EX1A-4 SUBS AGMT 3 tm2533753d1_ex4-1.htm EXHIBIT 4.1

 

Exhibit 4.1

 

THE SECURITIES OFFERED HEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), OR ANY STATE SECURITIES OR BLUE SKY LAWS AND ARE BEING OFFERED AND SOLD IN RELIANCE ON EXEMPTIONS FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE ACT AND STATE SECURITIES OR BLUE SKY LAWS. THE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION (“SEC”), ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION OR OTHER REGULATORY AUTHORITY, NOR HAVE ANY OF THE FOREGOING AUTHORITIES PASSED UPON THE MERITS OF THIS OFFERING OR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THE SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER MATERIALS OR INFORMATION MADE AVAILABLE TO INVESTOR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS OFFERING OVER THE WEB-BASED PLATFORM MAINTAINED BY THE COMPANY. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS UNLAWFUL.

 

THIS INVESTMENT INVOLVES A HIGH DEGREE OF RISK. THIS INVESTMENT IS SUITABLE ONLY FOR PERSONS WHO CAN BEAR THE ECONOMIC RISK FOR AN INDEFINITE PERIOD OF TIME AND WHO CAN AFFORD TO LOSE THEIR ENTIRE INVESTMENT. FURTHERMORE, INVESTORS MUST UNDERSTAND THAT SUCH INVESTMENT IS ILLIQUID AND IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE TO BE ILLIQUID FOR AN INDEFINITE PERIOD OF TIME. NO PUBLIC MARKET EXISTS FOR THE SECURITIES, AND NO PUBLIC MARKET IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP FOLLOWING THIS OFFERING.

 

THE COMPANY MAY NOT BE OFFERING THE SECURITIES IN EVERY STATE. THE OFFERING MATERIALS DO NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER OR SOLICITATION IN ANY STATE OR JURISDICTION IN WHICH THE SECURITIES ARE NOT BEING OFFERED.

 

THE INFORMATION PRESENTED IN THE OFFERING MATERIALS WAS PREPARED BY THE COMPANY SOLELY FOR THE USE BY PROSPECTIVE INVESTORS IN CONNECTION WITH THIS OFFERING. NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES ARE MADE AS TO THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN ANY OFFERING MATERIALS, AND NOTHING CONTAINED IN THE OFFERING MATERIALS IS OR SHOULD BE RELIED UPON AS A PROMISE OR REPRESENTATION AS TO THE FUTURE PERFORMANCE OF THE COMPANY. NEITHER THE DELIVERY NOR THE PURCHASE OF THE SECURITIES SHALL, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, CREATE ANY IMPLICATION THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO CHANGE IN THE AFFAIRS OF THE COMPANY SINCE THE DATE OF THE OFFERING MATERIALS.

 

SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT

 

To:           Cytonics Corporation

658 West Indiantown Road

Suite 214

Jupiter, FL 33458

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

The investor executing this Subscription Agreement (“Investor”) hereby subscribes for the dollar amount (“Subscription Amount”) of shares of Common Stock (the “Shares”) of Cytonics Corporation, a Florida corporation (the “Company”), as indicated in the Investor Information (below defined).

 

WHEREAS, the Company is offering Shares at a price of $5.00 per Share, plus an additional fee of 3.5% of the dollar number of Shares purchased (“Investor Processing Fee”), pursuant to the Company’s Form 1-A, as amended and/or supplemented from time to time (“Offering Statement”), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) under Tier II of Regulation A promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).

 

NOW, THEREFORE, it is agreed as follows:

 

1.            Investor understands and agrees that this Subscription Agreement (“Agreement” or “Subscription Agreement”) is comprised of the below terms and schedules, as well as the information Investor provides via the Company’s investment portal at www.invest.cytonics.com (“Company Site”) relating to its purchase of Shares pursuant to this Agreement, which may include, but not be limited to, Investor’s identity and personal information, contact information, signature and the amount of Shares being purchased by Investor (collectively, “Investor Information”), which Investor Information is incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof. By executing this Agreement, Investor agrees to the terms of service and privacy policy contained on the Company Site.

