As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 15, 2026
Registration No. 333-
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
VROOM, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| Delaware | 90-1112566 | |
| (State or other jurisdiction of | (I.R.S. Employer | |
| incorporation or organization) | Identification Number) |
4700 Mercantile
Dr.
Fort Worth, Texas 76137
Telephone: (917) 451-9855
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal
executive offices)
Thomas H. Shortt
Chief Executive Officer
Vroom, Inc.
4700 Mercantile Dr.
Fort Worth, Texas 76137
Telephone: (917) 451-9855
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
Copies to:
| Marc D. Jaffe, Esq. Ian D. Schuman, Esq. Courtenay Myers Lima, Esq. Latham & Watkins LLP 1271 Avenue of the Americas New York, NY 10020 (212) 906-1200 |
Anna-Lisa Corales, Esq. Chief Legal Officer Vroom, Inc. 4700 Mercantile Dr. Fort Worth, Texas 76137 (917) 451-9855 |
James V. Davidson, Esq. Hogan Lovells US LLP 609 Main Street Houston, TX 77002 (713) 632-1400 |
APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO THE PUBLIC: From time to time after the effective date of this registration statement.
If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box. ☐
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box. ☒
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☐
If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
| Large accelerated filer | ☐ | Accelerated filer | ☐ |
| Non-accelerated filer | ☒ | Smaller reporting company | ☒ |
| Emerging growth company | ☐ |
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of Securities Act. ☐
The registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this registration statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.
The information in this preliminary prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission declares our registration statement effective. This preliminary prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and we are not soliciting offers to buy these securities in any state or jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.
Subject to Completion, dated May 15, 2026.
PROSPECTUS

VROOM, INC.
$6,000,000
Common Stock
We have entered into an Equity Distribution Agreement (the “Sales Agreement”) with Virtu Americas LLC (the “Manager”), dated May 15, 2026, relating to the sale of shares of our common stock offered by this prospectus. In accordance with the terms of the Sales Agreement, we may offer and sell shares of our common stock, $0.001 par value per share, having an aggregate offering price of up to $6,000,000 from time to time pursuant to this prospectus through or to the Manager, acting as our sales agent or as principal.
Sales of our common stock, if any, under this prospectus will be made in sales deemed to be “at the market offerings” as defined in Rule 415 promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act. The Manager is not required to sell any specific amount of securities, but will act as our sales agent using commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices. There is no arrangement for funds to be received in any escrow, trust or similar arrangement. The Manager will be entitled to compensation at a commission rate of up to 2.5% of the gross sales price per share sold under the Sales Agreement. See “Plan of Distribution” beginning on page 13 of this prospectus for additional information regarding the compensation to be paid to the Manager. In connection with the sale of shares of our common stock on our behalf, the Manager may be deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act, and the compensation of the Manager will be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts. We have also agreed to provide indemnification and contribution to the Manager with respect to certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.
Pursuant to General Instruction I.B.6 of Form S-3, in no event will we sell securities pursuant to this registration statement with a value exceeding more than one-third of the aggregate market value of our common equity held by non-affiliates in any 12-calendar-month period, so long as the aggregate market value of our outstanding common equity held by non-affiliates is less than $75,000,000. As of May 13, 2026, the aggregate market value of our outstanding common equity held by non-affiliates, computed in accordance with General Instruction I.B.6, was approximately $21,230,250, which was calculated based on 1,202,847 shares of our common stock outstanding held by non-affiliates, at a price of $17.65 per share (based on the closing sale price of our common stock on April 22, 2026, which is the date with the highest closing sale price within 60 days prior to the date of filing). During the 12 calendar months prior to and including the date of this prospectus, we have sold $0 in securities pursuant to General Instruction I.B.6 of Form S-3.
INVESTING IN OUR SECURITIES INVOLVES RISKS. SEE “RISK FACTORS” ON PAGE 4 OF THIS PROSPECTUS CONCERNING FACTORS YOU SHOULD CONSIDER BEFORE INVESTING IN OUR SECURITIES.
Our common stock is listed on The Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol “VRM.” On May 12, 2026, the last reported sale price of our common stock on The Nasdaq Global Market was $11.37 per share.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The date of this prospectus is May 15, 2026.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
i
This prospectus relates to the offering of shares of our common stock having an aggregate offering price of up to $6,000,000 from time to time pursuant to an Equity Distribution Agreement (the “Sales Agreement”) with Virtu Americas LLC (the “Manager”). Before buying any of the shares of common stock that we are offering, we urge you to carefully read this prospectus, together with the information incorporated by reference as described under the headings “Where You Can Find More Information; Incorporation by Reference” in this prospectus and any free writing prospectus that we have authorized for use in connection with this offering. These documents contain important information that you should consider when making your investment decision.
Pursuant to General Instruction I.B.6 of Form S-3, in no event will we sell securities pursuant to this registration statement with a value exceeding more than one-third of the aggregate market value of our common equity held by non-affiliates in any 12-calendar-month period, so long as the aggregate market value of our outstanding common equity held by non-affiliates is less than $75,000,000. As of May 13, 2026, the aggregate market value of our outstanding common equity held by non-affiliates, computed in accordance with General Instruction I.B.6, was approximately $21,230,249, which was calculated based on 1,202,847 shares of our common stock outstanding held by non-affiliates, at a price of $17.65 per share (based on the closing sale price of our common stock on April 22, 2026, which is the date with the highest closing sale price within 60 days prior to the date of filing). During the 12-calendar-months prior to and including the date of this prospectus, we have sold $0 in securities pursuant to General Instruction I.B.6 of Form S-3.
We have not, and the Manager has not, authorized any other person to provide you with information that is in addition to or different from that contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, along with the information contained in any free writing prospectuses we have authorized for use in connection with this offering. Neither we nor the Manager take any responsibility for, or can provide any assurance as to the reliability of, any information other than the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any free writing prospectuses we have authorized for use in connection with this offering.
We have not authorized anyone to provide you with any information or to make any representations other than those contained in this prospectus or any free writing prospectuses prepared by or on behalf of us or to which we have referred you. We take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you. We will not make an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should assume that the information appearing in this prospectus is accurate only as of the date on its respective cover, that the information appearing in any applicable free writing prospectus is accurate only as of the date of that free writing prospectus, and that any information incorporated by reference is accurate only as of the date of the document incorporated by reference, unless we indicate otherwise. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates. This prospectus incorporates by reference or any free writing prospectus may contain and incorporate by reference, market data and industry statistics and forecasts that are based on independent industry publications and other publicly available information. Although we believe these sources are reliable, we do not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of this information and we have not independently verified this information. In addition, the market and industry data and forecasts that may be included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any applicable free writing prospectus may involve estimates, assumptions and other risks and uncertainties and are subject to change based on various factors, including those discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” contained in this prospectus and any applicable free writing prospectus, and under similar headings in other documents that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus. Accordingly, investors should not place undue reliance on this information.
We and the Manager are offering to sell, and seeking offers to buy, shares of common stock only in jurisdictions where offers and sales are permitted. The distribution of this prospectus and the offering of the common stock in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law. 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 common stock and the distribution of this prospectus outside the United States. This prospectus does not constitute, and may not be used in connection with, an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities offered by this prospectus by any person in any jurisdiction in which it is unlawful for such person to make such an offer or solicitation.
1
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION; INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
Available Information
We file reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. The SEC maintains a web site that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information about issuers, such as us, who file electronically with the SEC. The address of that website is http://www.sec.gov.
Our website address is www.vroom.com, and our reports, proxy statements and other information we have incorporated by reference in this prospectus and filed electronically with the SEC are available on our Investor Relations website at www.ir.vroom.com. The information on our website and our Investor Relations website, however, is not, and should not be deemed to be, a part of this prospectus.
This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the SEC and do not contain all of the information in the registration statement. The full registration statement may be obtained from the SEC or us, as provided below. You may inspect a copy of the registration statement through the SEC’s website, as provided above.
Incorporation by Reference
The SEC’s rules allow us to “incorporate by reference” information into this prospectus, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to another document filed separately with the SEC. The information incorporated by reference is deemed to be part of this prospectus, and subsequent information that we file with the SEC will automatically update and supersede that information. Any statement contained in this prospectus or a previously filed document incorporated by reference will be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained in this prospectus or a subsequently filed document incorporated by reference modifies or replaces that statement.
This prospectus incorporates by reference the documents set forth below that have previously been filed with the SEC:
| ● | Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025, filed with the SEC on March 26, 2026. |
| ● | Our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 2026, filed on May 15, 2026. |
| ● | The information specifically incorporated by reference into our Annual Report on Form 10-K from our Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A, filed with the SEC on April 28, 2026. |
| ● | Our Current Reports on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on January 21, 2026 and February 6, 2026. |
| ● | The description of our common stock contained in the registration statement on Form 8-A12B, filed with the SEC on June 5, 2020, as updated in Exhibit 4.2 to our Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2025, filed with the SEC on March 26, 2026, as well as any additional amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating such description. |
All reports and other documents we subsequently file pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which we refer to as the “Exchange Act” in this prospectus, prior to the termination of this offering, including all such documents we may file with the SEC after the date of the initial registration statement and prior to the effectiveness of the registration statement, but excluding any information furnished to, rather than filed with, the SEC, will also be incorporated by reference into this prospectus and deemed to be part of this prospectus from the date of the filing of such reports and documents.
You may request a free copy of any of the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus (other than exhibits, unless they are specifically incorporated by reference in the documents) by writing or telephoning us at the following address:
VROOM,
INC.
4700 MERCANTILE DR.
FORT WORTH, TEXAS 76137
(917) 451-9855
2
We are a holding company focused on two operating businesses: (i) United Auto Credit Corporation (“UACC”), our indirect automotive finance company that purchases and services retail installment sales contracts from franchised and independent automobile dealers nationwide; and (ii) CarStory, our artificial intelligence (“AI”) powered automotive data, insights and digital services platform that provides market data, merchandising and analytics solutions to dealers, OEMs and other industry participants. Following our January 2024 decision to discontinue our ecommerce used vehicle dealership operations, our strategy centers on growing UACC and CarStory and monetizing our ecommerce technology and intellectual property. We are deeply committed to delivering reliable credit solutions for our dealer partners and actionable insights for our data customers.
Overview
Vroom, Inc. is a holding company that conducts its operations through its subsidiaries. Unless the context otherwise requires, references herein to “Vroom”, the “Company”, “we”, “us” or “our” refer to Vroom and its consolidated subsidiaries.
The Company was incorporated in Delaware on January 31, 2012, under the name BCM Partners III, Corp. On June 25, 2013, the Company changed its name to Auto America, Inc., and on July 9, 2015, the Company changed its name to Vroom, Inc. The Company previously operated an end-to-end ecommerce platform to buy and sell used vehicles through its subsidiary Vroom Automotive, LLC.
Vroom, Inc. completed its initial public offering (“IPO”) in June 2020. In January 2021, the Company completed its acquisition of Vast Holdings, Inc. (d/b/a CarStory) (“CarStory”), an AI powered analytics and digital services platform for automotive retail. On February 1, 2022, the Company completed its acquisition of Unitas Holdings Corp. (now known as Vroom Finance Corporation), including its wholly owned subsidiaries United PanAm Financial Corp. (now known as Vroom Automotive Financial Corporation) and United Auto Credit Corporation (“UACC”). UACC is a leading automotive finance company that offers vehicle financing to consumers through motor vehicle dealers under the UACC brand.
3
Investment in any securities offered pursuant to this prospectus involves risks. You should carefully consider the risk factors described below together with all other information in this prospectus and in our filings that we have incorporated by reference, our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and any subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q or Current Reports on Form 8-K we file after the date of this prospectus, and all other information contained in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus, as updated by our subsequent filings under the Exchange Act, and the risk factors and other information contained in any applicable free writing prospectus before acquiring any of such securities. The occurrence of any of these risks might cause you to lose all or part of your investment in the offered securities.
The number of shares of our common stock available for future issuance or sale could materially adversely affect the per share trading price of our common stock.
We intend to issue and sell shares of common stock from time to time pursuant to the Sales Agreement and this prospectus. As of May 12, 2026, we had 5,207,627 shares of our common stock outstanding. Of these shares, the shares issued and sold from time to time pursuant to the Sales Agreement and this prospectus will be freely tradable, except for any shares purchased by our affiliates, as that term is defined by Rule 144 under the Securities Act.
We cannot predict whether future issuances or sales of shares of our common stock or the availability of shares for resale in the open market will decrease the per share trading price per share of our common stock. The per share trading price of our common stock may decline significantly upon the registration of additional shares of our common stock.
There may be future dilution of our common stock as a result of this offering, offers and sales by any selling stockholders and additional issuances of our securities, which could adversely impact our stock price.
The issuance of shares of common stock from time to time pursuant to the Sales Agreement or otherwise may have a dilutive effect on our earnings per share. Furthermore, any offer and resale of common stock, or securities convertible or exchangeable into shares of common stock, by any selling stockholders through underwriters or dealers, directly to purchasers or through broker-dealers or agents, may have a similarly dilutive effect on our earnings per share. The actual amount of dilution, if any, will be based on numerous factors, particularly the actual number of shares issued pursuant to the Sales Agreement or sold by any selling stockholders, the use of the net proceeds therefrom and the return generated by any investments acquired therewith, cannot be determined at this time. We cannot predict the effect, if any, of our future issuances or sales of our common stock, or future resales of our common stock by existing holders, or the perception of such issuances, sales or resales, on the market price of our common stock. Any such future issuances, sales or resales, or the perception that such issuances, sales or resales might occur, could depress the market price of our common stock and also may make it more difficult and costly for us to sell equity or equity securities in the future at a time and upon terms that we deem desirable.
Because our decision to issue additional equity or convertible or exchangeable securities in the future will depend on market conditions and other factors beyond our control, we cannot predict or estimate the amount, timing or nature of our future issuances. Additionally, any convertible or exchangeable securities that we issue may have rights, preferences and privileges more favorable than those of our common stock.
4
In the future we may issue shares of our common stock and securities convertible into, or exchangeable or exercisable for, our common stock under our incentive plan. We have filed with the SEC registration statements on Form S-8 covering our common stock issuable under our incentive plan, and may file additional registration statements on Form S-8 with respect to such plans. Shares of our common stock covered by any such registration statement will be eligible for transfer or resale without restriction under the Securities Act, unless held by affiliates. The market price of our common stock may decline significantly upon the registration of additional shares of our common stock pursuant to future issuances of equity in connection with our incentive plan.
Future offerings of debt, which would be senior to our common stock upon liquidation, and/or preferred equity securities which may be senior to our common stock for purposes of dividend distributions or upon liquidation, may materially adversely affect us, including the per share trading price of our common stock.
In the future, we may attempt to increase our capital resources by making offerings of debt securities or additional equity securities, including medium-term notes, senior or subordinated notes and classes or series of preferred stock. Upon liquidation, holders of our debt securities and shares of preferred stock and lenders with respect to other borrowings will be entitled to receive our available assets prior to distribution to the holders of our common stock. Additionally, any convertible or exchangeable securities that we issue in the future may have rights, preferences and privileges more favorable than those of our common stock and may result in dilution to owners of our common stock. Holders of our common stock are not entitled to preemptive rights or other protections against dilution. Our preferred stock, if issued, could have a preference on liquidating distributions or a preference on dividend payments that could limit our ability pay dividends to the holders of our common stock. Because our decision to issue securities in any future offering will depend on market conditions and other factors beyond our control, we cannot predict or estimate the amount, timing or nature of our future offerings. Thus, our stockholders bear the risk that our future offerings could reduce the per share trading price of our common stock and dilute their interest in us.
The shares of common stock offered hereby will be sold in “at the market” offerings, and investors who buy shares at different times will likely pay different prices.
Investors who purchase shares of our common stock in this offering at different times will likely pay different prices for such shares, and so may experience different outcomes in their investment results. We will have discretion, subject to market demand, to vary the timing, prices, and numbers of shares sold, and there is no minimum or maximum sales price. Investors may experience a decline in the value of their shares of our common stock as a result of share sales made at prices lower than the prices they paid.
The actual number of shares we will issue under the Sales Agreement, at any one time or in total, is uncertain.
Subject to certain limitations in the Sales Agreement and compliance with applicable law, we have the discretion to deliver a sales notice to the Manager at any time throughout the term of the Sales Agreement. The number of shares that are sold by the Manager after delivering a sales notice will fluctuate based on the market price of the shares of common stock during the sales period and limits we set with the Manager. Because the price per share of each share sold will fluctuate based on the market price of our common stock during the sales period, it is not possible at this stage to predict the number of shares that will be ultimately issued.
5
SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Exchange Act, about us and our industry that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein, including statements regarding general economic and market conditions, our future results of operations and financial condition, business strategy, and plans and objectives of management for future operations, are forward-looking statements. In some cases, forward-looking statements may be identified by words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “contemplate,” “continue,” “could,” “design,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potentially,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “target,” “will,” “would,” or the negative of these terms or other similar terms or expressions, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words.
The forward-looking statements in this prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein are only predictions. Forward-looking statements are based on our management’s beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions, and other important factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including risks described in the section titled “Risk Factors” incorporated by reference into this prospectus from our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and any subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q or Current Reports on Form 8-K we file after the date of this prospectus, and all other information contained or incorporated by reference into this prospectus, as updated by our subsequent filings under the Exchange Act and in our other filings with the SEC.
Other sections in this prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein include additional factors that could harm our business and financial performance. Moreover, we operate in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment. New risk factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for our management to predict all risk factors nor can we assess the impact of all factors on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ from those contained in, or implied by, any forward-looking statements.
You should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. We cannot assure you that the events and circumstances reflected in the forward-looking statements will be achieved or occur. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements for any reason after the date of this prospectus or to conform these statements to actual results or to changes in our expectations. You should read this prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein and filed as exhibits to this report with the understanding that our actual future results, levels of activity, performance, and achievements may be materially different from what we expect. We qualify all of our forward-looking statements by these cautionary statements.
6
We will retain broad discretion over the use of the net proceeds, if any, from the sale of the securities offered hereby. We may issue and sell shares of our common stock having aggregate sales proceeds of up to $6,000,000 from time to time pursuant to the Sales Agreement. Because there is no minimum offering amount required as a condition to close this offering, the actual total public offering amount, commissions and proceeds to us, if any, are not determinable at this time.
We intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of shares of our common stock pursuant to this prospectus for general corporate purposes, including working capital to support the operations of UACC and CarStory. Pending the use of the net proceeds, we may invest the proceeds in interest-bearing, investment-grade securities, certificates of deposit or government securities.
7
The following description of our capital stock is not complete and may not contain all the information you should consider before investing in our capital stock. This description is summarized from, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, which has been publicly filed with the SEC. See “Where You Can Find More Information; Incorporation by Reference.”
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation authorizes capital stock consisting of:
| ● | 250,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share; and |
| ● | 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share. |
Certain provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and our amended and restated bylaws summarized below may be deemed to have an anti-takeover effect and may delay or prevent a tender offer or takeover attempt that a stockholder might consider in its best interest, including those attempts that might result in a premium over the market price for the shares of common stock.
Common Stock
Voting Rights
Holders of shares of our common stock are entitled to one vote for each share held of record on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders. The holders of our common stock do not have cumulative voting rights in the election of directors.
Dividends
Holders of shares of our common stock are entitled to receive ratably those dividends, if any, as may be declared by our board of directors out of funds legally available therefor, subject to any statutory or contractual restrictions on the payment of dividends and to any restrictions on the payment of dividends imposed by the terms of any outstanding preferred stock.
Liquidation
In the event of our dissolution or liquidation, after payment in full of all amounts required to be paid to creditors and to the holders of preferred stock having liquidation preferences, if any, the holders of shares of our common stock are entitled to share ratably in the remaining assets legally available for distribution.
Rights and Preferences
Holders of our common stock do not have preemptive, subscription, redemption or conversion rights. There are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to our common stock. The rights, preferences and privileges of the holders of our common stock are subject to and may be adversely affected by the rights of the holders of shares of any series of our preferred stock that we may designate in the future.
Fully Paid and Nonassessable
All shares of our common stock outstanding upon consummation of an offering under this prospectus will be fully paid and non-assessable.
8
Preferred Stock
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation authorizes our board of directors, subject to any limitations prescribed by law, without further stockholder approval, to establish and to issue from time to time one or more series of preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share, covering up to an aggregate of 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock. Each series of preferred stock will cover the number of shares and will have the powers, preferences, rights, qualifications, limitations and restrictions determined by our board of directors, which may include, among others, dividend rights, liquidation preferences, voting rights, conversion rights, preemptive rights and redemption rights. Except as provided by law or in a preferred stock designation, the holders of preferred stock will not be entitled to vote at or receive notice of any meeting of stockholders.
The issuance of preferred stock could adversely affect the voting power of holders of our common stock and reduce the likelihood that holders of our common stock will receive dividend payments and payments upon liquidation. The issuance of preferred stock could also have the effect of decreasing the market price of our common stock or could be used, under certain circumstances, as a method of discouraging, delaying or preventing a change in control of our company.
As of the date of this prospectus, there was no preferred stock issued or outstanding.
Forum Selection
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware will, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, be the sole and exclusive forum for: (1) any derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf; (2) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any of our directors, officers or other employees or stockholders to us or our stockholders; (3) any action asserting a claim against us, any director or our officers and employees arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or our amended and restated bylaws, or as to which the DGCL confers exclusive jurisdiction on the Court of Chancery; or (4) any action asserting a claim against us, any director or our officers or employees that is governed by the internal affairs doctrine; provided that such exclusive forum provisions will not apply to suits brought to enforce any liability or duty created by the Exchange Act, or to any claim for which the federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation further provides that, unless we consent in writing to the selections of an alternative forum, the federal district courts are the sole and exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act.
Dividends
Declaration and payment of any dividend will be subject to the discretion of our board of directors. The time and amount of dividends will be dependent upon, among other things, our business prospects, results of operations, financial condition, cash requirements and availability, debt repayment obligations, capital expenditure needs, contractual restrictions, covenants in the agreements governing our current and future indebtedness, industry trends, the provisions of Delaware law affecting the payment of dividends and distributions to stockholders and any other factors or considerations our board of directors may regard as relevant.
Anti-Takeover Provisions
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, our amended and restated bylaws and the Delaware General Corporation Law (“DGCL”) contain provisions that may delay, defer or discourage another party from acquiring control of us. We expect that these provisions, which are summarized below, will discourage coercive takeover practices or inadequate takeover bids. These provisions are also designed to encourage persons seeking to acquire control of us to first negotiate with our board of directors, which we believe may result in an improvement of the terms of any such acquisition in favor of our stockholders. However, they also give our board of directors the power to discourage acquisitions that some stockholders may favor.
9
Stockholder Action; Special Meetings of Stockholders
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws provide that all actions that are required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders at any annual or special meeting of stockholders may be effected by written consent of stockholders in lieu of a meeting; provided, however, that, subject to the rights granted to holders of one or more series of preferred stock then outstanding, at any time when Mudrick Capital Management, L.P., together with its affiliates (collectively, the “Significant Stockholder”) beneficially owns (directly or indirectly) in the aggregate less than 50% of the total voting power of the outstanding shares of stock entitled to vote at an election of directors, no action that is required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Company at any annual or special meeting of stockholders may be effected by written consent of stockholders in lieu of a meeting. Further, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that only our board of directors, the chairperson of our board of directors, chief executive officer or president (in the absence of a chief executive officer), or the secretary at the request of the holders of at least a majority of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company may call special meetings of stockholders (provided, that, at any time when the Significant Stockholder beneficially owns in the aggregate less than 50% of the total voting power of the outstanding shares of stock entitled to vote generally at any annual or special meeting of the stockholders, any such request shall be made by the holders of at least two-thirds of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company to be binding on the Company), and may not be called by any other person or persons.
Advance Notice Requirements for Stockholder Proposals and Director Nominations
In addition, our amended and restated bylaws establish an advance notice procedure for stockholder proposals to be brought before an annual meeting or special meeting of stockholders, including proposed nominations of candidates for election to our board of directors. Generally, in order for any matter to be “properly brought” before a meeting, the matter must be (a) specified in a notice of meeting given by or at the direction of our board of directors, (b) if not specified in a notice of meeting, otherwise brought before the meeting by our board of directors or the chairperson of the meeting, or (c) otherwise properly brought before the meeting by a stockholder present in person who (1) was a stockholder both at the time of giving the notice and at the time of the meeting, (2) is entitled to vote at the meeting, and (3) has complied with the advance notice procedures specified in the amended and restated bylaws or properly made such proposal in accordance with Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, which proposal has been included in the proxy statement for the annual meeting. Further, for business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder, the stockholder must (a) provide Timely Notice (as defined below) thereof in writing and in proper form to the secretary and (b) provide any updates or supplements to such notice at the times and in the forms required by our amended and restated bylaws. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice must be delivered to, or mailed and received at, our principal executive offices not less than 90 days nor more than 120 days prior to the one-year anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting; provided, however, that if the date of the annual meeting is more than 30 days before or more than 60 days after such anniversary date, to be timely, notice by the stockholder must be so delivered, or mailed and received, not later than the 10th day following the day on which public disclosure of the date of such annual meeting was first made (such notice within such time periods, “Timely Notice”).
10
Stockholders at a special meeting may only consider proposals or nominations specified in the notice of meeting or, in the case of our annual meetings, brought before the meeting by or at the direction of our board of directors or by a qualified stockholder of record on the record date for the meeting, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who has delivered Timely Notice as discussed above. These provisions could have the effect of delaying stockholder actions that are favored by the holders of a majority of our outstanding voting securities until the next stockholder meeting.
Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws
Our amended and restated bylaws may be amended or repealed by a majority vote of our board of directors or by the affirmative vote of a majority in voting power of the outstanding shares of capital stock entitled to vote thereon. At any time when the Significant Stockholder beneficially owns (directly or indirectly) in the aggregate less than 50% of the total voting power of the outstanding shares of capital stock entitled to vote generally, in addition to any other vote required by law, the amended and restated certificate of incorporation, or amended and restated bylaws, our amended and restated bylaws may be amended or repealed by a majority vote of our board of directors or by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the total voting power of the outstanding shares of capital stock entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class. Similarly, at any time when the Significant Stockholder beneficially owns (directly or indirectly) in the aggregate less than 50% of the total voting power of the outstanding shares of capital stock entitled to vote generally, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the total voting power of the outstanding shares of capital stock entitled to vote at any annual or special meeting of stockholders would be required to amend certain Articles of our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation.
