9. Convertible notes

 

On November 25, 2024, the Company entered into a Standby Equity Purchase Agreement (the “SEPA”) with YA II PN, Ltd. (the “Investor”), pursuant to which the Company has the right to sell to the Investor up to $50.0 million (the “Commitment Amount”) of shares of the Company’s common stock, subject to certain limitations and conditions set forth in the SEPA, from time to time during the term of the SEPA. In connection with the SEPA, and subject to the conditions set forth therein, the Investor agreed to advance to the Company pursuant to certain convertible promissory notes (the “Convertible Notes”) an aggregate principal amount of up to $21.0 million (the “Pre-Paid Advance”), subject to a 10% original issue discount, to be disbursed to the Company in three tranches:

 

  The first Pre-Paid Advance was disbursed on November 25, 2024 (Promissory Note 1), in the amount of $5.0 million and the Company received $4.5 million in cash, net of the 10% original issue discount.

 

  The second Pre-Paid Advance was disbursed on December 17, 2024 (Promissory Note 2), in the amount of $5.0 million and the Company received $4.5 million in cash, net of the 10% original issue discount.

 

  The third Pre-Paid Advance, originally expected to be advanced in the principal amount of $11.0 million on the second trading day after the initial Registration Statement (as defined in the SEPA) first became effective, is no longer expected to be disbursed, since the initial Registration Statement did not become effective within 75 calendar days of the date of the registration rights agreement entered into between the Company and the Investor in connection with the SEPA, which was a condition precedent to such advance.

 

According to the SEPA, the Company, at its sole discretion, has the right, but not the obligation, to issue and sell to the Investor, and the Investor will subscribe for and purchase the Company’s common stock by the delivery to the Investor of Advance Notices (as defined in the SEPA). In addition, the Investor, at its sole discretion, has the right, but not the obligation, by the delivery to the Company of Investor Notices, to cause an Advance Notice to be deemed delivered to the Investor and the issuance and sale of shares of the Company’s common stock to the Investor as long as there is a balance outstanding under a Convertible Note.

 

The Company agreed to pay a commitment fee of $500,000, representing 1% of the Commitment Amount (the “Commitment Fee”). The Commitment Fee was to be satisfied as follows: (a) Initial Payment: One-half of the Commitment Fee, amounting to $250,000, was paid on December 13, 2024, through the issuance of 43,147 shares of common stock to the Investor. The number of shares of common stock was determined by dividing one-half of the Commitment Fee by the average of the daily volume-weighted average price (“VWAP”) of the Company’s common shares during the three trading days immediately preceding November 25, 2024. The remaining one-half of the Commitment Fee, amounting to $250,000 (the “Deferred Fee”) was initially expected to be paid on the three-month anniversary of the date of the SEPA, either in cash or, at the Company’s election, by way of a Pre-paid Advance. Pursuant to a modification agreement (the “Modification Agreement”) entered into by and between the Company and the Investor, the Company agreed to pay to the Investor a reduced amount of $150,000 in cash on March 24, 2025, and the Investor agreed to accept such reduced amount in full satisfaction of the Deferred Fee.

 

Unless earlier terminated as provided thereunder, the SEPA shall terminate automatically on the earliest of (i) November 25, 2026, provided that if any Convertible Notes are then outstanding, such termination shall be delayed until such date that all Convertible Notes that were outstanding have been repaid, or (ii) the date on which the Investor has made payment of Pre-paid Advances pursuant to SEPA for shares of common stock equal to $50,000,000.

 

Advance Notice

 

If the Company requests a purchase of shares of common stock from the Investor by the delivery of an Advance Notice to the Investor, the purchase price therefor shall be the price per share of common stock obtained by multiplying the market price by (i) 95% in respect of an Advance Notice within an Option 1 Pricing Period (as defined below) or (ii) 97% in respect of an Advance Notice with an Option 2 Pricing Period (as defined below).