 

2.            To induce the Company to accept this subscription, the Investor hereby agrees and represents that:

 

(a)            The Shares will be held by the Investor as indicated on the Investor Information (e.g., individual, corporation, custodial account, community property, etc.).

 

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(b)            Concurrent with the execution hereof, the Investor authorizes the Company to request the Subscription Amount from the Investor’s bank or other financial institution. The Investor has transferred funds equal to the Subscription Amount to the Company concurrently with submitting this Subscription Agreement, unless otherwise agreed by the Company.

 

(c)            The Investor agrees to pay the Investor Processing Fee, which fee will not be applied towards the purchase of Shares, but will partially reimburse the Company for fees payable by it as a result of Investor’s purchase of Shares.

 

(d)            Within five (5) days after receipt of a written request from the Company, the Investor shall provide such information and execute and deliver such documents as the Company may reasonably request to comply with any and all laws and ordinances to which the Company may be subject, including the securities laws of the United States or any other applicable jurisdiction.

 

(e)            The Company has entered into, and from time to time may enter into, separate subscription agreements with other investors for the sale of Shares to such other investors. The sale of Shares to such other investors and this sale of the Shares shall be separate sales and this Subscription Agreement and the other subscription agreements shall be separate agreements.

 

(f)            The Company may elect at any time to close all or any portion of this offering, once it has raised the minimum offering amount, on various dates (each a “Closing Date”).

 

(g)            Investor understands and agrees that the Company will issue Shares without additional consideration for investors purchasing at least $1,000 in Shares plus the Investor Processing Fee of 3.5% ($1,035), as detailed in the Offering Statement, and that such issuances could have the effect of diluting the value of Investor’s Shares.

 

(h)            The Investor understands the meaning and legal consequences of, and that the Company intends to rely upon, the representations and warranties contained in Sections 2, 3, 4 and 5 hereof, and the Investor hereby agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and each and any manager, member, officer, employee, agent or affiliate thereof from and against any and all loss, damage or liability due to or arising out of a breach of any representation or warranty of the Investor. The representations, warranties and covenants made by Investor herein shall survive the closing or termination of this Subscription Agreement.

 

3.            The Investor hereby represents and warrants that the Investor is a “qualified purchaser,” as defined in Regulation A under the Securities Act, meaning Investor is an “accredited investor” as defined in Rule 501 of Regulation D under the Securities Act and indicated on the U.S. Accredited Investor Certificate attached hereto, or the Subscription Amount does not represent more than 10% of the greater of Investor’s annual income or net worth (for natural persons), or 10% of the greater of annual revenue or net worth at fiscal year-end (for non-natural persons), with net worth calculated in the same manner as for accredited investors under Rule 501 of Regulation D under the Securities Act.

 

4.            The Investor hereby further represents, warrants, acknowledges and agrees:

 

(a)            The Investor has all requisite power and authority to (i) execute and deliver this Agreement, and (ii) to carry out and perform its obligations under the terms of this Agreement. This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered and constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of Investor, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, or other laws relating to or affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally in effect from time to time and by general principles of equity.

 

(b)            Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement nor the fulfillment of or compliance with the terms and provisions hereof, will conflict with, or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms, conditions or provisions of, or constitute a default under, any contract, agreement, mortgage, indenture, lease, instrument, order, judgment, statute, law, rule or regulation to which Investor is subject.

 

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(c)            The information provided by the Investor to the Company via this Subscription Agreement, including the Investor Information, or otherwise is true and correct in all respects as of the date hereof and the Investor hereby agrees to promptly notify the Company and supply corrective information to the Company if, prior to the consummation of its investment in the Company, any of such information becomes inaccurate or incomplete.

 

(d)            The Investor, if an individual, is over 21 years of age, and the address set forth above is the true residence and domicile of the Investor, and the Investor has no present intention of becoming a resident or domiciliary of any other state or jurisdiction. If a corporation, trust, partnership or other entity, the Investor has its principal place of business at the address set forth on the signature page.