Section 203 of the DGCL
We are governed by the provisions of Section 203 of the DGCL. In general, Section 203 prohibits a public Delaware corporation from engaging in a “business combination” with an “interested stockholder” for a period of three years after the time of the transaction in which the person became an interested stockholder, unless:
| ● | the business combination or transaction which resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder was approved by the board of directors prior to the time that the stockholder became an interested stockholder; |
| ● | upon consummation of the transaction which resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, the interested stockholder owned at least 85% of the voting stock of the corporation outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding shares owned by directors who are also officers of the corporation and shares owned by employee stock plans in which employee participants do not have the right to determine confidentially whether shares held subject to the plan will be tendered in a tender or exchange offer; or |
| ● | at or subsequent to the time the stockholder became an interested stockholder, the business combination was approved by the board of directors and authorized at an annual or special meeting of the stockholders, and not by written consent, by the affirmative vote of at least 66 2/3% of the outstanding voting stock which is not owned by the interested stockholder. |
In general, Section 203 defines a “business combination” to include mergers, asset sales and other transactions resulting in financial benefit to a stockholder and an “interested stockholder” as a person who, together with affiliates and associates, owns, or, if such person is an affiliate or associate of the corporation, within three years did own, 15% or more of the corporation’s outstanding voting stock. These provisions may have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing changes in control of our company.
11
Limitations on Liability and Indemnification of Officers and Directors
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws provide indemnification and advancement of expenses for our directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, subject to certain limited exceptions. We have entered into separate indemnification agreements with each of our directors and our executive officers. In some cases, the provisions of our indemnification agreements with our directors and executive officers may be broader than the specific indemnification provisions contained under Delaware law. In addition, as permitted by Delaware law, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation includes provisions that eliminate the personal liability of our directors for monetary damages resulting from breaches of certain fiduciary duties as a director. The effect of this provision is to restrict our rights and the rights of our stockholders in derivative suits to recover monetary damages against a director for breach of fiduciary duties as a director. This provision does not, however, eliminate the personal liability of our directors for monetary damages resulting from: (1) breach of the director’s duty of loyalty, (2) acts or omissions not in good faith that involve intentional misconduct or knowing violation of law, (3) an unlawful payment of dividends or an unlawful stock purchase or redemption, or (4) any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation also includes provisions that eliminate the personal liability of our officers, for monetary damages resulting from breaches of certain fiduciary duties as an officer to the extent permitted and defined by Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL. These provisions may be held not to be enforceable for violations of the federal securities laws of the United States.
Dissenters’ Rights of Appraisal and Payment
Under the DGCL, with certain exceptions, our stockholders have appraisal rights in connection with a merger or consolidation of Vroom, Inc. Pursuant to Section 262 of the DGCL, stockholders who properly demand and perfect appraisal rights in connection with such merger or consolidation will have the right to receive payment of the fair value of their shares as determined by the Delaware Court of Chancery.
Stockholders’ Derivative Actions
Under the DGCL, any of our stockholders may bring an action in our name to procure a judgment in our favor, also known as a derivative action, provided that the stockholder bringing the action is a holder of our shares at the time of the transaction to which the action relates.
Trading Symbol and Market
Our common stock is listed on The Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol “VRM.”
12
We have entered into an Equity Distribution Agreement (the “Sales Agreement”) with Virtu Americas LLC (“Virtu” or the “Manager”), under which we may offer and sell shares of our common stock having an aggregate offering price of up to $6,000,000 from time to time through or to Virtu, acting as sales agent and/or principal.
Sales of our shares of common stock, if any, under this prospectus will be made by any method that is deemed to be an “at the market offering” as defined in Rule 415(a)(4) under the Securities Act. Each time we wish to issue and sell our shares of common stock under the Sales Agreement, we will notify the Manager of the number of shares to be issued, the dates on which such sales are anticipated to be made, any limitation on the number of shares to be sold in any one day and any minimum price below which sales may not be made. Once we have so instructed the Manager, unless the Manager declines to accept the terms of such notice, the Manager has agreed to use its reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices to sell such shares up to the amount specified on such terms. The Manager is not required to sell any specific amount of securities, but will act as our sales agent using commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices.
If we wish to issue and sell shares pursuant to the Sales Agreement directly to the Manager acting as principal, we will notify the Manager of the proposed terms of such placement. If the Manager wishes to accept such proposed terms (which the Manager may decline to do for any reason in its sole discretion) or, following discussion, wishes to accept amended terms, we will enter into a Terms Agreement setting forth the terms of such placement.
The compensation to the Manager for sales of shares of common stock pursuant to the Sales Agreement shall be up to 2.5% of the gross offering proceeds of the shares sold, as mutually agreed in writing. Because there is no minimum offering amount required as a condition to close this offering, the actual total public offering amount, commissions and proceeds to us, if any, are not determinable at this time. The remaining proceeds, after deduction for any transaction fees imposed by any governmental or self-regulatory organization, shall constitute the net proceeds to us from such sale.
We estimate that the total expenses for the offering, excluding any commissions or expense reimbursement payable to the Manager under the terms of the sales agreement, will be approximately $175,000. The remaining sale proceeds, after deducting any other transaction fees, will equal our net proceeds from the sale of such shares. We have agreed to reimburse the Manager for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses, including the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel incurred by the Manager, in connection with the transactions contemplated by the sales agreement up to a maximum of $175,000 in the aggregate.
The settlement of sales of shares between us and the Manager is generally anticipated to occur on the first trading day following the date on which the sale was made. Sales of our shares of common stock as contemplated in this prospectus will be settled through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company or by such other means as we and the Manager may agree upon. There is no arrangement for funds to be received in any escrow, trust or similar arrangement.
The Manager will provide written confirmation to us following the close of trading on The Nasdaq Global Market on each day on which shares are sold under the Sales Agreement. Each confirmation will include the number of shares sold on that day, the aggregate gross proceeds of such sales and the proceeds to us, and the commission payable by us to the Manager with respect to such sales.
13
We or the Manager may, upon notice to the other party by telephone (confirmed promptly by email), suspend an offering of the shares at any time; provided that such suspension shall not affect or impair the parties’ respective obligations with respect to shares sold prior to the giving of such notice. Under no circumstances shall shares be sold under the Sales Agreement (i) during any period in which our insider trading policy would prohibit purchases or sales of shares by our officers or directors, (ii) at any time during the period commencing on the tenth business day prior to our earnings announcement and through the 24 hours after we file the corresponding quarterly or annual report with the SEC, or (iii) during any other period in which we are, or could be deemed to be, in possession of material non-public information.
In connection with the sale of our common stock on our behalf, the Manager may be deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act, and the compensation of the Manager will be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts. We have agreed to indemnify the Manager against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. We have also agreed to contribute to payments the Manager may be required to make in respect of such liabilities.
The offering of our shares of common stock pursuant to the Sales Agreement will terminate upon the earlier of (i) the sale of all shares of common stock subject to the Sales Agreement and (ii) the termination of the Sales Agreement as permitted therein. We and the Manager may each terminate the Sales Agreement at any time upon notice to the other party.
This summary of the material provisions of the Sales Agreement does not purport to be a complete statement of its terms and conditions. A copy of the Sales Agreement is filed as Exhibit 1.1 to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. The Manager and its affiliates may in the future provide various investment banking, commercial banking, financial advisory and other financial services for us and our affiliates, for which services they may in the future receive customary fees. In the course of its business, the Manager may actively trade our securities for its own account or for the accounts of customers, and, accordingly, the Manager may at any time hold long or short positions in such securities.
14
Latham & Watkins LLP will pass upon certain legal matters relating to the issuance and sale of the securities offered hereby on behalf of Vroom, Inc. Hogan Lovells US LLP is acting as counsel for the Manager in connection with this offering.
The consolidated financial statements of Vroom, Inc. and its subsidiaries (collectively, the Company) as of December 31, 2025 and for the period from January 15, 2025 through December 31, 2025 (Successor financial statements) and as of December 31, 2024 and for the period from January 1, 2025 through January 14, 2025 and for the year ended December 31, 2024 (Predecessor financial statements) incorporated by reference in this Prospectus by reference to the Vroom, Inc. Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025 have been audited by RSM US LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their reports thereon incorporated herein by reference, and have been so incorporated in this Prospectus and Registration Statement in reliance upon such reports and upon the authority of such firm as experts in auditing and accounting.
With respect to the unaudited interim financial information of the Company for the periods included in Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2026, incorporated by reference in this prospectus, RSM US LLP reported that they have applied limited procedures in accordance with professional standards for a review of such information. However, their separate reports included in such Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and incorporated by reference herein, state that they did not audit and they do not express an opinion on that interim financial information. Accordingly, the degree of reliance on their review reports should be restricted in light of the limited nature of the review procedures applied. RSM US LLP is not subject to the liability provisions of Section 11 of the Securities Act of 1933 for their reports on the interim financial information because those reports are not a “report” or a “part” of the registration statement prepared or certified by an accountant within the meaning of Sections 7 and 11 of the Securities Act.
15

$6,000,000
Common Stock

PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution
The following is an estimate of the expenses (all of which are to be paid by the registrant) that we may incur in connection with the securities being registered hereby.
| SEC registration fee | $ | 828.60 | ||
| FINRA filing fee | $ | 1,400.00 | (1) | |
| Printing expenses | $ | (1) | ||
| Legal fees and expenses | $ | (1) | ||
| Accounting fees and expenses | $ | (1) | ||
| Blue Sky, qualification fees and expenses | $ | (1) | ||
| Transfer agent fees and expenses | $ | (1) | ||
| Miscellaneous | $ | (1) | ||
| Total | $ | (1) |
| (1) | These fees are calculated based on the securities offered and the number of issuances and accordingly cannot be estimated at this time. |
Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers
Section 102 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware permits a corporation to eliminate the personal liability of directors of a corporation to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for a breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except where the director breached his duty of loyalty, failed to act in good faith, engaged in intentional misconduct or knowingly violated a law, authorized the payment of a dividend or approved a stock repurchase in violation of Delaware corporate law or obtained an improper personal benefit. Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL, as amended effective August 1, 2022, also permits a corporation to eliminate the personal liability of certain senior officers of a corporation to the stockholders for monetary damages for a breach of fiduciary duty as an officer, subject to certain limitations, including that such elimination of liability is not available for (1) breaches of the duty of loyalty, (2) acts or omissions not in good faith or involving intentional misconduct or knowing violations of law, (3) any transaction from which the officer derived an improper personal benefit, or (4) any action by or in the right of the corporation.
The Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that no director of the Company shall be personally liable to it or its stockholders for monetary damages for any breach of fiduciary duty as a director, notwithstanding any provision of law imposing such liability, except to the extent that the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware prohibits the elimination or limitation of liability of directors for breaches of fiduciary duty. The Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation further provides that no senior officer of the Company, to the extent permitted and defined by Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL, shall be personally liable to the stockholders for monetary damages for any breach of fiduciary duty as an officer, notwithstanding any provision of law imposing such liability, except to the extent that the DGCL prohibits the elimination or limitation of liability of officers for breaches of fiduciary duty as an officer.
Section 145 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware provides that a corporation has the power to indemnify a director, officer, employee, or agent of the corporation, or a person serving at the request of the corporation for another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise in related capacities against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with an action, suit or proceeding to which he was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, ending or completed action, suit or proceeding by reason of such position, if such person acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, in any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful, except that, in the case of actions brought by or in the right of the corporation, no indemnification shall be made with respect to any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless and only to the extent that the Court of Chancery or other adjudicating court determines that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all of the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.
II-1
The Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws provide indemnification for the Company’s directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. The Company will indemnify each person who was or is a party or threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding (other than an action by or in the right of the Company) by reason of the fact that he or she is or was, or has agreed to become, a director or officer, or is or was serving, or has agreed to serve, at the Company’s request as a director, officer, partner, employee or trustee of, or in a similar capacity with, another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise (all such persons being referred to as an “Indemnitee”), or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted in such capacity, against all expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred in connection with such action, suit or proceeding and any appeal therefrom, if such Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the Company’s best interests, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, he or she had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful. The Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws provide that the Company will indemnify any Indemnitee who was or is a party to an action or suit by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in the Company’s favor by reason of the fact that the Indemnitee is or was, or has agreed to become, a director or officer, or is or was serving, or has agreed to serve, at the Company’s request as a director, officer, partner, employee or trustee of, or in a similar capacity with, another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted in such capacity, against all expenses (including attorneys’ fees) and, to the extent permitted by law, amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred in connection with such action, suit or proceeding, and any appeal therefrom, if the Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the Company’s best interests, except that no indemnification shall be made with respect to any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the Company, unless a court determines that, despite such adjudication but in view of all of the circumstances, he or she is entitled to indemnification of such expenses. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that any Indemnitee has been successful, on the merits or otherwise, he or she will be indemnified by the Company against all expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred in connection therewith. Expenses must be advanced to an Indemnitee under certain circumstances.
The Company has entered into separate indemnification agreements with each of the Company’s directors and executive officers. Each indemnification agreement provides, among other things, for indemnification to the fullest extent permitted by law and the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws against any and all expenses, judgments, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement of any claim. The indemnification agreements provide for the advancement or payment of all expenses to the indemnitee and for the reimbursement to the Company if it is found that such indemnitee is not entitled to such indemnification under applicable law and the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws.
The Company maintains a general liability insurance policy that covers certain liabilities of directors and officers of the Company arising out of claims based on acts or omissions in their capacities as directors or officers.
II-2
Item 16. Exhibits
| * | To be filed by amendment or incorporated by reference in connection with the offering of the securities. |
Item 17. Undertakings
(a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:
(i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;
(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 Securities and Exchange Commission 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), (a)(1)(ii), and (a)(1)(iii) above 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 Securities and Exchange Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is a part of the registration statement.
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, 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.
(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
II-3
(4) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:
(A) Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and
(B) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.
(5) That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities:
The undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:
(i) Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;
(ii) Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;
(iii) The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and
(iv) Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.
(b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) 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.
(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
II-4
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Fort Worth, Texas, on May 15, 2026.
| VROOM, INC. | ||
| By: | /s/ Thomas H. Shortt | |
| Thomas H. Shortt | ||
| Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) | ||
Each of the undersigned officers and directors of the registrant hereby severally constitutes and appoints, jointly and severally, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer (currently Thomas H. Shortt) and Chief Financial Officer (currently Jon Sandison), and each one of them, as such person’s true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, each with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for and in such person’s name, place and stead, and in any and all capacities, to file and sign any and all amendments, including post-effective amendments, to this registration statement and any other registration statement for the same offering that is to be effective under Rule 462(b) of the Securities Act of 1933, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith and about the premises as fully to all intents and purposes as such person might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that each of said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or such person’s substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. This power of attorney shall be governed by and construed with the laws of the State of Delaware and applicable federal securities laws.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this registration statement has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
| SIGNATURE | TITLE | DATE | ||
| /s/ Thomas H. Shortt | Chief Executive Officer and Director | May 15, 2026 | ||
| Thomas H. Shortt | (principal executive officer) | |||
| /s/ Jonathan R. Sandison | Chief Financial Officer | May 15, 2026 | ||
| Jonathan R. Sandison | (principal financial officer) | |||
| /s/ Jacob S. Benzaquen | Senior Vice President and Principal Accounting Officer | May 15, 2026 | ||
| Jacob S. Benzaquen | (principal accounting officer) | |||
| /s/ Robert J. Mylod, Jr. | Independent Executive Chair of the Board | May 15, 2026 | ||
| Robert J. Mylod, Jr. | ||||
| /s/ Robert R. Krakowiak | Director and Vice Chair of the Board | May 15, 2026 | ||
| Robert R. Krakowiak | ||||
| /s/ Timonthy M. Crow | Director | May 15, 2026 | ||
| Timonthy M. Crow | ||||
| /s/ Michael J. Farello | Director | May 15, 2026 | ||
| Michael J. Farello | ||||
| /s/ Laura G. O’Shaughnessy | Director | May 15, 2026 | ||
| Laura G. O’Shaughnessy | ||||
| /s/ Matthew J. Pietroforte | Director | May 15, 2026 | ||
| Matthew J. Pietroforte | ||||
| /s/ Nikul Patel | Director | May 15, 2026 | ||
| Nikul Patel |
II-5
Exhibit 1.1
VROOM, INC.
Common Stock ($0.001 par value)
Equity Distribution Agreement
May 15, 2026
Virtu Americas LLC
1633 Broadway 41st Floor
New York, New York 10019
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Vroom, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) confirms its agreement (this “Agreement”) with Virtu Americas LLC (“Virtu”) (the “Manager”).
1. Description of Shares. The Company proposes to issue and sell through or to the Manager, as sales agent and/or principal, shares of the Company’s common stock, $0.001 par value per share (the “Common Stock”) (the “Shares”), from time to time during the term of this Agreement and on the terms set forth in Section 3 of this Agreement. The Company hereby appoints the Manager as exclusive agent of the Company for the purpose of making offers and sales of the Shares. The Company agrees that whenever it determines to sell the Shares directly to the Manager as principal, it will enter into a separate agreement (each, a “Terms Agreement”) in substantially the form of Annex I hereto, relating to such sale in accordance with Section 3 of this Agreement. Certain terms used herein are defined in Section 18 hereof.
2. Representations and Warranties. The Company represents and warrants to, and agrees with, the Manager at the Execution Time and on each such time the following representations and warranties are repeated or deemed to be made pursuant to this Agreement, as set forth below.
(a) Form S-3. The Company meets the requirements for use of Form S-3 under the Act and has prepared and filed with the Commission a shelf registration statement on Form S-3, including a related Base Prospectus, for registration under the Act of the offering and sale of the Shares and other securities of the Company upon commencement of the offering of the shares under this Agreement (the “Commencement Time”). Such Registration Statement, including any amendments thereto filed prior to the Commencement Time or prior to any such time this representation is repeated or deemed to be made, will have been declared effective and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement will have been issued under the Act and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or be pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, be contemplated or threatened by the Commission, and any request on the part of the Commission for additional or supplemental information be complied with. As filed, the Prospectus will contain all information required by the Act and the rules thereunder, and, except to the extent the Manager shall agree in writing to a modification, shall be in all substantive respects in the form furnished to the Manager prior to the Commencement Time or prior to any such time this representation is repeated or deemed to be made. The Registration Statement, at the Commencement Time, each such time this representation is repeated or deemed to be made, and at all times during which a prospectus is required by the Act to be delivered (whether physically or through compliance with Rule 172 or any similar rule) in connection with any offer or sale of Shares, meets the requirements set forth in Rule 415(a)(1)(x). The initial Effective Date of the Registration Statement will not have been earlier than the date three years before the Commencement Time. Any reference herein to the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement, any Interim Prospectus Supplement or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 which were filed under the Exchange Act on or before the Effective Date of the Registration Statement or the issue date of the Base Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement, any Interim Prospectus Supplement or the Prospectus, as the case may be; and any reference herein to the terms “amend,” “amendment” or “supplement” with respect to the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement, any Interim Prospectus Supplement or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the filing of any document under the Exchange Act after the Effective Date of the Registration Statement or the issue date of the Base Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement, any Interim Prospectus Supplement or the Prospectus, as the case may be, deemed to be incorporated therein by reference. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the representations and warranties in this subsection shall not apply to statements in or omissions from the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment or the Prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto, made in reliance upon and in conformity with Manager Information (as defined in Section 7(b) of this Agreement).
(b) Successor Registration Statement. To the extent that the Registration Statement is not available for the sales of the Shares as contemplated by this Agreement, the Company shall file a new registration statement with respect to any additional Common Stock necessary to complete such sales of the Shares and shall cause such registration statement to become effective as promptly as practicable. After the effectiveness of any such registration statement, all references to “Registration Statement” included in this Agreement shall be deemed to include such new registration statement, including all documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3, and all references to “Base Prospectus” included in this Agreement shall be deemed to include the final form of prospectus, including all documents incorporated therein by reference, included in any such registration statement at the time such registration statement became effective.
(c) No Material Misstatements or Omissions in the Registration Statement. On each Effective Date, at the Commencement Time, at each deemed effective date with respect to the Manager pursuant to Rule 430B(f)(2) under the Act, at each Applicable Time, at each Settlement Date, at each Time of Delivery and at all times during which a prospectus is required by the Act to be delivered (whether physically or through compliance with Rule 172 or any similar rule) in connection with any offer or sale of Shares, the Registration Statement complied and will comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Act and the rules thereunder and did not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading; and on the date of any filing pursuant to Rule 424(b), at each Applicable Time, on each Settlement Date, at each Time of Delivery and at all times during which a prospectus is required by the Act to be delivered (whether physically or through compliance with Rule 172 or any similar rule) in connection with any offer or sale of Shares, the Prospectus (together with any supplement thereto) complied and will comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Act and the rules thereunder and did not and will not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, that the Company makes no representations or warranties as to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with any Manager Information.
(d) Disclosure Package. At the Commencement Time, at each Applicable Time, at each Settlement Date and each Time of Delivery, the Disclosure Package does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The preceding sentence does not apply to statements in or omissions from the Disclosure Package based upon and in conformity with the Manager Information.
2
(e) Incorporated Documents. The documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus (i) at the time they were or hereafter are filed with the Commission, complied and will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and (ii) when read together with the other information in the Prospectus and the Disclosure Package at any Applicable Time and when read together with the other information in the Prospectus at the date of the Prospectus and at any Settlement Date or Time of Delivery, will not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
(f) Notice of Other Sales. Prior to the execution of this Agreement, the Company has not, directly or indirectly, offered or sold any Shares by means of any “prospectus” (within the meaning of the Act) or used any “prospectus” (within the meaning of the Act) in connection with the offer or sale of the Shares, and from and after the execution of this Agreement, the Company will not, directly or indirectly, offer or sell any Shares by means of any “prospectus” (within the meaning of the Act) or use any “prospectus” (within the meaning of the Act) in connection with the offer or sale of the Shares, other than the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement; the Company has not, directly or indirectly, prepared, used or referred to any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus.
(g) No Stop Orders. The Registration Statement is not the subject of a pending proceeding or examination under Section 8(d) or 8(e) of the Act, and the Company is not the subject of a pending proceeding under Section 8A of the Act in connection with the offering of the Shares.
(h) Sales Agency Agreements. The Company has not entered into any other sales agency agreements or other similar arrangements with any agent or any other representative in respect of any at the market offering (within the meaning of Rule 415(a)(4) under the Act) of the Shares.
(i) Offering Materials. The Company has not distributed and will not distribute, prior to the termination of this Agreement, any offering material in connection with the offering and sale of the Shares other than the Prospectus and any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus reviewed and consented to by the Manager and identified in Schedule I hereto.
3
(j) No Material Adverse Effect on Business. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has, since the date of the latest audited financial statements included in the Disclosure Package, (i) sustained any material loss or interference with its business from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or court or governmental action, order or decree or (ii) entered into any transaction or agreement (whether or not in the ordinary course of business) that is material to the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole or incurred any liability or obligation, direct or contingent, that is material to the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, in each case, otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, and since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there has not been (x) any change in the capital stock (other than as a result of (i) the grant, vesting, exercise or settlement (including any “net” or “cashless” exercises or settlements), if any, of stock options or restricted stock units or the award, if any, of stock options, restricted stock units or other equity incentives), in each case (I) in the ordinary course of business, (II) pursuant to the Company’s equity plans that are described in the Prospectus and (III) in accordance with the Exchange Act and all other applicable laws and regulatory rules or requirements, including the rules of the Nasdaq Global Select Market (“Nasdaq”) and any other exchange on which Company securities are traded, (ii) the repurchase of shares of capital stock pursuant to agreements providing for an option to repurchase or a right of first refusal on behalf of the Company pursuant to the Company’s repurchase rights or (iii) the issuance, if any, of stock upon conversion or exercise of Company securities (including any outstanding warrants or convertible notes) as described in the Prospectus, (y) the issuance, if any, of long-term debt of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or (z) any Material Adverse Effect (as defined below); as used in this Agreement, “Material Adverse Effect” shall mean any material adverse change or effect, or any development involving a prospective material adverse change or effect in or affecting (i) the business, properties, management, consolidated financial position, consolidated stockholders’ equity or consolidated results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, except as set forth or contemplated in the Registration Statement, Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, or (ii) the ability of the Company to perform its obligations under this Agreement, including the issuance and sale of the Shares, or to consummate the transactions contemplated in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.
(k) Title to Property. The Company and its subsidiaries do not own any real property. The Company and its subsidiaries have good and marketable title to all personal property (other than with respect to Intellectual Property (as defined below), title to which is addressed exclusively in subsection (v)) owned by them, in each case free and clear of all liens, encumbrances and defects except such as are described in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or such as do not materially affect the value of such property and do not materially interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property by the Company and its subsidiaries; and any real property and buildings held under lease by the Company and its subsidiaries are held by them, to their knowledge, under valid, subsisting and enforceable leases (subject to the effects of (i) bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting rights or remedies of creditors generally; (ii) the application of general principles of equity (including without limitation, concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith, and fair dealing, regardless of whether enforcement is considered in proceedings at law or in equity); and (iii) applicable laws and public policy with respect to rights to indemnity and contribution) with such exceptions as are not material and do not materially interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property and buildings by the Company and its subsidiaries.
4
(l) Good Standing. The Company has been (i) duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, with corporate power and authority to own its properties and conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, and (ii) duly qualified as a foreign corporation for the transaction of business and is in good standing (where such concept exists) under the laws of each other jurisdiction in which it owns or leases properties or conducts any business so as to require such qualification, except, in the case of this clause (ii), where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing would not individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and each significant subsidiary (as such term is defined in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X promulgated under the Act) of the Company (each a “significant subsidiary”) has been duly incorporated or organized and is validly existing as a corporation or other business organization in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation, formation or organization, as applicable, to the extent the concept of “good standing” is applicable under the laws of such jurisdiction, except where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(m) Capitalization. The Company has an authorized capitalization as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and all of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company have been duly and validly authorized and issued and are fully paid and non-assessable and conform in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and all of the outstanding equity interests of each subsidiary of the Company are validly issued limited liability company interests or shares of capital stock, as the case may be, and (except, in the case of any foreign subsidiary, for directors’ qualifying shares) are owned directly or indirectly by the Company, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, equities or claims, except for such liens or encumbrances described in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.
(n) Due Authorization of the Shares. The Shares have been duly and validly authorized and, when the Shares are issued and delivered against payment therefor as provided herein, such Shares will be duly and validly issued and fully paid and non-assessable and will conform in all material respects to the description of the Common Stock contained in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus; and the issuance of the Shares (A) is not subject to any preemptive or similar rights, in each case other than rights which have been waived in writing and (B) does not give rise to any rights, other than those which have been duly waived in writing or satisfied, for or relating to the registration of any securities of the Company.
