notice is provided to holders, the “Company Optional Redemption Notice Exercise Date”) to the holders prior to the date fixed for redemption thereof, at a redemption price of 100% of the Stated Value of the shares of Series E-1 Preferred Stock to be redeemed plus accrued but unpaid dividends (at a rate equal to (1) the Settlement Amount divided by (2) the closing price of shares of our Common Stock on Nasdaq, or other national securities exchange on which the Common Stock is listed, on the last trading day prior to the Company Optional Redemption Notice Exercise Date). In the Company’s sole and absolute discretion, the Company may determine to fulfill a Company Optional Redemption in either cash or with fully paid and non-assessable shares of our Common Stock, subject to the Redemption Share Cap, if applicable. If the Company exercises the Company Optional Redemption for less than all of the outstanding shares of Series E-1 Preferred Stock, then shares of Series E-1 Preferred Stock shall be selected for redemption on a pro rata basis or by lot across holders of the series of Series E-1 Preferred Stock selected for redemption.

 

7
 

 

Holder Optional Redemption Fee  

A share of Series E-1 Preferred Stock is subject to an early redemption fee if it is redeemed by its holder within three years of its issuance (the “Holder Optional Redemption Fee”). The amount of the fee equals a percentage of the Stated Value disclosed herein based on the year in which the redemption occurs after the Series E-1 Preferred Stock is issued as follows:

 

    Prior to the first anniversary of the issuance of such Series E-1 Preferred Stock: 9% of the Stated Value disclosed herein, which equals $2.25 per share of Series E-1 Preferred Stock;
       
    On or after the first anniversary but prior to the second anniversary: 7% of the Stated Value disclosed herein, which equals $1.75 per share of Series E-1 Preferred Stock;
       
    On or after the second anniversary but prior to the third anniversary: 5% of the Stated Value disclosed herein, which equals $1.25 per share of Series E-1 Preferred Stock; and
       
    On or after the third anniversary: 0%.

 

    The Company is permitted to waive the Holder Optional Redemption Fee. Although the Company has retained the right to waive the Holder Optional Redemption Fee in the manner described above, we are not required to establish any such waivers and we may never establish any such waivers.
     
Optional Redemption Following Death of a Holder   Subject to restrictions, beginning on the date of original issuance and ending on December 31st of the year in which the third anniversary of the date of issuance occurs, we will redeem shares of Series E-1 Preferred Stock of a beneficial owner who is a natural person (including a natural person who holds shares of Series E-1 Preferred Stock through an Individual Retirement Account or in a personal or estate planning trust) upon his or her death at the written request of the beneficial owner’s estate (such date the requested is received by us, the “Optional Redemption Following Death of a Holder Notice Date”) at a redemption price equal to the Settlement Amount without application of the Holder Optional Redemption Fee. In our sole and absolute discretion, we may determine to fulfill such redemption in either cash or with fully paid and non-assessable shares of our Common Stock (at a rate equal to (1) the Settlement Amount divided by (2) the closing price of shares of our Common Stock on Nasdaq, or other national securities exchange on which the Common Stock is listed, on the last trading day prior to the Optional Redemption Following Death of a Holder Notice Date), subject to the Redemption Share Cap, if applicable.

 

8
 

 

Voting Rights   Holders of our Series E-1 Preferred Stock do not have any Company voting rights.
     
Listing of Series E-1 Preferred Stock   The Company does not intend to apply for listing of the Series E-1 Preferred Stock on any national securities exchange or over the counter market.
     
Use of Proceeds   We intend to use the net proceeds from this Offering for working capital and general corporate purpose. See “Use of Proceeds” in this prospectus beginning on page S-16.
     
Selling Commissions   Up to 6% of the Stated Value of each share of Series E-1 Preferred Stock sold in the Offering will be paid by the Company to the Dealer Manager and reallowed to participating broker-dealers. Payment of the selling commissions by the Company may be reduced or waived in certain circumstances. See “Plan of Distribution.”
     
Dealer Manager Fee   Up to 2% of the Stated Value of each share of Series E-1 Preferred Stock sold in the Offering will be paid by the Company to the Dealer Manager and reallowed to participating broker-dealers. Payment of the dealer manager fee by the Company may be reduced or waived in certain circumstances. Further, a portion of the dealer manager fee may be reallowed to participating broker-dealers as a marketing fee. See “Plan of Distribution.”
     
Other Expenses  

The Company, the Dealer Manager, a participating broker dealer, or other financial intermediary may incur other costs and expenses that are considered underwriting compensation (“Other Expenses”) associated with the sale, or the facilitation of the marketing, of shares of Series E-1 Preferred Stock. These expenses may include:

 

    travel and entertainment expenses, including those of the wholesalers;
       
    expenses incurred in coordinating broker-dealer seminars and meetings;
       
    certain wholesaling activities and wholesaling expense reimbursements paid by PCS or its affiliates to other entities;
       
    the national and regional sales conferences of our participating broker-dealers;
       
    training and education meetings for registered representatives of our participating broker dealers;
       
    certain legal expenses of the Dealer Manager associated with the required FINRA filing of the proposed underwriting terms and arrangements;
       
    technology fees paid to certain participating broker-dealers so that they can maintain the technology necessary to adequately service the investors to whom they sold Series E-1 Preferred Stock;
       
    due diligence expenses although only reasonable out-of-pocket due diligence expenses that are detailed on an itemized invoice will be reimbursed to a participating broker-dealer; and
       
    permissible forms of non-cash compensation to registered representatives of our participating broker-dealers, such as logo apparel items and gifts that do not exceed an aggregate value of $100 per annum per registered representative and that are not pre-conditioned on achievement of a sales target (including, but not limited to, seasonal gifts).

 

    Other Expenses are considered underwriting compensations and will be reimbursed by us or if incurred by our Dealer Manager, the corresponding payments of the dealer manager fee may be reduced by the aggregate value of such compensation. However, in no event will all forms of underwriting compensation in this offering exceed 8% of gross Offering proceeds.

 

9
 

 

Offering Expenses  

The Company will pay Offering Expenses which are not considered underwriting compensation under FINRA Rule 5110 (“Offering Expenses”), directly or by reimbursing the Dealer Manager and/or a participating financial intermediary for Offering Expenses, in an amount which, in the aggregate, will not exceed the greater of: $700,000 and 3.5% of the gross proceeds of the Offering (the “Maximum Offering Expenses”). The Company will not pay or reimburse Offering Expenses in excess of the then applicable Maximum Offering Expenses without advance approval by the Company’s Board.

 

Offering Expenses include the following:

 

    expenses and taxes related to the filing, registration and qualification, as necessary, of the sale of the shares of Series E-1 Preferred Stock under federal and state laws and FINRA rules, including taxes and fees and accountants’ and attorneys’ fees;
       
    expenses for printing and amending registration statements or supplementing prospectuses;
       
    mailing and distributing costs;
       
    all advertising and marketing expenses (including actual costs incurred for travel, meals and lodging for our employees to attend retail seminars hosted by broker-dealers or bona fide training or educational meetings hosted by us;
       
    charges of transfer agents, registrars and experts and fees;
       
    expenses in connection with non-offering issuer support services relating to the Series E-1 Preferred Stock; and
       
    expenses for establishing servicing arrangements for new shareholder accounts.

 

Material Tax Considerations   You should consult your tax advisors concerning the U.S. federal income tax consequences of owning our Series E-1 Preferred Stock in light of your own specific situation, as well as consequences arising under the laws of any other taxing jurisdiction.
     
Transfer Agent   Computershare Trust Company, N.A. (the “Transfer Agent”)
     
Nasdaq Symbol   “APLD.”
     
Risk Factors   An investment in our securities involves a high degree of risk. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-11 of this prospectus. In addition, before deciding whether to invest in our securities, you should consider carefully the risks and uncertainties described in the section captioned “Risk Factors” contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2024, filed with the SEC on August 30, 2024, and other filings we make with the SEC from time to time, which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety, together with other information in this prospectus and the information incorporated by reference herein.

 

The number of shares of Common Stock to be outstanding upon maximum redemption of the Series E-1 Preferred Stock is based on 214,511,446 shares of our Common Stock outstanding as of September 20, 2024 and excludes the following, each as of September 20, 2024:

 

 

14,883,085 shares of Common Stock reserved for future issuance under the Applied Blockchain, Inc. 2022 Incentive Plan, as amended;

     
 

652,964 shares of Common Stock reserved for future issuance under the Applied Blockchain, Inc. 2022 Non-Employee Director Stock Plan, as amended;

     
  204,168 shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance under restricted stock unit awards to certain consultants;
     
  5,032,802 shares of Common Stock held in treasury;
     
  12,265,366 shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance upon exercise of outstanding warrants;
     
  1,698,327 shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance upon the maximum redemption of the Series E Preferred Stock;
     
  9,769,640 shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance upon the conversion of the Initial YA Notes;
     
  24,471,329 shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance under the SEPA; and
     
  7,598,714 shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance upon the conversion of the Series F Preferred Stock; and
     
  Up to 18,039,867 shares of our Common Stock to be issued if and when sold pursuant to the Sales Agreement (assuming a public offering price of $6.02 per share, which was the closing price of our Common Stock on Nasdaq on September 20, 2024). The actual number of shares issued will vary depending on the prices at which the shares of Common Stock are sold from time.

 

10
 

 

RISK FACTORS

 

An investment in our securities involves a high degree of risk. Before deciding whether to invest in our securities, you should consider carefully the risks and uncertainties described below and the risks and uncertainties in the section captioned “Risk Factors” contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2024, filed with the SEC on August 30, 2024, and our other filings that we make with the SEC from time to time, which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety, together with other information in this prospectus and the information incorporated by reference herein. If any of these risks actually occurs, our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flow could suffer materially. In such an event, the trading price of our shares of Common Stock could decline, and you might lose all or part of your investment.

 

Risks Related to This Offering

 

The Series E-1 Preferred Stock is subordinated in right of payment to our existing and future debt, and your interests could be diluted by the issuance of additional preferred stock, including additional shares of Series E-1 Preferred Stock, and by other transactions.

 

The Series E-1 Preferred Stock ranks on parity with the Series E Preferred Stock and Series F Preferred Stock and is subordinated in right of payment to all of our existing and future debt. We are currently authorized to issue 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock at $0.001 par value per share (the “Preferred Stock”), in one or more series. As of the date of this prospectus, 2,120,578 shares of Preferred Stock have been issued and retired, 354,864 shares of Preferred Stock are outstanding and 1,698,327 shares of Preferred Stock remain available and authorized for issuance. Other than disclosed in this prospectus, the terms of the Series E-1 Preferred Stock do not restrict our ability to authorize or issue shares of a class or series of preferred stock with rights to distributions or upon liquidation that are on parity with or senior to the Series E-1 Preferred Stock or to incur additional indebtedness. The issuance of additional preferred stock on parity with or senior to the Series E-1 Preferred Stock would dilute the interests of the holders of the Series E-1 Preferred Stock, and any issuance of preferred stock senior to the Series E-1 Preferred Stock or of additional indebtedness could affect our ability to pay dividends on, redeem, or pay the liquidation preference on the Series E-1 Preferred Stock. Additionally, none of the provisions relating to the Series E-1 Preferred Stock relate to or limit our indebtedness or afford the holders of the Series E-1 Preferred Stock protection in the event of a highly leveraged or other transaction, including a merger or the sale, lease or conveyance of all or substantially all our assets or business, that might adversely affect the holders of the Series E-1 Preferred Stock.

 

Our management team may invest or spend the proceeds of this Offering in ways with which you may not agree or in ways which may not yield a significant return.

 

Our management will have broad discretion over the use of proceeds from this Offering, including for any of the purposes described in the section entitled “Use of Proceeds,” and you will not have the opportunity, as part of your investment decision, to assess whether the proceeds are being used appropriately. However, we have not determined the specific allocation of any net proceeds among these potential uses, and the ultimate use of the net proceeds may vary from the currently intended uses. The net proceeds may be used for corporate purposes that do not increase our operating results or enhance the value of our Series E-1 Preferred Stock.

 

Dividends on the Series E-1 Preferred Stock are accrued monthly, but payment of such dividends is discretionary. We cannot guarantee that we will be able to pay dividends in the future or what the actual dividends will be for any future period.

 

Future dividends on our Series E-1 Preferred Stock will be declared and accrued monthly. Such dividends shall be payable upon Board approval, which may not be monthly, out of legally available funds in cash. The Board’s determination of the time of payment of such dividends will depend on, among other things, our results of operations, cash flow from operations, financial condition and capital requirements, any debt service requirements, the availability of legally available funds and any other factors our Board deems relevant. Accordingly, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to pay cash dividends on our Series E-1 Preferred Stock or what the actual dividends will be for any future period. However, until we pay (or set apart for payment) the full cumulative dividends on the Series E-1 Preferred Stock for all past dividend periods, our ability to make dividends and other distributions on our Common Stock (including redemptions) will be limited by the terms of the Series E-1 Preferred Stock.

 

11
 

 

In the event you exercise your option to redeem Series E-1 Preferred Stock, our ability to redeem such shares of Series E-1 Preferred Stock may be subject to certain restrictions and limits.

 

Our ability to redeem shares of Series E-1 Preferred Stock may be limited by our available funds, ability to issue the full amount of shares of Common Stock, and applicable federal and Nevada law.

 

Pursuant to the Certificate of Designations, Powers, Preferences and Rights of Series E-1 Redeemable Preferred Stock (the “Certificate of Designations”), each holder of shares of Series E-1 Preferred Stock will be entitled to redeem any portion of the outstanding Series E-1 Preferred Stock held by such holder. Such redemption may, at our option, be in cash or in Common Stock, provided that (i) if required by Rule 5635(d) of The Nasdaq Stock Market, the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock issuable to holders of Series E-1 Preferred Stock for dividends and redemption shall not exceed the Redemption Share Cap, unless approval by our stockholders is obtained to exceed the Redemption Share Cap, and (ii) no such Series E-1 Preferred Stock may be redeemed for Common Stock prior to the first anniversary of the date of its issuance. However, our ability to redeem shares of Series E-1 Preferred Stock for cash may be limited to the extent we do not have sufficient funds available.

 

In addition, applicable Nevada law provides that no distribution (including dividends on, or redemption or repurchases of, shares of capital stock) may be made if, after giving effect to such distribution, the corporation would not be able to pay its debts as they become due in the usual course of business, or, except as specifically permitted by the company’s articles of incorporation, the company’s total assets would be less than the sum of its total liabilities plus the amount that would be needed at the time of a dissolution to satisfy the preferential rights of stockholders whose preferential rights are superior to those receiving the distribution. Accordingly, we generally may not make a distribution on the Series E-1 Preferred Stock or redeem shares of Series E-1 Preferred Stock if, after giving effect to the distribution or redemption, we would not be able to pay our debts as they become due in the usual course of business or our total assets would be less than the sum of our total liabilities plus, unless the terms of such class or series provide otherwise, the amount that would be needed to satisfy the preferential rights upon dissolution of the holders of shares of any class or series of preferred stock then outstanding, if any, with preferences senior to those of the Series E-1 Preferred Stock. There can be no guarantee that we will have sufficient funds available to meet these obligations.

 

Further, on August 16, 2022, the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 was signed into federal law. The IR Act provides for, among other things, a new U.S. federal 1% excise tax (the “Excise Tax”) on certain repurchases of stock by publicly traded U.S. domestic corporations and certain U.S. domestic subsidiaries of publicly traded foreign corporations occurring on or after January 1, 2023. The Excise Tax is imposed on the repurchasing corporation itself, not its stockholders from which shares are repurchased. Depending on the number of shares of our Series E-1 Preferred Stock we sell and the number of holders of Series E-1 Preferred Stock who redeem their stock, the Excise Tax could also be applicable to the Company and adversely affect the cash we have available for redemption of the Series E-1 Preferred Stock and our operations.

 

Additionally, our ability to issue common stock in the event of a redemption may be limited by our ability to enter into “Variable Rate Transactions.” If a redemption constitutes a “Variable Rate Transaction” under the terms of the Prepaid Advance Agreements, we may need to seek a waiver from YA Fund before we could issue any shares of Common Stock.

 

The Series E-1 Preferred Stock has not been rated.

 

The Series E-1 Preferred Stock has not been rated by any nationally recognized statistical rating organization, which may negatively affect its value and your ability to sell such shares. No assurance can be given, however, that one or more rating agencies might not independently determine to issue such a rating or that such a rating, if issued, would not adversely affect the value of the Series E-1 Preferred Stock. In addition, we may elect in the future to obtain a rating of the Series E-1 Preferred Stock, which could adversely impact the value of the Series E-1 Preferred Stock. Ratings only reflect the views of the rating agency or agencies issuing the ratings and such ratings could be revised downward or withdrawn entirely at the discretion of the issuing rating agency if in its judgment circumstances so warrant. Any such downward revision or withdrawal of a rating could have an adverse effect on the value of the Series E-1 Preferred Stock.

 

12
 

 

Shares of Series E-1 Preferred Stock may be redeemed for shares of Common Stock, which rank junior to the Series E-1 Preferred Stock with respect to dividends and upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our affairs.

 

We may opt to redeem Series E-1 Preferred Stock with shares of our Common Stock in our sole and absolute discretion. The rights of the holders of shares of Series E-1 Preferred Stock rank senior to the rights of the holders of shares of our Common Stock as to dividends and payments upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our affairs. Unless full cumulative dividends on our shares of Series E-1 Preferred Stock for all past dividend periods have been paid (or set apart for payment), we will not declare or pay dividends with respect to any shares of our Common Stock or other stock ranking junior to the Series E-1 Preferred Stock for any period. Upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our affairs, the holders of shares of the Series E-1 Preferred Stock are entitled to receive a liquidation preference of the Stated Value, plus all accrued but unpaid dividends, prior and in preference to any distribution to the holders of shares of our Common Stock or any other class of our equity securities junior to the Series E-1 Preferred Stock. If we redeem your shares of Series E-1 Preferred Stock for Common Stock, you will be subject to the risks of ownership of Common Stock. Ownership of the Series E-1 Preferred Stock will not give you the rights of holders of our Common Stock. Until and unless you receive shares of our Common Stock upon redemption, you will have only those rights applicable to holders of the Series E-1 Preferred Stock.

 

The Series E-1 Preferred Stock will bear a risk of early redemption by us.

 

We will have the right to redeem, at our option, the outstanding shares of Series E-1 Preferred Stock, in whole or in part through a Company Optional Redemption, on or after to the Redemption Eligibility Date. It is likely that we would choose to exercise our Company Optional Redemption when prevailing interest rates have declined, which would adversely affect your ability to reinvest your proceeds from the redemption in a comparable investment with an equal or greater yield to the yield on the Series E-1 Preferred Stock had the Series E-1 Preferred Stock not been redeemed. We may elect to exercise our partial redemption right on multiple occasions.

 

The amount of your liquidation preference is fixed and you will have no right to receive any greater payment regardless of the circumstances.

 

The payment due upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our affairs is fixed. Upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our affairs, and after payment of the liquidating distribution has been made in full to the holders of Series E-1 Preferred Stock, you will have no right or claim to, or to receive, our remaining assets.

 

We established the offering price and other terms for the Series E-1 Preferred Stock pursuant to discussions between us and our Dealer Manager; as a result, the actual value of your investment may be substantially less than what you pay.

 

The offering price and net offering proceeds for the Series E-1 Preferred Stock and the related selling commissions and dealer manager fees have been determined pursuant to discussions between us and our Dealer Manager, based upon our financial condition and the perceived demand. Because the offering price is not based upon any independent valuation, such as the amount that a firm-commitment underwriter is willing to pay for the securities to be issued, the offering price may not be indicative of the price that you would receive upon the sale of the Series E-1 Preferred Stock in a hypothetical liquid market.

 

Series E-1 Preferred Stock does not have any management or voting rights in the Company.

 

Unlike our Common Stock, our Series E-1 Preferred Stock does not grant holders any voting rights. You will be dependent on our Board and our executive management for Company decisions, of which such decisions may not reflect your preferred approach or preference. Furthermore, we will have broad discretion in the application of the net proceeds from this Offering, and holders of the Series E-1 Preferred Stock will not have the opportunity as part of their investment decision to assess whether the net proceeds are being used appropriately. Because of the number and variability of factors that will determine our use of the net proceeds from this Offering, their ultimate use may result in investments that are not accretive to our results from operations.

 

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Substantial blocks of our Common Stock may be sold into the market as a result of the conversion of outstanding Series F Preferred Stock, the SEPA, the Sales Agreement and the March PPA.

 

The price of our Common Stock could decline if there are substantial sales of shares of our Common Stock, if there is a large number of shares of our Common Stock available for sale, or if there is the perception that these sales could occur.