 

(e)            If Investor is not a United States person (as defined by Section 7701(a)(30) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended), Investor hereby represents that it has satisfied itself as to the full observance of the laws of its jurisdiction in connection with any invitation to subscribe for the Shares or any use of this Subscription Agreement, including (i) the legal requirements within its jurisdiction for the purchase of the Shares, (ii) any foreign exchange restrictions applicable to such purchase, (iii) any governmental or other consents that may need to be obtained, and (iv) the income tax and other tax consequences, if any, that may be relevant to the purchase, holding, redemption, sale, or transfer of the Shares. Investor’s subscription and payment for and continued beneficial ownership of the Shares will not violate any applicable securities or other laws of Investor’s jurisdiction.

 

(f)            The Investor has had an opportunity to ask questions of and receive answers from the Company, or a person or persons acting on its behalf, concerning the Company and the terms and conditions of this investment, and all such questions have been answered to the full satisfaction of the Investor.

 

(g)            Except as set forth in this Subscription Agreement, no representations or warranties have been made to the Investor by the Company or any partner, agent, employee or affiliate thereof.

 

(h)            The Investor has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters that it is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of an investment in the Company and making an informed investment decision with respect thereto. The Investor has consulted its own advisers with respect to its proposed investment in the Company.

 

(i)            The Investor is not making this subscription in any manner as a representative of a charitable remainder unitrust or a charitable remainder trust.

 

(j)            The Investor has the financial ability to bear the economic risk of the Investor’s investment, including a complete loss thereof, has adequate means for providing for its current needs and possible contingencies and has no need for liquidity in its investment.

 

(k)            The Investor acknowledges and understands that:

 

(i)The Shares are a speculative investment and involve a substantial degree of risk;

 

(ii)The Company does not have a significant financial or operating history;

 

(iii)The Shares are being offered pursuant to Regulation A under the Securities Act and have not been registered or qualified under any state blue sky or securities law; and

 

(iv)Any federal income tax treatment which may be currently available to the Investor may be lost through adoption of new laws or regulations, amendments to existing laws or regulations or changes in the interpretations of existing laws and regulations.

 

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(l)            The Investor represents and warrants that (i) the Shares are to be purchased with funds that are from legitimate sources in connection with its regular business activities and which do not constitute the proceeds of criminal conduct; (ii) the Shares are not being acquired, and will not be held, in violation of any applicable laws; (iii) the Investor is not listed on the list of Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons maintained by the United States Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”); and (iv) the Investor is not a senior foreign political figure, or any immediate family member or close associate of a senior foreign political figure.

 

(m)            If the Investor is an individual retirement account, qualified pension, profit sharing or other retirement plan, or governmental plans or units (all such entities are herein referred to as a “Retirement Trust”), the Investor represents that the investment in the Company by the Retirement Trust has been authorized by the appropriate person or persons and that the Retirement Trust has consulted its counsel with respect to such investment and the Investor represents that it has not relied on any advice of the Company or its affiliates in making its decision to invest in the Company.

 

(n)            Investor has received and had the opportunity to review the offering Statement, as amended and supplemented. Investor has carefully reviewed all of the Company’s SEC filings filed by the Company since the Company’s Offering Statement was qualified by the SEC and understands the information contained therein. Investor acknowledges that the Company’s SEC filings, including but not limited to the Offering Statement, are available free of charge at the SEC’s web site at www.sec.gov.

 

(o)            Investor acknowledges and agrees that there is no ready public market for the Shares and that there is no guarantee that a market for their resale will ever exist. The Company has no obligation to list any of the Shares on any market or take any steps (including registration under the Securities Act or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) with respect to facilitating trading or resale of the Shares. Investor must bear the economic risk of this investment indefinitely and Investor acknowledges that Investor is able to bear the economic risk of losing Investor’s entire investment in the Shares. Investor also understands that an investment in the Company involves significant risks and has taken full cognizance of and understands all of the risk factors relating to the purchase of Shares.