5
(o) No Conflict or Violation. (i) The issue and sale of the Shares and the compliance by the Company with this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated in this Agreement and the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus will not conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, (A) any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject, (B) the certificate of incorporation or by-laws (or other applicable organizational document) of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or (C) any statute or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their properties, except, in the case of clauses (A) and (C) above, for such defaults, breaches or violations that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and no consent, approval, authorization, order, registration or qualification of or with any such court or governmental agency or body is required for the issue and sale of the Shares or the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except such as have been obtained or the registration under the Act of the Shares, the approval by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) of the terms and arrangements herein and such consents, approvals, authorizations, registrations or qualifications as may be required under state securities or Blue Sky laws in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Shares by the Manager.
(p) Absence of Violations, Defaults and Conflicts. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is (i) in violation of its certificate of incorporation or by-laws (or other applicable organizational document), (ii) in violation of any statute or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their properties, or (iii) in default in the performance or observance of any obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, lease or other agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it or any of its properties may be bound, except, in the case of the foregoing clauses (ii) and (iii), for such violations or defaults as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(q) Summaries of Law and Documents. The statements set forth in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under the caption “Description of Capital Stock,” insofar as they purport to constitute a summary of the terms of the Stock, and under the caption “Plan of Distribution,” insofar as they purport to describe the provisions of the laws and documents referred to therein, are accurate, complete and fair in all material respects; provided, however, that this representation and warranty shall not apply to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with the Manager Information.
(r) Nasdaq Listing. The Company’s Common Stock has been registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and the Shares have been approved for listing, subject to official notice of issuance, on Nasdaq, and the Company has taken no action designed to, or likely to have the effect of, terminating the registration of the Common Stock under the Exchange Act or the listing of the Common Stock (including the Shares) on Nasdaq, nor has the Company received any notification that the Commission or Nasdaq is contemplating terminating such registration or listing.
6
(s) No Finder’s Fee. None of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party to any contract, agreement or understanding with any person (other than this Agreement) that would give rise to a valid claim against the Company or any of its subsidiaries or the Manager for a brokerage commission, finder’s fee or like payment in connection with the offering and sale of the Shares.
(t) Absence of Proceedings. Other than as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there are no legal or governmental proceedings pending to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries or, to the Company’s knowledge, any officer or director of the Company, is a party or of which any property of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or, to the Company’s knowledge, any officer or director of the Company, is the subject which, if determined adversely to the Company or any of its subsidiaries (or such officer or director), would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and, to the Company’s knowledge, no such proceedings are threatened or contemplated by governmental authorities or others.
(u) Investment Company. The Company is not, and immediately after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Shares and the application of the proceeds thereof, will not be, required to register as an “investment company,” as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”).
(v) [Reserved]
(w) Independent Accountant. RSM US LLP, who has certified certain financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries, is an independent registered public accounting firm as required by the Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.
(x) Accounting Controls. The Company maintains a system of internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act) that (i) is designed to comply with the requirements of the Exchange Act applicable to the Company, (ii) has been designed by the Company’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer, or under their supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and (iii) is sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (A) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization, (B) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles and to maintain accountability for assets, (C) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization and (D) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences; and, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting is effective and the Company is not aware of any material weaknesses in its internal control over financial reporting.
(y) No Change to Internal Controls. Since the date of the latest audited financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, there has been no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that has materially and adversely affected, or is reasonably likely to materially and adversely affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
7
(z) Disclosure Controls. The Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act) that are designed to comply with the requirements of the Exchange Act applicable to the Company; such disclosure controls and procedures have been designed to ensure that material information relating to the Company and its subsidiaries is made known to the Company’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer by others within those entities; the Company has carried out evaluations of the effectiveness of their disclosure controls and procedures as required by the Exchange Act and such disclosure controls and procedures are effective.
(aa) Due Authorization of Agreement. This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.1
(bb) Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. None of the Company or any of its subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee, affiliate or other person associated with or acting on behalf of the Company or any of its subsidiaries has (i) made, offered, promised or authorized any unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful expense (or taken any act in furtherance thereof); (ii) made, offered, promised or authorized any direct or indirect unlawful payment; or (iii) violated or is in violation of any provision of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, the Bribery Act 2010 of the United Kingdom or any other applicable anti-bribery or anti-corruption law.
(cc) Money Laundering Laws. The operations of the Company and its subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in compliance in all material respects with the requirements of applicable anti-money laundering laws, including, but not limited to, the Bank Secrecy Act of 1970, as amended by the USA PATRIOT ACT of 2001, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and the applicable anti-money laundering laws of the various jurisdictions in which the Company and its subsidiaries conduct business (collectively, the “Money Laundering Laws”) and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened.
(dd) OFAC. None of the Company or any of its subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee or affiliate of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is currently the subject or the target of any sanctions administered or enforced by the U.S. Government, including, without limitation, the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury (“OFAC”), or the U.S. Department of State and including, without limitation, the designation as a “specially designated national” or “blocked person,” the European Union, His Majesty’s Treasury, the United Nations Security Council, or other relevant sanctions authority (collectively, “Sanctions”), nor is the Company or any of its subsidiaries located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is the subject or target of Sanctions, and the Company will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the offering of the Shares hereunder, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or entity (i) to fund or facilitate any activities of or business with any person, or in any country or territory, that, at the time of such funding, is the subject or the target of Sanctions or (ii) in any other manner that will result in a violation by any person (including any person participating in the transaction, whether as underwriter, advisor, investor or otherwise) of Sanctions.
| 1 | NTD: Please confirm the Board has so authorized this Agreement. |
8
(ee) Consumer Protection Laws. Except as would not have a Material Adverse Effect, (i) the operations of the Company and its subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with the requirements of applicable fair lending and other consumer protection statutes and regulations of the various jurisdictions in which the Company and its subsidiaries conduct business, including, but not limited to, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act of 1974, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and the prohibitions against unfair, deceptive, or abusive acts or practices (collectively, the “Consumer Protection Laws”), and (ii) no action, suit, proceeding, or investigation by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries with respect to the Consumer Protection Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened;
(ff) Financial Statements. The financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, together with the related schedules and notes, present fairly in all material respects the financial position of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries at the dates indicated and the consolidated statement of operations, consolidated stockholders’ equity and consolidated cash flows of the Company and its subsidiaries for the periods specified; said financial statements have been prepared in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved. The selected financial data and the summary financial information included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus present fairly in all material respects the information shown therein and have been compiled on a basis consistent with that of the audited financial statements included or incorporated by reference therein. All disclosures contained in the Registration Statement, the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus regarding “non-GAAP financial measures” (as such term is defined by the rules and regulations of the Commission) comply in all material respects with Regulation G of the Exchange Act and Item 10 of Regulation S-K of the Act, to the extent applicable.
(gg) Compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. There is and has been no failure on the part of the Company or any of the Company’s directors or officers, in their capacities as such, to comply in all material respects with any applicable provision of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules and regulations promulgated in connection therewith, including Section 402 related to loans and Sections 302 and 906 related to certifications.
(hh) Intellectual Property. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect (i) the Company and its subsidiaries own or have the right to use all trademarks, service marks, trade names, trademark registrations, service mark registrations, domain names, copyrights, trade secrets, proprietary information and all other worldwide intellectual property (collectively, “Intellectual Property”) used in the conduct of their respective businesses; (ii) the Company’s and its subsidiaries’ conduct of their respective businesses does not, to the Company’s knowledge, infringe, misappropriate or otherwise violate any Intellectual Property of any person; (iii) the Company and its subsidiaries have not received any written notice of any claim alleging that the Company or any of its subsidiaries is infringing, misappropriating or otherwise violating the Intellectual Property rights of any person; and (iv) to the knowledge of the Company, the Intellectual Property of the Company and its subsidiaries is not being infringed, misappropriated or otherwise violated by any person.
9
(ii) Filings and Governmental Licenses. The Company and its subsidiaries possess all licenses, permits, certificates and other authorizations from, and have made all declarations and filings with, all federal, state or local governmental authorities, required or necessary to own or lease, as the case may be, and to operate their respective properties and to carry on their respective businesses as currently conducted by them or as described in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus to be conducted by them (“Permits”), except where the failure to obtain, possess or be in compliance with such Permits would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and except as described in each of the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received notice of any revocation or modification of any license, permit, certificate, or authorization that is material to the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole or has any reason to believe that any license, permit, certificate, or authorization that is material to the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole will not be renewed in the ordinary course.
(jj) IT Systems. The Company and its subsidiaries’ computer and information technology equipment, computers, systems, networks, hardware, software, applications and websites controlled by the Company and its subsidiaries and used in connection with their businesses (collectively, “IT Systems”) are adequate for, and operate and perform in all material respects as required in connection with the operation of the business of the Company and its subsidiaries as currently conducted, free and clear of all material bugs, errors, defects, Trojan horses, time bombs, malware and other corruptants. The Company and its subsidiaries have implemented and maintained commercially reasonable controls, policies, procedures, and safeguards to protect their material confidential information and all other personal, personally-identifiable, sensitive or regulated data or information in their possession or under their control (collectively “Data”) from unauthorized access, use, misappropriation, disclosure, modification, encryption or destruction, and to maintain the integrity, security, continuous operation, and redundancy of the IT Systems. To the Company’s knowledge, there has been no security breach or unauthorized access to the IT Systems (an “Incident”), except for those that have been remedied without material cost or liability or the duty to notify any other person, and there have been no suspected Incidents under internal review or investigation. The Company and its subsidiaries are presently in material compliance with all applicable laws, and all judgments, orders, rules and regulations of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority, as well as all of the Company’s and its subsidiaries’ internal policies and contractual obligations relating to data privacy and the security of the IT Systems.
(kk) Cybersecurity; Data Protection. The Company and its subsidiaries have implemented, continue to implement, and maintain commercially reasonable controls, policies, procedures, and safeguards to maintain and protect their material confidential information and the integrity, continuous operation, redundancy and security of all IT Systems and data (including all personal, personally identifiable, sensitive, confidential or regulated data (“Personal Data”)) used in connection with their businesses, and there have been no known breaches, violations, outages or unauthorized uses of or accesses to same, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, nor any incidents under internal review or investigations relating to the same. The Company and its subsidiaries are presently in compliance with all applicable laws or statutes and all judgments, orders, rules and regulations of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority, internal policies and contractual obligations relating to the privacy and security of IT Systems and Personal Data and to the protection of such IT Systems and Personal Data from unauthorized use, access, misappropriation or modification.
10
(ll) No Ratings. There are no debt securities, convertible securities or preferred stock of, or guaranteed by, the Company or any of its subsidiaries that are rated by a “nationally recognized statistical rating organization,” as such term is defined in Section 3(a)(62) of the Exchange Act.
(mm) Stabilization. Neither the Company nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any of its affiliates, has taken or may take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to cause or result in, or which has constituted or which might reasonably be expected to constitute, the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Shares in violation of Regulation M of the Exchange Act.
(nn) XBRL. The interactive data in the eXtensible Business Reporting Language included as an exhibit to the Registration Statement fairly present the information called for in all material respects and has been prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules and guidelines applicable thereto.
Any certificate signed by any officer of the Company or any of its subsidiaries and delivered to the Manager or to counsel for the Manager in connection with this Agreement or any Terms Agreement shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Company or such subsidiary of the Company, as applicable, to the Manager as to the matters set forth therein.
The Company acknowledges that the Manager and, for purposes of the opinions to be delivered pursuant to Section 4 hereof, counsel to the Company and counsel for the Manager, will rely upon the accuracy and truthfulness of the foregoing representations and hereby consents to such reliance.
3. Sale and Delivery of Shares. On the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements herein contained, but subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company and the Manager agree that the Company may from time to time seek to sell Shares through the Manager as the Designated Manager, acting as sales agent, or directly to the Manager acting as principal, as follows; provided, however, that in no event shall the Company issue or sell through the Manager such number of Shares that (a) exceeds the number or dollar amount of Common Stock registered on the Registration Statement, (b) exceeds the number of authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock or (c) would cause the Company or the offering of the Shares to not satisfy the eligibility and transaction requirements for use of Form S-3 (including, if applicable, General Instruction I.B.6 of Form S-3 (the lesser of (a), (b) and (c), the “Maximum Amount”)). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the parties hereto agree that compliance with the limitations set forth in this Section 3 on the number and aggregate sales price of Shares issued and sold under this Agreement shall be the sole responsibility of the Company and that the Manager shall have no obligation in connection with such compliance:
(a) The Company may submit to the Designated Manager its orders (including any price, time or size limits or other customary parameters or conditions) to sell Shares on any Trading Day (as defined herein) in a form and manner as mutually agreed to by the Company and the Designated Manager. As used herein, “Trading Day” shall mean any trading day on Nasdaq.
11
(b) Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Manager, at any time it is the Designated Manager, shall use its reasonable efforts to execute any Company order submitted to it hereunder to sell Shares and with respect to which the Designated Manager has agreed to act as sales agent. The Company acknowledges and agrees that (i) there can be no assurance that the Designated Manager will be successful in selling the Shares, (ii) the Designated Manager will incur no liability or obligation to the Company or any other person or entity if it does not sell Shares for any reason other than a failure by the Designated Manager to use its reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices and applicable law and regulations to sell such Shares as required under this Agreement and (iii) the Manager shall be under no obligation to purchase Shares on a principal basis pursuant to this Agreement, except as otherwise specifically agreed by the Manager and the Company. The Designated Manager may make sales pursuant to each order by any method permitted by law, including without limitation (i) by means of ordinary brokers’ transactions (whether or not solicited), (ii) to or through a market maker, (iii) directly on or through any national securities exchange or facility thereof, a trading facility of a national securities association, an alternative trading system, or any other market venue, (iv) in the over-the-counter market, (v) in privately negotiated transactions, or (vi) through a combination of any such methods.
(c) The Company shall not authorize the issuance and sale of, and the Designated Manager shall not sell as sales agent, any Share at a price lower than the minimum price therefor designated from time to time by the Company and notified to the Designated Manager in writing. In addition, the Company or the Designated Manager may upon notice to the other party hereto by telephone (confirmed promptly by email or facsimile), suspend an offering of the Shares with respect to which the Designated Manager is acting as sales agent; provided, however, that such suspension or termination shall not affect or impair the parties’ respective obligations with respect to the Shares sold hereunder prior to the giving of such notice.
(d) The compensation to the Designated Manager for sales of the Shares with respect to which the Designated Manager acts as sales agent hereunder shall be up to 2.5% of the gross offering proceeds of the Shares sold pursuant to this Agreement as mutually agreed to in writing by the Designated Manager and the Company. The foregoing rate of compensation shall not apply when the Manager, acting as principal, purchases Shares from the Company pursuant to a Terms Agreement. Any compensation or commission due and payable to the Manager hereunder with respect to any sale of Shares shall be paid by the Company to the Manager concurrently with the settlement for sales of the Shares by deduction from the proceeds from sales of the Shares payable to the Company. The remaining proceeds, after further deduction for any transaction fees imposed by any governmental or self-regulatory organization in respect of such sales shall constitute the net proceeds to the Company for such Shares (the “Net Proceeds”).
12
(e) Settlement for sales of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement will occur on the first Trading Day following the date on which such sales are made (each such day, a “Settlement Date”). On each Settlement Date, the Shares sold through the Designated Manager for settlement on such date shall be issued and delivered by the Company to the Designated Manager against payment of the Net Proceeds from the sale of such Shares. Settlement for all such Shares shall be effected by free delivery of the Shares, in definitive form, by the Company or its transfer agent to the Designated Manager’s or its designee’s account (provided the Designated Manager shall have given the Company written notice of such designee prior to the Settlement Date) at The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) through its Deposit and Withdrawal at Custodian System or by such other means of delivery as may be mutually agreed upon by the parties hereto, in return for payments in same day funds delivered to the account designated by the Company. If the Company, or its transfer agent (if applicable) shall default on its obligation to deliver the Shares on any Settlement Date, the Company shall (i) hold the Designated Manager harmless against any loss, claim, damage, or expense (including reasonable legal fees and expenses), as incurred, arising out of or in connection with such default by the Company and (ii) pay the Designated Manager any commission, discount or other compensation to which it would otherwise be entitled absent such default.
(f) If acting as sales agent hereunder, the Designated Manager shall provide written confirmation (which may be by facsimile or email) to the Company following the close of trading on Nasdaq each day in which the Shares are sold under this Agreement setting forth (i) the amount of the Shares sold on such day and the gross offering proceeds received from such sale and (ii) the commission payable by the Company to the Designated Manager with respect to such sales.
(g) At each Applicable Time, Settlement Date, Representation Date (as defined in Section 4(l)) and Filing Date (as defined in Section 4(r)), the Company shall be deemed to have affirmed each representation and warranty contained in this Agreement as if such representation and warranty were made as of such date, modified as necessary to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended as of such date. Any obligation of the Designated Manager to use its reasonable efforts to sell the Shares on behalf of the Company as sales agent shall be subject to the continuing accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Company herein (and the completion of any diligence to verify such accuracy by the Designated Manager), to the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder and to the continuing satisfaction of the additional conditions specified in Section 6 of this Agreement.
(h) Subject to such further limitations on offers and sales of Shares or delivery of instructions to offer and sell Shares as are set forth herein and as may be mutually agreed upon by the Company and the Designated Manager, the Company shall not request the sale of any Shares that would be sold, and the Designated Manager shall not be obligated to sell, (i) during any period in which the Company’s insider trading policy, as it exists on the date of this Agreement, would prohibit the purchase or sale of any Shares by any of its officers or directors, (ii) any time during the period commencing on the tenth business day prior to the time Company shall issue a press release containing, or shall otherwise publicly announce, its earnings, revenues or other results of operations (each, an “Earnings Announcement”) through and including the time that is 24 hours after the time that the Company files (a “Filing Time”) a Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q or an Annual Report on Form 10-K that includes consolidated financial statements as of and for the same period or periods, as the case may be, covered by such Earnings Announcement, or (iii) during any other period in which the Company is, or could be deemed to be, in possession of material non-public information related to the Company or the Common Stock.
13
(i) If the Company wishes to issue and sell the Shares pursuant to this Agreement directly to the Manager acting as principal (each, a “Placement”), it will notify the Manager of the proposed terms of such Placement. If the Manager, acting as principal, wishes to accept such proposed terms (which the Manager may decline to do for any reason in its sole discretion) or, wishes to accept amended terms proposed by the Company after further discussion, the Manager and the Company will enter into a Terms Agreement setting forth the terms of such Placement. The terms set forth in a Terms Agreement will not be binding on the Company or the Manager unless and until the Company and the Manager have each executed such Terms Agreement accepting all of the terms of such Terms Agreement. In the event of a conflict between the terms of this Agreement and the terms of a Terms Agreement, the terms of such Terms Agreement will control.
(j) Each Placement shall be made in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and, if applicable, a Terms Agreement, which will provide for the sale of such Shares to, and the purchase thereof by, the Manager. A Terms Agreement may also specify certain provisions relating to the reoffering of such Shares by the Manager. The commitment of the Manager to purchase the Shares pursuant to any Terms Agreement shall be deemed to have been made on the basis of the representations and warranties of the Company herein contained and shall be subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth. Each Terms Agreement shall specify the number of the Shares to be purchased by the Manager pursuant thereto, the price to be paid to the Company for such Shares, any provisions relating to rights of, and default by, underwriters acting together with the Manager in the reoffering of the Shares, and the time and date (each such time and date being referred to herein as a “Time of Delivery”) and place of delivery of and payment for such Shares.
(k) Under no circumstances shall the number and aggregate amount of the Shares sold pursuant to this Agreement and any Terms Agreement exceed (i) the aggregate amount set forth in Section 1, (ii) the number of shares of the Common Stock available for issuance under the currently effective Registration Statement or (iii) the number and aggregate amount of the Shares authorized from time to time to be issued and sold under this Agreement by the board of directors of the Company (the “Board”), or a duly authorized committee thereof, and notified to the Manager in writing.
4. Agreements. The Company agrees with the Manager that:
(a) During any period when the delivery of a prospectus relating to the Shares is required (including in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172 or any similar rule) to be delivered under the Act in connection with the offering or sale of the Shares, the Company will not file any amendment of the Registration Statement or supplement in connection with the offering and sale of the Shares (including the Prospectus Supplement or any Interim Prospectus Supplement) to the Base Prospectus, the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, whether pursuant to the Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, unless (i) the Company has furnished to the Manager a copy of such amendment or supplement (including, for the avoidance of doubt, reports or other information to be filed by the Company under the Exchange Act that would be incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, in each case, only to the extent that the filing of such report or other information would trigger a Representation Date (as defined below)) for its review a reasonable period of time prior to filing (or, in the case of Current Reports on Form 8-K, has used its commercially reasonable efforts to so furnish copies to the Manager prior to filing), and (ii) except for reports or other information required to be filed by the Company under the Exchange Act, the Company will not file any such proposed amendment or supplement to which the Manager reasonably object. The Company has prepared the Prospectus, in a form approved by the Manager, and shall file such Prospectus, as amended at the Execution Time, with the Commission promptly after the Execution Time (but in any event within the time period described thereby) and will cause any supplement to the Prospectus to be prepared, in a form approved by the Manager, and will file such supplement with the Commission pursuant to the applicable paragraph of Rule 424(b) within the time period prescribed thereby and will notify the Manager of such timely filing. The Company, subject to this Section 4(a) and Section 4(c), will comply with the requirements of Rule 430B. During any period when the delivery of a prospectus relating to the Shares is required (including in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172 or any similar rule) to be delivered under the Act in connection with the offering or sale of the Shares, the Company will promptly advise the Manager (A) when the Prospectus, and any supplement thereto, shall have been filed (if required) with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b), (B) when, during any period when the delivery of a prospectus (whether physically or through compliance with Rule 172 or any similar rule) is required under the Act in connection with the offering or sale of the Shares, any amendment to the Registration Statement or any new registration statement relating to the Shares shall have been filed or become effective (other than a prospectus supplement relating solely to the offering of securities other than the Shares), (C) of the receipt of any comments from the Commission with respect to the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and any supplement thereto (other than a prospectus supplement relating solely to the offering of securities other than the Shares), (D) of any request by the Commission or its staff for any amendment of the Registration Statement, or for any supplement to the Prospectus or for any additional information, (E) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or of any notice objecting to its use or any the issuance of any order preventing or suspending the use of the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, or the institution or threatening of any proceeding for any of such purposes or pursuant to Section 8A of the Act or (F) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Shares for sale in any jurisdiction or the institution or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose. The Company will use its reasonable best efforts to prevent the issuance of any such stop order or the occurrence of any such suspension or objection to the use of the Registration Statement and, upon such issuance, occurrence or notice of objection, to use its reasonable best efforts to obtain at the earliest possible moment the withdrawal of such stop order or relief from such occurrence or objection, including, if necessary, by filing an amendment to the Registration Statement or a new registration statement and, to the extent applicable, using its reasonable best efforts to have such amendment or new registration statement declared effective as soon as practicable.
14
(b) If, at any time on or after an Applicable Time but prior to the related Settlement Date or Time of Delivery, any event occurs as a result of which the Disclosure Package would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein in the light of the circumstances under which they were made or the circumstances then prevailing not misleading, the Company will (i) notify promptly the Manager so that any use of the Disclosure Package may cease until it is amended or supplemented; (ii) amend or supplement the Disclosure Package to correct such statement or omission; and (iii) supply any amendment or supplement to the Manager in such quantities as the Manager may reasonably request.
(c) During any period when the delivery of a prospectus relating to the Shares is required (including in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172 or any similar rule) to be delivered under the Act, if any event occurs as a result of which the Prospectus as then supplemented would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein in the light of the circumstances under which they were made at such time not misleading, or if it shall be necessary to amend the Registration Statement, file a new registration statement or supplement the Prospectus to comply with the Act or the Exchange Act or the respective rules thereunder, including in connection with use or delivery of the Prospectus, the Company promptly will (i) notify the Manager of any such event, (ii) prepare and file with the Commission, subject to the first sentence of paragraph (a) of this Section 4, an amendment or supplement or new registration statement which will correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance, (iii) use its reasonable best efforts to have any amendment to the Registration Statement or new registration statement declared effective as soon as practicable in order to avoid any disruption in use of the Prospectus and (iv) supply any supplemented Prospectus to the Manager in such quantities as the Manager may reasonably request.
(d) As soon as practicable, the Company will make generally available to its security holders and to the Manager (which may be satisfied by filing with the Commission’s Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval System (“EDGAR”) an earnings statement or statements of the Company and its subsidiaries which will satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Act and Rule 158.
(e) The Company will deliver to the Manager and counsel for the Manager, without charge, as the Manager or counsel for the Manager may reasonably request, signed copies of the Registration Statement as originally filed and of each amendment thereto (including exhibits filed therewith or incorporated by reference therein and documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein) and signed copies of all consents and certificates of experts. The Registration Statement and each amendment thereto furnished to the Manager will be identical to any electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T. The Company will pay the expenses of printing or other production of all documents relating to the offering.
(f) The Company will deliver to the Manager and counsel for the Manager, without charge, for so long as delivery of a prospectus by the Manager or dealer may be required by the Act (including in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172 or any similar rule), as many copies of the Prospectus and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and any supplement thereto as the Manager may reasonably request. The Prospectus and any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto furnished to the Manager will be identical to any electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T. The Company will pay the expenses of printing or other production of all documents relating to the offering.
15
(g) The Company will arrange, if necessary, for the qualification of the Shares for sale under the laws of such jurisdictions as the Manager may designate and will maintain such qualifications in effect so long as required for the distribution of the Shares; provided that in no event shall the Company be obligated to qualify to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not now so qualified or to take any action that would subject it to service of process in suits, other than those arising out of the offering or sale of the Shares, in any jurisdiction where it is not now so subject or where it would be subject to taxation as a foreign business or to subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction in which it was not otherwise subject to taxation.
(h) The Company agrees that, unless it has or shall have obtained the prior written consent of the Designated Manager, and the Manager agrees with the Company that, unless it has or shall have obtained, as the case may be, the prior written consent of the Company, it has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Shares that would constitute an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or that would otherwise constitute a “free writing prospectus” (as defined in Rule 405) required to be filed by the Company with the Commission or retained by the Company under Rule 433. Any such free writing prospectus consented to by the Manager or the Company is hereinafter referred to as a “Permitted Free Writing Prospectus.” The Company agrees that (i) it has treated and will treat, as the case may be, each Permitted Free Writing Prospectus as an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and (ii) it has complied and will comply, as the case may be, with the requirements of Rules 164 and 433 applicable to any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, including in respect of timely filing with the Commission, legending and record keeping.
(i) The Company will not (i) take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that might reasonably be expected to cause or result in stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Shares or (ii) sell, bid for, purchase or pay any person (other than as contemplated by this Agreement or any Terms Agreement) any compensation for soliciting purchases of the Shares.
