Exhibit 2.1
Execution Version
Dated August 21, 2024
Business Combination Agreement
by and among
Inflection Point Acquisition Corp. II,
IPXX Merger Sub LLC
and
USA Rare Earth, LLC
Table of Contents
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| | | |
Article I THE TRANSACTIONS | | 4 |
Section 1.01 | The Domestication | | 4 |
Section 1.02 | The Merger. | | 5 |
Section 1.03 | Further Assurances. | | 5 |
| | | |
Article II CONSIDERATION | | 5 |
Section 2.01 | Pre-Effective Time Conversion of Company Class C and Class C-1 Convertible Preferred Units | | 5 |
Section 2.02 | Consideration | | 6 |
Section 2.03 | Conversion of Securities | | 6 |
Section 2.04 | Earnout | | 7 |
Section 2.05 | No Fractional Shares | | 8 |
Section 2.06 | Withholding | | 8 |
| | | |
Article III CLOSING | | 9 |
Section 3.01 | Closing | | 9 |
Section 3.02 | Closing Documents | | 9 |
Section 3.03 | Payment of Expenses | | 9 |
| | | |
Article IV REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY | | 9 |
Section 4.01 | Organization and Standing | | 9 |
Section 4.02 | Authorization; Binding Agreement | | 10 |
Section 4.03 | Capitalization | | 10 |
Section 4.04 | Subsidiaries | | 11 |
Section 4.05 | No Conflict; Governmental Consents and Filings | | 11 |
Section 4.06 | Financial Statements | | 12 |
Section 4.07 | Undisclosed Liabilities | | 13 |
Section 4.08 | Absence of Certain Changes | | 13 |
Section 4.09 | Compliance with Laws | | 13 |
Section 4.10 | Government Contracts | | 14 |
Section 4.11 | Company Permits | | 14 |
Section 4.12 | Litigation | | 14 |
Section 4.13 | Material Contracts | | 14 |
Section 4.14 | Intellectual Property | | 17 |
Section 4.15 | Taxes and Returns | | 19 |
Section 4.16 | Real Property | | 21 |
Section 4.17 | Personal Property | | 22 |
Section 4.18 | Title to Assets | | 22 |
Section 4.19 | Employee Matters | | 22 |
Section 4.20 | Benefit Plans | | 23 |
Section 4.21 | Environmental Matters | | 25 |
Section 4.22 | Transactions with Related Persons | | 26 |
Section 4.23 | Insurance | | 26 |
Section 4.24 | Top Customers and Suppliers | | 27 |
Section 4.25 | Certain Business Practices | | 27 |
Section 4.26 | Mining | | 28 |
Section 4.27 | Investment Company Act | | 29 |
Section 4.28 | Finders and Brokers | | 29 |
Section 4.29 | Independent Investigation | | 30 |
Section 4.30 | Information Supplied | | 30 |
Section 4.31 | No Additional Representations or Warranties | | 30 |
Article V REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE PURCHASER AND MERGER SUB | | 30 |
Section 5.01 | Organization and Standing | | 31 |
Section 5.02 | Authorization; Binding Agreement | | 31 |
Section 5.03 | Governmental Approvals | | 31 |
Section 5.04 | Non-Contravention | | 32 |
Section 5.05 | Capitalization. | | 32 |
Section 5.06 | SEC Filings and Purchaser Financials | | 33 |
Section 5.07 | Absence of Certain Changes | | 34 |
Section 5.08 | Undisclosed Liabilities | | 34 |
Section 5.09 | Compliance with Laws | | 35 |
Section 5.10 | Legal Proceedings; Orders; Permits | | 35 |
Section 5.11 | Taxes and Returns | | 35 |
Section 5.12 | Properties | | 36 |
Section 5.13 | Investment Company Act | | 36 |
Section 5.14 | Trust Account | | 37 |
Section 5.15 | Finders and Brokers | | 37 |
Section 5.16 | Certain Business Practices | | 37 |
Section 5.17 | Insurance | | 38 |
Section 5.18 | Information Supplied | | 38 |
Section 5.19 | Independent Investigation | | 39 |
Section 5.20 | No Additional Representation or Warranties | | 39 |
| | | |
Article VI COVENANTS | | 40 |
Section 6.01 | Access and Information; Cooperation | | 40 |
Section 6.02 | Conduct of Business of the Company | | 41 |
Section 6.03 | Conduct of Business of the Purchaser | | 44 |
Section 6.04 | Annual and Interim Financial Statements | | 47 |
Section 6.05 | Purchaser Public Filings | | 47 |
Section 6.06 | No Solicitation | | 48 |
Section 6.07 | No Trading | | 48 |
Section 6.08 | Notification of Certain Matters | | 49 |
Section 6.09 | Efforts | | 49 |
Section 6.10 | Trust Account | | 50 |
Section 6.11 | Tax Matters | | 51 |
Section 6.12 | Further Assurances | | 52 |
Section 6.13 | The Preparation of Proxy Statement/Registration Statement; Shareholders’ Meeting and Approvals | | 52 |
Section 6.14 | Employee Matters | | 54 |
Section 6.15 | Public Announcements | | 55 |
Section 6.16 | Confidential Information | | 55 |
Section 6.17 | Documents and Information | | 56 |
Section 6.18 | Post-Closing Board of Directors and Executive Officers | | 57 |
Section 6.19 | Indemnification of Directors and Officers; Tail Insurance | | 57 |
Section 6.20 | PIPE Investment | | 58 |
Section 6.21 | Redemption | | 58 |
Section 6.22 | Domestication | | 58 |
Section 6.23 | Adoption of Proxy Statement/Registration Statement | | 58 |
Section 6.24 | Compliance | | 58 |
Section 6.25 | Seventh A&R Company OA | | 58 |
Article VII CLOSING CONDITIONS | | 59 |
Section 7.01 | Conditions to Each Party’s Obligations | | 59 |
Section 7.02 | Conditions to Obligations of the Company | | 59 |
Section 7.03 | Conditions to Obligations of the Purchaser and Merger Sub | | 60 |
Section 7.04 | Frustration of Conditions | | 61 |
| | | |
Article VIII TERMINATION AND EXPENSES | | 62 |
Section 8.01 | Termination | | 62 |
Section 8.02 | Expense Reimbursement | | 63 |
Section 8.03 | Effect of Termination | | 63 |
| | | |
Article IX MISCELLANEOUS | | 64 |
Section 9.01 | No Survival | | 64 |
Section 9.02 | Notices | | 64 |
Section 9.03 | Binding Effect; Assignment | | 64 |
Section 9.04 | Third Parties | | 64 |
Section 9.05 | Governing Law | | 64 |
Section 9.06 | Jurisdiction. | | 65 |
Section 9.07 | WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL | | 65 |
Section 9.08 | Specific Performance | | 65 |
Section 9.09 | Severability | | 65 |
Section 9.10 | Amendment; Waiver | | 65 |
Section 9.11 | Entire Agreement | | 66 |
Section 9.12 | Interpretation | | 66 |
Section 9.13 | Counterparts | | 66 |
Section 9.14 | Legal Representation | | 67 |
Section 9.15 | Waiver of Claims Against Trust | | 68 |
Section 9.16 | Company and Purchaser Disclosure Letters | | 69 |
| | | |
Article X DEFINITIONS | | 69 |
Section 10.01 | Certain Definitions | | 69 |
Exhibits | | |
| | |
Exhibit A | | Form of Purchaser Charter upon Domestication |
Exhibit B | | Form of Purchaser Bylaws upon Domestication |
Exhibit C | | Form of Certificate of Merger |
Exhibit D | | Form of Series A Preferred Stock Certificate of Designation |
Exhibit E | | Form of Domesticated Purchaser Series A Investor Warrants |
Exhibit F | | Form of A&R Registration Rights Agreement |
Exhibit G | | Form of Sponsor Lock-Up Agreement |
Company Disclosure Letter
Section 4.03 – Capitalization
Section 4.04 – Subsidiaries
Section 4.05 – No Conflict; Governmental Consents and Filings
Section 4.06 – Financial Statements
Section 4.07 – Undisclosed Liabilities
Section 4.08 – Absence of Certain Changes
Section 4.09 – Compliance with Laws
Section 4.10 – Government Contracts
Section 4.11 – Company Permits
Section 4.12 – Litigation
Section 4.13 – Material Contracts
Section 4.14 – Intellectual Property
Section 4.15 – Taxes and Returns
Section 4.16 – Real Property
Section 4.17 – Personal Property
Section 4.18 – Title to Assets
Section 4.19 – Employee Matters
Section 4.20 – Benefit Plans
Section 4.21 – Environmental Matters
Section 4.22 – Transactions with Related Persons
Section 4.23 – Insurance
Section 4.24 – Top Customers and Suppliers
Section 4.26 – Mining
Section 4.28 – Finders and Brokers
Section 6.02 – Conduct of Business of the Company
Schedule 10-A – Closing Indebtedness Exceptions
Schedule 10-B – Knowledge Parties
Purchaser Disclosure Letter
Section 5.05 – Capitalization
Section 5.15 – Finders and Brokers
Section 5.17 – Insurance
Section 6.03 – Conduct of Business by the Purchaser
Schedule 10-A – Knowledge Parties
Schedule 10.01-B – Deferred Underwriting Expenses
BUSINESS COMBINATION AGREEMENT
This Business Combination Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of August 21, 2024, by and among (i) Inflection Point Acquisition Corp. II, a Cayman Islands exempted company (which shall transfer by way of continuation and domesticate as a Delaware corporation prior to Closing) (the “Purchaser”), (ii) IPXX Merger Sub, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and a direct wholly owned subsidiary of the Purchaser (“Merger Sub”) and (iii) USA Rare Earth, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”). The Purchaser, Merger Sub and the Company are sometimes referred to herein individually as a “Party” and, collectively, as the “Parties.”
RECITALS:
WHEREAS, the Purchaser is a special purpose acquisition company incorporated as a Cayman Islands exempted company for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses;
WHEREAS, Merger Sub is a newly incorporated Delaware limited liability company, wholly owned by the Purchaser, and was formed for the purpose of effectuating the Merger (as defined below);
WHEREAS, at least one (1) day prior to the Closing Date (as defined below) and subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions of this Agreement (other than those conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at the Closing), the Purchaser shall transfer by way of continuation to and domesticate as a Delaware corporation in accordance with Section 388 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, as amended (the “DGCL”), and Section 206 of the Companies Act (As Revised) of the Cayman Islands (the “Cayman Companies Act,” and such continuation and domestication, the “Domestication”);
WHEREAS, (i) immediately prior to the Domestication, each then issued and outstanding Purchaser Class B Ordinary Share shall convert automatically, on a one-for-one basis, into one (1) Purchaser Class A Ordinary Share (the “Sponsor Share Conversion”) and (ii) in connection with the Domestication, (x) each then issued and outstanding Purchaser Class A Ordinary Share shall convert automatically, on a one-for-one basis, into one (1) share of Domesticated Purchaser Common Stock; (y) each then issued and outstanding warrant of the Purchaser (each a “Cayman Purchaser Warrant”) shall convert automatically into a warrant to acquire one (1) share of Domesticated Purchaser Common Stock (each a “Domesticated Purchaser Warrant”), pursuant to the Warrant Agreement; and (z) each then issued and outstanding unit of the Purchaser (the “Cayman Purchaser Units”) shall be cancelled and will thereafter entitle the holder thereof to one share of Domesticated Purchaser Common Stock and one-half (1/2) of one Domesticated Purchaser Warrant;
WHEREAS, in order to effectuate the Domestication, and subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions of this Agreement (other than those conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at the Closing), the Purchaser shall (a) file all applicable notices, declarations, affidavits, statements of assets and liabilities, shareholder approvals, undertakings and other documents required to be filed, pay all applicable fees required to paid, and cause the satisfaction of all other conditions to deregistration required to be satisfied, in each case, under Section 206 of the Cayman Companies Act and in accordance therewith, (b) file a certificate of domestication and a certificate of incorporation in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “Purchaser Charter upon Domestication”) with the Secretary of State of Delaware and (c) adopt bylaws in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit B (the “Purchaser Bylaws upon Domestication”), and in each case with such changes to the forms attached hereto as Exhibits A and B as may be agreed in writing by the Purchaser and the Company;
WHEREAS, upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, and in accordance with the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act (“DLLCA”) and the Cayman Companies Act, as applicable, the Parties intend to enter into a business combination transaction by which the Company and Merger Sub will file with the Delaware Secretary of State a certificate of merger substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C (the “Certificate of Merger”) in accordance with the applicable provisions of the DLLCA and pursuant thereto Merger Sub will merge with and into the Company (the “Merger,” and together with the Domestication and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents, the “Transactions”), with the Company being the surviving company of the Merger (the Company, in its capacity as the surviving corporation of the Merger, is sometimes referred to as the “Surviving Company”);
WHEREAS, as a condition and inducement to the Company’s willingness to enter into this Agreement, simultaneously with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Sponsor has executed and delivered to the Company the Sponsor Support Agreement, dated as of the date hereof (the “Sponsor Support Agreement”), pursuant to which the Sponsor has agreed to, among other things, (i) vote to adopt and approve this Agreement and the other documents contemplated hereby (including the applicable Ancillary Documents) and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby and (ii) forfeit 60,000 Domesticated Purchaser Warrants for every $1,000,000 by which (A) the gross proceeds at Closing from the Trust Account (after giving effect to the Redemption (as defined herein)) plus (B) the gross proceeds from the Class A Preferred Unit Investment, the Series A Preferred Stock Investment and any PIPE Investment are below $50,000,000, up to a maximum of 1,500,000 Domesticated Purchaser Warrants forfeited (such forfeiture, if any, the “Sponsor Forfeiture”);
WHEREAS, as a condition and inducement to the Purchaser’s willingness to enter into this Agreement, simultaneously with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, certain Members of the Company have executed and delivered to the Purchaser the Member Support Agreement, pursuant to which such Members have agreed to, among other things, support the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents and oppose any Acquisition Proposal or Alternative Transaction (each as defined herein);
WHEREAS, as a condition and inducement to the Parties’ willingness to enter into this Agreement, simultaneously with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, (i) the Company and the investors named therein (the “Class A-1 Preferred Unit Investors”) have executed and delivered that certain securities purchase agreement, dated as of the date of such agreement (the “Class A-1 Preferred SPA”), pursuant to which the Class A-1 Preferred Unit Investors have agreed, among other things, to purchase from the Company, and the Company has agreed, among other things, to sell to the Class A-1 Preferred Unit Investors, the Company Class A-1 Convertible Preferred Units and the Company Class A-1 Preferred Investor Warrants for an (the “Class A-1 Preferred Unit Investment”), and (ii) the Company and the investors named therein (the “Class A-2 Preferred Unit Investors”, and together with the Class A-1 Preferred Unit Investors, the “Class A Preferred Unit Investors”) have executed and delivered that certain securities purchase agreement, dated as of the date of such agreement, (the “Class A-2 Preferred SPA”, and together with the Class A-1 Preferred SPA, the “Class A Preferred SPA”), pursuant to which the Class A-2 Preferred Unit Investors have agreed, among other things, to purchase from the Company, and the Company has agreed, among other things, to sell to the Class A-2 Preferred Unit Investors, the Company Class A-2 Convertible Preferred Units and the Company Class A-2 Preferred Investor Warrants (the “Class A-2 Preferred Unit Investment”, and together with the Class A-1 Preferred Unit Investment, the “Class A Preferred Unit Investment”), substantially concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Agreement;
WHEREAS, as a condition and inducement to the Parties’ willingness to enter into this Agreement, simultaneously with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Purchaser, the Company and the investors named therein (the “Series A Preferred Stock Investors”) have executed and delivered that certain securities purchase agreement, dated as of the date hereof (the “Series A SPA”), pursuant to which the Series A Preferred Stock Investors have agreed, among other things, to purchase from the Purchaser, and the Purchaser has agreed, among other things, to sell to the Series A Preferred Stock Investors, shares of the Purchaser’s 12% Series A Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.0001 per share, having the rights, preferences and privileges set forth in the Purchaser’s Certificate of Designations of Preferences, Rights and Limitations of 12% Series A Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit D (the “Series A Preferred Stock Certificate of Designation,” and such stock the “Domesticated Purchaser Series A Preferred Stock”) and warrants to purchase Domesticated Purchaser Common Stock in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit E (the “Domesticated Purchaser Series A Investor Warrants”), substantially concurrently with the Closing (such investment the “Series A Preferred Stock Investment”);
WHEREAS, from time to time following the date hereof and prior to the Closing, the Purchaser may enter into subscription, purchase or similar agreements with investors, pursuant to which, and on the terms and subject to the conditions of which, such investors will agree to participate in the PIPE Investment (as defined herein);
WHEREAS, simultaneously with the Closing, the Managers, the Members, the Company and the Purchaser shall adopt the Seventh Amended and Restated Operating Agreement of the Company (the “Seventh A&R Company OA”) to, among other things, permit the issuance and ownership of the Company Units as contemplated to be issued and owned upon consummation of the Transactions and admit the Purchaser as the managing member of the Company;
WHEREAS, in connection with the consummation of the Transactions, simultaneously with the Closing, the Sponsor, the Purchaser and the other parties thereto will enter into an Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement (the “A&R Registration Rights Agreement”) in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit F, with such changes thereto as may be agreed in writing by the Purchaser and the Company;
WHEREAS, in connection with the consummation of the Transactions, simultaneously with the Closing, (i) the Sponsor will enter into a lock-up Agreement (the “Sponsor Lock-Up Agreement”) in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit G, with such changes thereto as may be agreed in writing by the Purchaser and the Company;
WHEREAS, the Parties intend that, for U.S. federal, and applicable state and local, income tax purposes, (i) the Domestication qualifies as a “reorganization” described in Section 368(a)(1)(F) of the Code and the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder, (ii) the Sponsor Share Conversion is treated as a “reorganization” described in Section 368(a)(1)(E) of the Code and the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder, and (iii) the Merger qualifies as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code and the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder (each an “Intended Tax Treatment,” and collectively, the “Intended Tax Treatments”), and that this Agreement be, and hereby is, adopted as a “plan of reorganization” for the purposes of Section 368 of the Code and Treasury Regulations Section 1.368-2(g);
WHEREAS, the Managers of the Company have unanimously, pursuant to and in accordance with the Company OA: (a) determined that it is in the best interests of the Company and the Members of the Company, and declared it advisable, for the Company to enter into this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents and consummate the Merger and the other Transactions; and (b) approved this Agreement, the Ancillary Documents and the Transactions on the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement;
WHEREAS, the board of directors of the Purchaser has unanimously: (a) determined that the Merger is in the best interests of the Purchaser and the Purchaser Shareholders, as a whole, and declared it advisable for the Purchaser to enter into this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents providing for the Merger and the other Transactions; (b) approved this Agreement, the Ancillary Documents and the Transactions on the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement; and (c) adopted a resolution recommending the Merger and the other Transactions be adopted by the Purchaser Shareholders;
WHEREAS, the Purchaser, as the sole member of Merger Sub, has approved and adopted this Agreement, the Ancillary Documents, the Merger and the other Transactions; and
WHEREAS, in furtherance of the Merger and in accordance with the terms hereof, the Purchaser shall provide an opportunity to the holders of its public shares to have their public shares redeemed on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement and the Purchaser’s Organizational Documents, which redemption shall occur at least one (1) day prior to the Domestication as set forth in this Agreement (the “Redemption”).
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises set forth above, and the representations, warranties, covenants and agreements contained in this Agreement, and for other consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is acknowledged and agreed to by the Parties, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the Parties hereto agree as follows:
Article I
THE TRANSACTIONS
Section 1.01 The Domestication.
(a) Domestication. Upon the terms and subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions of this Agreement (other than those conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at Closing), and in accordance with the DGCL and the Companies Act, at least one (1) day after the Redemption and at least one (1) day prior to the Closing, the Purchaser shall, in accordance with applicable Law, any applicable rules and regulations of the SEC, Nasdaq and the Purchaser’s Organizational Documents, as applicable, cause the Domestication to become effective, including by (a) filing with the Delaware Secretary of State a certificate of domestication with respect to the Domestication, in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Purchaser and the Company, together with the Purchaser Charter upon Domestication, in each case, in accordance with the provisions thereof and applicable Law, (b) adopting the Purchaser Bylaws upon Domestication, (c) completing and making and procuring all those filings required to be made with the Cayman Registrar in connection with the Domestication, and (d) filing with the Cayman Registrar all applicable notices, declarations, affidavits, statements of assets and liabilities, shareholder approvals, undertakings and other documents required to be filed, pay all applicable fees required to paid, and cause the satisfaction of all other conditions to deregistration required to be satisfied, in each case, under Section 206 of the Cayman Companies Act and obtaining a certificate of de-registration from the Cayman Registrar.
(b) Effect on Purchaser Securities. (i) Immediately prior to the Domestication, (x) pursuant to the Sponsor Support Agreement, each then issued and outstanding Purchaser Class B Ordinary Share shall convert automatically, on a one-for-one basis, into one (1) Purchaser Class A Ordinary Share and (y) each Cayman Purchaser Private Placement Warrant forfeited to the Purchaser by the Sponsor in the Sponsor Forfeiture pursuant to the Sponsor Support Agreement shall be cancelled and shall cease to exist and (ii) in connection with the Domestication, (x) each then issued and outstanding Purchaser Class A Ordinary Share shall convert automatically, on a one-for-one basis, into one (1) share of Domesticated Purchaser Common Stock; (y) each then issued and outstanding Cayman Purchaser Warrant shall convert automatically into one (1) Domesticated Purchaser Warrant, pursuant to the Warrant Agreement; and (z) each then issued and outstanding Cayman Purchaser Units shall be cancelled and will thereafter entitle the holder thereof to one (1) share of Domesticated Purchaser Common Stock and one-half (1/2) of one Domesticated Purchaser Warrant.
Section 1.02 The Merger.
(a) Effective Time. Upon the terms and subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions of this Agreement (other than those conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at Closing), on the Closing Date the Company and Merger Sub shall cause the Merger to be consummated by filing the Certificate of Merger with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, in accordance with the applicable provisions of the DLLCA (the time of such filing, or such later time as may be agreed in writing by the Company, Merger Sub and Purchaser and specified in the Certificate of Merger, being the “Effective Time”).
(b) Merger. At the Effective Time, upon the terms and subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions of this Agreement (other than those conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at Closing), Merger Sub and the Company shall consummate the Merger, pursuant to which Merger Sub shall be merged with and into the Company, following which the separate corporate existence of Merger Sub shall cease and the Company shall continue as the Surviving Company after the Merger and as a direct, wholly-owned subsidiary of the Purchaser. References to the Company for periods after the Effective Time shall include the Surviving Company.
(c) Effect of the Merger. At the Effective Time, the effect of the Merger shall be as provided in this Agreement, the Certificate of Merger and the applicable provisions of the DLLCA. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, and subject thereto, at the Effective Time, all the property, rights, privileges, agreements, powers and franchises, debts, liabilities, duties and obligations of Merger Sub and the Company shall become the property, rights, privileges, agreements, powers and franchises, debts, liabilities, duties and obligations of the Surviving Company, which shall include the assumption by the Surviving Company of any and all agreements, covenants, duties and obligations of Merger Sub and the Company set forth in this Agreement to be performed after the Effective Time.
(d) Governing Documents. At the Effective Time, the operating agreement of the Surviving Company shall be amended and restated to be the Seventh A&R Company OA.
(e) Directors and Officers of the Surviving Company. Immediately after the Effective Time, the initial board of directors and executive officers of the Surviving Company shall be as be determined by the Company and the Purchaser (solely with respect to its designee) pursuant to Section 6.18 and otherwise in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
Section 1.03 Further Assurances. From time to time after the Closing Date, upon the reasonable written request of any Party, each Party shall execute, acknowledge and deliver such further instruments and documents, and take such additional reasonable action, to effect, consummate, confirm or evidence the Transactions and carry out the purpose this Agreement.
Article II
CONSIDERATION
Section 2.01 Pre-Effective Time Conversion of Company Class C and Class C-1 Convertible Preferred Units. Immediately prior to the Effective Time, (i) each Company Warrant exercisable for Company Class C Convertible Preferred Units or Company Class C-1 Convertible Preferred Units that is outstanding and unexercised immediately prior to the Effective Time shall automatically be exercised on a cashless basis in full in accordance with its terms and (ii) immediately thereafter, each issued and outstanding Company Class C Convertible Preferred Unit and each issued and outstanding Company Class C-1 Convertible Preferred Unit (including each Company Class C Convertible Preferred Unit and Company Class C-1 Convertible Preferred Unit issued upon the automatic exercise described in the preceding clause (i)) shall automatically convert into such number of Company Class B Units into which such Company Class C Convertible Preferred Unit or Company Class C-1 Convertible Preferred Unit, as applicable, are convertible in connection with the Merger pursuant to the Company’s Organizational Documents. Upon such conversion, all of the Company Class C Convertible Preferred Units and Company Class C-1 Convertible Preferred Units converted into Company Class B Units shall no longer be outstanding and shall cease to exist, and each holder of Company Class C Convertible Preferred Units and Company Class C-1 Convertible Preferred Units shall thereafter cease to have any rights with respect to such securities.
Section 2.02 Consideration.
(a) Class A Convertible Preferred Units. The consideration to be paid in, or in connection with, the Merger to a holder in respect of each Company Class A-1 Convertible Preferred Unit or Company Class A-2 Convertible Preferred Unit shall be one (1) share of Domesticated Purchaser Series A Preferred Stock (the “Per Class A Convertible Preferred Unit Consideration”).
(b) Company Class A Preferred Investor Warrants. The consideration to be paid in, or in connection with, the Merger to a holder in respect to each Company Class A-1 Preferred Investor Warrants or Company Class A-2 Preferred Investor Warrants shall be such number of Domesticated Purchaser Series A Investor Warrant(s) eligible to purchase a number of shares of Domesticated Purchaser Common Stock equal to the product of (i) the number of Company Class A Units that would be issued upon full exercise of such Company Class A-1 Preferred Investor Warrants or Company Class A-2 Preferred Investor Warrants immediately prior to the Effective Time multiplied by (ii) the Exchange Ratio (the “Class A Preferred Investor Warrant Consideration”).
(c) All Other Company Securities. The aggregate consideration to be paid to holders of all other equity interests of the Company in, or in connection with, the Merger shall be the Aggregate Base Consideration plus, subject to the vesting and forfeiture conditions specified in Section 2.04, the Aggregate Earn-out Consideration. The consideration to be paid in, or in connection with, the Merger in respect of each Company Class A Unit and each Company Class B Unit that is issued and outstanding, or deemed to be issued and outstanding (after giving effect to the conversion described in Section 2.01 and including all Company Class A Units and Company Class B Units deemed to be issued and outstanding pursuant Section 2.03 and Section 2.03(b)(i)), immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be (i) a number of shares of Domesticated Purchaser Common Stock equal to the Exchange Ratio (the “Per Unit Base Consideration”) and (ii) the right to receive, subject to the vesting conditions specified in Section 2.04, a number of shares of Domesticated Purchaser Common Stock equal to the Earn-out Exchange Ratio (the “Per Unit Earn-out Consideration”).
Section 2.03 Conversion of Securities.
(a) Effect on Company Units. At the Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of the Purchaser, Merger Sub, the Company or any holder of securities of any of the foregoing:
(i) each Company Unit that is owned by the Purchaser, Merger Sub or the Company (in treasury or otherwise) immediately prior to the Effective Time (each, an “Excluded Unit”) shall be cancelled and shall cease to exist and no consideration shall be delivered in exchange therefore;
(ii) each Company Incentive Unit that is issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (other than Excluded Units) shall, by virtue of the occurrence of the Merger, (x) to the extent the holder of such Company Incentive Unit is continuously employed by or providing services to the Company from the date hereof through the Effective Time, shall be automatically deemed to be fully vested, (y) regardless of such employment or service status, shall be automatically deemed exchanged or converted (on a cashless basis) into the number of whole Company Class A Units determined in accordance with the Company Incentive Unit Exchange Calculation and in accordance with the terms of such Company Incentive Unit, the Company OA and the Company Incentive Plan, and (z) each Company Class A Unit issued or issuable upon such deemed exchange or conversion shall be treated as being issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time and, pursuant to Section 2.03(a)(iii) (and without duplication) shall be canceled and converted into the right to receive the Per Unit Base Consideration and the Per Unit Earn-out Consideration;
(iii) each Company Class A Unit that is issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (other than Excluded Units) shall be cancelled and converted into the right to receive the Per Unit Base Consideration and the Per Unit Earn-out Consideration;
(iv) each Company Class B Unit that is issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (other than Excluded Units) shall be cancelled and converted into the right to receive the Per Unit Base Consideration and the Per Unit Earn-out Consideration; and
(v) each Company Class A-1 Convertible Preferred Unit and each Company Class A-2 Convertible Preferred Unit that is issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (other than Excluded Units) shall be cancelled and converted into the right to receive the Per Class A Convertible Preferred Unit Consideration.
(b) Effect on Company Warrants. At the Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of the Purchaser, Merger Sub, the Company or any holder of securities of any of the foregoing:
(i) each Company Warrant that is outstanding and unexercised immediately prior to the Effective Time shall automatically be exercised on a cashless basis in full in accordance with its terms immediately prior to the Effective Time, and each Company Class A Unit or Company Class B Unit issued or issuable upon such exercise shall be treated as being issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time and, pursuant to Section 2.03(a)(iii) or (iv) (and without duplication) shall be canceled and converted into the right to receive the Per Unit Base Consideration and the Per Unit Earn-out Consideration; and
(ii) each Company Class A-1 Preferred Investor Warrant and Company Class A-2 Preferred Investor Warrant shall be cancelled and converted into the right to receive a Domesticated Purchaser Series A Investor Warrant exercisable for a number of shares of Domesticated Purchaser Common Stock equal to the product of (i) the aggregate number of Company Class A Units that would be issued upon full exercise of such Company Class A-1 Preferred Investor Warrants or Company Class A-2 Preferred Investor Warrant multiplied by (ii) the Exchange Ratio.
Section 2.04 Earnout.
(a) Earn-out Consideration. Following the Closing, within five (5) Business Days after the occurrence of a Triggering Event, the Purchaser shall issue or cause to be issued to the Eligible Stockholders (based on their respective Pro Rata Shares), the following shares of Domesticated Purchaser Common Stock (which shall be equitably adjusted for any stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, reorganization, recapitalization, reclassification, combination, exchange of shares or other like change or transaction with respect to shares of Domesticated Purchaser Common Stock occurring after the Closing, the “Aggregate Earn-out Consideration”), upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents:
(i) Upon the occurrence of Triggering Event I, a one-time issuance of 5,000,000 Earnout Shares; and
(ii) Upon the occurrence of Triggering Event II, a one-time issuance of 5,000,000 Earnout Shares.
(b) If, during the Earnout Period, there is a Change of Control pursuant to which the Purchaser or its stockholders have the right to receive consideration implying a value per share of Domesticated Purchaser Common Stock (as determined in good faith by the Post-Closing Purchaser Board) of:
(i) less than $15.00, then Section 2.04(a) and this Section 2.04(a)(b) shall terminate and no further shares of Domesticated Purchaser Common Stock shall be issuable thereunder or hereunder;
(ii) greater than or equal to $15.00 but less than $20.00, then, (A) immediately prior to such Change of Control, the Company shall issue 5,000,000 shares of Domesticated Purchaser Common Stock to the Eligible Stockholders (based on their respective Pro Rata Shares) (less any Earnout Shares issued prior to such Change of Control pursuant to Section 2.04(a)(i) or (ii); provided, that such reduction shall not reduce the number of shares required to be issued to a number that is below zero) and (B) thereafter, Section 2.04(a) and this Section 2.04(a)(b) shall terminate and no further Earnout Shares shall be issuable thereunder or hereunder;
(iii) greater than or equal to $20.00, then (A) immediately prior to such Change of Control, the Company shall issue 10,000,000 shares of Domesticated Purchaser Common Stock to the Eligible Stockholders (based on their respective Pro Rata Shares) (less any Earnout Shares issued prior to such Change of Control pursuant to Sections (i) or (ii); provided, that such reduction shall not reduce the number of shares required to be issued to a number that is below zero) and (B) thereafter, Section 2.04(a) and this Section 2.04(a)(b) shall terminate and no further Earnout Shares shall be issuable thereunder or hereunder;
(c) The Common Stock Price targets set forth in the definitions of Triggering Event I and Triggering Event II, and in Sections Section 2.04(a)(i) and (ii) shall be equitably adjusted for any stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, reorganization, recapitalization, reclassification, combination, exchange of shares or other like change or transaction with respect to shares of Domesticated Purchaser Common Stock occurring after the Closing.
(d) No certificates or scrip or shares representing fractional Earnout Shares shall be issued pursuant to this Section 2.04 and such fractional share interests will not entitle the owner thereof to vote or to have any rights of shareholder. In lieu of any fractional Earnout Shares to which any holder of Eligible Stockholder would otherwise be entitled, the Company shall round down to the nearest whole Earnout Share. No cash settlements shall be made with respect to fractional shares eliminated by rounding.
Section 2.05 No Fractional Shares. No fractional shares of Domesticated Purchaser Common Stock, or certificates or scrip representing fractional shares of Domesticated Purchaser Common Stock, will be issued upon the conversion of the Company Securities pursuant to the Merger, and any such fractional shares or interests therein will not entitle the owner thereof to vote or to any rights of a stockholder of Purchaser. Any fractional shares of Domesticated Purchaser Common Stock will be rounded down to the nearest whole number.
Section 2.06 Withholding. Notwithstanding any other provision to this Agreement, the Purchaser, Merger Sub, the Company, and the Surviving Company (and their respective Representatives) shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from any amount payable to any Person pursuant to this Agreement such Taxes that are required to be deducted or withheld with respect to such amounts under the Code, or under any provision of U.S. state or local or non-U.S. tax law. To the extent that amounts are so deducted and withheld and paid over to the appropriate Governmental Authorities, such amounts shall be treated for all purposes under this Agreement as having been paid to the Person in respect of which such deduction and withholding was made. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Purchaser, Merger Sub, the Company and the Surviving Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to provide recipients of consideration with a reasonable opportunity to provide documentation establishing exemptions from or reductions of such withholdings. In the case of any such payment payable to employees of the Company or its Subsidiaries in connection with the Merger treated as compensation, the Parties shall reasonably cooperate to pay such amounts through the Company’s or the relevant Subsidiary’s payroll to facilitate applicable withholding.
Article III
CLOSING
Section 3.01 Closing. Subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth in Article VII, the consummation of the Transactions (other than the transactions contemplated by this Agreement that by their nature are to be satisfied prior to the Closing) (the “Closing”) shall take place by electronic exchange of documents and signatures at a time and date to be specified in writing by the Parties, which date shall be no later than the third (3rd) Business Day after all the Closing conditions in Article VII have been satisfied or waived (other than those conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at the Closing, but subject to the satisfaction or waiver of those conditions), or at such other date, time or place (including remotely) as the Purchaser and the Company may agree (the date and time at which the Closing is actually held being the “Closing Date”).