 

Our Board has approved the creation and issuance of an aggregate of 53,191 shares of Series F Preferred Stock, all of which were issued on August 30, 2024 pursuant to the Series F Purchase Agreement to YA Fund in connection with the Series F Offering. Pursuant to the Series F Purchase Agreement, we have agreed to seek shareholder approval (“Nasdaq Stockholder Approval”) to enable the Series F Preferred Stock to become convertible into shares of Common Stock under the rules and regulations of Nasdaq. The Series F Preferred Stock will initially be non-convertible and will only become convertible upon, and subject to, the receipt of Nasdaq Stockholder Approval. The Series F Preferred Stock is convertible into shares of Common Stock, if and when the Nasdaq Stockholder Approval is obtained, at a conversion price per share which is subject to adjustments pursuant to the terms of the Certificate of Designations, Powers, Preferences and Rights of Series F Convertible Preferred Stock filed with the Nevada Secretary of State in connection with the creation and issuance of the Series F Preferred Stock. Based on the initial stated value of the Series F Preferred Stock of $1,000 per share and the $7.00 initial conversion price, the Series F Preferred Stock would be convertible into an aggregate of 7,598,714 shares of Common Stock.

 

On August 28, 2024, we entered into the SEPA with YA Fund, which was amended on August 29, 2024. Under the SEPA, we agreed to issue and sell to YA Fund, from time to time, and YA Fund agreed to purchase from us, up to $250 million of our Common Stock, subject to certain obligations and limitations. Our shares of Common Stock that may be issued under the SEPA may be sold by us to YA Fund at our discretion from time to time during the commitment period commencing on September 30, 2024 and terminating on the first day of the month next following the 36-month anniversary of September 30, 2024 (unless earlier terminated pursuant to the terms of the SEPA); provided, that there is an effective resale registration statement on file with the SEC covering the shares of Common Stock issued and issuable under the SEPA. We generally have the right to control the timing and amount of any sales of our Common Stock to YA Fund under the SEPA. Sales of our shares of Common Stock, if any, to YA Fund under the SEPA will depend upon market conditions and other factors to be determined by us. We may ultimately decide to sell to YA Fund all, some, or none of the shares of Common Stock that may be available for us to sell to YA Fund pursuant to the SEPA.

 

On July 9, 2024, we entered into the Sales Agreement. As of the date of this prospectus, up to 18,039,867 additional shares of our common stock may be issued if and when sold pursuant to the Sales Agreement (assuming a public offering price of $6.02 per share, which was the closing price of our Common Stock on Nasdaq on September 20, 2024). The actual number of shares issued will vary depending on the prices at which the shares of our Common Stock are sold from time to time.

 

In addition, on March 27, 2024, we entered into the March PPA with YA Fund. In accordance with the terms of the March PPA, on March 27, 2024, YA Fund agreed to advance to us up to $50 million, pursuant to the Initial YA Notes. The aggregate principal amount outstanding under the Initial YA Notes, as of the date of this prospectus, is $6.2 million. The Initial YA Notes are convertible into shares of our Common Stock, at the request and sole discretion of the holder, subject to a minimum floor conversion price (which may be reduced by us from time to time in our discretion, subject to the rules and regulations of Nasdaq). We have registered for resale up to 23,585,000 shares underlying the Initial YA Notes, of which 13,259,073 have been issued and are outstanding.

 

Any issuances of shares of our Common Stock upon conversion of the Series F Preferred Stock or pursuant to the SEPA, the Initial YA Notes, the March PPA will dilute the percentage ownership of stockholders and may dilute the per share projected earnings (if any) or book value of our Common Stock. Sales of a substantial number of shares of our Common Stock in the public market or other issuances of shares of our Common Stock, or the perception that these sales or issuances could occur, could cause the market price of our Common Stock to decline and may make it more difficult for you to sell your shares at a time and price that you deem appropriate.

 

Compliance with the SEC’s Regulation Best Interest by participating broker-dealers may negatively impact our ability to raise capital in this offering, which could harm our ability to achieve our investment objectives.

 

Broker-dealers must comply with the SEC’s Regulation Best Interest (“Reg BI”), which among other requirements, establishes a standard of conduct for broker-dealers and their associated persons when making a recommendation of any securities transaction or investment strategy involving securities to a retail customer. The full impact of Reg BI on participating broker-dealers in this Offering may negatively impact whether participating broker-dealers and their registered representatives recommend this Offering to certain retail customers, or the amount of shares of Series E-1 Preferred Stock which are recommended to such customers. In particular, under SEC guidance concerning Reg BI, a participating broker-dealer recommending an investment in our shares of Series E-1 Preferred Stock should consider a number of factors under the duty of care obligation of Reg BI, including but not limited to cost and complexity of the investment and reasonably available alternatives in determining whether there is a reasonable basis for the recommendation. Participating broker-dealers may recommend a more costly or complex product as long as they have a reasonable basis to believe it is in the best interest of a retail customer. However, if participating broker-dealers choose alternatives to our shares of Series E-1 Preferred Stock, many of which likely exist, our ability to raise capital may be adversely affected. You should ask your broker-dealer or other financial professional about what reasonable alternatives exist for you, and how our Offering compares to other types of investments (e.g., publicly traded securities) that may have lower costs, complexities, and/or risks, and that may be available for lower or no commissions. If Reg BI reduces our ability to raise capital in this Offering, it may harm our ability to achieve our objectives.

 

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CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

Except for historical information, this prospectus contains forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 under Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. Forward-looking statements include statements with respect to our beliefs, plans, objectives, goals, expectations, anticipations, assumptions, estimates, intentions and future performance, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may be beyond our control, and which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical fact are statements that could be forward-looking statements. You can identify these forward-looking statements through our use of words such as “may,” “can,” “anticipate,” “assume,” “should,” “indicate,” “would,” “believe,” “contemplate,” “expect,” “seek,” “estimate,” “continue,” “plan,” “point to,” “project,” “predict,” “could,” “intend,” “target,” “potential” and other similar words and expressions of the future.

 

There are a number of important factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statement made by us. These factors include, but are not limited to:

 

our availability to complete construction of the Ellendale HPC data center;
availability of financing to grow our business;
labor and other workforce shortages and challenges;
power or other supply disruptions and equipment failures;
our dependence on principal customers;
the addition or loss of significant customers or material changes to our relationships with these customers;
our sensitivity to general economic conditions including changes in disposable income levels and consumer spending trends;
our ability to timely and successfully build new hosting facilities with the appropriate contractual margins and efficiencies;
our ability to continue to grow sales in our hosting business;
volatility of cryptoasset prices;
uncertainties of cryptoasset regulation policy; and
equipment failures, power or other supply disruptions.

 

The foregoing does not represent an exhaustive list of matters that may be covered by the forward-looking statements contained herein or risk factors that we are faced with that may cause our actual results to differ from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements. The events and circumstances reflected in our forward-looking statements may not be achieved or occur and actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. You should review the factors and risks and other information we describe in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, as well as any amendments thereto reflected in subsequent reports we will file from time to time with the SEC.

 

All forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary note. You are cautioned to not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this prospectus or the date of the document incorporated by reference herein. You should read this prospectus and the documents that we incorporate by reference and have filed as exhibits to the registration statement, of which this prospectus is a part, completely and with the understanding that our actual future results may be materially different from what we expect. In light of the significant uncertainties in these forward-looking statements, you should not regard these statements as a representation or warranty by us or any other person that will achieve our objectives and plans in any specified time frame, or at all. We have no obligation, and expressly disclaims any obligation, to update, revise or correct any of the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. We have expressed our expectations, beliefs and projections in good faith and believe they have a reasonable basis. However, we cannot assure you that our expectations, beliefs or projections will result or be achieved or accomplished.

 

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USE OF PROCEEDS

 

Assuming that 2,500,000 shares of Series E-1 Preferred Stock are sold in this Offering, after deducting underwriting compensation (comprised of selling commissions, dealer manager fees, Other Expenses, and other underwriting compensation, which in the aggregate cannot exceed 8% of the gross Offering proceeds), when underwriting compensation is combined with Offering Expenses, the net proceeds to the Company are estimated to be approximately $22.125 per share of Series E-1 Preferred Stock, assuming maximum underwriting compensation of 8% of gross Offering proceeds and Offering Expenses of 3.5% of gross offering proceeds. We expect that our Offering Expenses, including legal, accounting, printing, mailing, registration, qualification, and associated securities offering filing costs and expenses, will be approximately $124,600 through the course of this Offering but in no event will our Offering Expenses exceed the Maximum Offering Expenses of the greater of $700,000 or 3.5% of gross Offering proceeds. However, our Board may, in its discretion, authorize the Company to incur Offering Expenses in excess of such amounts.

 

Except as otherwise set forth in a prospectus or in other offering materials, we intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of our shares of Series E-1 Preferred Stock for working capital and general corporate purposes.

 

The amounts and timing of our actual expenditures will depend on numerous factors, including the factors described under “Risk Factors” in this prospectus and in the documents incorporated by reference herein and therein, as well as the amount of cash used in our operations. We may find it necessary or advisable to use the net proceeds for other purposes.

 

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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

 

General

 

We are offering up to a maximum of 2,500,000 shares of our Series E-1 Preferred Stock through Preferred Capital Securities, LLC, or PCS, on a “reasonable best efforts” basis, which means that the dealer manager is only required to use its good faith efforts and reasonable due diligence to sell the Series E-1 Preferred Stock and has no firm commitment or obligation to purchase any specific number or dollar amount of the Series E-1 Preferred Stock. The Series E-1 Preferred Stock will be sold at a public offering of $25.00 per share of Series E-1 Preferred Stock, subject to reduction as described below under “Plan of Distribution-Compensation of Dealer Manager and Participating Broker-Dealers.” The Series E-1 Preferred Stock will not be certificated.

 

We will sell the Series E-1 Preferred Stock using two closing services provided by DTC. The first service is DTC Settlement and the second service is DRS Settlement. Investors purchasing shares of the Series E-1 Preferred Stock through DTC Settlement will coordinate with their registered representatives to pay the full purchase price for their shares of the Series E-1 Preferred Stock by the settlement date. Investors who are permitted to utilize the DRS Settlement method will complete and sign subscription agreements, which will be delivered to the escrow agent, UMB Bank N.A. the (“Escrow Agent”). In addition, such investors will pay the full purchase price for their Series E-1 Preferred Stock to the Escrow Agent (as set forth in the subscription agreement), to be held in trust for the investors’ benefit pending release to us as described herein. See “Plan of Distribution-Settlement Procedures” for a description of the closing procedures.

 

The offering price and net offering proceeds for the Series E-1 Preferred Stock and the related selling commissions and dealer manager fees have been determined pursuant to discussions between us and our Dealer Manager, based upon our financial condition and the perceived demand. Because the offering price is not based upon any independent valuation, such as the amount that a firm-commitment underwriter is willing to pay for the securities to be issued, the offering price may not be indicative of the price that you would receive upon the sale of the Series E-1 Preferred Stock in a hypothetical liquid market.

 

In connection with the sale of the Series E-1 Preferred Stock on our behalf, PCS may be deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act, and the compensation of PCS may be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts.

 

PCS is a securities broker-dealer registered with the SEC and a member firm of FINRA. The principal business address of PCS is 3290 Northside Parkway, NW, Suite 800, Atlanta, GA 30327.

 

Compensation of Dealer Manager and Participating Broker-Dealers

 

We will pay a selling commission of up to 6% of the Stated Value for the Series E-1 Preferred Stock. Selling commissions are payable by us to PCS. Reductions in selling commissions on sales of Series E-1 Preferred Stock will be reflected in reduced public offering prices as described below and the net proceeds to us will not be impacted by such reductions. We will not pay referral or similar fees to any accountants, attorneys or other persons in connection with the distribution of the Series E-1 Preferred Stock.

 

We expect PCS to authorize third-party broker-dealers that are members of FINRA, which we refer to as participating broker-dealers, to sell our Preferred Stock. PCS may reallow all or a portion of its selling commission attributable to a participating broker-dealer. Also, PCS may reallow a portion of its dealer manager fee earned on the proceeds raised by a participating broker-dealer, to such participating broker-dealer as a marketing fee. The amount of the marketing fee to be reallowed to any participating broker-dealer will be determined by the dealer manager in its sole discretion and include such factors as:

 

  the volume of sales estimated to be made by the participating broker-dealer; or

 

  the participating broker-dealer’s agreement to provide one or more of the following services:

 

providing internal marketing support personnel and marketing communications vehicles to assist the Dealer Manager in our promotion;

 

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responding to investors’ inquiries concerning monthly statements, valuations, distribution rates, tax information, annual reports, redemption rights and procedures, our financial status, and the markets in which we have invested;
   
assisting investors with redemptions; or
   
providing other services requested by investors from time to time and maintaining the technology necessary to adequately service investors.

 

PCS, as our Dealer Manager, provides services to us, which include conducting broker-dealer seminars, holding informational meetings and providing information and answering any questions concerning this Offering. We pay PCS a dealer manager fee equal to 2% of the Stated Value for the Series E-1 Preferred Stock. In addition to re-allowing a portion of the dealer manager fee to the participating broker-dealers as a marketing fee and paying wholesaling commissions to the Dealer Manager’s wholesalers, the fee will also be used for, or we will reimburse PCS for, certain Other Expenses that FINRA includes in the 8% underwriting compensation limit. Other Expenses include:

 

  travel and entertainment expenses, including those of the wholesalers;
    
  expenses incurred in coordinating broker-dealer seminars and meetings;
    
  certain wholesaler activities and wholesaling expense reimbursements paid by PCS or its affiliates to other entities;
    
  the national and regional sales conferences of our participating broker-dealers;
    
  training and education meetings for registered representatives of our participating broker-dealers;
    
 certain legal expenses of the Dealer Manager associated with the required FINRA filing of the proposed underwriting terms and arrangements;
    
  technology fees paid to certain participating broker-dealers so that they can maintain the technology necessary to adequately service the investors to whom they sold Series E-1 Preferred Stock;
    
  due diligence expenses although only reasonable out-of-pocket due diligence expenses that are detailed on an itemized invoice will be reimbursed to a participating broker-dealer; and
    
  permissible forms of non-cash compensation to registered representatives of our participating broker-dealers, such as logo apparel items and gifts that do not exceed an aggregate value of $100 per annum per registered representative and that are not pre-conditioned on achievement of a sales target (including, but not limited to, seasonal gifts).

 

The table below sets forth the nature and estimated amount of all items viewed as “underwriting compensation” by FINRA, assuming all shares of Series E-1 Preferred Stock are sold.

 

Selling Commission (maximum)  $3,750,000 
Dealer Manager Fee (maximum)  $1,250,000 
Total  $5,000,000 

 

To the extent permitted by law and our Articles of Incorporation, we will indemnify the participating broker-dealers and the Dealer Manager against certain civil liabilities, including certain liabilities arising under the Securities Act. However, the SEC takes the position that indemnification against liabilities arising under the Securities Act is against public policy and is not enforceable.

 

Selling commissions and dealer manager fees may be reduced or waived entirely for certain categories of persons, including, but not necessarily limited to:

 

our, and our affiliates’ executive officers and directors;
   
officers and personnel of the dealer manager and participating broker-dealers;
   
any immediate family members (as that term is defined in FINRA Rule 5130) of the foregoing officers, directors, and personnel;

 

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our affiliates;
   
certain institutional investors;
   
if a participating broker-dealer agrees to reduce or waive the selling commission for a sales to its client;
   
investors whose contract for investment advisory or brokerage services includes a fixed or “wrap” fee or other asset-based fee arrangement (unless that contract is with a federally registered investment adviser that is dually registered as a broker-dealer and provides financial planning services);
   
other individuals designated by management; or
   
if approved by our Board of Directors, joint venture partners, consultants, and other service providers.

 

The net proceeds to us will not be affected by reducing the commissions payable in connection with sales of Series E-1 Preferred Stock. To the extent a participating broker-dealer reduces its selling commission below 6%, the public offering price per share of Series E-1 Preferred Stock will be decreased by an amount equal to such reduction. Selling commissions will be established by each participating broker-dealer or other financial intermediary, and it is anticipated that all or a portion of the 6% selling commission on Series E-1 Preferred Stock will be waived for an investor that purchases Series E-1 Preferred Stock in a fee-based or “wrap” account maintained with a participating broker-dealer or other financial intermediary.

 

As reflected in the below table, the selling commission received by participating broker-dealers will vary depending on the fixed offering price at which the participating broker-dealer sells the Series E-1 Preferred Stock to investors. The Selected Dealer Agreement reflects the selling commission paid to the participating broker-dealer from which the fixed offering price for that participating broker-dealer’s sale of the Series E-1 Preferred Stock can be determined. The table provides examples of various possible offering prices within the established range of $23.50 to $25.00 per share of Series E-1 Preferred Stock only at fifty basis point intervals of the corresponding selling commission and assuming no reduction in the dealer manager fee; however, the fixed offering price with respect to any sale of shares of Series E-1 Preferred Stock may be any amount between the established range of $23.50 to $25.00 because the selling commission with respect to any sale of shares of Series E-1 Preferred Stock may be any amount between 0.0% and 6.0% and may not necessarily be discounted in fifty basis point increments and the net proceeds to the Company will always be the same. The selling commissions received by the participating broker-dealers in connection with the Series E-1 Preferred Stock will never exceed 6.0% of the aggregate gross offering proceeds. Further, any reductions in the dealer manager fee could further reduce the fixed offering price below the $23.50 price described above.

 

Table One 
Selling Commission as a Percentage of Stated Value   Public Offering Price Per Share of Series E-1 Preferred Stock 
 6.00%  $25.00 
 5.50%  $24.88 
 5.00%  $24.75 
 4.50%  $24.63 
 4.00%  $24.50 
 3.50%  $24.38 
 3.00%  $24.25 
 2.50%  $24.13 
 2.00%  $24.00 
 1.50%  $23.88 
 1.00%  $23.75 
 0.50%  $23.63 
 0.00%  $23.50 

 

Additional information related to the fixed prices being offered to the public and which participating broker-dealers are selling the Series E-1 Preferred Stock at such prices may be obtained by contacting Investor Services at (855) 422-3223.

 

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In addition to the selling commissions, dealer manager fee, marketing fees, and due diligence expenses (i.e., underwriting compensation), we expect to pay Offering Expenses and related expenses, which are not considered underwriting compensation, in connection with this Offering. These expenses include all expenses to be paid by us in connection with the Offering (other than underwriting compensation) and include, but are not limited to:

 

  expenses and taxes related to the filing, registration and qualification, as necessary, of the sale of the shares of Series E-1 Preferred Stock under federal and state laws and FINRA rules, including taxes and fees and accountants’ and attorneys’ fees;
    
  expenses for printing and amending registration statements or supplementing prospectuses;
    
  mailing and distributing costs;
    
  all advertising and marketing expenses (including actual costs incurred for travel, meals and lodging for our employees to attend retail seminars hosted by broker-dealers or bona fide training or educational meetings hosted by us;
    
  charges of transfer agents, registrars and experts and fees;
    
  expenses in connection with non-offering issuer support services relating to the Series E-1 Preferred Stock; and
    
  expenses for establishing servicing arrangements for new shareholder accounts.

 

Offering Expenses will not exceed the Maximum Offering Expenses amount, which, in the aggregate, will not exceed the greater of:

 

  $700,000; and
    
  3.5% of the gross proceeds of the Offering. The Company will not pay or reimburse Offering Expenses in excess of the then applicable Maximum Offering Expenses without advance approval by the Board.

 

Settlement Procedures

 

We will deliver the Series E-1 Preferred Stock through the facilities of DTC Settlement or DRS Settlement.

 

Using DTC Settlement, you can place an order for the purchase of Series E-1 Preferred Stock through your broker-dealer. A broker-dealer using this service will have an account with DTC in which your funds are placed to facilitate the anticipated bi-weekly closing cycle. Orders will be executed by your participating broker-dealer electronically and you must coordinate with your registered representative to pay the full purchase price of the Series E-1 Preferred Stock by the settlement date, which depends on when you place the order during the bi-weekly settlement cycle and can be anywhere from one to 15 days after the date of your order, or longer if we delay a closing date. Orders will be effective upon our acceptance, and we reserve the right to reject any order in whole or in part in our sole discretion for any or no reason.

 

Using DRS Settlement, you should complete and sign a subscription agreement similar to the one filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, which is available from your registered representative and which will be delivered to the Escrow Agent. In connection with a DRS Settlement subscription, you should pay the full purchase price of the Series E-1 Preferred Stock to the Escrow Agent as set forth in the subscription agreement. Subscribers may not withdraw funds from the escrow account. Subscriptions will be effective upon our acceptance, and we reserve the right to reject any subscription in whole or in part in our sole discretion for any or no reason.

 

We have the sole right, which we may delegate to our Dealer Manager, to, without notice to our Dealer Manager or the participating broker-dealers:

 

determine and change the number and timing of closings, including the ability to change the number and timing of closings after communicating the anticipated closing timing to participating broker dealers;
   
limit the total amount of Series E-1 Preferred Stock sold by all participating broker-dealers per closing;
   
limit the total amount of Series E-1 Preferred Stock sold by any one participating broker-dealer per closing; and
   
limit the total number of shares of Series E-1 Preferred Stock sold by any one participating broker-dealer.

 

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Irrespective of whether you purchase shares of Series E-1 Preferred Stock using DTC Settlement or DRS Settlement, by accepting Series E-1 Preferred Stock you will be deemed to have accepted the terms of our Articles of Incorporation.