(j) The Company will, at any time during the term of this Agreement, as supplemented from time to time, advise the Manager promptly after it shall have received notice or obtain knowledge thereof, of any information or fact that would materially alter or affect any opinion, certificate, letter and other document provided to the Manager pursuant to Section 6 herein.
(k) The Company will, at the time it delivers any order to the Manager to sell Shares in accordance with Section 3 hereof or upon entry into any Terms Agreement, advise the Manager in writing whether or not its Common Stock is an “actively-traded security” exempted from the requirements of Rule 101 of Regulation M under the Exchange Act by subsection (c)(1) of such rule.
16
(l) At the Commencement Time (and upon the recommencement of the offering of the Shares under this Agreement following the termination of a suspension of sales hereunder), and each time that (i) the Registration Statement or the Prospectus shall be amended or supplemented (other than (A) an Interim Prospectus Supplement filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) pursuant to Section 4(r) of this Agreement, (B) a prospectus supplement relating solely to the offering or resale of securities other than the Shares or (C) the filing with the Commission of any report under the Exchange Act except such reports referred to in Section 4(l)(ii)), (ii) there is filed with the Commission any annual report on Form 10-K or quarterly report on Form 10-Q, or any other document that contains financial statements or financial information that is incorporated by reference into the Prospectus, or any amendment thereto, or (iii) the Shares are delivered to the Manager as principal at the Time of Delivery pursuant to a Terms Agreement (the date of such commencement (in the case that the above-mentioned request is made by the Manager), the date of each such recommencement and the date of each such event referred to in (i), (ii) and (iii) above, a “Representation Date”), the Company shall furnish or cause to be furnished to the Manager forthwith a certificate dated and delivered on such Representation Date, as the case may be, in form reasonably satisfactory to the Manager to the effect that the statements contained in the certificate referred to in Section 6(e) of this Agreement which were last furnished to the Manager are true and correct at the time of such Representation Date, as though made at and as of such time (except that such statements shall be deemed to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended and supplemented to such time) or, in lieu of such certificate, a certificate of the same tenor as the certificate referred to in said Section 6(e), modified as necessary to relate to the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus as amended and supplemented to the time of delivery of such certificate. The requirement to provide a certificate under this Section 4(l) shall be waived for any Representation Date occurring at a time when no Company order submitted to the Manager hereunder to sell Shares is pending or a suspension of sales hereunder is in effect, which waiver shall continue until the earlier to occur of the date the Company provides the Manager with a certificate in conformity with this Section 4(l) (which for such calendar quarter shall be considered a Representation Date) and the next occurring Representation Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Company decides to sell Shares following a Representation Date when the Company relied upon the foregoing waiver and therefore did not provide the Manager with a certificate under this Section 4(l), then before the Company submits an order for the sale of Shares, the Company shall provide the Manager with a certificate in conformity with this Section 4(l) dated as of the date that the order for the sale of Shares is submitted to the Manager hereunder, provided that for the avoidance of doubt, such date the certificate is delivered pursuant to the foregoing sentence shall also be a Representation Date.
(m) At each Representation Date with respect to which the Company is obligated to deliver a certificate to the Manager pursuant to Section 4(l), the Company shall furnish or cause to be furnished forthwith to the Manager and to counsel for the Manager a written opinion of Latham & Watkins LLP, counsel to the Company (“Company Counsel”), or other counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Manager, dated and delivered on such Representation Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Manager, of the same tenor as the opinion referred to in Section 6(b) of this Agreement, but modified as necessary to relate to the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus as amended and supplemented to the time of delivery of such opinion.
(n) At each Representation Date with respect to which the Company is obligated to deliver a certificate to the Manager pursuant to Section 4(l), Hogan Lovells US LLP, counsel for the Manager, shall deliver a written opinion and disclosure letter, dated and delivered on such Representation Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Manager, of the same tenor as the opinions and disclosure letter referred to in Section 6(c) of this Agreement but modified as necessary to relate to the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus as amended and supplemented to the time of delivery of such opinion.
17
(o) At each Representation Date with respect to which the Company is obligated to deliver a certificate to the Manager pursuant to Section 4(l), the Company shall cause RSM US LLP (the “Accountant”), or other independent accountants satisfactory to the Manager forthwith, to each furnish the Manager a letter, dated and delivered on such Representation Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Manager of the same tenor as the letter referred to in Section 6(f) of this Agreement but modified to relate to the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, as amended and supplemented to the date of such letter.
(p) At each Representation Date with respect to which the Company is obligated to deliver a certificate to the Manager pursuant to Section 4(l), and at such other times as may be reasonably requested by the Manager (but in no event more frequently than monthly), the Company will conduct a due diligence session, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Manager, which shall include representatives of the management of the Company and the independent accountant of the Company. The Company shall cooperate timely with any reasonable due diligence request from or review conducted by the Manager or its agents from time to time in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including, without limitation, providing information and available documents and access to appropriate officers and agents of the Company during regular business hours and at the Company’s principal offices, and timely furnishing or causing to be furnished such certificates, letters and opinions from the Company, and their officers and agents, as the Manager may reasonably request.
(q) Nothing in this Agreement shall restrict the Manager from trading, and the Company acknowledges that the Manager may trade in the Common Stock for its own account and for the account of its clients before, at the same time as, or after sales of the Shares occur pursuant to this Agreement or pursuant to a Terms Agreement.
(r) The Company will either (i) disclose in its Annual Reports on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, as applicable, with regard to the relevant quarter, the number of the Shares sold by or through the Manager pursuant to this Agreement, the Net Proceeds to the Company and the compensation paid by the Company with respect to such sales of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement, or (ii) on or prior to the earlier of (A) the date on which the Company shall file a Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q or an Annual Report on Form 10-K in respect of any fiscal quarter in which sales of Shares were made by the Manager pursuant to this Agreement and (B) the date on which the Company shall be obligated to file such document referred to in clause (A) in respect of such quarter (each such date, and any date on which an amendment to any such document is filed, a “Filing Date”), the Company will file a prospectus supplement with the Commission under the applicable paragraph of Rule 424(b), which prospectus supplement will set forth, with regard to such quarter, the number of the Shares sold by or through the Manager pursuant to this Agreement, the Net Proceeds to the Company and the compensation paid by the Company with respect to such sales of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement and deliver such number of copies of each such prospectus supplement to Nasdaq as are required by such exchange.
(s) If, to the knowledge of the Company, the conditions set forth in Section 6(a) or 6(g) shall not be true and correct on the applicable Settlement Date or Time of Delivery, the Company will offer to any person who has agreed to purchase Shares from the Company as the result of an offer to purchase solicited by the Designated Manager the right to refuse to purchase and pay for such Shares.
18
(t) Each acceptance by the Company of an offer to purchase the Shares hereunder, and each execution and delivery by the Company of a Terms Agreement, shall be deemed to be an affirmation to the Designated Manager, or the Manager party to a Terms Agreement, as the case may be, that the representations and warranties of the Company contained in or made pursuant to this Agreement are true and correct as of the date of such acceptance or of such Terms Agreement as though made at and as of such date, and an undertaking that such representations and warranties will be true and correct as of the Settlement Date for the Shares relating to such acceptance or as of the Time of Delivery relating to such sale, as the case may be, as though made at and as of such date (except that such representations and warranties shall be deemed to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended and supplemented relating to such Shares).
(u) The Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Shares to be listed for trading on Nasdaq and to maintain such listing.
(v) During any period when the delivery of a prospectus relating to the Shares is required (including in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172 or any similar rule) to be delivered under the Act, the Company shall file, on a timely basis, with the Commission and Nasdaq all reports and documents required to be filed under the Exchange Act and the regulations thereunder.
(w) The Company shall cooperate with the Manager and use its reasonable efforts to permit the Shares to be eligible for clearance and settlement through the facilities of DTC.
(x) The Company will apply the Net Proceeds from the sale of the Shares in the manner set forth in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.
5. Payment of Expenses. The Company agrees to pay all costs, fees and expenses incurred in connection with the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated, including without limitation (i) all expenses incident to the issuance and delivery of the Shares (including all printing and engraving costs), (ii) all necessary issue, transfer and other stamp taxes in connection with the issuance and sale of the Shares, (iii) all fees and expenses of the Company’s counsel, independent public or certified public accountants and other advisors to the Company, and the reasonable fees and expenses of the Manager’s counsel (which shall be one outside counsel for the Manager unless otherwise agreed by the Company) in an amount not to exceed $175,000 in connection with the Commencement Time and not to exceed $50,000 at each Representation Date, including any due diligence session conducted pursuant to Section 4(p) herein, (iv) all costs and expenses incurred in connection with the preparation, printing, filing, shipping and distribution of the Registration Statement (including financial statements, exhibits, schedules, consents and certificates of experts), each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and the Prospectus, and all amendments and supplements thereto, and this Agreement, (v) all filing fees, attorneys’ fees and expenses incurred by the Company or the Manager in connection with qualifying or registering (or obtaining exemptions from the qualification or registration of) all or any part of the Shares for offer and sale under the state securities or blue sky laws, and, if requested by the Manager, preparing a “Blue Sky Survey” or memorandum, and any supplements thereto, advising the Manager of such qualifications, registrations and exemptions, (vi) the filing fees incident to the review and approval by FINRA of the terms of the sale of the Shares, (vii) the fees and expenses associated with listing of the Shares on Nasdaq, (viii) all fees and expenses of the registrar and transfer agent of the Common Stock, (ix) all fees and expenses (including reasonable fees and expenses of counsel) of the Company in connection with approval of the Shares by DTC for “book-entry” transfer, (x) all other fees, costs and expenses referred to in Item 14 of Part II of the Registration Statement and (xi) all other fees, costs and expenses incurred in connection with the performance of its obligations hereunder for which provision is not otherwise made in this Section 5. Except as provided in this Section 5 and in Section 7 hereof, the Manager shall pay their own expenses.
19
6. Conditions to the Obligations of the Manager. The obligations of the Manager under this Agreement and any Terms Agreement shall be subject to (i) the accuracy of the representations and warranties on the part of the Company contained herein as of the Execution Time, at the Commencement Time, each Representation Date, and as of each Applicable Time, Settlement Date and Time of Delivery, (ii) to the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder and (iii) the following additional conditions:
(a) Any supplement to the Prospectus, required by Rule 424 to be filed with the Commission have been filed in the manner and within the time period required by Rule 424(b) with respect to any sale of Shares; each Interim Prospectus Supplement shall have been filed in the manner required by Rule 424(b) within the time period required by Section 4(r) of this Agreement; any material required to be filed by the Company pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Act, shall have been filed with the Commission within the applicable time periods prescribed for such filings by Rule 433; and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any notice objecting to its use shall have been issued and no proceedings for that purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the Act shall have been instituted or threatened.
(b) The Company shall have requested and caused Company Counsel to furnish to the Manager, on every date specified in Section 4(l) of this Agreement, an opinion in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Manager.
(c) The Manager shall have received from counsel for the Manager on every date specified in Section 4(l) of this Agreement, such opinion or opinions and disclosure letter or letters, dated as of such date and addressed to the Manager, with respect to the issuance and sale of the Shares, the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package, the Prospectus (together with any supplement thereto) and other related matters as the Manager may reasonably require, and the Company shall have furnished to such counsel such documents as they request for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon such matters.
(d) The Company shall have furnished or caused to be furnished to the Manager, on every date specified in Section 4(l) of this Agreement, a certificate of the Chief Financial Officer of the Company with respect to certain financial data contained in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and any supplements or amendments thereto, providing “management comfort” with respect to such information, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Manager;
20
(e) The Company shall have furnished or caused to be furnished to the Manager, on every date specified in Section 4(l) of this Agreement, a certificate of the Company, signed by the chief executive officer or the President of the Company, and of the chief financial or chief accounting officer of the Company, dated as of such date, to the effect that the signers of such certificate have reviewed the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and any supplements or amendments thereto and this Agreement and that:
(i) the Company has received no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, and no proceedings for such purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the Act have been instituted or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened by the Commission;
(ii) since the date of the most recent financial statements included in the Prospectus and the Disclosure Package, there has been no Material Adverse Effect, except as set forth in or contemplated in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus;
(iii) the representations and warranties set forth in Section 2 of this Agreement are true and correct with the same force and effect as though expressly made on and as of such date; and
(iv) the Company and its subsidiaries have complied with all the agreements hereunder and satisfied all the conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior to such date.
(f) The Company shall have requested and caused the Accountant to have furnished to the Manager, on every date specified in Section 4(o) hereof to the extent financial information audited or reviewed by such firms is included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, as amended and supplemented to the date of such letter and to the extent requested by the Manager in connection with any offering of the Shares, letters (which may refer to letters previously delivered to the Manager), dated as of such date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Manager, which letters shall cover, without limitation, the various financial statements and disclosures contained in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and other matters ordinarily covered by accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters in connection with registered public offerings as contemplated in the Statement on Auditing Standards No. 72, as well as confirming that they have performed a review of any unaudited interim financial information of the Company included in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus in accordance with Statement on Auditing Standards No. 100. References to the Prospectus in this paragraph (f) include any supplement thereto at the date of the letter.
(g) Since the respective dates as of which information is disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, except as otherwise stated therein, there shall not have been (i) any change or decrease specified in the letter or letters referred to in paragraph (e) of this Section 6 or (ii) Material Adverse Effect, except as set forth in or contemplated in the Disclosure Package (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto) the effect of which, in any case referred to in clause (i) or (ii) above, is, in the sole judgment of the Manager, so material and adverse as to make it impractical or inadvisable to proceed with the offering or delivery of the Shares as contemplated by the Registration Statement (exclusive of any amendment thereof), the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto).
21
(h) FINRA shall not have raised any objection with respect to the fairness and reasonableness of the terms and arrangements under this Agreement.
(i) The Shares shall have been listed and admitted and authorized for trading on Nasdaq, and satisfactory evidence of such actions shall have been provided to the Manager.
(j) Prior to each Settlement Date and Time of Delivery, as applicable, the Company shall have furnished to the Designated Manager such further information, certificates and documents as the Designated Manager may reasonably request.
If any of the conditions specified in this Section 6 shall not have been fulfilled when and as provided in this Agreement, or if any of the opinions and certificates mentioned above or elsewhere in this Agreement shall not be reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Manager and counsel for the Manager, this Agreement and all obligations of the applicable Manager hereunder may be canceled at, or at any time prior to, any Settlement Date or Time of Delivery, as applicable, by the Manager. Notice of such cancellation shall be given to the Company in writing or by telephone or facsimile confirmed in writing.
The documents required to be delivered by this Section 6 shall be delivered at the office of Hogan Lovells US LLP at 609 Main St., Suite 4200, Houston, TX 77002, on each such date as provided in this Agreement.
7. Indemnification and Contribution.
(a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Manager, its affiliates, as such term is defined in Rule 501(b) under the Act (each, an “Affiliate”), the directors, officers, employees and agents of the Manager, any broker-dealer affiliate of the Manager through which Shares are sold, and each person who controls the Manager within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act and against any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense, as incurred, to which they or any of them may become subject under the Act, the Exchange Act or other federal or state statutory law or regulation, at common law or otherwise (including in settlement of any litigation, if such settlement is effected with the written consent of the Company or otherwise permitted by paragraph (d) below), insofar as such loss, claim, damage, liability or expense (or actions in respect thereof as contemplated below) arises out of or is based (i) upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto) or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; or (ii) upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or any “issuer information” filed or required to be filed pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Act, the Base Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement or any Interim Prospectus Supplement (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact, in each case, necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; or (iii) in whole or in part upon any inaccuracy in the representations and warranties of the Company contained herein; or (iv) in whole or in part upon any failure of the Company to perform its obligations hereunder or under law; and agrees to reimburse each such indemnified party, for any and all expenses (including the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel chosen by the indemnified party) as such documented expenses are reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating, defending, settling, compromising or paying any such loss, claim, damage, liability, expense or action; provided, however, that the foregoing indemnity agreement shall not apply to any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense to the extent, but only to the extent, arising out of or based upon any 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 Manager expressly for use in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto). This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liabilities that the Company may otherwise have.
22
(b) The Manager agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each of its directors, each of its officers who signed the Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the Act or the Exchange Act, against any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense, as incurred, to which the Company or any such director, officer or controlling person may become subject, under the Act, the Exchange Act, or other federal or state statutory law or regulation, or at common law or otherwise (including in settlement of any litigation, if such settlement is effected with the written consent of the Manager or otherwise permitted by paragraph (d) below), insofar as such loss, claim, damage, liability or expense (or actions in respect thereof as contemplated below) arises out of or is based (i) upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto) or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; or (ii) upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or any “issuer information” filed or required to be filed pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Act, the Base Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement or any Interim Prospectus Supplement (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact, in each case, necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made in the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any Prospectus Supplement or any Interim Prospectus Supplement (or any amendment or supplement thereto), in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by the Manager expressly for use therein; and to reimburse the Company, or any such director, officer or controlling person for any documented legal and other expense reasonably incurred by the Company, or any such director, officer or controlling person in connection with investigating, defending, settling, compromising or paying any such loss, claim, damage, liability, expense or action. The indemnity agreement set forth in this Section 7(b) shall be in addition to any liabilities that the Manager may otherwise have. The Company acknowledges that the name of the Manager under “Plan of Distribution” constitutes the only information furnished in writing by or on behalf of the Manager for inclusion in the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any Prospectus Supplement or any Interim Prospectus Supplement (or any amendment or supplement thereto) (collectively, the “Manager Information”).
(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 7 of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under this Section 7, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof; but the omission to so notify the indemnifying party will not relieve it from any liability which it may have to any indemnified party for contribution or otherwise than under the indemnity agreement contained in paragraph (a) or (b) above or to the extent it is not prejudiced (through the forfeiture of substantive rights or defenses) as a proximate result of such failure. In case any such action is brought against any indemnified party and such indemnified party seeks or intends to seek indemnity from an indemnifying party, the indemnifying party will be entitled to participate in, and, to the extent that it shall elect, jointly with all other indemnifying parties similarly notified, by written notice delivered to the indemnified party promptly after receiving the aforesaid notice from such indemnified party, to assume the defense thereof with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party; provided, however, if the defendants in any such action include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have reasonably concluded that a conflict may arise between the positions of the indemnifying party and the indemnified party in conducting the defense of any such action or that there may be legal defenses available to it and/or other indemnified parties which are different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party, the indemnified party or parties shall have the right to select separate counsel to assume such legal defenses and to otherwise participate in the defense of such action on behalf of such indemnified party or parties. Upon receipt of notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of such indemnifying party’s election to assume the defense of such action and approval by the indemnified party of counsel, the indemnifying party will not be liable to such indemnified party under this Section 7 for any documented legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof unless (i) the indemnified party shall have employed separate counsel in accordance with the proviso to the next preceding sentence (it being understood, however, that the indemnifying party shall not be liable for the expenses of more than one separate counsel (together with local counsel), approved by the indemnifying party (the Manager in the case of Section 7(b) and Section 7(e)), representing the indemnified parties who are parties to such action), (ii) the indemnifying party shall not have employed counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified party within a reasonable time after notice of commencement of the action, in each of which cases the fees and expenses of counsel shall be at the expense of the indemnifying party or (iii) the indemnifying party shall authorize the indemnified party to employ separate counsel at the expense of the indemnifying party.
23
(d) The indemnifying party under this Section 7 shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent, but if settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify the indemnified party against any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense by reason of such settlement or judgment. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement, compromise or consent to the entry of judgment in any pending or threatened action, suit or proceeding in respect of which any indemnified party is or could have been a party and indemnity was or could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified party, unless such settlement, compromise or consent (i) includes an unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such action, suit or proceeding and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act, by or on behalf of any indemnified party.
(e) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 7 is for any reason held to be unavailable to or otherwise insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the aggregate amount paid or payable by such indemnified party, as incurred, as a result of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses referred to therein (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company, on the one hand, and the Manager, on the other hand, from the offering of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement, or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Company, on the one hand, and the Manager, on the other hand, in connection with the statements or omissions or inaccuracies in the representations and warranties herein which resulted in such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company shall be deemed to be equal to the total net proceeds from the offering (before deducting expenses) received by them, and benefits received by the Manager shall be deemed to be equal to the total compensation received by the Manager under Section 3(c) of this Agreement, in each case as determined by this Agreement or any applicable Terms Agreement. The relative fault of the Company, on the one hand, and the Manager, on the other hand, shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any such untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact or any such inaccurate or alleged inaccurate representation or warranty relates to information supplied by the Company, on the one hand, or the Manager, on the other hand, and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.
The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of the losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses referred to above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth in Section 7(c), any legal or other fees or expenses reasonably incurred by such party in connection with investigating or defending any action or claim. The provisions set forth in Section 7(c) with respect to notice of commencement of any action shall apply if a claim for contribution is to be made under this Section 7(e); provided, however, that no additional notice shall be required with respect to any action for which notice has been given under Section 7(c) for purposes of indemnification.
The Company and the Manager agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 7(e) were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in this Section 7(e).
24
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 7(e), the Manager shall not be required to contribute any amount in excess of the discounts and commissions received by the Manager in connection with the Shares sold by it pursuant to this Agreement and any applicable Terms Agreement in the specific transaction or transactions giving rise to the contribution obligation. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. For purposes of this Section 7(e), each Affiliate, director, officer, employee and agent of the Manager, each person, if any, who controls the Manager within the meaning of the Act and the Exchange Act and any broker-dealer affiliate of the Manager through which Shares are sold shall have the same rights to contribution as the Manager, and each director of the Company or each officer of the Company who signed the Registration Statement, and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the Act and the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company.
8. Termination.
(a) The Company shall have the right, by giving written notice as hereinafter specified, to terminate the provisions of this Agreement relating to the solicitation of offers to purchase the Shares in its sole discretion at any time. Any such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except that (i) if Shares have been sold through the Manager for the Company, then Section 4(t) shall remain in full force and effect with respect to the Manager and the Company, (ii) with respect to any pending sale, through the Designated Manager for the Company, the obligations of the Company, including in respect of compensation of the Designated Manager, shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding the termination and (iii) the provisions of Sections 2, 5, 7, 9, 10, 12 and 14 of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding such termination.
(b) The Manager shall have the right, by giving written notice as hereinafter specified, to terminate the provisions of this Agreement relating to the solicitation of offers to purchase the Shares in its sole discretion at any time. Any such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except that the provisions of Sections 2, 5, 7, 9, 10, 12 and 14 of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding such termination.
(c) This Agreement shall remain in full force and effect unless terminated pursuant to Sections 8(a) or (b) above or otherwise by mutual agreement of the parties; provided that any such termination by mutual agreement shall in all cases be deemed to provide that Sections 2, 5, 7 and 9 shall remain in full force and effect.
(d) Any termination of this Agreement shall be effective on the date specified in such notice of termination; provided that such termination shall not be effective until the close of business on the date of receipt of such notice by the Manager or the Company, as the case may be. If such termination shall occur prior to the Settlement Date or Time of Delivery for any sale of the Shares, such sale shall, subject to Section 6 hereof, settle in accordance with the provisions of Section 3(e) of this Agreement.
(e) In the case of any purchase of Shares by the Manager pursuant to a Terms Agreement, the obligations of the Manager pursuant to such Terms Agreement shall be subject to termination, in the absolute discretion of the Manager, by notice given to the Company prior to the Time of Delivery relating to such Shares, if at any time prior to such delivery and payment (i) trading or quotation in any of the Company’s securities shall have been suspended or limited by the Commission or by Nasdaq, or trading in securities generally on either the Nasdaq or the New York Stock Exchange shall have been suspended or limited, or minimum or maximum prices shall have been generally established on any of such stock exchanges by the Commission or FINRA, (ii) a general banking moratorium shall have been declared by any of federal or New York authorities, (iii) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of national or international hostilities or any crisis or calamity involving the United States, or any change in the United States or international financial markets, or any substantial change or development involving a prospective substantial change in United States’ or international political, financial or economic conditions, as in the judgment of the Manager is material and adverse and makes it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offering or delivery of the Shares in the manner and on the terms described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or to enforce contracts for the sale of securities, (iv) in the judgment of the Manager there shall have occurred any Material Adverse Effect, or (v) there shall have occurred a material disruption in commercial banking or securities settlement or clearance services in the United States.
25
9. Representations and Indemnities to Survive. The respective agreements, representations, warranties, indemnities and other statements of the Company, the officers of the Company and of the Manager set forth in or made pursuant to this Agreement will remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation made by the Manager or the Company or any of the officers, directors, employees, agents or controlling persons referred to in Section 7 hereof, and will survive delivery of and payment for the Shares.
10. Notices. All communications hereunder will be in writing and effective only on receipt, and: If sent to Virtu, will be mailed, delivered or telefaxed to
Virtu Americas LLC
1633 Broadway, 41st Floor
New York, New York 10019
Attention: Virtu Capital Markets
If sent to the Company, will be mailed, delivered or telefaxed to:
Vroom, Inc.
4700 Mercantile Dr.
Fort Worth, Texas 76137
Attention: Chief Legal Officer
with a copy to:
Latham & Watkins LLP
1271 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10020
Attention: Marc D. Jaffe, Esq.
Attention: Ian D. Schuman, Esq.
Attention: Courtenay Myers Lima, Esq.
Any party hereto may change the address for receipt of communications by giving written notice to the others.
26
11. Successors. This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and the officers, directors, employees, agents and controlling persons referred to in Section 7 hereof, and no other person will have any right or obligation hereunder.
12. No Fiduciary Duty. The Company hereby acknowledges that (a) the purchase and sale of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement is an arm’s-length commercial transaction between the Company, on the one hand, and the Manager and any affiliate through which it may be acting, on the other, (b) the Manager is acting solely as sales agent and/or principal in connection with the purchase and sale of the Company’s securities and not as a fiduciary of the Company and (c) the Company’s engagement of the Manager in connection with the offering and the process leading up to the offering is as independent contractors and not in any other capacity. Furthermore, the Company agrees that it is solely responsible for making its own judgments in connection with the offering (irrespective of whether the Manager has advised or is currently advising it on related or other matters). The Company agrees that it will not claim that the Manager has rendered advisory services of any nature or respect, or owe an agency, fiduciary or similar duty to the Company, in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the process leading thereto.
13. Integration. This Agreement and any Terms Agreement supersede all prior agreements and understandings (whether written or oral) between the Company and the Manager with respect to the subject matter hereof.
14. Applicable Law. This Agreement and any Terms Agreement will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York applicable to contracts made and to be performed within the State of New York.
15. Waiver of Jury Trial. The Company hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and all right to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement, any Terms Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby.