Section 3.02 Closing Documents.
(a) Purchaser Closing Certificate. Four (4) Business Days prior to the Closing, the Purchaser shall deliver to the Company a written notice setting forth the Purchaser’s good faith calculation of the following: (i) the aggregate amount of cash proceeds that will be required to satisfy any exercise of the Redemptions; (ii) the aggregate amount of the Purchaser Transaction Costs as of the Closing; and (iii) the number of shares of Domesticated Purchaser Common Stock and Domesticated Purchaser Warrants, in each case, to be outstanding as of the Closing and after giving effect to the Domestication, the Redemption and the issuance of securities in connection with the consummation of the PIPE Investment and any forfeiture of Domesticated Purchaser Warrants pursuant to the Sponsor Support Agreement (but excluding any shares of Domesticated Purchaser Common Stock to be issued in the Merger).
(b) Company Closing Certificate. Four (4) Business Days prior to the Closing, the Company shall deliver to the Purchaser a written notice setting forth the Company’s good faith calculation of the aggregate amount of the Company Transaction Costs as of the Closing, including all invoices, wire instructions and applicable Tax forms for each Person owed (and any other supporting details reasonably requested by the Purchaser).
Section 3.03 Payment of Expenses.
(a) Company Transaction Costs. On the Closing Date, the Purchaser shall pay or cause to be paid by wire transfer of immediately available funds all Company Transaction Costs.
(b) Purchaser Transaction Costs. On the Closing Date, the Purchaser shall pay or cause to be paid by wire transfer of immediately available funds all Purchaser Transaction Costs.
Article IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY
Except as set forth in the disclosure letter dated as of the date of this Agreement delivered by the Company to the Purchaser (the “Company Disclosure Letter”) prior to or in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement or as are disclosed in the Company Financials, the Company hereby represents and warrants to the Purchaser and Merger Sub, as of the date hereof and as of the Closing, as follows:
Section 4.01 Organization and Standing. The Company is a Delaware limited liability company duly formed, validly existing and in good standing under the DLLCA and has all requisite power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to carry on its business as now being conducted, except as would not be material to the Target Companies, taken as a whole. Each Subsidiary of the Company is a corporation, limited liability company or other entity duly formed, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of its jurisdiction of organization and has all requisite corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to carry on its business as now being conducted, except as would not be material to the Target Companies, taken as a whole. Each Subsidiary of the Company is duly qualified or licensed and in good standing in the jurisdiction in which it is formed or registered and in each other jurisdiction where it does business or operates to the extent that the character of the property owned, or leased or operated by it or the nature of the business conducted by it makes such qualification or licensing necessary, except where the failure to be so qualified or licensed or in good standing would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. The Company has provided to the Purchaser accurate and complete copies of the Target Companies’ Organizational Documents, each as amended to date and as currently in effect. No Target Company is in violation of any provision of its Organizational Documents in any material respect.
Section 4.02 Authorization; Binding Agreement. The Target Companies have all requisite power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and each Ancillary Document to which it is or is required to be a party, to perform the Target Companies’ respective obligations hereunder and thereunder and to consummate the Transactions. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and each Ancillary Document to which each Target Company is or is required to be a party and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, (a) have been duly and validly authorized by the applicable Target Company’s board of managers (or other similar governing body) in accordance with such Target Companies’ Organizational Documents, the DLLCA, any other applicable Law or any Contract to which such Target Company or any of its members is a party or by which it or its securities are bound and (b) no other proceedings on the part of the Target Companies are necessary to authorize the execution and delivery of this Agreement and each Ancillary Document to which it is a party or to consummate the Transactions. This Agreement has been, and each Ancillary Document to which the Target Companies are or are required to be a party shall be when delivered, duly and validly executed and delivered by the Target Companies and assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery of this Agreement and any such Ancillary Document by the other parties hereto and thereto, constitutes, or when delivered shall constitute, the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Target Companies, enforceable against the Target Companies in accordance with its terms, subject to the Enforceability Exceptions. The Company’s board of Managers, by resolutions duly adopted, has (i) determined that this Agreement, the Ancillary Documents and the Transactions are advisable, and in the best interests of, the Company and its Members and (ii) approved this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents and the Transactions in accordance with the DLLCA, the Company’s Organizational Documents and any other applicable Law. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and each Ancillary Document to which the Company is or is required to be a party and the consummation of the Transactions do not require the approval of the Members in their capacity as such, or by any class or series of Members, or by holders of any other Company Securities, pursuant to the Company OA, the DLLCA and any other applicable Laws.
Section 4.03 Capitalization.
(a) Set forth on Section 4.03(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter is a true, correct and complete list of each record holder of Company Securities and the number and type of Company Securities held by each such holder as of the date hereof, subject to the additional information set forth on Section 4.03(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter.
(b) Prior to giving effect to the Transactions, all of the Company Securities are and will be owned free and clear of any Liens other than those imposed under the Company’s Organizational Documents, applicable securities Laws, or as set forth on Section 4.03(b)(i) of the Company Disclosure Letter, and other than such securities, the Company does not have any other issued or outstanding membership or any other securities. All of the issued and outstanding Company Securities have been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with all applicable Laws, including applicable securities Laws, and the Company’s Organizational Documents, are fully paid and nonassessable and are not subject to, nor were they issued in violation of, any preemptive rights, rights of first refusal or similar rights, except where such violation or failure would not reasonably be expected to be, individually or in the aggregate, material to the Target Companies, taken as a whole. Except as set forth on Section 4.03(b)(ii) of the Company Disclosure Letter, there are no preemptive rights or rights of first refusal or first offer, nor are there any Contracts, commitments, arrangements or restrictions to which the Company or, to the Knowledge of the Company, any of its security holders is a party or bound relating to any membership interests or other Company Securities, whether or not outstanding. Except as set forth on Section 4.03(b)(iii) of the Company Disclosure Letter, there are no outstanding or authorized equity appreciation, phantom equity or similar rights with respect to the Company. There are no voting trusts, proxies, shareholder agreements or any other agreements or understandings with respect to the voting of the Company Securities. Except as set forth in the Company’s Organizational Documents, there are no outstanding contractual obligations of the Target Companies to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any equity interests or securities of such Target Company, nor has any Target Company granted any registration rights to any Person with respect to such Target Companies’ securities. Except as set forth on Section 4.03(b)(iv) of the Company Disclosure Letter, valid 83(b) election has been made with respect to each Company Incentive Unit that is intended to constitute a “profits interest” within the meaning of the Revenue Procedure 93-27, 1993-27 C.B 343 and Revenue Procedure 2001-43, 2001-2 C.B. 1991. Except as disclosed in the Company Financials, since December 31, 2021, the Company has not declared or paid any distribution in respect of its equity interests and has not repurchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired any equity interests of the Company, and the board of managers of the Company has not authorized any of the foregoing.
(c) Except as provided for in this Agreement, as a result of the consummation of the Transactions, no units, warrants, options or other securities of the Target Companies are issuable and no rights in connection with any units, warrants, options or other securities of the Target Companies accelerate or otherwise become triggered (whether as to vesting, exercisability, convertibility or otherwise).
Section 4.04 Subsidiaries. Section 4.04 of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth the names of the Company’s direct and indirect Subsidiaries, and with respect to each Subsidiary (a) their jurisdiction of incorporation or organization, (b) all names other than its legal name under which any Subsidiary does business, as applicable, (c) its authorized shares or other equity interests (if applicable) and (d) the number of issued and outstanding shares or other equity interests and the record holders and beneficial owners thereof. All of the outstanding equity securities of each Subsidiary of the Company are duly authorized and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable (if applicable), and were, in all material respects, offered, sold and delivered in compliance with all applicable securities Laws, and owned by one or more of the Company or its Subsidiaries free and clear of all Liens (other than, if any, those imposed by such Subsidiary’s Organizational Documents, applicable securities Laws, Permitted Liens or immaterial Liens).
Section 4.05 No Conflict; Governmental Consents and Filings.
(a) Except as otherwise described in Section 4.05(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter, subject to the receipt of consents, approvals, authorizations and other requirements set forth in Section 4.02 of the Company Disclosure Letter, the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement (including the consummation by the Target Companies of the Transactions) and the other Ancillary Documents to which the Target Companies are a party by the Target Companies, do not and will not: (i) violate any provision of, or result in the breach of, any applicable Law to which any Target Company is subject or by which any property or asset of any Target Company is bound; (ii) conflict with or violate the Organizational Documents of any Target Company; (iii) violate any provision of or result in a breach, default or acceleration of, require a consent under, or create any right to payment under any Company Material Contract, material Company Real Property Lease (as defined in Section 4.16(b) herein) or Material Current Government Contract, or terminate or result in the termination of any Company Material Contract, material Company Real Property Lease or Material Current Government Contract, or result in the creation of any Lien (other than a Permitted Lien) under any Company Material Contract, material Company Real Property Lease or Material Current Government Contract upon any of the properties or assets of any Target Company, or constitute an event which, after notice or lapse of time or both, would result in any such violation, breach, default, acceleration, termination or creation of a Lien (other than a Permitted Lien); or (iv) result in a violation or revocation of any required Consents, except to the extent that the occurrence of any of the foregoing items set forth in clauses (i), (iii) or (iv) would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to prevent, materially delay or materially impair the ability of the Company to consummate the Transactions or to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
(b) Assuming the truth and completeness of the representations and warranties of the Purchaser and Merger Sub contained in this Agreement, no consent, notice, approval or authorization of, or designation, declaration or filing with, any Governmental Authority is required on the part of the Target Companies with respect to the Target Companies’ execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement, any of the other Ancillary Documents to which it is a party or the consummation by the Target Companies of the Transactions, except for: (i) any consents, notices, approvals, authorizations, designations, declarations or filings, the absence of which would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect; (ii) compliance with any applicable requirements of the securities Laws; and (iii) as otherwise disclosed on Section 4.05(b) of the Company Disclosure Letter.
Section 4.06 Financial Statements.
(a) The Company has provided to the Purchaser true, correct and complete copies of: (i) the unaudited consolidated financial statements of the Target Companies (including, in each case, any related notes thereto) as of and for the (x) year ended December 31, 2023 and (y) six month periods ending June 30, 2024 and June 30, 2023, each consisting of the consolidated balance sheets of the Target Companies as of such dates and the related consolidated income statements and statements of cash flows for the periods then ended (the “Draft Company Financials”) and (ii) the audited consolidated financial statements of the Target Companies (including, in each case, any related notes thereto) as of and for the year ended December 31, 2022, consisting of the consolidated audited balance sheet of the Target Companies as of such date and the related consolidated audited income statement, changes in member equity and statement of cash flows for the fiscal year then ended, audited in accordance with GAAP and PCAOB (the “Audited Company Financials”, together with the Draft Company Financials, the “Company Financials”). The Company Financials were derived in all material respects from the books and records of the Target Companies, which books and records are, in all material respects, true, correct and complete and have been maintained in all material respects in accordance with commercially reasonable business practices. The Company Financials, when delivered, will have been prepared in all material respects, in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the periods covered thereby and present fairly in all material respects, the consolidated financial position, results of operations, income (loss), changes in equity and cash flows of the Target Companies as of the dates and for the periods indicated in such Company Financials in conformity with GAAP (except in the case of the Draft Company Financials that cover a period of less than one year for the absence of footnote disclosures and other presentation items required for GAAP and exclude year-end adjustments which will not be material in amount) and were derived from and accurately reflect in all material respects, the books and records of each of the Target Companies. No Target Company has ever been subject to the reporting requirements of Sections 13(a) and 15(d) of the Exchange Act.
(b) The Target Companies have established and maintain a system of internal controls. Such internal controls are designed to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions are executed in all material respects in accordance with management’s authorization and (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain accountability for each Target Company’s assets.
(c) The Company has not identified and has not received written notice from an independent auditor of (x) any significant deficiency or material weakness in the system of internal controls utilized by the Company (other than a significant deficiency or material weakness that has been previously disclosed in writing to Purchaser and is set forth on Section 4.06(c) of the Company Disclosure Letter), (y) any material fraud that involves the Company’s management or other employees who have a significant role in the preparation of financial statements or the internal controls over financial reporting utilized by the Company or (z) any claim or allegation regarding any of the foregoing.
(d) There are no outstanding loans or other extensions of credit made by any Target Company to any executive officer (as defined in Rule 3b-7 under the Exchange Act) or director of any Target Company.
Section 4.07 Undisclosed Liabilities. There is no liability, debt or obligation (absolute, accrued, contingent or otherwise) of any Target Company of a type required to be reflected or reserved for on a balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP, except for liabilities, debts and obligations: (a) provided for in, or otherwise reflected or reserved for on the Company Financials or disclosed in the notes thereto; (b) incurred in the ordinary course of the operation of business of the Company since the date of the most recent balance sheet included in the Company Financials; (c) incurred in connection with the Transactions; or (d) which would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
Section 4.08 Absence of Certain Changes. Except as set forth on Section 4.08 of the Company Disclosure Letter, and for activities conducted in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, since June 30, 2024 through the date of this Agreement, (a) each Target Company has conducted its business in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, (b) there has not been any Company Material Adverse Effect, and (c) no Target Company has taken any action or committed or agreed to take any action that would be prohibited by Section 6.02(b) (without giving effect to Section 6.02(b) of the Company Disclosure Letter) if such action were taken on or prior to the Closing without the consent of the Purchaser.
Section 4.09 Compliance with Laws. Provided that this Section 4.09 shall not apply with respect to the matters covered by Section 4.25:
(a) Each Target Company has, during the past five (5) years, complied with, and is not currently in violation of, any applicable Law with respect to the conduct of its business, or the ownership or operation of its business, except for failures to comply or violations which, individually or in the aggregate, have not been and would not reasonably expected to be, material to the Target Companies, taken as a whole. Except as disclosed on Section 4.09 of the Company Disclosure Letter, no written, or to the Knowledge of the Company, oral notice of non-compliance with any applicable Law has been received that, individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to be material to the Target Companies, taken as a whole.
(b) Each Target Company is in possession of all franchises, grants, authorizations, licenses, permits, consents, certificates, approvals and orders, or other Consents from Governmental Authorities and/or third Persons (the “Approvals”) necessary to own, lease and operate the properties it purports to own, operate or lease and to carry on its business as it is now being conducted and is in compliance with all terms and conditions of such Approvals, in each case, except where the failure to have such Approvals or be in compliance therewith, individually or in the aggregate, have not been and would not reasonably be expected to be, material to the Target Companies, taken as a whole.
Section 4.10 Government Contracts. Section 4.10 of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth a list of each Contract with a Governmental Authority in existence as of the date hereof that involves aggregate payments to the Target Companies that are reasonably expected to be in excess of $500,000 (each, a “Material Current Government Contract”). Each Material Current Government Contract was legally awarded to the Target Companies, as applicable. Except as would not reasonably be expected to be material to the Target Companies, taken as a whole, and except for any Material Current Government Contract that is terminated or expires following the date hereof in accordance with its terms, all Material Current Government Contracts are: (i) a legal, valid binding obligation of the Target Companies, as applicable; and (ii) in full force and effect and enforceable against the Target Companies, as applicable, in accordance with its terms, in each case subject to the Enforceability Exceptions.
Section 4.11 Company Permits. Each Target Company (and its employees who are legally required to be licensed by a Governmental Authority in order to perform his or her duties with respect to his or her employment with any Target Company), holds all material Permits required to own, lease and operate its assets and properties as presently owned, leased or operated (collectively, the “Company Permits”). The Company has made available to the Purchaser true, correct and complete copies of all the Company Permits, all of which are listed on Section 4.11 of the Company Disclosure Letter. To the Knowledge of the Company, each Company Permit is in full force and effect and will upon its termination or expiration will be timely renewed or reissued upon terms and conditions substantially similar to its existing terms and conditions and there are no Legal Proceedings pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened, that seek the revocation, cancellation, limitation, suspension, restriction, adverse modification or termination of any Company Permit. Each Target Company has at all times operated in material compliance with all Company Permits applicable to such Target Company.
Section 4.12 Litigation. Except as described on Section 4.12 of the Company Disclosure Letter, there is no (a) Legal Proceeding of any nature currently pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened, against any Target Company or any of its properties or assets, or, to the Knowledge of the Company, any of the directors or officers of any Target Company with regard to their actions as such, in which the reasonably expected damages are in excess of $1,000,000 or which otherwise is reasonably expected to result in an Order for specific performance, an injunction or other equitable relief; (b) to the Knowledge of the Company, there are no pending or threatened, audits, examinations or investigations by any Governmental Authority against any Target Company that, individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to be material to the Target Companies, taken as a whole; (c) pending or threatened in writing Legal Proceedings by any Target Company against any third party that, individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to be material to the Target Companies, taken as a whole; (d) settlements or similar agreements that impose any material ongoing obligations or restrictions on any Target Company that, individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to be material to the Target Companies, taken as a whole; and (e) Orders imposed or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened to be imposed upon any Target Company or any of their respective properties or assets, or, to the Company’s Knowledge, any of the directors or officers of any Target Company with regard to their actions as such that, individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to be material to the Target Companies, taken as a whole.
Section 4.13 Material Contracts.
(a) Section 4.13(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth a true, correct and complete list of all Contracts described in clauses (i) through (xviii) below, to which, as of the date of this Agreement, any Target Company is a party or by which any Target Company, or any of its properties or assets are bound or affected (each Contract required to be set forth on Section 4.13(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter, a “Company Material Contract”). True, correct, complete copies of the Company Material Contracts, including amendments thereto, have been delivered or made available to the Purchaser. The Company Material Contracts include:
(i) Each Contract that contains covenants that limit the ability of any Target Company (or purports to bind any Affiliate thereof) (A) to compete in any line of business or with any Person or in any geographic area or to sell, or provide any service or product, including any non-competition covenants, exclusivity restrictions, rights of first refusal or most-favored pricing clauses or (B) to purchase or acquire an interest in any other Person;
(ii) Each joint venture Contract, profit-sharing agreement, partnership, limited liability company agreement with a third party or other similar agreement or arrangement relating to the formation, creation, operation, management or control of any partnership or joint venture;
(iii) Each Contract that involves any exchange traded, over the counter or other swap, cap, floor, collar, futures contract, forward contract, option or other derivative financial instrument or Contract, based on any commodity, security, instrument, asset, rate or index of any kind or nature whatsoever, whether tangible or intangible, including currencies, interest rates, foreign currency and indices;
(iv) Each Contract that is reasonably anticipated to involve the acquisition or disposition, directly or indirectly (by merger or otherwise), of assets with an aggregate value in excess of $500,000 (other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice) or shares or other equity interests of any Target Company or another Person;
(v) Each Contract for the acquisition of any Person or any business division thereof or the disposition of any material assets of any Target Company (other than in the ordinary course of business), in each case, whether by merger, purchase or sale of stock or assets or otherwise (other than Contracts for the purchase or sale of inventory or supplies entered into in the ordinary course of business) occurring in the last three (3) years and/or relating to pending or future acquisitions or dispositions, in each case, involving aggregate payments in excess of $500,000;
(vi) Each obligation to make payments in excess of $1,000,000, contingent or otherwise, arising out of the prior acquisition of the business, assets or stock of other Persons;
(vii) Each lease, rental agreement, installment and conditional sale agreement, or other Contract that, in each case, (A) provides for the ownership of, leasing of, title to, use of, or any leasehold or other interest in any real or personal property, and (B) involves aggregate annual payments in excess of $400,000 for agreements related to real property and $1,000,000 for agreements related to personal property;
(viii) Each Contract that by its terms, individually or with all related Contracts, that is reasonably anticipated to call for aggregate payments or receipts by the Target Companies under such Contract or Contracts of at least $1,000,000 per year or $5,000,000 in the aggregate;
(ix) Each Contract with any Top Customer or Top Supplier (other than purchase orders, invoices, statements of work and non-disclosure or similar agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice that do not contain any material terms relating to the Contract underlying the applicable Top Customer or Top Supplier relationship);
(x) Each collective bargaining (or similar) agreement or Contract between the Target Company on one hand, and any labor union or other body representing employees of the Target Company on the other hand;
(xi) Each Contract that is reasonably anticipated to obligate the Target Companies to provide continuing indemnification or a guarantee of obligations of a third party after the date hereof in excess of $1,000,000;
(xii) Each Contract that is between any Target Company and any directors, officers or employees of a Target Company that provide for change in control, retention or similar payments or benefits contingent upon, accelerated by or triggered by the consummation of the Transactions;
(xiii) Each Contract that obligates the Target Companies to make any capital commitment or expenditure in excess of $1,000,000 (including pursuant to any joint venture);
(xiv) Each Contract that relates to a material settlement entered into within three (3) years prior to the date of this Agreement or under which any Target Company has outstanding obligations (other than customary confidentiality obligations) in excess of $1,000,000;
(xv) Any Contract that provides another Person (other than another Target Company or any manager, director or officer of any Target Company) with a power of attorney to act on behalf of any Target Company or to act on behalf of any manager, director or officer of any Target Company with respect to any Target Company;
(xvi) Each Contract which (A) contains any assignment or any covenant not to assert or enforce, any Intellectual Property material to the business of any Target Company; (B) pursuant to which any Intellectual Property material to the business of any Target Company is or was developed by, with or for any Target Company; or (C) pursuant to which any of the Target Companies either (1) grants to a third Person (I) a license, immunity, or other right in or to any Intellectual Property material to the business of any Target Company or (II) an exclusive license, immunity, or other right in or to any Owned Intellectual Property, or (2) is granted by a third Person a license, immunity, or other right in or to any Intellectual Property or IT Assets material to the business of any Target Company, in the case of both (1) and (2) excluding (unless they otherwise qualify as Company Material Contracts under a different subsection of this Section 4.13): (w) non-exclusive licenses of Owned Intellectual Property granted to suppliers, customers or end users in the ordinary course of business; (x) licenses of Open Source Software; (y) Off-the-Shelf Software; and (z) invention assignment and confidentiality agreements with employees and contractors on standard forms made available to Purchaser and without any material deviations or exceptions;
(xvii) Each Contract involving transactions with an Affiliate of any Target Company (other than employment agreements, employee confidentiality and invention assignment agreements, equity or incentive equity documents and Organizational Documents); and
(xviii) Each Contract that is a settlement, conciliation, or similar agreement with any Governmental Authority or pursuant to which any Target Company will have material outstanding obligations after the date hereof, and excluding any such agreements that are releases entered into with former employees or independent contractors in the ordinary course of business.
(b) Except as disclosed in Section 4.13(b) of the Company Disclosure Letter, with respect to each Company Material Contract or for any Company Material Contract that is terminated or expires following the date hereof in accordance with its terms: (i) such Company Material Contract is valid and binding and enforceable in all respects against the Target Company party thereto and, to the Knowledge of the Company, each other party thereto, and is in full force and effect (except, in each case, as such enforcement may be limited by the Enforceability Exceptions); (ii) except as would not reasonably be expected to be material to the Target Companies, taken as a whole the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will not affect the validity or enforceability of any Company Material Contract; (iii) no Target Company is in breach of or default under, in any material respect, and, to the Knowledge of the Company, no event has occurred that with the passage of time or giving of notice or both would constitute a material breach of or default under by any Target Company, or permit termination or acceleration by the other party thereto, under such Company Material Contract; (iv) to the Knowledge of the Company, no other party to such Company Material Contract is in breach or default in any material respect, and, to the Knowledge of the Company no event has occurred that with the passage of time or giving of notice or both would constitute such a material breach or default by such other party, or permit termination or acceleration by any Target Company, under such Company Material Contract; (v) no Target Company has received written or, to the Knowledge of the Company, oral notice of an intention by any party to any such Company Material Contract that provides for a continuing obligation by any party thereto to terminate such Company Material Contract or amend the terms thereof, other than modifications in the ordinary course of business that do not adversely affect any Target Company in any material respect; and (vi) no Target Company has waived any material rights under any such Company Material Contract.
Section 4.14 Intellectual Property.
(a) Section 4.14(a)(i) of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth a true, accurate, and complete list of: all U.S. and foreign registered or issued Intellectual Property and applications owned by a Target Company (“Company Registered IP”), specifying as to each item, as applicable: (A) the nature of the item, including the title, (B) the owner of the item, (C) the jurisdictions in which the item is issued or registered or in which an application for issuance or registration has been filed and (D) the issuance, registration or application numbers and dates. Each item of Company Registered IP is subsisting, and to the Knowledge of the Company, valid and enforceable. Each Target Company owns, free and clear of all Liens (other than Permitted Liens or any Liens set out on Section 4.14(a)(ii) of the Company Disclosure Letter), has valid and enforceable rights in, and has the right to use, sell, license, transfer or assign, all Intellectual Property currently used, licensed or held for use by such Target Company, and previously used or licensed by such Target Company. No item of Company Registered IP that consists of a pending Patent application fails to identify all pertinent inventors, and for each Patent and Patent application in the Company Registered IP, the Target Companies have obtained valid present assignments of inventions from each inventor. Except as set forth on Section 4.14(a)(iii) of the Company Disclosure Letter, all Company Registered IP is owned exclusively by the applicable Target Company without obligation to pay royalties, licensing fees or other fees, or otherwise account to any third party with respect to such Company Registered IP, and such Target Company has recorded assignments of all Company Registered IP.
(b) Each Target Company has a valid and enforceable written license or other valid right to use all other Company IP, including Intellectual Property that is the subject of the inbound Company IP Licenses applicable to such Target Company. The inbound Company IP Licenses include all of the licenses, sublicenses and other agreements or permissions necessary to operate the Target Companies as presently conducted. Each Target Company has performed all obligations imposed on it in the Company IP Licenses, has made all payments required to date, and such Target Company is not, nor, to the Knowledge of the Company, is any other party thereto, in breach or default thereunder, nor has any event occurred that with notice or lapse of time or both would constitute a default thereunder. The continued use by the Target Companies of the Intellectual Property that is the subject of any Company IP License in the same manner that it is currently being used is not restricted by any applicable license of any Target Company. No Target Company is party to any Contract that requires a Target Company to assign to any Person any or all of its rights in any Intellectual Property developed by a Target Company under such Contract.
(c) No Legal Proceeding has been made in the last six (6) years or is pending or, to the Company’s Knowledge, threatened against a Target Company that challenges the validity, enforceability, ownership, or right to use, sell, license or sublicense, or that otherwise relates to, any Owned Intellectual Property, nor, to the Knowledge of the Company, is there any reasonable basis for any such Legal Proceeding. No Target Company has received any written or, to the Knowledge of the Company, oral notice or claim asserting that any infringement, misappropriation, violation, dilution or unauthorized use of the Intellectual Property of any other Person is or may be occurring or has or may have occurred, as a consequence of the business activities of any Target Company, nor to the Knowledge of the Company is there a reasonable basis therefor. There are no Orders to which any Target Company is a party or is otherwise bound that (i) restrict the rights of a Target Company to use, transfer, license or enforce any Intellectual Property owned by a Target Company, (ii) restrict the conduct of the business of a Target Company in order to accommodate a third Person’s Intellectual Property, or (iii) other than the outbound Company IP Licenses, grant any third Person any right with respect to any Intellectual Property owned by a Target Company. No Target Company is currently infringing, or has, in the past, infringed, misappropriated or violated any Intellectual Property of any other Person in any material respect in connection with the ownership, use or license of any Owned Intellectual Property or otherwise in connection with the conduct of the respective businesses of the Target Companies. To the Company’s Knowledge, no third party is currently, or in the past six (6) years has infringed upon, misappropriated or otherwise violated any Owned Intellectual Property.
(d) No current or former officers, employees, independent contractors, or other third parties employed or engaged by a Target Company has any ownership interest in any Owned Intellectual Property and no Person has claimed or asserted in writing any ownership interest or other rights in or to any Owned Intellectual Property. To the Company’s Knowledge, there has been no violation of a Target Company’s policies or practices related to protection of Company IP or any confidentiality or nondisclosure Contract relating to the Intellectual Property owned by a Target Company. To the Company’s Knowledge, none of the employees of any Target Company is obligated under any Contract, or subject to any Order, that would materially interfere with the use of such employee’s reasonable efforts to promote the interests of the Target Companies, or that would conflict with the business of any Target Company as presently conducted. Each Target Company has taken commercially reasonable efforts and security measures in order to maintain, preserve and protect all material Owned Intellectual Property, including to protect the secrecy, confidentiality and value of the material Company IP. All Persons who have participated in or contributed to the creation or development of any material Owned Intellectual Property have executed written agreements pursuant to which all of such Person’s right, title and interest in and to any such Owned Intellectual Property has been irrevocably assigned (by a present tense assignment) to one or more of the Target Companies (or all such right, title, and interest vested in one or more of the Target Companies by operation of Law).
(e) Each Target Company is in all material respects in compliance with all licenses governing any Open Source Software that is incorporated into, used, intermingled, or bundled with any material Company Software. No Open Source Software is or has been included, incorporated or embedded in, linked to, combined, made available or distributed with, or used in the development, maintenance, operation, delivery or provision of any Company Software in a manner that requires any Target Company to: (i) disclose, contribute, distribute, license or otherwise make available to any Person (including the open source community) any source code to such Company Software; (ii) license any such Company Software or other material Owned Intellectual Property for making modifications or derivative works; (iii) disclose, contribute, distribute, license or otherwise make available to any Person any such Company Software or other material Owned Intellectual Property for no or nominal charge; or (iv) grant a license to, or refrain from asserting or enforcing any of, its Patents (“Copyleft Terms”).
(f) No government funding, resources or assistance, nor any facilities of a university, college, other educational institution, or similar institution, or research center or private or commercial third parties in their respective research and development activities were used by any Target Company in the development of any Owned Intellectual Property. No Governmental Authority has any (i) ownership interest or exclusive license in or to any Owned Intellectual Property, (ii) “unlimited rights” (as defined in 48 C.F.R. § 52.227-14 and in 48 C.F.R. § 252.227-7013(a)) in or to any of the Company Software, or (iii) “march in rights” (pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 203) in or to any Patents constituting material Owned Intellectual Property. No Target Company is a member of or party to, or has participated in any patent pool, industry standards body, trade association or other organization pursuant to the rules of which any Target Company is obligated to license or offer to license any existing or future Owned Intellectual Property to any Person.
(g) To the Knowledge of the Company, no Person has obtained unauthorized access to information, data (including personally identifiable information), IT Assets or Software in the possession of a Target Company or in their custody, control, or otherwise held or processed on their behalf nor has there been any loss, damage, disclosure, use, breach of security, or other compromise of the security, confidentiality or integrity of such IT Assets, Software, information, or data. To the Knowledge of the Company, no Target Company has experienced any material information security incident that has compromised the integrity or availability of the information technology, operational technology, or software applications the Target Companies own, operate, or outsource or the information and data thereon. Except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, no material written or oral complaint, or notice of any claims or investigations, relating to an improper use or disclosure of, or a breach in the security of, any such information or data or relating to any information security-related incident has been received by a Target Company nor has a Target Company notified in writing, or been required by applicable Laws or Contract to notify in writing, any person or entity of any personal data or information security-related incident.
(h) The consummation of any of the Transactions will not result in (i) any material violation of any data privacy or cybersecurity laws; or (ii) the material breach, material modification, cancellation, termination, suspension of, or acceleration of any payments with respect to, or release of source code because of (a) any Contract providing for the license or other use of material Intellectual Property owned by a Target Company, or (b) any Company IP License.
Section 4.15 Taxes and Returns. Except in each case as set forth on Section 4.15 of the Company Disclosure Letter:
(a) Each Target Company (i) has or will have timely filed, or caused to be timely filed, all income and other material Tax Returns required to be filed by it (taking into account all valid extensions of time to file), and all such Tax Returns are true, accurate, correct and complete in all material respects, and (ii) has timely paid, collected, withheld or remitted, or caused to be timely paid, collected, withheld or remitted, all income and other material Taxes required to be paid, collected, withheld or remitted by it, whether or not such Taxes are shown as due and payable on any Tax Return. Each Target Company has complied in all material respects with all applicable Laws relating to Tax.
(b) There is no Legal Proceeding currently pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened against a Target Company by a Governmental Authority in a jurisdiction where the Target Company does not file any Tax Returns or a particular type of Tax Return or pays any Tax or a particular type of Tax that it is or may be subject to such Tax or required to file such Tax Return in that jurisdiction.
(c) There is no claim, assessment, audit, examination, investigation or other Legal Proceeding that is pending, or to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened against a Target Company in respect of any Tax, and no Target Company has been notified in writing of any proposed Tax claim, deficiency or assessment against it. No Target Company is currently contesting any material Tax liability before any Governmental Authority.
(d) There are no Liens with respect to any Taxes upon any Target Company’s assets, other than Permitted Liens.
(e) Each Target Company has timely and properly collected or withheld all Taxes required to be collected or withheld by it, timely remitted such Taxes to the appropriate Governmental Authorities, and otherwise complied in all material respects with all applicable withholding and related reporting requirements with respect to such Taxes.
(f) No Target Company has requested or consented to any waivers or extensions of any applicable statute of limitations for the collection or assessment of any Taxes, which waiver or extension (or request thereof) is outstanding or pending.
(g) No Target Company will be required to include any material item of income in, or exclude any material item of deduction from, taxable income for any taxable period (or portion thereof) beginning after the Closing Date, as a result of: (i) an installment sale or open transaction disposition that occurred on or prior to the Closing Date; (ii) any change in method of accounting on or prior to the Closing Date, including by reason of the application of Section 481 of the Code (or any analogous provision of state, local or foreign Law) or the use of an improper method of accounting on or prior to the Closing Date; (iii) any prepaid amounts received or deferred revenue realized or received on or prior to the Closing Date; (iv)any intercompany transaction described in Treasury Regulations under Section 1502 of the Code (or any corresponding or similar provision of state, local or foreign Law); or (v) any “closing agreement” pursuant to Section 7121 of the Code or any other agreement or arrangement with a Governmental Authority relating to Taxes.
(h) No Target Company has participated in or been a party to, or sold, distributed or otherwise promoted, any “reportable transaction,” as defined in Treasury Regulations Section 1.6011-4 (or any similar or corresponding provision of state, local or foreign Law).
(i) No Target Company has been a member of an affiliated, combined, consolidated, unitary or other group for Tax purposes. No Target Company has any Liability or potential Liability for the Taxes of another Person (other than another Target Company) (i) pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.1502-6 (or any similar or corresponding provision of U.S. state or local Tax Law) or under any other applicable Tax Law, (ii) as a transferee or successor, or (iii) by Contract, indemnity or otherwise (excluding customary commercial Contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business the primary purpose of which is not the sharing of Taxes). No Target Company is a party to or bound by any Tax indemnity agreement, Tax sharing agreement or Tax allocation agreement or similar agreement, arrangement or practice (excluding customary commercial Contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business the primary purpose of which is not the sharing of Taxes) with respect to Taxes.