 

Subject to compliance with Rule 15c2-4 of the Exchange Act, in connection with purchases using DRS Settlement, our Dealer Manager or the participating broker-dealers in this Offering promptly will deposit any checks received from subscribers in an escrow account maintained by UMB Bank N. A. by the end of the next business day following receipt of the subscriber’s subscription documents and check. When our Dealer Manager or a participating broker-dealer’s internal supervisory procedures are conducted at the site at which the subscription documents and check were initially received from the subscriber, our Dealer Manager or the participating broker-dealer, as applicable, will transmit the subscription documents and check to the Escrow Agent by the end of the next business day following receipt of the check and subscription documents. When, pursuant to our Dealer Manager or a participating broker dealer’s internal supervisory procedures, the final internal supervisory procedures are conducted at a different location (the “final review office”), the Dealer Manager or participating broker-dealer, as applicable, shall transmit the check and subscription documents to the final review office by the end of the next business day following the receipt of the subscription documents and check. The final review office will, by the end of the next business day following its receipt of the subscription documents and check, forward the subscription documents and check to the Escrow Agent.

 

Suitability

 

In recommending to you the purchase of Series E-1 Preferred Stock, each participating broker-dealer shall have a reasonable basis to believe that the purchase is suitable for you, based on the information obtained through the reasonable diligence of the member or associated person to ascertain your investment profile. Further, the participating broker-dealer must have reasonable grounds to believe that the information contained in your subscription agreement, if using DTC Settlement, is true and correct in all material respects and you will be acquiring Series E-1 Preferred Stock for investment and not with a view towards distribution.

 

In making this determination, the participating broker-dealer will rely on relevant information provided by you, including information as to your age, investment objectives, investment experience, investment time horizon, income, net worth, financial situation, other investments, liquidity needs, risk tolerance and other pertinent information. You should be aware that the participating broker-dealer will be responsible for determining whether this investment is appropriate for your portfolio. However, you are required to represent and warrant in the subscription agreement or, if placing an order through your registered representative not through a subscription agreement in connection with a DTC Settlement, to the registered representative, that you have received a copy of this prospectus and have had sufficient time to review this prospectus. Those selling shares on our behalf, including participating broker-dealers, and registered investment advisers recommending the purchase of shares in this Offering shall maintain records of the information used to determine that an investment in the Series E-1 Preferred Stock is suitable and appropriate for you. Those records are required to be maintained for a period of at least six years.

 

Regulation Best Interest

 

Pursuant to Regulation Best Interest under the Exchange Act, or Reg BI, participating broker-dealers must comply with, among other requirements, certain standards of conduct for broker-dealers and their associated persons when making a recommendation of any securities transaction or investment strategy involving securities to a retail customer. A retail customer is any natural person, or the legal representative of such person, who receives a recommendation of any securities transaction or investment strategy involving securities from a broker-dealer and uses the recommendation primarily for personal, family, or household purposes. Reg BI includes the general obligation that a participating broker-dealer and its registered representatives act in the best interest of retail customers when recommending any securities or investment strategy, without placing the financial or other interests of the participating broker-dealer and its registered representatives ahead of the retail customer. This enhances the previous “suitability” standard of care applicable to recommendations.

 

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To satisfy the general Reg BI obligation, the broker-dealer must meet four component obligations:

 

  Disclosure Obligation: The participating broker-dealer must provide certain required disclosures before or at the time of the recommendation about the recommendation and the relationship between the participating broker-dealer and its retail customer. The disclosure includes a customer relationship summary on Form CRS, which is intended to summarize key information for you about the participating broker-dealer and your relationship with that participating broker-dealer. The participating broker-dealer’s disclosures to you, including those made through their Form CRS, are different and are separate from the disclosures we provide to investors in this prospectus, which contains information regarding this offering and our company.
    
  Care Obligation: The participating broker-dealer must exercise reasonable diligence, care, and skill in making the recommendation.
    
  Conflict of Interest Obligation: The participating broker-dealer must establish, maintain, and enforce written policies and procedures reasonably designed to address conflicts of interest.
    
  Compliance Obligation: The participating broker-dealer must establish, maintain, and enforce written policies and procedures reasonably designed to achieve compliance with Reg BI.

 

As a part of the Care Obligation described above, your participating broker-dealer must evaluate reasonably available alternatives in your best interest. There are likely less costly alternatives to use that are reasonably available to you, through your participating broker-dealer or otherwise, and those alternatives may have a lower investment risk. Under Reg BI, participating broker-dealers must consider whether such alternatives are in the best interests of their clients. You should ask your participating broker-dealer or other financial professional about what reasonable alternatives exist for you, and how our offering compares to other types of investments that may have lower costs, complexities, and/or risks and may be available for lower or no commission. This standard is different from any quantitative suitability standards required for an investment in the shares of our Series E-1 Preferred Stock and enhances the broker-dealer standard of conduct beyond existing suitability obligations when dealing with a retail customer as described above.

 

In addition to Reg BI, certain states, including Massachusetts, have adopted or may adopt state-level standards that seek to further enhance the broker-dealer standard of conduct to a fiduciary standard for all broker-dealer recommendations made to retail customers in their states. In comparison to the standards of Reg BI, the Massachusetts fiduciary standard, for example, requires broker-dealers to adhere to the duties of utmost care and loyalty to customers. The Massachusetts standard requires a broker-dealer to make recommendations without regard to the financial or any other interest of any party other than the retail customer, and that broker-dealers must make all reasonably practicable efforts to avoid conflicts of interest, eliminate conflicts that cannot reasonably be avoided, and mitigate conflicts that cannot reasonably be avoided or eliminated.

 

The impact of Reg BI and state fiduciary standards on participating broker-dealers cannot be determined at this time, as little administrative or case law exists under Reg BI and state fiduciary standards and the full scope of their applicability is uncertain and are subject to evolving regulatory guidance.

 

Selling Restrictions

 

No action has been taken in any jurisdiction (except in the United States) that would permit a public offering of shares of Series E-1 Preferred Stock, or the possession, circulation or distribution of this prospectus or any other material relating to us or shares of Series E-1 Preferred Stock where action for that purpose is required. Accordingly, shares of Series E-1 Preferred Stock may not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, and neither this prospectus nor any other offering material or advertisements in connection with shares of Series E-1 Preferred Stock may be distributed or published, in or from any non-U.S. jurisdiction except in compliance with any applicable rules and regulations of any such non-U.S. jurisdiction.

 

The Dealer Manager, participating broker-dealers and their respective affiliates may arrange to sell the shares of Series E-1 Preferred Stock offered hereby in certain jurisdictions outside the United States, either directly or through affiliates, where it is permitted to do so.

 

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Operations

 

The Company has engaged PSS, an affiliate of the Dealer Manager, pursuant to a services agreement, under which PSS shall provide certain non-offering issuer support services relating to the Series E-1 Preferred Stock, including, for example:

 

  assistance with recordkeeping;
    
  answering investor inquiries regarding the Company, including regarding distribution payments;
    
  helping investors understand their investments upon their request; and
    
  assistance with redemption requests.

 

The Company is responsible for any payments due under such agreement. None of these services are distribution related.

 

Transfer Agent

 

The transfer agent and registrar for our Common Stock and our Series E-1 Preferred Stock is Computershare Trust Company, N.A. (the “Transfer Agent”). The Transfer Agent’s address and phone number is: 150 Royall St., Canton, MA 02021, telephone number: (781) 575-2000.

 

Listing

 

Our Common Stock is presently traded on The Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “APLD.”

 

23
 

 

DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES WE ARE OFFERING

 

Series E-1 Preferred Stock

 

Our Board has created out of the authorized and available shares of our Preferred Stock, a series of convertible redeemable preferred stock, designated as the Series E-1 Redeemable Preferred Stock (the “Series E-1 Preferred Stock”). The following is a brief description of the terms of the Series E-1 Preferred Stock. The Board has authorized the sale of up to 2,500,000 shares of Series E-1 Preferred Stock.

 

Ranking

 

The Series E-1 Preferred Stock ranks, with respect to the payment of dividends and rights upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our affairs: (i) prior or senior to all classes or series of our Common Stock and any other class or series of equity securities, if the holders of Series E-1 Preferred Stock are entitled to the receipt of dividends or of amounts distributable upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up in preference or priority to the holders of shares of such class or series; (ii) on a parity with the Series E Preferred Stock and the Series F Preferred Stock, in proportion to their respective amounts of accrued and unpaid dividends per share or liquidation preferences; (iii) on a parity with other classes or series of our equity securities issued in the future if, pursuant to the specific terms of such class or series of equity securities, the holders of such class or series of equity securities and the holders of Series E-1 Preferred Stock are entitled to the receipt of dividends and of amounts distributable upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up in proportion to their respective amounts of accrued and unpaid dividends per share or liquidation preferences, without preference or priority of one over the other; (iv) junior to any class or series of our equity securities if, pursuant to the specific terms of such class or series, the holders of such class or series are entitled to the receipt of dividends or amounts distributable upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up in preference or priority to the holders of the Series E-1 Preferred Stock (none of which are currently outstanding); and (v) junior to all our existing and future debt indebtedness.

 

Maturity

 

The shares of the Series E-1 Preferred Stock have no stated maturity and will remain outstanding indefinitely unless they are redeemed by the holder or the Company or repurchased by the Company. The Company is not required to set apart for payment funds to redeem the Series E-1 Preferred Stock and may pay for any redemption of the Series E-1 Preferred Stock in cash or shares of Common Stock; provided, however, that no Holder Optional Redemption with respect to any share of Series E-1 Preferred Stock may be redeemed for Common Stock prior to the first anniversary of the date of its issuance, and (iii) the Company shall not exercise the Company Optional Redemption with respect to any share of Series E-1 Preferred Stock prior to the Redemption Eligibility Date.

 

Dividend Rights

 

The holders of the Series E-1 Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive a cumulative dividend at a fixed annual rate of 9% per annum of the Stated Value of the Series E-1 Preferred Stock, or $25.00, per year (computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months). Dividends will be declared and accrued monthly. Such dividends shall be payable upon Board approval, which may not be monthly, out of legally available funds in cash. The Series E-1 Preferred Stock shall rank on parity with the Series E Preferred Stock and the Series F Preferred Stock with respect to the right to receive payment of any dividends in proportion to their respective amounts of accrued and unpaid dividends per share. Unless full cumulative dividends on our shares of Series E-1 Preferred Stock for all past dividend periods have been paid (or set apart for payment), we will not declare or pay dividends with respect to any shares of our Common Stock or other stock ranking junior to the Series E-1 Preferred Stock for any period.

 

24
 

 

Liquidation Rights

 

Subject to the liquidation preference stated in the ranking section in the Certificate of Designations for the Series E-1 Preferred Stock, Series E-1 Preferred Stock will be entitled to be paid out of the funds and assets available for distribution, an amount per share equal to the Stated Value, plus an amount per share that is issuable as the result of accrued or unpaid dividends. After payment to the holders of our Series E-1 Preferred Stock and to the holders of shares of any other class or series of capital stock ranking senior to or on a parity with the Series E-1 Preferred Stock, including, without limitation, the Series E Preferred Stock and the Series F Preferred Stock, the remaining funds and assets available for distribution to our stockholders shall be distributed among the holders of shares of Common Stock, pro rata based on the number of shares of Common Stock held by each such holder.

 

Holder Optional Redemption Rights

 

Each holder of shares of Series E-1 Preferred Stock is entitled to redeem any portion of the outstanding shares of Series E-1 Preferred Stock held by such holder at any time, subject to certain early redemption fees. Such redemptions may be settled in either cash or Common Stock, at our option; provided that (i) if required by Rule 5635(d) of The Nasdaq Stock Market, the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock issuable to holders of Series E-1 Preferred Stock for dividends and redemption shall not exceed the Redemption Share Cap, unless approval by our stockholders is obtained to exceed the Redemption Share Cap, and (ii) no such Series E-1 Preferred Stock may be redeemed for Common Stock prior to the first anniversary of the date of its issuance. The Company will settle any Holder Optional Redemption it determines to redeem in cash by paying the holder the Settlement Amount. The “Settlement Amount” means (A) the Stated Value, plus (B) unpaid dividends accrued to, but not including, the Holder Redemption Exercise Date, minus (C) the Holder Optional Redemption Fee applicable on the respective Holder Redemption Deadline). The Company will settle any Holder Optional Redemption the Company determines to redeem with Common Stock, subject to the Redemption Share Cap, if applicable, by delivering to the holder a number of shares of our Common Stock equal to (1) the Settlement Amount divided by (2) the closing price per share of our Common Stock on Nasdaq on the last trading day prior to the Holder Redemption Exercise Date.

 

Company Optional Redemption Rights

 

We may redeem a share of Series E-1 Preferred Stock at our option on or after the Redemption Eligibility Date upon not less than 10 calendar days nor more than 90 days written notice to the holders prior to the date fixed for redemption thereof, at a redemption price of 100% of the Stated Value of the shares of Series E-1 Preferred Stock to be redeemed plus accrued but unpaid dividends (at a rate equal to (1) the Settlement Amount divided by (2) the closing price of shares of our Common Stock on Nasdaq, or other national securities exchange on which the Common Stock is listed, on the last trading day prior to the Company Optional Redemption Notice Exercise Date). In the Company’s sole and absolute discretion, the Company may determine to fulfill a Company Optional Redemption in either cash or with fully paid and non-assessable shares of our Common Stock, subject to the Redemption Share Cap, if applicable. If the Company exercises the Company Optional Redemption for less than all of the outstanding shares of Series E-1 Preferred Stock, then shares of Series E-1 Preferred Stock shall be selected for redemption on a pro rata basis or by lot across holders of the series of Series E-1 Preferred Stock selected for redemption.

 

Early Redemption Fee

 

A share of Series E-1 Preferred Stock is subject to the Holder Optional Redemption Fee. The amount of the fee equals a percentage of the Stated Value disclosed herein based on the year in which the redemption occurs after the Series E-1 Preferred Stock is issued as follows:

 

 Prior to the first anniversary of the issuance of such Series E-1 Preferred Stock: 9% of the Stated Value disclosed herein, which equals $2.25 per share of Series E-1 Preferred Stock;

 

25
 

 

  On or after the first anniversary but prior to the second anniversary: 7% of the Stated Value disclosed herein, which equals $1.75 per share of Series E-1 Preferred Stock;
    
  On or after the second anniversary but prior to the third anniversary: 5% of the Stated Value disclosed herein, which equals $1.25 per share of Series E-1 Preferred Stock; and
    
  On or after the third anniversary: 0%.

 

The Company is permitted to waive the Holder Optional Redemption Fee. Although the Company has retained the right to waive the Holder Optional Redemption Fee in the manner described above, we are not required to establish any such waivers and we may never establish any such waivers.

 

Optional Redemption Following Death of a Holder

 

Subject to restrictions, beginning on the date of original issuance and ending on December 31st of the year in which the third anniversary of the date of issuance occurs, we will redeem shares of Series E-1 Preferred Stock of a beneficial owner who is a natural person (including a natural person who holds shares of Series E-1 Preferred Stock through an Individual Retirement Account or in a personal or estate planning trust) upon his or her death at the written request of the beneficial owner’s estate at a redemption price equal to the Settlement Amount without application of the Holder Optional Redemption Fee. In the Company’s sole and absolute discretion, the Company may determine to fulfill such redemption in either cash or with fully paid and non-assessable shares of our Common Stock (at a rate equal to (1) the Settlement Amount divided by (2) the closing price of shares of our Common Stock on Nasdaq, or other national securities exchange on which the Common Stock is listed, on the last trading day prior to the Optional Redemption Following Death of a Holder Notice Date), subject to the Redemption Share Cap, if applicable.

 

Other Rights

 

Our Series E-1 Preferred Stock has no preemptive rights, no voting rights and no sinking fund or conversion provisions.

 

LEGAL MATTERS

 

The validity of the shares of Common Stock offered by this prospectus will be passed upon for us by Snell & Wilmer L.L.P., Nevada. Lowenstein Sandler LLP has also acted as counsel to us in connection with this Offering.

 

EXPERTS

 

The consolidated financial statements of Applied Digital Corporation and Subsidiaries as of May 31, 2024 and 2023 and for each of the two years in the period ended May 31, 2024, have been audited by Marcum LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report which is incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements of Applied Digital Corporation and Subsidiaries are incorporated in this prospectus by reference in reliance on the report of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

 

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

 

We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-1 under the Securities Act with respect to the shares of Series E-1 Preferred Stock offered by this prospectus. This prospectus, which is part of the registration statement, omits certain information, exhibits, schedules and undertakings set forth in the registration statement. For further information pertaining to us and our securities, reference is made to our SEC filings and the registration statement and the exhibits and schedules to the registration statement. Statements contained in this prospectus as to the contents or provisions of any documents referred to in this prospectus are not necessarily complete, and in each instance where a copy of the document has been filed as an exhibit to the registration statement, reference is made to the exhibit for a more complete description of the matters involved.

 

26
 

 

In addition, registration statements and certain other filings made with the SEC electronically are publicly available through the SEC’s web site at http://www.sec.gov. The registration statement, including all exhibits and amendments to the registration statement, has been filed electronically with the SEC.

 

We are subject to the information and periodic reporting requirements of the Exchange Act, and, in accordance with such requirements, will file periodic reports, proxy statements, and other information with the SEC. These periodic reports, proxy statements, and other information will be available for inspection and copying at the web site of the SEC referred to above. We also maintain a website at www.applieddigital.com, where you may access these materials free of charge as soon as reasonably practicable after they are electronically filed with, or furnished to, the SEC. The information contained in, or that can be accessed through, our website is not part of, and is not incorporated into, this prospectus. We have included our website address in this prospectus solely as an inactive textual reference.

 

INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE

 

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” information that we file with it into this prospectus, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is an important part of this prospectus. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be a part of this prospectus, and information that we file later with the SEC will automatically update and supersede information contained in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement.

 

We incorporate by reference the documents listed below that we have previously filed with the SEC:

 

The Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2024, filed with the SEC on August 30, 2024;
   
The Company’s Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on June 5, 2024, June 7, 2024, June 11, 2024, June 17, 2024, July 2, 2024, July 9, 2024, July 29, 2024, August 14, 2024, August 30, 2024, and September 10, 2024, and our Current Reports on Form 8-K/A filed with the SEC on June 6, 2024, June 10, 2024, and September 4, 2024 (other than any portions thereof deemed furnished and not filed); and
   
The description of our Common Stock in our Registration Statement on Form 8-A, filed with the SEC on April 11, 2022, including any amendment or reports filed for the purpose of updating such description, including the Description of Capital Stock filed as Exhibit 4.8 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended May 31, 2024, as filed with the SEC on August 30, 2024.

 

All reports and other documents that we file with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of the initial registration statement and prior to effectiveness of the registration statement, and after the date of this prospectus but before the termination of the offering of the securities hereunder will also be considered to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus from the date of the filing of these reports and documents, and will supersede the information herein; provided, however, that all reports, exhibits and other information that we “furnish” to the SEC will not be considered incorporated by reference into this prospectus. We undertake to provide without charge to each person (including any beneficial owner) who receives a copy of this prospectus, upon written or oral request, a copy of all of the preceding documents that are incorporated by reference (other than exhibits, unless the exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference into these documents). You may request a copy of these materials in the manner set forth under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information,” above.

 

We will provide you without charge, upon your oral or written request, with a copy of any or all reports, proxy statements and other documents we file with the SEC, as well as any or all of the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus or the registration statement (other than exhibits to such documents unless such exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference into such documents). Requests for such copies should be directed to

 

Applied Digital Corporation

Attn: Wes Cummins

Chief Executive Officer

3811 Turtle Creek Blvd., Suite 2100

Dallas, Texas 75219

Phone number: (214) 427-1704

 

27
 

 

Up to 2,500,000

 

Series E-1 Preferred Stock

 

 

 

 

 

PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS

 

 

 

              , 2024

 

 
 

 

PART II

 

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

 

Item 13. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.

 

The following table indicates the expenses to be incurred in connection with the offering described in this registration statement, other than underwriting discounts and commissions, all of which will be paid by us. All amounts are estimated except the SEC registration fee.

 

   Amount 
Securities and Exchange Commission registration fee  $9,225 
FINRA filing fee   9,875 
Accountants’ fees and expenses   5,500 
Legal fees and expenses   

100,000

 
Miscellaneous   - 
Total expenses  $124,600 

 

Item 14. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

 

Section 78.138 of the NRS provides that, unless the corporation’s articles of incorporation provide otherwise, a director or officer will not be individually liable unless the presumption that it is acting in good faith and on an informed basis with a view to the interests of the corporation has been rebutted, and it is proven that (i) the director’s or officer’s acts or omissions constituted a breach of his or her fiduciary duties, and (ii) such breach involved intentional misconduct, fraud, or a knowing violation of the law. Our Articles of Incorporation provide that no director or officer shall have any personal liability to the Company or its stockholders for damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director or officer, except for (i) acts that involve intentional misconduct, fraud, or a knowing violation of the law or (ii) the payment of dividends in violation of Nevada corporate law.