 

(p)            By submitting this payment, Investor hereby authorizes DealMaker to charge the designated payment method for the investment amount indicated. Investor understands this investment is subject to the terms of the offering and its associated rules and investor protections. Investor understands it is not a purchase of goods or services. Investor acknowledges that this transaction is final, non-refundable unless otherwise stated or required, and represents an investment subject to risk, including loss. Investor confirms that he/she/it has reviewed all offering documents and agrees not to dispute the charge with the bank or card issuer, so long as the transaction corresponds to the agreed terms and disclosures.

 

(q)            Investor represents and warrants that the Investor is either:

 

(i) Purchasing the Shares with funds that constitute the assets of one or more of the following:

 

(a)            an “employee benefit plan” as defined in Section 3(3) of the U.S. Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), that is subject to Title I of ERISA;

 

(b)            an “employee benefit plan” as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA that is not subject to either Title I of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) (including a governmental plan, non-electing church plan or foreign plan). The Investor hereby represents and warrants that (a) its investment in the Company: (i) does not violate and is not otherwise inconsistent with the terms of any legal document constituting or governing the employee benefit plan; (ii) has been duly authorized and approved by all necessary parties; and (iii) is in compliance with all applicable laws, and (b) neither the Company nor any person who manages the assets of the Company will be subject to any laws, rules or regulations applicable to such Investor solely as a result of the investment in the Company by such Investor;

 

(c)            a plan that is subject to Section 4975 of the Code;

 

(d)            an entity (including, if applicable, an insurance company general account) whose underlying assets include “plan assets” of one or more “employee benefit plans” that are subject to Title I of ERISA or “plans” that are subject to Section 4975 of the Code by reason of the investment in such entity, directly or indirectly, by such employee benefit plans or plans; or

 

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(e)            an entity that (a) is a group trust within the meaning of Revenue Ruling 81-100, a common or collective trust fund of a bank or an insurance company separate account and (b) is subject to Title I of ERISA, Section 4975 of the Code or both; or

 

(ii)            Not purchasing the Shares with funds that constitute the assets of any of the entities or plans described in this Section 4(m)(1).

 

5.            All representations and warranties of Investor made above shall be true and correct as of Investor’s Closing Date, unless Investor has otherwise notified the Company in writing prior to Investor’s Closing Date that there has been a change that would cause any such representation or warranty to be incorrect or no longer apply.

 

6.            It is understood that this subscription is irrevocable by Investor but is not binding on the Company until accepted by the Company by signature of its authorized representative on the acceptance page hereto. The Company may accept or reject this subscription in whole or in part. In the event of rejection of this subscription in its entirety, or in the event the sale of the Shares (or any portion thereof) to Investor is not consummated for any reason, this Subscription Agreement shall have no force or effect with respect to the rejected subscription (or portion thereof), except for Section 2(h) hereof, which shall remain in force and effect.

 

7.            The Company reserves the right to request such information as is necessary to verify the identity of the Investor. The Investor shall promptly on demand provide such information and execute and deliver such documents as the Company may request to verify the accuracy of the Investor’s representations and warranties herein or to comply with the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001, as amended (the “Patriot Act”), certain anti-money laundering laws or any other law or regulation to which the Company may be subject (the “Relevant Legislation”). In addition, by executing this Subscription Agreement the Investor authorizes the Company to provide the Company’s legal counsel and any other appropriate third party with information regarding the Investor’s account, until the authorization is revoked by the Investor in writing to the Company.

 

8.            No fractional Shares or Bonus Shares will be issued. The Investor Processing Fee will be rounded to the next whole cent.

 

9.            The Company represents and warrants to the Investor that:

 

(a)            The Company is duly formed and validly existing in good standing as corporation under the laws of Florida, Canada and has all requisite power and authority to carry on its business as now conducted.

 

(b)            The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Subscription Agreement have been authorized by all necessary action on behalf of the Company, and this Subscription Agreement is a legal, valid and binding agreement of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms.

 

(c)            The Shares, when so issued, sold and delivered against payment therefor in accordance with the provisions of this Subscription Agreement, will be duly and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

 

10.            Miscellaneous.

 

(a)            All pronouns and any variations thereof shall be deemed to refer to the masculine, feminine, neuter, singular or plural, as the identity of the person or persons or entity or entities may require.