The “Option 1 Pricing Period” means the period on the applicable advance notice date with respect to an Advance Notice selecting an Option 1 Pricing Period commencing (i) if submitted to Investor prior to 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time on a trading day, the open of trading on such day or (ii) if submitted to Investor after 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time on a trading day, upon receipt by the Company of written confirmation (which may be by e-mail) of acceptance of such Advance Notice by the Investor (or the open of regular trading hours, if later), and which confirmation shall specify such commencement time, and, in either case, ending on 4:00 p.m. New York City time on the applicable Advance Notice date, or such other time as maybe agreed by the parties. The “Option 1 market price” means the VWAP of the common stock during the Option 1 Pricing Period.

 

The “Option 2 Pricing Period” means the three consecutive trading days commencing on the Advance Notice Date. The Option 2 market price shall mean the VWAP of the common stock during the Option 1 Pricing Period.

 

Investor Notice

 

If the Investor requests a sale from the Company by the delivery of an Investor Notice to the Company, the purchase price, as of any conversion date or other date of determination, will be the lower of (i) $7.5937 per share of common stock, or (ii) 94% of the lowest daily VWAP during the 5 consecutive trading days immediately preceding the conversion date or other date of determination (the “Variable Price”), which Variable Price shall not be lower than the floor price ($1.1880) (the “Floor Price”) then in effect.

 

In March 2025, the Company issued 434,879 shares of common stock, par value of US$0.00001 per share, at a price of US$1.72 per share, for an aggregate amount of US$750,000, representing the conversion of the SEPA loan for Investor Notices pursuant to the SEPA.

 

In May 2025, the Company issued 138,908 shares of common stock, par value of US$0.00001 per share, at a price of US$1.4398 per share, for an aggregate amount of US$200,000, representing the conversion of the SEPA loan for Investor Notices pursuant to the SEPA.

 

Repayments of Convertible Notes

 

Interest accrues on the outstanding principal balance of the Convertible Notes at an annual rate equal to 0% (“Interest Rate”), which Interest Rate shall increase to an annual rate of 18% upon the occurrence of an event of default (for so long as such event remains uncured).

 

If, any time after the issuance date of a Convertible Note, and from time to time thereafter, an Amortization Event (as defined below) has occurred, then the Company shall make monthly payments beginning on the 7th trading day after the Amortization Event Date and continuing on the same day of each successive calendar month until the entire outstanding principal amount shall have been repaid. Each monthly payment shall be in an amount equal to the sum of (i) $5,000,000 of the principal in the aggregate (or the outstanding principal if less than such amount) (the “Amortization Principal Amount”), plus (ii) 10% of the Amortization Principal Amount, and (iii) the accrued and unpaid interest under the Convertible Note as of each payment date.

 

An “Amortization Event” means (i) the daily VWAP is less than the floor price then in effect for five trading days during a period of seven consecutive trading days, (ii) the Company has issued to the Investor, pursuant to the transactions contemplated in a Convertible Note, the other notes and the SEPA, in excess of 99% of the common stock available under the exchange cap of 8,322,636 shares of common stock, which represent 19.99% of the aggregate number of shares common stock issued and outstanding as of the effective date of the SEPA, or (iii) any time after the effectiveness deadline of February 8, 2025, the Investor is unable to utilize a registration statement to resell underlying common stock for a period of ten (10) consecutive trading days (the last day of each such occurrence, an “Amortization Event Date”). 

 

The Convertible Notes are accounted for as a single liability measured at amortized costs. The original issue discount and all the transaction costs related to issuance of the Convertible Notes are capitalized to the carrying amount of the Convertible Notes and presented as a direct deduction from the debt liability. The discount and transaction costs are amortized into expenses based on the effective interest rate method. The effective interest rate related to the Convertible Notes is 13.99%.