 

Section 78.7502(1) of the NRS provides that a corporation may indemnify, pursuant to that statutory provision, any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the corporation) by reason of the fact that he is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or other enterprise or as a manager of a limited liability company, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him or her in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if he is not liable pursuant to NRS 78.138 or if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful.

 

NRS 78.7502(2) permits a corporation to indemnify, pursuant to that statutory provision, any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that such person acted in any of the capacities set forth above against expenses, including amounts paid in settlement and attorneys’ fees actually and reasonably incurred by him or her in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if he acted under similar standards, except that no indemnification pursuant to NRS 78.7502 may be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged by a court of competent jurisdiction, after any appeals taken therefrom, to be liable to the corporation or for amounts paid in settlement to the corporation, unless and only to the extent that the court in which such action or suit was brought or other court of competent jurisdiction determines that, in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses as the court deems proper. NRS 78.751(1) provides that a corporation shall indemnify any person who is a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, against expenses actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with defending an action (including, without limitation, attorney’s fees), to the extent that the person is successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, including, without limitation, an action by or in the right of the corporation, by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise or as a manager of a limited liability company, or any claim, issue or matter in such action.

 

II-1
 

 

NRS 78.751 provides that the indemnification pursuant to NRS 78.7502 shall not be deemed exclusive or exclude any other rights to which the indemnified party may be entitled (except that indemnification may not be made to or on behalf of any director or officer finally adjudged by a court of competent jurisdiction, after exhaustion of any appeals taken therefrom, to be liable for intentional misconduct, fraud or a knowing violation of the law and such intentional misconduct, fraud or a knowing violation of the law was material to the cause of action) and that the indemnification shall continue as to directors, officers, employees or agents who have ceased to hold such positions, and to their heirs, executors and administrators. NRS 78.752 permits a corporation to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation against any liability asserted against him or her or incurred by him or her in any such capacity or arising out of his or her status as such whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify him or her against such liabilities.

 

Section 78.752 of the NRS provides that a Nevada company may purchase and maintain insurance or make other financial arrangements on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee, or agent of the company, or is or was serving at the request of the company as a director, officer, employee, or agent of another company, partnership, joint venture, trust, or other enterprise, for any liability asserted against him and liability and expenses incurred by him in his capacity as a director, officer, employee, or agent, or arising out of his status as such, whether or not the company has the authority to indemnify him against such liability and expenses.

 

Our Third Amended and Restated Bylaws, as amended (the “Bylaws”), provide that the Corporation shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by applicable law, pay the expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by an indemnitee in defending or otherwise participating in any proceeding in advance of its final disposition.

 

In addition, we have entered into indemnification agreements with each of our directors and executive officers. These agreements, among other things, require us to indemnify our directors and executive officers for certain expenses, including attorneys’ fees, judgments and fines incurred by a director or executive officer in any action or proceeding arising out of their services as one of our directors or executive officers or any other company or enterprise to which the person provides services at our request.

 

We maintain a directors’ and officers’ insurance policy pursuant to which our directors and officers are insured against liability for actions taken in their capacities as directors and officers. We believe these provisions in the Bylaws and these indemnification agreements are necessary to attract and retain qualified persons as directors and officers.

 

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers, or control persons, in the opinion of the SEC, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.

 

Item 15. Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities.

 

On April 12, 2022, the SEC declared effective the Company’s IPO Registration Statement (Reg. No. 261278). The offering under the IPO Registration Statement commenced on April 12, 2022 and was consummated on April 18, 2022 with the sale of 8,000,000 newly-issued shares of Common Stock at a price of $5.00 per share, constituting the total aggregate amount registered. B. Riley Securities, Inc. and Needham & Company acted as book-running managers, Craig-Hallum and D.A. Davidson & Co. acted as lead managers, and Lake Street and Northland Capital Markets acted as co-managers for the offering. In connection with the offering, the Company granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 1,200,000 shares of Common Stock at the public offering price, less underwriting discounts and commission, although such option was not exercised. The net offering proceeds to the Company after deducting the expenses described herein were approximately $36 million.

 

II-2
 

 

On June 6, 2022, through an agreement between the Company and Xsquared Holding Limited (“Sparkpool”), Sparkpool agreed to forfeit to the Company shares of Common Stock that had been issued pursuant to the service agreement executed on March 19, 2021. Sparkpool ceased providing the contracted services for the Company, and agreed to forfeit shares to compensate for future services that will not be rendered. As a result of this agreement, 4,965,432 shares of Common Stock were forfeited and canceled by the Company.

 

On January 31, 2024, the Company issued an aggregate 10,461 shares to Chris Schuler as partial payment for construction services performed at the Company’s Ellendale, North Dakota facility.

 

On March 27, 2024, the Company entered into the March PPA with YA Fund. In accordance with the terms of the March PPA, the Company issued two convertible unsecured promissory notes, in the aggregate principal amount of $50 million (the “Initial YA Notes”). The Initial YA Notes are convertible into shares of our Common Stock. The offer and sale of our Common Stock pursuant to the March PPA and the Initial YA Notes was made in reliance upon the exemption from registration provided by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act and Rule 506(b) of Regulation D promulgated thereunder.

 

On April 26, 2024, the Company entered into the Amendment No. 2 (the “AI Amendment”) to that certain Unsecured Promissory Note, issued by the Company to AI Bridge Funding LLC on January 30, 2024 and amended on March 27, 2024 (the “AI Note”). Pursuant to the AI Amendment, among other things, (i) the Company may use shares of our Common Stock to repay the AI Note, subject to certain limitations and (ii) the Company issued warrants to purchase up to 3,000,000 shares of our Common Stock subject to certain adjustments (the “Warrants”). The Warrants were, and the shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of the Warrants will be, offered and sold pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act and Rule 506(b) of Regulation D promulgated thereunder.

 

On May 24, 2024, the Company entered into the May PPA with YA Fund. In accordance with the terms of the May PPA, the Company issued the May Note, in the aggregate principal amount of $42.1 million. The May Note is convertible into shares of our Common Stock. The offer and sale of our Common Stock pursuant to the May PPA and the May Note was made in reliance upon the exemption from registration provided by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act and Rule 506(b) of Regulation D promulgated thereunder.

 

On June 7, 2024, APLD Holdings entered into the Promissory Note with the Selling Stockholder. As partial consideration for the Promissory Note, the Company agreed to issue to the CIM Lender warrants to purchase up to an aggregate of 9,265,366 shares of Common Stock. The warrants were issuable in two tranches, (i) the Initial Warrant, and (ii) the Warrant. The Initial Warrant was issued on June 17, 2024. The Initial Warrant was, and the Warrant, and the shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of the Initial Warrant and the Warrants, will be, offered and sold pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act and Rule 506(b) of Regulation D promulgated thereunder.

 

On June 20, 2024, the Company issued 100,000 shares of our Common Stock to YA Fund in consideration for YA Fund giving its consent to the Company to enter into the CIM Promissory Note.

 

On August 11, 2024, we and the CIM Lender entered into a waiver agreement (the “Waiver Agreement”), whereby the CIM Lender agreed to waive the satisfaction of certain conditions for the subsequent borrowings, allowing us to draw an additional $20 million (net of original discount and fees) of borrowings under the CIM Promissory Note. As partial consideration for the Waiver Agreement, we issued the Warrant in a private placement pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act.

 

On August 28, 2024, the Company entered into the SEPA with YA Fund. Pursuant to the SEPA, subject to certain conditions and limitations, the Company has the option, but not the obligation, to sell to YA Fund, and YA Fund must subscribe for, an aggregate amount of up to $250.0 million of Common Stock, at the Company’s request any time during the commitment period commencing on September 30, 2024, and terminating on the 36-month anniversary of September 30, 2024. The shares of Common Stock issuable pursuant to the SEPA will be offered and sold pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act. Pursuant to the SEPA, the Company agreed to file a registration statement with the SEC for the resale under the Securities Act by YA Fund of the Common Stock issued under the SEPA. The Company shall not have the ability to request any advances under the SEPA until such resale registration statement is declared effective by the SEC.

 

On August 29, 2024, the Company entered into the Series F Purchase Agreement with YA Fund for the private placement of 53,191 shares of Series F Preferred Stock. The offer and sale of the Series F Preferred Stock pursuant to the Series F Purchase Agreement was made in reliance upon the exemption from registration provided by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act and Rule 506(b) of Regulation D promulgated thereunder.

 

In connection with the SEPA, Northland Securities, Inc. acted as placement agent and received a fee equal to 1% of the SEPA Aggregate Commitment (the “SEPA Placement Agent Fee”). The Company has agreed to pay the SEPA Placement Agent Fee in shares of common stock at a price per share of $4.73 per share, the Nasdaq official closing price of Common Stock on August 27, 2024, for a total number of shares equal to 528,541. The shares of Common Stock were issued without registration under the Securities Act, pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act afforded by Section 4(a)(2) thereof.

 

On September 5, 2024, the Company entered into the PIPE Purchase Agreement with the PIPE Purchasers, for the private placement of 49,382,720 shares of the Company’s Common Stock, at a purchase price of $3.24 per share, representing the last closing price of the Common Stock on Nasdaq on September 4, 2024. The offer and sale of the shares of Common Stock pursuant to the PIPE Purchase Agreement was made in reliance upon the exemption from registration provided by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act and Rule 506(b) of Regulation D promulgated thereunder.

 

II-3
 

 

Item 16. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules

  

Exhibit No.   Description
3.1   Second Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended from time to time. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on August 2, 2023).
3.1.1   Certificate of Amendment to the Certificate of Designations for the Series E Redeemable Preferred Stock (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on May 16, 2024).
3.1.2   Certificate of Amendment, dated June 11, 2024, to Second Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on June 11, 2024).
3.1.3   Certificate of the Designations, Powers, Preferences and Rights of Series F Convertible Preferred Stock (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on August 30, 2024).
3.2   Third Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 29, 2024).
3.3*   Form of Certificate of Designations, Powers, Preferences and Rights of Series E-1 Redeemable Preferred Stock.
4.1   Registration Rights Agreement, dated April 15, 2021, by and between the Company and B. Securities, Inc., for the benefit of B. Riley Securities, Inc. and the Investors. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-258818), filed with the SEC on August 13, 2021).
4.1.1  

Amendment, dated December 13, 2021, to Registration Rights Agreement, dated April 15, 2021, by and between the Company and B. Riley Securities, Inc., for the benefit of B. Riley Securities, Inc. and the Investors (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to Amendment No. 6 the Company’s form S-1 (Registration No. 333-258818), filed with the SEC on April 12, 2022).

4.1.2   Amendment No. 2, dated February 22, 2022, to Registration Rights Agreement, dated April 15, 2021, by and between the Company and B. Riley Securities, Inc., for the benefit of B. Riley Securities, Inc. and the Investors (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to the Company’s Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-258818), filed with the SEC on February 28, 2022).
4.2   Registration Rights Agreement, dated July 30, 2021, by and between the Company and B. Securities, Inc., for the benefit of B. Riley Securities, Inc. and the Investors (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Company’s Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-258818), filed with the SEC on August 13, 2021).
4.2.1   Amendment, dated December 13, 2021, to Registration Rights Agreement, dated July 30, 2021, by and between the Company and B. Riley Securities, Inc., for the benefit of B. Riley Securities, Inc. and the Investors (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Company’s form S-1 (Registration No. 333-258818), filed with the SEC on April 12, 2022).
4.2.2   Amendment No. 2, dated February 22, 2022, to Registration Rights Agreement, dated July 30, 2021, by and between the Company and B. Riley Securities, Inc., for the benefit of B. Riley Securities, Inc. and the Investors (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.6 to the Company’s Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-258818), filed with the SEC on February 28, 2022).
4.3   Right of First Refusal and Co-Sale Agreement, dated as of April 15, 2021, by and between the Company, the Key Holders and Investors (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to the Company’s Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-258818), filed with the SEC on August 13, 2021).
4.4   Right of First Refusal and Co-Sale Agreement, dated as of July 30, 2021, by and between the Company, the Key Holders and Investors. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.4 to the Company’s Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-258818), filed with the SEC on August 13, 2021).
4.5   Form of Warrant. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 30, 2024).
4.6   Form of Subscription Agreement. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’ Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on May 16, 2024).
4.7   Form of Warrant (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on August 14, 2024).
4.8*   Form of Subscription Agreement.
4.9*   Form of Unit Agreement.
5.1**   Opinion of Snell & Wilmer L.L.P.
10.1   Services Agreement, dated March 19, 2021, by and among the Company, GMR Limited, Xsquared Holding Limited, and Valuefinder (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-258818), filed with the SEC on August 13, 2021).
10.2   Master Professional Services Agreement between Ulteig Engineers, Inc. and APLD Hosting, LLC. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-258818), filed with the SEC on August 13, 2021).
10.3   Non-Fixed Price Sales and Purchase Agreement, dated April 13, 2021, between Bitmain Technologies Limited and the Company (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the company’s Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-2588818), filed with the SEC on August 13, 2021).
10.4   Coinmint Colocation Mining Services Agreement dated as of June 15, 2021 by and between Coinmint, LLC and the Company (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Company’s Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-258818), filed with the SEC on August 13, 2021).
10.5#   Service Framework Agreement, dated July 5, 2021, by and between APLD Hosting, LLC and JointHash Holding Limited (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to Amendment No. 1 to the Company’s registration statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-258818), filed with the SEC on November 2, 2021).
10.6#   Amended and Restated Electric Services Agreement, dated September 13, 2021, by and between APLD Hosting, LLC and [Redacted] (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to Amendment No. 1 to the Company’s registration statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-258818), filed with the SEC on November 2, 2021).

 

II-4
 

 

10.7   Sublease Agreement, dated as of May 19, 2021, by and between the Company and Encap Investments L.P. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 to the Company’s Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-258818), filed with the SEC on August 13, 2021).
10.8#   Service Framework Agreement, dated July 5, 2021, by and between APLD Hosting, LLC and Bitmain Technologies Limited (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the SEC on August 29, 2022.
10.9#   Master Hosting Agreement, dated as of September 20, 2021, by and between APLD Hosting, LLC and F2Pool Mining, Inc. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.9 to Amendment No. 1 to the Company’s registration statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-258818), filed with the SEC on November 2, 2021).
10.10#   Master Hosting Agreement, dated as of October 12, 2021, by and between APLD Hosting, LLC and Hashing LLC. ((Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.10 to Amendment No. 1 to the Company’s registration statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-258818), filed with the SEC on November 2, 2021).
10.11   Services Agreement, effective as of October 12, 2021, by and among Applied Blockchain, LTD and Xsquared Holding Limited. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.11 to Amendment No. 1 to the Company’s registration statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-258818), filed with the SEC on November 2, 2021).
10.12†   2022 Incentive Plan (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s registration statement on Form S-8 (Registration No. 333-265698), filed with the SEC on June 17, 2022).
10.12.1†   Form of Employee Restricted Stock Award Agreement (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s registration statement on Form S-8 (Registration No. 333-265698), filed with the SEC on June 17, 2022).
10.12.2†   Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement (Employees) (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s registration statement on Form S-8 (Registration No. 333-265698), filed with the SEC on June 17, 2022).
10.12.3†   Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement (Consultants) (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Company’s registration statement on Form S-8 (Registration No. 333-265698), filed with the SEC on June 17, 2022).
10.13†   2022 Non-Employee Director Stock Plan (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the Company’s registration statement on Form S-8 (Registration No. 333-265698), filed with the SEC on June 17, 2022).
10.13.1†   First Amendment to the 2022 Non-Employee Director Stock Plan, dated April 4, 2023 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.13.1 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on August 2, 2023).
10.13.2   Form of Director Restricted Stock Award Agreement (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to the Company’s registration statement on Form S-8 (Registration No. 333-265698), filed with the SEC on June 17, 2022).
10.14#   Limited Liability Company Agreement, dated as of January 6, 2022, by and between the Company and Antpool Capital Asset Investment L.P. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.14 to Amendment No. 5 to the Company’s registration statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-258818), filed with the SEC on January 24, 2022).
10.15†   Employment Agreement, effective as of November 1, 2021, by and between the Company and Wes Cummins (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.15 to Amendment No. 5 to the Company’s registration statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-258818), filed with the SEC on January 24, 2022).
10.15.1†   Amendment No. 1 to Executive Employment Agreement, dated as of September 25, 2023, by and between the Company and Wes Cummins. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on September 28, 2023).
10.16†   Employment Agreement, effective as of November 1, 2021, by and between the Company and David Rench. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.16 to Amendment No. 5 to the Company’s registration statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-258818), filed with the SEC on January 24, 2022).

 

II-5
 

 

10.16.1†   Amendment No. 1 to Executive Employment Agreement, dated as of September 25, 2023, by and between the Company and David Rench. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on September 28, 2023).
10.17   Ground Lease, effective as of April 13, 2022, by and between EDB, Ltd and APLD - Rattlesnake Den I LLC (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.17 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the SEC on August 2, 2023).
10.18†   Employment Agreement, effective as of November 1, 2021, by and between the Company and Regina Ingel (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.17 to Amendment No. 5 to the Company’s registration statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-258818), filed with the SEC on January 24, 2022).
10.18.1†   Amendment dated August 1, 2022 to Employment Agreement between Applied Blockchain, Inc. and Regina Ingel (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s current report on Form 8-K (Commission File No. 001-31968), filed with the SEC on August 5, 2022).
10.19   Loan Agreement dated as of March 11, 2022 by and between APLD Hosting, LLC, Vantage Bank Texas and Applied Blockchain, Inc. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.20 to Amendment No. 6 the Company’s form S-1 (Registration No. 333-258818), filed with the SEC on April 12, 2022).
10.20   Continuing Guaranty Agreement dated as of March 11, 2022 by Applied Blockchain, Inc. for the benefit of Vantage Bank Texas. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.21 to Amendment No. 6 the Company’s form S-1 (Registration No. 333-258818), filed with the SEC on April 12, 2022).
10.21   Letter between Applied Blockchain, Inc. and Xsquared Holding Limited dated June 6, 2022 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s current report on Form 8-K (Commission File No. 001-31968), filed with the SEC on June 8, 2022).
10.22   Hosting Agreement, dated as of July 12, 2022, by and between Marathon Digital Holdings, Inc. and Applied Blockchain, Inc. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to the Company’s quarterly report on Form 10-Q (Commission File No. 001-31968), filed with the SEC on October 12, 2022).
10.23   Loan Agreement, dated as of July 25, 2022, by and among APLD Hosting, LLC, Starion Bank, and Applied Blockchain, Inc. as Guarantor (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s current report on Form 8-K (Commission File No. 001-31968), filed with the SEC on August 12, 2022).
10.24   Security Agreement, dated of July 25, 2022, by and between APLD Hosting, LLC and Starion Bank (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s current report on Form 8-K (Commission File No. 001-31968), filed with the SEC on August 12, 2022).
10.25   Security Agreement, dated of July 25, 2022, by and among APLD Hosting, LLC, Applied Blockchain, Inc., as Grantor, and Starion Bank(Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s current report on Form 8-K (Commission File No. 001-31968), filed with the SEC on August 12, 2022).
10.26   Unlimited Commercial Corporate Guaranty of Applied Blockchain, Inc. dated as of July 25, 2022 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Company’s current report on Form 8-K (Commission File No. 001-31968), filed with the SEC on August 12, 2022).
10.27   Loan Agreement by and among APLD - Rattlesnake Den I, LLC, as borrower, Vantage Bank Texas, as lender, and the Company, as guarantor, entered into as of November 7, 2022 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s current report on Form 8-K (Commission File No. 001-31968), filed with the SEC on November 14, 2022).
10.28#   Loan Agreement, dated as of February 16, 2023 by and among APLD ELN-01 LLC, Starion Bank, and Applied Digital Corporation as Guarantor (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s current report on Form 8-K (Commission File No. 001-31968), filed with the SEC on February 21, 2023).
10.29#   Security Agreement, dated as of February 16, 2023 by and between APLD ELN-01 LLC and Starion Bank (Incorporated by referenced to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s current report on Form 8-K (Commission File No. 001-31968), filed with the SEC on February 21, 2023).
10.30   Security Agreement, dated as of February 16, 2023 by and among APLD ELN-01 LLC, Applied Digital Corporation and Starion Bank (Incorporated by referenced to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s current report on Form 8-K (Commission File No. 001-31968), filed with the SEC on February 21, 2023).

