15. MEZZANINE EQUITY

Redeemable Preferred Stock

On January 10, 2020, the Company entered into a Securities Purchase and Exchange Agreement (the “Securities Purchase and Exchange Agreement”) with 1315 Capital and Ampersand (collectively, the “Investors”) pursuant to which the Company agreed to sell to the Investors an aggregate of $20.0 million in Series B Preferred Stock of the Company, at an issuance price per share of $1,000 (“New Investment Shares”). Pursuant to the Securities Purchase and Exchange Agreement, 1315 Capital agreed to purchase 19,000 shares of Series B Preferred Stock at an aggregate purchase price of $19.0 million and Ampersand agreed to purchase 1,000 shares of Series B Preferred Stock at an aggregate purchase price of $1.0 million.

In addition, the Company agreed to exchange $27.0 million of the Company’s existing Series A convertible preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share, held by Ampersand (the “Series A Preferred Stock”), represented by 270 shares of Series A Preferred Stock with a stated value of $100,000 per share, which represents all of the Company’s issued and outstanding Series A Preferred Stock, for 27,000 newly issued shares of Series B Preferred Stock (such shares of Series B Preferred Stock, the “Exchange Shares” and such transaction, the “Exchange”). Following the Exchange, no shares of Series A Preferred Stock remained designated, authorized, issued or outstanding. The Series B Preferred Stock has a conversion price of $6.00.

Voting

On any matter presented to the stockholders of the Company for their action or consideration at any meeting of stockholders of the Company (or by written consent of stockholders in lieu of meeting), each holder of outstanding shares of Series B Preferred Stock will be entitled to cast the number of votes equal to the number of whole shares of the Company’s common stock into which the shares of Series B Preferred Stock held by such holder are convertible as of the record date for determining stockholders entitled to vote on such matter. Except as provided by law or by the Certificate of Designation of Preferences, Rights and Limitations of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock (the “Certificate of Designation”), holders of Series B Preferred Stock will vote together with the holders of common stock as a single class and on an as-converted to common stock basis.

Director Designation Rights

The Certificate of Designation also provides each Investor with the following director designation rights: for so long such Investor holds at least sixty percent (60%) of the Series B Preferred Stock issued to it on the Issuance Date (as defined therein), such Investor will be entitled to elect two directors to the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”), provided that one of the directors qualifies as an “independent director” under Rule 5605(a)(2) of the listing rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market (or any successor rule or similar rule promulgated by another exchange on which the Company’s securities are then listed or designated) (“Independent Director”). However, if at any time such Investor holds less than sixty percent (60%), but at least forty percent (40%), of the Series B Preferred Stock issued to them on the Issuance Date, such Investor would only be entitled to elect one director to the Board. Any director elected pursuant to the terms of the Certificate of Designation may be removed without cause by, and only by, the affirmative vote of the holders of Series B Preferred Stock. A vacancy in any directorship filled by the holders of Series B Preferred Stock may be filled only by vote or written consent in lieu of a meeting of such holders of Series B Preferred Stock or by any remaining director or directors elected by such holders of Series B Preferred Stock.

On November 15, 2023, Edward Chan, a director designated by 1315 Capital to the Board, provided notice to the Company of his resignation from the Board, effective immediately. Further, on December 7, 2023, Robert Gorman, a director designated by Ampersand to the Board, provided notice to the Company of his resignation as a director and as Chairman of the Board, effective immediately.

Conversion

The Certificate of Designation provides that from and after the Issuance Date and subject to the terms of the Certificate of Designation, each share of Series B Preferred Stock is convertible, at any time and from time to time, at the option of the holder into a number of shares of common stock equal to dividing the amount equal to the greater of the Stated Value of such Series B Preferred Stock, plus any dividends declared but unpaid thereon, or such amount per share as would have been payable had each such share been converted into common stock immediately prior to a liquidation, by six dollars ($6.00) (subject to adjustment in the event of any stock dividend, stock split, combination, or other similar recapitalization affecting such shares). The aggregate number of shares of common stock that may be issued through conversion of all of the New Investment Shares and Exchange Shares is 7,833,334 shares (subject to appropriate adjustment in the event of any stock dividend, stock split, combination or other similar recapitalization affecting such shares).

Mandatory Conversion

If the Company consummates the sale of shares of common stock to the public in a firm-commitment underwritten public offering pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act pursuant to which the price of the common stock in such offering is at least equal to twelve dollars ($12.00) (subject to adjustment in the event of any stock dividend, stock split, combination, or other similar recapitalization affecting such shares) and such offering does not include warrants (or any other convertible security) and results in at least $25,000,000.00 in proceeds, net of the underwriting discount and commissions, to the Company, and the common stock continues to be listed for trading on the Nasdaq Capital Market or another exchange, all outstanding shares of Series B Preferred Stock will automatically be converted into shares of common stock, at the then effective Series B Conversion Ratio (as defined in the Certificate of Designation).

Liquidation

Upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company or Deemed Liquidation (as defined in the Certificate of Designation) (a “Liquidation”), the holders of shares of Series B Preferred Stock then outstanding will be entitled to be paid out of the assets of the Company available for distribution to its stockholders (on a pari passu basis with the holders of any class or series of preferred stock ranking on liquidation on a parity with the Series B Preferred Stock), and before any payment will be made to the holders of common stock or any other class or series of preferred stock ranking on liquidation junior to the Series B Preferred Stock by reason of their ownership thereof, an amount per share of Series B Preferred Stock equal to the greater of (i) the Stated Value of such share of Series B Preferred Stock, plus any dividends declared but unpaid thereon, or (ii) such amount per share as would have been payable had each such share been converted into common stock immediately prior to such Liquidation.

As of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, there were 47,000 Series B issued and outstanding shares of preferred stock, respectively.