 

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(b)            This Subscription Agreement is not transferable or assignable by Investor without the prior written consent of the Company.

 

(c)            The representations, warranties and agreements contained herein shall be deemed to be made by and be binding upon Investor and its heirs, executors, administrators and successors and shall inure to the benefit of the Company and its successors and assigns.

 

(d)            None of the provisions of this Subscription Agreement may be waived, changed or terminated orally or otherwise, except as specifically set forth herein or except by a writing signed by the Company and Investor.

 

(e)            The invalidity, illegality or unenforceability of one or more of the provisions of this Subscription Agreement in any jurisdiction shall not affect the validity, legality or enforceability of the remainder of this Subscription Agreement in such jurisdiction or the validity, legality or enforceability of this Subscription Agreement, including any such provision, in any other jurisdiction, it being intended that all rights and obligations of the parties hereunder shall be enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law.

 

(f)            This Subscription Agreement, including its schedules and Investor Information, constitutes the entire agreement between the Investor and the Company with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior oral or written agreements and understandings, if any, relating to the subject matter hereof.

 

(g)            The terms and provisions of this Subscription Agreement are intended solely for the benefit of each party hereto and their respective successors and assigns, and it is not the intention of the parties to confer, and no provision hereof shall confer, third-party beneficiary rights upon any other person.

 

(h)            This Subscription Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which will be deemed an original, but all of which together will constitute one and the same instrument. Each of the parties hereto agrees that the transaction consisting of this Agreement (and, to the extent permitted under applicable law, each related agreement) may be conducted by electronic means. Each party agrees, and acknowledges that it is such party’s intent, that if such party signs this Agreement (or, if applicable, related agreement) using an electronic signature, it is signing, adopting, and accepting this Agreement or such closing document and that signing this Agreement or such related agreement using an electronic signature is the legal equivalent of having placed its handwritten signature on this Agreement or such related agreement on paper. The use of electronic signatures and electronic records (including, without limitation, any contract or other record created, generated, sent, communicated, received, or stored by electronic means) shall be of the same legal effect, validity and enforceability as a manually executed signature or use of a paper-based record-keeping system to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act and any other applicable law, including, without limitation, any state law based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act.

 

(i)            No failure or delay by any party in exercising any right, power or privilege under this Subscription Agreement shall operate as a waiver thereof nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege. The rights and remedies herein provided shall be cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies provided by law

 

(j)            Notice, requests, demands and other communications relating to this Subscription Agreement and the transactions contemplated herein shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if and when (a) delivered personally, on the date of such delivery; or (b) mailed by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, on the third day after the posting thereof; or (c) emailed, telecopied or cabled, on the date of such delivery to the respective parties at the addresses set forth in the Investor Information with respect to the Investor and above with respect to the Company. The Company will not accept notice by email or other electronic communication. Investor agrees that the Company may deliver all notices, tax reports and other documents and information to Investor by email or another electronic delivery method chosen by the Company. Investor agrees to tell the Company right away if Investor changes its email address or home mailing address so the Company can send information to the new address.

 

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(k)            THE COMPANY WILL NOT BE LIABLE TO INVESTOR FOR ANY LOST PROFITS OR SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, EVEN IF INVESTOR TELLS THE COMPANY IT MIGHT INCUR THOSE DAMAGES.

 

(l)            NOTICE OF DISPUTE RESOLUTION BY BINDING ARBITRATION AND CLASS ACTION/CLASS ARBITRATION WAIVER.