 

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10.31   Unlimited Commercial Corporate Guaranty of Applied Digital Corporation dated as of February 16, 2023 (Incorporated by referenced to Exhibit 10.4 to the Company’s current report on Form 8-K (Commission File No. 001-31968), filed with the SEC on February 21, 2023).
10.32#   Loan and Security Agreement, dated as of May 23, 2023, by and among SAI Computing, LLC as Borrower, B. Riley Commercial Capital, LLC and B. Riley Securities, Inc., as Lenders, B. Riley Commercial Capital, LLC as Collateral Agent, and Applied Digital Corporation as Guarantor (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s current report on Form 8-K (Commission File No. 001-31968), filed with the SEC on May 24, 2023).
10.32.1   Termination of Loan and Security letter, dated February 5, 2024, between the Company and B. Riley Commercial Capital, LLC and B. Riley Securities, Inc. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on February 5, 2024).
10.33   Form of Amendment No. 1 to Restricted Stock Unit Award. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on September 28, 2023).
10.34   Form of Amendment No. 1 to Performance Stock Unit Award. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on September 28, 2023).
10.35   Form of Indemnification Agreement by and between Applied Digital Corporation and individual directors or officers. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on January 16, 2024).
10.36   Unsecured Promissory Note, dated January 30, 2024, issued by the Company and payable to AI Bridge Funding LLC. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on February 5, 2024).
10.36.1   Waiver, Consent and Amendment by and between the Company and AI Bridge Funding LLC, dated March 27, 2024. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 1, 2024).
10.36.2   Amendment No. 2 to Unsecured Promissory Note, dated April 26, 2024, by and between Applied Digital Corporation and AI Bridge Funding LLC. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 30, 2024).
10.37#   Loan Agreement, dated as of February 28, 2024, by and between APLD GPU-01, LLC and Cornerstone Bank. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 5, 2024).
10.38   Security Agreement, dated as of February 28, 2024, by and between APLD GPU-01, LLC and Cornerstone Bank. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 5, 2024).
10.39   Form of Guaranty Agreement, dated as of February 28, 2024, made by each of Applied Digital Corporation, SAI Computing, LLC and APLD Hosting, LLC in favor of Cornerstone Bank. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 5, 2024).
10.40   Consent to Transfer Interest in Real Property Subject to Mortgage and Subordination Agreement, dated as of February 28, 2024, made by Starion Bank, in favor of APLD Hosting, LLC. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 5, 2024).
10.41#   Collateral Assignment of Customer GPU Contracts and Consent, dated as of February 28, 2024, by Applied Digital Corporation, in favor of Cornerstone Bank. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 5, 2024).
10.42%   Purchase and Sale Agreement, dated March 14, 2024, by and between APLD - Rattlesnake Den I LLC and Mara Garden City LLC. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 15, 2024).
10.43   Prepaid Advance Agreement by and between Applied Digital Corporation and YA II PN, LTD., dated March 27, 2024. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 1, 2024).

 

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10.44   Convertible Promissory Note issued by Applied Digital Corporation and payable to YA II PN, LTD., dated March 27, 2024. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 1, 2024).
10.45   Guaranty made by APLD-ELN-02 LLC in favor of YA II PN, LTD., dated March 27, 2024. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 1, 2024).
10.46   Convertible Promissory Note issued by Applied Digital Corporation and payable to YA II PN, LTD., dated April 24, 2024. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 30, 2024).
10.47   Cooperation and Standstill Agreement, dated as of April 30, 2024, by and between Applied Digital Corporation, a Nevada Corporation, and Oasis Management Co., Ltd. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on May 1, 2024).
10.48   Sales Agreement, dated as of May 6, 2024, by and between the Company and Roth Capital Partners, LLC. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on May 6, 2024).
10.49   Dealer Manager Agreement, dated as of May 16, 2024, by and between Applied Digital Corporation and Preferred Capital Securities, LLC. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on May 16, 2024).
10.50   Prepaid Advance Agreement by and between Applied Digital Corporation and YA II PN, LTD., dated May 24, 2024. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on May 24, 2024).
10.51   Convertible Promissory Note issued by Applied Digital Corporation and payable to YA II PN, LTD., dated May 24, 2024. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on May 24, 2024).
10.52   Guaranty made by APLD-ELN-02 LLC in favor of YA II PN, LTD., dated May 24, 2024. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on May 24, 2024).
10.53   Amendment by and between the Company and YA II PN, LTD., dated May 24, 2024. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on May 24, 2024).
10.54#   Promissory Note, dated June 7, 2024, issued by APLD Holdings 2 LLC and payable to CIM APLD Lender Holdings, LLC. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on June 10, 2024).
10.55   Parent Guaranty, dated June 7, 2024, issued by Applied Digital Corporation in favor of CIM APLD Lender Holdings, LLC. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on June 10, 2024).
10.56%   Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, dated June 7, 2024, by and among APLD Hosting, LLC, APLD ELN-01 LLC, APLD ELN-02 LLC, APLD Holdings 1 LLC, APLD Holdings 2 LLC, APLD ELN-02 Holdings LLC and CIM APLD Lender Holdings, LLC (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on June 10, 2024).
10.57   Consent, Waiver and First Amendment to Prepaid Advance Agreements, dated June 7, 2024, by and between Applied Digital Corporation and YA II PN, LTD. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on June 10, 2024).
10.58   Sales Agreement, dated as of July 9, 2024, by and among the Company, B. Riley Securities, Inc., BTIG, LLC, Lake Street Capital Markets, LLC, Northland Securities, Inc. and Roth Capital Partners, LLC (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on July 9, 2024).
10.59   Registration Rights Agreement, dated June 7, 2024, by and between Applied Digital Corporation and CIM APLD Lender Holdings, LLC (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.57 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the SEC on August 30, 2024).

 

II-8
 

 

10.60   Security Agreement, dated June 21, 2024, by and between Applied Digital Cloud Corporation and YA II PN, LTD. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.58 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the SEC on August 30, 2024).
10.61   Waiver Agreement, dated August 11, 2024, by and between APLD Holdings 2 LLC and CIM APLD Lender Holdings, LLC (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on August 14, 2024).
10.62   Standby Equity Purchase Agreement, dated August 28, 2024, by and between Applied Digital Corporation and YA II PN, LTD. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.60 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the SEC on August 30, 2024).
10.63   First Amendment to the Standby Equity Purchase Agreement, dated August 29, 2024, by and between Applied Digital Corporation and YA II PN, LTD. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.61 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the SEC on August 30, 2024).
10.64   Form of Securities Purchase Agreement (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on August 30, 2024).
10.65   Form of Registration Rights Agreement (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on August 30, 2024).
10.66   Consent, Waiver and Second Amendment to Prepaid Advance Agreements, dated August 21, 2024, by and between Applied Digital Corporation and YA II PN, LTD (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on August 30, 2024).
10.67   Consent, Waiver and Third Amendment to Prepaid Advance Agreements, dated August 29, 2024, by and between Applied Digital Corporation and YA II PN, LTD (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K/A, filed with the SEC on September 4, 2024).
10.68   Form of Securities Purchase Agreement (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on September 10, 2024).
10.69   Form of Registration Rights Agreement (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on September 10, 2024).
10.70*   Dealer Manager Agreement, dated September 23, 2024, by and between Applied Digital Corporation and Preferred Capital Securities, LLC.
10.71*   Amended and Restated Services Agreement, dated September 23, 2024, by and between Applied Digital Corporation and Preferred Shareholder Services, LLC.
10.72*   Form of Selected Dealer Agreement.
21.1   List of Subsidiaries (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 21.1 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on August 30, 2024).
23.1*   Consent of Marcum, LLP.
23.2**   Consent of Snell & Wilmer L.L.P. (Included in Exhibit 5.1).
24.1*   Power of Attorney (contained on signature page).
107*   Filing Fee Table.

 

* Filed herewith.

** To be filed by amendment.

 

† Management compensatory agreement.

 

# Portions of this exhibit have been omitted pursuant to Rule 601(b)(10) of Regulation S-K. The omitted information is not material and would likely cause competitive harm to the registrant if publicly disclosed.

 

% The schedules to this Exhibit have been omitted in accordance with Regulation S-K Item 601(a)(5) and Item 1.01, Instruction 4 of Form 8-K. The Registrant agrees to furnish supplementally a copy of all omitted schedules to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon its request.

 

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Item 17. Undertakings.

 

(1) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (ii), and (iii) of this section do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to section 13 or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78m or 78o(d)) that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or, as to a registration statement.

 

provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (ii), and (iii) of this section do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to section 13 or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78m or 78o(d)) that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement.

 

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

 

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

 

(d) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser, each prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) as part of a registration statement relating to an offering, other than registration statements relying on Rule 430B or other than prospectuses filed in reliance on Rule 430A, shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the date it is first used after effectiveness. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such first use, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such date of first use.

 

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

 

(i) Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 (§ 230.424 of this chapter);

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(2) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

(3) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that:

 

(a) For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this registration statement in reliance on Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the undersigned registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this registration statement as of the time it was declared effective; and

 

(b) For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

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

 

(5) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to section 13(a) or section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

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SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, the registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Dallas, Texas, on the day of September 23, 2024.

 

    APPLIED DIGITAL CORPORATION
     
  By: /s/ Wes Cummins
    Wes Cummins
   

Chief Executive Officer and Chairman

(Principal Executive Officer)

 

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POWER OF ATTORNEY

 

Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Wes Cummins and David Rench and each of them singly, his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including, without limitation, post-effective amendments) to this registration statement and any and all additional registration statements pursuant to Rule 462(b) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and all other documents in connection therewith, with the SEC, granting unto each said attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform each and every act in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or either of them or their, his or her substitute or substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

 

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

 

Signature   Title   Date
/s/ Wes Cummins   Chief Executive Officer and Chairman   September 23, 2024
Wes Cummins   (Principal Executive Officer)    
         
/s/ David Rench   Chief Financial Officer   September 23, 2024
David Rench   (Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)    
         
/s/ Chuck Hastings   Director   September 23, 2024
Chuck Hastings        
         
/s/ Douglas Miller   Director   September 23, 2024
Douglas Miller        
         
/s/ Richard Nottenburg   Director   September 23, 2024
Richard Nottenburg        
         
/s/ Rachel Lee   Director   September 23, 2024
Rachel Lee        
         
/s/ Kate Reed   Director   September 23, 2024
Kate Reed        
         
/s/ Ella Benson   Director   September 23, 2024
Ella Benson        

 

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Exhibit 3.3

 

CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATIONS

OF THE POWERS, PREFERENCES AND

RELATIVE, PARTICIPATING, OPTIONAL AND OTHER RESTRICTIONS

 

OF SERIES E-1 PREFERRED STOCK

 

OF APPLIED DIGITAL CORPORATION

 

Applied Digital Corporation (the “Corporation”), pursuant to the provisions of Sections 78.195 and 78.1955 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Nevada, does hereby make this Certificate of Designations of the Powers, Preferences and Relative, Participating, Optional and Other Restrictions, does hereby state and certify that pursuant to the authority expressly vested in the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “Board”) by the provisions of Article FOURTH of the Second Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Corporation (as amended, the “Articles”), the Board of Directors of the Corporation duly adopted resolutions authorizing the issuance of 2,500,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share, and fixing the designation and preferences and relative, participating, optional and other special rights, and qualifications, limitations and restrictions, of a series of preferred stock to be designated “Series E-1 Redeemable Preferred Stock,” as further described below (the “Series E-1 Designation”). The Series E-1 Designation shall be in full force and effect as of the date hereof.

 

Section 1.1 Designation. As of the effective date of this Certificate, there is hereby created out of the authorized preferred stock of the Corporation a series of preferred stock designated as “Series E-1 Redeemable Preferred Stock”, par value $0.001 per share (the “Series E-1 Preferred Stock”). The following rights, powers and privileges, and restrictions, qualifications and limitations, shall apply to the Series E-1 Preferred Stock.

 

(a) Rank. The Series E-1 Preferred Stock, if entitled to the receipt of dividends or of amounts distributable upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation’s affairs, ranks, with respect to the payment of any such dividends and rights upon the Corporation’s liquidation, dissolution or winding up of its affairs: (i) prior or senior to all classes or series of common stock of the Corporation, par value $0.001 per share (“Common Stock”); (ii) on parity with the Series E Redeemable Preferred Stock of the Corporation, par value $0.001 per share (the “Series E Preferred Stock”) and the Series F Convertible Stock of the Corporation, par value $0.001 per share (the “Series F Preferred Stock”) in proportion to their respective amounts of accrued and unpaid dividends per share or liquidation preferences; (iii) on parity with other classes or series of our equity securities issued in the future if, pursuant to the specific terms of such class or series of equity securities, the holders of such class or series of equity securities are entitled to the receipt of dividends and of amounts distributable upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation in proportion to their respective amounts of accrued and unpaid dividends per share or liquidation preferences, without preference or priority of one over the other; (iv) junior to any class or series of our equity securities if, pursuant to the specific terms of such class or series, the holders of such class or series are entitled to the receipt of dividends or amounts distributable upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation in preference or priority to the holders of the Series E-1 Preferred Stock; and (v) junior to all of the Corporation’s existing and future debt.

 

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(b) Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up of Affairs: Certain Mergers. Consolidations and Asset Sales.

 

(i) Payments to Holders of Series E-1 Preferred Stock. Upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation, before any distribution or payment shall be made to the holders of Common Stock or any other class or series of capital stock ranking junior to the Series E-1 Preferred Stock, by reason of their ownership thereof, and after payment or provision for the Corporation’s debts and other liabilities, the holders of shares of Series E-1 Preferred Stock then outstanding shall be entitled to be paid out of the funds and assets available for distribution to the stockholders of the Corporation, an amount per share equal to the Stated Value (as defined below) for such share of Series E-1 Preferred Stock, plus an amount per share equal to accrued, but unpaid dividends to, but not including, the date of payment, and excluding interest on any such payment. If upon any such liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation, the funds and assets available for distribution to the stockholders of the Corporation shall be insufficient to pay the holders of shares of Series E-1 Preferred Stock the full amount to which they are entitled under this Section 1.1(b)(i), the holders of shares of Series E-1 Preferred Stock shall share ratably in any distribution of the funds and assets available for distribution in proportion to the respective amounts that would otherwise be payable in respect of the shares of Series E-1 Preferred Stock held by them upon such distribution if all amounts payable on or with respect to such shares were paid in full. The Series E-1 Preferred Stock shall rank on parity with the Series E Preferred Stock and the Series F Preferred Stock for purposes of determining the right to participate in, and the amount of, payments of the funds and assets available for distribution to the stockholders of the Corporation upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation in proportion to their respective amounts of liquidation preferences. The “Stated Value” shall mean Twenty-Five United States Dollars and No Cents ($25.00) per share, subject to an equitable adjustment for stock splits, stock combinations, recapitalizations and similar transactions.

 

(ii) Payments to Holders of Common Stock. In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution, or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation, after the payment of all preferential amounts required to be paid to the holders of shares of Series E-1 Preferred Stock as provided in Section 1.1(b)(i) and to the holders of shares of any other class or series of capital stock ranking senior to or on parity with the Series E-1 Preferred Stock, including, without limitation, the Series E Preferred Stock and the Series F Preferred Stock, the remaining funds and assets available for distribution to the stockholders of the Corporation shall be distributed among the holders of shares of Common Stock, pro rata based on the number of shares of Common Stock held by each such holder. Upon the liquidation, dissolution, or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary, until payment in full is made to the holders of shares of Series E-1 Preferred Stock of the liquidation distribution to which they are entitled, (A) no dividend or other distribution shall be made to the holders of Common Stock or any other class or series of shares of capital stock of the Corporation ranking junior to the shares of Series E-1 Preferred Stock and (B) no purchase, redemption or other acquisition for any consideration by the Corporation shall be made in respect of the Common Stock or any other class or series of shares of capital stock of the Corporation ranking junior to the shares of Series E-1 Preferred Stock.

 

(iii) Exceptions. The consolidation or merger of the Corporation with or into any other corporation, trust or other entity, the consolidation or merger of any other corporation, trust or entity with or into the Corporation, the sale or transfer of any or all of the Corporation’s assets or business or a statutory share exchange will not be deemed to constitute a liquidation, dissolution, or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation for purposes of this Section 1.1(b).

 

(c) Voting. Holders of shares of Series E-1 Preferred Stock shall not have voting rights.

 

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(d) Dividends.

 

(i) Dividends Generally.

 

(A) The holders of shares of Series E-1 Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive, and the Corporation shall pay, out of legally available funds, dividends on each share of Series E-1 Preferred Stock at an annual rate of 9.0% of the Stated Value. Dividends will be declared and accrued monthly. Such dividends shall be payable upon Board approval, which may not be monthly, out of legally available funds in cash. Dividends payable on the Series E-1 Preferred Stock for any Dividend Period (as defined below) (including any Dividend Period during which any shares of Series E-1 Preferred Stock shall be redeemed) shall be computed on the basis of twelve 30-day months and a 360- day year. The holders of shares of Series E-1 Preferred Stock are not entitled to any dividend in excess of full cumulative dividends on shares of Series E-1 Preferred Stock. Such dividends shall be payable upon Board approval, which may not be monthly, out of legally available funds in cash. The Series E-1 Preferred Stock shall rank on parity with the Series E Preferred Stock and the Series F Preferred Stock with respect to the right to receive payment of any dividends in proportion to their respective amounts of accrued and unpaid dividends per share.

 

(B) Dividends payable on each share of Series E-1 Preferred Stock shall begin accruing on, and will be cumulative from, the first day of the Dividend Period during which such share of Series E-1 Preferred Stock was originally issued. Each subsequent dividend will begin accruing on, and will be cumulative from, the end of the most recent Dividend Period for which a dividend has been paid on each such share of Series E-1 Preferred Stock. The term “Dividend Period” means the respective periods commencing on, and including, the first day of each month of each year and ending on, and including, the day preceding the first day of the next succeeding Dividend Period (other than the Dividend Period during which any shares of Series E-1 Preferred Stock shall be redeemed, which shall end on, and include, the day preceding the redemption date with respect to the shares of Series E-1 Preferred Stock being redeemed).

 

(ii) Restrictions. Unless full cumulative dividends on the shares of Series E-1 Preferred Stock for all past Dividend Periods have been or contemporaneously are paid or a sum sufficient for the payment thereof is set apart for payment, the Corporation shall not:

 

(A) declare and pay or declare and set apart for payment dividends and the Corporation shall not declare and make any other distribution of cash or other property (other than dividends or distributions paid in shares of stock ranking junior to the Series E-1 Preferred Stock as to the dividend rights or rights upon the Corporation’s liquidation, dissolution or winding up of its affairs, and options, warrants or rights to purchase such shares), directly or indirectly, on or with respect to any shares of Common Stock or any class or series of the Corporation’s stock ranking junior to or on parity with the Series E-1 Preferred Stock as to dividend rights or rights upon the Corporation’s liquidation, dissolution or winding up of its affairs for any period; or

 

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(B) except by conversion into or exchange for shares of stock ranking junior to the Series E-1 Preferred Stock as to dividend rights or rights upon the Corporation’s liquidation, dissolution or winding up of its affairs, or options, warrants or rights to purchase such shares, redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire (other than a redemption, purchase or other acquisition of Common Stock made for purposes of an employee incentive or benefit plan) for any consideration, or pay or make available any monies for a sinking fund for the redemption of, any Common Stock or any class or series of the Corporation’s stock ranking junior to or on parity with the Series E-1 Preferred Stock as to dividend rights or rights upon the Corporation’s liquidation, dissolution or winding up of its affairs.

 

(e) Redemption.

 

(i) Optional Redemption Generally.

 

(A) Subject to the restrictions described herein and unless prohibited by Nevada law governing distributions to stockholders of a corporation, each holder of shares of Series E-1 Preferred Stock is entitled to redeem any portion of the outstanding Series E-1 Preferred Stock held by such holder (a “Holder Optional Redemption”). At the option of the Board, in its sole discretion and taking into account the Corporation’s reserves and other considerations as the Board may determine, a Holder Optional Redemption may be redeemed in either cash or Common Stock; provided that (1) if required by Rule 5635(d) of The Nasdaq Stock Market, the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock issuable to holders of Series E-1 Preferred Stock for dividends and redemption shall not exceed 19.99% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (the “Redemption Share Cap”) without the approval of the Corporation’s shareholders, and (2) no Holder Optional Redemption with respect to any share of Series E-1 Preferred Stock may be redeemed for Common Stock prior to the first anniversary of the Issuance Date.

 

(B) If the Corporation settles a Holder Optional Redemption in cash, it shall do so by paying the holder the Settlement Amount (as defined below). If the Corporation settles a Holder Optional Redemption with Common Stock, it shall do so by delivering to the holder a number of shares of Common Stock at a rate equal to (1) the Settlement Amount divided by (2) the closing price of shares of Common Stock on the Nasdaq Global Select Market, or other national securities exchange on which the Common Stock is listed, on the last trading day prior to the Holder Redemption Exercise Date (as defined below). If the Corporation opts to deliver shares of Common Stock in settlement of a redemption, and on the Holder Redemption Exercise Date (defined below) Nevada law governing distributions to stockholders of a corporation or the terms hereof prevents the Corporation from redeeming all outstanding shares of Series E-1 Preferred Stock to be redeemed, the Corporation shall ratably redeem the maximum number of shares of Series E-1 Preferred Stock that it may redeem with Common Stock consistent with such law and the provisions hereof, and shall redeem the remaining shares in cash or in Common Stock as soon as it may lawfully do so under such law or the terms hereof. The “Settlement Amount” means (I) the Stated Value, plus (II) unpaid Dividends accrued up to, but not including, the Holder Redemption Exercise Date (as defined below), minus (III) the Series E-1 Holder Optional Redemption Fee applicable on the respective Holder Redemption Deadline (defined below).