16. Counterparts. This Agreement and any Terms Agreement may be signed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the same agreement. The exchange of signature pages by facsimile or electronic format (i.e., “pdf” or “tif”) transmission shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Agreement and any Terms Agreement. Signatures of the parties hereto transmitted by facsimile or electronic format (i.e., “pdf” or “tif”) shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes.
17. Headings. The section headings used in this Agreement and any Terms Agreement are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.
27
18. Recognition of the U.S. Special Resolution Regimes.
(a) In the event that the Manager that is a Covered Entity becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, the transfer from the Manager of this Agreement, and any interest and obligation in or under this Agreement, will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement, and any such interest and obligation, were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.
(b) In the event that the Manager that is a Covered Entity or a BHC Act Affiliate of the Manager becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights under this Agreement that may be exercised against the Manager are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.
As used in this Section 18:
“BHC Act Affiliate” has the meaning assigned to the term “affiliate” in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. § 1841(k).
“Covered Entity” means any of the following:
(i) a “covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b);
(ii) a “covered bank” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or
(iii) a “covered FSI” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b).
“Default Right” has the meaning assigned to that term in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §§ 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable.
“U.S. Special Resolution Regime” means each of (i) the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder and (ii) Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
19. Definitions. The terms that follow, when used in this Agreement and any Terms Agreement, shall have the meanings indicated.
“Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.
“Applicable Time” shall mean, with respect to any Shares, the time of sale of such Shares pursuant to this Agreement or any relevant Terms Agreement.
“Base Prospectus” shall mean the base prospectus referred to in Section 2(a) above contained in the Registration Statement at the Execution Time.
28
“Business Day” shall mean any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a legal holiday or a day on which banking institutions or trust companies are authorized or obligated by law to close in New York City.
“Commission” shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Designated Manager” shall mean, as of any given time, the Manager if designated by the Company as sales agent to sell Shares pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.
“Disclosure Package” shall mean (i) the Base Prospectus, (ii) the Prospectus Supplement, (iii) the most recently filed Interim Prospectus Supplement, if any, (iv) the Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses, if any, identified in Schedule I hereto, (v) the public offering price of Shares sold at the relevant Applicable Time as specified in a Terms Agreement and (vi) any other Free Writing Prospectus that the parties hereto shall hereafter expressly agree in writing to treat as part of the Disclosure Package.
“Effective Date” shall mean each date and time that the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment or amendments thereto became or becomes effective.
“Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.
“Execution Time” shall mean the date and time that this Agreement is executed and delivered by the parties hereto. “Free Writing Prospectus” shall mean a free writing prospectus, as defined in Rule 405.
“Interim Prospectus Supplement” shall mean the prospectus supplement relating to the Shares prepared and filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) from time to time as provided by Section 4(r) of this Agreement.
“Issuer Free Writing Prospectus” shall mean an issuer free writing prospectus, as defined in Rule 433.
“Prospectus” shall mean the Base Prospectus, as supplemented by the Prospectus Supplement and the most recently filed Interim Prospectus Supplement (if any).
“Prospectus Supplement” shall mean any prospectus supplement relating to the Shares filed pursuant to Rule 424(b).
“Registration Statement” shall mean the registration statement referred to in Section 2(a) above, including exhibits and financial statements and any prospectus supplement relating to the Shares that is filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) and deemed part of such registration statement pursuant to Rule 430B, as amended on each Effective Date and, in the event any post-effective amendment thereto becomes effective, shall also mean such registration statement as so amended.
“Rule 158,” “Rule 163,” “Rule 164,” “Rule 172,” “Rule 405,” “Rule 415,” “Rule 424,” “Rule 430B” and “Rule 433” refer to such rules under the Act.
29
If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, please sign and return to us the enclosed duplicate hereof, whereupon this letter and your acceptance shall represent a binding agreement between the Company and the Manager.
| Very truly yours. | ||
| VROOM, INC. | ||
| By: | /s/ Jonathan Sandison | |
| Name: | Jonathan Sandison | |
| Title: | Chief Financial Officer | |
Signature Page To Equity Distribution Agreement
CONFIRMED AND ACCEPTED, as of the date first written above:
| Virtu Americas LLC | ||
| By: | /s/ Joshua R. Feldman | |
| Name: | Joshua R. Feldman | |
| Title: | Managing Director | |
Signature Page To Equity Distribution Agreement
SCHEDULE I
Schedule of Free Writing Prospectuses included in the Disclosure Package
None
Schedule I
| [Form of Terms Agreement] | ANNEX I |
VROOM, INC.
Common Stock ($0.001 par value)
TERMS AGREEMENT
____________, 20__
Virtu Americas LLC
1633 Broadway 41st Floor
New York, New York 10019
Dear Sirs:
Vroom, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) proposes, subject to the terms and conditions stated herein and in the Equity Distribution Agreement, dated [●], 2026 (the “Equity Distribution Agreement”), between the Company and Virtu Americas LLC, to issue and sell to Virtu Americas LLC, the securities specified in the Schedule I hereto (the “Purchased Shares”).
Each of the provisions of the Equity Distribution Agreement not specifically related to the solicitation by the Designated Manager, as agent of the Company, of offers to purchase securities is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, and shall be deemed to be part of this Terms Agreement to the same extent as if such provisions had been set forth in full herein. Each of the representations and warranties set forth therein shall be deemed to have been made at and as of the date of this Terms Agreement and the Time of Delivery, except that each representation and warranty in Section 2 of the Equity Distribution Agreement which makes reference to the Prospectus (as therein defined) shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty as of the date of the Equity Distribution Agreement in relation to the Prospectus, and also a representation and warranty as of the date of this Terms Agreement and the Time of Delivery in relation to the Prospectus as amended and supplemented to relate to the Purchased Shares.
[The Company represents and warrants to Virtu Americas LLC that, as of the date of this Terms Agreement, its Common Stock [constitutes/does not constitute] an “actively-traded security” exempted from the requirements of Rule 101 of Regulation M under the Exchange Act by subsection (c)(1) of such rule.]
An amendment to the Registration Statement (as defined in the Equity Distribution Agreement), or a supplement to the Prospectus, as the case may be, relating to the Purchased Shares, in the form heretofore delivered to the Manager is now proposed to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and in the Equity Distribution Agreement which are incorporated herein by reference, the Company agrees to issue and sell to the Designated Manager and the latter agrees to purchase from the Company the number of shares of the Purchased Shares at the time and place and at the purchase price set forth in the Schedule I hereto.
Annex I-1
If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please sign and return to us a counterpart hereof, whereupon this Terms Agreement, including those provisions of the Equity Distribution Agreement incorporated herein by reference, shall constitute a binding agreement between the Manager and the Company.
| VROOM INC. | ||
| By: | [●] | |
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
ACCEPTED as of the date first written above.
Virtu Americas LLC |
||
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
Annex I-2
| Form of Terms Agreement | Schedule I to the Terms Agreement |
Title of Purchased Shares:
Common Stock
Number of Shares of Purchased Shares:
Price to Public:
Purchase Price by Virtu Americas LLC:
Method of and Specified Funds for Payment of Purchase Price:
By wire transfer to a bank account specified by the Company in same day funds.
Method of Delivery:
Free delivery of the Shares to the Manager’s account at The Depository Trust Company in return for payment of the purchase price.
Time of Delivery:
Closing Location:
Documents to be Delivered:
The following documents referred to in the Equity Distribution Agreement shall be delivered as a condition to the closing at the Time of Delivery:
(1) The opinion referred to in Section 4(m).
(2) The opinion referred to in Section 4(n).
(3) The accountant’s letter referred to in Section 4(o).
(4) The officers’ certificate referred to in Section 4(1).
(5) Such other documents as the Manager shall reasonably request.
Annex I-3
Exhibit 3.1
RESTATED CERTIFICATE
OF INCORPORATION
OF
VROOM, INC.
The name of the corporation is Vroom, Inc. (the “Corporation”). The Corporation was originally incorporated by the filing of its original certificate of incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on January 31, 2012 under the name BCM Partners III, Corp. On June 25, 2013, the Corporation filed an Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation changing its name to Autoamerica, Inc.; on July 9, 2015, the Corporation filed an Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation changing its name to Vroom, Inc.; on June 11, 2020, the Corporation filed an Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation which restated, integrated and further amended the provisions of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation; on February 13, 2024, the Corporation filed a Certificate of Amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to amend and restate the first paragraph of Article FOURTH of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation; on January 14, 2025, the Corporation filled a new Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation pursuant to the authority granted to the Corporation under Section 303 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”) and the Prepackaged Plan of Reorganization for Vroom, Inc. under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code, as confirmed by that certain order of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas entered on January 8, 2025, in In re: Vroom, Inc., Case No. 24-90571 (CML), under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code (11 U.S.C., Sections 101-1330), as amended (the “Prior Certificate of Incorporation”); and on March 11, 2025, the Corporation filed a Change of Registered Agent and/or Registered Office form to change the Corporation’s registered agent and registered office pursuant to a resolution adopted by the Board of Directors of the Corporation and the authority granted by Section 133 of the DGCL. Pursuant to the authority granted by Section 245 of the DGCL, this Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation (the “Certificate of Incorporation”) restates and integrates, and does not further amend, the provisions of the Prior Certificate of Incorporation, as heretofore amended with the Change of Registered Agent and/or Registered Office form, and there is no discrepancy between those provisions and the provisions of this Certificate of Incorporation. The Prior Certificate of Incorporation is hereby restated and integrated to read in its entirety as follows:
First: The name of the Corporation is Vroom, Inc.
Second: The address of the Corporation’s registered office in the State of Delaware is 1209 Orange Street, in the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, Delaware 19801. The name of its registered agent at that address is The Corporation Trust Company.
Third: The nature of the business or purposes to be conducted or promoted by the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the DGCL.
Fourth: That, effective as of 5 p.m. Eastern Time on the date this Certificate of Incorporation is filed with the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware (the “Effective Time”), a one-for-five conversion of the Corporation’s Common Stock (as defined below) shall become effective, pursuant to which each five shares of Common Stock outstanding and held of record by each stockholder of the Corporation (including treasury shares) immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be reclassified and combined into one validly issued, fully-paid and nonassessable share of Common Stock automatically and without any action by the holder thereof upon the Effective Time and shall represent one share of Common Stock from and after the Effective Time (such reclassification and combination of shares, the “Bankruptcy Emergence Issuance Adjustment”). The par value of the Common Stock following the Bankruptcy Emergence Issuance Adjustment shall remain at $0.001 per share. No fractional shares of Common Stock shall be issued as a result of the Bankruptcy Emergence Issuance Adjustment. In lieu thereof, (i) with respect to holders of one or more certificates which formerly represented shares of Common Stock that were issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time, upon surrender after the Effective Time of such certificate or certificates, any holder who would otherwise be entitled to a fractional share of Common Stock as a result of the Bankruptcy Emergence Issuance Adjustment, following the Effective Time, shall be entitled to receive such number of shares as adjusted by rounding any fractional share of Common Stock to the nearest whole share (up or down), with half shares or less being rounded down; and (ii) with respect to holders of shares of Common Stock in book-entry form in the records of the Company’s transfer agent that were issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time, any holder who would otherwise be entitled to a fractional share of Common Stock as a result of the Bankruptcy Emergence Issuance Adjustment, following the Effective Time, shall be entitled to receive such number of shares as adjusted by rounding any fractional share of Common Stock to the nearest whole share (up or down), with half shares or less being rounded down automatically and without any action by the holder.
The total number of shares of all classes of stock which the Corporation shall have authority to issue is 255,000,000 shares, consisting of (a) 250,000,000 shares of Common Stock, $0.001 par value per share (“Common Stock”), and (b) 5,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, $0.001 par value per share (“Preferred Stock”).
The Corporation shall not issue non-voting equity securities; provided, however, that the foregoing restriction shall (a) have no further force and effect beyond that required under Section 1123(a)(6) of Chapter 11 of Title 11 of the United States Code (the “Bankruptcy Code”), (b) only have such force and effect for so long as Section 1123 of the Bankruptcy Code is in effect and applicable to the Corporation, and (c) in all events may be amended or eliminated in accordance with applicable law as from time to time may be in effect. The prohibition on the issuance of non-voting equity securities is included in this Certificate of Incorporation in compliance with Section 1123(a)(6) of the Bankruptcy Code (11 U.S.C. § 1123(a)(6)).
The following is a statement of the designations and the powers, privileges and rights, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof in respect of each class of capital stock of the Corporation.
-2-
| A. | COMMON STOCK. |
1. General. The voting, dividend and liquidation rights of the holders of the Common Stock are subject to and qualified by the rights of the holders of the Preferred Stock of any series as may be designated by the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “Board of Directors”) upon any issuance of the Preferred Stock of any series.
2. Voting. Each holder of record of Common Stock, as such, shall have one vote for each share of Common Stock which is outstanding in his, her or its name on the books of the Corporation on all matters on which stockholders are entitled to vote generally; provided, however, that, except as otherwise required by law, holders of Common Stock shall not be entitled to vote on any amendment to this Certificate of Incorporation (which, as used herein, shall mean the certificate of incorporation of the Corporation, as amended from time to time, including the terms of any certificate of designations of any series of Preferred Stock) that relates solely to the terms of one or more outstanding series of Preferred Stock if the holders of such affected series are entitled, either separately or together with the holders of one or more other such series, to vote thereon pursuant to this Certificate of Incorporation or the DGCL. There shall be no cumulative voting.
Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock pursuant to the terms of this Certificate of Incorporation, the number of authorized shares of Common Stock may be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding) by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of the then outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote, irrespective of the provisions of Section 242(b)(2) of the DGCL.
3. Dividends. Dividends may be declared and paid on the Common Stock if, as and when determined by the Board of Directors, subject to any preferential dividend or other rights of any then outstanding Preferred Stock and to the requirements of applicable law. The distribution to holders of warrants (the “Warrants”) issued pursuant to that certain warrant agreement, entered into between the Company and an agent acting on behalf of the holders of the Warrants on or about the date hereof (as amended, modified or otherwise restated from to time to time, collectively, the “Warrant Agreement”) of any amounts equivalent to, or based upon, dividends declared and paid on the Common Stock shall be governed by the terms of such Warrant Agreement.
4. Liquidation. Upon the dissolution or liquidation of the Corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary, holders of Common Stock will be entitled to receive all assets of the Corporation available for distribution to its stockholders ratably in proportion to the number of shares held by them, subject to any preferential or other rights of any then outstanding Preferred Stock.
| B. | PREFERRED STOCK. |
Preferred Stock may be issued from time to time in one or more series, each of such series to have such terms as stated or expressed herein and in the resolution or resolutions providing for the issue of such series adopted by the Board of Directors as hereinafter provided.
Authority is hereby expressly granted to the Board of Directors from time to time to issue the Preferred Stock in one or more series, and in connection with the creation of any such series, by adopting a resolution or resolutions providing for the issuance of the shares thereof and by filing a certificate of designations relating thereto in accordance with the DGCL, to determine and fix the number of shares of such series and such powers (including voting powers, full or limited, or no voting powers), and such designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, if any, and qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, including without limitation thereof, dividend rights, conversion rights, redemption privileges and liquidation preferences, as shall be stated and expressed in such resolutions, all to the fullest extent now or hereafter permitted by the DGCL. The powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional and other special rights of each such series of Preferred Stock, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, if any, may differ from those of any and all other series at any time outstanding. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the resolution or resolutions providing for the issuance of any series of Preferred Stock may provide that such series shall be superior or rank equally or be junior to any other series of Preferred Stock to the extent permitted by law.
-3-
Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock pursuant to the terms of this Certificate of Incorporation or any resolution or resolutions providing for the issuance of such series of stock adopted by the Board of Directors, the number of authorized shares of Preferred Stock may be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding) by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of the then outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote, irrespective of the provisions of Section 242(b)(2) of the DGCL.
Fifth: Except as otherwise provided herein, the Corporation reserves the right to amend, alter, change or repeal any provision contained in this Certificate of Incorporation, in the manner now or hereafter prescribed by the DGCL and this Certificate of Incorporation, and all rights conferred upon stockholders, directors or any other persons herein are granted subject to this reservation; provided, however, that notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Certificate of Incorporation, and notwithstanding that a lesser percentage may be permitted from time to time by this Certificate of Incorporation or applicable law, at any time when Mudrick Capital Management, L.P., together with its affiliates (collectively, the “Significant Stockholder”) beneficially owns (directly or indirectly) in the aggregate less than 50% of the total voting power of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally, this Article FIFTH and Articles SIXTH, SEVENTH, EIGHTH, NINTH, TENTH, ELEVENTH or TWELFTH may only be amended, altered or repealed if approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the total voting power of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation then entitled to vote at any annual or special meeting of stockholders.
Sixth: In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred upon it by the DGCL, and subject to the terms of any series of Preferred Stock, the Board of Directors shall have the power to adopt, amend, alter or repeal the Bylaws of the Corporation. The stockholders may not adopt, amend, alter or repeal the Bylaws of the Corporation, or adopt any provision inconsistent therewith, unless such action is approved, in addition to any other vote required by law and this Certificate of Incorporation, by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority in voting power of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Certificate of Incorporation or any provision of law that might otherwise permit a lesser vote of the stockholders, at any time when the Significant Stockholder beneficially owns (directly or indirectly) in the aggregate less than 50% of the total voting power of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally, in addition to any other vote required by law and this Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws or applicable law, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the total voting power of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class, shall be required in order for the stockholders of the Corporation to alter, amend, repeal or rescind, in whole or in part, any provision of the Bylaws or to adopt any provision inconsistent therewith.
-4-
Seventh: Except to the extent that the DGCL prohibits the elimination or limitation of liability of directors for breaches of fiduciary duty as a director, no director of the Corporation shall be personally liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for any breach of fiduciary duty as a director, notwithstanding any provision of law imposing such liability. No amendment to or repeal of this provision shall apply to or have any effect on the liability or alleged liability of any director of the Corporation for or with respect to any acts or omissions of such director occurring prior to such amendment or repeal. If the DGCL is amended to permit further elimination or limitation of the personal liability of directors, then the liability of a director of the Corporation shall be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL as so amended.
Except to the extent that the DGCL prohibits the elimination or limitation of liability of officers for breaches of fiduciary duty as an officer, no senior officers of the Corporation, to the extent permitted and defined by Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL, shall be personally liable to the stockholders for monetary damages for any breach of fiduciary duty as an officer, notwithstanding any provision of law imposing such liability. No amendment to or repeal of this provision shall apply to or have any effect on the liability or alleged liability of any officer of the Corporation for or with respect to any acts or omissions of such officer occurring prior to such amendment or repeal. If the DGCL is amended to permit further elimination or limitation of the personal liability of officers, then the liability of an officer of the Corporation shall be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL as so amended.
To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Corporation shall indemnify (and provide advancement of expenses to) directors and officers of the Corporation from and against any and all liabilities, costs, expenses or damages that they may incur on account of, related to, or in connection with, directly or indirectly, their service to the Corporation. The Corporation may indemnify (and provide advancement of expenses to) employees and agents of the Corporation (and any other persons to which the DGCL permits the Corporation to provide indemnification). Indemnification may be made through Bylaw provisions, agreements with such persons, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, in excess of the indemnification and advancement otherwise permitted by Section 145 of the DGCL.
Eighth: This Article EIGHTH is inserted for the management of the business and for the conduct of the affairs of the Corporation.
1. General Powers. Except as otherwise provided in this Certificate of Incorporation or the DGCL, the business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors. In addition to the powers and authority expressly conferred by the DGCL or by this Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws of the Corporation, the Board of Directors is hereby empowered to exercise all such powers and do all such acts and things as may be exercised or done by the Corporation.
-5-
2. Number of Directors; Election of Directors. Subject to the rights of holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect directors, the number of directors of the Corporation shall be established from time to time solely by resolution of the Board of Directors. Election of directors need not be by written ballot, except as and to the extent provided in the Bylaws of the Corporation.
3. Terms of Office. Subject to the rights of holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect directors, each director shall serve for a term ending on the date of the next succeeding annual meeting of stockholders following the annual meeting of stockholders at which such director was elected; provided, further, that the term of each director shall continue until the election and qualification of his or her successor and be subject to his or her earlier death, resignation or removal.
4. Removal. Subject to the rights of holders of any series of Preferred Stock then outstanding and except for such additional directors, if any, as are elected by the holders of any series of Preferred Stock as provided for or fixed pursuant to this Certificate of Incorporation, directors of the Corporation may be removed from office, with or without cause, by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority in voting power of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote at an election of directors; provided, however, that, subject to the rights granted to holders of one or more series of Preferred Stock then outstanding, at any time when the Significant Stockholder beneficially owns (directly or indirectly) in the aggregate less than 50% of the total voting power of the outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote at an election of directors, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the total voting power of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class, shall be required for the removal of any director with or without cause.
5. Vacancies. Subject to the rights of holders of any series of Preferred Stock, any vacancy or newly created directorship in the Board of Directors, however occurring, shall be filled only by vote of a majority of the directors then in office, although less than a quorum, by a sole remaining director or by the vote of the holders of a majority in voting power of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote at an election of directors; provided, however, that, subject to the rights granted to holders of one or more series of Preferred Stock then outstanding, at any time when the Significant Stockholder beneficially owns (directly or indirectly) in the aggregate less than 50% of the total voting power of the outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote at an election of directors, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the total voting power of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class, shall be required for any stockholder vote to fill any vacancy or newly-created directorship on the Board. A director elected to fill a vacancy shall hold office for a term ending on the date of the next succeeding annual meeting of stockholders following such director’s election; provided that the term of such director shall continue until the election and qualification of his or her successor and be subject to his or her earlier death, resignation or removal.
-6-
6. Preferred Stock Directors. During any period when the holders of any series of Preferred Stock, voting separately as a series or together with one or more series, have the right to elect additional directors, then upon commencement and for the duration of the period during which such right continues: (i) the then otherwise total authorized number of directors of the Corporation shall automatically be increased by such specified number of directors, and the holders of such Preferred Stock shall be entitled to elect the additional directors so provided for or fixed pursuant to said provisions, and (ii) each such additional director shall serve until such director’s successor shall have been duly elected and qualified, or until such director’s right to hold such office terminates pursuant to said provisions, whichever occurs earlier, subject to his or her earlier death, resignation, disqualification or removal. Except as otherwise provided by the Board of Directors in the resolution or resolutions establishing such series, whenever the holders of any series of Preferred Stock having such right to elect additional directors are divested of such right pursuant to the provisions of such stock, the terms of office of all such additional directors elected by the holders of such stock, or elected to fill any vacancies resulting from the death, resignation, disqualification or removal of such additional directors, shall forthwith terminate (in which case each such director thereupon shall cease to be qualified as, and shall cease to be, a director) and the total authorized number of directors of the Corporation shall be reduced accordingly.
7. Stockholder Nominations and Introduction of Business, Etc. Subject to the rights of holders of any series of Preferred Stock, advance notice of stockholder nominations for election of directors and other business to be brought by stockholders before a meeting of stockholders shall be given in the manner provided by the Bylaws of the Corporation.
Ninth: All actions that are required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation at any annual or special meeting of stockholders may be effected by written consent of stockholders in lieu of a meeting; provided, however, that, subject to the rights granted to holders of one or more series of Preferred Stock then outstanding, at any time when the Significant Stockholder beneficially owns (directly or indirectly) in the aggregate less than 50% of the total voting power of the outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote at an election of directors, no action that is required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation at any annual or special meeting of stockholders may be effected by written consent of stockholders in lieu of a meeting.
Tenth: Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock, special meetings of stockholders for any purpose or purposes may be called at any time only by the Board of Directors, the chairperson of the Board of Directors, the chief executive officer or president (in the absence of a chief executive officer) of the Corporation, or the Secretary of the Corporation at the request of the holders of at least a majority of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation (provided, that, at any time when the Significant Stockholder beneficially owns in the aggregate less than 50% of the total voting power of the outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally at any annual or special meeting of the stockholders, any such request shall be made by the holders of at least two-thirds of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation to be binding on the Corporation), and may not be called by any other person or persons. Business transacted at any special meeting of stockholders shall be limited to the purpose or purposes stated in the notice of meeting.
-7-
Eleventh: Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be the sole and exclusive forum for (a) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (b) any action asserting a claim of breach of fiduciary duty owed by any current or former director, officer, other employee or agent or stockholder of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporation’s stockholders, (c) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL, this Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws of the Corporation, or as to which the DGCL confers exclusive jurisdiction on the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or (d) any action asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine, in each case, subject to said Court of Chancery having personal jurisdiction over the indispensable parties named as defendants therein; provided that, the provisions of this Article ELEVENTH will not apply to suits brought to enforce any liability or duty created by the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or the rules and regulations under the Exchange Act, or any other claim for which the U.S. federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction; and provided further that, if and only if the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware dismisses any such action for lack of subject matter jurisdiction, such action may be brought in another state or federal court sitting in the State of Delaware. Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the U.S. federal district courts shall be the exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action against the Corporation or any director, officer, other employee or agent of the Corporation and arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring or holding any interest in shares of capital stock of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of this Article ELEVENTH. If any provision or provisions of this Article ELEVENTH shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable as applied to any person or entity or circumstance for any reason whatsoever, then, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the validity, legality and enforceability of such provisions in any other circumstance and of the remaining provisions of this Article ELEVENTH (including, without limitation, each portion of any sentence of this Article ELEVENTH containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) and the application of such provision to other persons or entities and circumstances shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
Twelfth: This Article TWELFTH is inserted for the management of business opportunities.
1. Competition and Corporate Opportunities. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Corporation renounces any interest or expectancy of the Corporation and its subsidiaries in any business opportunity, transaction or other matter in which the Significant Stockholder, any officer, director, partner or employee of the Significant Stockholder, and any portfolio company in which such entities or persons have an equity interest (other than the Corporation and its subsidiaries) (each, a “Specified Party”) participates or desires or seeks to participate even if the opportunity is one that the Corporation or its subsidiaries might reasonably be deemed to have pursued or had the ability or desire to pursue if granted the opportunity to do so and each such Specified Party shall have no duty to communicate or offer such business opportunity to the Corporation and, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, shall not be liable to the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries or any stockholder for breach of any fiduciary or other duty, as a director or officer or controlling stockholder or otherwise, by reason of the fact that such Specified Party pursues or acquires such business opportunity, directs such business opportunity to another person or fails to present such business opportunity, or information regarding such business opportunity, to the Corporation or its subsidiaries. For the avoidance of doubt, the Specified Party shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, have the right to, and shall have no duty (whether contractual or otherwise) not to, directly or indirectly: (a) engage in the same, similar or competing business activities or lines of business as the Corporation, (b) do business with any client or customer of the Corporation, or (c) make investments in competing businesses of the Corporation, and such acts shall not be deemed wrongful or improper.