(j) No Target Company has requested, or is it the subject of or bound by any private letter ruling, technical advice memorandum, closing agreement or similar ruling, memorandum or agreement with any Governmental Authority with respect to any Taxes, nor is any such request pending or outstanding.
(k) The Company is, and has at all times since February 11, 2024 been, classified as a C corporation for U.S. federal state and local income tax purposes. The Company was at all times since its formation until and through February 10, 2024, classified as a disregarded entity or partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes. The U.S. federal income tax classification of each of the Company’s Subsidiaries is as set forth on Section 4.15(k) of the Company Disclosure Letter.
(l) No Target Company has ever owned (directly or indirectly) (i) any interest in a “controlled foreign corporation” (within the meaning of Section 957 of the Code) or (ii) any interest in a “passive foreign investment company” (within the meaning of Section 1297 of the Code).
(m) No Target Company has ever had a permanent establishment, office, branch, fixed place of business or other taxable presence in any country other than the country of its organization.
(n) No Target Company has (i) made an election to defer the payment of any “applicable employment taxes” (as defined in Section 2302(d)(1) of the CARES Act) pursuant to Section 2302 of the CARES Act or made any such deferral or election pursuant to the presidential memorandum regarding Deferring Payroll Tax Obligations in Light of the Ongoing COVID-19 Disaster signed on August 8, 2020 or (ii) obtained a loan under the Paycheck Protection Program under the CARES Act, in each case, that remains outstanding.
(o) No Target Company has been a party to any transaction that was purported or intended to be treated as a distribution of stock qualifying, in whole or in part, for tax-free treatment under Section 355 of the Code (or any corresponding or similar provision of U.S. state or local Tax Law) within the past three (3) years.
(p) No Target Company has knowingly taken any action, nor is aware of any fact or circumstance, that would reasonably be expected to prevent the relevant portions of the Transactions from qualifying for their respective Intended Tax Treatments.
Section 4.16 Real Property.
(a) Section 4.16(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth a true, correct, and complete listing of all real property owned by the Target Companies (the “Company Owned Properties”), including the street address and owner thereof. The Company has made available to the Purchaser true, correct, and complete copies of the deeds and other instruments in its possession by which the applicable Target Company acquired such Company Owned Properties, together with any title insurance policies, the most recent title reports and surveys with respect to such Company Owned Property to the extent such items are in its possession. The applicable Target Company has good and indefeasible fee simple title to each such Company Owned Property free and clear of all Liens (other than Permitted Liens). Other than the Company Owned Properties, the Target Companies do not own any real property. There are no parties in possession, as tenants, licensees or, to the Knowledge of the Company, otherwise, or parties having any option, right of first offer or first negotiation or right of first refusal or other similar rights granted to third parties to purchase or lease the Company Owned Properties or any portion thereof or interest therein. There is no condemnation or eminent domain proceedings pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened with respect to any of the Company Owned Properties or any portion thereof.
(b) Section 4.16(b) of the Company Disclosure Letter contains a true, correct and complete list of all premises currently leased or subleased or otherwise used or occupied (but not owned) by a Target Company for the operation of the business of a Target Company (the “Company Leased Real Properties”), and of all current leases, lease guarantees, agreements and documents related thereto, including all amendments, terminations and modifications thereof, waivers thereto or guarantees thereof (collectively, the “Company Real Property Leases”), including the street address thereof (if applicable) and parties to such Company Real Property Leases. The Company has provided to the Purchaser a true and complete copy of each of the Company Real Property Leases. Each Company Real Property Lease is valid and binding and enforceable in all respects against the Target Company party thereto and, to the Knowledge of the Company, each other party thereto, and is in full force and effect (except, in each case, as such enforcement may be limited by the Enforceability Exceptions). With respect to each Company Real Property Lease, (i) no Target Company is in breach of or default, in any material respect, under any Company Real Property Lease, (ii) no event has occurred and no circumstance exists which, if not remedied, and whether with or without notice or the passage of time or both, would result in such a material breach or default by a Target Company and, (iii) to the Knowledge of the Company, no other party to such Company Real Property Lease is in breach or default, in any material respect, and no event has occurred that with the passage of time or giving of notice or both would constitute such a material breach or default by such other party, or permit termination or acceleration by any Target Company, under such Company Real Property Lease. No Target Company has leased, licensed or otherwise granted use or occupancy rights with respect to any Company Leased Real Property or any portion thereof to any third party. No party to any Company Real Property Lease has exercised any termination rights with respect thereto. To the Knowledge of the Company there is no condemnation or eminent domain proceedings pending or threatened with respect to any of the Company Leased Real Properties or any portion thereof.
Section 4.17 Personal Property. Each item of Personal Property which is currently owned, used or leased by a Target Company with a book value or fair market value of greater than $500,000 is set forth on Section 4.17 of the Company Disclosure Letter, along with, to the extent applicable, a list of lease agreements, lease guarantees, security agreements and other agreements related thereto, including all amendments, terminations and modifications thereof or waivers thereto (“Company Personal Property Leases”). Except as set forth in Section 4.17 of the Company Disclosure Letter, all such items of Personal Property are in operating condition (reasonable wear and tear excepted), as are reasonably suitable for their intended use in the business of the Target Companies. The Company has provided to the Purchaser a true and complete copy of each of the Company Personal Property Leases. To the Knowledge of the Company, the Company Personal Property Leases are valid, binding and enforceable in accordance with their terms and are in full force and effect. To the Knowledge of the Company, no event has occurred which (whether with or without notice, lapse of time or both or the happening or occurrence of any other event) would constitute a default on the part of a Target Company or any other party under any of the Company Personal Property Leases, and no Target Company has received notice of any such condition.
Section 4.18 Title to Assets. Each Target Company has good and marketable title to, or a valid leasehold interest in or right to use, or in the case of Company Owned Property good and indefeasible title to, its respective material tangible and intangible assets that are necessary to conduct the business of the Target Company as presently conducted, free and clear of all Liens other than (a) Permitted Liens, (b) the rights of lessors under material leasehold interests and (c) Liens set forth on Section 4.18(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter. Except as set forth on Section 4.18(b) of the Company Disclosure Letter, the material assets (including Intellectual Property rights and contractual rights) of the Target Companies constitute all of the assets, rights and properties that are necessary, in all material respects, for the operation of the businesses of the Target Companies in all material respects as they are now conducted. The material tangible assets or personal property of the Target Companies have been maintained in all material respects in accordance with generally accepted industry practice, are in good working order and condition, except for ordinary wear and tear and as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to be material to the Target Companies, taken as a whole.
Section 4.19 Employee Matters.
(a) The Target Companies are not and have never been a party to any collective bargaining agreement or other Contract covering any group of employees with any labor organization or other representative of any of the employees of such Target Company, and to the Knowledge of the Company, there are not, and in the past three (3) years, there have not been, any activities or proceedings of any labor union to organize or represent such employees. In the past three (3) years, there has not occurred or, to the Knowledge of the Company, been threatened any strike, slow-down, picketing, work-stoppage, or other similar labor activity with respect to any such employees. Except as set forth on Section 4.19(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter, no current officer or other key employee of the Target Company, as of the date of this Agreement, has provided the Target Company with written notice of his or her intention to terminate his or her employment within the one (1) year period following the Closing.
(b) Except as set forth on Section 4.19(b) of the Company Disclosure Letter, the Target Companies are, and, within the past three (3) years have been, in compliance with all applicable Laws respecting employment and employment practices, terms and conditions of employment, health and safety and wages and hours, and other Laws relating to discrimination, disability, labor relations, hours of work, payment of wages and overtime wages, pay equity, immigration, workers compensation, working conditions, employee scheduling, family and medical leave, and employee terminations, except for failures to comply which, individually or in the aggregate, have not been and would not reasonably expected to be, material to the Target Companies, taken as a whole. No Target Company has received written or, to the Knowledge of the Company, oral notice that there is any pending Legal Proceeding involving unfair labor practices against any Target Company. There are no material Legal Proceedings pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened against any Target Company brought by or on behalf of any applicant for employment, any current or former employee, any Person alleging to be a current or former employee, or any Governmental Authority, relating to any such Law or regulation, or alleging breach of any express or implied contract of employment, wrongful termination of employment, or alleging any other discriminatory, wrongful or tortious conduct in connection with the employment relationship.
(c) No employee is a party to a written employment arrangement with a Target Company and each is employed “at will”, and no Target Company has any obligation or Liability (whether or not contingent) with respect to severance payments to any such employees under the terms of any written or, to the Knowledge of the Company, oral agreement, or commitment or any applicable Law, custom, trade or practice.
(d) In the past three (3) years, the Target Companies have not received (i) notice of any unfair labor practice charge or material complaint pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened before the National Labor Relations Board against them, (ii) notice of any material grievances or arbitrations arising out of any collective bargaining agreement to which any Target Company is a party, or (iii) notice of the intent of any Governmental Authority responsible for the enforcement of labor, employment, wages and hours of work, child labor, or immigration to conduct an investigation with respect to or relating to them or notice that such investigation is in progress.
(e) To the Knowledge of the Company, no present or former employee at level of vice president or above of any Target Company is in material violation of (i) any restrictive covenant or nondisclosure obligation to such Target Company or (ii) any restrictive covenant or nondisclosure obligation to a former employer of any such individual relating to (A) the right of any such individual to work for or provide services to such Target Company or (B) the knowledge or use of trade secrets.
(f) In the past three (3) years, the Target Companies have not engaged in layoffs, furloughs or employment terminations sufficient to trigger application of the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act or any similar state or local law.
(g) In the past three (3) years, (i) no allegations of sexual harassment or sexual misconduct have been made in writing, or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened to be made against or involving any current or former officer, director or other employee at the level of Vice President or above by any current or former officer, employee or individual service provider of any Target Company, and (ii) the Target Companies have not entered into any settlement agreements resolving, in whole or in part, allegations of sexual harassment or sexual misconduct by any current or former officer, director or other key employee.
Section 4.20 Benefit Plans.
(a) Set forth on Section 4.20(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter is a true and complete list of each material Company Benefit Plan. With respect to each Company Benefit Plan, all contributions that are due have been made or, to the extent not yet due, are properly accrued in accordance with GAAP on the Company Financials, in all material respects. The Target Companies are not required to provide employee benefits pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement or other Contract covering any group of employees, labor organization or other representative of any of the employees.
(b) Each Company Benefit Plan is and has been operated, administered, maintained, and funded at all times in compliance with its terms and all applicable Laws in all material respects, including ERISA and the Code. Each Company Benefit Plan which is intended to be “qualified” within the meaning of Section 401(a) of the Code (i) has received a favorable determination letter from the IRS to be so qualified (or is based on a prototype plan which has received a favorable opinion letter upon which the Target Companies are entitled to rely) or (ii) the Target Companies have requested an initial favorable IRS determination of qualification and/or exemption within the period permitted by applicable Law. To the Knowledge of the Company, no event has occurred or circumstance exists which could reasonably be expected to adversely affect the qualified status of such Company Benefit Plans or the exempt status of such trusts.
(c) With respect to each Company Benefit Plan the Company has provided to Purchaser accurate and complete copies, if applicable, of: (i) all Company Benefit Plan documents, service agreements and related trust agreements or annuity Contracts (including any amendments, modifications or supplements thereto); (ii) the most recent summary plan descriptions and material modifications thereto; (iii) the three (3) most recent Form 5500s, if applicable, and annual report, including all schedules thereto; (iv) the most recent annual and periodic accounting of plan assets; (v) the three (3) most recent nondiscrimination testing reports; (vi) the most recent determination letter (or opinion letter) received from the IRS, if any; (vii) the most recent actuarial valuation; and (viii) all material communications with any Governmental Authority within the last three (3) years.
(d) With respect to each Company Benefit Plan: (i) no Legal Proceeding is pending, or to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened (other than routine claims for benefits arising in the ordinary course of administration and administrative appeals of denied claims); (ii) no prohibited transaction, as defined in Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code, has occurred, excluding transactions effected pursuant to a statutory or administration exemption; and (iii) all contributions and premiums that are due have been made in all material respects as required under ERISA or have been fully accrued in all material respects on the Company Financials in accordance with GAAP.
(e) None of the Target Companies nor any ERISA Affiliate currently maintains, or within the preceding six (6) years has maintained or contributed to, a Company Benefit Plan which is a “defined benefit plan” (as defined in Section 414(j) of the Code), a “multiemployer plan” (as defined in Section 3(37) of ERISA) or a “multiple employer plan” (as described in Section 413(c) of the Code) or is otherwise subject to Title IV of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code, and the Target Companies have not incurred any Liability, could not otherwise have any Liability, contingent or otherwise, under Title IV of ERISA and no condition presently exists that is expected to cause such Liability to be incurred. The Target Companies do not and have not ever maintained, and are not and have never been required to contribute to or otherwise participate in, (i) a multiple employer welfare arrangement or voluntary employees’ beneficiary association as defined in Section 501(c)(9) of the Code or (ii) a “funded welfare plan” within the meaning of Section 419 of the Code.
(f) Except as set forth on Section 4.20(f) of the Company Disclosure Letter, the consummation of the Transactions will not, either alone or in combination with another event, (i) entitle any current or former employee, officer or other service provider of the Target Companies to any severance pay or increase in severance pay or any other compensation payable by the Target Companies, (ii) accelerate the time of payment, funding or vesting, or increase the amount of compensation due to any such employee, officer or other individual service provider by the Target Companies, (iii) directly or indirectly cause the Target Companies to transfer or set aside any assets to fund any material benefits under any Company Benefit Plan, (iv) otherwise give rise to any material liability under any Company Benefit Plan, or (v) limit or restrict the right to merge, materially amend, terminate or transfer the assets of any Company Benefit Plan on or following the Closing. The consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will not, either alone or in combination with another event, result in any “excess parachute payment” under Section 280G of the Code. No Company Benefit Plan provides for a Tax gross-up, make whole or similar payment, including with respect to the Taxes imposed under Sections 409A or 4999 of the Code.
(g) Except as set forth on Section 4.20(g) of the Company Disclosure Letter or to the extent required by Section 4980B of the Code or similar state Law, the Target Companies do not provide health or welfare benefits to any former or retired employee and are not obligated to provide such benefits to any active employee following such employee’s retirement or other termination of employment or service.
(h) Each Company Benefit Plan can be terminated at any time without resulting in any material Liability to the Target Companies, the Purchaser, Merger Sub or their respective Affiliates for any additional contributions, penalties, premiums, fees, fines, excise taxes or any other charges or liabilities, other than Liabilities with respect to participant accrued benefits through the effective date of such termination in accordance with the terms of such plan and ordinary administration costs typically incurred in a termination event.
(i) Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to be material to the Target Companies, taken as a whole, each Company Benefit Plan that is subject to Section 409A of the Code has been administered in compliance, and is in documentary compliance, in all respects with the applicable provisions of Section 409A of the Code, the regulations thereunder and other official guidance issued thereunder.
Section 4.21 Environmental Matters. Except as set forth in Section 4.21 of the Company Disclosure Letter:
(a) Each Target Company and its respective properties and facilities are and have, during the time that the applicable Target Company has owned, operated or leased such property or facility, been in compliance in all material respects with all applicable Environmental Laws, including obtaining, maintaining in good standing, and complying with all Permits required for their business and operations under any Environmental Laws (“Environmental Permits”).
(b) No Legal Proceeding is pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened against any Target Company or their respective assets or properties alleging a material violation of, or material liability under, any Environmental Law or Environmental Permit, including with respect to the revocation, modification or termination of any Environmental Permits, and, to the Knowledge of the Company, no facts, circumstances, or conditions currently exist that would reasonably be expected to adversely affect compliance with Environmental Laws and Environmental Permits or require material capital expenditures to achieve or maintain continued compliance with Environmental Laws and Environmental Permits.
(c) No Target Company or any of its respective properties, facilities or operations, is the subject of any outstanding material Order or Contract with any Governmental Authority or other Person in respect of any (i) Environmental Law, (ii) Remedial Legal Proceeding, or (iii) Release or threatened Release of a Hazardous Material. No Target Company has assumed, contractually or by operation of Law, any material Environmental Liabilities.
(d) No Target Company has manufactured, treated, stored, disposed of, arranged for or permitted the disposal of, generated, handled or Released any Hazardous Material, or owned or operated any property or facility, in a manner that has given or would reasonably be expected to give rise to any material Environmental Liability or obligation under applicable Environmental Laws. To the Knowledge of the Company, no fact, circumstance, or condition exists in respect of any Target Company or any property currently or formerly owned, operated, or leased by any Target Company, or any other property that could reasonably be expected to result in a Target Company incurring any material Environmental Liability.
(e) No Target Company has received written notification of any investigation of the business, operations, or currently or formerly owned, operated, or leased property of a Target Company that could lead to the imposition of any material Liens or Environmental Liabilities and, to the Knowledge of the Company, no such investigations are pending or threatened in writing.
(f) To the Knowledge of the Company, no Person has Released any Hazardous Material at, on, or under any facility currently or formerly owned or operated by any Target Company or any third-party site, in each case in a manner that would be reasonably likely to give rise to a material Environmental Liability of the Target Companies, including for Remedial Legal Proceeding costs, investigation costs, cleanup costs, response costs, corrective action costs, personal injury, property damage, natural resources damages, and attorney fees.
(g) There are no (i) underground storage tanks, (ii) asbestos-containing materials, or (iii) equipment containing polychlorinated biphenyls located at any of the properties of a Target Company.
(h) The Company has provided to the Purchaser all material written environmental reports, audits, assessments, liability analyses, memoranda and studies in the possession of, or conducted by, the Target Companies and concerning the environmental condition of any properties of the Target Company, Environmental Liabilities or compliance with Environmental Laws.
Section 4.22 Transactions with Related Persons. Except as set forth on Section 4.22 of the Company Disclosure Letter, and except for in the case of any employee, officer or director, of any employment Contract or Company Benefit Plans made in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice or except as set forth in the Company Financials, no Target Company is a party to any transaction or Contract with any (a) present or former executive officer or director of any of the Target Companies, (b) beneficial owner (within the meaning of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act) of 5% or more of the capital stock or equity interests of any of the Target Companies or (c) any Affiliate, “associate” or any member of the “immediate family” (as such terms are respectively defined in Rules 12b-2 and 16a-1 of the Exchange Act) of any of the foregoing; provided that in each case of the foregoing, excluding any transaction or Contract between or among the Company’s Subsidiaries or between or among the Company and any of its Subsidiaries. Except as set forth in the Company Financials or as set forth on Section 4.22 of the Company Disclosure Letter: (x) to the Knowledge of the Company, no Related Person or any Affiliate of a Related Person has, directly or indirectly, a material economic interest in any Contract with any of the Target Companies (other than such Contracts that relate to any such Person’s ownership of the Company Units or other equity interests of any Target Company as set forth on Section 4.03(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter or such Person’s employment or consulting arrangements with the Target Companies), and (y) the assets of the Target Companies do not include any receivable or other obligation from a Related Person, and the liabilities of the Target Companies do not include any payable or other obligation or commitment to any Related Person.
Section 4.23 Insurance.
(a) Section 4.23(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter contains a list of, as of the date hereof, all material policies or binders of property, fire and casualty, product liability, workers’ compensation, and other forms of insurance held by, or for the benefit of, the business of any Target Company (by policy number, insurer, coverage period, coverage amount, annual premium and type of policy). As of the date hereof, all premiums due and payable under all such insurance policies have been timely paid and the Target Companies are otherwise in material compliance with the terms of such insurance policies. Each such insurance policy (i) is legal, valid, binding, enforceable and in full force and effect, subject, in each case to the Enforceability Exceptions and (ii) will continue to be legal, valid, binding, enforceable, and in full force and effect on substantially similar terms following the Closing. No Target Company has any self-insurance or co-insurance programs. In the past three (3) years, no Target Company has received any written notice from, or on behalf of, any insurance carrier relating to or involving any adverse material change, notice of cancellation, termination or any change other than in the ordinary course of business, in the conditions of insurance, any refusal to issue an insurance policy or non-renewal of a policy.
(b) Section 4.23(b) of the Company Disclosure Letter identifies each individual insurance claim in excess of $500,000 made by a Target Company in the past three (3) years. Each Target Company has reported to its insurers all claims and pending circumstances that would reasonably be expected to result in a claim, except where such failure to report such a claim would not be reasonably likely to be material to the Target Companies, taken as a whole. To the Knowledge of the Company, no event has occurred, and no condition or circumstance exists, that would reasonably be expected to (with or without notice or lapse of time) give rise to or serve as a basis for the denial of any such insurance claim. No Target Company has made any claim against an insurance policy as to which the insurer has denied coverage.
Section 4.24 Top Customers and Suppliers.
(a) As of the date hereof the Company currently has no customers, including any off-takers.
(b) Section 4.24(b) of the Company Disclosure Letter lists as of the date of this Agreement, all suppliers or manufacturers of goods or services for the six months ended June 30, 2024 and the 12 months ended December 31, 2023 to which the Company made payments or accrued obligations in excess of $1,000,000 (the “Top Suppliers”). To the Knowledge of the Company as of the date hereof, no such Top Supplier has provided notice to the Target Companies (i) of its intention to cancel or otherwise terminate, or materially reduce, its relationship with the Target Companies, taken as a whole, or (ii) that any Target Company is in material breach of the terms of any Company Material Contract with any such Top Supplier.
(c) Except as set forth on Section 4.24(c) of the Company Disclosure Letter, none of the Top Customers or Top Suppliers has, as of the date of this Agreement, notified any Target Companies in writing that it is in a material dispute with the Target Companies or their respective businesses.
Section 4.25 Certain Business Practices.
(a) No Target Company, nor any of their respective officers or directors, nor, to the Knowledge of the Company, any of their respective Representatives acting on their behalf, has since April 24, 2019, directly or indirectly, offered, given, paid, promised to give or pay, or authorized the giving or payment of anything of value to (i) an official or employee of a foreign or domestic Governmental Authority; (ii) a foreign or domestic political party or an official of a foreign or domestic political party; (iii) a candidate for foreign or domestic political office; or (iv) any Person, in any such case under circumstances where such Target Company or Representative thereof knew, or would have reasonably known after due and proper inquiry, that all or a portion of such thing of value would be offered, given, paid, or promised to an official or employee of a foreign or domestic Governmental Authority, a foreign or domestic political party, an official of a foreign or domestic political party, or a candidate for foreign or domestic political office for the purpose of influencing any act or decision of such official, employee, or candidate to obtain or retain business or direct business to any person (in each case in violation of any Anti-Bribery Laws). No Target Company, nor any of their respective officers and directors, nor, to the Knowledge of the Company, any of their respective Representatives acting on their behalf, has, since April 24, 2019, directly or indirectly offered, given, paid, promised to give or pay, or authorized the giving or payment of anything of value to any customer, supplier, or other Person who is or may be in a position to assist or hinder any Target Company in connection with any actual or proposed transaction for the purpose of influencing any act or decision of such customer, supplier, or other Person to obtain or retain business or direct business to any person. No Target Company, nor any of their respective officers and directors, nor, to the Knowledge of the Company, any of their respective Representatives acting on their behalf, has, since April 24, 2019, been subject to or conducted or initiated any internal investigation or made a voluntary, directed, or involuntary disclosure to any Governmental Authority with respect to any alleged act or omission relating to any noncompliance with any Anti-Bribery Laws. No Target Company, nor any of their respective officers and directors, nor, to the Knowledge of the Company, any Representatives acting on their behalf has, since April 24, 2019, received any written notice, request, or citation from any Governmental Authority for any actual or potential noncompliance with any Anti-Bribery Laws.
(b) The operations of each Target Company are and have been, since April 24, 2019, conducted at all times in material compliance with any International Trade Laws and Sanctions Laws of any jurisdiction in which any Target Company operates, and no Legal Proceeding between the Target Company and any Governmental Authority with respect to any of the foregoing is pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened in writing.
(c) No Target Company nor any of their respective directors or officers, or, to the Knowledge of the Company, any other Representative acting on behalf of a Target Company is or has been: (i) identified on any applicable sanctions-related list of designated or blocked persons (including without limitation the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List (“SDN List”) maintained by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”)); (ii) located, organized, or resident in any country, region or territory that is the subject of comprehensive territorial sanctions administered by the United States and any other jurisdiction in which any Target Company operates (as of the date of this Agreement, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, and the Crimea, so-called Donetsk People’s Republic, and so-called Luhansk People’s Republic regions of Ukraine) (each a “Sanctioned Jurisdiction”); or (iii) owned, directly or indirectly, individually or in the aggregate, 50 percent or more or otherwise controlled by any of the foregoing.
(d) The Target Companies have, since April 24, 2019, maintained in place and implemented risk-based controls and systems designed to promote compliance with economic sanctions administered and maintained by the U.S. government.
(e) No Target Company has, since April 24, 2019, directly or indirectly, used any funds, or loaned, contributed or otherwise made available such funds to any Subsidiary, joint venture partner or other Person, in connection with any sales or operations in a Sanctioned Jurisdiction or for the purpose of financing the activities (i) of any Person currently identified on any applicable sanctions-related list of designated or blocked persons maintained by OFAC, or (ii) in any other manner that would constitute a violation of any applicable U.S. sanctions administered by the U.S. government.
Section 4.26 Mining.
(a) Section 4.26(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth a true, correct, and complete list of all Mining Rights owned, leased, operated or used by the Target Companies or otherwise forming part of the Round Top Project, and identifies which entity is entitled to each Mining Right, and license number, area, expiry date, granting authority, counter party, and types of minerals covered for each Mining Right (the “Company Mining Rights”). The Company Mining Rights collectively constitute all Mining Rights that are reasonably required for the conduct of the Target Companies’ business as presently conducted.
(b) To the Knowledge of the Company, each Company Mining Right is valid, in good standing and is not liable to forfeiture, termination, cancellation or suspension for any currently existing reason.
(c) The Target Companies have not received notice of any unremedied material breach by any Target Company, nor has anything occurred or been omitted which would be a material breach by a Target Company but for the requirement of notice or lapse of time or both, of any statutory requirement or any other material conditions relating to each Company Mining Right.
(d) All material rent, royalties and other statutory and contractual payments due in respect of each Company Mining Right have been paid.
(e) The Target Companies are in exclusive possession or control of any existing rights to develop the minerals that are locatable, subject to applicable law, located in, on or under the Round Top Project.
(f) The Target Companies have not received notice of any conflicting Mining Rights owned by third parties which overlay with the Round Top Project.
(g) No Target Company is party to any, and to the Knowledge of such Target Company, there is no, joint venture agreement, stockholder agreement, partnership agreement, voting agreement, powers of attorney, co-ownership agreement, co-tenancy agreements, management agreements or any other existing oral or written agreement of any kind which does or would have any material adverse impact on record or possessory title to the mineral estate of the Company Mining Rights, or the access to, exploration, development or mining of same, and no other Person has any interest in the Company Mining Rights or any right to acquire or otherwise obtain any such interest.
(h) Except as set forth in Section 4.26(h) of the Company Disclosure Letter, there are no options, back-in rights, earn-in rights, rights of first refusal, rights of first offer, preemptive rights, off-take rights or similar provisions or rights which would materially affect the Target Companies’ interest in the Company Mining Rights after the Closing Date.
(i) No Target Company has received any notice in writing from any Governmental Authority or any Person with jurisdiction or applicable authority, of any revocation or intention to revoke the Target Companies’ interests in or file a contest action related to the Company Mining Rights.
(j) To the Knowledge of the Company, the Target Companies have made available to the Purchaser all material information and data pertaining to the Company Mining Rights in their possession, including, to the extent material: mining plans and plans of operation; reclamation plans; life of mine studies and reports; notices of intent; including those related to exploration drilling, pad and road construction; mining exploration; land and survey records; the existence of minerals within the Mining Rights, including relevant reserve and resource estimates; metallurgical testwork and sampling data; drill data and assay results; all reclamation and bond release information; financial assurances for reclamation and all information concerning record, possessory, legal or equitable title to the Mining Rights which is within its possession or control. Set forth in Section 4.26(j) of the Company Disclosure Letter is a list of all mining title opinions and title opinions and title policies of insurance relating to any of the real property interests in the Round Top Project, the Company Owned Properties and the Company Leased Real Properties to the extent such policies or opinions are in the Company’s possession.
(k) The Target Companies have the right to use all information and data pertaining to the Company Mining Rights in their possession.
Section 4.27 Investment Company Act. No Target Company is an “investment company” or a Person directly or indirectly “controlled” by or acting on behalf of an “investment company”, or required to register as an “investment company”, in each case within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
Section 4.28 Finders and Brokers. Except as reflected on Section 4.28 of the Company Disclosure Letter, no broker, finder, investment banker or other Person is entitled to, nor will be entitled to, either directly or indirectly, any brokerage fee, finders’ fee or other similar commission, for which any Target Company would be liable in connection with the Transactions based upon arrangements made by any Target Company or any of their Affiliates.
Section 4.29 Independent Investigation. The Target Companies have conducted their own independent investigation, review and analysis of the business, results of operations, prospects, condition (financial or otherwise) or assets of the Purchaser and Merger Sub, and acknowledge that they have been provided adequate access to the personnel, properties, assets, premises, books and records, and other documents and data of the Purchaser and Merger Sub for such purpose. The Company acknowledges and agrees that: (a) in making its decision to enter into this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, it has relied solely upon its own investigation and the express representations and warranties of the Purchaser and Merger Sub set forth in Agreement (including the related portions of the Purchaser Disclosure Letter) and in any certificate delivered to the Company pursuant hereto; and (b) none of the Purchaser, Merger Sub or any of their respective Representatives have made any representation or warranty as to the Purchaser or Merger Sub or this Agreement, except as expressly set forth in this Agreement (including the related portions of the Purchaser Disclosure Letter) or in any certificate delivered to the Company pursuant hereto.
Section 4.30 Information Supplied. None of the information supplied or to be supplied by, or on behalf of, the Target Companies expressly for inclusion or incorporation by reference in (i) any current report on Form 8-K, and any exhibits thereto or any other report, form, registration or other filing made with any Governmental Authority or stock exchange with respect to the Transactions or in the Proxy Statement/Registration Statement or (ii) any of the Signing Press Release, the Signing Filing, the Closing Press Release, the Closing Filing and any other press releases of prospectus filed under Rule 425 of the Securities Act in connection to the Transactions contains 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, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading at (a) the time such information is filed with or furnished to the SEC (provided, that if such information is revised by any subsequently filed amendment or supplement, this clause (a) shall solely refer to the time of such subsequent revision); (b) the time the Proxy Statement/Registration Statement is declared effective by the SEC; (c) the time the Proxy Statement/Registration Statement (or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto) is first mailed to the Purchaser Shareholders; or (d) the time of the Purchaser Shareholders’ Meeting. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Target Companies make no representation, warranty or covenant with respect to any information supplied by or on behalf of the Purchaser, Merger Sub or their respective Affiliates.
Section 4.31 No Additional Representations or Warranties. Except as provided in this Article IV, none of the Target Companies nor any of their respective Affiliates, nor any of their respective directors, managers, officers, employees, equityholders, partners, members or representatives has made, or is making, any representation or warranty whatsoever to Purchaser, Merger Sub or their respective Affiliates or any other Person and no such party shall be liable in respect of the accuracy or completeness of any information provided to the Purchaser, Merger Sub or their respective Affiliates or any other Person.
Article V
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE PURCHASER AND MERGER SUB
Except as set forth in (i) in any Purchaser SEC Reports filed or submitted on or prior to the date hereof, or (ii) in the disclosure letter delivered by the Purchaser to the Company (the “Purchaser Disclosure Letter”) on the date of this Agreement, the Purchaser and Merger Sub represent and warrant to the Company, as of the date hereof and as of the Closing, as follows:
Section 5.01 Organization and Standing.
(a) The Purchaser is an exempted company duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the Cayman Islands. The Purchaser has all requisite corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to carry on its business as now being conducted. The Purchaser is duly qualified or licensed and in good standing to do business in each jurisdiction in which the character of the property owned, leased or operated by it or the nature of the business conducted by it makes such qualification or licensing necessary, except where the failure to be so qualified or licensed or in good standing can be cured without material cost or expense. The Purchaser has heretofore made available to the Company accurate and complete copies of its Organizational Documents as currently in effect. The Purchaser is not in violation of any provision of its Organizational Documents in any material respect.
(b) Merger Sub is a limited liability company duly formed, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of Delaware. Merger Sub has heretofore made available to the Company accurate and complete copies of its Organizational Documents as currently in effect. Merger Sub is not in violation of any provision of its Organizational Documents in any material respect.
Section 5.02 Authorization; Binding Agreement. Each of the Purchaser and Merger Sub has all requisite power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and each Ancillary Document to which it is a party, to perform its respective obligations hereunder and thereunder and to consummate the Transactions, subject to obtaining the Purchaser Shareholder Approval. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and each Ancillary Document to which it is a party and the consummation of the Transactions (a) have been duly and validly authorized by the boards of directors (or equivalent governing body) of the Purchaser and Merger Sub, and (b) other than the Purchaser Shareholder Approval, no other corporate proceedings on the part of the Purchaser or Merger Sub are necessary to authorize the execution and delivery of this Agreement and each Ancillary Document to which it is a party or to consummate the Transactions. This Agreement has been, and each Ancillary Document to which the Purchaser or Merger Sub are a party shall be when delivered, duly and validly executed and delivered by the Purchaser or Merger Sub, as applicable, and, assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery of this Agreement and such Ancillary Documents by the other parties hereto and thereto, constitutes, or when delivered shall constitute, the valid and binding obligation of the Purchaser or Merger Sub, as applicable, enforceable against the Purchaser or Merger Sub, as applicable, in accordance with its terms, except to the extent that enforceability thereof may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization and moratorium laws and other laws of general application affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally or by any applicable statute of limitation or by any valid defense of set-off or counterclaim, and the fact that equitable remedies or relief (including the remedy of specific performance) are subject to the discretion of the court from which such relief may be sought (collectively, the “Enforceability Exceptions”).
Section 5.03 Governmental Approvals. Assuming the truth and completeness of the representations and warranties of the Company contained in this Agreement, no Consent of or with any Governmental Authority, on the part of the Purchaser or Merger Sub is required to be obtained or made in connection with the execution, delivery or performance by the Purchaser or Merger Sub of this Agreement and each Ancillary Document to which it is a party or the consummation by the Purchaser or Merger Sub of the Transactions, other than (a) pursuant to Antitrust Laws, (b) such filings as contemplated by this Agreement, (c) any filings required with Nasdaq or the SEC with respect to the Transactions, (d) applicable requirements, if any, of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, and/ or any state “blue sky” securities Laws, and the rules and regulations thereunder, and (e) where the failure to obtain or make such Consents or to make such filings or notifications, would not reasonably be expected to have a Purchaser Material Adverse Effect.