 

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(C) Subject to the provisions of 1.1(e)(i)(A), Holders of shares of Series E-1 Preferred Stock may elect to redeem their shares of Series E-1 Preferred Stock at any time by delivering to the Corporation’s servicing agent a notice of redemption (the “Holder Redemption Notice”). A Holder Redemption Notice shall be effective as of the last business day of the month after a Holder Redemption Notice is duly received by the Corporation or its designated agent (such date, a “Holder Redemption Deadline”). Any Holder Redemption Notice received after 5:00 p.m. Eastern time on a Holder Redemption Deadline shall be effective as of the next Holder Redemption Deadline. For all shares of Series E-1 Preferred Stock duly submitted for Redemption on or before a Holder Redemption Deadline, the Corporation shall determine the Settlement Amount on any business day after such Holder Redemption Deadline but before the next Holder Redemption Deadline (such date, the “Holder Redemption Exercise Date”). Within such period, the Corporation may select the Holder Redemption Exercise Date in the Corporation’s sole discretion. The Corporation may, in the Corporation’s sole discretion, permit a holder to revoke their Holder Redemption Notice at any time prior to 5:00 p.m., Eastern time, on the business day immediately preceding the Holder Redemption Exercise Date.

 

(ii) Optional Redemption Fee. A share of Series E-1 Preferred Stock is subject to an early redemption fee (“Series E-1 Holder Optional Redemption Fee”) if it is redeemed by its holder within three years after the date of its issuance (the “Issuance Date”). The amount of the fee equals a percentage of the Stated Value based on the year in which the redemption occurs after the Issuance Date as follows:

 

(A) Prior to the first anniversary of the Issuance Date: 9.00% of the Stated Value, which equals $2.25 per share of Series E-1 Preferred Stock;

 

(B) On or after the first anniversary of the Issuance Date but prior to the second anniversary of the Issuance Date: 7.00% of the Stated Value, which equals $1.75 per share of Series E-1 Preferred Stock;

 

(C) On or after the second anniversary of the Issuance Date but prior to the third anniversary of the Issuance Date: 5.00% of the Stated Value, which equals $1.25 per share of Series E-1 Preferred Stock; and

 

(D) On or after the third anniversary of the Issuance Date: 0.00% of the Stated Value, which equals $0.00 per share of Series E-1 Preferred Stock.

 

The Corporation is permitted to waive the Holder Optional Redemption Fee. Any such waiver would apply to any holder of Series E-1 Preferred Stock qualifying for the waiver and exercising a Holder Optional Redemption during the pendency of the term of such waiver. Although the Corporation has retained the right to waive the Holder Optional Redemption Fee in the manner described above, the Corporation is not required to establish any such waivers and the Corporation may never establish any such waivers.

 

(iii) Optional Redemption Following Death of a Holder. Subject to the restrictions described herein and unless prohibited by Nevada law governing distributions to stockholders of a corporation, beginning on the Issuance Date and ending on December 31st of the year in which the third anniversary of the Issuance Date occurs, the Corporation shall redeem Series E-1 Preferred Stock of a beneficial owner who is a natural person (including a natural person who holds shares of Series E-1 Preferred Stock through an Individual Retirement Account or in a personal or estate planning trust) upon his or her death at the written request of the beneficial owner’s estate (such date the request is received by the Company, the “Optional Redemption Following Death of a Holder Notice Date”) at a redemption price equal to the Settlement Amount without application of the Series E-1 Holder Optional Redemption Fee (an “Optional Redemption Following Death of a Holder”). In the Board’s sole and absolute discretion, the Corporation may determine to fulfill an Optional Redemption Following Death of a Holder in either cash or with fully paid and non-assessable shares of Common Stock (at a rate equal to (1) the Settlement Amount divided by (2) the closing price of shares of Common Stock on the Nasdaq Global Select Market, or other national securities exchange on which the Common Stock is listed, on the last trading day prior to the Optional Redemption Following Death of a Holder Notice Date); provided that if required by Rule 5635(d) of The Nasdaq Stock Market, the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock issuable to holders of Series E-1 Preferred Stock for dividends and redemption shall not exceed the Redemption Share Cap without the approval of the Corporation’s shareholders.

 

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(iv) Corporation Optional Redemption. Subject to the restrictions described herein and unless prohibited by Nevada law governing distributions to stockholders of a corporation or the terms hereof, a share of Series E-1 Preferred Stock may be redeemed at the Corporation’s option (the “Corporation Optional Redemption”) at any time or from time to time upon not less than 10 calendar days nor more than 90 calendar days written notice (the date upon such written notice is provided to holders, the “Corporation Optional Redemption Notice Exercise Date”) to the holders prior to the date fixed for redemption thereof, at a redemption price of 100% of the Stated Value of the shares of Series E-1 Preferred Stock to be redeemed plus accrued but unpaid dividends thereon. In the Board’s sole and absolute discretion, the Corporation may determine to fulfill a Corporation Optional Redemption in either cash or with fully paid and non-assessable shares of Common Stock (at a rate equal to (1) the Settlement Amount divided by (2) the closing price of shares of Common Stock on the Nasdaq Global Select Market, or other national securities exchange on which the Common Stock is listed, on the last trading day prior to the Corporation Optional Redemption Notice Exercise Date); provided that if required by Rule 5635(d) of The Nasdaq Stock Market, the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock issuable to holders of Series E-1 Preferred Stock for dividends and redemption shall not exceed the Redemption Share Cap without the approval of the Corporation’s shareholders. The Corporation shall not exercise the Corporation Optional Redemption prior to the second anniversary of the date on which a share of Series E-1 Preferred Stock has been issued (the “Redemption Eligibility Date”). If the Corporation exercises the Corporation Optional Redemption for less than all of the outstanding shares of Series E-1 Preferred Stock, then shares of Series E-1 Preferred Stock shall be selected for redemption on a pro rata basis or by lot across holders of the series of Series E-1 Preferred Stock selected for redemption. If, on the date of the contemplated Corporation Optional Redemption, Nevada law governing distributions to stockholders of a corporation or the terms hereof prevents the Corporation from redeeming all outstanding shares of Series E-1 Preferred Stock to be redeemed, the Corporation may ratably redeem the maximum number of shares of Series E-1 Preferred Stock that it may redeem consistent with such law or provision hereof, and may redeem the remaining shares, in the Board’s sole discretion, in cash or, as soon as it may lawfully do so under such law, with shares of Common Stock. There is no Holder Optional Redemption Fee charged upon a Corporation Optional Redemption.

 

(v) Reserves of Common Stock. To the extent the Corporation determines to fulfill a Holder Optional Redemption or a Corporation Optional Redemption with fully paid and non-assessable shares of Common Stock, instead of with cash, the Corporation shall ensure it has available shares of Common Stock out of its authorized and unissued shares of Common Stock. All rights with respect to the Series E-1 Preferred Stock shall terminate upon the redemption.

 

(vi) Retirement of Series E-1 Preferred Stock. Any Series E-1 Preferred Stock redeemed in accordance with this (e) shall be retired and cancelled and shall not be reissued as shares of such series, and the Corporation may thereafter take such appropriate action (without the need for stockholder action) as may be necessary to reduce the authorized number of shares of its preferred stock accordingly.

 

(f) Listing of Series E-1 Preferred Stock. The Corporation shall provide not less than 60 calendar days prior written notice to the holders of shares of the Series E-1 Preferred Stock before listing the Series E-1 Preferred Stock on a national securities exchange or on an over the counter market.

 

Section 1.2 Withholding. The Corporation agrees that, provided that a holder of the Corporation’s capital stock delivers to the Corporation a properly executed IRS Form W-9 certifying as to such holder’s complete exemption from backup withholding (or, if such holder is a disregarded entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes, its regarded owner’s complete exemption from backup withholding), under current law the Corporation (including any paying agent of the Corporation) shall not be required to, and shall not, withhold on any payments or deemed payments to any such holder. In the event that any holder of the Corporation’s capital stock fails to deliver to the Corporation such properly executed IRS Form W-9, the Corporation reasonably believes that a previously delivered IRS W-9 is no longer accurate and/or valid, or there is a change in law that affects the withholding obligations of the Corporation, the Corporation and its paying agent shall be entitled to withhold taxes on all payments made to the relevant holder in the form of cash or to request that the relevant holder promptly pay the Corporation in cash any amounts required to satisfy any withholding tax obligations. In the event that the Corporation does not have sufficient cash with respect to any such holder from withholding on cash payments otherwise payable to such holder and cash paid by such holder to the Corporation pursuant to the immediately preceding sentence, the Corporation and its paying agent shall be entitled to withhold taxes on deemed payments, including constructive distributions, on the Series E-1 Preferred Stock to the extent required by law, and the Corporation and its paying agent shall be entitled to satisfy any required withholding tax on non-cash payments (including deemed payments) from cash dividends or sales proceeds subsequently paid or credited on the Series E-1 Preferred Stock.

 

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Exhibit 4.8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 4.9

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.70

 

APPLIED DIGITAL CORPORATION
Offering of $62,500,000 Series E-1 Preferred Shares
DEALER MANAGER AGREEMENT

 

Dated: September 23, 2024

 

Preferred Capital Securities, LLC
3290 Northside Parkway, NW
Suite 800
Atlanta, Georgia 30327

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

Applied Digital Corporation (NASDAQ:APLD) (the “Company”), will offer to investors deemed suitable pursuant to the standards set forth in FINRA Rule 2111 through a registered ongoing offering (the “Offering”) of Series E-1 Redeemable Preferred Stock in the Company (the “Shares”) to be offered and sold on the terms and conditions set forth in the Company’s registration statement on Form S-1 and prospectus that will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), as the same may be amended or supplemented (the “Registration Statement”). However, subject to the notice requirements set forth in Section 4.13, the Company reserves the right to conduct other offerings registered or exempt from registration with the SEC.

 

The Company hereby appoints Preferred Capital Securities, LLC, a Georgia limited liability company (the “Dealer Manager”), as its agent and exclusive distributor during the Subscription Period (as defined below) for the purpose of finding, on a best efforts basis, purchasers for the Shares for cash through such broker-dealers or registered investment advisors that agree with the Dealer Manager to participate in the Offering (individually, a “Financial Intermediary” and collectively, the “Financial Intermediaries”), all of which shall be members of either the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”), or registered as investment advisors with the SEC or state regulatory authorities, as appropriate, as evidenced by the execution of a Financial Intermediary Agreement (the “Financial Intermediary Agreement”) between each Financial Intermediary and the Dealer Manager. The Financial Intermediary Agreements shall include agreements with FINRA registered participating broker-dealers (“Participating Broker-Dealers”) (the “Selected Dealer Agreements”), as well as Select Registered Investment Advisor Agreements with SEC and/or state registered investment advisors (the “RIA Agreements”). The Dealer Manager may also arrange for the sale of Shares for cash directly to its own clients and customers as well as friends and family members at the offering price and subject to the terms and conditions stated in the Prospectus. The Dealer Manager hereby agrees to use its best efforts to find Financial Intermediaries to offer and sell, or recommend, Shares on said terms and conditions during the Subscription Period (as defined below).

 

The term “Subscription Period” shall mean that period during which Shares may be offered for sale, commencing on the date of this Agreement until the Offering is terminated as provided in the Prospectus. Upon termination of the Subscription Period for the Offering, the Dealer Manager’s agency and this Agreement shall terminate without obligation on the part of the Dealer Manager or the Company except as otherwise set forth in this Agreement.

 

In connection with the sale of Shares, the Company hereby agrees with you, the Dealer Manager, as follows:

 

1.Representations and Warranties of the Company. As an inducement to the Dealer Manager to enter into this Agreement, the Company represents and warrants to the Dealer Manager with respect to its Registration Statement, Prospectus and Offering, that, as of the date hereof and thereafter with respect to representations and warranties which by their terms apply to subsequent periods.

 

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1.1.A Registration Statement with respect to the Shares has been prepared by the Company in accordance with applicable requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and the applicable rules and regulations (the “Rules and Regulations”) of the SEC promulgated thereunder, covering the sale of the Shares. Copies of such Registration Statement and each amendment thereto have been or will be delivered to the Dealer Manager. The prospectus contained therein, as finally amended and revised at the effective date of the Registration Statement (including at the effective date of any post-effective amendment thereto), is hereinafter referred to as the “Prospectus,” except that if the prospectus or prospectus supplement filed by the Company pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act shall differ from the Prospectus on file at the Effective Date, the term “Prospectus” shall also include such prospectus or prospectus supplement filed pursuant to Rule 424(b). “Effective Date” means the applicable date upon which the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto is or was first declared effective by the SEC. “Filing Date” means the applicable date upon which the initial Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto is filed with the SEC.
   
1.2.As of the Effective Date or Filing Date, as applicable, the Registration Statement and Prospectus complied or will comply in all material respects with the Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations. The Registration Statement, as of the applicable Effective Date, does not and will not contain any untrue statements of material facts or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading; and the Prospectus as of the applicable Filing Date, does not and will not contain any untrue statements of material facts or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
   
1.3.No order suspending the Company’s Offering in any jurisdiction has been issued and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened or contemplated.
   
1.4.The Company intends to use the funds received from the sale of its Shares as set forth in its Prospectus.
   
1.5.The Company has been duly organized and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Nevada.
   
1.6.The Company has full legal right, power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to perform the transactions contemplated hereby, and the Company has duly authorized, executed and delivered this Agreement.
   
1.7.This Agreement, when executed by the Company, will be a valid and binding agreement of the Company, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except to the extent that the enforceability of the indemnity and contribution provisions contained in Section 6 of this Agreement may be limited under applicable securities laws.
   
1.8.The execution and delivery of this Agreement, the consummation of the transactions herein contemplated and the compliance with the terms of this Agreement by the Company will not conflict with or constitute a default or violation under any certificate of formation, operating agreement, contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, lease, rule, regulation, writ, injunction or decree of any government, governmental instrumentality or court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company.

 

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1.9.No consent, approval, authorization or other order of any governmental authority is required in connection with the execution or delivery by the Company of this Agreement or the issuance and sale by the Company of the Shares, except such as may be required under the Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations, by the FINRA, or applicable state securities laws.
   
1.10.The Company’s Shares have been duly authorized and, upon payment therefor as provided in this Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and will conform to the description thereof contained in the Prospectus.
   
1.11.The Company is not and, after giving effect to the offering and sale of its Shares and the application of the proceeds thereof, will not be an “investment company,” as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
   
1.12.The financial statements of the Company included in the Prospectus present fairly in all material respects the financial position of the Company as of the date indicated and the results of its operations for the periods specified; said financial statements have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis. To the extent required by any applicable law, any accounting firm that certifies the Company’s financial statements, including the financial statements of any subsidiary of the Company, will be independent.

 

2.

Representations and Warranties of the Dealer Manager. As an inducement to the Company to enter into this Agreement, the Dealer Manager represents and warrants to the Company that, as of the date hereof, and thereafter with respect to representations and warranties which by their terms apply to subsequent periods:

 

2.1.The Dealer Manager is, and during the term of this Agreement will be, a member of FINRA in good standing and a broker-dealer registered as such under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and under the securities laws of the states where the Dealer Manager is required to be registered to conduct its activities under this Agreement. The Dealer Manager and its employees and representatives possess all required licenses and registrations to act under this Agreement. The Dealer Manager will comply with all applicable laws, rules, regulations and requirements of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, other applicable federal securities laws as may from time to time be in effect, state securities laws and the rules of FINRA, specifically including, but not in any way limited to, FINRA Rules 2040 (Payments to Unregistered Persons), 2111 (Suitability), 2231 (Customer Account Statements), and 5110 (Corporate Financing Rule – Underwriting Terms and Arrangements). Each Financial Intermediary and each salesperson acting on behalf of the Dealer Manager or a Financial Intermediary will be a broker-dealer registered and in good standing with FINRA and registered with the SEC or be an investment advisor registered with the SEC or state regulatory authority, as appropriate, and be duly licensed by each state regulatory authority in each jurisdiction in which it or he will offer and sell Shares in the Company.
   
2.2.The Dealer Manager has been duly organized and is validly existing as a limited liability company in good standing under the laws of the State of Georgia, and has full legal right, power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to perform the transactions contemplated hereby, and the Dealer Manager has duly authorized, executed and delivered this Agreement.

 

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2.3.This Agreement, when executed by the Dealer Manager, will be a valid and binding agreement of the Dealer Manager, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except to the extent that the enforceability of the indemnity and contribution provisions contained in Section 6 of this Agreement may be limited under applicable securities laws.
   
2.4.The execution and delivery of this Agreement, the consummation of the transactions herein contemplated and the compliance with the terms of this Agreement by the Dealer Manager will not conflict with or constitute a default or violation under any certificate of formation, operating agreement, contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, lease, rule, regulation, writ, injunction or decree of any government, governmental instrumentality or court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Dealer Manager.
   
2.5.No consent, approval, authorization or other order of any governmental authority is required in connection with the execution, delivery or performance by the Dealer Manager of this Agreement.
   
2.6.The information under the caption “Plan of Distribution” in the Prospectus, to the extent it was furnished to the Company by the Dealer Manager in writing expressly for use in the Prospectus does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact required to be stated therein or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

 

3.Covenants of the Company. The Company covenants and agrees with the Dealer Manager that:

 

3.1.It will, at no expense to the Dealer Manager, furnish the Dealer Manager with such number of printed copies of its Registration Statement, including all amendments and exhibits thereto, as the Dealer Manager may reasonably request. In connection with the Offering, the Company will similarly furnish to the Dealer Manager and others designated by the Dealer Manager as many copies as the Dealer Manager may reasonably request of:

 

(a)the Prospectus in preliminary and final form and every form of supplemental or amended prospectus related to the Offering;
   
(b)this Agreement; and
   
(c)any printed investor sales literature or broker-dealer and registered investment advisor use only marketing materials (provided that the use of said investor sales literature and broker-dealer use only marketing materials have first been approved for use by the Company and all appropriate regulatory agencies).

 

3.2.It will furnish such proper information and execute and file such documents as may be necessary for the Company to qualify the Shares for offer and sale under the securities laws of such jurisdictions as the Dealer Manager may reasonably designate and will file and make in each year such statements and reports as may be required. The Company will furnish to the Dealer Manager upon request a copy of such papers filed by the Company in connection with any such qualification.

 

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3.3.It will:

 

(a)use its best efforts to cause the Registration Statement to remain effective;
(b)furnish copies of any proposed amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or Prospectus to the Dealer Manager;
(c)file every amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or Prospectus that may be required to be filed by the SEC; and
(d)if at any time the SEC shall issue any order or take other action to suspend or enjoin the sale of its Shares, promptly notify the Dealer Manager and will use its best efforts to obtain the lifting of such order or to prevent such other action at the earliest possible time.

 

3.4.If at any time when a Prospectus is required to be delivered under the Securities Act any event occurs as a result of which, in the opinion of either the Company or the Dealer Manager, the Prospectus would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in view of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, the Company will promptly notify the Dealer Manager thereof (unless the information shall have been received from the Dealer Manager) and will promptly effect the preparation of an amended or supplemental Prospectus that will correct such statement or omission.

 

3.5.It will deliver to the Dealer Manager copies of any reports delivered to the holders of Shares (“Shareholders”) at the time that such reports are furnished to the Shareholders, and such other information concerning the Company as the Dealer Manager may reasonably request from time to time; provided, however, that the Company has no obligation to deliver copies of any reports delivered to Shareholders to the Dealer Manager if such reports are publicly available on the SEC’s Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval system (“EDGAR”).
   
3.6.In order to use electronic signatures, the Company will not condition participation in the Offering on the use of electronic signatures.
   
3.7.The Company agrees that it will reasonably cooperate with the Dealer Manager’s due diligence related informational requests that may come up from time to time to help facilitate the Dealer Manager’s compliance with its due diligence obligations, which may include documentation enabling the Dealer Manager to confirm the Company’s uses of capital raised pursuant to the Share offering (such requests of which may be made directly by the Dealer Manager or indirectly through outside securities counsel engaged for the specific purpose of conducting due diligence on behalf of the Dealer Manager and other selling group members).

 

4.Covenants of the Dealer Manager. The Dealer Manager covenants and agrees with the Company that:

 

4.1.In connection with the offer and sale of the Shares of the Company, the Dealer Manager will comply with all requirements imposed upon it by federal regulations applicable to the Offering, the sale of the Shares or its activities pursuant to this Agreement and by all applicable state securities laws and regulations, by applicable rules of FINRA, as from time to time in effect, and by this Agreement.

 

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4.2.In the event the Dealer Manager facilitates a purchase of the Shares to a potential investor, the Dealer Manager shall have reasonable grounds to believe, on the basis of the information obtained from the potential investor or their financial advisor or professional concerning his or her investment objectives, other investments, financial situation and needs, and any other information known by the Dealer Manager or an associated person, that the prospective investor meets the suitability requirements set forth in the Prospectus and as required by FINRA, including, without limitation, the suitability requirements of FINRA Rule 2111; and

 

The Dealer Manager agrees that it will retain in its records and make available to the Company for a period of at least six (6) years following the termination of the Offering, information disclosing the basis upon which the above determination of suitability was reached as to each investor who purchases Shares directly through the Dealer Manager acting as a Participating Dealer. For the avoidance of doubt, if the Dealer Manager is not directly offering the Shares to a prospective investor in connection with a retail sale by the Dealer Manager, then there is a Financial Intermediary that is offering or recommending the purchase of the Shares, which Financial Intermediary will be governed by its Financial Intermediary Agreement with the Dealer Manager.