-8-
2. Certain Matters Deemed Not Corporate Opportunities. In addition to and notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Article TWELFTH, a corporate opportunity shall not be deemed to be a potential corporate opportunity for the Corporation if it is a business opportunity the Corporation is not financially able or contractually permitted or legally able to undertake, or that is, from its nature, not in the line of the Corporation’s business or is of no practical advantage to it or that is one in which the Corporation has no interest or reasonable expectancy.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Corporation, on behalf of itself and its subsidiaries, does not hereby renounce any interest or expectancy it or its subsidiaries may have in any business opportunity, transaction or other matter that is offered in writing solely to (1) a director or officer of the Corporation or its subsidiaries who is not also a Specified Party, or (2) a Specified Party who is a director, officer or employee of the Corporation and who is offered such opportunity solely in his or her capacity as a director, officer or employee of the Corporation. Any person purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in any shares of stock of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of this Article TWELFTH. Neither the alteration, amendment or repeal of this Article TWELFTH nor the adoption of any provision of this Certificate inconsistent with this Article TWELFTH nor, to the fullest extent permitted by the laws of the State of Delaware, any modification of law, shall eliminate or reduce the effect of this Article TWELFTH in respect of any business opportunity first identified or any other matter occurring, or any cause of action, suit or claim that, but for this Article TWELFTH, would accrue or arise, prior to such alteration, amendment, repeal, adoption or modification
***
-9-
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Certificate of Incorporation, which restates and integrates the Prior Certificate of Incorporation, and which has been duly adopted in accordance with Section 245 of the DGCL, has been executed by its duly authorized officer this 11th day of March, 2025.
| VROOM, INC. | ||
| By: | /s/ Thomas H. Shortt | |
| Name: | Thomas H. Shortt | |
| Title: | Chief Executive Officer | |
Exhibit 3.2
AMENDED AND RESTATED
BYLAWS
OF
VROOM, INC.
(a Delaware corporation)
| Adopted on January 14, 2025 |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
| Page | ||
| ARTICLE I - CORPORATE OFFICES | 1 | |
| 1.1 | REGISTERED OFFICE | 1 |
| 1.2 | OTHER OFFICES | 1 |
| ARTICLE II - MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS | 1 | |
| 2.1 | PLACE OF MEETINGS | 1 |
| 2.2 | ANNUAL MEETING | 1 |
| 2.3 | SPECIAL MEETING | 1 |
| 2.4 | ADVANCE NOTICE PROCEDURES FOR BUSINESS BROUGHT BEFORE A MEETING | 2 |
| 2.5 | ADVANCE NOTICE PROCEDURES FOR NOMINATIONS OF DIRECTORS | 6 |
| 2.6 | NOTICE OF STOCKHOLDERS’ MEETINGS | 9 |
| 2.7 | MANNER OF GIVING NOTICE; AFFIDAVIT OF NOTICE | 10 |
| 2.8 | QUORUM | 10 |
| 2.9 | ADJOURNMENTS, POSTPONEMENTS AND CANCELLATION OF MEETING | 11 |
| 2.10 | CONDUCT OF BUSINESS | 11 |
| 2.11 | VOTING | 12 |
| 2.12 | STOCKHOLDER ACTION BY WRITTEN CONSENT WITHOUT A MEETING | 12 |
| 2.13 | RECORD DATE FOR STOCKHOLDER NOTICE; VOTING | 13 |
| 2.14 | PROXIES | 14 |
| 2.15 | LIST OF STOCKHOLDERS ENTITLED TO VOTE | 14 |
| 2.16 | INSPECTORS OF ELECTION | 15 |
| ARTICLE III - DIRECTORS | 15 | |
| 3.1 | POWERS | 15 |
| 3.2 | NUMBER OF DIRECTORS | 15 |
| 3.3 | ELECTION, QUALIFICATION AND TERM OF OFFICE OF DIRECTORS | 15 |
| 3.4 | RESIGNATION AND VACANCIES | 16 |
| 3.5 | PLACE OF MEETINGS; MEETINGS BY TELEPHONE | 16 |
| 3.6 | REGULAR MEETINGS | 16 |
| 3.7 | SPECIAL MEETINGS; NOTICE | 17 |
| 3.8 | QUORUM | 17 |
| 3.9 | BOARD ACTION BY CONSENT WITHOUT A MEETING | 17 |
| 3.10 | FEES AND COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS | 18 |
| 3.11 | REMOVAL OF DIRECTORS | 18 |
| -i- |
| Adopted on January 14, 2025 |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
(continued)
| Page | ||
| ARTICLE IV – COMMITTEES | 18 | |
| 4.1 | COMMITTEES OF DIRECTORS | 18 |
| 4.2 | COMMITTEE MINUTES | 19 |
| 4.3 | MEETINGS AND ACTION OF COMMITTEES | 19 |
| ARTICLE V - OFFICERS | 19 | |
| 5.1 | OFFICERS | 19 |
| 5.2 | APPOINTMENT OF OFFICERS; SUBORDINATE OFFICERS | 20 |
| 5.3 | REMOVAL AND RESIGNATION OF OFFICERS | 20 |
| 5.4 | VACANCIES IN OFFICES | 20 |
| 5.5 | REPRESENTATION OF SHARES OF OTHER ENTITIES | 20 |
| 5.6 | AUTHORITY AND DUTIES OF OFFICERS | 20 |
| ARTICLE VI - RECORDS AND REPORTS | 21 | |
| 6.1 | MAINTENANCE OF RECORDS | 21 |
| ARTICLE VII - GENERAL MATTERS | 21 | |
| 7.1 | EXECUTION OF CORPORATE CONTRACTS AND INSTRUMENTS | 21 |
| 7.2 | STOCK CERTIFICATES; PARTLY PAID SHARES | 21 |
| 7.3 | MULTIPLE CLASSES OR SERIES OF STOCK | 22 |
| 7.4 | LOST CERTIFICATES | 22 |
| 7.5 | CONSTRUCTION; DEFINITIONS | 22 |
| 7.6 | DIVIDENDS | 23 |
| 7.7 | FISCAL YEAR | 23 |
| 7.8 | SEAL | 23 |
| 7.9 | TRANSFER OF STOCK | 23 |
| 7.10 | STOCK TRANSFER AGREEMENTS | 23 |
| 7.11 | REGISTERED STOCKHOLDERS | 24 |
| 7.12 | WAIVER OF NOTICE | 24 |
| ARTICLE VIII - NOTICE BY ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION | 24 | |
| 8.1 | NOTICE BY ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION | 24 |
| 8.2 | DEFINITION OF ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION | 25 |
| ARTICLE IX - INDEMNIFICATION AND ADVANCEMENT OF EXPENSES | 25 | |
| 9.1 | INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS | 25 |
| 9.2 | INDEMNIFICATION OF OTHERS | 26 |
| 9.3 | ADVANCEMENT OF EXPENSES | 26 |
| 9.4 | DETERMINATION; CLAIM | 26 |
| -ii- |
| Adopted on January 14, 2025 |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
(continued)
| Page | ||
| 9.5 | NON-EXCLUSIVITY OF RIGHTS | 26 |
| 9.6 | INSURANCE | 27 |
| 9.7 | OTHER SOURCES | 27 |
| 9.8 | CONTINUATION OF INDEMNIFICATION | 27 |
| 9.9 | AMENDMENT OR REPEAL; INTERPRETATION | 27 |
| 9.10 | OTHER INDEMNIFICATION AND ADVANCEMENT OF EXPENSES | 28 |
| ARTICLE X - AMENDMENTS. | 28 | |
| -iii- |
| Adopted on January 14, 2025 |
AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS
OF
VROOM, INC.
ARTICLE I - CORPORATE OFFICES
1.1 REGISTERED OFFICE.
The address of the registered office of Vroom, Inc. (the “Corporation”) in the State of Delaware, and the name of its registered agent at such address, shall be fixed in the Corporation’s certificate of incorporation, as the same may be amended and/or restated from time to time (the “certificate of incorporation”).
1.2 OTHER OFFICES.
The Corporation may have other offices at any place or places, either within or outside the State of Delaware, as the Corporation’s board of directors (the “Board”) may from time to time establish or as the business of the Corporation may from time to time require.
ARTICLE II - MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS
2.1 PLACE OF MEETINGS.
Meetings of stockholders shall be held at such place, if any, within or outside the State of Delaware, designated by the Board. The Board may, in its sole discretion, determine that a meeting of stockholders shall not be held at any place, but may instead be held solely by means of remote communication as authorized by Section 211(a)(2) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”). In the absence of any such designation or determination, stockholders’ meetings shall be held at the Corporation’s principal executive office.
2.2 ANNUAL MEETING.
The Board shall designate the date and time of the annual meeting. At the annual meeting, directors shall be elected and other proper business properly brought before the meeting in accordance with Section 2.4 of these bylaws may be transacted.
2.3 SPECIAL MEETING.
Right to Call a Special Meeting. Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of preferred stock, a special meeting of the stockholders may only be called in the manner provided in the certificate of incorporation. No business may be transacted at any special meeting of stockholders other than the business specified in the notice of such meeting. Nothing contained in this Section 2.3 shall be construed as limiting, fixing or otherwise affecting the time when a meeting of stockholders called by action of the Board may be held.
| -1- |
| Adopted on January 14, 2025 |
2.4 ADVANCE NOTICE PROCEDURES FOR BUSINESS BROUGHT BEFORE A MEETING.
(a) At an annual meeting of the stockholders, only such business shall be conducted as shall have been properly brought before the meeting. To be properly brought before an annual meeting, business must be (i) specified in a notice of meeting given by or at the direction of the Board or a duly authorized committee of the Board, (ii) if not specified in a notice of meeting, otherwise brought before the meeting by or at the direction of the Board, a duly authorized committee of the Board or the person presiding over the meeting, or (iii) otherwise properly brought before the meeting by a stockholder present in person who (A)(1) was a record owner of shares of the Corporation both at the time of giving the notice provided for in this Section 2.4 and at the time of the meeting, (2) is entitled to vote at the meeting and (3) has complied with this Section 2.4 in all applicable respects, or (B) properly made such proposal in accordance with Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (as so amended and inclusive of such rules and regulations, the “Exchange Act”), which proposal has been included in the proxy statement for the annual meeting. Unless otherwise required by law, if the stockholder is not present in person to present the proposed business, such proposed business shall not be transacted, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the Corporation. The foregoing clause (iii) of this Section 2.4(a) shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to propose business to be brought before an annual meeting of the stockholders. The only matters that may be brought before a special meeting are the matters specified in the notice of meeting given by or at the direction of the person calling the meeting pursuant to Section 2.3 of these bylaws, and subject to any rights of holders of preferred stock, stockholders shall not be permitted to propose business to be brought before a special meeting of the stockholders. For purposes of this Section 2.4, “present in person” shall mean that the stockholder proposing that the business be brought before the annual meeting of the Corporation, or a qualified representative of such proposing stockholder, appear at such annual meeting. A “qualified representative” of such proposing stockholder shall be a duly authorized officer, manager or partner of such stockholder or any other person authorized by a writing executed by such stockholder or an electronic transmission delivered by such stockholder to act for such stockholder as proxy at the meeting of stockholders, and such person must produce such writing or electronic transmission, or a reliable reproduction of the writing or electronic transmission, at such meeting of stockholders. Stockholders seeking to nominate persons for election to the Board must comply with Section 2.5 of these bylaws, and this Section 2.4 shall not be applicable to nominations for election to the Board except as expressly provided in Section 2.5 of these bylaws.
(b) Without qualification, for business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder, the stockholder must (i) provide Timely Notice (as defined below) thereof in writing and in proper form to the secretary of the Corporation and (ii) provide any updates or supplements to such notice at the times and in the forms required by this Section 2.4. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice must be delivered to, or mailed and received by the secretary of the Corporation at, the principal executive offices of the Corporation not less than ninety (90) days nor more than one hundred twenty (120) days prior to the one-year anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting; provided, however, that if the date of the annual meeting is more than thirty (30) days before or more than sixty (60) days after such anniversary date, to be timely, notice by the stockholder must be so delivered, or mailed and received by the secretary of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the tenth (10th) day following the day on which public disclosure (as defined in Section 2.4(h) of these bylaws) of the date of such annual meeting was first made by the Corporation (such notice within such time periods, “Timely Notice”). In no event shall any adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting or the announcement thereof commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of Timely Notice as described above.
| -2- |
| Adopted on January 14, 2025 |
(c) To be in proper form for purposes of this Section 2.4, a stockholder’s notice to the secretary of the Corporation shall set forth:
(i) As to each Proposing Person (as defined below), (A) the name and address of such Proposing Person (including, if applicable, the name and address that appear on the Corporation’s books and records); (B) the number of shares of each class or series of stock of the Corporation that are, directly or indirectly, owned of record or beneficially owned (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) by such Proposing Person, except that such Proposing Person shall in all events be deemed to beneficially own any shares of any class or series of stock of the Corporation as to which such Proposing Person has a right to acquire beneficial ownership at any time in the future; and (C) a representation that the stockholder is a holder of record of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote at the meeting and intends to be present in person at the meeting to propose such business (the disclosures to be made pursuant to the foregoing clauses (A)–(C) are referred to as “Stockholder Information”);
(ii) As to each Proposing Person, (A) the full notional amount of any securities that, directly or indirectly, underlie any “derivative security” (as such term is defined in Rule 16a-1(c) under the Exchange Act) that constitutes a “call equivalent position” (as such term is defined in Rule 16a-1(b) under the Exchange Act) (“Synthetic Equity Position”) and that is, directly or indirectly, held or maintained by such Proposing Person with respect to any shares of any class or series of stock of the Corporation; provided that, for the purposes of the definition of “Synthetic Equity Position,” the term “derivative security” shall also include any security or instrument that would not otherwise constitute a “derivative security” as a result of any feature that would make any conversion, exercise or similar right or privilege of such security or instrument becoming determinable only at some future date or upon the happening of a future occurrence, in which case the determination of the amount of securities into which such security or instrument would be convertible or exercisable shall be made assuming that such security or instrument is immediately convertible or exercisable at the time of such determination; and, provided, further, that any Proposing Person satisfying the requirements of Rule 13d-1(b)(1) under the Exchange Act (other than a Proposing Person that so satisfies Rule 13d-1(b)(1) under the Exchange Act solely by reason of Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E)) shall not be deemed to hold or maintain the notional amount of any securities that underlie a Synthetic Equity Position held by such Proposing Person as a hedge with respect to a bona fide derivatives trade or position of such Proposing Person arising in the ordinary course of such Proposing Person’s business as a derivatives dealer, (B) any rights to dividends on the shares of any class or series of stock of the Corporation owned beneficially by such Proposing Person that are separated or separable from the underlying shares of the Corporation, (C)(x) if such Proposing Person is (i) a general or limited partnership, syndicate or other group, the identity of each general partner and each person who functions as a general partner of the general or limited partnership, each member of the syndicate or group and each person controlling the general partner or member, (ii) a corporation or a limited liability company, the identity of each officer and each person who functions as an officer of the corporation or limited liability company, each person controlling the corporation or limited liability company and each officer, director, general partner and person who functions as an officer, director or general partner of any entity ultimately in control of the corporation or limited liability company or (iii) a trust, any trustee of such trust (each such person or persons set forth in the preceding clauses (i), (ii) and (iii), a “Responsible Person”), any fiduciary duties owed by such Responsible Person to the equity holders or other beneficiaries of such Proposing Person and any material interests or relationships of such Responsible Person that are not shared generally by other record holders or beneficial owners of the shares of any class or series of stock of the Corporation and that reasonably could have influenced the decision of such Proposing Person to propose such business to be brought before the meeting, and (y) if such Proposing Person is a natural person, any material interests or relationships of such natural person that are not shared generally by other record holders or beneficial owners of the shares of any class or series of stock of the Corporation and that reasonably could have influenced the decision of such Proposing Person to propose such business to be brought before the meeting, (D) any material shares or any Synthetic Equity Position in any principal competitor of the Corporation in any principal industry of the Corporation held by such Proposing Persons, (E) a summary of any material discussions regarding the business proposed to be brought before the meeting (x) between or among any of the Proposing Persons or (y) between or among any Proposing Person and any other record holders or beneficial owners of the shares of any class or series of stock of the Corporation (including their names), (F) any material pending or threatened legal proceeding in which such Proposing Person is a party or material participant involving the Corporation or any of its officers or directors, or any affiliate of the Corporation, (G) any other material relationship between such Proposing Person, on the one hand, and the Corporation, any affiliate of the Corporation or any principal competitor of the Corporation, on the other hand, (H) any direct or indirect material interest in any material contract or agreement of such Proposing Person with the Corporation, any affiliate of the Corporation or any principal competitor of the Corporation (including, in any such case, any employment agreement, collective bargaining agreement or consulting agreement), (I) a representation whether such Proposing Person intends or is part of a group which intends to deliver a proxy statement or form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the Corporation’s outstanding capital stock required to approve or adopt the proposal or otherwise solicit proxies from stockholders in support of such proposal, and (J) any other information relating to such Proposing Person that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filing required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies or consents by such Proposing Person in support of the business proposed to be brought before the meeting pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act (the disclosures to be made pursuant to the foregoing clauses (A) through (J) are referred to as “Disclosable Interests”); provided, however, that Disclosable Interests shall not include any such disclosures with respect to the ordinary course business activities of any broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee who is a Proposing Person solely as a result of being the stockholder directed to prepare and submit the notice required by these bylaws on behalf of a beneficial owner;
| -3- |
| Adopted on January 14, 2025 |
(iii) all information that would be required to be set forth in a Schedule 13D filed pursuant to Rule 13d-1(a) or an amendment pursuant to Rule 13d-2(a) if such a statement were required to be filed under the Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, by such stockholder, such beneficial owner and their respective affiliates or associates or others acting in concert with such stockholder or beneficial owner, if any; and
(iv) As to each item of business that a Proposing Person proposes to bring before the annual meeting, (A) a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the annual meeting, the reasons for conducting such business at the annual meeting and any material interest in such business of each Proposing Person, (B) the text of the proposal or business (including the text of any resolutions proposed for consideration and, in the event that such business includes a proposal to amend the bylaws of the Corporation, the language of the proposed amendment), (C) a reasonably detailed description of all agreements, arrangements and understandings (x) between or among any of the Proposing Persons or (y) between or among any Proposing Person and any other person or entity (including their names) in connection with the proposal of such business by such stockholder and (D) any other information relating to such item of business that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filing required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies in support of the business proposed to be brought before the meeting pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act; provided, however, that the disclosures required by this paragraph (c)(iii) shall not include any disclosures with respect to any broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee who is a Proposing Person solely as a result of being the stockholder directed to prepare and submit the notice required by these bylaws on behalf of a beneficial owner.
(d) For purposes of this Section 2.4, the term “Proposing Person” shall mean (i) the stockholder of record providing the notice of business proposed to be brought before an annual meeting, (ii) the beneficial owner or beneficial owners, if different, on whose behalf the notice of the business proposed to be brought before the annual meeting is made, and (iii) any participant (as defined in paragraphs (a)(ii)-(vi) of Instruction 3 to Item 4 of Schedule 14A) with such stockholder in such solicitation.
(e) A Proposing Person shall update and supplement its notice to the Corporation of its intent to propose business at an annual meeting, if necessary, so that the information provided or required to be provided in such notice pursuant to this Section 2.4 shall be true and correct as of the record date for stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting and as of the date that is ten (10) business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof, and such update and supplement shall be delivered to, or mailed and received by, the secretary of the Corporation at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than five (5) business days after the record date for stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of such record date), and not later than eight (8) business days prior to the date for the meeting or, if practicable, any adjournment or postponement thereof (and, if not practicable, on the first practicable date prior to the date to which the meeting has been adjourned or postponed) (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of ten (10) business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof). For the avoidance of doubt, the obligation to update and supplement as set forth in this paragraph or any other section of these bylaws shall not limit the Corporation’s rights with respect to any deficiencies in any notice provided by a stockholder, extend any applicable deadlines hereunder or enable or be deemed to permit a stockholder who has previously submitted notice hereunder to amend or update any proposal or to submit any new proposal, including by changing or adding matters, business or resolutions proposed to be brought before a meeting of the stockholders.
| -4- |
| Adopted on January 14, 2025 |
(f) Notwithstanding anything in these bylaws to the contrary and except as otherwise expressly provided in any applicable rule or regulation promulgated under the Exchange Act, no business shall be conducted at an annual meeting that is not properly brought before the meeting in accordance with this Section 2.4. The person presiding over the meeting shall, if the facts warrant, determine that the business was not properly brought before the meeting in accordance with this Section 2.4, and if he or she should so determine, he or she shall so declare to the meeting and any such business not properly brought before the meeting shall not be transacted.
(g) This Section 2.4 is expressly intended to apply to any business proposed to be brought before an annual meeting of stockholders, other than any proposal made in accordance with Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act and included in the Corporation’s proxy statement. In addition to the requirements of this Section 2.4 with respect to any business proposed to be brought before an annual meeting, each Proposing Person shall comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act with respect to any such business. The foregoing notice requirements of this Section 2.4 shall be deemed satisfied by a stockholder with respect to business other than a nomination if the stockholder has notified the Corporation of his, her or its intention to present a proposal at an annual meeting in compliance with applicable rules and regulations promulgated under the Exchange Act and such stockholder’s proposal has been included in a proxy statement that has been prepared by the Corporation to solicit proxies for such annual meeting. Nothing in this Section 2.4 shall be deemed to affect the rights of stockholders to request inclusion of proposals in the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act.
(h) For purposes of these bylaws, “public disclosure” shall mean disclosure in a press release reported by a national news service or in a document publicly filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Sections 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.
| -5- |
| Adopted on January 14, 2025 |
2.5 ADVANCE NOTICE PROCEDURES FOR NOMINATIONS OF DIRECTORS.
(a) Nominations of any person for election to the Board at an annual meeting or, if the election of directors is a matter specified in any notice of special meeting given by or at the direction of the person calling such meeting pursuant to Section 2.3 of these bylaws, at a special meeting, may be made at such meeting only (i) by or at the direction of the Board, including by any committee of the Board or persons duly authorized to do so by the Board or these bylaws, or (ii) by a stockholder present in person who (A) was a record owner of shares of the Corporation both at the time of giving the notice provided for in this Section 2.5 and at the time of the meeting, (B) is entitled to vote at the meeting and (C) has complied with this Section 2.5 as to such notice and nomination. Unless otherwise required by law, if the stockholder is not present in person to present a nomination, such nomination shall be disregarded, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the Corporation. The foregoing clause (ii) of this Section 2.5(a) shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to make any nomination of a person or persons for election to the Board at any meeting of stockholders. For purposes of this Section 2.5, “present in person” shall mean that the stockholder proposing that the business be brought before the meeting of the Corporation, or a qualified representative of such proposing stockholder, appear at such meeting. A “qualified representative” of such proposing stockholder shall be a duly authorized officer, manager or partner of such stockholder or any other person authorized by a writing executed by such stockholder or an electronic transmission delivered by such stockholder to act for such stockholder as proxy at the meeting of stockholders, and such person must produce such writing or electronic transmission, or a reliable reproduction of the writing or electronic transmission, at such meeting of stockholders.
(b) (i) Without qualification, for a stockholder to make any nomination of a person or persons for election to the Board at an annual meeting, the stockholder must (A) provide Timely Notice (as defined in Section 2.4(b) of these bylaws) thereof in writing and in proper form to the secretary of the Corporation, (B) provide the information, agreements and questionnaires with respect to such stockholder and its proposed nominee as required by this Section 2.5, and (C) provide any updates or supplements to such notice at the times and in the forms required by this Section 2.5.
(ii) Without qualification, if the election of directors is a matter specified in the notice of special meeting given by or at the direction of the person calling such special meeting pursuant to Section 2.3 of these bylaws, then for a stockholder to make any nomination of a person or persons for election to the Board as specified in the notice of the special meeting, the stockholder must (A) provide timely notice thereof in writing and in proper form to the secretary of the Corporation, (B) provide the information, agreements and questionnaires with respect to such stockholder and its proposed nominee as required by this Section 2.5, and (C) provide any updates or supplements to such notice at the times and in the forms required by this Section 2.5. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice for nominations to be made at a special meeting must be delivered to, or mailed and received by the secretary of the Corporation at, the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the tenth (10th) day following the day on which public disclosure (as defined in Section 2.4(h) of these bylaws) of the date of such special meeting was first made.
| -6- |
| Adopted on January 14, 2025 |
(iii) In no event shall any adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting or special meeting or the announcement thereof commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above.
(iv) In no event may a Nominating Person (as defined below) provide notice with respect to a greater number of director candidates than are subject to election by stockholders at the applicable meeting. If the Corporation shall, subsequent to any notice given by a Nominating Person pursuant to the foregoing paragraphs (i) or (ii) of this Section 2.5(b), increase the number of directors subject to election at the applicable meeting, such notice as to any additional nominees shall be due on the later of (x) the conclusion of the time period for providing Timely Notice (if such notice is being given pursuant to paragraph (i) of this Section 2.5(b)) or the conclusion of the time period specified in paragraph (ii) of this Section 2.5(b) (if such notice is being given pursuant to such paragraph) and (y) the tenth (10th) day following the date of public disclosure (as defined in Section 2.4(h) of these bylaws) of such increase.
(c) To be in proper form for purposes of this Section 2.5, a stockholder’s notice to the secretary of the Corporation shall set forth:
(i) As to each Nominating Person, the Stockholder Information (as defined in Section 2.4(c)(i) of these bylaws) except that for purposes of this Section 2.5, the term “Nominating Person” shall be substituted for the term “Proposing Person” in all places it appears in Section 2.4(c)(i);
(ii) As to each Nominating Person, any Disclosable Interests (as defined in Section 2.4(c)(ii) of these bylaws), except that for purposes of this Section 2.5, the term “Nominating Person” shall be substituted for the term “Proposing Person” in all places it appears in Section 2.4(c)(ii), and the disclosures with respect to the business to be brought before the meeting in Section 2.4(c)(iii) shall be made with respect to the nomination of each person for election as a director at the meeting;
(iii) As to each person whom a Nominating Person proposes to nominate for election as a director, (A) all information with respect to such proposed nominee that would be required to be set forth in a stockholder’s notice pursuant to this Section 2.5 if such proposed nominee were a Nominating Person, (B) all information relating to such proposed nominee that is required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for election of directors in a contested election pursuant to Section 14(a) under the Exchange Act, (C) a description of any direct or indirect material interest in any material contract or agreement between or among any Nominating Person, on the one hand, and each proposed nominee or any other participants in such solicitation, on the other hand, including, without limitation, all information that would be required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404 under Regulation S-K if such Nominating Person were the “registrant” for purposes of such rule and the proposed nominee were a director or executive officer of such registrant, and (D) a completed and signed questionnaire, representation and agreement as provided in Section 2.5(f), and (E) a written consent of such person to being named in the Corporation’s proxy statement as a nominee of the Nominating Person and to serving as a director if elected; and
| -7- |
| Adopted on January 14, 2025 |
(iv) The Corporation may require any proposed nominee to furnish such other information (A) as may reasonably be required by the Corporation to determine the eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve as an independent director of the Corporation in accordance with the Corporation’s Corporate Governance Guidelines or (B) that could be material to a reasonable stockholder’s understanding of the independence or lack of independence of such proposed nominee.