Section 5.04 Non-Contravention. Assuming the truth and completeness of the representations and warranties of the Company contained in this Agreement, the execution and delivery by each of the Purchaser and Merger Sub of this Agreement and each Ancillary Document to which it is a party, the consummation by the Purchaser and Merger Sub of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, and compliance by the Purchaser and Merger Sub with any of the provisions hereof and thereof, do not and will not (a) conflict with or violate any provision of their respective Organizational Documents, (b) subject to obtaining the Consents from Governmental Authorities referred to in Section 5.02 hereof, and the waiting periods referred to therein having expired, and any condition precedent to such Consent or waiver having been satisfied, conflict with or violate any Law, Order or Consent applicable to the Purchaser or Merger Sub or any of its properties or assets, or (c) (i) violate, conflict with or result in a breach of, (ii) constitute a default (or an event which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute a default) under, (iii) result in the termination, withdrawal, suspension, cancellation or modification of, (iv) accelerate the performance required by the Purchaser or Merger Sub under, (v) result in a right of termination or acceleration under, (vi) give rise to any obligation to make payments or provide compensation under, (vii) result in the creation of any Lien upon any of the properties or assets of the Purchaser or Merger Sub under, (viii) give rise to any obligation to obtain any third party Consent or provide any notice to any Person or (ix) give any Person the right to declare a default, exercise any remedy, claim a rebate, chargeback, penalty or change in delivery schedule, accelerate the maturity or performance, cancel, terminate or modify any right, benefit, obligation or other term under, any of the terms, conditions or provisions of, any material Contract, except for any deviations from any of the foregoing clauses (b) or (c) that would not reasonably be expected to have a Purchaser Material Adverse Effect.
Section 5.05 Capitalization.
(a) As of the date of this Agreement, the authorized share capital of Purchaser is $55,500 divided into (i) 500,000,000 shares of Purchaser Class A Ordinary Shares, 25,000,000 of which are issued and outstanding, (ii) 50,000,000 shares of Purchaser Class B Ordinary Shares, of which 6,250,000 shares are issued and outstanding, and (iii) 5,000,000 preference shares, par value $0.0001 per share, of which no shares are issued and outstanding. All outstanding Purchaser Ordinary Shares are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and are not subject to or issued in violation of any purchase option, right of first refusal, preemptive right, subscription right or any similar right under any provision of the Cayman Companies Act, Purchaser’s Organizational Documents or any Contract to which the Purchaser is a party. None of the outstanding Purchaser Ordinary Shares have been issued in violation of any applicable securities Laws.
(b) Subject to the terms of conditions of the Warrant Agreement, in connection with the Domestication, the Cayman Purchaser Warrants will be converted into Domesticated Purchaser Warrants, which will be exercisable after giving effect to the Transactions for one share of Domesticated Purchaser Common Stock at an exercise price of $11.50 per share. As of the date of this Agreement, 20,150,000 Cayman Purchaser Warrants, consisting of 12,500,000 Cayman Purchaser Public Warrants and 7,650,000 Cayman Purchaser Private Placement Warrants are issued and outstanding. All outstanding Cayman Purchaser Warrants are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and are not subject to or issued in violation of any purchase option, right of first refusal, preemptive right, subscription right or any similar right under any provision of the Cayman Companies Act, Purchaser’s Organizational Documents or any Contract to which the Purchaser is a party. None of the outstanding Cayman Purchaser Warrants have been issued in violation of any applicable securities Laws.
(c) Other than the Redemption or as expressly set forth in this Agreement, there are no outstanding obligations of Purchaser to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any shares of Purchaser or to provide funds to make any investment (in the form of a loan, capital contribution or otherwise) in any Person. Except as set forth in Section 5.05(c) of the Purchaser Disclosure Letter, there are no shareholders agreements, voting trusts or other agreements or understandings to which the Purchaser is a party with respect to the voting of any shares of Purchaser.
(d) All Indebtedness of Purchaser as of the date of this Agreement is disclosed on Section 5.05(d) of the Purchaser Disclosure Letter. No Indebtedness of the Purchaser contains any restriction upon (i) the prepayment of any of such Indebtedness, (ii) the incurrence of Indebtedness by the Purchaser or (iii) the ability of the Purchaser to grant any Lien on its properties or assets.
(e) Since the date of formation of the Purchaser, and except as contemplated by this Agreement, the Purchaser has not declared or paid any distribution or dividend in respect of its shares and has not repurchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired any of its shares, and the Purchaser’s board of directors has not authorized any of the foregoing.
(f) Purchaser owns all of the membership interests in Merger Sub. No other membership interests or other voting securities of Merger Sub are issued, reserved for issuance or outstanding. All issued and outstanding membership interests of Merger Sub are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and are not subject to, and were not issued in violation of, any purchase option, right of first refusal, preemptive right, subscription right or any similar right under any provision of the DLLCA, Merger Sub’s Organizational Documents or any contract to which Merger Sub is a party or by which Merger Sub is bound. There are no outstanding contractual obligations of Merger Sub to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any of its membership interests or any equity capital of Merger Sub. There are no outstanding contractual obligations of Merger Sub to provide funds to, or make any investment (in the form of a loan, capital contribution or otherwise) in, any other Person.
Section 5.06 SEC Filings and Purchaser Financials.
(a) The Purchaser has, since the IPO, filed all forms, reports, schedules, statements and other documents required to be filed or furnished by the Purchaser with the SEC under the Securities Act and/or the Exchange Act, together with any amendments, restatements or supplements thereto (all of the foregoing filed prior to the date of this Agreement, the “Purchaser SEC Reports”) and will have filed all such forms, reports, schedules, statements and other documents (except for the Proxy Statement/Registration Statement and any other forms reports, schedules, statements and other documents filed or furnished with respect to the Transactions) required to be filed on or subsequent to the date of this Agreement through the Closing Date (the “Additional Purchaser SEC Reports”). All of the Purchaser SEC Reports, Additional Purchaser SEC Reports, any correspondence from or to the SEC or the Nasdaq Stock Market (“Nasdaq”) (other than such correspondence in connection with the IPO of the Purchaser) and all certifications and statements required by: (i) Rule 13a-14 or 15d-14 under the Exchange Act; or (ii) 18 U.S.C. § 1350 (Section 906) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act with respect to any of the foregoing (collectively, the “Public Certifications”) are available on the SEC’s Electronic Data-Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system (EDGAR) in full without redaction.
(b) The Purchaser SEC Reports were, and the Additional Purchaser SEC Reports will be, prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, as the case may be, and the rules and regulations thereunder. The Purchaser SEC Reports did not, and the Additional Purchaser SEC Reports will not, at the time they were or are filed (or if amended or superseded by a filing prior to the date of this Agreement or the Closing Date, then on the date of such filing), as the case may be, with the SEC contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements made therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. Each director and executive officer of Purchaser has filed with the SEC on a timely basis all statements required with respect to Purchaser by Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder. The Public Certifications are, or will be, each true and correct as of their respective dates of filing. As used in this Section 5.06(b), the term “file” shall be broadly construed to include any manner in which a document or information is furnished, supplied or otherwise made available to the SEC or Nasdaq.
(c) The financial statements and notes contained or incorporated by reference in the Purchaser SEC Reports fairly present, and the financial statements and notes to be contained in or to be incorporated by reference in the Additional Purchaser SEC Reports will fairly present, the financial condition and the results of operations, changes in shareholders’ equity and cash flows of the Purchaser as at the respective dates of, and for the periods referred to, in such financial statements, all in accordance with: (i) GAAP; and (ii) Regulation S-X or Regulation S-K, as applicable, subject, in the case of interim financial statements, to normal recurring year-end adjustments and the omission of notes to the extent permitted by Regulation S-X or Regulation S-K, as applicable.
(d) The Purchaser has no off-balance sheet arrangements that are not disclosed in the Purchaser SEC Reports. No financial statements other than those of the Purchaser and Merger Sub are required by GAAP to be included in the consolidated financial statements of the Purchaser.
(e) The issued and outstanding Cayman Purchaser Units are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and are listed for trading on Nasdaq under the symbol “IPXXU.” The issued and outstanding Purchaser Class A Ordinary Shares are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and are listed for trading on Nasdaq under the symbol “IPXX.” The issued and outstanding Cayman Purchaser Public Warrants are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and are listed for trading on Nasdaq under the symbol “IPXXW.” The Purchaser is a listed company in good standing with Nasdaq. There is no action or proceeding pending or, to the Knowledge of the Purchaser, threatened in writing against the Purchaser by Nasdaq or the SEC with respect to any intention by such entity to deregister the Cayman Purchaser Units, the Purchaser Class A Ordinary Shares or the Cayman Purchaser Public Warrants or terminate the listing of the Purchaser on Nasdaq. Except in connection with the Transactions, none of the Purchaser or any of its Affiliates has taken any action in an attempt to terminate the registration of the Cayman Purchaser Units, the Purchaser Class A Ordinary Shares or Cayman Purchaser Public Warrants under the Exchange Act.
(f) Except as not required in reliance on exemptions from various reporting requirements by virtue of the Purchaser’s status as an “emerging growth company” within the meaning of the Securities Act, as modified by the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (“JOBS Act”), the Purchaser has established and maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15 under the Exchange Act). Such disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that material information relating to the Purchaser is made known to the Purchaser’s principal executive officer and its principal financial officer by others within the entity, particularly during the periods in which the periodic reports required under the Exchange Act are being prepared. Such disclosure controls and procedures are effective in timely alerting the Purchaser’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer to material information required to be included in the Purchaser’s periodic reports required under the Exchange Act. Since the consummation of the IPO, the Purchaser has established and maintained a system of internal controls over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15 under the Exchange Act) sufficient to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of the Purchaser’s financial reporting and the preparation of the financial statements included in the Purchaser SEC Reports for external purposes in accordance with GAAP.
Section 5.07 Absence of Certain Changes. As of the date of this Agreement, the Purchaser has, since the date of its formation (a) conducted no business other than its formation, the public offering of its securities (and the related private offerings), public reporting and its search for an initial Business Combination as described in the IPO Prospectus (including the investigation of the Target Companies and the negotiation and execution of this Agreement) and related activities and (b) not been subject to a Purchaser Material Adverse Effect. Merger Sub was formed solely for the purpose of effecting the Transactions and has not engaged in any business activities or conducted any operations other than in connection with the Transactions.
Section 5.08 Undisclosed Liabilities. Except for any fees and expenses payable by Purchaser as a result of or in connection with the consummation of the Transactions, there is no liability, debt or obligation of or claim or judgment against Purchaser (whether direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, accrued or unaccrued, known or unknown, liquidated or unliquidated, or due or to become due), except for liabilities and obligations (a) reflected or reserved for on the financial statements or disclosed in the notes thereto included in the Purchaser SEC Reports, (b) that have arisen since the date of the most recent balance sheet included in the Purchaser SEC Reports in the ordinary course of business of Purchaser, (c) incurred in connection with the Transactions or (d) which would not be, or would not reasonably be expected to be, material to Purchaser. Merger Sub has no, and at all times prior to the Effective Time except as contemplated by this Agreement or the ancillary agreements to this Agreement, will have no, assets, liabilities or obligations of any kind or nature whatsoever other than those incident to its formation.
Section 5.09 Compliance with Laws. Each of the Purchaser and Merger Sub is, and has since its formation been, in compliance with all Laws applicable to it and the conduct of its business except for such noncompliance which would not reasonably be expected to be material to the Purchaser or Merger Sub, and neither the Purchaser nor Merger Sub has received written notice alleging any violation of applicable Law in any material respect by the Purchaser or Merger Sub.
Section 5.10 Legal Proceedings; Orders; Permits. There is no pending or, to the Knowledge of the Purchaser, threatened Legal Proceeding to which the Purchaser or Merger Sub is subject which would reasonably be expected to have a Purchaser Material Adverse Effect or that would have a material adverse effect on the ability of the Purchaser to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement and consummate the Transactions. There is no material Legal Proceeding that the Purchaser or Merger Sub has pending against any other Person. Neither the Purchaser, nor Merger Sub, is subject to any material Orders of any Governmental Authority, nor are any such Orders pending. Each of the Purchaser and Merger Sub holds all material Permits necessary to lawfully conduct its business as presently conducted, and to own, lease and operate its assets and properties, all of which are in full force and effect, except where the failure to hold such Consent or for such Consent to be in full force and effect would not reasonably be expected to have a Purchaser Material Adverse Effect.
Section 5.11 Taxes and Returns.
(a) The Purchaser (i) has timely filed, or caused to be timely filed, all income and other material Tax Returns required to be filed by it (taking into account all valid extensions of time to file), and all such Tax Returns are true, accurate, correct and complete in all material respects, and (ii) has timely paid, collected, withheld or remitted, or caused to be timely paid, collected, withheld or remitted, all income and other material Taxes required to be paid, collected, withheld or remitted by it, whether or not such Taxes are shown as due and payable on any Tax Return. The Purchaser has complied in all material respects with all applicable Laws relating to Tax.
(b) There is no Legal Proceeding currently pending or, to the Knowledge of the Purchaser, threatened against the Purchaser by a Governmental Authority in a jurisdiction where Purchaser does not file any Tax Returns or a particular type of Tax Return or pays any Tax or a particular type of Tax that it is or may be subject to such Tax or required to file such Tax Return in that jurisdiction.
(c) There is no claim, assessment, audit, examination, investigation or other Legal Proceeding that is pending, or to the Knowledge of the Purchaser, threatened against the Purchaser in respect of any Tax, and the Purchaser has not been notified in writing of any proposed Tax claim, deficiency or assessment against the Purchaser. Purchaser is not currently contesting any material Tax liability before any Governmental Authority.
(d) There are no Liens with respect to any Taxes upon any of the Purchaser’s assets, other than Permitted Liens.
(e) The Purchaser has timely and properly collected or withheld all Taxes required to be collected or withheld by it, timely remitted such Taxes to the appropriate Governmental Authorities, and otherwise complied in all material respects with all applicable withholding and related reporting requirements with respect to such Taxes.
(f) The Purchaser has not requested or consented to any waivers or extensions of any applicable statute of limitations for the collection or assessment of any Taxes, which waiver or extension (or request thereof) is outstanding or pending.
(g) The Purchaser will not be required to include any material item of income in, or exclude any material item of deduction from, taxable income for any taxable period (or portion thereof) beginning after the Closing Date, as a result of: (i) an installment sale or open transaction disposition that occurred on or prior to the Closing Date; (ii) any change in method of accounting on or prior to the Closing Date, including by reason of the application of Section 481 of the Code (or any analogous provision of state, local or foreign Law) or the use of an improper method of accounting on or prior to the Closing Date; (iii) any prepaid amounts received or deferred revenue realized or received on or prior to the Closing Date; (iv) any intercompany transaction described in Treasury Regulations under Section 1502 of the Code (or any corresponding or similar provision of state, local or foreign Law); or (v) any “closing agreement” pursuant to Section 7121 of the Code or any other agreement or arrangement with a Governmental Authority relating to Taxes.
(h) The Purchaser has not participated in or been a party to, or sold, distributed or otherwise promoted, any “reportable transaction,” as defined in Treasury Regulations Section 1.6011-4 (or any similar or corresponding provision of state, local or foreign Law).
(i) The Purchaser has not been a member of an affiliated, combined, consolidated, unitary or other group for Tax purposes. The Purchaser does not have any Liability or potential Liability for the Taxes of another Person (i) pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.1502-6 (or any similar or corresponding provision of U.S. state or local Tax Law) or under any other applicable Tax Law, (ii) as a transferee or successor, or (iii) by Contract, indemnity or otherwise (excluding customary commercial Contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business the primary purpose of which is not the sharing of Taxes). The Purchaser is not a party to or bound by any Tax indemnity agreement, Tax sharing agreement or Tax allocation agreements or similar agreement, arrangement or practice (excluding customary commercial Contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business the primary purpose of which is not the sharing of Taxes) with respect to Taxes.
(j) The Purchaser has not requested, and is not the subject of or bound by, any private letter ruling, technical advice memorandum, closing agreement or similar ruling, memorandum or agreement with any Governmental Authority with respect to any Taxes, nor is any such request pending or outstanding.
(k) The Purchaser has not knowingly taken any action, nor is it aware of any fact or circumstance, that would reasonably be expected to prevent the relevant portions of the Transactions from qualifying for their respective Intended Tax Treatments.
Section 5.12 Properties. Neither the Purchaser, nor Merger Sub, owns, licenses or otherwise has any right, title or interest in any material Intellectual Property. Neither the Purchaser, nor Merger Sub own or lease any material real property or material Personal Property (except for the Purchaser’s ownership of the Merger Sub membership interests).
Section 5.13 Investment Company Act. To the Knowledge of Purchaser, the Purchaser is not an “investment company” or a Person directly or indirectly “controlled” by or acting on behalf of an “investment company”, or required to register as an “investment company”, in each case within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
Section 5.14 Trust Account. As of the date of this Agreement, Purchaser has at least $250,000,000 in the Trust Account, such monies held in cash or invested in United States government securities or money market funds meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 promulgated under the Investment Company Act pursuant to the Investment Management Trust Agreement (the “Trust Agreement”), dated as of May 24, 2023, between Purchaser and Continental, as trustee (the “Trustee”). There are no separate Contracts, side letters or other arrangements or understandings (whether written or unwritten, express or implied) that would cause the description of the Trust Agreement in the Purchaser SEC Reports to be inaccurate or that would entitle any Person (other than Purchaser Shareholders who shall have properly elected to redeem their Purchaser Class A Ordinary Shares pursuant to Purchaser’s Organizational Documents and the underwriters of the IPO with respect to deferred underwriting commissions) to any portion of the proceeds in the Trust Account. Prior to the Closing, none of the funds held in the Trust Account may be released other than to pay Taxes and payments with respect to the Redemption of Purchaser Class A Ordinary Shares properly submitted in connection with a shareholder vote to amend the Purchaser’s Organizational Documents to (A) modify the substance or timing of its obligation to allow redemption in connection with its initial business combination or to redeem 100% of its Purchaser Class A Ordinary Shares if it has not consummated an initial business combination within the prescribed window or (B) with respect to any other material provisions related to shareholders’ rights or pre-initial business combination activity. The Trust Agreement has not been amended or modified and is a valid and binding obligation of Purchaser and is in full force and effect and is enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to the Enforceability Exceptions. There are no claims or proceedings pending or, to the Knowledge of Purchaser, threatened with respect to the Trust Account. Purchaser has performed all material obligations required to be performed by it to date under, and is not in default, breach or delinquent in performance or any other respect (claimed or actual) in connection with, the Trust Agreement, and no event has occurred which, with due notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute such a default or breach thereunder. As of the Closing, the obligations of Purchaser to dissolve or liquidate pursuant to Purchaser’s Organizational Documents shall terminate, and as of the Closing, Purchaser shall have no obligation whatsoever pursuant to Purchaser’s Organizational Documents to dissolve and liquidate the assets of Purchaser by reason of the consummation of the Transactions. To the Knowledge of Purchaser, as of the date hereof, following the Closing, no Purchaser Shareholder shall be entitled to receive any amount from the Trust Account except to the extent such Purchaser Shareholder is exercising their option to redeem Domesticated Purchaser Common Stock in connection with the Redemption. As of the date hereof, assuming the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Company contained herein and the compliance by the Company with its obligations hereunder, Purchaser does not have any reason to believe that any of the conditions to the use of funds in the Trust Account will not be satisfied or funds available in the Trust Account will not be available to Purchaser on the Closing Date.
Section 5.15 Finders and Brokers. Except as reflected on Section 5.15 of the Purchaser Disclosure Letter, no broker, finder, investment banker or other Person is entitled to, nor will be entitled to, either directly or indirectly, any brokerage fee, finders’ fee or other similar commission, including any deferred underwriting commissions, for which the Purchaser or Merger Sub would be liable in connection with the Transactions based upon arrangements made by the Purchaser or any of their Affiliates.
Section 5.16 Certain Business Practices.
(a) To the Knowledge of the Purchaser, none of the Purchaser, Merger Sub or any of their Representatives acting on behalf of the Purchaser or Merger Sub, has offered, given, paid, promised to give or pay, or authorized the giving or payment of anything of value to (i) an official or employee of a foreign or domestic Governmental Authority; (ii) a foreign or domestic political party or an official of a foreign or domestic political party; (iii) a candidate for foreign or domestic political office; or (iv) any Person, in any such case under circumstances the Purchaser, Merger Sub or the Representative thereof knew, or reasonably would have known after due and proper inquiry, that all or a portion of such thing of value would be offered, given, paid, or promised to an official of employee of a foreign or domestic Governmental Authority, a foreign or domestic political party, an official of a foreign or domestic political party, or a candidate for foreign or domestic political office, in each case in violation of any Anti-Bribery Laws. To the Knowledge of the Purchaser, none of the Purchaser, Merger Sub or any Representative thereof has conducted or initiated any internal investigation or made a voluntary, directed, or involuntary disclosure to any Governmental Authority with respect to any alleged act or omission relating to any noncompliance with any Anti-Bribery Laws. To the Knowledge of the Purchaser, none of the Purchaser, Merger Sub or any Representative thereof has received any written notice, request, or citation from any Governmental Authority for any actual or potential noncompliance with any Anti-Bribery Laws. The Purchaser has instituted and maintains policies and procedures reasonably designed to ensure compliance in all material respects with the Anti-Bribery Laws.
(b) The operations of the Purchaser and Merger Sub are and have been conducted at all times in material compliance with Sanctions Laws, International Trade Laws, and money laundering statutes in all applicable jurisdictions, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any Governmental Authority, and no Legal Proceeding involving the Purchaser or Merger Sub with respect to any of the foregoing is pending or, to the Knowledge of the Purchaser, threatened.
(c) None of the Purchaser, Merger Sub, or any of their respective directors or officers nor, to the Knowledge of the Purchaser, any other Representative acting on behalf of the Purchaser or Merger Sub is or has been: (i) identified on any applicable sanctions-related list of designated or blocked persons (including without limitation the SDN List maintained by OFAC), (ii) otherwise the subject or target of any U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC, (iii) located, organized or resident in any Sanctioned Jurisdiction, or (iv) owned, directly or indirectly, individually or in the aggregate, 50% or more or otherwise controlled by any of the foregoing.
(d) The Purchaser and Merger Sub have maintained in place and implemented controls and systems designed to ensure compliance with economic sanctions administered and maintained by the U.S. government.
(e) Neither the Purchaser nor Merger Sub has directly or indirectly, used any funds, or loaned, contributed or otherwise made available such funds to any Subsidiary, joint venture partner or other Person, in connection with any sales or operations in a Sanctioned Jurisdiction or for the purpose of financing the activities (x) of any Person currently the subject or target of U.S. sanctions administered by the U.S. government, or (y) in any other manner that would constitute a violation of, any U.S. sanctions administered by U.S. government.
Section 5.17 Insurance. Section 5.17 of the Purchaser Disclosure Letter lists all insurance policies (by policy number, insurer, coverage period, coverage amount, annual premium and type of policy) held by the Purchaser or Merger Sub or relating to the Purchaser or Merger Sub or their business, properties, assets, directors, officers and employees, copies of which have been provided to the Company. All premiums due and payable under all such insurance policies have been timely paid and the Purchaser and Merger Sub are otherwise in material compliance with the terms of such insurance policies. All such insurance policies are in full force and effect, and to the Knowledge of the Purchaser, there is no threatened termination of, or material premium increase with respect to, any of such insurance policies. There have been no insurance claims made by the Purchaser or Merger Sub. Each of the Purchaser and Merger Sub has reported to its insurers all claims and pending circumstances that would reasonably be expected to result in a claim, except where such failure to report such a claim would not be reasonably likely to have a Purchaser Material Adverse Effect.
Section 5.18 Information Supplied. None of the information supplied or to be supplied by, or on behalf of, Purchaser or Merger Sub expressly for inclusion or incorporation by reference in (i) any current report on Form 8-K, and any exhibits thereto or any other report, form, registration or other filing made with any Governmental Authority or stock exchange with respect to the Transactions or in the Proxy Statement/Registration Statement or (ii) any of the Signing Press Release, the Signing Filing, the Closing Press Release, the Closing Filing and any other press releases or prospectuses filed under Rule 425 of the Securities Act in connection to the Transactions shall 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, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading at (a) the time such information is filed with or furnished to the SEC (provided, that if such information is revised by any subsequently filed amendment or supplement, this clause (a) shall solely refer to the time of such subsequent revision); (b) the time the Proxy Statement/Registration Statement is declared effective by the SEC; (c) the time the Proxy Statement/Registration Statement (or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto) is first mailed to the Purchaser Shareholders; or (d) the time of the Purchaser Shareholders’ Meeting. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Purchaser and Merger Sub make no representations, warranties or covenants with respect to any information supplied by or on behalf of the Target Companies or their respective Affiliates.
Section 5.19 Independent Investigation. The Purchaser and Merger Sub have conducted their own independent investigation, review and analysis of the business, results of operations, prospects, condition (financial or otherwise) or assets of the Target Companies, and acknowledges that they have been provided adequate access to the personnel, properties, assets, premises, books and records, and other documents and data of the Target Companies for such purpose. The Purchaser and Merger Sub acknowledge and agree that: (a) in making their decision to enter into this Agreement and to consummate the Transactions, they have relied solely upon their own investigation and the express representations and warranties of the Company set forth in this Agreement (including the related portions of the Company Disclosure Letter) and in any certificate delivered to Purchaser or Merger Sub pursuant hereto, and the information provided by or on behalf of the Target Companies for the Proxy Statement/Registration Statement; and (b) neither the Company, nor its Representatives have made any representation or warranty as to Target Companies, or this Agreement, except as expressly set forth in Article IV (including the related portions of the Company Disclosure Letter) or in any certificate delivered to Purchaser or Merger Sub pursuant hereto. Without limiting the foregoing, the Purchaser and Merger Sub acknowledge that the Purchaser and Merger Sub or their advisors, have made their own investigation of the Target Companies and, except as provided in Article IV, are not relying on any representation or warranty whatsoever as to the condition, merchantability, suitability or fitness for a particular purpose or trade as to any of the assets of the Target Companies, the prospects (financial or otherwise) or the viability or likelihood of success of the business of the Target Companies as conducted after the Closing, or as contained in any materials provided by the Target Companies or any of their respective Affiliates or any of their respective directors, officers, employees, shareholders, partners, members or representatives or otherwise.
Section 5.20 No Additional Representation or Warranties. Except as provided in this Article V, none of the Purchaser, Merger Sub, any their respective Affiliates, or any of their respective directors, managers, officers, employees, stockholders, partners, members or representatives has made, or is making, any representation or warranty whatsoever to the Target Companies or their Affiliates and no such party shall be liable in respect of the accuracy or completeness of any information provided to the Target Companies or their Affiliates. Without limiting the foregoing, the Company acknowledges that the Target Companies or their advisors, have made their own investigation of the Purchaser and Merger Sub and, except as provided in this Article V, are not relying on any representation or warranty whatsoever as to the condition, merchantability, suitability or fitness for a particular purpose or trade as to any of the assets of the Purchaser and Merger Sub, the prospects (financial or otherwise) or the viability or likelihood of success of the business of the Purchaser and Merger Sub as conducted after the Closing, or as contained in any materials provided by the Purchaser or Merger Sub or any of their respective Affiliates or any of their respective directors, officers, employees, shareholders, partners, members or representatives or otherwise.
Article VI
COVENANTS
Section 6.01 Access and Information; Cooperation.
(b) During the period from the date of this Agreement and continuing until the earlier of the termination of this Agreement in accordance with Section 8.01 or the Closing (the “Interim Period”), subject to Section 6.16, the Company shall give, and shall cause the Target Companies and its and their respective Representatives to give, the Purchaser and its Representatives, at reasonable times during normal business hours and upon reasonable intervals and notice, reasonable access to all offices and other facilities and to all officers, managers, properties, Contracts, agreements, commitments, books and records, financial and operating data and other information, of or pertaining to the Target Companies as the Purchaser or its Representatives may reasonably request regarding the Target Companies and their respective businesses, assets, Liabilities, financial condition, prospects, operations, management, employees and other aspects and cause each of the Target Companies’ Representatives to reasonably cooperate with the Purchaser and its Representatives in their investigation; provided, however, that the Purchaser and its Representatives shall conduct any such activities in such a manner as not to unreasonably interfere with the business or operations of the Target Companies. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not be required to provide, or cause to be provided, to Purchaser or any of its Representatives any information (i) if and to the extent doing so would (A) violate any Law to which the Company is subject, (B) result in the disclosure of any trade secrets of third parties in breach of any Contract with such third party, (C) violate any legally-binding obligation of the Company with respect to confidentiality, non-disclosure or privacy or (D) jeopardize protections afforded to the Company under the attorney-client privilege or the attorney work product doctrine (provided that, in the case of each of clauses (A) through (C), the Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to (x) provide such access as can be provided (or otherwise convey such information regarding the applicable matter as can be conveyed) without violating such Contract, obligation or Law and (y) provide such information in a manner without violating such Contract, obligation or Law), or (ii) if the Company, on the one hand, and Purchaser or any of its Representatives, on the other hand, are adverse parties in a litigation and such information is reasonably pertinent thereto. For the avoidance of doubt, the Company shall not be obligated under this Section 6.01(a) to permit the Purchaser or any of its Representatives to conduct any invasive, intrusive or subsurface sampling or testing of any media at the properties of any of the Target Companies.
(c) During the Interim Period, subject to Section 6.16, the Purchaser shall give, and shall cause its Representatives to give, the Company and its Representatives, at reasonable times during normal business hours and upon reasonable intervals and notice, reasonable access to all offices and other facilities and to all officers, directors, properties, Contracts, agreements, commitments, books and records, financial and operating data and other information, of or pertaining to the Purchaser or its Subsidiaries, as the Company or its Representatives may reasonably request regarding the Purchaser, its Subsidiaries and their respective businesses, assets, Liabilities, financial condition, prospects, operations, management, employees and other aspects and cause each of the Purchaser’s Representatives to reasonably cooperate with the Company and its Representatives in their investigation; provided, however, that the Company and its Representatives shall conduct any such activities in such a manner as not to unreasonably interfere with the business or operations of the Purchaser or any of its Subsidiaries. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Purchaser shall not be required to provide, or cause to be provided, to the Company or any of its Representatives any information (i) if and to the extent doing so would (A) violate any Law to which the Purchaser is subject, (B) violate any legally-binding obligation of the Purchaser with respect to confidentiality, non-disclosure or privacy or (C) jeopardize protections afforded to the Purchaser under the attorney-client privilege or the attorney work product doctrine (provided that, in the case of each of clauses (A) through (B), the Purchaser shall use commercially reasonable efforts to (x) provide such access as can be provided (or otherwise convey such information regarding the applicable matter as can be conveyed) without violating such Contract, obligation or Law and (y) provide such information in a manner without violating such Contract, obligation or Law), or (ii) if the Purchaser, on the one hand, and the Company or any of its Representatives, on the other hand, are adverse parties in a litigation and such information is reasonably pertinent thereto.
(d) During the Interim Period, each of the Company and the Purchaser shall, and shall cause their respective Representatives to, reasonably cooperate in a timely manner in connection with any financing arrangement the Parties mutually agree to seek in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (including, in connection with the PIPE Investment), including, (i) by providing such information and assistance as the other Party may reasonably request, (ii) granting such access to the other Party and its Representatives as may be reasonably necessary for their due diligence, and (iii) participating in a reasonable number of meetings, presentations, road shows, drafting sessions, due diligence sessions with respect to such financing efforts (including direct contact between senior management and other Representatives of the Company at reasonable times and locations). All such cooperation, assistance and access shall be granted during normal business hours and shall be granted under conditions that shall not unreasonably interfere with the business and operations of the Company, the Purchaser, or their respective Representatives.
Section 6.02 Conduct of Business of the Company.
(a) During the Interim Period, except as expressly contemplated by this Agreement or the Ancillary Documents, as required by applicable Law (including COVID-19 Measures), as set forth on Section 6.02(b) of the Company Disclosure Letter or as consented to in writing by the Purchaser (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), the Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to, and shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause its Subsidiaries to, (i) conduct its and their respective businesses, in all material respects, in the ordinary course of business, (ii) comply in all material respects with all Laws applicable to the Target Companies and their respective businesses and assets, and (iii) take commercially reasonable measures necessary or appropriate to preserve intact, in all material respects, their respective businesses.