 

First Modification

 

Pursuant to the Modification Agreement signed with the Investor on March 21, 2025 (the “First Modification”), the Company confirms, acknowledges, and agrees that an event described in Section 1(c) of the Promissory Notes has occurred (the “Floor Price Event”) and is continuing, because the VWAP was less than the Floor Price for five consecutive Trading Days. The Company acknowledges that the occurrence of the Floor Price Event constitutes an Amortization Event under the Promissory Notes, requiring the Company to make monthly cash payments in accordance with Section 1(c) of the Promissory Notes. In connection with this obligation, the Company agreed to make cash payments on specified dates and in minimum amounts.

The payment schedule began with an initial payment of $850,000 due on March 24, 2025, followed by eight weekly minimum payments of $200,000 each, commencing the week of March 31, 2025, and continuing through the week of May 19, 2025. In total, the Company was obligated to make minimum payments of $2,450,000 under this schedule.

 

The Company has fully settled these minimum payments in accordance with the payment schedule. The Company also retains the option to make payments in excess of the stated minimums, and any such additional amounts are applied first to reduce the original principal balance of the Convertible Promissory Note dated November 25, 2025.

 

In consideration of the covenants and agreements set forth in the Modification Agreement dated March 21, 2025, the Investor agreed, from the date thereof until May 20, 2025, to: (A) defer the Company’s obligation to make monthly payments as a result of the Floor Price Event or otherwise pursuant to Section 1(c) of the Promissory Notes, (B) shall not submit any Conversion Notices or Investor Notices unless the stock is trading at a price per share that is greater than $1.80 at the time any such notice is delivered, and (C) waive the application of the Payment Premium in respect of Company payments made in accordance with Section 2 above; in each case provided that (i) the Company strictly complies with the terms of this Agreement and (ii) there is no occurrence or existence of any Event of Default or any breach of any term of any of the Financing Documents.

 

Since the change of the modified debt instrument is not substantially different from those of the old debt, the First Modification is accounted for as a modification.

 

Second Modification

 

Pursuant to the Modification Agreement signed with the Investor on June 6, 2025 (the “Second Modification”), the Company also agreed to make, cash payments on the dates and in the minimum amounts under the promissory notes in the aggregate, as set forth below. The Company may, at its option, make cash payments in excess of the minimum amounts set forth below. Payment made pursuant to this Agreement shall be applied first to Promissory Note 2, then to Promissory Note 1, unless otherwise agreed by the parties.

 

Date  Minimum
Payment
(Principal +
Premium)
 
June 6, 2025  $1,010,000 
July 16, 2025  $1,010,000 
August 15, 2025  $1,010,000 

 

As of June 30, 2025, the Company had paid the minimum payment of $1,010,000.

 

The present value of the cash flows under the new debt instrument, when discounted at the effective interest rate of the original instrument, exceeds 10% of the present value of the remaining cash flows under the original instrument. As the terms of the modified debt instrument are substantially different from those of the original debt, the Second Modification is accounted for as an extinguishment.

 

As a result, the Company recognized a loss on debt extinguishment of $1,192,431. The effective interest rate applicable to the new debt is 10.25%.

About Debt Disclosures

Debt disclosures detail a company's borrowing structure — the types of instruments, interest rates, maturity schedule, and covenant restrictions that define its financial obligations and flexibility. This section is essential for assessing refinancing risk, interest rate exposure, and the margin of safety against financial distress.

Key signals: the maturity schedule reveals concentration risk — large maturities within 1-2 years during tight credit markets can force dilutive refinancing or asset sales. Compare the fair value of debt against carrying amount to gauge whether the market views the company's credit risk differently than the balance sheet suggests. Watch covenant compliance disclosures for tightening cushions, especially leverage and interest coverage ratios. Variable-rate debt exposure quantifies sensitivity to interest rate changes. Secured versus unsecured mix affects recovery rates and future borrowing capacity. Compare net debt-to-EBITDA against industry peers and covenant limits to assess financial health.