 

(i)IMPORTANT: PLEASE READ CAREFULLY. THE FOLLOWING PROVISION (“ARBITRATION PROVISION”) CONSTITUTES A BINDING AGREEMENT THAT LIMITS CERTAIN RIGHTS, INCLUDING YOUR RIGHT TO OBTAIN RELIEF OR DAMAGES THROUGH COURT ACTION OR AS A MEMBER OF A CLASS. THAT MEANS THAT, IN THE EVENT THAT YOU HAVE A COMPLAINT AGAINST THE COMPAY RELATING TO THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT THAT THE COMPANY IS UNABLE TO RESOLVE TO YOUR SATISFACTION AND THAT CANNOT BE RESOLVED THROUGH MEDIATION, YOU AND THE COMPANY AGREE TO RESOLVE YOUR DISPUTE THROUGH BINDING ARBITRATION, INSTEAD OF THROUGH COURTS OF GENERAL JURISDICTION OR THROUGH A CLASS ACTION. BY ENTERING INTO THIS AGREEMENT, YOU AND THE COMPANY ARE EACH WAIVING THE RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY AND TO PARTICIPATE IN ANY CLASS ACTION. THE ARBITRATION PROVISION AND THE WAIVER OF THE RIGHT TO A JURY TRIAL AND CLASS ACTION IS NOT INTENDED TO BE DEEMED A WAIVER BY YOU OF OUR COMPLIANCE WITH THE EXCHANGE ACT AND SECURITIES ACT AND THE RULES AND REGULATIONS PROMULGATED THEREUNDER.

 

(ii)“Claim” shall mean any dispute or controversy arising out of or relating to this Agreement and/or the transactions, activities, or relationships that involve, lead to, or result from the foregoing. Claims include, but are not limited to, breach of contract, fraud, misrepresentation, express or implied warranty, and equitable, injunctive, or declaratory relief. Claims include matters arising as initial claims, counter-claims, cross-claims, third-party claims, or otherwise and include those brought by or against your assigns, heirs, or beneficiaries.

 

(iii)If a Claim arises and such Claim cannot be settled through direct discussions, the parties hereto agree to endeavor first to settle the dispute by mediation administered by the American Arbitration Association (the “AAA”) under its Commercial Mediation Procedures before resorting to arbitration pursuant to this Section.

 

(iv)Any unresolved Claim shall be settled by binding arbitration as the sole and exclusive forum and remedy for resolution of a Claim between you and the Company. The Party initiating arbitration shall do so with the AAA. The procedure shall be governed by the AAA Commercial Arbitration Rules, and the parties stipulate that the laws of the State of Florida shall apply, without regard to conflict-of-law principles. In the case of a conflict between the rules and policies of the administrator and this Arbitration Provision, this Arbitration Provision shall control, subject to controlling law, unless all parties to the arbitration consent to have the rules and policies of the administrator apply. Arbitration shall take place in the county and state where the principal office for the Company is located or in such location as agreed upon by the parties. Each party will, upon written request of the other party, promptly provide the other with copies of all relevant documents. There shall be no other discovery allowed. Except as may be required by law, neither a party nor an arbitrator may disclose the existence, content, or results of any arbitration hereunder without the prior written consent of both parties.

 

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(v)Absent agreement among the parties, the presiding arbitrator shall determine how to allocate the fees and costs of arbitration among the parties according to the administrator’s rules or in accordance with controlling law if contrary to those rules. Each party shall bear the expense of that party’s attorneys, experts, and witnesses, regardless of which party prevails in the arbitration, unless controlling law provides a right for the prevailing party to recover fees and costs from the other party. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the arbitrator determines that a Claim is frivolous or brought for an improper purpose (as measured by the standards set forth in Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 11(b)), the other party shall not be required to pay any fees or costs of the arbitration proceeding, and any previously paid fees or costs shall be reimbursed.

 

(vi)If the amount in controversy exceeds $5,000, any party may appeal the arbitrator’s award to a three-arbitrator panel within thirty (30) days of the final award. Additionally, in the event of such an appeal, any opposing party may cross-appeal within thirty (30) days after notice of the appeal. The three-arbitrator panel may consider all of the evidence and issue a new award, and the panel does not have to adopt or give any weight to the first arbitrator’s findings of fact or conclusion. This is called “de novo” review. Costs and conduct of any appeal shall be governed by this Arbitration Provision and the administrator’s rules, in the same way as the initial arbitration proceeding. Any award by the individual arbitrator that is not subject to appeal, and any panel award on appeal, shall be final and binding, except for any appeal right under the Federal Arbitration Act (the “FAA”), and may be entered as a judgment in any court of competent jurisdiction.

