We have agreed to indemnify the underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribute to payments the underwriters may be required to make in respect of any of those liabilities.
Stabilization
In order to facilitate the offering of the common stock, the underwriters may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of the common stock. Specifically, the underwriters may sell more shares than it is obligated to purchase under the underwriting agreement, creating a short position. A short sale is covered if the short position is no greater than the number of shares available for purchase by the underwriters under the option. The underwriters can close out a covered short sale by exercising the option or purchasing shares in the open market. In determining the source of shares to close out a covered short sale, the underwriters will consider, among other things, the open market price of shares compared to the price available under the option. The underwriters may also sell shares in excess of the option, creating a naked short position. The underwriters must close out any naked short position by purchasing shares in the open market. A naked short position is more likely to be created if the underwriter is concerned that there may be downward pressure on the price of the common stock in the open market after pricing that could adversely affect investors who purchase in this offering. As an additional means of facilitating this offering, the underwriter may bid for, and purchase, shares of common stock in the open market to stabilize the price of the common stock. These activities may raise or maintain the market price of the common stock above independent market levels or prevent or retard a decline in the market price of the common stock. The underwriters are not required to engage in these activities and may end any of these activities at any time. These activities may have the effect of raising or maintaining the market price of our common stock or preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of our common stock. As a result of these activities, the price of our common stock may be higher than the price that might otherwise exist in the open market. These transactions may be effected on the Nasdaq Global Market or otherwise and, if commenced, may be discontinued at any time.
Neither we nor the underwriters make any representation or prediction as to the direction or magnitude of any effect that the transactions described above may have on the price of our common stock. In addition, neither we nor the underwriters make any representation that it will engage in these stabilizing transactions or that any transaction, once commenced, will not be discontinued without notice.
Conflicts of Interest
B. Riley Financial, Inc., the parent company of B. Riley is the beneficial owner of approximately 20.6% of our outstanding shares of Common Stock, including shares owned indirectly through B. Riley or other subsidiaries of B. Riley Financial, Inc. Under FINRA Rule 5121(f)(6), a beneficial owner of 10 percent or more of the outstanding common equity of an entity is deemed to “control” such entity. In addition, John A. Fichthorn, a member of our board of directors, was Head of Alternative Investments at B. Riley Capital Management, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of B. Riley Financial, Inc., from April 2017 until May 2020. In May 2020, Mr. Fichthorn became a consultant for B. Riley Capital Management, LLC. Such consultancy concluded on November 30, 2020. As a result of its “control” of the Company under FINRA Rules, B. Riley is deemed to have a “conflict of interest” within the meaning of Rule 5121, and this offering will be conducted in accordance with the requirements of Rule 5121(a).
B. Riley and its affiliates are full service financial institutions engaged in various activities, which may include securities trading, commercial and investment banking, financial advisory, investment management, investment research, principal investment, financing and brokerage activities. B. Riley and its affiliates have, from time to time, performed, and may in the future perform, various financial advisory and investment banking services for us, for which they received or will receive customary fees and expenses.
On November 25, 2020, we entered into the ATM Agreement with B. Riley, under which we may sell shares of common stock from time to time having an aggregate offering price of up to $50,000,000, depending upon market demand, with B. Riley acting as agent and/or principal for sales. No sales have occurred under the ATM Agreement. In connection with this offering, we intend to terminate the ATM Agreement.
In addition, in the ordinary course of their various business activities, B. Riley and its affiliates may make or hold a broad array of investments and actively trade debt and equity securities (or related derivative securities) and financial
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