 

4.3.The Dealer Manager agrees that it will not give any information or make any representations other than those contained in the Prospectus and in any investor sales literature furnished to the Dealer Manager by the Company which have been approved in advance in writing by the Company and appropriate regulatory agencies for use in the Offering (“Authorized Sales Materials”). The Dealer Manager further agrees (a) not to deliver any Authorized Sales Materials to any investor or prospective investor, to any Financial Intermediary that has not entered into a Financial Intermediary Agreement, or to any representatives or other associated persons of such a broker-dealer or registered investment adviser, unless it is accompanied or preceded by the Prospectus as amended and supplemented, (b) not to show or give to any investor or prospective investor or reproduce any material or writing that is supplied to it by the Company and marked “broker-dealer only” or otherwise bearing a legend denoting that it is not to be used in connection with the sale of Shares to members of the public, and (c) not to show or give to any investor or prospective investor in a particular jurisdiction (and will similarly require Financial Intermediaries pursuant to the Financial Intermediary Agreement) any material or writing that is supplied to it by the Company if such material bears a legend denoting that it is not to be used in connection with the sale of Shares to members of the public in such jurisdiction. The Dealer Manager, in its agreements with Participating Broker-Dealers and Registered Investment Advisers, will include requirements and obligations of the Participating Broker-Dealers and Registered Investment Advisers similar to those imposed upon the Dealer Manager pursuant to this section.
   
4.4.The Dealer Manager will provide the Company with such information relating to the offer and sale of the Company’s Shares by it and the Financial Intermediaries as the Company may from time-to-time reasonably request or as may be requested to enable the Company to prepare such reports of sale of its Shares as may be required to be filed under applicable securities laws.

 

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4.5.All engagements of the Financial Intermediaries will be evidenced by a Financial Intermediary Agreement. When Financial Intermediaries are used in this Offering, the Dealer Manager will use its best efforts to cause such Financial Intermediaries to comply with all their respective obligations pursuant to the Financial Intermediary Agreement. The Dealer Manager shall require in its agreements with Financial Intermediaries that in no event will a Financial Intermediary solicit subscriptions for Shares or otherwise offer and sell Shares in the Company’s offering or conduct any related marketing activities until the Financial Intermediary has received written notice from the Company that the Registration Statement has been declared effective by the Commission.
   
4.6.The Dealer Manager or the Financial Intermediaries will provide each prospective investor with a copy of the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto during the course of the Offering and prior to the sale of Shares to such investor. The Company may also provide the Dealer Manager with Authorized Sales Materials to be delivered by the Dealer Manager and the Financial Intermediaries to prospective investors in connection with the solicitation of purchasers of the Shares.
   
4.7.The Dealer Manager will comply in all material respects with the subscription procedures, and the “Plan of Distribution” section set forth in the Prospectus; provided that any modification thereto shall be reasonably acceptable to the Dealer Manager.
   
4.8.The Dealer Manager agrees to be bound by the terms of an escrow agreement related to each Offering among a bank or other provider selected by the Company, as escrow agent (the “Escrow Agent”), the Dealer Manager and the Company, in a form reasonably acceptable to the parties thereto, as such agreement may be amended from time to time (the “Escrow Agreement”).
   
4.9.The Dealer Manager shall not execute any transaction in which an investor invests in Shares in a discretionary account without the prior written approval of the transaction by the investor, or the acknowledgement or representation by a financial advisor representing the investor of having the written discretionary authority to conduct the transaction.
   
4.10.The Dealer Manager shall promptly notify the Company in writing of any reduction in the number of its wholesaling staff; provided that the failure to provide any such notice promptly shall not of itself constitute a default hereunder.
   
4.11.In order to use electronic delivery of the offering documents, the Dealer Manager will obtain the form of consent to electronic delivery attached as Exhibit A signed by each prospective investor.
   
4.12.In order to use electronic signatures, the Dealer Manager will:

 

(a)retain electronically signed documents in compliance with applicable laws and regulations;
   
(b)not condition participation in the Offering on the use of electronic signatures; and
   
(c)comply with Sections I(A)1 (b) – I, I(A)2 (d), I(B)2, and I(C), (E), (G), (H), (I), and (J) of the NASAA Statement of Policy Regarding Use of Electronic Offering Documents and Electronic

 

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4.13.The Dealer Manager shall, and shall cause all Financial Intermediaries to, cease closing deals of the Company’s Shares (a) on March 15, July 15, September 15 and December 15 of each year and will not resume until two (2) full trading days have elapsed after the public release of the Company’s earnings for the last completed fiscal quarter and (b) at any other time if and when the Company notifies the Dealer Manager in writing to cease making such offerings or closing deals and will not resume until the Company notifies the Dealer Manager in writing that such offerings or closings may resume.

 

5.Compensation of Dealer Manager.

 

5.1.As compensation for the services rendered under this Agreement by the Dealer Manager, except as may be provided otherwise in its Prospectus, the Company agrees that it will pay to the Dealer Manager a dealer manager fee of 2.0% of the Stated Value for the Series E-1 Preferred Stock sold in the Offering (the “Dealer Manager Fee”), a portion of which may be reallowed to Participating Broker-Dealers, as described more fully in the Selected Dealer Agreement entered into with such Participating Broker-Dealer (as payment of a marketing fee to a Participating Broker-Dealer or otherwise as provided in the Prospectus). Except as may be provided otherwise in the Prospectus, the reallowance, if any, of all or any portion of the Dealer Manager Fee shall be determined by the Dealer Manager in its discretion based on factors including, but not limited to:

 

(a)the volume of sales estimated to be made by the Participating Broker-Dealer; or
   
(b)the Participating Broker-Dealer’s agreement to provide one or more of the following services:

 

(i)providing internal marketing support personnel and marketing communications vehicles to assist the Dealer Manager in our promotion;
   
(ii)responding to investors’ inquiries concerning monthly statements, valuations, distribution rates, tax information, annual reports, redemption rights and procedures, our financial status, and the markets in which we have invested;
   
(iii)assisting investors with redemptions; or
   
(iv)providing other services requested by investors from time to time and maintaining the technology necessary to adequately service investors.

 

Notwithstanding anything set forth in this Section 5.1, no reallowance for any reason shall increase the Dealer Manager Fee above 2% of the Stated Value of Shares sold in the Offering or cause the Company to pay any amount additional to the Dealer Manager Fee.

 

5.2.In addition to the compensation described in Section 5.1 above, as compensation for the services rendered in the Selected Dealer Agreements, except as may be provided otherwise in the Prospectus, the Company agrees that it will pay to the Dealer Manager a selling commission of up to 6.0% of the Stated Value of the Series E-1 Preferred Stock sold in the Offering.

 

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Each Participating Broker-Dealer, in its sole discretion, may waive part or all of its selling commissions with respect to a sale of Shares, provided that such Participating Broker-Dealer and its registered representative making the sale have provided at least five (5) days’ advance written notice to the Company or the Dealer Manager, which party will then have the obligation to notify the other party of such waiver and the details thereof and the selling commission and other compensation otherwise payable by the Company to the Dealer Manager hereunder shall be correspondingly reduced or eliminated.

 

No selling commissions or Dealer Manager Fees will be paid in connection with Shares sold to the Company’s Manager, its management and their family Shareholders, employees and their family Shareholders and the Manager’s other affiliates. Any other discounts in which selling commissions and/or Dealer Manager Fees may not be paid in an offering shall be described in the “Plan of Distribution” section of the Plan of Distribution for each offering subject to this Agreement.

 

The Dealer Manager shall be paid the Dealer Manager Fee, selling commission, and other compensation as earned, until the Offering terms terminate. All remaining Dealer Manager Fees, selling commissions, and other compensation shall be paid to the Dealer Manager no later than fourteen (14) business days after the Offering terminates.

 

The Company reserves the right, in its reasonable discretion, to refuse to accept any or all subscriptions for Shares tendered by the Dealer Manager or the Participating Dealers.

 

The Company will not be liable or responsible to any Financial Intermediary for direct payment of commissions or any other compensation to such Financial Intermediary, it being the sole and exclusive responsibility of the Dealer Manager to pay commissions and all other compensation to the Financial Intermediaries.

 

In no event shall the total aggregate underwriting compensation payable to the Dealer Manager and any Financial Intermediaries participating in the offering, including but not limited to, selling commissions, the Dealer Manager Fee, non-cash compensation, and other forms of underwriting compensation set forth in the Prospectus exceed eight percent (8%) of the gross offering proceeds from the Offering in the Aggregate.

 

In addition to any payments to the Dealer Manager pursuant to this section, the Company shall reimburse the Dealer Manager or any Financial Intermediary for reasonable bona fide due diligence expenses incurred by the Dealer Manager or any Financial Intermediary to the extent permitted pursuant to FINRA rules, which shall be considered underwriting compensation subject to the eight percent cap.

 

5.3.Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, in the event that the Company pays any commission or other compensation to the Dealer Manager for the sale by a Financial Intermediary of one or more Shares and the subscription is rescinded as to one or more of the Shares covered by such subscription, the Company shall decrease the next payment of Dealer Manager Fees, selling commissions and other compensation otherwise payable to the Dealer Manager by the Company under this Agreement by an amount equal to the amount of compensation previously paid by the Company to the Dealer Manager with respect to the Shares as to which the subscription is rescinded. In the event that no compensation is due to the Dealer Manager within thirty (30) days after such rescission occurs, the Dealer Manager shall pay the amount specified in the preceding sentence to the Company within ten (10) days following receipt of notice by the Dealer Manager from the Company stating the amount owed as a result of rescinded subscriptions.

 

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5.4.Conference fees and expenses related to the education and marketing of the Offering must be approved in writing by the Company prior to the incurrence of such expense by the Dealer Manager.
   
5.5.The Company, the Dealer Manager, a participating financial intermediary and/or broker dealer may incur other costs and expenses that are considered underwriting compensation (“Other Expenses”) associated with the sale, or the facilitation of the marketing, of Series E-1 Preferred Stock. These expenses may include:

 

(a)travel and entertainment expenses, including those of the wholesalers;
   
(b)expenses incurred in coordinating broker-dealer seminars and meetings;
   
(c)certain wholesaling activities and wholesaling expense reimbursements paid by the Dealer Manager or its affiliates to other entities;
   
(d)the national and regional sales conferences of Participating Broker-Dealers;
   
(e)training and education meetings for registered representatives of the Participating Broker-Dealers;

 

(f)certain legal expenses of the Dealer Manager associated with the required FINRA filing of the proposed underwriting terms and arrangements;

 

(g)technology fees paid to certain participating broker-dealers so that they can maintain the technology necessary to adequately service the investors to whom they sold Series E-1 Preferred Stock;

 

(h)due diligence expenses although only reasonable out-of-pocket due diligence expenses that are detailed on an itemized invoice will be reimbursed to a participating broker-dealer; and

 

(i)permissible forms of non-cash compensation to registered representatives of Participating Broker-Dealers, such as logo apparel items and gifts that do not exceed an aggregate value of $100 per annum per registered representative and that are not pre-conditioned on achievement of a sales target (including, but not limited to, seasonal gifts).

 

Other Expenses are considered underwriting compensation and will be reimbursed by the Company or, if incurred by the Dealer Manager, the corresponding payments of the Dealer Manager Fee may be reduced by the aggregate value of such compensation. However, in no event will all forms of underwriting compensation in this offering exceed 8% of gross offering proceeds.

 

5.6.The Company will pay Offering Expenses, which are not considered underwriting compensation under FINRA Rule 5110, directly or by reimbursing the Dealer Manager and/or a participating financial for Offering Expenses in an amount which, in the aggregate, will not exceed the greater of (a) $700,000 or (b) 3.5% of the gross proceeds of the Offering (the “Maximum Other Expenses”). The Company will not pay or reimburse Other Expenses in excess of the then applicable Maximum Other Expenses without advance approval by the Company’s Board. Offering Expenses include the following:

 

(a)expenses and taxes related to the filing, registration and qualification, as necessary, of the sale of the shares of Series E-1 Preferred Stock under federal and state laws and FINRA rules, including taxes and fees and reasonable accountants’ and attorneys’ fees;

 

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(b)expenses for printing and amending the Registration Statement or supplementing the Prospectus;
   
(c)mailing and distributing costs;
   
(d)all advertising and marketing expenses (including actual costs incurred for travel, meals and lodging for our employees to attend retail seminars hosted by broker-dealers or bona fide training or educational meetings hosted by us);
   
(e)charges of transfer agents, registrars and experts and fees;
   
(f)expenses in connection with non-offering issuer support services relating to the Series E-1 Preferred Stock; and
   
(g)expenses for establishing servicing arrangements for new shareholder accounts.

 

5.7.Subject to the limitations described above, the Company agrees to pay all costs and expenses incident to the Offering, whether or not the transactions contemplated hereunder are consummated or this Agreement is terminated, including expenses, fees and taxes in connection with:

 

(a)the registration fee, the preparation and filing of the Registration Statement (including without limitation financial statements, exhibits, schedules and consents), the Prospectus, and any amendments or supplements thereto, and the printing and furnishing of copies of each thereof to the Dealer Manager and to Participating Broker-Dealers (including costs of mailing and shipment);
   
(b)the preparation, issuance and delivery of certificates, if any, for the Shares, including any stock or other transfer taxes or duties payable upon the sale of the Shares;
   
(c)all fees and expenses of the Company’s legal counsel, independent public or certified public accountants and other advisors;
   
(d)the determination of the Shares eligibility for sale or an exemption under state law and the printing and furnishing of copies of blue sky surveys if any;
   
(e)the filing fees in connection with filing for review by FINRA, if required, of all necessary documents and information relating to the Offering and the Shares;
   
(f)the fees and expenses of any transfer agent or registrar for the Shares and miscellaneous expenses referred to in the Registration Statement;

 

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(g)all costs and expenses incident to the travel and accommodation of officers of the Company, in making road show presentations and presentations to Financial Intermediaries and other broker-dealers and financial advisors with respect to the offering of the Shares; and
   
(h)the performance of the Company’s other obligations hereunder.

 

6.Indemnification.

 

6.1.With respect to the Offering of its Shares, the Company will indemnify and hold harmless the Financial Intermediaries and the Dealer Manager, their officers and directors and each person, if any, who controls such Financial Intermediary or Dealer Manager within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act (the “Company Indemnified Persons”) from and against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities (“Losses”), joint or several, to which such Company Indemnified Persons may become subject, under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such Losses (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon:

 

(a)any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained:

 

(i)in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus used prior to the effective date of the Registration Statement, or any post-effective amendment or any amendment or supplement thereto;
   
(ii)in any Authorized Sales Materials; or
   
(iii)in any securities filing or other document executed by the Company or on its behalf specifically for the purpose of qualifying the Offering for exemption from the registration requirements of the securities laws of any jurisdiction or based upon written information furnished by the Company under the securities laws thereof (any such application, document or information being hereinafter called a “Securities Application”);

 

(b)the omission or alleged omission to state in the Registration Statement, Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, the investor sales literature, the broker-dealer and investment advisor use only marketing materials, or in any Securities Application, 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;
   
(c)the Company’s violation of the federal or state securities laws;
   
(d)any electronic signatures and/or stamped signatures in any form which have been directly used by or obtained by the Dealer Manager with respect to this Agreement or in any Financial Intermediary Agreement related to the Offering; or
   
(e)the Company’s breach of any of its representations, agreements, covenants or warranties contained in this Agreement, except as provided otherwise in Section 11.2.

 

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The Company will reimburse each Company Indemnified Person for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such Company Indemnified Person, in connection with investigating or defending such Loss, expense or action as such expenses are incurred.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 6.1, the Company will not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such Loss or expense 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 the Dealer Manager, or to the Company by or on behalf of any Financial Intermediary through the Dealer Manager, specifically for use in the preparation of the Registration Statement or Prospectus or any such amendment or supplement thereto, or any such investor sales literature, broker-dealer use only marketing materials, or Securities Application.

 

6.2.With respect to the Offering of the Company’s Shares, the Dealer Manager will indemnify and hold harmless the Company and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act, including without limitation, the Company’s officers and directors (each a “Dealer Manager Indemnified Person”), from and against any Losses to which any Dealer Manager Indemnified Person may become subject, under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such Losses (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon:

 

(a)any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained:

 

(i)in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus used prior to the effective date of the Registration Statement, or any post-effective amendment or any amendment or supplement thereto;
(ii)in any Authorized Sales Materials; or
(iii)in any Securities Application; or

 

(b)the omission to state in the Registration Statement, Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or in the investor sales literature, or in the broker-dealer and investment advisor use only marketing materials, or in any Securities Application 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;

 

in the case of each of clauses (a) and (b) to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of the Dealer Manager specifically for use with reference to the Dealer Manager in the preparation of the Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto, the investor sales literature, the broker-dealer and investment advisor use only marketing materials, or any such Securities Application; or

 

(c)any unauthorized use of the Authorized Sales Materials or the use of any written material that is not Authorized Sales Materials or verbal representations concerning the Shares or the Offering by the Dealer Manager; or

 

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(d)any unlawful solicitation of purchasers by the Dealer Manager in violation of the requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws; or
   
(e)any electronic signatures and/or stamped signatures in any form which have been used, obtained or relied upon by the Dealer Manager with respect to this Agreement, or any subscription agreement; or
   
(f)the Dealer Manager’s breach of any of its representations, agreements, covenants or warranties contained in this Agreement, except as provided otherwise in Section 11.2.

 

The Dealer Manager will reimburse each Dealer Manager Indemnified Person for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending such Loss, expense or action.

 

6.3.With respect to the Offering of the Company’s Shares, each Financial Intermediary will, and the Dealer Manager will cause each Financial Intermediary to, severally indemnify and hold harmless the Company, the Dealer Manager and its directors, and each person, if any, who controls the Company or the Dealer Manager within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act (each, a “Financial Intermediary Indemnified Person”) from and against any Losses to which a Financial Intermediary Indemnified Person may become subject, under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such Losses (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon:

 

(a)any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained:

 

(i)in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus used prior to the effective date of the Registration Statement, or any post-effective amendment or any amendment or supplement thereto;
   
(ii)in any Authorized Sales Materials; or
   
(iii)in any Securities Application; or

 

(b)the omission or alleged omission to state in the Registration Statement, Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or in the investor sales literature, or in the broker-dealer and investment advisor use only marketing materials 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;

 

in the case of each of clauses (a) and (b), above, 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 or the Dealer Manager by or on behalf of such Financial Intermediary specifically for use with reference to such Financial Intermediary in the preparation of the Registration Statement, Prospectus, or any amendments or supplements thereto, the investor sales literature, the broker-dealer and investment advisor use only marketing materials; or

 

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(c)any unauthorized use of the Authorized Sales Materials, the investor sales literature, broker-dealer and investment advisor use only marketing materials or any written material that is not Authorized Sales Materials or verbal representations concerning the Shares or the Offering by such Financial Intermediary’s representatives or agents in violation of the Financial Intermediary Agreement or otherwise; or
   
(d)any unlawful solicitation of purchasers by the Financial Intermediary’s representatives or agents in violation of the requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws, or by any other means of solicitation in violation of the Selected Dealer Agreement or the Selected Registered Investment Advisor Agreement;
   
(e)any electronic signatures and/or stamped signatures in any form which have been used, obtained or relied upon by the Financial Intermediary with respect to this Agreement, the applicable Financial Intermediary Agreement, or any subscription agreement; or
   
(f)the Financial Intermediary’s breach of any of its representations, agreements, covenants or warranties contained in its Financial Intermediary Agreement with the Dealer Manager.

 

Each such Financial Intermediary will reimburse each Financial Intermediary Indemnified Person for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, expense or action. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability that such Financial Intermediary may otherwise have. The Dealer Manager shall, in its agreement with the Financial Intermediaries, cause the Financial Intermediaries to comply with the terms of this Section 6.3.

 

6.4.Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 6 of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against any indemnifying party under this Section 6, notify in writing the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof.

 

The failure of an indemnified party to so notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve the indemnifying party from any liability under this Section 6.

 

In case any such action is brought against any indemnified party, and it notifies an indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party will be entitled, to the extent it may wish, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to participate in the defense thereof, with separate counsel. Such participation shall not relieve such indemnifying party of the obligation to reimburse the indemnified party for reasonable legal and other expenses (subject to Section 6.5) incurred by such indemnified party in defending itself, except for such expenses incurred after the indemnifying party has deposited funds sufficient to effect the settlement, with prejudice, of the claim in respect of which indemnity is sought. Any such indemnifying party shall not be liable to any such indemnified party on account of any settlement of any claim or action effected without the consent of such indemnifying party. Any indemnified party shall not be bound to perform or refrain from performing any act pursuant to the terms of any settlement of any claim or action effected without the consent of such indemnified party.