(d) For purposes of this Section 2.5, the term “Nominating Person” shall mean (i) the stockholder of record providing the notice of the nomination proposed to be made at the meeting, (ii) the beneficial owner or beneficial owners, if different, on whose behalf the notice of the nomination proposed to be made at the meeting is made, and (iii) any other participant in such solicitation.
(e) A stockholder providing notice of any nomination proposed to be made at a meeting shall further update and supplement such notice, if necessary, so that the information provided or required to be provided in such notice pursuant to this Section 2.5 shall be true and correct as of the record date for stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting and as of the date that is ten (10) business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof, and such update and supplement shall be delivered to, or mailed and received by, the secretary of the Corporation at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than five (5) business days after the record date for stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of such record date), and not later than eight (8) business days prior to the date for the meeting or, if practicable, any adjournment or postponement thereof (and, if not practicable, on the first practicable date prior to the date to which the meeting has been adjourned or postponed) (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of ten (10) business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof). For the avoidance of doubt, the obligation to update and supplement as set forth in this paragraph or any other section of these bylaws shall not limit the Corporation’s rights with respect to any deficiencies in any notice provided by a stockholder, extend any applicable deadlines hereunder or enable or be deemed to permit a stockholder who has previously submitted notice hereunder to amend or update any nomination or to submit any new nomination.
(f) To be eligible to be a nominee for election as a director of the Corporation at an annual or special meeting, a candidate must be nominated in the manner prescribed in this Section 2.5 and must deliver (in accordance with the time period prescribed for delivery in a notice to such proposed nominee given by or on behalf of the Board), to the secretary of the Corporation at the principal executive offices of the Corporation, (i) a completed written questionnaire (in the form provided by the Corporation) with respect to the background, qualifications, stock ownership and independence of such proposed nominee, and (ii) a written representation and agreement (in the form provided by the Corporation) that such proposed nominee (A) is not and, if elected as a director during his or her term of office, will not become a party to (1) any agreement, arrangement or understanding with, and has not given and will not give any commitment or assurance to, any person or entity as to how such proposed nominee, if elected as a director of the Corporation, will act or vote on any issue or question (a “Voting Commitment”) that has not been disclosed to the Corporation or (2) any Voting Commitment that could limit or interfere with such proposed nominee’s ability to comply, if elected as a director of the Corporation, with such proposed nominee’s fiduciary duties under applicable law, (B) is not, and will not become a party to, any agreement, arrangement or understanding with any person or entity other than the Corporation with respect to any direct or indirect compensation or reimbursement for service as a director of the Corporation that has not been disclosed to the Corporation, and (C) if elected as a director of the Corporation, will comply with all applicable corporate governance, conflict of interest, confidentiality, stock ownership and trading and other policies and guidelines of the Corporation applicable to directors and in effect during such person’s term in office as a director (and, if requested by any proposed nominee, the secretary of the Corporation shall provide to such proposed nominee all such policies and guidelines then in effect).
| -8- |
| Adopted on January 14, 2025 |
(g) The Board may also require any proposed candidate for nomination as a Director to furnish such other information as may reasonably be requested by the Board in writing prior to the meeting of stockholders at which such candidate’s nomination is to be acted upon in order for the Board to determine the eligibility of such candidate for nomination to be an independent director of the Corporation in accordance with the Corporation’s Corporate Governance Guidelines.
(h) In addition to the requirements of this Section 2.5 with respect to any nomination proposed to be made at a meeting, each Nominating Person shall comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act with respect to any such nominations.
(i) No proposed nominee shall be eligible for nomination as a director of the Corporation unless such proposed nominee and the Nominating Person seeking to place such proposed nominee’s name in nomination have complied with this Section 2.5, as applicable. The person presiding over the meeting shall, if the facts warrant, determine that a nomination was not properly made in accordance with this Section 2.5, and if he or she should so determine, he or she shall so declare such determination to the meeting, the defective nomination shall be disregarded and any ballots cast for the proposed nominee in question (but in the case of any form of ballot listing other qualified nominees, only the ballots case for the nominee in question) shall be void and of no force or effect.
(j) Notwithstanding anything in these bylaws to the contrary, no candidate for nomination at an annual or special meeting shall be eligible to be seated as a director of the Corporation unless nominated and elected in accordance with this Section 2.5
2.6 NOTICE OF STOCKHOLDERS’ MEETINGS.
Unless otherwise provided by law, the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws, the notice of any meeting of stockholders shall be given in accordance with either Section 2.7 or Section 8.1 of these bylaws not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days before the date of the meeting to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting as of the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting. The notice shall specify the place, if any, date and hour of the meeting, the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting (if such date is different from the record date for stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting), the means of remote communication, if any, by which stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such meeting, and, in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called.
| -9- |
| Adopted on January 14, 2025 |
2.7 MANNER OF GIVING NOTICE; AFFIDAVIT OF NOTICE.
Notice of any meeting of stockholders shall be deemed given:
(a) if mailed, when deposited in the U.S. mail, postage prepaid, directed to the stockholder at such stockholder’s address as it appears on the Corporation’s records;
(b) if delivered by courier service, the earlier of when the notice is received or left at the stockholder’s address as it appears on the Corporation’s records; or
(c) if electronically transmitted, as provided in Section 8.1 of these bylaws.
An affidavit of the secretary or an assistant secretary of the Corporation or of the transfer agent or any other agent of the Corporation that the notice has been given by mail or by a form of electronic transmission, as applicable, shall, in the absence of fraud, be prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein.
Except as otherwise prohibited under the DGCL, without limiting the manner by which notice otherwise may be given effectively to stockholders, any notice to stockholders given by the Corporation under the provisions of the DGCL, the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws shall be effective if given by a single written notice to stockholders who share an address if consented to by the stockholders at that address to whom such notice is given. Any such consent shall be revocable by the stockholder by written notice to the Corporation. Any stockholder who fails to object in writing to the Corporation, within 60 days of having been given written notice by the Corporation of its intention to send the single notice, shall be deemed to have consented to receiving such single written notice.
2.8 QUORUM.
Unless otherwise provided by law, the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws, the holders of a majority in voting power of the capital stock of the Corporation issued and outstanding and entitled to vote, present in person, or by remote communication, if applicable, or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at all meetings of the stockholders. Where a separate vote by class or series is required on a matter, the holders of a majority in voting power of such class or series issued and outstanding and entitled to vote, present in person, or by remote communication, if applicable, or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum for such matter. A quorum, once established at a meeting, shall not be broken by the withdrawal of enough votes to leave less than a quorum. If, however, a quorum is not present or represented at any meeting of the stockholders, then either (a) the person presiding over the meeting or (b) a majority in voting power of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, present in person, or by remote communication, if applicable, or represented by proxy, shall have the power to adjourn the meeting from time to time in the manner provided in Section 2.9 of these bylaws until a quorum is present or represented.
| -10- |
| Adopted on January 14, 2025 |
2.9 ADJOURNMENTS, POSTPONEMENTS AND CANCELLATION OF MEETING.
Any meeting of stockholders, annual or special, may be adjourned or postponed from time to time by the person presiding over such meeting or by the Board, without the need for approval thereof by stockholders to reconvene or convene, respectively, at the same or some other place. When a meeting is adjourned or postponed, notice need not be given of the adjourned or postponed meeting if the time and place, if any, thereof, and the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such adjourned or postponed meeting are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken or, with respect to a postponed meeting, are publicly announced. At any adjourned or postponed meeting, the Corporation may transact any business which might have been transacted at the original meeting. If the adjournment or postponement is for more than thirty (30) days, a notice of the adjourned or postponed meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting. If, after the adjournment or postponement, a new record date for determination of stockholders entitled to vote is fixed for the adjourned or postponed meeting, the Board shall fix a new record date for notice of such adjourned or postponed meeting, and shall give notice of the adjourned or postponed meeting to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at such adjourned or postponed meeting as of the record date so fixed for notice of such adjourned or postponed meeting. Any previously scheduled annual or special meeting of the stockholders may be canceled by resolution of the Board.
2.10 CONDUCT OF BUSINESS.
Meetings of stockholders shall be presided over by the chairperson of the Board, if any, or in his or her absence by the vice chairperson of the Board, if any, or in the absence of the foregoing persons by the chief executive officer, or in the absence of the foregoing persons by the president, or in the absence of the foregoing persons by a vice president, or in the absence of the foregoing persons by a chairperson designated by the Board, or in the absence of such designation by a chairperson chosen at the meeting. The secretary of the Corporation shall act as secretary of the meeting, but in his or her absence the chairperson of the meeting may appoint any person to act as secretary of the meeting. The date and time of the opening and the closing of the polls for each matter upon which the stockholders will vote at a meeting shall be determined by the Board or the person presiding over the meeting and announced at the meeting by the person presiding over the meeting. The Board may adopt by resolution such rules and regulations for the conduct of the meeting of stockholders as it shall deem appropriate. Except to the extent inconsistent with such rules and regulations as adopted by the Board, the person presiding over any meeting of stockholders shall have the right and authority to convene and (for any or no reason) to recess and/or adjourn the meeting, to prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures (which need not be in writing) and to do all such acts as, in the judgment of such presiding person, are appropriate for the proper conduct of the meeting. Such rules, regulations or procedures, whether adopted by the Board or prescribed by the person presiding over the meeting, may include, without limitation, the following: (a) the establishment of an agenda or order of business for the meeting; (b) rules and procedures for maintaining order at the meeting and the safety of those present (including, without limitation, rules and procedures for the removal of disruptive persons from the meeting and restrictions around the use of electronic devices, including audio or video recording devices); (c) limitations on attendance at or participation in the meeting to stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, their duly authorized and constituted proxies or such other persons as the person presiding over the meeting shall determine; (d) restrictions on entry to the meeting after the time fixed for the commencement thereof; and (e) limitations on the time allotted to questions or comments by participants. The person presiding over any meeting of stockholders, in addition to making any other determinations that may be appropriate to the conduct of the meeting (including, without limitation, determinations with respect to the administration and/or interpretation of any of the rules, regulations or procedures of the meeting, whether adopted by the Board or prescribed by the person presiding over the meeting), shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare to the meeting that a matter or business was not properly brought before the meeting and, if such presiding person should so determine, such presiding person shall so declare to the meeting, and any such matter or business not properly brought before the meeting shall not be transacted or considered. Unless and to the extent determined by the Board or the person presiding over the meeting, meetings of stockholders shall not be required to be held in accordance with the rules of parliamentary procedure.
| -11- |
| Adopted on January 14, 2025 |
2.11 VOTING.
The stockholders entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders shall be determined in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.13 of these bylaws, subject to Section 217 (relating to voting rights of fiduciaries, pledgors and joint owners of stock) and Section 218 (relating to voting trusts and other voting agreements) of the DGCL.
Except as may be otherwise provided in the certificate of incorporation, each stockholder shall be entitled to one (1) vote for each share of capital stock held by such stockholder. Voting at meetings of stockholders need not be by written ballot.
At any duly called or convened meeting of stockholders at which a quorum is present, for the election of directors, a plurality of the votes cast shall be sufficient to elect a director. All other elections and questions presented to the stockholders at a duly called or convened meeting at which a quorum is present shall, unless a different or minimum vote is required by the certificate of incorporation, these bylaws, the rules or regulations of any stock exchange applicable to the Corporation, or any law or regulation applicable to the Corporation or its securities (in which case such different or minimum vote shall be the applicable vote on the matter), be decided by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the votes cast (excluding abstentions and broker non-votes) on such matter by the holders entitled to vote thereon.
2.12 STOCKHOLDER ACTION BY WRITTEN CONSENT WITHOUT A MEETING.
Until such time as Mudrick Capital Management, L.P., together with its affiliates (collectively, the “Significant Stockholder”) beneficially owns (directly or indirectly) in the aggregate less than 50% of the total voting power of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote at any annual or special meeting, any and all actions required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation may be taken without a meeting without prior notice and without a vote if a consent or consents in writing, setting forth the action so taken, is signed by the holders of outstanding stock having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares of the Corporation’s stock entitled to vote thereon were present and voted; provided, however, that any action required or permitted to be taken by the holders of preferred stock, voting separately as a series or separately as a class with one or more other such series, may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, to the extent expressly so provided by the applicable certificate of designation relating to such series of Preferred Stock. In the case of action to be taken by a stockholder or stockholders by written consent, no written consent shall be effective to take the action referred to therein, unless written consents signed by a sufficient number of stockholders to take such action are delivered to and received by the Corporation in accordance with this Section 2.12 within sixty (60) days of the date the earliest dated written consent was received by the Corporation in accordance with this Section.
| -12- |
| Adopted on January 14, 2025 |
Every written consent shall be signed by one or more persons who as of the record date are stockholders of record on such record date, shall bear the date of signature of each such stockholder, and shall set forth the name and address, as they appear in the Corporation’s books, of each stockholder signing such consent and the class and number of shares of the Corporation that are owned of record and beneficially by each such stockholder and shall be delivered to and received by the Secretary at the Corporation’s principal office by hand or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested.
Upon and after such time as the Significant Stockholder beneficially owns (directly or indirectly) in the aggregate less than 50% of the total voting power of all outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally at any annual or special meeting, no action required or permitted to be taken by stockholders may be effected by written consent in lieu of a meeting. Instead, any such actions shall only be taken at a duly called annual or special meeting of stockholders convened in accordance with applicable law, the certificate of incorporation and these bylaws.
2.13 RECORD DATE FOR STOCKHOLDER NOTICE; VOTING.
In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, the Board may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board, and which record date shall, unless otherwise required by law, not be more than sixty (60) nor less than ten (10) days before the date of such meeting. If the Board so fixes a date, such date shall also be the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting unless the Board determines, at the time it fixes such record date, that a later date on or before the date of the meeting shall be the date for making such determination. If no record date is fixed by the Board, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice is given, or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held. A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided, however, that the Board may fix a new record date for determination of stockholders entitled to vote at the adjourned meeting, and in such case shall also fix as the record date for stockholders entitled to notice of such adjourned meeting the same or an earlier date as that fixed for determination of stockholders entitled to vote in accordance herewith at the adjourned meeting.
| -13- |
| Adopted on January 14, 2025 |
In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights, or the stockholders entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of capital stock, or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board may fix a record date, which shall not be more than sixty (60) days prior to such action. If no such record date is fixed, the record date for determining stockholders for any such purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board adopts the resolution relating thereto.
Unless otherwise restricted by the certificate of incorporation, in order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to express consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, the Board may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board, and which record date shall not be more than ten (10) days after the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board. If no record date for determining stockholders entitled to express consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting is fixed by the Board, (i) when no prior action of the Board is required by law, the record date for such purpose shall be the first date on which a signed written consent setting forth the action taken or proposed to be taken is delivered to the Corporation in accordance with applicable law, and (ii) if prior action by the Board is required by law, the record date for such purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board adopts the resolution taking such prior action.
2.14 PROXIES.
Each stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders or to express consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting may authorize another person or persons to act for such stockholder by proxy authorized by an instrument in writing or by a transmission permitted by law to be filed in accordance with the procedure established for the meeting, but no such proxy shall be voted or acted upon after three (3) years from its date, unless the proxy provides for a longer period. A proxy shall be irrevocable if it states on its face that it is irrevocable and if, and only for so long as, it is coupled with an interest sufficient in law to support an irrevocable power and shall be governed by the provisions of Section 212 of the DGCL. A proxy may be in the form of an electronic transmission which sets forth or is submitted with information from which it can be determined that the means of electronic transmission was authorized by the stockholder.
2.15 LIST OF STOCKHOLDERS ENTITLED TO VOTE.
The Corporation shall prepare, at least ten (10) days before every meeting of stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting (provided, however, that if the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote is less than ten (10) days before the date of the meeting, the list shall reflect the stockholders entitled to vote as of the tenth day before the date of the meeting), arranged in alphabetical order, and showing the address of each stockholder and the number of shares registered in the name of each stockholder. The Corporation shall not be required to include electronic mail addresses or other electronic contact information on such list. Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting for a period of at least ten (10) days prior to the meeting: (a) on a reasonably accessible electronic network, provided that the information required to gain access to such list is provided with the notice of the meeting, or (b) during ordinary business hours, at the Corporation’s principal executive office. In the event that the Corporation determines to make the list available on an electronic network, the Corporation may take reasonable steps to ensure that such information is available only to stockholders of the Corporation. Except as otherwise provided by law, the stock ledger shall be the only evidence as to the identity of the stockholders entitled to vote in person or by proxy and the number of shares held by each of them, and as to the stockholders entitled to examine the list of stockholders required by this Section 2.15.
| -14- |
| Adopted on January 14, 2025 |
2.16 INSPECTORS OF ELECTION.
Before any meeting of stockholders or in the event of the delivery of written consent, the Corporation may, and shall if required by law, appoint an inspector or inspectors of election to act at the meeting or its adjournment or postponement and make a written report thereof. The number of inspectors shall be either one (1) or three (3). The Corporation may also designate one or more persons to act as alternate inspectors to replace any inspector who fails or refuses to act. If any person appointed as inspector and such person’s designated alternate, if any, fails to appear or fails or refuses to act, then the person presiding over the meeting shall appoint a person to fill that vacancy. Unless otherwise required by law, inspectors may be officers, employees or agents of the Corporation. Such inspectors shall have the duties prescribed by law. Each inspector, before entering upon the discharge of his or her duties, shall take and sign an oath to execute faithfully the duties of inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of his or her ability. If there are three (3) inspectors of election, the decision, act or certificate of a majority is effective in all respects as the decision, act or certificate of all. Any report or certificate made by the inspector(s) of election is prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein. The inspector(s) of election may appoint such persons to assist them in performing their duties as they determine.
ARTICLE III - DIRECTORS
3.1 POWERS.
Except as provided in the DGCL or the certificate of incorporation, the business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board.
3.2 NUMBER OF DIRECTORS.
The authorized number of directors constituting the Board shall be determined from time to time solely by resolution of the Board, provided the Board shall consist of at least one (1) member. No reduction of the authorized number of directors shall have the effect of removing any director before that director’s term of office expires.
3.3 ELECTION, QUALIFICATION AND TERM OF OFFICE OF DIRECTORS.
The directors shall be elected at the annual meetings of stockholders as specified in the certificate of incorporation. Except as provided in Section 3.4 of these bylaws, each director, including, without limitation, a director elected to fill a vacancy or newly created directorship, shall hold office until the next annual meeting of stockholders and until such director’s successor is elected and qualified or until such director’s earlier death, resignation or removal. Directors need not be stockholders unless so required by the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws. The Corporation may also have, at the discretion of the Board, a chairperson of the Board and a vice chairperson of the Board. The certificate of incorporation or these bylaws may prescribe other qualifications for directors.
| -15- |
| Adopted on January 14, 2025 |
3.4 RESIGNATION AND VACANCIES.
Any director may resign at any time upon notice given in writing or by electronic transmission to the chairperson of the Board or the Corporation’s chief executive officer, president or secretary. The resignation shall take effect at the time specified therein or upon the happening of an event specified therein, and if no time or event is specified, at the time of its receipt. Unless otherwise specified in the notice of resignation, the acceptance of the resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective. When one or more directors so resigns and the resignation is effective at a future date or upon the happening of an event to occur on a future date, a majority of the directors then in office, including those who have so resigned, shall have power to fill such vacancy or vacancies, the vote thereon to take effect when such resignation or resignations shall become effective, and each director so chosen shall hold office as provided in this section in the filling of other vacancies.
Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of preferred stock, any vacancy on the Board, or any newly created directorship resulting from an increase in the authorized number of directors, shall, in each case, be filled in the manner provided for in the certificate of incorporation. Any director appointed in accordance with the preceding sentence shall hold office until the next annual meeting of stockholders and until such director’s successor shall have been elected and qualified. A vacancy on the Board shall be deemed to exist in the case of the death, removal or resignation of any director.
3.5 PLACE OF MEETINGS; MEETINGS BY TELEPHONE.
The Board may hold meetings, both regular and special, either within or outside the State of Delaware.
Unless otherwise restricted by the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws, members of the Board, or any committee designated by the Board, may participate in a meeting of the Board, or any committee, by means of conference telephone, video conference or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and such participation in a meeting pursuant to this bylaw shall constitute presence in person at the meeting.
3.6 REGULAR MEETINGS.
Regular meetings of the Board may be held without notice at such time and at such place as shall from time to time be determined by the Board; provided that any director who is absent when such determination is made shall be given notice of the determination. A regular meeting of the Board may be held without notice immediately after and at the same place as the annual meeting of stockholders.
| -16- |
| Adopted on January 14, 2025 |
3.7 SPECIAL MEETINGS; NOTICE.
Special meetings of the Board for any purpose or purposes may be held at any time and place as determined by the chairperson of the Board, the chief executive officer, the president or a majority of the directors then in office.
Notice of the time and place of special meetings shall be:
| (a) | delivered personally by hand, by courier or by telephone; |
| (b) | sent by United States first-class mail, postage prepaid; |
| (c) | sent by facsimile; or |
| (d) | sent by electronic mail, electronic transmission or other similar means, |
in each case, directed to each director at that director’s address, telephone number, facsimile number or electronic mail or other electronic address, as the case may be, as shown on the Corporation’s records.
If the notice is (a) delivered personally by hand, by courier or by telephone, (b) sent by facsimile or (c) sent by electronic mail, electronic transmission or other similar means, it shall be delivered or sent at least twenty-four (24) hours before the time of the holding of the meeting. If the notice is sent by U.S. mail, it shall be deposited in the U.S. mail at least four (4) days before the time of the holding of the meeting. The notice need not specify the place of the meeting (if the meeting is to be held at the Corporation’s principal executive office) nor the purpose of the meeting.
3.8 QUORUM.
At all meetings of the Board, a majority of the number of directors fixed by the Board pursuant to Section 3.2 of these bylaws shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. The vote of a majority of the directors present at any meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board, except as may be otherwise specifically provided by statute, the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws. If a quorum is not present at any meeting of the Board, then a majority of the directors present thereat may adjourn the meeting from time to time, without further notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum is present.
3.9 BOARD ACTION BY CONSENT WITHOUT A MEETING.
Unless otherwise restricted by the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws, any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board, or of any committee thereof, may be taken without a meeting if all members of the Board or committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing or by electronic transmission. After the action is taken, the writing or writings or electronic transmission or transmissions shall be filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board or committee. Such filing shall be in paper form if the minutes are maintained in paper form and shall be in electronic form if the minutes are maintained in electronic form.
| -17- |
| Adopted on January 14, 2025 |
3.10 FEES AND COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS.
Unless otherwise restricted by the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws, the Board shall have the authority to fix the compensation, including fees and reimbursement of expenses, of directors for services to the Corporation in any capacity.
3.11 REMOVAL OF DIRECTORS.
Subject to the rights of the holders of the shares of any series of preferred stock of the Corporation then outstanding, the entire Board or any individual director may be removed from office, with or without cause, by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority in voting power of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote at an election of directors; provided, however, that, at any time when the Significant Stockholder beneficially owns (directly or indirectly) in the aggregate less than 50% of the total voting power of the outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the total voting power of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class, shall be required to remove the entire Board or any individual director from office.
ARTICLE IV - COMMITTEES
4.1 COMMITTEES OF DIRECTORS.
The Board may designate one (1) or more committees, each committee to consist of one (1) or more of the directors of the Corporation. Each member of a committee must meet the requirements for membership, if any, imposed by applicable law and the rules and regulations of any securities exchange or quotation system on which the securities of the Corporation are listed or quoted for trading. The Board may designate one (1) or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee. Subject to the rules and regulations of any securities exchange or quotation system on which the securities of the Corporation are listed or quoted for trading, in the absence or disqualification of a member of a committee, the member or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not such member or members constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board to act at the meeting in the place of any such absent or disqualified member. Any such committee, to the extent permitted by law and provided in the resolution of the Board or in these bylaws, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board in the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation, and may authorize the seal of the Corporation to be affixed to all papers that may require it; but no such committee shall have the power or authority to (a) approve or adopt, or recommend to the stockholders, any action or matter (other than the election or removal of directors) expressly required by the DGCL to be submitted to stockholders for approval, or (b) adopt, amend or repeal any bylaw of the Corporation. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Article IV, the resolution of the Board establishing any committee of the Board and/or the charter of any such committee may establish requirements or procedures relating to the governance and/or operation of such committee that are different from, or in addition to, those set forth in these bylaws and, to the extent that there is any inconsistency between these bylaws and any such resolution or charter, the terms of such resolution or charter shall be controlling.
| -18- |
| Adopted on January 14, 2025 |
4.2 COMMITTEE MINUTES.
Each committee shall keep regular minutes of its meetings and report the same to the Board when required.
4.3 MEETINGS AND ACTION OF COMMITTEES.
Meetings and actions of committees shall be governed by, and held and taken in accordance with, the provisions of:
| (a) | Section 3.5 of these bylaws (place of meetings and meetings by telephone); |
| (b) | Section 3.6 of these bylaws (regular meetings); |
| (c) | Section 3.7 of these bylaws (special meetings and notice); |
| (d) | Section 3.8 of these bylaws (quorum); |
| (e) | Section 3.9 of these bylaws (action without a meeting); and |
| (f) | Section 7.12 of these bylaws (waiver of notice), |
in each case, with such changes in the context of those bylaws as are necessary to substitute the committee and its members for the Board and its members. However:
(i) the time of regular meetings of committees may be determined either by resolution of the Board or by resolution of the committee;
(ii) special meetings of committees may be called by resolution of the committee or resolution of the Board; and
(iii) notice of special meetings of committees shall also be given to all alternate members, who shall have the right to attend all meetings of the committee.