(b) Without limiting the generality of Section 6.02(a) and except as contemplated by the terms of this Agreement or the Ancillary Documents, as required by applicable Law (including COVID-19 Measures) or as set forth on Section 6.02(b) of the Company Disclosure Letter, during the Interim Period, without the prior written consent of the Purchaser (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), the Company shall not, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to not:
(i) amend, waive or otherwise change, in any respect, its Organizational Documents, except for any updates to Schedule A of the Company OA;
(ii) authorize for issuance, issue, grant, sell, pledge, dispose of or propose to issue, grant, sell, pledge or dispose of any of its equity securities or any options, warrants, commitments, subscriptions or rights of any kind to acquire or sell any of its equity securities, or other securities, including any securities convertible into or exchangeable for any of its units or other equity securities or securities of any class and any other equity-based awards, or engage in any hedging transaction with a third Person with respect to such securities, except in compliance with existing Company Benefits Plans or any Contract (including any warrant, option, or profits interest award) outstanding as of the date hereof which has been disclosed in writing to the Purchaser or through the virtual dataroom maintained by SecureDocs with respect to the Company (the “Dataroom”) or prior to the date of this Agreement;
(iii) split, combine, recapitalize or reclassify any of its units or other equity interests or issue any other securities in respect thereof or pay or set aside any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, equity or property or any combination thereof) in respect of its equity interests, or directly or indirectly redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire or offer to acquire any of its securities, except as may be required pursuant to the Company OA or the Organizational Documents of any Target Company in connection with the Transactions;
(iv) allow the aggregate Indebtedness of the Target Companies to exceed $5,000,000, excluding amounts that may be owed pursuant to those items set forth on Section 6.02(b) of the Company Disclosure Letter;
(v) except as otherwise required by Company Benefit Plans or award agreements thereunder, (A) grant any severance, retention, change in control or termination or similar pay, (B) terminate, adopt, enter into or materially amend or grant any new awards under any Company Benefit Plan or any plan, policy, practice, program, agreement or other arrangement that would be deemed a Company Benefit Plan as of the date hereof, (C) increase the cash compensation or bonus opportunity of any employee, officer, director or other individual service provider, except for such increases to any such individuals who are not directors or officers of the Target Companies made in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, (D) take any action to amend or waive any performance or vesting criteria or to accelerate the time of payment or vesting of any compensation or benefit payable by the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries, (E) hire or engage any new employee or individual independent contractor if such new employee or individual independent contractor will receive annual base cash compensation in excess of $250,000, other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, (F) terminate the employment or engagement, other than for cause, death or disability, of any employee or individual independent contractor with an annual base cash compensation in excess of $250,000 or (G) enter into any written waiver of any restrictive covenants applying to any current or former employee or individual independent contractor;
(vi) enter into or extend any collective bargaining agreement or similar labor agreement, or recognize or certify any labor union, labor organization, or group of employees of any Target Company as the bargaining representative for any employees of any Target Company;
(vii) (A) make, change or rescind any material election relating to Taxes, (B) settle any claim, suit, litigation, proceeding, arbitration, investigation, audit, controversy or other Legal Proceeding relating to material Taxes, (C) file any amended Income Tax or other material Tax Return, (D) surrender or allow to expire any right to claim a refund of material Taxes, (E) change (or request to change) any method of accounting for Tax purposes, (F) waive or extend any statute of limitations in respect of a period within which an assessment or reassessment of Income Taxes or other material Taxes may be issued or in respect of any Income Taxes or other material Tax attribute that would give rise to any claim or assessment of Taxes of or with respect to the Target Companies, (G) enter into any “closing agreement” as described in Section 7121 of the Code or any other agreement or arrangement with any Governmental Authority, (H) enter into any Tax indemnity agreement, Tax sharing agreement or Tax allocation agreement or similar agreement, arrangement or practice (excluding customary commercial Contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business the primary purpose of which is not the sharing of Taxes) with respect to Taxes, or (I) surrender or knowingly allow to expire any right to claim a refund of material Taxes;
(viii) knowingly take any action, or knowingly fail to take any action, where such action or failure to act would reasonably be expected to prevent the relevant portions of the Transactions from qualifying for their respective Intended Tax Treatments;
(ix) transfer, sell, assign, license, sublicense, covenant not to assert, subject to a Lien (other than a Permitted Lien), abandon, allow to lapse, transfer or otherwise dispose of, any right, title or interest of any Target Company in or to any Owned Intellectual Property material to any of the businesses of the Target Companies (other than non-exclusive licenses of Owned Intellectual Property granted in the ordinary course of business or abandoning, allowing to lapse or otherwise disposing of Owned Intellectual Property registrations or applications that the Target Companies, in the exercise of their good faith business judgment, has determined to abandon, allow to lapse or otherwise dispose of), or otherwise materially amend or modify, permit to lapse or fail to preserve any material Company Registered IP (excluding non-exclusive licenses of Company IP to Target Company customers in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice), or disclose, divulge, furnish to or make accessible to any Person who has not entered into a confidentiality agreement sufficiently protecting the confidentiality thereof any material Trade Secrets constituting Owned Intellectual Property, or include, incorporate or embed in, link to, combine, make available or distribute with, or use in the development, operation, delivery or provision of any Company Software any Open Source Software in a manner that would subject such Company Software to Copyleft Terms;
(x) fail to maintain its books, accounts and records in all material respects in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;
(xi) terminate or assign any Company Material Contract or any material Company Real Property Lease or enter into any Contract that would be a Company Material Contract or material Company Real Property Lease, in any case outside of the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;
(xii) enter into any new line of business or establish any Subsidiary in connection therewith;
(xiii) fail to use commercially reasonable efforts to keep in force insurance policies or replacement or revised policies providing insurance coverage with respect to its assets, operations and activities in such amount and scope of coverage substantially similar to that which is currently in effect, or terminate without replacement or amend in a manner materially detrimental to the Target Companies, taken as a whole, any material insurance policy insuring any of the Target Companies;
(xiv) make any material change in accounting methods, principles or practices, except to the extent required to comply with GAAP or changes that are made in accordance with PCAOB standards;
(xv) waive, release, assign, settle or compromise any claim, action or proceeding (including any suit, action, claim, proceeding or investigation relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby), other than waivers, releases, assignments, settlements or compromises that involve only the payment of monetary damages (and not the imposition of equitable relief on, or the admission of wrongdoing by, a Target Company or its Affiliates) not in excess of $500,000 (individually or in the aggregate);
(xvi) effect any mass layoff or plant closing at any of its facilities that triggers the notice obligations under the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act of 1988, except as would not be material to the Target Companies or any terminations for cause;
(xvii) acquire, including by merger, consolidation, acquisition of equity interests or assets, or any other form of business combination, any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, other business organization or any division thereof, or any material amount of assets, in each case, outside the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, except pursuant to any Contract in existence as of the date hereof which has been disclosed in writing or in the Dataroom to the Purchaser;
(xviii) make capital expenditures outside of the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice (for the avoidance of doubt, expenditures with respect to completion of the Company’s Stillwater magnet project are in the ordinary course of business) in excess of $500,000 (individually for any project) or $2,500,000 in the aggregate in each case excluding the incurrence of any ordinary course administrative costs and expenses and other expenses incurred in connection with the consummation of Transactions (including legal or accounting);
(xix) adopt a plan of complete or partial liquidation, dissolution, merger, consolidation, restructuring or other reorganization;
(xx) voluntarily incur Liabilities or obligations (whether absolute, accrued, contingent or otherwise) in excess of $2,500,000 in the aggregate other than pursuant to the terms of a Company Material Contract or Company Benefit Plan, in any case, outside of the ordinary course of business, taking into account the anticipated growth in the Target Companies’ businesses over the twelve months beginning on the date of this Agreement, and excluding the expenses incurred in connection with the consummation of Transactions (including legal or accounting);
(xxi) sell, lease, license, transfer, exchange or swap, mortgage or otherwise pledge or encumber (including securitizations), or otherwise dispose of any material portion of its tangible properties, assets or rights other than land swaps in furtherance of the Round Top Project;
(xxii) enter into any written agreement, understanding or arrangement with respect to the voting of equity securities of the Company;
(xxiii) take any action that would reasonably be expected to significantly delay or impair the obtaining of any Consents of any Governmental Authority to be obtained in connection with this Agreement;
(xxiv) enter into, amend, waive or terminate (other than terminations in accordance with their terms) any transaction with any Related Person (other than compensation and benefits and advancement of expenses, in each case, in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice or any existing Contract (provided such Contract is not amended after the date of this Agreement) or its Organizational Documents);
(xxv) (A) limit the right of any Target Company to engage in any line of business or in any geographic area, to develop, market or sell products or services, or to compete with any Person or (B) grant any exclusive or similar rights to any Person, in each case, except where such limitation or grant does not, and would not be reasonably likely to, individually or in the aggregate, materially and adversely affect, or materially disrupt, the ordinary course operation of the business of the Target Companies; or
(xxvi) authorize or agree to do any of the foregoing actions.
Section 6.03 Conduct of Business of the Purchaser.
(a) During the Interim Period, except as expressly contemplated by this Agreement or the Ancillary Documents, as required by applicable Law (including COVID-19 Measures), as set forth on Section 6.03(b) of the Purchaser Disclosure Letter or as consented to in writing by the Company (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), the Purchaser shall, and shall cause Merger Sub to, (i) conduct its business, in all material respects, in the ordinary course of business, (ii) comply in all material respects with all Laws applicable to it and its businesses, assets and employees, and (iii) take commercially reasonable measures necessary or appropriate to preserve intact, in all material respects, its business organizations. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 6.03, nothing in this Agreement shall prohibit or restrict the Purchaser from extending, in accordance with the Purchaser’s Organizational Documents and the IPO Prospectus, the deadline by which it must complete its Business Combination (an “Extension”), and no consent of any other Party shall be required in connection therewith.
(b) Without limiting the generality of Section 6.03(a)(a) and except as contemplated by the terms of this Agreement or the Ancillary Documents (including the Domestication or as contemplated by the PIPE Investment), as required by applicable Law (including COVID-19 Measures) or as set forth on Section 6.03(b) of the Purchaser Disclosure Letter, during the Interim Period, without the prior written consent of the Company (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), the Purchaser shall not, and shall cause Merger Sub not to:
(i) amend, waive or otherwise change, in any respect, its Organizational Documents;
(ii) authorize for issuance, issue, grant, sell, pledge, dispose of or propose to issue, grant, sell, pledge or dispose of any of its equity securities or any options, warrants, commitments, subscriptions or rights of any kind to acquire or sell any of its equity securities, or other securities, including any securities convertible into or exchangeable for any of its equity securities or other security interests of any class and any other equity-based awards, or engage in any hedging transaction with a third Person with respect to such securities;
(iii) split, combine, recapitalize or reclassify any of its shares or other equity interests or issue any other securities in respect thereof or pay or set aside any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, equity or property or any combination thereof) in respect of its shares or other equity interests, or directly or indirectly redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire or offer to acquire any of its securities;
(iv) incur, create, assume, prepay or otherwise become liable for any Indebtedness (directly, contingently or otherwise) in excess of $200,000 individually or $500,000 in the aggregate, make a loan or advance to or investment in any third party, or guarantee or endorse any Indebtedness, Liability or obligation of any Person (provided, that this Section 6.03(b)(a)(iv) shall not prevent the Purchaser from borrowing funds necessary to finance its ordinary course administrative costs and expenses and expenses incurred in connection with the consummation of the Transactions (including the PIPE Investment and the costs and expenses necessary for an Extension, up to aggregate additional Indebtedness during the Interim Period of $2,500,000));
(v) (A) make, change or rescind any material election relating to Taxes, (B) settle any claim, suit, litigation, proceeding, arbitration, investigation, audit, controversy or other Legal Proceeding relating to material Taxes, (C) file any amended Income Tax or other material Tax Return, (D) surrender or allow to expire any right to claim a refund of material Taxes, (E) change (or request to change) any method of accounting for Tax purposes, (F) waive or extend any statute of limitations in respect of a period within which an assessment or reassessment of Income Taxes or other material Taxes may be issued or in respect of any Income Taxes or other material Tax attribute that would give rise to any claim or assessment of Taxes of or with respect to Purchaser, (G) enter into any “closing agreement” as described in Section 7121 of the Code or any other agreement or arrangement with any Governmental Authority, (H) enter into any Tax indemnity agreement, Tax sharing agreement or Tax allocation agreement or similar agreement, arrangement or practice (excluding customary commercial Contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business the primary purpose of which is not the sharing of Taxes) with respect to Taxes, or (I) surrender or allow to expire any right to claim a refund of material Taxes;
(vi) knowingly take any action, or knowingly fail to take any action, where such action or failure to act could reasonably be expected to prevent the relevant portions of the Transactions from qualifying for their respective Intended Tax Treatments;
(vii) amend, waive or otherwise change the Trust Agreement in any manner adverse to the Purchaser;
(viii) terminate, waive or assign any material right under any material Contract of Purchaser;
(ix) fail to maintain its books, accounts and records in all material respects in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;
(x) establish any Subsidiary or enter into any new line of business;
(xi) fail to use commercially reasonable efforts to keep in force insurance policies or replacement or revised policies providing insurance coverage with respect to its assets, operations and activities in such amount and scope of coverage substantially similar to that which is currently in effect;
(xii) make any material change in accounting methods, principles or practices, except to the extent required to comply with GAAP or PCAOB standards;
(xiii) waive, release, assign, settle or compromise any claim, action or proceeding (including any suit, action, claim, proceeding or investigation relating to this Agreement or the Transactions), other than waivers, releases, assignments, settlements or compromises that involve only the payment of monetary damages (and not the imposition of equitable relief on, or the admission of wrongdoing by, the Purchaser or its Subsidiary) not in excess of $500,000 (individually or in the aggregate);
(xiv) acquire, including by merger, consolidation, acquisition of equity interests or assets, or any other form of business combination, any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, other business organization or any division thereof, or any material amount of assets outside the ordinary course of business;
(xv) make capital expenditures in excess of $200,000 individually for any project (or set of related projects) or $500,000 in the aggregate (excluding for the avoidance of doubt, incurring any ordinary course administrative costs and expenses and expenses incurred in connection with the consummation of Transactions, including legal or accounting (including the PIPE Investment and the costs and expenses necessary for an Extension));
(xvi) adopt a plan of complete or partial liquidation, dissolution, merger, consolidation, restructuring, recapitalization or other reorganization (other than with respect to the Transactions);
(xvii) voluntarily incur any Liability or obligation (whether absolute, accrued, contingent or otherwise) in excess of $500,000 individually or $1,000,000 in the aggregate (excluding the incurrence of any ordinary course administrative costs and expenses and expenses incurred in connection with the consummation of Transactions, including legal or accounting (including the PIPE Investment and the costs and expenses necessary for an Extension)) other than pursuant to the terms of a Contract in existence as of the date of this Agreement or entered into in the ordinary course of business or in accordance with the terms of this Section 6.03 during the Interim Period;
(xviii) sell, lease, license, transfer, exchange or swap, mortgage or otherwise pledge or encumber (including securitizations), or otherwise dispose of any material portion of its tangible properties, assets or rights;
(xix) take any action that would reasonably be expected to significantly delay or impair the obtaining of any Consents of any Governmental Authority to be obtained in connection with this Agreement;
(xx) grant or establish any form of compensation or benefits to any current or former employee, officer, director, individual independent contractor or other individual service provider of Purchaser; or
(xxi) authorize or agree to do any of the foregoing actions.
Section 6.04 Annual and Interim Financial Statements.
(a) To the extent not already delivered, as soon as reasonably practicable following the date of this Agreement, but in no event later than October 31, 2024, the Company shall deliver to the Purchaser audited consolidated balance sheets and statements of operations, comprehensive loss, stockholders’ equity and cash flows of the Target Companies as of and for the years ended December 31, 2023, together with the auditor’s reports thereon, which comply in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements and with the rules and regulations of the SEC, the Exchange Act and the Securities Act applicable to a registrant and which are have been audited in accordance with GAAP and PCAOB standards (collectively, the “PCAOB Financial Statements”); provided, that upon delivery of such PCAOB Financial Statements, such financial statements shall be deemed “Audited Financial Statements” for the purposes of this Agreement and the representation and warranties set forth in Section 4.06 shall be deemed to apply to such Audited Financial Statements with the same force and effect as if made as of the date of this Agreement; provided further that there shall be no material changes between the Audited Financial Statements and the PCAOB Financial Statements with respect to the particular fixed period.
(b) To the extent not already delivered, as soon as reasonably practicable following the date of this Agreement, but in no event later than October 31, 2024, the Company shall deliver to the Purchaser unaudited reviewed consolidated balance sheets and statements of operations, comprehensive loss, stockholders’ equity and cash flows of the Target Companies as of and for the six-month periods ending June 30, 2024 and 2023, which comply in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements and with the rules and regulations of the SEC, the Exchange Act and the Securities Act applicable to a registrant (the “Updated 1H Financial Statements”) and as soon as reasonably practicable, the Company shall deliver to the Purchaser any other audited or unaudited financial statements of the Target Companies that are required by applicable law to be included in the Proxy Statement/Registration Statement; provided, that upon delivery of such Updated 1H Financial Statements and any other audited or unaudited financial statements of the Target Companies, the representation and warranties set forth in Section 4.06 shall be deemed to apply to the Updated 1H Financial Statements and any other audited or unaudited financial statements of the Target Companies, mutatis mutandis, with the same force and effect as if made as of the date of this Agreement.
(c) Notwithstanding anything else in this Agreement, failure to provide the PCAOB Financial Statements and the Updated 1H Financial Statements by the deadlines specified in Section 6.04 shall not be a breach of this Agreement.
Section 6.05 Purchaser Public Filings. During the Interim Period, the Purchaser will keep current all of its public filings with the SEC (after giving effect to all applicable extension periods) and otherwise comply in all material respects with applicable securities Laws and shall use its commercially reasonable efforts prior to the Closing to maintain the listing of the Purchaser Class A Ordinary Shares and the Cayman Purchaser Public Warrants on Nasdaq; provided, that the Parties acknowledge and agree that (i) if Purchaser fails to timely file any public filing with the SEC, such failure shall not be a breach of this Section 6.05 provided such public filing is made before the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the earlier termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.01(e) (even though such filing is late) and such late filing does not have a material adverse impact on the consummation of the Transactions and (ii) from and after the Closing, the Parties intend to list on Nasdaq only the Domesticated Purchaser Common Stock and the Domesticated Purchaser Warrants.
Section 6.06 No Solicitation.
(a) For purposes of this Agreement, (i) an “Acquisition Proposal” means any inquiry, proposal or offer, or any indication of interest in making an offer or proposal (whether written or oral), from any Person or group at any time relating to an Alternative Transaction (other than the Purchaser and the Sponsor or their respective Representatives), and (ii) an “Alternative Transaction” means (A) with respect to the Company and its Subsidiaries, a transaction or a series of transactions (other than the Transactions) concerning the sale (whether directly or indirectly) of (x) all or any part of the business or assets of the Target Companies, (y) any of the units or other equity interests or profits of any of the Target Companies, in any case, whether such transaction takes the form of a sale of units or other equity interests, assets, merger, consolidation, issuance of debt securities, management Contract, joint venture or partnership, or otherwise or (z) a merger, consolidation, share exchange, business combination, reorganization, recapitalization, liquidation, dissolution or other similar transaction involving the sale or disposition of any of the Target Companies and (B) with respect to the Purchaser and its Affiliates, a transaction (other than the transactions contemplated by this Agreement) concerning a business combination involving Purchaser or any of its Affiliates.
(b) During the Interim Period, in order to induce the other Parties to continue to commit to expend management time and financial resources in furtherance of the transactions contemplated hereby, each Party shall not, and shall cause its Representatives to not, without the prior written consent of the Company and the Purchaser, directly or indirectly, (i) solicit, assist, initiate, engage or facilitate the making, submission or announcement of, or encourage, any Acquisition Proposal, (ii) furnish any non-public information regarding such Party or its Affiliates or their respective businesses, operations, assets, Liabilities, financial condition, prospects or employees to any Person or group (other than a Party to this Agreement or their respective Representatives) in connection with or in response to an Acquisition Proposal, (iii) engage or participate in discussions or negotiations with any Person or group with respect to, or that could reasonably be expected to lead to, an Acquisition Proposal, (iv) approve, endorse or recommend, or publicly propose to approve, endorse or recommend, any Acquisition Proposal, (v) negotiate or enter into any letter of intent, agreement in principle, acquisition agreement or other similar agreement related to any Acquisition Proposal, (vi) release any third Person from, or waive any provision of, any confidentiality agreement to which such Party is a party, (vii) otherwise knowingly encourage or facilitate any such inquiries, proposals, discussions, or negotiations or any effort or attempt by any Person to make an Alternative Transaction or (viii) agree or otherwise commit to enter into or engage in any of the foregoing.
(c) Each Party shall notify the other Parties as promptly as practicable (and in any event within two (2) Business Days) in writing of the receipt by such Party or any of its Representatives of (i) any inquiries, proposals or offers, requests for information or requests for discussions or negotiations regarding or constituting any Acquisition Proposal or any inquiries, proposals or offers, requests for information or requests for discussions or negotiations that could be expected to result in an Acquisition Proposal, and (ii) any request for non-public information relating to such Party or its Affiliates in connection with any Acquisition Proposal, specifying in each case, the material terms and conditions thereof (including a copy thereof if in writing or a written summary thereof if oral) and the identity of the party making such inquiry, proposal, offer or request for information. Each Party shall keep the others promptly informed of the status of any such inquiries, proposals, offers or requests for information. During the Interim Period, each Party shall, and shall cause its Representatives to, immediately cease and cause to be terminated any solicitations, discussions or negotiations with any Person with respect to any Acquisition Proposal and shall, and shall direct its Representatives to, cease and terminate any such solicitations, discussions or negotiations.
Section 6.07 No Trading. The Company acknowledges and agrees that it is aware, and that the Company’s Affiliates are aware (and each of their respective Representatives is aware or, upon receipt of any material nonpublic information of the Purchaser, will be advised) of the restrictions imposed by U.S. federal securities laws and the rules and regulations of the SEC and Nasdaq promulgated thereunder or otherwise (the “Federal Securities Laws”) and other applicable foreign and domestic Laws on a Person possessing material nonpublic information about a publicly traded company. The Company hereby agrees that, while it is in possession of such material nonpublic information, it shall not, it shall cause its Subsidiaries not to, and it shall instruct its other Affiliates and Representatives not to, purchase or sell any securities of the Purchaser (unless otherwise explicitly contemplated in this Agreement), communicate such information to any third party (other than (x) to Persons for the purpose of seeking consents related to the Transactions or (y) Persons subject to confidentiality restrictions in favor of the Company), take any other action with respect to the Purchaser in violation of such Laws, or cause or encourage any third party to do any of the foregoing.
Section 6.08 Notification of Certain Matters. During the Interim Period, each Party shall give prompt notice to the other Parties if such Party or its Affiliates: (a) receives any notice or other communication in writing from any third party (including any Governmental Authority) alleging: (i) that the Consent of such third party is or may be required in connection with the Transactions or (ii) any non-compliance with any Law by such Party or its Affiliates; (b) receives any notice or other communication from any Governmental Authority in connection with the Transactions; or (c) becomes aware of the commencement or threat, in writing, of any Legal Proceeding against such Party or any of its Affiliates, or any of their respective properties or assets, or, to the Knowledge of such Party, any officer, director, partner, member or manager, in his, her or its capacity as such, of such Party or of its Affiliates, in each case, with respect to the consummation of the Transactions. No such notice shall constitute an acknowledgement or admission by the Party providing the notice regarding whether or not any of the conditions to the Closing have been satisfied or in determining whether or not any of the representations, warranties or covenants contained in this Agreement have been breached. In the event that any litigation related to this Agreement, any Ancillary Documents or the Transactions is brought, or, to the Knowledge of the Parties, respectively, threatened, against such Party, or the board of directors (or similar governing body) of such Party or its Subsidiaries, respectively, by a third party prior to the Closing, such Party shall promptly notify the other Party of any such litigation and keep the other Party reasonably informed with respect to the status thereof. Each Party shall provide the other Party the opportunity to participate in (subject to a customary joint defense agreement), but not control, the defense of any such litigation, shall give due consideration to the other Party’s advice with respect to such litigation and shall not settle or agree to settle any such litigation without the prior written consent of the other Party, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed.
Section 6.09 Efforts.
(a) Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, each Party shall use its reasonable best efforts, and shall cooperate fully with the other Parties, to take, or cause to be taken, all actions and to do, or cause to be done, all things reasonably necessary, proper or advisable under applicable Laws and regulations to consummate the Transactions (including the receipt of all applicable Consents of Governmental Authorities) and to comply as promptly as practicable with all requirements of Governmental Authorities applicable to the Transactions.
(b) In furtherance and not in limitation of Section 6.09(a), to the extent required under any Laws that are designed to prohibit, restrict or regulate actions having the purpose or effect of monopolization or restraint of trade or lessening of competition through merger or acquisition (“Antitrust Laws”), each Party hereto agrees to make any required filing or application under Antitrust Laws, as applicable, at such Party’s sole cost and expense (except that any fees or other amounts charged by any Governmental Authorities relating to such filings or applications will be split equally between the Purchaser, on the one hand, and the Company, on the other hand), with respect to the Transactions as promptly as practicable, to supply as promptly as reasonably practicable any additional information and documentary material that may be reasonably requested pursuant to Antitrust Laws and to take all other actions reasonably necessary, proper or advisable to cause the expiration or termination of the applicable waiting periods under Antitrust Laws as soon as practicable, including by requesting early termination of the waiting period provided for under the Antitrust Laws. Each Party shall, in connection with its efforts to obtain all requisite approvals and authorizations for the Transactions under any Antitrust Law, use its commercially reasonable efforts to: (i) cooperate in all respects with each other Party or its Affiliates in connection with any filing or submission and in connection with any investigation or other inquiry, including any proceeding initiated by a private Person; (ii) keep the other Parties reasonably informed of any communication received by such Party or its Representatives from, or given by such Party or its Representatives to, any Governmental Authority and of any communication received or given in connection with any proceeding by a private Person, in each case regarding any of the Transactions; (iii) permit a Representative of the other Parties and their respective outside counsel to review any communication given by it to, and consult with each other in advance of any meeting or conference with, any Governmental Authority or, in connection with any proceeding by a private Person, with any other Person, and to the extent permitted by such Governmental Authority or other Person, give a Representative or Representatives of the other Parties the opportunity to attend and participate in such meetings and conferences; (iv) in the event a Party’s Representative is prohibited from participating in or attending any meetings or conferences, the other Parties shall keep such Party promptly and reasonably apprised with respect thereto; and (v) use reasonable best efforts to cooperate in the filing of any memoranda, white papers, filings, correspondence or other written communications explaining or defending the Transactions, articulating any regulatory or competitive argument, and/or responding to requests or objections made by any Governmental Authority.
(c) As soon as reasonably practicable following the date of this Agreement, the Parties shall reasonably cooperate with each other and use (and shall cause their respective Affiliates to use) their respective reasonable best efforts to prepare and file with Governmental Authorities any requests for approval, to the extent required, of the Transactions and shall use their reasonable best efforts to have such Governmental Authorities approve the Transactions. Each Party shall give prompt written notice to the other Parties if such Party or any of its Representatives receives any notice from such Governmental Authorities in connection with the Transactions, and shall promptly furnish the other Parties with a copy of such Governmental Authority notice. If any Governmental Authority requires that a hearing or meeting be held in connection with its approval of the Transactions, whether prior to the Closing or after the Closing, each Party shall arrange for Representatives of such Party to be present for such hearing or meeting. If any objections are asserted with respect to the Transactions under any applicable Law or if any Legal Proceeding is instituted (or threatened to be instituted) by any applicable Governmental Authority or any private Person challenging any of the Transactions or any Ancillary Document as violative of any applicable Law or which would otherwise prevent, materially impede or materially delay the consummation of the Transactions, the Parties shall use their reasonable best efforts to resolve any such objections or Legal Proceedings so as to timely permit consummation of the Transactions, including in order to resolve such objections or Legal Proceedings which, in any case if not resolved, could reasonably be expected to prevent, materially impede or materially delay the consummation of the Transactions. In the event any Legal Proceeding is instituted (or threatened to be instituted) by a Governmental Authority or private Person challenging the Transactions, the Parties shall, and shall cause their respective Representatives to, reasonably cooperate with each other and use their respective commercially reasonable efforts to contest and resist any such Legal Proceeding and to have vacated, lifted, reversed or overturned any Order, whether temporary, preliminary or permanent, that is in effect and that prohibits, prevents or restricts consummation of the Transactions.
(d) Prior to the Closing, each Party shall use its reasonable best efforts to obtain any Consents of Governmental Authorities or other third Persons as may be necessary for the consummation by such Party or its Affiliates of the Transactions or required as a result of the execution or performance of, or consummation of the Transactions by such Party or its Affiliates, and the other Parties shall provide reasonable cooperation in connection with such efforts.
Section 6.10 Trust Account. Upon satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth in Article VII and provision of notice thereof to the Trustee (which notice Purchaser shall provide to the Trustee in accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement), (i) in accordance with and pursuant to the Trust Agreement, Purchaser (a) shall cause any documents, opinions and notices required to be delivered to the Trustee pursuant to the Trust Agreement to be so delivered and (b) shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Trustee to, and the Trustee shall thereupon be obligated to (1) pay as and when due all amounts payable to the Purchaser Shareholders pursuant to the Redemption, and (2) pay all remaining amounts then available in the Trust Account to Purchaser for immediate use, subject to this Agreement and the Trust Agreement, and (ii) thereafter, the Trust Account shall terminate, except as otherwise provided therein.
Section 6.11 Tax Matters.
(a) The Parties hereby agree and acknowledge that, for U.S. federal, and applicable state and local, income Tax purposes, it is intended that the relevant portions of the Transactions qualify for their respective Intended Tax Treatments, and that this Agreement constitutes, and hereby is adopted as, a “plan of reorganization” within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Sections 1.368-2(g) and 1.368-3(a) for purposes of Sections 354, 361 and 368 of the Code and the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder. No Party shall knowingly take or knowingly cause to be taken, or knowingly fail to take or knowingly cause to be failed to be taken, any action, if such action or failure to act, as the case may be, would reasonably be expected to prevent or impede the relevant portions of the Transactions from qualifying for their respective Intended Tax Treatments. The Parties hereby agree to file all Tax Returns on a basis consistent with the Intended Tax Treatments unless otherwise required pursuant to a “determination” within the meaning of Section 1313(a) of the Code or a change in applicable Law. Each Party agrees to use reasonable best efforts to promptly notify all other Parties of any challenge to the qualification of any relevant portion of the Transactions for its Intended Tax Treatment by any Governmental Authority.
(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, if the SEC requires that a Tax opinion be prepared and submitted in connection with the Proxy Statement/Registration Statement and any other filings to be made with the SEC in connection with the Transactions, whether as an exhibit to the Proxy Statement/Registration Statement or otherwise, and if such a Tax opinion is being provided by a Tax counsel, the Parties hereto shall, and shall cause their Affiliates to, (i) reasonably cooperate in order to facilitate the issuance of any such Tax opinion and (ii) deliver to such counsel, to the extent requested by such counsel, a duly executed certificate reasonably satisfactory to such Party and such counsel dated as of the date requested by such counsel, containing such customary representations, warranties and covenants as shall be reasonably necessary or appropriate to enable such counsel to render any such opinion; provided, that, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, nothing in this Agreement shall require (x) any counsel to the Company or its advisors to provide an opinion with respect to any Tax matters relating to or affecting Purchaser or the Purchaser Shareholder, including that the relevant portions of the Transactions qualify for their respective Intended Tax Treatments and (y) any counsel to Purchaser or its advisors to provide an opinion with respect to any Tax matters relating to or affecting the Company or the holders or beneficial owners of Company Securities, including that the relevant portions of the Transactions qualify for their respective Intended Tax Treatments; provided, further, that neither this provision nor any other provision in this Agreement shall require the provision of a Tax opinion by any Party’s counsel or advisors to be an express condition precedent to the Closing.
(c) All transfer, documentary, sales, use, stamp, registration, excise, recording, registration, value added and other such similar Taxes and fees (including any penalties and interest) that become payable in connection with or by reason of the execution of this Agreement and the Transactions (“Transfer Taxes”) shall be borne and paid by the relevant Target Companies. The Target Companies shall, at their own expense, timely file all necessary Tax Returns or other documentation with respect to such Transfer Taxes and, if required by applicable Law, the other Parties shall join in the execution of any such Tax Returns or other documentation.
(d) With respect to any audit, examination, claim or other Legal Proceeding with respect to Tax matters (“Tax Proceeding”) of the Company for U.S. federal, or applicable state or local, income tax purposes for any taxable period (or portion thereof) ending on or prior to the Closing Date and such Tax Proceeding is governed under subchapter C of Chapter 63 of the Code, as amended by the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 (or any similar provision of state, local or non-U.S. Law), the Company shall, and shall cause its eligible Subsidiaries to, (i) timely make an election under Section 6226 of the Code (or any similar provision of state, local or non-U.S. Law) in accordance with applicable Law, and (ii) to the extent any Member has a prior consent right to the making of any such election, to use reasonable efforts cause each such Member to consent to the making of such election.
(e) The Company shall provide a certificate signed by an officer of the Company, prepared in a manner consistent and in accordance with the requirements of Treasury Regulations Sections 1.897-2(g), (h) and 1.1445-2(c)(3), certifying that the Company is not, and has not been during the relevant period specified in Section 897(c)(1)(A)(ii) of the Code, a “United States real property holding corporation” within the meaning of Section 897(c)(2) of the Code, and that no interest in the Company is a “U.S. real property interest” within the meaning of Section 897(c) of the Code, and a form of notice to the IRS prepared in accordance with the provisions of Treasury Regulations Section 1.897-2(h)(2), in each case in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Purchaser; provided, that the Company shall promptly notify Purchaser, and in all cases no later than 7 Business Days prior to the Closing, if it determines that it will not be able to deliver such certificate and form of notice as contemplated herein, and following such notice Purchaser and the Company shall reasonably cooperate to establish any other available exemption from withholding under Section 1445 of the Code.
Section 6.12 Further Assurances. The Parties hereto shall further cooperate with each other and use their respective commercially reasonable efforts to take or cause to be taken all actions, and do or cause to be done all things, necessary, proper or advisable on their part under this Agreement and applicable Laws to consummate the Transactions as soon as reasonably practicable, including preparing and filing as soon as practicable all documentation to effect all necessary notices, reports and other filings and to otherwise effect, consummate, confirm or evidence the Transactions and carry out the purposes of this Agreement.
Section 6.13 The Preparation of Proxy Statement/Registration Statement; Shareholders’ Meeting and Approvals.
(a) Registration Statement and Prospectus.
(i) As promptly as practicable after the execution of this Agreement and receipt by the Purchaser of the PCAOB Financial Statements, the Updated 1H Financial Statements and any other audited or unaudited financial statements of the Target Companies that are required by applicable Law to be included in the Proxy Statement/Registration Statement, (x) the Purchaser and the Company shall jointly prepare and the Purchaser shall file with the SEC, mutually acceptable materials (such agreement not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed by the Purchaser or the Company) that shall include the proxy statement to be filed with the SEC as part of the Registration Statement and sent to the Purchaser Shareholders relating to the Purchaser Shareholders’ Meeting (such proxy statement, together with any amendments or supplements thereto, the “Proxy Statement”), and (y) the Purchaser shall prepare (with the Target Companies’ and their respective Representatives reasonable cooperation) and file with the SEC the Registration Statement, in which the Proxy Statement will be included as a prospectus (the “Proxy Statement/Registration Statement”), in connection with the registration under the Securities Act of (A) the shares of Domesticated Purchaser Common Stock and Domesticated Purchaser Warrants to be issued in exchange for the issued and outstanding Purchaser Ordinary Shares and the Cayman Purchaser Warrants, respectively, in the Domestication, (B) the shares of Domesticated Purchaser Common Stock that constitute the Aggregate Consideration, (C) the shares of Domesticated Purchaser Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the shares of Domesticated Purchaser Series A Preferred Stock to be issued in exchange for Company Class A Convertible Preferred Units, in each case, to the extent such registration is permitted under the Securities Act and (D) the shares of Domesticated Purchaser Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Domesticated Purchaser Series A Investor Warrants to be issued in exchange for Company Class A Preferred Investor Warrants (collectively, the “Registration Statement Securities”). The filing fees payable to the SEC in connection with the Proxy Statement/Registration Statement will be paid by the Purchaser as a Purchaser Transaction Cost. Each of the Purchaser and the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Proxy Statement/Registration Statement to comply with the rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC, to have the Registration Statement declared effective under the Securities Act as promptly as practicable after such filing and to keep the Registration Statement effective as long as is necessary to consummate the Transactions. The Purchaser also agrees to use its reasonable best efforts to obtain all necessary state securities law or “blue sky” permits and approvals required to carry out the transactions contemplated hereby, and the Company shall furnish all information concerning the Target Companies and any of their respective members or stockholders as may be reasonably requested in connection with any such action. Each of the Purchaser and the Company agrees to furnish to the other party all information concerning itself, its Subsidiaries, officers, directors, managers, stockholders, and other equityholders and information regarding such other matters as may be reasonably necessary or advisable or as may be reasonably requested in connection with the Proxy Statement/Registration Statement, a Current Report on Form 8-K pursuant to the Exchange Act in connection with the Transactions, or any other statement, filing, notice or application made by or on behalf of the Purchaser or the Target Companies to any regulatory authority (including Nasdaq) in connection with the Transactions (the “Offer Documents”).