 

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6.5.The indemnifying party shall pay all legal fees and expenses of the indemnified party in the defense of such claims or actions; provided, however, that the indemnifying party shall not be obliged to pay legal expenses and fees to more than one law firm in connection with the defense of similar or related claims arising out of the same alleged acts or omissions giving rise to such claims notwithstanding that such actions or claims are alleged or brought by one or more parties against more than one indemnified party. If such claims or actions are alleged or brought against more than one indemnified party, then the indemnifying party shall only be obliged to reimburse the expenses and fees of the one law firm that has been selected by a majority of the indemnified parties against which such action is finally brought; and in the event a majority of such indemnified parties is unable to agree on which law firm for which expenses or fees will be reimbursable by the indemnifying party, then payment shall be made to the first law firm of record representing an indemnified party against the action or claim. Such law firm shall be paid only to the extent of services performed by such law firm and no reimbursement shall be payable to such law firm on account of legal services performed by another law firm.
   
6.6.If the indemnity agreements contained in this Section 6 are for any reason unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect of any losses or expenses referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the aggregate amount of such Losses and expenses incurred by such indemnified party, as incurred:

 

(a)in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Dealer Manager and/or Financial Intermediary on the other hand from the Offering of the Shares; or
   
(b)if the allocation provided by clause (a) is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (a) but also the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and of the Dealer Manager or Financial Intermediary on the other hand in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, expenses or actions, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.

 

The relative benefits received by the Dealer Manager on the one hand and the Company on the other hand shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds from sales of Shares received by the Dealer Manager and the Company (after deducting any amounts payable to the Dealer Manager) bear to the total discounts, commissions and other compensation received by the Dealer Manager.

 

7.Survival of Provisions.

 

7.1.The respective agreements, representations and warranties of the Company and the Dealer Manager set forth in this Agreement shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of:

 

(a)any investigation made by or on behalf of the Dealer Manager or any Financial Intermediary or any person controlling the Dealer Manager or any Financial Intermediary or by or on behalf of the Company or any person controlling the Company; and
   
(b)the acceptance of any payment for the Shares.

 

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7.2.The obligations of the Company to pay and/or reimburse the Dealer Manager pursuant to Sections 5.1through 5.6 of this Agreement, and the provisions of Sections 6 through 10 and Sections 12 and 18 of this Agreement shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

 

8.Applicable Law. This Agreement was executed and delivered in, and its validity, interpretation and construction shall be governed by, the laws of the State of Nevada. Any legal action or proceeding with respect to this Agreement shall be brought in the state or federal courts of the State of Nevada. The party that is unsuccessful in any legal action or proceeding shall bear all legal fees and related out-of-pocket expenses of the prevailing party.
  
9.Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts. Each counterpart, when executed and delivered, shall be an original contract, but all counterparts, when taken together, shall constitute one and the same Agreement. A facsimile or .pdf signature, including signatures made and/or transmitted using electronic signature technology (e.g., via DocuSign or similar electronic signature technology), shall constitute an original signature for all purposes.
  
10.Successors and Amendment.

 

10.1.No party shall assign this Agreement without the prior written consent of the other party; provided that a party may assign this Agreement without the consent of the other party to any affiliate of the assigning party with the legal authority and operational ability to satisfy the obligations of the assigning party under this Agreement. Subject to the foregoing, this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Dealer Manager and the Company and their respective successors and assigns. Nothing in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give to any other person any right, remedy or claim, except as otherwise specifically provided herein.
   
10.2.This Agreement may be amended by the written agreement of the Dealer Manager and the Company.

 

11.Term.

 

11.1.This Agreement shall commence as of the date hereof and, except as otherwise provided in Section 7 above, have an initial term with respect to the Company’s Offering under this Agreement of one year from the date hereof and shall continue for additional one year terms, unless in each case sooner terminated hereunder, which for the avoidance of doubt shall include the automatic termination of this Agreement upon termination of the Offering as set forth under the definition of “Subscription Period” in this Agreement.
   
11.2.Any party to this Agreement shall have the right to terminate this Agreement, except as otherwise provided in Section 7 above, upon notice to the other party in the event that such other party shall have materially failed to comply with any of the material provisions of this Agreement to be performed on its part or any of the representations, warranties, covenants or agreements of such other party herein contained shall not have been materially complied with or satisfied within the times specified and such noncompliance is not cured within thirty (30) days upon receipt of notice. Any notice delivered pursuant to this Section 11.2 shall be in writing and shall state in reasonable detail the basis upon which it is being delivered.
   
11.3.Upon the expiration or termination of the Company’s Offering under this Agreement, in addition to any other obligations of the Dealer Manager during the Subscription Period that survive the expiration or termination of this Agreement for that Offering, as provided in Section 7 above:
   
(a)the Dealer Manager shall use its best efforts to cooperate with the Company to accomplish an orderly transfer of management of the Offering during the remaining Subscription Period, if any, to a party designated by the Company; and

 

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(b)the Company shall pay to the Dealer Manager all commissions, fees and other compensation to which the Dealer Manager is or becomes entitled under Section 5 of this Agreement at such time or times as such commissions, fees and other compensation would otherwise have become payable under Section 5 of this Agreement.

 

12.Confirmation. The Company hereby agrees and assumes the duty to confirm on its behalf and on behalf of Financial Intermediaries and the Dealer Manager all orders for the purchase of Shares accepted by the Company. If applicable, such confirmations will comply with the rules of the SEC and FINRA.
  
13.Suitability of Investors; Compliance with Privacy and Anti-Money Laundering Regulations.

 

13.1.The Dealer Manager will offer Shares, and in its agreement with each Financial Intermediary will require that the Financial Intermediaries offer or recommend Shares, only to persons that it has reasonable grounds to believe meet the financial qualifications set forth in the Prospectus or in any suitability letter or memorandum sent to it by the Company and will only make offers to persons in the states in which it is advised in writing by the Company that the Shares are qualified for sale or that such qualification is not required. In offering Shares, the Dealer Manager will comply, and in its agreements with the Financial Intermediaries, the Dealer Manager will require that the Financial Intermediaries comply, with the provisions of all applicable rules and regulations relating to suitability of investors, including applicable FINRA Rules.

 

The Dealer Manager agrees as to investors to whom it makes a recommendation with respect to the purchase of the Shares in the Offering, the Dealer Manager and each person associated with the Dealer Manager that makes such recommendation shall have, and each Financial Intermediary in its Financial Intermediary Agreement shall agree, with respect to investors to whom it makes such recommendations, that it has a reasonable basis to believe such recommendation is suitable for the customer. The Dealer Manager agrees as to investors to whom it makes a recommendation with respect to the purchase of the Shares in the Offering (and each Financial Intermediary in its Financial Intermediary Agreement shall agree, with respect to investors to whom it makes such recommendations) it will rely on relevant information provided by the investor, including information as to the investor’s age, investment objectives, investment experience, investment time horizon, income, net worth, financial situation and needs, tax status, other investments, liquidity needs, risk tolerance and other pertinent information. The Dealer Manager agrees as to investors to whom it makes a recommendation with respect to the purchase of the Shares in the Offering (and each Financial Intermediary in its Financial Intermediary Agreement shall agree, with respect to Investors to whom it makes such recommendations) to maintain in the files of the Dealer Manager (or the Financial Intermediary, as applicable) documents disclosing the basis upon which the determination of suitability was reached as to each investor.

 

In making the determinations as to financial qualifications and as to suitability, the Dealer Manager and Financial Intermediaries may rely on (A) representations from investment advisers who are not affiliated with a Participating Broker-Dealer, and banks acting as trustees or fiduciaries, and (B) information it has obtained from a prospective investor, including such information as the investment objectives, other investments, financial situation and needs of the person or any other information known by the Dealer Manager (or Financial Intermediary, as applicable), after due inquiry. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Dealer Manager shall not, and each Financial Intermediary shall agree not to, execute any transaction in the Company in a discretionary account without prior written approval of the transaction by the customer.

 

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13.2.Confidential Information” means all information provided by a party to this Agreement that is the disclosing party (the “Discloser”) to the other party to this Agreement that is the receiving party (the “Recipient”) that is proprietary and/or non-public related to the past, present and future business activities of the Discloser, its affiliates and agents, including, without limitation, all information related to:

 

(a)a party’s employees, customers, and third-party contractors;
   
(b)a party’s operational and business proposals and plans, pricing, financial results and information, methods, processes, code, data, lists (including customer lists), inventions, apparatus, statistics, programs, research, development, information technology, network designs, passwords, sign-on codes, and usage data;
   
(c)the terms and existence of this Agreement;
   
(d)all Personal Information (as defined below); and
   
(e)any other information that is designated as confidential by the Discloser.

 

All of the Discloser’s Confidential Information, including any derivative works thereof, is, and shall remain, proprietary to the Discloser.

 

Personal Information” means all contact information of a person or entity provided by the Discloser to the other party, such as addresses, telephone numbers, information regarding the person’s gender, age, social security number, account numbers, financial and health information, Identifying Information (as defined below), and any information regarding any person’s/entity’s relationship to the Discloser.

 

Identifying Information” means any name or number that may be used, alone or in conjunction with any other information, to identify a specific person, including without limitation, any name, social security number, date of birth, state of residence or government issued driver’s license or identification number, alien registration number, government passport number, employer or taxpayer identification number; unique biometric data, such as fingerprint, voice print, retina scan or iris image, or other unique physical characteristic; unique electronic identification number, address, or routing code; or telecommunication identifying information or access device, as well as any consumer information within the definition of “nonpublic personal information” as set forth in Article V of the Gramm- Leach-Bliley Act (15 USC 6801 et seq.) and the rules and regulations adopted pursuant thereto, as amended from time to time.

 

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13.3.Exceptions. Other than Personal Information, Confidential Information does not include information that is or was, at the time of the disclosure:

 

(a)generally known or available to the public;
   
(b)received by the Recipient from a third-party;
   
(c)already in the Recipient’s possession prior to the date of receipt from the Discloser; or
   
(d)independently developed by the Recipient;

 

provided in each case that such foregoing information was not delivered to or obtained by the Recipient as a result of any breach of this Agreement, applicable law or any contractual or fiduciary obligation owed to Discloser known to the Recipient.

 

The Recipient also may disclose the Discloser’s Confidential Information to the extent such disclosure is required by law, provided that the Discloser is given prompt notice of the disclosure requirement, to the extent practicable, so that the Discloser has an opportunity to petition for protective concealment of, or oppose, the disclosure.

 

13.4.At all times the Recipient shall:

 

(a)use the same standard of care to protect the Confidential Information it uses to protect its own confidential information of a similar nature, but not less than a commercially reasonable standard of care;
   
(b)not use the Discloser’s Confidential Information other than as necessary to perform its obligations under this Agreement;
   
(c)not disclose, or distribute, or disseminate the Confidential Information to any third party; and
   
(d)disclose the Discloser’s Confidential Information to its agents and or affiliates on a “need to know” basis only, provided that the Recipient requires each of its affiliates and agents to be bound by obligations of the confidentiality and restrictions against disclosure of the Disclosure’s Confidential Information at least as restrictive as those contained in this Agreement.

 

13.5.In addition to its obligations in Section 13.4 above, each party has implemented and shall maintain, and shall require all third parties to whom it discloses Confidential to implement and maintain, an effective information security program to protect the Confidential Information from disclosure that is not specifically authorized pursuant to this Agreement, including, without limitation, encrypting such information using commercially reasonable encryption technology. The security program shall be designed to:

 

(a)ensure the security and confidentiality of Confidential Information;
   
(b)include reasonable policies and procedures designed to identify and detect patterns, practices, or specific activities that indicate the possible existence of identity theft, and prevent, and mitigate the risk thereof;
   
(c)protect against any anticipated threats or hazards to the security or integrity of Confidential Information including, without limitation, the risk of identity theft; and

 

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(d)protect against any unauthorized access to, or use of Confidential Information, including, without limitation, identifying and detecting any patterns, practices, or specific activities indicating the possibility of identity theft.

 

13.6.The Recipient shall, upon Discloser’s written request, promptly provide the Discloser detailed information regarding any failure or breach of such security program involving Confidential Information provided the Recipient by the Discloser pursuant to this Agreement, including how and when such failure or breach occurred, and what actions have been or are being taken to remedy such failure or breach.

 

(a)Each party shall defend, indemnify and hold harmless the other party for any third party claims that arise from relating to or arising out of any breach or alleged breach of its obligations under this Section (including any loss, cost of damage arising from the failure to notify and timely cooperate with any notice requirement) in accordance with the terms of the indemnification provided for through this Agreement.
   
(b)If a party knows of any disclosure or loss of, or inability to account for, or any incident relating to unauthorized access to or acquisition of, any of Confidential Information of the other party under this Section, the party must notify the other party promptly and at its costs take the following actions:

 

(i)promptly notify the other party in writing of the discovery of such disclosure, loss or incident, to the extent practicable, otherwise as soon as possible;
   
(ii)take all actions as may be necessary or reasonably requested to minimize the problem; and
   
(iii)cooperate with the other party in all reasonable respects to notify affected individuals and minimize any resulting damage.

 

13.7.Limited Disclosure. The Recipient shall not disclose Confidential Information to any third- party or use any Confidential Information, except as permitted by law, and then only to the extent necessary to carry out its obligations under this Agreement.
   
13.8.The parties acknowledge that the Dealer Manager will not share Confidential Information of the Company that it has received in connection with the Offering with the Fiduciary Intermediaries unless such Fiduciary Intermediaries (i) have been made aware of the Dealer Manager’s obligations under this Section 13 and (ii) have agreed to be obligated to the Dealer Manager, for the benefit of the Company, in the same manner as the Dealer Manager is obligated hereunder.

 

14.Anti-Money Laundering Provision.

 

14.1.The Dealer Manager represents to the Company that:

 

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(a)it has established and implemented an anti-money laundering compliance program (“AML Program”) in accordance with applicable law, including applicable FINRA Rules, Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Rules and Regulations and the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001, as amended (the “USA PATRIOT Act”), specifically including, but not limited to, Section 352 of the International Money Laundering Abatement and Anti-Terrorist Financing Act of 2001 (the “Money Laundering Abatement Act”), and together with the USA PATRIOT Act, the “AML Rules,” reasonably expected to detect and cause the reporting of suspicious transactions in connection with the offering and sale of the Shares. The Dealer Manager further represents that it is currently in compliance with all AML Rules, specifically including, but not limited to, the Customer Identification Program requirements under Section 326 of the Money Laundering Abatement Act, and it hereby covenants to remain in compliance with those requirements and shall, on request by the Company, provide a certification that, as of the date of the certification;
   
(b)the Dealer Manager’s AML Program is consistent with the AML Rules; and
   
(c)the Dealer Manager is currently in compliance with all AML Rules, specifically including, but not limited to, the Customer Identification Program requirements under Section 326 of the Money Laundering Abatement Act.

 

14.2.Further, in accordance with the USA PATRIOT Act, the Dealer Manager agrees that the Shares may not be offered, sold, transferred or delivered, directly or indirectly, to anyone who is:

 

(a)a “designated national,” “specially designated national,” “specially designated terrorist,” “specially designated global terrorist,” “foreign terrorist organization,” or “blocked person” within the definitions set forth in the Foreign Assets Control Regulations of the U.S. Treasury Department;
   
(b)acting on behalf of, or an entity owned or controlled by, any government against whom the U.S. maintains economic sanctions or embargoes under the Regulations of the U.S. Treasury Department;
   
(c)within the scope of Executive Order 13224 — Blocking Property and Prohibiting Transactions with Persons who Commit, Threaten to Commit, or Support Terrorism, effective September 24, 2001;
   
(d)subject to additional restrictions imposed by the following statutes or regulations, and executive orders issued thereunder: the Trading with the Enemy Act, the Iraq Sanctions Act, the National Emergencies Act, the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996, the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, the United Nations Participation Act, the International Security and Development Cooperation Act, the Nuclear Proliferation Prevention Act of 1994, the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act, the Iran and Libya Sanctions Act of 1996, the Cuban Democracy Act, the Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity Act and the Foreign Operations, Export Financing and Related Programs Appropriation Act or any other law of similar import as to any non-U.S. country, as each such act or law has been or may be amended, adjusted, modified or reviewed from time to time; or

 

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(e)designated or blocked, associated or involved in terrorism, or subject to restrictions under laws, regulations, or executive orders as may apply in the future similar to those set forth above.

 

15.Submission of Orders.

 

15.1.The Company will sell Shares using two closing services provided by The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”). The first service is DTC closing (“DTC Settlement”), and the second service is Direct Registration Service (“DRS Settlement”). A sale of a Share shall be deemed by the Company to be completed if and only if (i) the Company has received payment of the full purchase price of each purchased Share, from an investor who satisfies the minimum purchase requirements set forth in the Registration Statement as determined by the Financial Intermediary, or the Dealer Manager, as applicable, in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, (ii) the Company has accepted such subscription, and, if using DRS Settlement, a properly completed and executed subscription agreement, and (iii) the Company has instructed the issuance of purchased Shares. In addition, no sale of Shares shall be completed until after the date on which the subscriber receives a copy of the Prospectus. The Dealer Manager hereby acknowledges and agrees that the Company, in its sole and absolute discretion, may accept or reject any subscription, in whole or in part, for any reason whatsoever or no reason, and no commission or Dealer Manager Fee will be paid to the Dealer Manager with respect to that portion of any subscription which is rejected. Further, the Company has the sole right, which it may delegate to the Dealer Manager, to determine and change without notice to the Dealer Manager or Financial Intermediary: (i) the number and timing of closings, including the ability to change the number and timing of closings after communicating the anticipated closing to the Financial Intermediary; (ii) to limit the total amount of Series E-1 Preferred Stock sold or recommended by all Financial Intermediaries per closing; and (iii) to limit the total number of shares of Series E-1 Preferred Stock sold or recommended by the Financial Intermediary.
   
15.2.Subscriptions using DRS Settlement will be submitted by the Dealer Manager and each Financial Intermediary to the Company only on the subscription agreement, a form of which has been filed with the Commission by the Company. The Dealer Manager understands and acknowledges, and each Financial Intermediary shall acknowledge if using DRS Settlement, that the subscription agreement must be executed and initialed by the subscriber as provided for by the subscription agreement.
   
15.3.Those persons who purchase Shares using DRS Settlement will be instructed by the Dealer Manager or the Financial Intermediary to make their checks payable as provided in the Prospectus and subscription agreement for the Offering of Shares in the Company. The Dealer Manager and any Financial Intermediary receiving a check that does not conform to the instructions in the Prospectus and subscription agreement shall promptly return such check directly to such subscriber. Checks received by the Dealer Manager or Financial Intermediary which conform to the instructions in the Prospectus and subscription agreement shall be transmitted for deposit pursuant to one of the methods described in this Section 15.
   
15.4.In connection with DRS Settlement, if the Financial Intermediary conducts its internal supervisory review procedures at the same location at which subscription documents and checks are initially received by the Financial Intermediary from subscribers, then:

 

(a)by the end of the next business day following receipt by the Financial Intermediary, the Financial Intermediary will transmit the subscription documents including the subscription agreements, executed and initialed by the subscriber as provided for in the Prospectus, and the checks to the Dealer Manager or directly to the Escrow Agent; and

 

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(b)by the end of the next business day following the Dealer Manager’s receipt of the subscription documents and checks, if the checks did not go directly to the Escrow Agent, the Dealer Manager will transmit the checks to the Escrow Agent.

 

15.5.If pursuant to the Financial Intermediary’s internal supervisory procedures, the Financial Intermediary conducts its final internal supervisory review procedures at a different location (the “Final Review Office”) then:

 

(a)the subscription documents, including the subscription agreements, executed and initialed by the subscriber as provided for in the Prospectus, and checks will be transmitted by the Financial Intermediary to the Final Review Office by the end of the next business day following receipt by the Financial Intermediary;
   
(b)the Final Review Office will in turn by the end of the next business day following their receipt by the Final Review Office, transmit the subscription documents, including the subscription agreements, executed and initialed by the subscriber as provided for in the Prospectus, and the checks to the Dealer Manager or directly to the Escrow Agent; and
   
(c)by the end of the next business day following the Dealer Manager’s receipt of the subscription documents and checks, if the checks did not go directly to the Escrow Agent, the Dealer Manager will transmit the checks and copies of the executed subscription agreements to the Escrow Agent, and copies of the checks and the original subscription documents, including the subscription agreements, executed and initialed by the subscriber as provided for in the Prospectus, to the Company.

 

15.6.Checks and the original subscription agreements of rejected potential investors will be promptly returned to such rejected investors within ten (10) business days from the date of rejection.

 

16.Severability. If any portion of this Agreement shall be held invalid or inoperative, then so far as is reasonable and possible the remainder of this Agreement shall be considered valid and operative and effect shall be given the intent manifested by the portion held invalid or inoperative.
   
17.Modification or Amendment. This Agreement may not be modified or amended except by written agreement executed by the parties hereto.
   
18.Notices. All notices or other communications required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed given or delivered:

 

(a)when delivered personally or by commercial messenger;