 

(vii)The parties agree that this Arbitration Provision is made pursuant to a transaction between the parties that involves and affects interstate commerce and therefore shall be governed by and enforceable under the FAA. The arbitrator will apply substantive law consistent with the FAA and applicable statutes of limitations. The arbitrator may award damages or other types of relief permitted by the law of the State of Florida, subject to the limitations set forth in this Agreement. The arbitrator will not be bound by judicial rules of procedure and evidence that would apply in a court. The parties also agree that the proceedings shall be confidential to protect intellectual property rights.

 

(viii)IF YOU DO NOT AGREE TO THE TERMS OF THIS ARBITRATION AGREEMENT, YOU MAY OPT OUT OF THIS ARBITRATION PROVISION BY SENDING AN ARBITRATION OPT-OUT NOTICE TO THE COMPANY THAT IS RECEIVED AT THE ABOVE ADDRESS WITHIN THIRTY (30) DAYS OF YOUR FIRST ELECTRONIC ACCEPTANCE OF THIS FORM. YOUR OPT-OUT NOTICE MUST CLEARLY STATE THAT YOU ARE REJECTING ARBITRATION; IDENTIFY THE AGREEMENT TO WHICH IT APPLIES BY DATE; PROVIDE YOUR NAME, ADDRESS, AND SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER; AND BE SIGNED BY YOU. YOU MAY CONVEY THE OPT-OUT NOTICE BY U.S. MAIL OR ANY PRIVATE MAIL CARRIER (E.G. FEDERAL EXPRESS, UNITED PARCEL SERVICE, DHL EXPRESS, ETC.), SO LONG AS IT IS RECEIVED AT THE ABOVE MAILING ADDRESS WITHIN THIRTY (30) DAYS OF YOUR FIRST ELECTRONIC ACCEPTANCE OF THE TERMS OF THIS AGREEMENT. IF THE NOTICE IS SENT BY A THIRD PARTY, SUCH THIRD PARTY MUST INCLUDE EVIDENCE OF HIS OR HER LEGAL AUTHORITY TO SUBMIT THE OPT-OUT NOTICE ON YOUR BEHALF. IF YOUR OPT-OUT NOTICE IS NOT RECEIVED WITHIN THIRTY (30) DAYS FROM THE DATE YOU SIGN THIS AGREEMENT, YOU WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE ACCEPTED ALL TERMS OF THIS ARBITRATION AGREEMENT.

 

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(ix)NO ARBITRATION SHALL PROCEED ON A CLASS, REPRESENTATIVE, OR COLLECTIVE BASIS (INCLUDING AS PRIVATE ATTORNEY GENERAL ON BEHALF OF OTHERS), EVEN IF THE CLAIM OR CLAIMS THAT ARE THE SUBJECT OF THE ARBITRATION HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN ASSERTED (OR COULD HAVE BEEN ASSERTED) IN A COURT AS CLASS REPRESENTATIVE, OR COLLECTIVE ACTIONS IN A COURT. UNLESS CONSENTED TO IN WRITING BY ALL PARTIES TO THE ARBITRATION, NO PARTY TO THE ARBITRATION MAY JOIN, CONSOLIDATE, OR OTHERWISE BRING CLAIMS FOR OR ON BEHALF OF TWO OR MORE INDIVIDUALS OR UNRELATED CORPORATE ENTITIES IN THE SAME ARBITRATION.

 

(x)This Arbitration Provision shall survive (i) suspension, termination, revocation, closure, termination, or amendments to this Agreement and the relationship of the parties; (ii) the bankruptcy or insolvency of any party or other person; and (iii) any transfer of any Shares. If any portion of this Arbitration Provision other than the prohibitions on class arbitration in this Section is deemed invalid or unenforceable under any law or statute consistent with the FAA, it shall not invalidate the other provisions of this Arbitration Provision or this Agreement; if the prohibition on class arbitration is deemed invalid, however, then this entire Arbitration Provision shall be null and void.

 

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