(ii) To the extent not prohibited by Law, the Purchaser will advise the Company, reasonably promptly after the Purchaser receives notice thereof, of the time when the Proxy Statement/Registration Statement has become effective or any supplement or amendment has been filed, of the issuance of any stop order or the suspension of the qualification of the Domesticated Purchaser Common Stock for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, of the initiation or written threat of any proceeding for any such purpose, or of any request by the SEC for the amendment or supplement of the Proxy Statement/Registration Statement or for additional information. To the extent not prohibited by Law, the Company and their counsel shall be given a reasonable opportunity to review and comment on the Proxy Statement/Registration Statement and any Offer Document each time before any such document is filed with the SEC, and the Purchaser shall give reasonable and good faith consideration to any comments made by the Company and its counsel. To the extent not prohibited by Law, the Purchaser shall provide the Company and their counsel with (i) any comments or other communications, whether written or oral, that the Purchaser or its counsel may receive from time to time from the SEC or its staff with respect to the Proxy Statement/Registration Statement or Offer Documents promptly after receipt of those comments or other communications and (ii) a reasonable opportunity to participate in the response of the Purchaser to those comments and to provide comments on that response (to which reasonable and good faith consideration shall be given), including by participating with the Company or its counsel in any discussions or meetings with the SEC.
(iii) Each of the Purchaser and the Company shall use reasonable best efforts to ensure that none of the information supplied by or on its behalf for inclusion or incorporation by reference in (A) the Proxy Statement/Registration Statement will, at the time the Proxy Statement/Registration Statement is filed with the SEC, at each time at which it is amended and at the time it becomes effective under the Securities Act, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, not misleading or (B) the Proxy Statement will, at the date it is first mailed to the Purchaser Shareholders and at the time of the Purchaser Shareholders’ Meeting, 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, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading.
(iv) If at any time prior to the Closing any information relating to the Company, the Purchaser or any of their respective Subsidiaries, Affiliates, directors or officers is discovered by the Company or the Purchaser, which is required to be set forth in an amendment or supplement to the Proxy Statement or the Proxy Statement/Registration Statement, so that neither of such documents would include any misstatement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, with respect to the Proxy Statement, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, the party which discovers such information shall promptly notify the other parties and an appropriate amendment or supplement describing such information shall be promptly filed with the SEC and, to the extent required by Law, disseminated to the Purchaser Shareholders.
(b) Purchaser Shareholder Approval. The Purchaser shall (a) as promptly as practicable after the Proxy Statement/Registration Statement is declared effective under the Securities Act, (i) cause the Proxy Statement to be disseminated to Purchaser Shareholders in compliance with applicable Law, (ii) solely with respect to the following clause (1), duly (1) give notice of and (2) convene and hold an extraordinary general meeting of Purchaser Shareholders (the “Purchaser Shareholders’ Meeting”) in accordance with the Purchaser’s Organizational Documents and applicable Law, for a date no later than thirty (30) Business Days following the date the Registration Statement is declared effective, and (iii) solicit proxies from the holders of Purchaser Ordinary Shares to vote in favor of each of the Transaction Proposals, and (b) provide its public shareholders with the opportunity to elect to effect a Redemption. The Purchaser shall, through its board of directors, recommend to the Purchaser Shareholders the (A) adoption and approval of this Agreement in accordance with applicable Law and exchange rules and regulations, (B) approval of the Domestication, (C) adoption of the Purchaser Charter upon Domestication and the Purchaser Bylaws upon Domestication, including any separate or unbundled advisory proposals as are required to implement the foregoing, (D) approval of the issuance of shares of Domesticated Purchaser Common Stock as required by Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635, (E) approval of the adoption by the Purchaser of the Equity Incentive Plan, (F) appointment of the director nominees in accordance with Section 6.18 of this Agreement, (G) adoption and approval of any other proposals as the SEC (or staff member thereof) may indicate are necessary in its comments to the Registration Statement or correspondence related thereto, (H) adoption and approval of any other proposals as reasonably agreed by the Purchaser and the Company to be necessary or appropriate in connection with the Transactions, and (I) adjournment of the Purchaser Shareholders’ Meeting to a later date or dates, if necessary or convenient, (x) to permit further solicitation and vote of proxies in the event that there are insufficient votes for any of the foregoing, (y) if the Purchaser determines that one or more of the conditions to Closing is not or will not be satisfied or waived or (z) to facilitate the Domestication, the Merger or any other Transaction (such proposals in (A) through (H), together, the “Transaction Proposals”), and include such recommendation in the Proxy Statement. The board of directors of Purchaser shall not, except as required by applicable Law, withdraw, amend, qualify or modify its recommendation to the Purchaser Shareholders that they vote in favor of the Transaction Proposals (together with any withdrawal, amendment, qualification or modification of its recommendation to the Purchaser Shareholders described in the Recitals hereto, a “Modification in Recommendation”). To the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, (x) the Purchaser’s obligations to establish a record date for, duly call, give notice of, convene and hold the Purchaser Shareholders’ Meeting shall not be affected by any Modification in Recommendation, (y) the Purchaser agrees to establish a record date for, duly call, give notice of, convene and hold the Purchaser Shareholders’ Meeting and submit for approval the Transaction Proposals and (z) the Purchaser agrees that if the Purchaser Shareholder Approval shall not have been obtained at any such Purchaser Shareholders’ Meeting, then the Purchaser shall promptly continue to take all such necessary actions, including the actions required by this Section 6.13(b), and hold additional Purchaser Shareholders’ Meetings in order to obtain the Purchaser Shareholder Approval provided, that, without the consent of the Company, the Purchaser Shareholders’ Meeting may not be adjourned to a date that is more than fifteen (15) days after the date for which the Purchaser Shareholders’ Meeting was originally scheduled (excluding any adjournments required by applicable Law).
(c) Extension. As promptly as reasonably practicable after the execution of this Agreement, the Purchaser shall take all actions necessary to obtain an extension until the Outside Date to the deadline set forth in the Purchaser’s Organizational Documents for the Purchaser to consummate a Business Combination, including the preparation and filing of a proxy statement with the SEC (such proxy statement, together with any amendments or supplements thereto, the “Extension Proxy Statement”), to seek approval of the Purchaser Shareholders to extend such deadline to the Outside Date in accordance with the Purchaser’s Organizational Documents (as amended, supplemented or modified) (the “Purchaser Extension”). The preliminary Extension Proxy Statement shall be filed with the SEC no later than October 14, 2024. Each of the Purchaser and the Company agrees to promptly furnish to the other Party all information concerning itself, its Subsidiaries, Affiliates, officers, directors, managers, Purchaser Shareholders and other equityholders and information regarding such matters as may be reasonably necessary or advisable or as may be reasonably requested in connection with the Extension Proxy Statement or the Purchaser Extension. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, in connection with the Purchaser Extension, Purchaser shall be permitted, to the extent required by the Purchaser’s Organizational Documents, to use the proceeds held in the Trust Account to redeem the Purchaser Class A Ordinary Shares of holders who properly exercise their right to redemption in accordance with the Purchaser’s Organizational Documents.
Section 6.14 Employee Matters.
(a) The Purchaser and the Company shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to agree to a form of equity incentive plan that provides for grants of equity-based incentive of awards to eligible service providers of the Company (the “Equity Incentive Plan”), such agreement by either Party not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed. If such Equity Incentive Plan is in agreed form prior to the effective date of the Registration Statement, the Purchaser shall, prior to the Closing Date, adopt such Equity Incentive Plan and submit it for approval of the Purchaser’s Shareholders at the Purchaser Shareholders’ Meeting. The Equity Incentive Plan shall have an initial share reserve which shall be mutually agreed between the Purchaser and the Company based upon benchmarking against peer public companies and in consultation with an independent outside compensation advisor, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed. The Purchaser and the Company shall determine the initial award grants that shall be granted to eligible service providers identified by the Company and agreed to by the Purchaser as soon as reasonably practicable following the Effective Time and in a form of award agreement, in each case, as mutually agreed between the Purchaser and the Company based upon benchmarking against peer public companies (taking into account employee hiring needs and the development stage nature of the Company) and in consultation with an independent outside compensation advisor, such agreement by either Party not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed.
(b) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, each of the parties to this Agreement acknowledges and agrees that all provisions contained in this Section 6.14 are included for the sole benefit of Purchaser and the Company, and that nothing in this Agreement, whether express or implied, (i) shall be construed to establish, amend, or modify any employee benefit plan, program, agreement or arrangement, (ii) shall limit the right of Purchaser, the Company or their respective Affiliates to amend, terminate or otherwise modify any Company Benefit Plan or other employee benefit plan, agreement or other arrangement following the Closing Date, or (iii) shall confer upon any Person who is not a party to this Agreement (including any equityholder, any current or former director, manager, officer, employee or independent contractor of the Company, or any participant in any Company Benefit Plan or other employee benefit plan, agreement or other arrangement (or any dependent or beneficiary thereof)), any right to continued or resumed employment or recall, any right to compensation or benefits, or any third-party beneficiary or other right of any kind or nature whatsoever.
Section 6.15 Public Announcements.
(a) The Parties agree that during the Interim Period no public release, filing or announcement concerning this Agreement or the Ancillary Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be issued by any Party or any of their Affiliates without the prior written consent of the Purchaser and the Company (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), except as such release or announcement may be required by applicable Law or the rules or regulations of any securities exchange, in which case the applicable Party shall use commercially reasonable efforts to allow the other Parties reasonable time to comment on, and arrange for any required filing with respect to, such release or announcement in advance of such issuance.
(b) The Parties shall mutually agree upon and, as promptly as practicable after the execution of this Agreement, issue a press release announcing the execution of this Agreement (the “Signing Press Release”). Promptly after the issuance of the Signing Press Release (but in any event within four (4) Business Days after the execution of this Agreement), the Purchaser shall file a current report on Form 8-K (the “Signing Filing”) with the Signing Press Release and a description of this Agreement as required by Federal Securities Laws, which the Company shall review, comment upon and approve (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) prior to filing. The Parties shall mutually agree upon and, as promptly as practicable after the Closing, issue a press release announcing the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (the “Closing Press Release”). Promptly after the issuance of the Closing Press Release (but in any event within four (4) Business Days after the Closing), the Purchaser shall file a current report on Form 8-K (the “Closing Filing”) with the Closing Press Release and a description of the Closing as required by Federal Securities Laws which the Purchaser shall review, comment upon and approve (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) prior to filing. In connection with the preparation of the Signing Press Release, the Signing Filing, the Closing Filing, the Closing Press Release, or any other report, statement, filing notice or application made by or on behalf of a Party to any Governmental Authority or other third party in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, each Party shall, upon request by any other Party, furnish the Parties with all information concerning themselves, their respective directors, officers and equity holders, and such other matters as may be reasonably necessary or advisable in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, or any other report, statement, filing, notice or application made by or on behalf of a Party to any third party or any Governmental Authority in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby.
Section 6.16 Confidential Information. (a) The Company hereby agrees that during the Interim Period and, in the event that this Agreement is terminated in accordance with Article VIII, for a period of two (2) years after such termination, it shall, and shall cause its Affiliates and its and their respective Representatives to, except to the extent otherwise consented to by Purchaser: (i) treat and hold in strict confidence any Purchaser Confidential Information, and will not use for any purpose (except in connection with the consummation of the Transactions, performing their obligations hereunder or thereunder, enforcing their rights hereunder or thereunder, or in furtherance of their authorized duties on behalf of the Purchaser), nor directly or indirectly disclose, distribute, publish, disseminate or otherwise make available to any third party any of the Purchaser Confidential Information without the Purchaser’s prior written consent; and (ii) in the event that the Company or any of its Affiliates or its or their respective Representatives, during the Interim Period or, in the event that this Agreement is terminated in accordance with Article VIII, for a period of two (2) years after such termination, becomes legally obligated to disclose any Purchaser Confidential Information, (A) provide the Purchaser, to the extent legally permitted, with prompt written notice of such requirement so that the Purchaser or an Affiliate thereof may seek, at the Purchaser’s sole cost and expense, a protective Order or other remedy or waive compliance with this Section 6.16(a), and (B) in the event that such protective Order or other remedy is not obtained, or the Purchaser waives compliance with this Section 6.16(a) furnish only that portion of such Purchaser Confidential Information; provided, that with respect to Purchaser Confidential Information constituting trade secrets under applicable Law and has been identified as such to the Company in writing prior to or promptly after its disclosure to the Company or its Representatives, such covenants shall apply for as long as such Purchaser Confidential Information constitutes a trade secret under applicable Law and continues to constitute Purchaser Confidential Information under this Agreement. In the event that this Agreement is terminated and the transactions contemplated hereby are not consummated, the Company shall, and shall cause its Representatives to, promptly deliver to the Purchaser or destroy (at the Purchaser’s election) any and all copies (in whatever form or medium) of Purchaser Confidential Information and destroy all notes, memoranda, summaries, analyses, compilations and other writings related thereto or based thereon; provided, however, that the Company, its Affiliates and its and their respective Representatives shall be entitled to keep any records required by (i) applicable Law or (ii) legal, fiduciary or professional obligation, (iii) in accordance with written document retention policies and procedures and/or (iv) contained in any electronic file created pursuant to bona fide backup storage or archival processes in the ordinary course of business; and provided, further, that any Purchaser Confidential Information that is not returned or destroyed shall remain subject to the confidentiality obligations set forth in this Agreement.
(b) The Purchaser and Merger Sub hereby agree that during the Interim Period and, in the event that this Agreement is terminated in accordance with Article VIII, for a period of two (2) years after such termination, they shall, and shall cause their respective Affiliates and their Representatives to, except to the extent otherwise consented to by the Company: (i) treat and hold in strict confidence any Company Confidential Information, and will not use for any purpose (except in connection with the consummation of the Transactions, performing its obligations hereunder or thereunder or enforcing its rights hereunder or thereunder), nor directly or indirectly disclose, distribute, publish, disseminate or otherwise make available to any third party any of the Company Confidential Information without the Company’s prior written consent; and (ii) in the event that the Purchaser, Merger Sub or any of its Representatives, during the Interim Period or, in the event that this Agreement is terminated in accordance with Article VIII, for a period of two (2) years after such termination, becomes legally obligated to disclose any Company Confidential Information, (A) provide the Company to the extent legally permitted with prompt written notice of such requirement so that the Company may seek, at the Company’s sole cost and expense, a protective Order or other remedy or waive compliance with this Section 6.16(b) and (B) in the event that such protective Order or other remedy is not obtained, or the Company waives compliance with this Section 6.16(b), furnish only that portion of such Company Confidential Information which is legally required to be provided as advised in writing by outside counsel and to exercise its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain assurances that confidential treatment will be accorded such Company Confidential Information; provided, that with respect to Company Confidential Information constituting trade secrets under applicable Law and that has been identified as such to the Purchaser in writing prior to or promptly after its disclosure to the Purchaser or its Representatives, such covenants shall apply for as long as such Company Confidential Information constitutes a trade secret under applicable Law and continues to constitute Company Confidential Information under this Agreement. In the event that this Agreement is terminated and the transactions contemplated hereby are not consummated, the Purchaser shall, and shall cause its Representatives to, promptly deliver to the Company or destroy (at the Purchaser’s election) any and all copies (in whatever form or medium) of Company Confidential Information and destroy all notes, memoranda, summaries, analyses, compilations and other writings related thereto or based thereon; provided, however, that the Purchaser, Merger Sub and their respective Affiliates and Representatives shall be entitled to keep any records required by applicable Law or legal, fiduciary or professional obligation, in accordance with written document retention policies and procedures and/or contained in any electronic file created pursuant to bona fide backup storage or archival processes in the ordinary course of business; and provided, further, that any Company Confidential Information that is not returned or destroyed shall remain subject to the confidentiality obligations set forth in this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) the Purchaser, Merger Sub and their respective Representatives shall be permitted to disclose any and all Company Confidential Information to the extent required by the Federal Securities Laws, (ii) no notice or further action shall be required in respect of disclosure of the Company Confidential Information (or provision of access thereto) to regulatory authorities or self-regulatory organizations having authority over the Purchaser, Merger Sub or their respective Representatives in connection with routine regulatory examinations or pursuant to statutory requirements that are not targeted at the Target Companies, the Transactions or the Company Confidential Information.
Section 6.17 Documents and Information. After the Closing Date, the Purchaser and the Company shall, and shall cause their respective Subsidiaries to, until the seventh (7th) anniversary of the Closing Date, retain all books, records and other documents pertaining to the business of the Target Companies in existence on the Closing Date and make the same available for inspection and copying by the Purchaser during normal business hours of the Company and its Subsidiaries, as applicable, upon reasonable request and upon reasonable notice. No such books, records or documents shall be destroyed after the seventh (7th) anniversary of the Closing Date by the Purchaser or its Subsidiaries (including any Target Company) without first advising a representative of the Sponsor (or its successors or assigns) in writing and giving such representative a reasonable opportunity to obtain possession thereof.
Section 6.18 Post-Closing Board of Directors and Executive Officers.
(a) The Parties shall take all necessary action, including the Purchaser causing the directors of the Purchaser to resign, so that effective as of the Closing, the Purchaser’s board of directors (the “Post-Closing Purchaser Board”) will consist of seven individuals (appointed in accordance and such that, as of the Closing, the Post-Closing Purchaser Board shall comply with Nasdaq rules) to be determined by the Company and which such Post-Closing Purchaser Board shall consist of three classes of directors that are as evenly sized as possible. Immediately after the Closing, the Parties shall take all necessary action to designate and appoint to the Post-Closing Purchaser Board (i) the one (1) Person that is designated by the Purchaser prior to the Closing, which Person shall be subject to the Company’s consent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned) and which shall serve in the class to be elected at the next annual meeting, (ii) the chief executive officer of the Purchaser after the Closing and (iii) the remaining Persons, all of whom will be designated by the Company prior to the Closing. At or prior to the Closing, the Company, if requested, and the Purchaser shall provide each initial director with a customary director indemnification agreement, in form and substance reasonably acceptable to such director, the Company and the Purchaser.
(b) The Parties shall take all action necessary, including the Purchaser causing the executive officers of Purchaser to resign, so that the individuals serving as the executive officers of the Purchaser immediately after the Closing will be individuals the Company desires to appoint to such roles.
Section 6.19 Indemnification of Directors and Officers; Tail Insurance.
(a) The Parties agree that for a period of six (6) years from the Closing Date, the Parties shall, and shall cause the Purchaser, Merger Sub and the Target Companies to, maintain in effect the exculpation, indemnification and advancement of expenses provisions in favor of any individual who, at or prior to the Closing, was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Purchaser, Merger Sub and the Target Companies, as the case may be, or who, at the request of the Parties, as the case may be, served as a director, officer, member, manager, trustee or fiduciary of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, pension or other employee benefit plan or enterprise (collectively, with such individual’s heirs, executors or administrators, (each, together with such Person’s heirs, executors or administrators, a “D&O Indemnified Party”)), of the Purchaser’s, Merger Sub’s and the Target Companies’ respective Organizational Documents as in effect immediately prior to the Closing Date or in any indemnification agreements of the Purchaser, Merger Sub or any of the Target Companies, on the one hand, with any D&O Indemnified Party, on the other hand, as in effect immediately prior to the Closing Date, and the Parties shall, and shall cause the Purchaser, Merger Sub and the Target Companies to, not amend, repeal or otherwise modify any such provisions in any manner that would adversely affect the rights thereunder of any D&O Indemnified Party; provided, however, that all rights to indemnification or advancement of expenses in respect of any Legal Proceedings pending or asserted or any claim made within such period shall continue until the disposition of such Legal Proceeding or resolution of such claim. From and after the Closing Date, the Purchaser shall cause the Target Companies to honor, in accordance with their respective terms, each of the covenants contained in this Section 6.19 without limit as to time.
(b) At or prior to the Closing, the Purchaser shall purchase a “tail” directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policy (the “D&O Tail”) in respect of acts or omissions occurring prior to the Closing covering each such Person that is a director or officer of the Purchaser or a Target Company currently covered by a directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policy of the Purchaser or one or more Target Companies, respectively, on terms with respect to coverage, deductibles and amounts no less favorable than those of such applicable policy in effect on the date of this Agreement for the six (6) year period following the Closing; provided that in no event shall the Purchaser be required to expend on the premium thereof in excess of 350% of the aggregate annual premiums currently payable by the Purchaser or the Target Companies, respectively, with respect to such current policies (the “Premium Cap”); provided, further, that if such minimum coverage under any such D&O Tail is or becomes not available at the Premium Cap, then any such D&O Tail shall contain the maximum coverage available at the Premium Cap. The Purchaser shall maintain the D&O Tail in full force and effect for its full term and cause all obligations thereunder to be honored by the Target Companies, as applicable, and no other party shall have any further obligation to purchase or pay for such insurance pursuant to this Section 6.19(b). No claims made under or in respect of the D&O Tail related to any fiduciary or employee of any Target Company shall be settled without the prior written consent of the Purchaser, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned.
(c) The rights of each D&O Indemnified Party hereunder shall be in addition to, and not in limitation of, any other rights such Person may have under the Organizational Documents of the Purchaser or any Target Company, any other indemnification arrangement, any Law or otherwise. The obligations of the Purchaser and the Target Companies under this Section 6.19(c) shall not be terminated or modified after the Closing in such a manner as to materially and adversely affect any D&O Indemnified Party without the consent of such D&O Indemnified Party. The provisions of this Section 6.19 shall survive the Closing and expressly are intended to benefit, and are enforceable by, each of the D&O Indemnified Parties, each of whom is an intended third-party beneficiary of this Section 6.19.
(d) If the Purchaser or, after the Closing, any Target Company, or any of their respective successors or assigns: (i) consolidates with or merges into any other Person and shall not be the continuing or surviving entity of such consolidation or merger; or (ii) transfers or conveys all or substantially all of its properties and assets to any Person, then, in each such case, proper provision shall be made so that the successors and assigns of the Purchaser or such Target Company, as applicable, assume the obligations set forth in this Section 6.19.
Section 6.20 PIPE Investment. The Purchaser shall use its reasonable best efforts to satisfy the conditions of the closing obligations contained in the subscription agreements relating to the PIPE Investment and consummate the transactions contemplated thereby.
Section 6.21 Redemption. In connection with the Purchaser Shareholders’ Meeting, the Purchaser agrees that it shall provide the holders of shares of Purchaser Class A Ordinary Shares the opportunity to elect redemption of such shares of Purchaser Class A Ordinary Shares, as required by the Purchaser’s Organizational Documents in the Redemption. Subject to receipt of the Purchaser Shareholder Approval, and at least one (1) day prior to the Domestication, the Purchaser shall carry out the Redemption and use the proceeds held in the Trust Account to redeem the Purchaser Class A Ordinary Shares of holders who properly exercise their right to redemption in accordance with the Purchaser’s Organizational Documents.
Section 6.22 Domestication. Subject to receipt of the Purchaser Shareholder Approval, at least one (1) day prior to the Closing, the Purchaser shall, in accordance with applicable Law, any applicable rules and regulations of the SEC, the Nasdaq and the Purchaser’s Organizational Documents, as applicable, cause the Domestication to become effective, including by (a) filing with the Delaware Secretary of State a certificate of domestication with respect to the Domestication, in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Purchaser and the Company, together with the Purchaser Charter upon Domestication, in each case, in accordance with the provisions thereof and applicable Law, and (b) completing and making and procuring all those filings required to be made with the Cayman Registrar in connection with the Domestication.
Section 6.23 Adoption of Proxy Statement/Registration Statement. Within one (1) Business Day of the Closing Date, the post-Domestication Purchaser, as the successor to the pre-Domestication Purchaser, shall file a post-effective amendment to the Proxy Statement/Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 414(d) of the Securities Act.
Section 6.24 Compliance. Within 120 days following the Closing, the Company will implement a compliance program, including the adoption and implementation of adequate risk-based policies and procedures reasonably designed in accordance with industry best practices and applicable published U.S. governmental guidance, including U.S. Department of Justice guidance on corporate compliance programs, to ensure compliance with (a) applicable Anti-Bribery Laws, including the internal-controls provisions imposed on issuers by the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended; (b) the False Claims Act, (c) applicable federal and state Anti-Kickback laws, including the Anti-Kickback Statute, and (d) Sanctions Laws and International Trade Laws.
Section 6.25 Seventh A&R Company OA. Prior to closing, the Company shall adopt the Seventh A&R Company OA in the form of a customary single member limited liability company agreement, in a form to be mutually agreed by the Purchaser and the Company, such agreement by either Party not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed.
Article VII
CLOSING CONDITIONS
Section 7.01 Conditions to Each Party’s Obligations. The obligations of each Party to consummate the Transactions shall be subject to the satisfaction or written waiver (where permissible) by the Company and the Purchaser of the following conditions:
(a) Required Purchaser Shareholder Approval. The Purchaser Shareholder Approval shall have been obtained.
(b) No Adverse Law or Order. No Governmental Authority shall have enacted, issued, promulgated, enforced or entered any Law (whether temporary, preliminary or permanent) or Order that is then in effect and which has the effect of making the Transactions or agreements contemplated by this Agreement illegal or which otherwise prevents or prohibits consummation of the Transactions.
(c) Registration Statement. The Registration Statement shall have been declared effective under the Securities Act by the SEC and shall remain effective as of the Closing, and no stop order or similar order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall have been issued and be in effect with respect to the Registration Statement and no proceedings for that purpose shall have been initiated or threatened by the SEC and not withdrawn.
(d) Nasdaq Listing. The shares of Domesticated Purchaser Common Stock to be issued in connection with the Transactions shall be conditionally approved for listing upon the Closing on Nasdaq subject to any requirement to have a sufficient number of round lot holders of the Domesticated Purchaser Common Stock (provided that such condition shall not apply to the extent the shares of Domesticated Purchaser Common Stock have not been conditionally approved for listing due to a failure to meet any “market value of publicly held securities” or similarly titled requirement as a result of the Company not permitting a sufficient number of shares of Domesticated Purchaser Common Stock to be issued to non-Affiliates pursuant to Section 2.03 to be excluded from lock-up or other contractual restriction).
Section 7.02 Conditions to Obligations of the Company. In addition to the conditions specified in Section 7.01, the obligations of the Company to consummate the Transactions shall be subject to the satisfaction or written waiver (where permissible) by the Company of the following conditions:
(a) Representations and Warranties. All of the representations and warranties of the Purchaser and Merger Sub set forth in this Agreement and in any certificate delivered by or on behalf of the Purchaser pursuant hereto shall be true and correct on and as of the date of this Agreement and on and as of the Closing Date as if made on the Closing Date, except for (i) those representations and warranties that address matters only as of a particular date (which representations and warranties shall have been accurate as of such date), and (ii) any failures to be true and correct that (without giving effect to any qualifications or limitations as to materiality or Purchaser Material Adverse Effect), individually or in the aggregate, have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Purchaser Material Adverse Effect.
(b) Agreements and Covenants. The Purchaser and Merger Sub shall have performed in all material respects all of their respective obligations and complied in all material respects with all of their respective agreements and covenants under this Agreement to be performed or complied with by them on or prior to the Closing Date.
(c) No Purchaser Material Adverse Effect. No Purchaser Material Adverse Effect shall have occurred since the date of this Agreement that is continuing.
(d) Domestication. The Domestication shall have been completed as provided in Section 6.22 and a time-stamped copy of the certificate issued by the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware in relation thereto shall have been delivered to the Company.
(e) Trust Account. Purchaser shall have made appropriate arrangements to have the net proceeds remaining in the Trust Account (after giving effect to all Redemptions) available to Purchaser at the Closing.
(f) Closing Deliveries.
(i) Officer Certificate. The Purchaser shall have delivered to the Company a certificate, dated the Closing Date, signed by an executive officer of the Purchaser in such capacity, certifying as to the satisfaction of the conditions specified in Sections 7.02(a), 7.02(b) and 7.02(c).
(ii) Secretary Certificate. The Purchaser shall have delivered to the Company a certificate from its secretary or other executive officer certifying as to, and attaching, (A) copies of the Purchaser’s Organizational Documents as in effect as of the Closing Date (after giving effect to the Domestication) and (B) the resolutions of the Purchaser’s board of directors authorizing and approving the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and each of the Ancillary Documents to which it is a party or by which it is bound, and the consummation of the Transactions.
(iii) ANCILLARY DOCUMENTS. The Purchaser shall have delivered to the Company:
(A) A copy of the A&R Registration Rights Agreement, duly executed by the Purchaser and the Sponsor; and
(B) A copy of the Sponsor Lock-up Agreement, duly executed by the Purchaser and the Sponsor.
(g) Series A Preferred Stock Investment; Sponsor-Related Persons Investment. (i) The Purchaser shall have filed the Series A Preferred Stock Certificate of Designation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, (ii) all conditions precedent to the closing of the Series A Preferred Stock Investment to be fulfilled by the Purchaser, Sponsor or the Sponsor-Related Persons, and any of their respective Affiliates shall have been satisfied (as determined by the parties to the Series A SPA in good faith) or waived in writing by the person(s) with the authority to make such waiver (other than those conditions which, by their nature, are to be satisfied at the Closing of the Transactions including to the extent that any such condition precedent is, or is dependent upon, the consummation of the Merger), and the closing of the Series A Preferred Stock Investment shall be scheduled to occur substantially concurrently with the Closing, and (iii) the Sponsor-Related Persons shall have delivered the purchase price for the Series A Preferred Stock and Preferred Investor Warrants to be purchased by the Sponsor-Related Persons pursuant to the Series A SPA to the Escrow Agent (as defined in the Series A SPA).
Section 7.03 Conditions to Obligations of the Purchaser and Merger Sub. In addition to the conditions specified in Section 7.01, the obligations of the Purchaser and Merger Sub to consummate the Merger are subject to the satisfaction or written waiver (where available) of the following conditions:
(a) Representations and Warranties. All of the representations and warranties of the Company set forth in this Agreement and in any certificate delivered by or on behalf of the Company pursuant hereto shall be true and correct on and as of the date of this Agreement and on and as of the Closing Date as if made on the Closing Date, except for (i) those representations and warranties that address matters only as of a particular date (which representations and warranties shall have been accurate as of such date), and (ii) any failures to be true and correct that (without giving effect to any qualifications or limitations as to materiality or Company Material Adverse Effect), individually or in the aggregate, have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
(b) Agreements and Covenants. The Company shall have performed in all material respects all of its obligations and complied in all material respects with all of the agreements and covenants (except for the requirement to provide the PCAOB Financial Statements and the Updated 1H Financial Statements by the deadlines specified in Section 6.04) under this Agreement to be performed or complied with by it on or prior to the Closing Date.
(c) No Company Material Adverse Effect. No Company Material Adverse Effect shall have occurred with respect to the Target Companies, taken as a whole, since the date of this Agreement that is continuing.
(d) Closing Deliveries.
(i) Officer Certificate. The Purchaser shall have received a certificate from the Company, dated as the Closing Date, signed by an executive officer of the Company in such capacity, certifying as to the satisfaction of the conditions specified in Section 7.03(a), 7.03(b) and 7.03(c).
(ii) Secretary Certificate. The Company shall have delivered to the Purchaser a certificate executed by the Company’s secretary certifying as to the validity and effectiveness of, and attaching, (A) copies of the Company’s Organizational Documents as in effect as of the Closing Date (immediately prior to the Closing) and (B) the requisite resolutions of the Company’s board of managers authorizing and approving the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and each Ancillary Document to which the Company is or is required to be a party or bound, and the consummation of the Transactions.
(iii) The Company shall have delivered to the Purchaser:
(A) a copy of the A&R Registration Rights Agreement, duly executed by the applicable Members; and
(B) A properly completed and duly executed IRS Form W-9 or IRS Form W-8 of the applicable series from each Member.
(C)
Secion 7.04 Frustration of Conditions. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, no Party may rely on the failure of any condition set forth in this Article VII to be satisfied if such failure was caused by the failure of such Party or its Affiliates failure to comply with or perform any of its covenants or obligations set forth in this Agreement.
Article VIII
TERMINATION AND EXPENSES
Section 8.01 Termination. This Agreement may be terminated and the transactions contemplated hereby may be abandoned at any time prior to the Closing as follows:
(a) by mutual written consent of the Purchaser and the Company;
(b) by the Company if there has been a Modification in Recommendation;
(c) by the Company if the extension set forth in Section 6.13(c) or the Purchaser Shareholder Approval shall not have been obtained by reason of the failure to obtain the required vote at the applicable Purchaser Shareholders’ Meeting duly convened therefor or at any adjournment or postponement thereof;
(d) by written notice by the Purchaser or the Company if any of the conditions to the Closing set forth in Article VII have not been satisfied or waived by August 21, 2025 (the “Outside Date”); provided, however, the right to terminate this Agreement under this Section 8.01(d) shall not be available to a Party if the breach or violation by such Party or its Affiliates of any representation, warranty, covenant or obligation under this Agreement was the cause of, or resulted in, the failure of the Closing to occur on or before the Outside Date; provided, further, that, solely with respect to the Company’s right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 8.01(d), the “Outside Date” shall automatically be extended by one (1) calendar day for every calendar day after October 31, 2024 that the PCAOB Financial Statements or the Updated 1H Financial Statements are not delivered pursuant to Section 6.04;
(e) by written notice by either the Purchaser or the Company if a Governmental Authority of competent jurisdiction shall have issued an Order or taken any other action permanently restraining, enjoining or otherwise prohibiting the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and such Order or other action has become final and non-appealable; provided, however, that the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 8.01(e) shall not be available to a Party if the failure by such Party or its Affiliates to comply with any provision of this Agreement has been a substantial cause of, or substantially resulted in, such action by such Governmental Authority;
(f) by written notice by the Company to Purchaser, if (i) there has been a breach by the Purchaser of any of its representations, warranties, covenants or agreements contained in this Agreement, or if any representation or warranty of the Purchaser shall have become untrue or inaccurate, in any case, which would result in a failure of a condition set forth in Section 7.02(a) or Section 7.02(b) to be satisfied (treating the Closing Date for such purposes as the date of this Agreement or, if later, the date of such breach), and (ii) the breach or inaccuracy is incapable of being cured or is not cured within the earlier of (A) twenty (20) days after written notice of such breach or inaccuracy is provided to the Purchaser or (B) the Outside Date; provided, that the Company shall not have the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 8.01(f) if at such time the Company is in material uncured breach of this Agreement;
(g) by written notice by the Purchaser to the Company, if (i) there has been a breach by the Company of any of its representations, warranties, covenants or agreements contained in this Agreement, or if any representation or warranty of such Parties shall have become untrue or inaccurate, in any case, which would result in a failure of a condition set forth in Section 7.03(a) or Section 7.03(b) to be satisfied (treating the Closing Date for such purposes as the date of this Agreement or, if later, the date of such breach), and (ii) the breach or inaccuracy is incapable of being cured or is not cured within the earlier of (A) twenty (20) days after written notice of such breach or inaccuracy is provided to the Company or (B) the Outside Date; provided, that the Purchaser shall not have the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 8.01(g) if at such time the Purchaser is in material uncured breach of this Agreement;
(h) by written notice by the Purchaser to the Company, if (i) all the conditions set forth in Section 7.01 and Section 7.02 have been, and continue to be, satisfied or waived (other than those conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at the Closing, each of which shall be capable of being satisfied if the Closing Date were the date of such termination), (ii) the Company fails to consummate the Transactions on or prior to the day when the Closing is required to occur pursuant to Section 3.01, (iii) the Purchaser shall have irrevocably confirmed in writing to the Company that it is ready, willing and able to consummate the Closing and (iv) the Company fails to effect the Closing within five (5) Business Days following delivery of such confirmation; or
(i) by written notice by the Company to the Purchaser, if (i) all the conditions set forth in Section 7.01 and Section 7.03 have been, and continue to be, satisfied or waived (other than those conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at the Closing, each of which shall be capable of being satisfied if the Closing Date were the date of such termination), (ii) the Purchaser fails to consummate the Transactions on or prior to the day when the Closing is required to occur pursuant to Section 3.01, (iii) the Company shall have irrevocably confirmed in writing to the Purchaser that it is ready, willing and able to consummate the Closing and (iv) the Purchaser fails to effect the Closing within five (5) Business Days following delivery of such confirmation.