ARTICLE V - OFFICERS
5.1 OFFICERS.
The officers of the Corporation shall include a chief executive officer and a secretary. The Corporation may also have, at the discretion of the Board, a chairperson of the Board (who must be a director), a vice chairperson of the Board (who must be a director), a president, a chief financial officer, a treasurer, one (1) or more vice presidents, one (1) or more assistant vice presidents, one (1) or more assistant treasurers, one (1) or more assistant secretaries, and any such other officers as may be appointed in accordance with the provisions of these bylaws. Any number of offices may be held by the same person.
| -19- |
| Adopted on January 14, 2025 |
5.2 APPOINTMENT OF OFFICERS; SUBORDINATE OFFICERS.
The Board shall appoint the officers of the Corporation. The Board may appoint, or empower the chief executive officer or, in the absence of a chief executive officer, the president, to appoint, such other officers and agents as the business of the Corporation may require. Each of such officers shall hold office for such period, as is provided in these bylaws or as the Board may from time to time determine.
5.3 REMOVAL AND RESIGNATION OF OFFICERS.
Subject to the rights, if any, of an officer under any contract of employment, any officer may be removed, either with or without cause, by the Board or, except in the case of an officer chosen by the Board, by any officer upon whom such power of removal may be conferred by the Board.
Any officer may resign at any time by giving notice in writing or by electronic transmission to the Corporation. Any resignation shall take effect at the date of the receipt of that notice or at any later time specified in that notice. Unless otherwise specified in the notice of resignation, the acceptance of the resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective. Any resignation is without prejudice to the rights, if any, of the Corporation under any contract to which the officer is a party.
5.4 VACANCIES IN OFFICES.
Any vacancy occurring in any office of the Corporation shall be filled by the Board or as provided in Section 5.2 of these bylaws.
5.5 REPRESENTATION OF SHARES OF OTHER ENTITIES.
The chairperson of the Board, the chief executive officer, the president, the treasurer, the secretary or assistant secretary of the Corporation, or any other person authorized by the Board or the chief executive officer or the president, is authorized to vote, represent and exercise on behalf of the Corporation all rights incident to any and all securities of any other entity or entities standing in the name of the Corporation. The authority granted herein may be exercised either by such person directly or by any other person authorized to do so by proxy or power of attorney duly executed by such person having the authority.
5.6 AUTHORITY AND DUTIES OF OFFICERS.
All officers of the Corporation shall respectively have such authority and perform such duties in the management of the business of the Corporation as may be designated from time to time by the Board and, to the extent not so provided, as generally pertain to their respective offices, subject to the control of the Board.
| -20- |
| Adopted on January 14, 2025 |
ARTICLE VI - RECORDS AND REPORTS
6.1 MAINTENANCE OF RECORDS.
A stock ledger consisting of one or more records in which the names of all of the Corporation’s stockholders of record, the address and number of shares registered in the name of each such stockholder, and all issuances and transfers of stock of the Corporation are recorded in accordance with Section 224 of the DGCL shall be administered by or on behalf of the Corporation. Any records administered by or on behalf of the Corporation in the regular course of its business, including its stock ledger, books of account, and minute books, may be kept on, or by means of, or be in the form of, any information storage device, or method, or one or more electronic networks or databases (including one or more distributed electronic networks or databases), provided that the records so kept can be converted into clearly legible paper form within a reasonable time and, with respect to the stock ledger, that the records so kept (i) can be used to prepare the list of stockholders specified in Sections 219 and 220 of the DGCL, (ii) record the information specified in Sections 156, 159, 217(a) and 218 of the DGCL, and (iii) record transfers of stock as governed by Article 8 of the Uniform Commercial Code.
ARTICLE VII - GENERAL MATTERS
7.1 EXECUTION OF CORPORATE CONTRACTS AND INSTRUMENTS.
The Board may authorize any officer or officers, or agent or agents, to enter into any contract or execute any instrument in the name of and on behalf of the Corporation, and such authority may be general or confined to specific instances. Unless so authorized or ratified by the Board or within the agency power of an officer, no officer, agent or employee shall have any power or authority to bind the Corporation by any contract or engagement or to pledge its credit or to render it liable for any purpose or for any amount.
7.2 STOCK CERTIFICATES; PARTLY PAID SHARES.
Except as otherwise provided in a resolution approved by the Board, all shares of capital stock of the Corporation issued after the date of the adoption of these bylaws shall be uncertificated shares. Notwithstanding the foregoing, shares of capital stock of the Corporation represented by a certificate issued prior to the date of the adoption of these bylaws, shall be certificated shares until such certificate is surrendered to the Corporation. The Corporation shall not have power to issue a certificate in bearer form.
The Corporation may issue the whole or any part of its shares as partly paid and subject to call for the remainder of the consideration to be paid therefor. Upon the face or back of each stock certificate issued to represent any such partly paid shares, or upon the books and records of the Corporation in the case of uncertificated partly paid shares, the total amount of the consideration to be paid therefor and the amount paid thereon shall be stated. Upon the declaration of any dividend on fully paid shares, the Corporation shall declare a dividend upon partly paid shares of the same class, but only upon the basis of the percentage of the consideration actually paid thereon.
| -21- |
| Adopted on January 14, 2025 |
7.3 MULTIPLE CLASSES OR SERIES OF STOCK.
If the Corporation is authorized to issue more than one class of stock or more than one series of any class, then the powers, the designations, the preferences and the relative, participating, optional or other special rights of each class of stock or series thereof and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights shall be set forth in full or summarized on the face or back of the certificate that the Corporation shall issue to represent such class or series of stock; provided, however, that, except as otherwise provided in Section 202 of the DGCL, in lieu of the foregoing requirements, there may be set forth on the face or back of the certificate that the Corporation shall issue to represent such class or series of stock a statement that the Corporation will furnish without charge to each stockholder who so requests the powers, the designations, the preferences and the relative, participating, optional or other special rights of each class of stock or series thereof and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights. Within a reasonable time after the issuance or transfer of uncertificated stock, the Corporation shall send to the registered owner thereof a written notice containing the information required to be set forth or stated on certificates pursuant to the DGCL or a statement that the Corporation will furnish without charge to each stockholder who so requests the powers, designations, preferences and relative participating, optional or other special rights of each class of stock or series thereof and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights.
7.4 LOST CERTIFICATES.
Except as provided in this Section 7.4, no new certificates for shares shall be issued to replace a previously issued certificate unless the latter is surrendered to the Corporation in accordance with applicable law. The Board may direct uncertificated shares be issued in the place of any certificate theretofore issued by the Corporation alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the person claiming the certificate of stock to be lost, stolen or destroyed. When authorizing such issuance of uncertificated shares, the Board may, in its discretion and as a condition precedent to the issuance thereof, require the owner of such lost, stolen or destroyed certificate, or such owner’s legal representative, to advertise the same in such manner as the Board shall require and/or to give the Corporation a bond in such sum as it may direct as indemnity against any claim that may be made against the Corporation on account of the alleged loss, theft or destruction of any such certificate or the issuance of such uncertificated shares.
7.5 CONSTRUCTION; DEFINITIONS.
Unless the context requires otherwise, the general provisions, rules of construction and definitions in the DGCL shall govern the construction of these bylaws. Without limiting the generality of this provision, the singular number includes the plural, the plural number includes the singular, and the term “person” means any individual, general partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company, corporation, trust, business trust, joint stock company, joint venture, unincorporated association, cooperative or association or any other legal entity or organization of whatever nature, and shall include any successor (by merger or otherwise) of such entity.
| -22- |
| Adopted on January 14, 2025 |
7.6 DIVIDENDS.
The Board, subject to any restrictions contained in either (a) the DGCL or (b) the certificate of incorporation, may declare and pay dividends upon the shares of its capital stock. Dividends may be paid in cash, in property or in shares of the Corporation’s capital stock.
The Board may set apart out of any of the funds of the Corporation available for dividends a reserve or reserves for any proper purpose and may abolish any such reserve. Such purposes shall include but not be limited to equalizing dividends, repairing or maintaining any property of the Corporation, and meeting contingencies.
7.7 FISCAL YEAR.
The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be fixed by resolution of the Board and may be changed by the Board.
7.8 SEAL.
The Corporation may adopt a corporate seal, which shall be adopted and which may be altered by the Board. The Corporation may use the corporate seal by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed or affixed or in any other manner reproduced.
7.9 TRANSFER OF STOCK.
Shares of the Corporation shall be transferable in the manner prescribed by applicable law and in these bylaws. Shares of stock of the Corporation shall be made on the books of the Corporation, and in the case of certificated shares of stock, only by the person named in the certificate or by such person’s attorney lawfully constituted in writing and upon the surrender of the certificate therefor, properly endorsed for transfer and payment of all necessary transfer taxes; or, in the case of uncertificated shares of stock, upon receipt of proper transfer instructions from the registered holder of the shares or by such person’s attorney lawfully constituted in writing, and upon payment of all necessary transfer taxes and compliance with appropriate procedures for transferring shares in uncertificated form; provided, however, that such surrender and endorsement, compliance or payment of taxes shall not be required in any case in which the officers of the Corporation shall determine to waive such requirement. With respect to certificated shares of stock, every certificate exchanged, returned or surrendered to the Corporation shall be marked “Cancelled,” with the date of cancellation, by the secretary or assistant secretary of the Corporation or the transfer agent thereof. No transfer of stock shall be valid as against the Corporation for any purpose until it shall have been entered in the stock records of the Corporation by an entry showing the names of the persons from and to whom it was transferred.
7.10 STOCK TRANSFER AGREEMENTS.
The Corporation shall have power to enter into and perform any agreement with any number of stockholders of any one or more classes or series of stock of the Corporation to restrict the transfer of shares of stock of the Corporation of any one or more classes or series owned by such stockholders in any manner not prohibited by the DGCL.
| -23- |
| Adopted on January 14, 2025 |
7.11 REGISTERED STOCKHOLDERS.
The Corporation, to the fullest extent permitted by law:
(a) shall be entitled to recognize the exclusive right of a person registered on its books as the owner of shares to receive dividends and to vote as such owner; and
(b) shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such share or shares on the part of another person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise provided by the laws of the State of Delaware.
7.12 WAIVER OF NOTICE.
Whenever notice is required to be given under any provision of the DGCL, the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws, a written waiver, signed by the person entitled to notice, or a waiver by electronic transmission by the person entitled to notice, whether before or after the time of the event for which notice is to be given, shall be deemed equivalent to notice. Attendance of a person at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except when the person attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any regular or special meeting of the stockholders or the Board need be specified in any written waiver of notice or any waiver by electronic transmission unless so required by the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws.
7.13 NONVOTING EQUITY SECURITIES
The Corporation shall not issue non-voting equity securities; provided, however, that the foregoing restriction shall (a) have no further force and effect beyond that required under Section 1123(a)(6) of Chapter 11 of Title 11 of the United States Code (the “Bankruptcy Code”), (b) only have such force and effect for so long as Section 1123 of the Bankruptcy Code is in effect and applicable to the Corporation, and (c) in all events may be amended or eliminated in accordance with applicable law as from time to time may be in effect. The prohibition on the issuance of non- voting equity securities is included in these bylaws in compliance with Section 1123(a)(6) of the Bankruptcy Code (11 U.S.C. § 1123(a)(6)).
ARTICLE VIII - NOTICE BY ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION
8.1 NOTICE BY ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION.
Without limiting the manner by which notice otherwise may be given effectively to stockholders pursuant to the DGCL, the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws, any notice to stockholders given by the Corporation under any provision of the DGCL, the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws shall be effective if given by a form of electronic transmission in compliance with applicable law. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a notice may not be delivered by electronic transmission from and after the time that:
(a) the Corporation is unable to deliver by electronic transmission two (2) consecutive notices given by the Corporation; and
| -24- |
| Adopted on January 14, 2025 |
(b) such inability becomes known to the secretary or an assistant secretary of the Corporation or to the transfer agent, or other person responsible for the giving of notice; provided, however, that the inadvertent failure to treat such inability shall not invalidate any meeting or other action.
Any notice given pursuant to the preceding paragraph shall be deemed given:
| (a) | if by facsimile telecommunication, when directed to a number at which the stockholder has consented to receive notice; |
| (b) | if by electronic mail, when directed to an electronic mail address unless the stockholder has notified the Corporation in writing or by electronic transmission of an objection to receive notice by electronic mail; |
| (c) | if by a posting on an electronic network together with separate notice to the stockholder of such specific posting, upon the later of (i) such posting and |
(ii) the giving of such separate notice; and
| (d) | if by any other form of electronic transmission consented to by the stockholder, when directed to the stockholder. |
Notice by a form of electronic transmission shall not apply to matters governed by Sections 164, 296, 311, 312 or 324 of the DGCL.
8.2 DEFINITION OF ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION.
For the purposes of these bylaws, an “electronic transmission” means any form of communication, not directly involving the physical transmission of paper, including the use of, or participation in, one or more electronic networks or databases (including one or more distributed electronic networks or databases), that creates a record that may be retained, retrieved and reviewed by a recipient thereof, and that may be directly reproduced in paper form by such a recipient through an automated process.
ARTICLE IX - INDEMNIFICATION AND ADVANCEMENT OF EXPENSES
9.1 INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.
The Corporation shall indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL as it presently exists or may hereafter be amended, any person who was or is made or is threatened to be made a party or is otherwise involved in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (a “Proceeding”), by reason of the fact that he or she, or a person for whom he or she is the legal representative, is or was a director or officer of the Corporation or, while a director or officer of the Corporation, is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust, enterprise or non-profit entity, including service with respect to employee benefit plans, against all liability and loss suffered and expenses (including attorneys’ fees) reasonably incurred by such person in connection with any such Proceeding. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, except as otherwise provided in Section 9.4, the Corporation shall be required to indemnify a person in connection with a Proceeding (or part thereof) commenced by such person only if the commencement of such Proceeding (or part thereof) by such person was authorized in the specific case by the Board.
| -25- |
| Adopted on January 14, 2025 |
9.2 INDEMNIFICATION OF OTHERS.
The Corporation may, to the extent authorized by the Board, indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law as it presently exists or may hereafter be amended, any employee or agent of the Corporation who was or is made or is threatened to be made a party or is otherwise involved in any Proceeding by reason of the fact that he or she, or a person for whom he or she is the legal representative, is or was an employee or other 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 of a partnership, joint venture, trust, enterprise or non-profit entity, including service with respect to employee benefit plans, against all liability and loss suffered and expenses reasonably incurred by such person in connection with any such Proceeding.
9.3 ADVANCEMENT OF EXPENSES.
The Corporation shall to the fullest extent not prohibited by applicable law pay the expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by any officer or director of the Corporation, and may pay the expenses incurred by any employee or agent of the Corporation, in defending any Proceeding in advance of its final disposition; provided, however, that, to the extent required by law, such payment of expenses in advance of the final disposition of the Proceeding shall be made only upon receipt of an undertaking by the person to repay all amounts advanced if it should be ultimately determined that such person is not entitled to be indemnified under this Article IX or otherwise.
9.4 DETERMINATION; CLAIM.
If a claim for indemnification (following the final disposition of such Proceeding) under this Article IX is not paid in full within sixty (60) days, or a claim for advancement of expenses under this Article IX is not paid in full within thirty (30) days, after a written claim therefor has been received by the Corporation, the claimant may thereafter (but not before) file suit to recover the unpaid amount of such claim and, if successful in whole or in part, shall be entitled to be paid the expense of prosecuting such claim to the fullest extent permitted by law. In any such action, the Corporation shall have the burden of proving that the claimant is not entitled to the requested indemnification or advancement of expenses under applicable law.
9.5 NON-EXCLUSIVITY OF RIGHTS.
The rights conferred on any person by this Article IX shall not be exclusive of any other rights which such person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, provision of the certificate of incorporation, these bylaws, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.
| -26- |
| Adopted on January 14, 2025 |
9.6 INSURANCE.
The Corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who 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 of a partnership, joint venture, trust, enterprise or non-profit entity, including service with respect to employee benefit plans, against any loss, liability or expense 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 such person against such loss, liability or expense under the provisions of the DGCL.
9.7 OTHER SOURCES.
The Corporation’s obligation, if any, to indemnify or advance expenses to a person pursuant to this Article IX shall be reduced by any amount such person may collect from the proceeds of insurance or, to the extent such person was or is serving at the Corporation’s request as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, enterprise or non-profit entity, as indemnification or advancement of expenses from such other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, enterprise or non-profit entity. In the event the Corporation makes any indemnification or advancement payments to any person in connection with a Proceeding, and such person is subsequently reimbursed from the proceeds of insurance or indemnification or advancement payments received from any other source in connection with such Proceeding, such person shall promptly refund such indemnification or advancement payments to the Corporation to the extent of such reimbursement.
9.8 CONTINUATION OF INDEMNIFICATION.
The rights to indemnification and to advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, this Article IX shall continue notwithstanding that the person has ceased to be a director or officer of the Corporation and shall inure to the benefit of the estate, heirs, executors, administrators, legatees and distributees of such person.
9.9 AMENDMENT OR REPEAL; INTERPRETATION.
The provisions of this Article IX shall constitute a contract between the Corporation, on the one hand, and, on the other hand, each individual who serves or has served as a director or officer of the Corporation (whether before or after the adoption of these bylaws), in consideration of such person’s performance of such services and, pursuant to this Article IX, the Corporation intends to be legally bound to each such current or former director or officer of the Corporation. With respect to current and former directors and officers of the Corporation, the rights conferred under this Article IX are present contractual rights and such rights are fully vested, and shall be deemed to have vested fully, immediately upon adoption of theses bylaws. With respect to any directors or officers of the Corporation who commence service following adoption of these bylaws, the rights conferred under this provision shall be present contractual rights and such rights shall fully vest, and be deemed to have vested fully, immediately upon such director or officer commencing service as a director or officer of the Corporation. Any repeal or modification of the foregoing provisions of this Article IX shall not adversely affect any right or protection (i) hereunder of any person in respect of any act or omission occurring prior to the time of such repeal or modification or (ii) under any agreement providing for indemnification or advancement of expenses to an officer or director of the Corporation in effect prior to the time of such repeal or modification.
| -27- |
| Adopted on January 14, 2025 |
Any reference to an officer of the Corporation in this Article IX shall be deemed to refer exclusively to the chairperson of the Board, a vice chairperson of the Board, the president, the secretary, a chief executive officer, a chief financial officer, a treasurer appointed pursuant to Article V of these bylaws, and to any vice president, assistant secretary, assistant treasurer, or other officer of the Corporation appointed by (x) the Board pursuant to Article V of these bylaws or
(y) an officer to whom the Board has delegated the power to appoint officers pursuant to Article V of these bylaws, and any reference to an officer of any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, other enterprise, non-profit entity or employee benefit plan shall be deemed to refer exclusively to an officer appointed by the board of directors (or equivalent governing body) of such other entity pursuant to the certificate of incorporation and bylaws (or equivalent organizational documents) of such other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, other enterprise, non-profit entity or employee benefit plan. The fact that any person who is or was an employee of the Corporation or an employee of any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, other enterprise, non-profit entity or employee benefit plan has been given or has used the title of “vice president” or any other title that could be construed to suggest or imply that such person is or may be an officer of the Corporation or of such other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, other enterprise, non-profit entity or employee benefit plan shall not result in such person being constituted as, or being deemed to be, an officer of the Corporation or of such other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, other enterprise, non-profit entity or employee benefit plan for purposes of this Article IX.
9.10 OTHER INDEMNIFICATION AND ADVANCEMENT OF EXPENSES.
This Article IX shall not limit the right of the Corporation, to the fullest extent and in the manner permitted by law, to indemnify and to advance expenses to other persons serving the Corporation when and as authorized by appropriate corporate action.
ARTICLE X - AMENDMENTS.
Subject to the limitations set forth in the provisions of the certificate of incorporation, the Board is expressly empowered to adopt, amend, alter or repeal the bylaws of the Corporation. The stockholders may not adopt, amend, alter or repeal the bylaws of the Corporation, or adopt any provision inconsistent therewith, unless such action is approved, in addition to any other vote required by law and the certificate of incorporation, by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority in voting power of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon. Notwithstanding any other provisions of these bylaws or any provision of law that might otherwise permit a lesser vote of the stockholders, at any time when the Significant Stockholder beneficially owns (directly or indirectly) in the aggregate less than 50% of the total voting power of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally, in addition to any vote other vote required by the certificate of incorporation, these bylaws or applicable law, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the total voting power of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class, shall be required in order for the stockholders of the Corporation to alter, amend, repeal or rescind, in whole or in part, any provision of these bylaws (including, without limitation, this Article X) or to adopt any provision inconsistent herewith.
| -28- |
| Adopted on January 14, 2025 |
Exhibit 5.1
| 1271 Avenue of the Americas | ||
| New York, New York 10020-1401 | ||
| Tel: +1.212.906.1200 Fax: +1.212.751.4864 | ||
| www.lw.com | ||
![]() |
FIRM / AFFILIATE OFFICES | |
| Austin | Milan | |
| Beijing | Munich | |
| Boston | New York | |
| Brussels | Orange County | |
| Chicago | Paris | |
| Dubai | Riyadh | |
| May 15, 2026 | Düsseldorf | San Diego |
| Frankfurt | San Francisco | |
| Hamburg | Seoul | |
| Hong Kong | Silicon Valley | |
| Houston | Singapore | |
| London | Tel Aviv | |
| Los Angeles | Tokyo | |
| Madrid | Washington, D.C. | |
Vroom, Inc.
4700 Mercantile Dr.
Fort Worth, Texas 76137
| Re: | Registration Statement on Form S-3; Shares of Common Stock, $0.001 par value per share, having an aggregate offering price of up to $ 6.0 million |
To the addressee set forth above:
We have acted as special counsel to Vroom, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the sale through Virtu Americas LLC, as manager (the “Manager”), from time to time by the Company of shares of common stock, $0.001 par value per share, having an aggregate offering price of up to $6.0 million (the “Shares”) pursuant to (i) a registration statement on Form S-3 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) on May 15, 2026 (the “Registration Statement”), (ii) a prospectus dated May 15, 2026 (the “Prospectus”), and (iii) that certain Equity Distribution Agreement, dated as of May 15, 2026, by and between the Company and the Manager (the “Equity Distribution Agreement”). This opinion is being furnished in connection with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Act, and no opinion is expressed herein as to any matter pertaining to the contents of the Registration Statement or related Prospectus, other than as expressly stated herein with respect to the issue of the Shares.
As such counsel, we have examined such matters of fact and questions of law as we have considered appropriate for purposes of this letter. With your consent, we have relied upon certificates and other assurances of officers of the Company and others as to factual matters without having independently verified such factual matters. We are opining herein as to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”), and we express no opinion with respect to any other laws.
| May 15, 2026 | |
| Page 2 |

Subject to the foregoing and the other matters set forth herein, it is our opinion that, upon the completion of all Corporate Proceedings (as defined below) relating to the Shares, when the Shares shall have been duly registered on the books of the transfer agent and registrar therefor in the name or on behalf of the purchasers, or certificates representing the Shares have been manually signed by an authorized officer of the transfer agent and registrar therefor, upon issuance, delivery and payment therefor in an amount not less than the par value thereof in accordance with the Corporate Proceedings and the terms of the Equity Distribution Agreement, the Shares to be issued and sold by the Company pursuant to the Equity Distribution Agreement will be duly authorized by all necessary corporate action of the Company and such Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. In rendering the foregoing opinion, we have assumed that (i) upon the issuance of any of the Shares, the total number of shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding will not exceed the total number of shares of Common Stock that the Company is then authorized to issue under its certificate of incorporation and (ii) certain terms of the Shares to be issued by the Company from time to time will be authorized and approved by the board of directors of the Company or one or more committees thereof established by the board of directors of the Company with the authority to issue and sell Shares pursuant to the Equity Distribution Agreement in accordance with the DGCL, the Company’s certificate of incorporation, the by-laws of the Company and certain resolutions of the board of directors of the Company and one or more committees thereof (with such approvals referred to herein as the “Corporate Proceedings”) prior to issuance thereof. In rendering the foregoing opinion, we have assumed that the Company will comply with all applicable notice requirements regarding uncertificated shares provided in the DGCL.
This opinion is for your benefit in connection with the Registration Statement and may be relied upon by you and by persons entitled to rely upon it pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Act. We consent to your filing this opinion as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form S-3 dated May 15, 2026 and to the reference to our firm contained in the Registration Statement and in the Prospectus under the heading “Legal Matters.” In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.
| Sincerely, | |
| /s/ Latham & Watkins LLP |
Exhibit 23.1
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-3 of Vroom, Inc. of our reports dated March 26, 2026, relating to the consolidated financial statements of Vroom, Inc., appearing in the Prospectus, which is part of this Registration Statement.
We also consent to the reference to our firm under the headings “Experts” in such Prospectus.
/s/ RSM US LLP
Los Angeles, California
May 15, 2026
Ex-Filing Fees
CALCULATION OF FILING FEE TABLES
S-3
Vroom, Inc.
Table 1: Newly Registered and Carry Forward Securities
| Line Item Type | Security Type | Security Class Title | Notes | Fee Calculation Rule |
Amount Registered | Proposed Maximum Offering Price Per Unit |
Maximum Aggregate Offering Price | Fee Rate | Amount of Registration Fee | ||||||||||||
| Newly Registered Securities | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Fees to be Paid | Equity | Common Stock, $0.001 par value per share | (1) | 457(o) | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||||
| Fees to be Paid | Equity | Preferred Stock, $0.001 par value per share | 457(o) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Fees to be Paid | Debt | Debt Securities | 457(o) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Fees to be Paid | Other | Warrants | 457(o) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Fees to be Paid | Other | Units | 457(o) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Fees to be Paid | Unallocated (Universal) Shelf | 457(o) | $ | $ | 6,000,000.00 | 0.0001381 | $ | 828.60 | |||||||||||||
| Total Offering Amounts: | $ | 6,000,000.00 | 828.60 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Total Fees Previously Paid: | 0.00 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Total Fee Offsets: | 0.00 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Net Fee Due: | $ | 828.60 | |||||||||||||||||||
__________________________________________
Offering Note(s)
| (1) | An unspecified number of securities or aggregate principal amount, as applicable, is being registered as may from time to time be offered at unspecified prices, and, in addition, an unspecified number of additional shares of common stock is being registered as may be issued from time to time upon conversion of any debt securities that are convertible into common stock or pursuant to any anti-dilution adjustments with respect to any such convertible debt securities. Includes rights to acquire common stock or preferred stock of the Company under any shareholder rights plan then in effect, if applicable under the terms of any such plan. Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee. No separate consideration will be received for shares of common stock that are issued upon conversion of debt securities or preferred stock or upon exercise of common stock warrants registered hereunder. The aggregate maximum offering price of all securities issued pursuant to this registration statement will not exceed $6,000,000 (the “Maximum Offering Price”). The registration fee has been calculated in accordance with Rule 457(o) under the Securities. |