Section 8.02 Expense Reimbursement.
(a) In the event this Agreement is terminated by the Purchaser pursuant to Section 8.01(g) or Section 8.01(h), at a time when the Company does not have a right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.01(c), Section 8.01(f) or Section 8.01(i), then the Company shall pay or cause to be paid to Purchaser any amounts due and owing under the Convertible Promissory Note within two (2) Business Days after the date of such termination by wire transfer of same-day funds to one or more accounts designated by Purchaser.
(b) The parties acknowledge that the agreements contained in this Section 8.02 are an integral part of the Transactions and that, without these agreements, the parties hereto would not enter into this Agreement. In addition, if the Company fails to pay in a timely manner any amount due to Purchaser pursuant to this Section 8.02, then (i) the Company shall reimburse Purchaser for all costs and expenses (including disbursements and fees of counsel) incurred in the collection of such overdue amounts and (ii) the Company shall pay to Purchaser interest on the amounts payable pursuant to this Section 8.02 from and including the date payment of such amounts was due to but excluding the date of actual payment at a rate equal to three percent (3%) plus the prime rate set forth in The Wall Street Journal in effect on the date such payment was required to be made.
(c) At Closing, so long as the Convertible Promissory Note is forgiven by the holder thereof, the Purchaser shall issue to such holder shares of Series A Preferred Stock with an aggregate Stated Value (as defined in the Series A Preferred Stock Certificate of Designation) equal to $1,250,000.
Section 8.03 Effect of Termination. This Agreement may only be terminated in the circumstances described in Section 8.01 and pursuant to a written notice delivered by the applicable Party to the other applicable Parties, which sets forth the basis for such termination, including the provision of Section 8.01 under which such termination is made. In the event of the valid termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.01, this Agreement shall forthwith become void, and there shall be no Liability on the part of any Party or any of their respective Representatives, and all rights and obligations of each Party shall cease, except: (i) Section 6.15, Section 6.16, Article IX, and this Section 8.03 shall survive the termination of this Agreement, and (ii) nothing herein shall relieve any Party from Liability for any willful breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or obligation under this Agreement or any Fraud Claim against such Party, in either case, prior to termination of this Agreement (in each case of clauses (i) and (ii) above, subject to Section 9.15).
Article IX
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 9.01 No Survival. Except (x) as otherwise contemplated by Section 8.03 or (y) in the case of a Fraud Claim against a Person, none of the representations, warranties, covenants, obligations or other agreements in this Agreement or in any certificate, statement or instrument delivered pursuant to this Agreement, including any rights arising out of any breach of such representations, warranties, covenants, obligations, agreements and other provisions, shall survive the Closing (and there shall be no liability after the Closing in respect thereof), except for those covenants and agreements contained herein that by their terms expressly apply in whole or in part at or after the Closing, and then only with respect to any breaches occurring at or after the Closing.
Section 9.02 Notices. All notices, consents, waivers and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given (i) when delivered in person, (ii) when delivered by facsimile or other electronic means (including email), with evidence of transmission, (iii) one (1) Business Day after being sent, if sent by reputable, nationally recognized overnight courier service or (iv) three (3) Business Days after being mailed, if sent by registered or certified mail, pre-paid and return receipt requested, in each case to the applicable Party at the following addresses (or at such other address for a Party as shall be specified by like notice). Actual notice is effective notice for all purposes hereunder.
If to the Purchaser: | with a copy (which will not constitute notice) to: |
Inflection Point Acquisition Corp. II | White & Case LLP |
167 Madison Avenue | 1221 Avenue of the Americas |
Suite 205 #1017 | New York, New York 10020 |
New York, New York 10016 | Attn: Joel Rubinstein |
Attn: Michael Blitzer | Email: joel.rubinstein@whitecase.com |
Email: | |
| |
If to the Company, to: | with a copy (which will not constitute notice) to: |
USA Rare Earth, LLC | King & Spalding LLP |
100 W Airport Road, Stillwater, OK 74075 | 1100 Louisiana Street, Suite 4100 |
Attn: David Kronenfeld | Houston, TX 77002 |
Email: | Attn: Timothy FitzSimons; Trevor G. Pinkerton |
| Email: tfitzsimons@kslaw.com; tpinkerton@kslaw.com |
Section 9.03 Binding Effect; Assignment. This Agreement and all of the provisions hereof shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns. This Agreement shall not be assigned by operation of Law or otherwise without the prior written consent of the Parties, and any assignment without such consent shall be null and void; provided that no such assignment shall relieve the assigning Party of its obligations hereunder.
Section 9.04 Third Parties. Except for the Persons granted the rights set forth in Section 6.19, which the Parties acknowledge and agree are express third party beneficiaries of this Agreement, nothing contained in this Agreement or in any instrument or document executed by any party in connection with the Transactions shall create any rights in, or be deemed to have been executed for the benefit of, any Person that is not a Party hereto or thereto or a successor or permitted assign of such a Party.
Section 9.05 Governing Law. This Agreement, and all claims or causes of action based upon, arising out of, or related to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the Laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to principles or rules of conflict of Laws to the extent such principles or rules would require or permit the application of Laws of another jurisdiction, provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, the laws of the Cayman Islands shall also apply to and, as applicable, govern the Domestication.
Section 9.06 Jurisdiction. Any proceeding or Legal Proceeding based upon, arising out of or related to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby must be brought in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (or, to the extent such court does not have jurisdiction, in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware and to the extent such court does not have subject matter jurisdiction, the Superior Court of the State of Delaware), and each of the parties irrevocably (i) submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of each such court in any such proceeding or Legal Proceeding, (ii) waives any objection it may now or hereafter have to personal jurisdiction, venue or to convenience of forum, (iii) agrees that all claims in respect of the proceeding or Legal Proceeding shall be heard and determined only in any such court, and (iv) agrees not to bring any proceeding or Legal Proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby in any other court. Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to affect the right of any party to serve process in any manner permitted by Law or to commence Legal Proceedings or otherwise proceed against any other party in any other jurisdiction, in each case, to enforce judgments obtained in any Legal Proceeding, suit or proceeding brought pursuant to this Section 9.06.
Section 9.07 WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH PARTY ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY ARISE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT AND THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT ISSUES, AND THEREFORE EACH SUCH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY, UNCONDITIONALLY AND VOLUNTARILY WAIVES ANY RIGHT SUCH PARTY MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.
Section 9.08 Specific Performance. Each Party acknowledges that the rights of each Party to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby are unique, recognizes and affirms that in the event of a breach of this Agreement by any Party, money damages may be inadequate and the non-breaching Parties may have not adequate remedy at law, and agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed by an applicable Party in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached. Accordingly, each Party shall be entitled to seek an injunction or restraining order to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to seek to enforce specifically the terms and provisions hereof, without the requirement to post any bond or other security or to prove that money damages would be inadequate, this being in addition to any other right or remedy to which such Party may be entitled under this Agreement, at law or in equity.
Section 9.09 Severability. In case any provision in this Agreement shall be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in a jurisdiction, such provision shall be modified or deleted, as to the jurisdiction involved, only to the extent necessary to render the same valid, legal and enforceable, and the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions hereof shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby nor shall the validity, legality or enforceability of such provision be affected thereby in any other jurisdiction. Upon such determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the Parties will substitute for any invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision a suitable and equitable provision that carries out, so far as may be valid, legal and enforceable, the intent and purpose of such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision.
Section 9.10 Amendment; Waiver. This Agreement may be amended, supplemented or modified only by execution of a written instrument signed by the Purchaser and the Company. Any party to this Agreement may, at any time prior to the Closing, by action taken by its board of directors or managers or other equivalent body or other officers or Persons thereunto duly authorized, (a) extend the time for the performance of the obligations or acts of the other parties hereto, (b) waive any inaccuracies in the representations and warranties (of another party hereto) that are contained in this Agreement or (c) waive compliance by the other parties hereto with any of the agreements or conditions contained in this Agreement, but such extension or waiver shall be valid only if set forth in an instrument in writing signed by the party granting such extension or waiver. Any waiver of any term or condition shall not be construed as a waiver of any subsequent breach or a subsequent waiver of the same term or condition, or a waiver of any other term or condition of this Agreement. The failure of any party to assert any of its rights hereunder shall not constitute a waiver of such rights.
Section 9.11 Entire Agreement. This Agreement and the documents or instruments referred to herein, including any exhibits and schedules attached hereto, which exhibits and schedules are incorporated herein by reference, together with the Ancillary Documents, embody the entire agreement and understanding of the Parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained herein. There are no restrictions, promises, representations, warranties, covenants or undertakings, other than those expressly set forth or referred to herein or the documents or instruments referred to herein, which collectively supersede all prior agreements and the understandings among the Parties with respect to the subject matter contained herein.
Section 9.12 Interpretation. The table of contents and the Article and Section headings contained in this Agreement are solely for the purpose of reference, are not part of the agreement of the Parties and shall not in any way affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement. In this Agreement, unless the context otherwise requires: (a) any pronoun used shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine or neuter forms, and words in the singular, including any defined terms, include the plural and vice versa; (b) reference to any Person includes such Person’s successors and assigns but, if applicable, only if such successors and assigns are permitted by this Agreement, and reference to a Person in a particular capacity excludes such Person in any other capacity; (c) any accounting term used and not otherwise defined in this Agreement or any Ancillary Document has the meaning assigned to such term in accordance with GAAP; (d) “including” (and with correlative meaning “include”) means including without limiting the generality of any description preceding or succeeding such term and shall be deemed in each case to be followed by the words “without limitation”; (e) the words “herein,” “hereto,” and “hereby” and other words of similar import shall be deemed in each case to refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular Section or other subdivision of this Agreement; (f) the word “if” and other words of similar import when used herein shall be deemed in each case to be followed by the phrase “and only if”; (g) the term “or” means “and/or”; (h) any reference to the term “ordinary course” or “ordinary course of business” shall be deemed in each case to be followed by the words “consistent with past practice”; (i) any agreement, instrument, insurance policy, Law or Order defined or referred to herein or in any agreement or instrument that is referred to herein means such agreement, instrument, insurance policy, Law or Order as from time to time amended, modified or supplemented, including (in the case of agreements or instruments) by waiver or consent and (in the case of statutes, regulations, rules or orders) by succession of comparable successor statutes, regulations, rules or orders and references to all attachments thereto and instruments incorporated therein; (j) except as otherwise indicated, all references in this Agreement to the words “Section,” “Article”, “Schedule” and “Exhibit” are intended to refer to Sections, Articles, Schedules and Exhibits to this Agreement; and (k) the term “Dollars” or “$” means United States dollars. Any reference in this Agreement to a Person’s directors shall include any member of such Person’s governing body and any reference in this Agreement to a Person’s officers shall include any Person filling a substantially similar position for such Person. Any reference in this Agreement or any Ancillary Document to a Person’s shareholders or stockholders shall include any applicable owners of the equity interests of such Person, in whatever form, including with respect to the Purchaser, its shareholders under the Cayman Companies Act or DGCL, as then applicable, or its Organizational Documents. The Parties have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement. Consequently, in the event an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement shall be construed as if drafted jointly by the Parties hereto, and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring any Party by virtue of the authorship of any provision of this Agreement. To the extent that any Contract, document, certificate or instrument is represented and warranted to by the Company to be given, delivered, provided or made available by the Company, in order for such Contract, document, certificate or instrument to have been deemed to have been given, delivered, provided and made available to the Purchaser or its Representatives, such Contract, document, certificate or instrument shall have been posted to the electronic data site maintained on behalf of the Company for the benefit of the Purchaser and its Representatives and the Purchaser and its Representatives have been given access to the electronic folders containing such information.
Section 9.13 Counterparts. This Agreement and each Ancillary Document may be executed and delivered (including by facsimile or other electronic transmission) in counterparts, and by the different Parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when executed shall be deemed to be an original but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.
Section 9.14 Legal Representation.
(a) Conflicts and Privilege.
(i) The Purchaser and the Company, on behalf of their respective successors and assigns (including, after the Closing), hereby agree that, in the event a dispute with respect to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby arises after the Closing between or among (x) the Sponsor, the stockholders, shareholders or holders of other equity interests of the Purchaser or the Sponsor and/or any of their respective directors, members, partners, officers, employees or Affiliates (collectively, the “IPXX Group”), on the one hand, and (y) the Purchaser following the Closing, the Company and/or any member of the USARE Group, on the other hand, any legal counsel, including White & Case LLP (“W&C”), that represented the Purchaser and/or the Sponsor prior to the Closing may represent the Sponsor and/or any other member of the IPXX Group, in such dispute even though the interests of such Persons may be directly adverse to the Purchaser and its Affiliates (following the Closing), and even though such counsel may have represented the Purchaser in a matter substantially related to such dispute, or may be handling ongoing matters for the Purchaser and/or the Sponsor. The Purchaser and the Company, on behalf of their respective successors and assigns (including, after the Closing), further agree that, as to all legally privileged communications prior to the Closing (made in connection with the negotiation, preparation, execution, delivery and performance under, or any dispute or Legal Proceeding arising out of or relating to, this Agreement, any Ancillary Document or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby) between or among the Purchaser, the Sponsor and/or any other member of the IPXX Group, on the one hand, and W&C, on the other hand, the attorney/client privilege and the expectation of client confidence shall survive the Transactions and belong to the IPXX Group after the Closing, and shall not pass to or be claimed or controlled by the Purchaser and its Affiliates (following the Closing). Notwithstanding the foregoing, any privileged communications or information shared by the Company prior to the Closing with the Purchaser or the Sponsor under a common interest agreement shall remain the privileged communications or information of the Purchaser.
(ii) The Purchaser and the Company, on behalf of their respective successors and assigns (including, after the Closing), hereby agree that, in the event a dispute with respect to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby arises after the Closing between or among (x) the stockholders, shareholders or holders of other equity interests of the Company and/or any of their respective directors, members, partners, officers, employees or Affiliates (collectively, the “USARE Group”), on the one hand, and (y) the Company (following the Closing) and/or any member of the IPXX Group, on the other hand, any legal counsel, including King & Spalding LLP (“K&S”) that represented the Company prior to the Closing may represent any member of the USARE Group in such dispute even though the interests of such Persons may be directly adverse to the Company (following the Closing), and even though such counsel may have represented the Purchaser and/or the Company in a matter substantially related to such dispute, or may be handling ongoing matters for the Company (following the Closing). The Purchaser and the Company, on behalf of their respective successors and assigns (including, after the Closing), further agree that, as to all legally privileged communications prior to the Closing (made in connection with the negotiation, preparation, execution, delivery and performance under, or any dispute or Legal Proceeding arising out of or relating to, this Agreement, any Ancillary Document or the Transactions) between or among the Company and/or any member of the USARE Group, on the one hand, and K&S, on the other hand, the attorney/client privilege and the expectation of client confidence shall survive the Transactions. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any privileged communications or information shared by the Purchaser prior to the Closing with the Company under a common interest agreement shall remain the privileged communications or information of the Company (following the Closing).
(iii) K&S has represented the USARE Group and the Target Companies with respect to the Transactions. All Parties recognize the commonality of interest that exists and will continue to exist until the Closing, and the Parties agree that such commonality of interest should continue to be recognized after the Closing. Specifically, the IPXX Group and, following the Closing, the Company, agree that they shall not, and shall cause their Affiliates not to, seek to have K&S be disqualified from representing (a) any member of the USARE Group in connection with any dispute that may arise between such parties and the IPXX Group or the Target Companies or (b) the Purchaser or any of the Target Companies in connection with any dispute that may arise between such parties and the members of the USARE Group.
Section 9.15 Waiver of Claims Against Trust. The Company acknowledges that the Purchaser is a special purpose company with the powers and privileges to effect a Business Combination. The Company further acknowledges that, as described in the IPO Prospectus available at www.sec.gov, substantially all of the Purchaser assets consist of the cash proceeds of the Purchaser’s initial public offering and private placements of its securities and substantially all of those proceeds have been deposited in the Trust Account for the benefit of the Purchaser, its public shareholders and the underwriters of the Purchaser’s initial public offering. The Company acknowledges that it has been advised by the Purchaser that, except with respect to interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account that may be released to the Purchaser to pay its franchise Tax, income Tax and similar obligations, the Trust Agreement provides that cash in the Trust Account may be disbursed only (i) if the Purchaser completes the transactions which constitute a Business Combination, then to those Persons and in such amounts as described in the IPO Prospectus; (ii) if the Purchaser fails to complete a Business Combination within the allotted time period and liquidates, subject to the terms of the Trust Agreement, to the Purchaser in limited amounts to permit the Purchaser to pay the costs and expenses of its liquidation and dissolution, and then to the Purchaser Shareholders; and (iii) if the Purchaser holds a shareholder vote to amend the Purchaser’s Organizational Documents to modify the substance or timing of the obligation to redeem 100% of the Purchaser Class A Ordinary Shares if the Purchaser fails to complete a Business Combination within the allotted time period or to otherwise modify any other material provision of the Purchaser’s Organizational Documents relating to its shareholders’ rights or its pre-initial Business Combination activity, then for the redemption of any Purchaser Ordinary Shares properly tendered in connection with such vote. For and in consideration of the Purchaser entering into this Agreement, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company, on behalf of itself, its Affiliates and its and their respective Representatives, hereby irrevocably waives any right, title, interest or claim of any kind they have or may have in the future in or to any monies in the Trust Account and agrees not to seek recourse against the Trust Account or any funds distributed therefrom to the Purchaser’s public shareholders for any reason whatsoever; provided, that (x) nothing herein shall serve to limit or prohibit the Company’s right to pursue a claim against the Purchaser for legal relief against monies or other assets held outside the Trust Account, for specific performance or other equitable relief in connection with the consummation of the transactions (including a claim for the Purchaser to specifically perform its obligations under this Agreement and cause the disbursement of the balance of the cash remaining in the Trust Account (after giving effect to the Redemptions) to the Company in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and the Trust Agreement) so long as such claim would not affect the Purchaser’s ability to fulfill its obligation to effectuate the redemptions and (y) nothing herein shall serve to limit or prohibit any claims that the Company may have in the future against the Purchaser’s assets or funds that are not held in the Trust Account (including any funds that have been released from the Trust Account other than to the Purchaser’s public shareholders and any assets that have been purchased or acquired with any such funds).
Section 9.16 Company and Purchaser Disclosure Letters. The Company Disclosure Letter and the Purchaser Disclosure Letter (including, in each case, any section thereof) referenced herein are a part of this Agreement as if fully set forth herein. All references herein to the Company Disclosure Letter and/or the Purchaser Disclosure Letter (including, in each case, any section thereof) shall be deemed references to such parts of this Agreement, unless the context shall otherwise require. Any disclosure made by a party in the applicable Disclosure Letter, or any section thereof, with reference to any section of this Agreement or section of the applicable Disclosure Letter shall be deemed to be a disclosure with respect to such other applicable sections of this Agreement or sections of applicable Disclosure Letter if it is reasonably apparent on the face of such disclosure that such disclosure is responsive to such other section of this Agreement or section of the applicable Disclosure Letter. Certain information set forth in the Disclosure Letters is included solely for informational purposes and may not be required to be disclosed pursuant to this Agreement. The disclosure of any information shall not be deemed to constitute an acknowledgment that such information is required to be disclosed in connection with the representations and warranties made in this Agreement, nor shall such information be deemed to establish a standard of materiality.
Article X
DEFINITIONS
Section 10.01 Certain Definitions. For purpose of this Agreement, the following capitalized terms have the following meanings:
“A&R Registration Rights Agreement” has the meaning specified in the Recitals.
“Acquisition Proposal” has the meaning specified in Section 6.06(a).
“Additional Purchaser SEC Reports” has the meaning specified in Section 5.06(a).
“Affiliate” means, with respect to any specified Person, any Person that, directly or indirectly, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such specified Person, whether through one or more intermediaries or otherwise. The term “control” (including the terms “controlling”, “controlled by” and “under common control with”) means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by Contract or otherwise.
“Aggregate Base Consideration” means the number of shares of Domesticated Purchaser Common Stock equal to the quotient of: (a) (i) the Base Purchase Price minus (ii) the Closing Indebtedness except as set forth in Schedule 10-A, divided by (b) the Redemption Price.
“Aggregate Consideration” means the Aggregate Base Consideration and the Aggregate Earn-out Consideration.
“Aggregate Earn-out Consideration” has the meaning specified in Section 2.04(a).
“Agreement” has the meaning specified in the Preamble.
“Alternative Transaction” has the meaning specified in Section 6.06(a).
“Ancillary Documents” means each of the agreements and instruments contemplated by this Agreement or otherwise related to the transactions contemplated in this Agreement, in each case to be executed and delivered on the date hereof or on or prior to the Closing Date, including this Agreement (together with the Company Disclosure Letter and the Purchaser Disclosure Letter).
“Anti-Bribery Law” means the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended; the UK Bribery Act 2010, and any rules or regulations promulgated thereunder; the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions and related implementing legislation; and any other applicable Laws relating to bribery or corruption in any governing jurisdiction.
“Antitrust Laws” has the meaning specified in Section 6.09(b).
“Approvals” has the meaning specified in Section 4.09.
“Audited Company Financials” has the meaning specified in Section 4.06(a).
“Base Purchase Price” means $800,000,000.
“Business Combination” has the meaning specified in Article 1.1 of the Purchaser’s Organizational Documents as in effect on the date hereof.
“Business Day” means a day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York, New York or, for so long as the Purchaser remains domiciled in Cayman Islands, Governmental Authorities in the Cayman Islands that are authorized or required by Law to close.
“CARES Act” means the Coronavirus, Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, Pub. L. 116–136 (116th Cong.) (Mar. 27, 2020), and any amendment thereof, successor law, or executive order, executive memo, administrative or other guidance or legislation published with respect thereto by any Governmental Authority.
“Cayman Companies Act” has the meaning specified in the Recitals.
“Cayman Purchaser Private Placement Warrants” means the warrants to purchase Purchaser Class A Ordinary Shares, at an initial exercise price of $11.50 per share, purchased by the Sponsor concurrently with the Purchaser’s IPO.
“Cayman Purchaser Public Warrants” means the warrants to purchase Purchaser Class A Ordinary Shares, at an initial exercise price of $11.50 per share, included in the Cayman Purchaser Units sold in the Purchaser’s IPO.
“Cayman Purchaser Units” has the meaning specified in the Recitals.
“Cayman Purchaser Warrant” has the meaning specified in the Recitals.
“Cayman Registrar” means the Cayman Islands Registrar of Companies.
“Certificate of Merger” has the meaning specified in the Recitals.
“Change of Control” means any transaction or series of transactions the result of which is: (a) the acquisition by any Person or “group” (as defined in the Exchange Act) of Persons of direct or indirect beneficial ownership of securities representing 50% or more of the combined voting power of the then outstanding securities of the Purchaser; (b) a merger, consolidation, reorganization or other business combination, however effected, resulting in any Person or “group” (as defined in the Exchange Act) acquiring at least 50% of the combined voting power of the then outstanding securities of the Purchaser or the surviving Person outstanding immediately after such combination; or (c) a sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Purchaser.
“Class A Preferred Investor Warrant Consideration” has the meaning specified in Section 2.02(b).
“Class A Preferred SPA” has the meaning specified in the Recitals.
“Class A-1 Preferred SPA” has the meaning specified in the Recitals.
“Class A-2 Preferred SPA” has the meaning specified in the Recitals.
“Class A Preferred Unit Investment” has the meaning specified in the Recitals.
“Class A-1 Preferred Unit Investment” has the meaning specified in the Recitals.
“Class A-2 Preferred Unit Investment” has the meaning specified in the Recitals.
“Class A Preferred Unit Investors” has the meaning specified in the Recitals.
“Class A-1 Preferred Unit Investors” has the meaning specified in the Recitals.
“Class A-2 Preferred Unit Investors” has the meaning specified in the Recitals.
“Closing” has the meaning specified in Section 3.01.
“Closing Date” has the meaning specified in Section 3.01.
“Closing Filing” has the meaning specified in Section 6.15(b).
“Closing Indebtedness” means the aggregate Indebtedness of the Target Companies as of immediately prior to the Effective Time.
“Closing Press Release” has the meaning specified in Section 6.15(b).
“Code” means the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any successor statute thereto, as amended.
“Common Stock Price” means the share price equal to the closing sale price of one share of Domesticated Purchaser Common Stock as reported on Nasdaq (or the exchange on which the shares of Domesticated Purchaser Common Stock are then listed) for a period of at least twenty (20) days out of thirty (30) consecutive Trading Days ending on the Trading Day immediately prior to the date of determination (as adjusted as appropriate to reflect any stock splits, reverse stock splits, stock dividends (including any dividend or distribution of securities convertible into the Domesticated Purchaser Common Stock), extraordinary cash dividend (which adjustment shall be subject to the reasonable mutual agreement of the Purchaser and the Company), reorganization, recapitalization, reclassification, combination, exchange of shares or other like change or transaction with respect to the Domesticated Purchaser Common Stock).
“Company” has the meaning specified in the Preamble.
“Company Benefit Plan” means any and all deferred compensation, executive compensation, incentive compensation, equity purchase or other equity-based compensation plan, employment or consulting, severance or termination pay, holiday, vacation or other bonus plan or practice, hospitalization or other medical, life or other insurance, supplemental unemployment benefits, profit sharing, pension, or retirement plan, program, agreement, commitment or arrangement, and each other employee benefit plan, program, agreement or arrangement, including each “employee benefit plan” as such term is defined under Section 3(3) of ERISA, maintained or contributed to or required to be contributed to by any Target Company for the benefit of any employee or terminated employee of any Target Company.
“Company Class A Convertible Preferred Units” means the Company Class A-1 Convertible Preferred Units and the Company Class A-2 Convertible Preferred Units.
“Company Class A-1 Convertible Preferred Units” means the Class A-1 convertible preferred units of the Company.
“Company Class A-2 Convertible Preferred Units” means the Class A-1 convertible preferred units of the Company.
“Company Class A Preferred Investor Warrants” means the Company Class A-1 Preferred Investor Warrants and the Company Class A-2 Preferred Investor Warrants.
“Company Class A-1 Preferred Investor Warrants” means the warrants of the Company sold to Class A-1 Preferred Unit Investors or others pursuant to the Class A-1 Preferred SPA or a similar securities purchase agreement executed prior to the date hereof.
“Company Class A-2 Preferred Investor Warrants” means the warrants of the Company sold to Class A-2 Preferred Unit Investors or others pursuant to the Class A-2 Preferred SPA or a similar securities purchase agreement executed prior to the date hereof.
“Company Class A Units” means the Class A units of the Company.
“Company Class B Units” means the Class B units of the Company.
“Company Class B Warrants” means the warrants outstanding as of the date of this Agreement to purchase Company Class B Units.
“Company Class C Convertible Preferred Units” means the Class C convertible preferred units of the Company.
“Company Class C Convertible Preferred Warrants” means the warrants outstanding as of the date of this Agreement to purchase Company Class B Units.
“Company Class C-1 Convertible Preferred Units” means the Class C-1 convertible preferred units of the Company.
“Company Confidential Information” means all confidential or proprietary documents and information concerning the Target Companies or any of their respective Representatives, furnished in connection with this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby; provided, however, that Company Confidential Information shall not include any information which, (i) at the time of disclosure by the Purchaser or its Representatives, is generally available publicly and was not disclosed in breach of this Agreement or (ii) at the time of the disclosure by the Company or its Representatives to the Purchaser or its Representatives was previously known by such receiving party without violation of Law or any confidentiality obligation by the Person receiving such Company Confidential Information.
“Company Convertible Units” means the Company Class C Convertible Preferred Units and Company Class C-1 Convertible Preferred Units.
“Company Disclosure Letter” has the meaning specified in the Preamble to Article IV.
“Company Financials” has the meaning specified in Section 4.06(a).
“Company Fully Diluted Capital” means the sum (without duplication) of the aggregate number of (i) Company Class A Units that are issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time, (ii) Company Class B Units that are issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (including all Company Class B Units issued upon conversion of all outstanding Company Class C Convertible Preferred Units and Company Class C-1 Convertible Preferred Units pursuant to Section 2.01), (iii) all Company Class A Units and Company Class B Units issuable upon full exercise of all issued and outstanding Company Warrants (calculated using the treasury method of accounting on a cashless exercise basis) and (iv) all Company Class A Units and Company Class B Units issuable upon full exercise, exchange or conversion of all issued and outstanding Company Incentive Units (calculated using the treasury method of accounting on a cashless exercise basis).
“Company Incentive Plan” means the Second Amended and Restated USA Rare Earth, LLC Incentive Plan dated as of August 26, 2022, and approved by the Managers, as amended by the First Amendment dated as of November 2, 2022, and the Second Amendment, dated as of February 10, 2024, to the Second Amended and Restated USA Rare Earth, LLC Incentive Plan, and as may be further amended, supplemented or restated from time to time by the Managers.
“Company Incentive Units” means the incentive units of the Company.
“Company Incentive Unit Exchange Calculation” means (i) the number of Company Incentive Units held by a Person times a fraction where (x) the numerator equals the value of the Per Unit Base Consideration (assuming one share of Domesticated Purchaser Common Stock has a value equal to the Redemption Price) minus the Distribution Threshold (as defined in the Company Incentive Plan and provided for in the applicable Company Incentive Unit award agreement) applicable to such Company Incentive Unit (which may, for the avoidance of doubt, be $0), and (y) the denominator equals the value of the Per Unit Base Consideration (assuming one share of Domesticated Purchaser Common Stock has a value equal to the Redemption Price). To the extent the Company Incentive Unit Exchange Calculation would not result in a whole number, the number of Class A Units shall be rounded down as applicable so that only whole numbers of Class A Units are exchanged for Company Incentive Units pursuant to Section 2.03(a)(ii).
“Company IP” means any and all Intellectual Property that is owned or purported to be owned (in whole or in part), licensed, used or held for use by the Target Companies.
“Company IP Licenses” means any Intellectual Property licenses, sublicenses and other agreements or permissions that a Target Company is party to or is otherwise authorized to use or practice any Intellectual Property under, excluding Off-the-Shelf Software and non-exclusive licenses of Intellectual Property granted in agreements with suppliers, customers or end users in the ordinary course of business where the license is not the primary purpose of the agreement.
“Company Leased Real Properties” has the meaning specified in Section 4.16(b).
“Company Material Adverse Effect” means any event, state of facts, condition, change, development, circumstance, occurrence or effect (collectively, “Events”), that (i) has had, or would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect on the business, assets, results of operations or financial condition of the Target Companies, taken as a whole, or (ii) does or would reasonably be expected to, individually or in the aggregate, prevent, materially delay or materially impede the ability of the Target Companies to consummate the Transactions; provided, however, that in no event would any of the following, alone or in combination, be deemed to constitute, or be taken into account in determining whether there has been or will be, a “Company Material Adverse Effect”: (a) any change in applicable Laws or GAAP or any interpretation thereof following the date of this Agreement, (b) any change in interest rates or economic, political, business or financial market conditions generally, (c) the taking of any action required by this Agreement or any Ancillary Document, (d) any natural disaster (including hurricanes, storms, tornados, flooding, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions or similar occurrences), pandemic (including any COVID-19 Measures) or change in climate, (e) any acts of terrorism or war, the outbreak or escalation of hostilities, geopolitical conditions, local, national or international political conditions, (f) any failure of the Target Companies to meet any projections or forecasts (provided that clause (f) shall not prevent a determination that any Event not otherwise excluded from this definition of Company Material Adverse Effect underlying such failure to meet projections or forecasts has resulted in a Company Material Adverse Effect), (g) any Events generally applicable to the industries or markets in which the Company and its Subsidiaries operate (including increases in the cost of products, supplies, materials or other goods purchased from third party suppliers), (h) the announcement of this Agreement and consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, including any termination of, reduction in or similar adverse impact (but in each case only to the extent attributable to such announcement or consummation) on relationships, contractual or otherwise, with any landlords, customers, suppliers, distributors, partners or employees of the Target Companies, (i) any matter set forth on the Company Disclosure Letter, or (j) any action taken by, or at the request of, the Purchaser; provided, further, that any Event referred to in clauses (a), (b), (d), (e) or (g) above may be taken into account in determining if a Company Material Adverse Effect has occurred to the extent it has a disproportionate and adverse effect on the business, assets, results of operations or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Target Companies, taken as a whole, relative to similarly situated companies in the industry in which the Target Companies conduct their respective operations, but only to the extent of the incremental disproportionate effect on the Target Companies, taken as a whole, relative to similarly situated companies in the industry in which the Target Companies conduct their respective operations.
“Company Material Contract” has the meaning specified in Section 4.13(a).
“Company Mining Rights” has the meaning specified in Section 4.26(a).
“Company OA” means the limited liability operating agreement of the Company, as then currently in effect.
“Company Owned Properties” has the meaning specified in Section 4.16(a).
“Company Parties” has the meaning specified in Section 9.14(a)(iii).
“Company Permits” has the meaning specified in Section 4.11.
“Company Personal Property Leases” has the meaning specified in Section 4.17.
“Company Real Property Leases” has the meaning specified in Section 4.16(b).
“Company Registered IP” has the meaning specified in Section 4.14(a).
“Company Securities” means, collectively, the Company Class A Units, the Company Class A-1 Convertible Preferred Units, the Company Class A-2 Convertible Preferred Units, the Company Class B Units, the Company Class C Convertible Preferred Units, the Company Class C-1 Convertible Preferred Units, the Company Incentive Units, the Company Class B Warrants, the Company Class C Convertible Preferred Warrants and all other units, warrants and other securities of the Company.
“Company Software” means any and all Software which any of the Target Companies owns or purports to own, in whole or in part.
“Company Transaction Costs” means all fees, costs and expenses of the Target Companies, in each case, incurred prior to and through the Closing Date in connection with the negotiation, preparation and execution of this Agreement, the other Ancillary Documents and the consummation of the Transactions, including: (a) all change of control bonus payments, retention or similar payments payable solely as a result of the consummation of the Transactions pursuant to arrangements (whether written or oral) entered into prior to the Closing Date whether payable before (to the extent unpaid), on or following the Closing Date (excluding any “double-trigger” payments), and the employer portion of payroll Taxes payable as a result of the foregoing amounts; (b) all severance payments, retirement payments or similar payments or success fees payable pursuant to arrangements (whether written or oral) entered into prior to the Closing Date and which are payable in connection with the consummation of the Transactions, whether payable before (to the extent unpaid), on or following the Closing Date (excluding any “double-trigger payments”), and the employer portion of payroll Taxes payable as a result of the foregoing amounts; (c) all professional or transaction, deal, brokerage, legal, accounting, financial advisory or any similar fees payable in connection with the consummation of the Transactions; and (d) all costs, fees and expenses related to the D&O Tail; but excluding (i) any and all costs, fees and expenses incurred in connection with the preparation and filing of the Registration Statement (and any registration statement filed with the SEC in connection therewith) and the review and/or approval thereof by the SEC, (ii) any and all costs, fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing on Nasdaq of the shares of Domesticated Purchaser Common Stock issued in connection with the Transactions, (iii) Transfer Taxes, and (iv) any other amounts payable by the Purchaser hereunder.
“Company Units” means, collectively, the Company Class A Units, the Company Class B Units, the Company Convertible Units, the Company Class A Convertible Preferred Units, the Company Incentive Units and all other units of the Company.
“Company Warrants” means the Company Class B Warrants, the Company Class C Convertible Preferred Warrants and all other warrants to purchase any units or other equity interests of the Company.
“Consent” means any consent, approval, waiver, authorization or Permit of, or notice to or declaration or filing with any Governmental Authority or any other Person.
“Continental” means the Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company.
“Contracts” means all legally binding contracts, contracts, agreements, binding arrangements, bonds, notes, indentures, mortgages, debt instruments, purchase order, licenses (and all Company IP Licenses and other contracts, agreements or binding arrangements concerning Intellectual Property), franchises, leases and other instruments or obligations of any kind, written or oral (including any amendments and other modifications thereto).
“Convertible Promissory Note” means a convertible promissory note, issued by the Purchaser to the Sponsor or an Affiliate of the Sponsor, pursuant to which the Purchaser may borrow up to $2,500,000 from the Sponsor, related to ongoing expenses reasonably related to the business of the Purchaser and the consummation of a business combination.
“Copyleft Terms” has the meaning specified in Section 4.14(e).
“Copyrights” has the meaning set for in the definition of “Intellectual Property”.
“COVID-19” means SARS-CoV-2 or COVID-19, and any evolutions or mutations thereof or related or associated epidemics, pandemic or disease outbreaks.
“COVID-19 Measures” means any quarantine, “shelter in place,” “stay at home,” workforce reduction, social distancing, shut down, closure, sequester, safety or other Law, directive, guidelines or recommendations promulgated by any industry group or any Governmental Authority, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization, in each case, in connection with or in response to COVID- 19, including the CARES Act, Families First Act, the Payroll Tax Executive Order and IRS Notices 2020-22, 2020-65 and 2021-11.
“D&O Indemnified Party” has the meaning specified in Section 6.19(a).
“D&O Tail” has the meaning specified in Section 6.19(b).
“DGCL” has the meaning specified in the Recitals.
“Disclosure Letters” means, collectively, the Company Disclosure Letter and the Purchaser Disclosure Letter.
“DLLCA” has the meaning specified in the Recitals.
“Domesticated Purchaser Common Stock” means, following the Domestication, common stock of the Purchaser, par value $0.0001 per share.
“Domesticated Purchaser Series A Investor Warrants” has the meaning specified in the Recitals.
“Domesticated Purchaser Series A Preferred Stock” has the meaning specified in the Recitals.
“Domesticated Purchaser Warrant” has the meaning specified in the Recitals.
“Domestication” has the meaning specified in the Recitals.
“Draft Company Financials” has the meaning specified in Section 4.06(a).
“Earn-out Exchange Ratio” means the Earnout Shares divided by the Company Fully Diluted Capital.
“Earnout Period” means the time period beginning on the date that is first anniversary of the Closing Date and ending on the date that is the sixth anniversary of the Closing Date.
“Earnout Shares” means the up to 10,000,000 shares of Domesticated Purchaser Common Stock that may be issued to the Eligible Stockholders pursuant to Section 2.04.
“Effective Time” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.02(a).
“Eligible Stockholder” means a holder of Company Class A Units, Company Class B Units, Company Convertible Units, Company Incentive Units or Company Warrants as of immediately prior to the Effective Time and each of their respective successors and assigns.
“Enforceability Exceptions” has the meaning as specified in Section 5.02.
“Environmental Law” means any Law in any way relating to (a) the protection of human health and safety, (b) the environment, (c) natural resources (including air, water vapor, surface water, groundwater, drinking water supply, surface land, subsurface land, plant and animal life or any other natural resource), (d) pollution, or (e) Hazardous Materials, including the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, 42 USC §9601 et seq., the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, 42 USC §6901 et seq., the Toxic Substances Control Act, 15 USC §2601 et seq., the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, 33 USC §1251 et seq., the Clean Air Act, 42 USC §7401 et seq., the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act, 7 USC §136 et seq., the Occupational Safety and Health Act, 29 USC §651 et seq. (to the extent it relates to exposure to Hazardous Materials), the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act, 15 USC §2641 et seq., the Safe Drinking Water Act, 42 USC §300f et seq., the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, 33 USC §2701 et seq., and analogous state acts.
“Environmental Liabilities” means, in respect of any Person, all Liabilities, obligations, responsibilities, Remedial Legal Proceedings, losses, damages, costs, and expenses (including all reasonable fees, disbursements, and expenses of counsel, experts, and consultants and costs of investigation and feasibility studies), fines, penalties, sanctions, and interest incurred as a result of any claim or demand by any other Person or in response to any violation of Environmental Law, whether known or unknown, accrued or contingent, whether based in contract, tort, implied or express warranty, strict liability, criminal or civil statute, to the extent based upon, related to, or arising under or pursuant to any Environmental Law, Environmental Permit, Order, or Contract with any Governmental Authority or other Person, that relates to any environmental, health or safety condition, violation of Environmental Law, or a Release or threatened Release of Hazardous Materials.
“Environmental Permits” has the meaning specified in Section 4.21(a).
“Equity Incentive Plan” has the meaning specified in Section 6.14(a).
“ERISA” means the U.S. Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.
“ERISA Affiliate” means each “person” (as defined in Section 3(9) of ERISA) which together with a Target Company would be deemed to be a “single employer” within the meaning of Section 414(b), (c), (m) or (o) of the Code.
“Exchange Act” means the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
“Exchange Ratio” means the Aggregate Base Consideration divided by the Company Fully Diluted Capital.
“Excluded Unit” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(a)(i).
“Extension” has the meaning specified in Section 6.03(a).
“Extension Proxy Statement” has the meaning specified in Section 6.13(c).
“Federal Securities Law” has the meaning specified in Section 6.07.
“Fraud Claim” means any claim based upon intentional fraud as defined under the common law of the State of Delaware.
“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles as in effect in the United States of America.
“Governmental Authority” means any federal, state, municipal, local or other foreign or domestic governmental, quasi-governmental, or administrative body, instrumentality, department. or agency, any court, tribunal, administrative hearing body, arbitration panel, commission, or other similar dispute-resolving panel or body, or any government-owned entity.
“Hazardous Material” means any waste, gas, liquid or other substance or material that is defined, listed, classified or designated as a “hazardous substance”, “pollutant”, “contaminant”, “hazardous waste”, “regulated substance”, “hazardous chemical”, “toxic chemical”, or “waste” (or by any similar term) under any Environmental Law, or any other material regulated, or that could result in the imposition of Liability or responsibility, under any Environmental Law, including oil, petroleum, petroleum products and by-products, petroleum breakdown products, asbestos, radioactive materials, polychlorinated biphenyls, radon, mold, urea formaldehyde insulation and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances.
“Indebtedness” of any Person means, without duplication, (a) all indebtedness of such Person for borrowed money (including the outstanding principal and accrued but unpaid interest), (b) all obligations for the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than trade payables incurred in the ordinary course of business), (c) any other indebtedness of such Person that is evidenced by a note, bond, debenture, credit agreement or similar instrument, (d) all obligations of such Person under leases that should be classified as capital leases in accordance with GAAP (other than real estate leases and any other leases that would be required to be capitalized only upon adoption of ASC 842), (e) all obligations of such Person for the reimbursement of any obligor on any line or letter of credit, banker’s acceptance, guarantee or similar credit transaction, in each case, that has been drawn or claimed against, (f) all interest rate and currency swaps, caps, collars and similar agreements or hedging devices under which payments are obligated to be made by such Person, whether periodically or upon the happening of a contingency, (g) all obligations secured by a Lien securing debt for borrowed money on any property of such Person (other than Permitted Liens), (h) any premiums, prepayment fees or other penalties, fees, costs or expenses associated with payment of any Indebtedness of such Person and (i) all obligation described in clauses (a) through (h) above of any other Person which is directly or indirectly guaranteed by such Person or which such Person has agreed (contingently or otherwise) to purchase or otherwise acquire or in respect of which it has otherwise assured a creditor against loss.
“Intellectual Property” means any and all intellectual or proprietary property and all rights, title, and interest therein or thereto arising anywhere in the world, including all United States, international and foreign: (i) patents and patent applications, patent improvements, disclosures and inventions, (whether patentable or unpatentable and whether or not reduced to practice), including any continuations, divisions, continuations in part, renewals, divisionals, extensions, substitutions, reexaminations, reissues or foreign counterparts of any of the foregoing (“Patents”); (ii) all trade names, trade dress, trademarks, service marks, slogans, logos or internet domain name registrations, social media usernames, handles, and any other similar identifiers of source of origin, including all goodwill associated therewith, together with all registrations and applications relating thereto (“Trademarks”); (iii) copyrights (whether registered or unregistered), original works of authorship, copyrightable works and subject matter, together with all registrations and applications relating thereto (“Copyrights”); (iv) all proprietary databases and data; (v) all industrial designs and any registrations and applications therefor throughout the world; (vi) Trade Secrets, (vii) Software and data, databases, compilations, and any other electronic data files, including any and all collections of data, whether machine readable or otherwise; (viii) rights to sue or recover and retain damages and costs and attorneys’ fees for the past, present or future infringement, dilution, misappropriation, or other violation of any of the foregoing anywhere in the world; (ix) any and all other intellectual or industrial property rights protectable by applicable law in any jurisdiction; and (x) all issuances, renewals, registrations and applications of or for any of the foregoing.
“Intended Tax Treatment(s)” has the meaning specified in the Recitals.
“Interim Period” has the meaning specified in Section 6.01(a).
“International Trade Laws” means (a) all U.S. import and export Laws (including those Laws administered by the U.S. Departments of Commerce (Bureau of Industry and Security)) codified at 15 C.F.R., Parts 700-774; Homeland Security (Customs and Border Protection) codified at 19 C.F.R., Parts 1-192; State (Directorate of Defense Trade Controls) codified at 22 C.F.R., Parts 103, 120-130; and the Treasury (Office of Foreign Assets Control) codified at 31 C.F.R., Parts 500-598) and (b) all comparable applicable Laws outside the United States.
“IPO” means the initial public offering of Cayman Purchaser Units pursuant to the IPO Prospectus.
“IPO Prospectus” means the final prospectus of the Purchaser, dated as of May 24, 2023 (File No. 333-271128).
“IPXX Group” has the meaning specified in Section 9.14(a)(i).
“IRS” means the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (or any successor Governmental Authority).
“IT Assets” technology, devices, computers, hardware, Software (including firmware and middleware), systems, sites, servers, networks, workstations, routers, hubs, circuits, switches, interfaces, websites, platforms, data communications lines, automated networks and control systems, cloud computing arrangements, and all other information or operational technology, telecommunications, or data processing assets, facilities, systems services, or equipment, and all data stored therein or processed thereby, and all associated documentation, in each case, owned or leased by, licensed to, or used by the Target Companies in the conduct of their respective businesses.
“JOBS Act” has the meaning specified in Section 5.06(f).
“K&S” has the meaning specified in Section 9.14(a)(ii).
“Knowledge” means, with respect to (i) the Company, the actual knowledge, after reasonable inquiry, of the individuals set forth on Schedule 10-B of the Company Disclosure Letter and (ii) the Purchaser, the actual knowledge, after reasonable inquiry, of the individuals set forth on Schedule 10-A of the Purchaser Disclosure Letter.
“Law” means any federal, state, local, municipal, foreign or other law, statute, legislation, principle of common law, ordinance, code, edict, decree, proclamation, treaty, convention, rule, regulation, directive, requirement, writ, injunction, settlement, Order or Consent that is or has been issued, enacted, adopted, passed, approved, promulgated, made, implemented or otherwise put into effect by or under the authority of any Governmental Authority.
“Legal Proceeding” means any notice of noncompliance or violation, or any claim, demand, charge, action, suit, litigation, audit, settlement, complaint, stipulation, assessment or arbitration, or examination, or any request (including any request for information), inquiry, hearing, proceeding or investigation, by or before any Governmental Authority.
“Liabilities” means any and all liabilities, Indebtedness, Legal Proceedings or obligations of any nature (whether absolute, accrued, contingent or otherwise, whether known or unknown, whether direct or indirect, whether matured or unmatured, whether due or to become due and whether or not required to be recorded or reflected on a balance sheet under GAAP or other applicable accounting standards).
“Lien” means any mortgage, deed of trust, pledge, security interest, attachment, right of first refusal, right of first offer, option, proxy, voting trust, license, encumbrance, easement, covenant, lien or charge of any kind (including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement or lease in the nature thereof), restriction (whether on voting, sale, transfer, disposition or otherwise), any subordination arrangement in favor of another Person, or any filing or agreement to file a financing statement as debtor under the Uniform Commercial Code or any similar Law.
“Managers” means the Persons who are managers of the Company pursuant to the Company OA.
“Material Current Government Contract” has the meaning specified in Section 4.10.
“Members” means the Persons who are member of the Company pursuant to the Company OA.
“Member Support Agreement” means that certain Member Support Agreement, dated as of the date hereof (as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time), by and between the Purchaser, the Company and the Members party thereto.
“Merger” has the meaning specified in the Recitals.
“Merger Sub” has the meaning specified in the Preamble.
“Mining Rights” means all interests and rights in mining claims, concessions, exploration, reconnaissance, exploitation or extraction rights, surface rights, subsurface rights, access rights or similar rights, that are held by way of Approvals, leases or otherwise.
“Modification in Recommendation” has the meaning specified in Section 6.13(b).
“Nasdaq” has the meaning specified in Section 5.06(a).
“OFAC” has the meaning specified in Section 4.25(c).
“Off-the-Shelf Software” means “shrink wrap,” “click wrap,” and “off the shelf” software agreements and other agreements for Software commercially available to the public on standard terms and conditions with an annual cost of less than $100,000 per year.
“Offer Documents” has the meaning specified in Section 6.13(a)(i).
“Open Source Software” means any code or software governed by any license meeting the Open Source Definition (as promulgated by the Open Source Initiative) or the Free Software Definition (as promulgated by the Free Software Foundation), or any substantially similar license, including any license approved by the Open Source Initiative or any Creative Commons License.
“Order” means any order, decree, ruling, judgment, injunction, writ, determination, binding decision, verdict, judicial award or other action that is or has been made, entered, rendered, or otherwise put into effect by or under the authority of any Governmental Authority.
“Organizational Documents” means, with respect to any Person that is an entity, its certificate of incorporation or formation, bylaws, operating agreement, memorandum and articles of association or similar organizational documents, in each case, as amended.
“Outside Date” has the meaning specified in Section 8.01(d).
“Owned Intellectual Property” means any and all Intellectual Property which any of the Target Companies owns (or purports to own), in whole or in part, and includes the Company Software and all Company Registered IP.
“Party(ies)” has the meaning specified in the Preamble.
“Patents” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Intellectual Property”.
“PCAOB” means the U.S. Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (or any successor thereto).
“PCAOB Financial Statements” has the meaning specified in Section 6.04(a).
“Per Class A Convertible Preferred Unit Consideration” has the meaning specified in Section 2.02(a).
“Permits” means all federal, state, local or foreign or other third-party permits, grants, easements, consents, approvals, authorizations, exemptions, licenses, franchises, concessions, ratifications, permissions, clearances, confirmations, endorsements, waivers, certifications, designations, ratings, registrations, qualifications or orders of any Governmental Authority or any other Person.
“Permitted Liens” means (a) Liens for Taxes or assessments and similar governmental charges or levies, which either are (i) not yet due and payable or (ii) being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings, and adequate reserves have been established with respect thereto in accordance with GAAP; (b) mechanics’, materialmen’s, carriers’, workers’, repairers’ and other similar liens arising or incurred in the ordinary course of business relating to obligations as to which there is no default on the part of the applicable Target Company or the validity of which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves have been established in accordance with GAAP; (c) zoning, entitlement, environmental or conservation restrictions and other land use and environmental regulations imposed by Governmental Authorities which, to the Knowledge of the Company, are not violated in any material respects; (d) non-monetary Liens of record, so long as such matters do not materially interfere with or detract from the Target Companies’ ability to conduct its business at such property; (e) all matters that would be disclosed on an accurate survey of the Target Companies’ real property; (f) Liens incurred or deposits made in the ordinary course of business in connection with social security; (g) Liens on goods in transit incurred pursuant to documentary letters of credit, in each case arising in the ordinary course of business; (h) Liens arising under this Agreement or any Ancillary Document; or (i) non-exclusive licenses of Owned Intellectual Property granted to customers, vendors or service providers in the ordinary course of business.
“Person” means an individual, corporation, company, partnership (including a general partnership, limited partnership or limited liability partnership), limited liability company, association, trust or other entity or organization, including a government, domestic or foreign, or political subdivision thereof, or an agency or instrumentality thereof.
“Personal Property” means any machinery, equipment, tools, vehicles, furniture, leasehold improvements, office equipment, plant, parts and other tangible personal property.
“Per Unit Base Consideration” has the meaning specified in Section 2.02(c).
“Per Unit Earn-out Consideration” has the meaning specified in Section 2.02(c).
“PIPE Investment” means the purchase from the Purchaser either shares of Domesticated Purchaser Common Stock, shares of one or more series of Purchaser preferred stock or convertible debt securities of Purchaser (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, the Series A Preferred Stock Investment) with such purchases to be consummated prior to or substantially concurrently with the Closing (but, for the avoidance of doubt, no earlier than the calendar day after the day in which the Domestication is consummated) and solely considered “PIPE Investment” for purposes of this Agreement to the extent that the terms of any such purchase have been approved in writing by the Company
“Post-Closing Purchaser Board” has the meaning specified in Section 6.18(a).
“Premium Cap” has the meaning specified in Section 6.19(b).
“Pro Rata Share” means, for each Eligible Stockholder, a percentage determined by dividing (a) the total number of shares of Domesticated Purchaser Common Stock issued to such Eligible Stockholder in the Merger in exchange for such Eligible Stockholder’s Company Class A Units, Company Class B Units, Company Convertible Units, Company Incentive Units and Company Warrants divided by the total number of shares of Domesticated Purchaser Common Stock issued to all Eligible Stockholder in the Merger in exchange for the Company Class A Units, Company Class B Units, Company Convertible Units, Company Incentive Units and Company Warrants.
“Proxy Statement” has the meaning specified in Section 6.13(a)(i).
“Proxy Statement/Registration Statement” has the meaning specified in Section 6.13(a)(i).
“Public Certifications” has the meaning specified in Section 5.06(a).
“Purchaser” has the meaning specified in the Preamble.
“Purchaser Bylaws upon Domestication” has the meaning specified in the Recitals.
“Purchaser Charter upon Domestication” has the meaning specified in the Recitals.
“Purchaser Class A Ordinary Shares” means prior to the Domestication, Class A ordinary shares of the Purchaser, par value $0.0001 per share.
“Purchaser Class B Ordinary Shares” means prior to the Domestication, Class B ordinary shares of the Purchaser, par value $0.0001 per share.
“Purchaser Confidential Information” means all confidential or proprietary documents and information concerning the Purchaser or any of its Representatives; provided, however, that Purchaser Confidential Information shall not include any information which, (i) at the time of disclosure by the Company or any of its Representatives, is generally available publicly and was not disclosed in breach of this Agreement or (ii) at the time of the disclosure by the Purchaser or its Representatives to the Company or any of its Representatives, was previously known by such receiving party without violation of Law or any confidentiality obligation by the Person receiving such Purchaser Confidential Information. For the avoidance of doubt, from and after the Closing, Purchaser Confidential Information will include the confidential or proprietary information of the Target Companies.
“Purchaser Disclosure Letter” has the meaning specified in the Preamble to Article V.
“Purchaser Extension” has the meaning specified in Section 6.13(c).
“Purchaser Material Adverse Effect” means any change, event, or occurrence, that, individually or when aggregated with other changes, events, or occurrences has had a materially adverse effect on the business, assets, financial condition or results of operations of the Purchaser; provided, however, that no change or effect related to any of the following, alone or in combination, shall be taken into account in determining whether a Purchaser Material Adverse Effect has occurred: (i) the announcement of this Agreement and consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, including any termination of, reduction in or similar adverse impact (but in each case only to the extent attributable to such announcement or consummation) on relationships, contractual or otherwise, with any landlords, customers, suppliers, distributors, partners or employees of the Purchaser or Merger Sub; (ii) the taking of any action required by this Agreement or any Ancillary Document; (iii) any natural disaster (including hurricanes, storms, tornados, flooding, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions or similar occurrences), pandemic or change in climate, (iv) any acts of terrorism or war, the outbreak or escalation of hostilities, geopolitical conditions, local, national or international political conditions; (v) the Redemption; (vi) any breach of any covenants, agreements or obligations of any Class A Preferred Units Investor, Series A Preferred Stock Investor or investor in any PIPE Investment, in each case who is not Inflection Point Asset Management or an Affiliate of Inflection Point Asset Management, under any Class A Preferred SPA, Series A SPA or other similar agreement related to financing the Company or Purchaser (including any breach of such Person’s obligations to fund any amounts thereunder when required); (vii) changes or proposed changes in applicable Law, regulations or interpretations thereof or decisions by courts or any Governmental Authority after the date of this Agreement; (viii) changes or proposed changes in GAAP (or any interpretation thereof) after the date of this Agreement; or (ix) any downturn in general economic conditions, including changes in the credit, debt, securities, financial, capital or reinsurance markets (including changes in interest or exchange rates, prices of any security or market index or commodity or any disruption of such markets), in each case, in the United States or anywhere else in the world.
“Purchaser Ordinary Shares” means the Purchaser Class A Ordinary Shares and the Purchaser Class B Ordinary Shares.
“Purchaser SEC Reports” has the meaning specified in Section 5.06(a).
“Purchaser Shareholder Approval” means the approval of (i) those Transaction Proposals identified in clauses (B) and (C) and of Section 6.13(b), in each case, by special resolution under Cayman Islands Law, being an affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of at least two-thirds of the outstanding Purchaser Ordinary Shares entitled to vote, who attend and vote thereupon (as determined in accordance with the Purchaser’s Organizational Documents) at the Purchaser Shareholders’ Meeting, (ii) those Transaction Proposals identified in clauses (A), (D) (F) and (G) of Section 6.13(b), in each case, by an ordinary resolution under Cayman Islands Law, being an affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the outstanding Purchaser Ordinary Shares entitled to vote, who attend and vote thereupon (as determined in accordance with the Purchaser’s Organizational Documents), and (iii) with respect to any other proposal proposed to the Purchaser Shareholders, the requisite approval required under the Purchaser’s Organizational Documents, the Cayman Companies Act or any other applicable Law, in each case, at a Purchaser Shareholders’ Meeting.
“Purchaser Shareholders” means the holders of the Purchaser Ordinary Shares.
“Purchaser Shareholders’ Meeting” has the meaning specified in Section 6.13(b).
“Purchaser Transaction Costs” means: (a) all fees, costs and expenses of the Purchaser incurred prior to and through the Closing Date in connection with the negotiation, preparation and execution of this Agreement, the other Ancillary Documents and the consummation of the Transactions and the Extension, whether paid or unpaid prior to the Closing, including any and all professional or transaction related costs, fees and expenses of legal, accounting and financial advisors, consultants, auditors, accountants and brokers, including any deferred underwriting commissions being held in the Trust Account (with respect to deferred underwritten expenses, not to exceed the amount set forth in Schedule 10.01-B); and (b) any Indebtedness of the Purchaser owed to its Affiliates or shareholders; provided that, without the written consent of the Company, the Purchaser Transaction Costs shall not exceed the amount set forth in Schedule 10.01-B of the Purchaser Disclosure Letter. For the avoidance of doubt, Purchaser Transaction Costs shall not include any fees, costs or expenses incurred in connection with any other transaction engaged in by the Purchaser, including any fees (including any banker’s, broker’s or legal fees) of Purchaser, Sponsor or any of its their Affiliates, whenever incurred, to the extent such fees, costs or expenses exceed $400,000 in the aggregate.
“Redemption” has the meaning specified in the Recitals.
“Redemption Price” shall mean an amount equal to the price at which each Purchaser Class A Ordinary Share may be redeemed pursuant to the Redemption.
“Registration Statement” means the Registration Statement on Form S-4, or other appropriate form, including any pre-effective or post-effective amendments or supplements thereto, to be filed with the SEC by Purchaser under the Securities Act with respect to the Registration Statement Securities.
“Registration Statement Securities” has the meaning specified in Section 6.13(a)(i).
“Related Person” means any officer, director, manager, employee, trustee or beneficiary of a Target Company or any of its Affiliates and any immediate family member of any of the foregoing.
“Release” means any release, spill, emission, leaking, pumping, injection, deposit, disposal, discharge, dispersal, migrating or leaching into the indoor or outdoor environment, or into or out of any property.
“Remedial Legal Proceeding” means all actions to (i) clean up, remove, treat, or in any other way address any Hazardous Material, (ii) prevent the Release of any Hazardous Material so it does not endanger or threaten to endanger public health or welfare or the indoor or outdoor environment, (iii) perform pre-remedial studies and investigations or post-remedial monitoring and care, or (iv) correct or otherwise respond to a condition of noncompliance with Environmental Laws.
“Representatives” means, as to any Person, such Person’s Affiliates and the respective managers, directors, officers, employees, independent contractors, consultants, advisors (including financial advisors, counsel and accountants), agents and other legal representatives of such Person or its Affiliates.
“Sanctioned Jurisdiction” has the meaning specified in Section 4.25(c).
“Round Top Project” means the Company’s above-ground deposit, located in Round Top Mountain, Hudspeth County, Texas, which contains several rare earth elements and lithium.
“Sanctions Laws” means applicable trade, economic and financial sanctions Laws, regulations, embargoes, and restrictive measures administered or enforced by (i) the United States (including without limitation the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, the U.S. Department of State, and the U.S. Department of Commerce), (ii) the European Union and enforced by its member states, (iii) the United Nations, (iv) His Majesty’s Treasury, or (v) any country in which the Purchaser or any Target Company or any agent acting on behalf of the forgoing is performing activities.
“SDN List” has the meaning specified in Section 4.25(c).
“SEC” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (or any successor Governmental Authority).
“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
“Series A Preferred Stock Certificate of Designation” has the meaning specified in the Recitals.
“Series A Preferred Stock Investment” has the meaning specified in the Recitals.
“Series A Preferred Stock Investors” has the meaning specified in the Recitals.
“Series A SPA” has the meaning specified in the Recitals.
“Seventh A&R Company OA” has the meaning specified in the Recitals.
“Signing Filing” has the meaning specified in Section 6.15(b).
“Signing Press Release” has the meaning specified in Section 6.15(b).
“Software” means any and all software, firmware and computer programs and applications, including any and all source code, descriptions, schematics, specifications, flow charts, object code, middleware, utilities, computer programs, application programming interfaces, algorithms, plugins, libraries, subroutines, tools, drivers, microcode, scripts, batch files, instruction sets and macros, models, methodologies and other work product used in design, plan, organize and develop any of the foregoing, in each case of the foregoing whether in source code, executable or object code form, documentation related thereto including user manuals, user documentation, and training materials, filed, records and other work product related to any of the foregoing and all software modules, tools and databases and collections of data.
“Sponsor” means Inflection Point Holdings II LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.
“Sponsor Forfeiture” has the meaning specified in the Recitals.
“Sponsor Lock-Up Agreement” has the meaning specified in the Recitals.
“Sponsor-Related Persons” means Inflection Point Fund I LP, Newtyn Partners, LP and Newtyn TE Partners, LP.
“Sponsor Share Conversion” has the meaning specified in the Recitals.
“Sponsor Support Agreement” has the meaning specified in the Recitals.
“Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, any corporation, partnership, association or other business entity of which (i) if a corporation, a majority of the total voting power of shares of stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by that Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof, or (ii) if a partnership, association or other business entity, a majority of the partnership or other similar ownership interests thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by any Person or one or more Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof. For purposes hereof, a Person or Persons will be deemed to have a majority ownership interest in a partnership, association or other business entity if such Person or Persons will be allocated a majority of partnership, association or other business entity gains or losses or will be or control the managing director, managing member, general partner or other managing Person of such partnership, association or other business entity. A Subsidiary of a Person will also include any variable interest entity which is consolidated with such Person under applicable accounting rules.
“Surviving Company” has the meaning specified in the Recitals.
“Target Companies” means, collectively, the Company and its direct and indirect Subsidiaries.
“Tax Return” means any return, form, declaration, election, disclosure, report, claim for refund, information return or other documents (including any related or supporting schedules, statements or information) filed or required to be filed in connection with the determination, assessment or collection of any Taxes or the administration of any Laws or administrative requirements relating to any Taxes.
“Taxes” means all direct or indirect federal, state, local, foreign and other net income, gross income, gross receipts, sales, use, value-added, ad valorem, transfer, franchise, profits, license, lease, service, service use, withholding, payroll, employment, social security and related contributions due in relation to the payment of compensation to employees, excise, severance, stamp, occupation, premium, property, windfall profits, alternative minimum, estimated, customs, duties or other taxes, fees, assessments or charges in the nature of a tax, together with any interest and any penalties, additions to tax or additional amounts with respect thereto imposed by a Governmental Authority.
“Top Customers” has the meaning specified in Section 4.24(a).
“Top Suppliers” has the meaning specified in Section 4.24(b).
“Trade Secrets” means any trade secrets, confidential business information, concepts, ideas, designs, research or development information, processes, procedures, techniques, technical information, specifications, operating and maintenance manuals, engineering drawings, methods, know-how, data, mask works, discoveries, inventions, modifications, extensions, improvements, and other proprietary rights (whether or not patentable or subject to Copyright, Trademark, or trade secret protection).
“Trademarks” has the meaning set for in the definition of “Intellectual Property”.
“Trading Day” means any day on which shares of Domesticated Purchaser Common Stock are actually traded on the principal securities exchange or securities market on which shares of Domesticated Purchaser Common Stock are then traded.
“Transaction Proposals” has the meaning specified in Section 6.13(b).
“Transactions” has the meaning specified in the Recitals.
“Transfer Taxes” has the meaning specified in Section 6.11(c).
“Treasury Regulations” means the regulations (including temporary regulations) promulgated by the United States Department of the Treasury pursuant to and in respect of provisions of the Code. All references herein to sections of the Treasury Regulations shall include any corresponding provisions or provisions of succeeding, similar or substitute, temporary or final Treasury Regulations.
“Triggering Event” means either Triggering Event I or Triggering Event II.
“Triggering Event I” shall occur if, within the Earnout Period, the Common Stock Price of the Domesticated Purchaser Common Stock is greater than or equal to $15.00 per share.
“Triggering Event II” shall occur if, within the Earnout Period, the Common Stock Price of the Domesticated Purchaser Common Stock is greater than or equal to $20.00 per share.
“Trust Account” means that certain trust account established pursuant to the Trust Agreement.
“Trust Agreement” has the meaning specified in Section 5.14.
“Trustee” has the meaning specified in Section 5.14.
“Updated 1H Financial Statements” has the meaning specified in Section 6.04(b).
“USARE Group” has the meaning specified in Section 9.14(a)(ii).
“W&C” has the meaning specified in Section 9.14(a)(i).
“Warrant Agreement” means that certain Warrant Agreement, dated as of May 24, 2023, by and between the Purchaser and Continental, as warrant agent.
{REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK; SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS}
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each Party hereto has caused this Business Combination Agreement to be signed and delivered as of the date first written above.
| The Purchaser: |
| |
| INFLECTION POINT ACQUISITION CORP. II |
| |
| By: | /s/ Michael Blitzer |
| Name: | Michael Blitzer |
| Title: | Chairman and Chief Executive Officer |
| |
| The Company: |
| |
| USA RARE EARTH, LLC |
| |
| By: | /s/ David Kronenfeld |
| Name: | David Kronenfeld |
| Title: | Chief Legal Officer |
| |
| Merger Sub: |
| |
| IPXX MERGER SUB, LLC |
| |
| By: | Inflection Point Acquisition Corp. II, its sole and managing member |
| |
| By: | /s/ Michael Blitzer |
| Name: | Michael Blitzer |
| Title: | Chairman and Chief Executive Officer |
{Signature Page to Business Combination Agreement}
Exhibit A – Form of Purchaser Charter Upon Domestication
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
USA RARE EARTH, INC.
* * * * *
ARTICLE I
NAME
The name of the Corporation is USA Rare Earth, Inc. (the “Corporation”).
ARTICLE II
REGISTERED OFFICE AND AGENT
The address of the registered office of the Corporation in the State of Delaware is [●]. The name of the registered agent of the Corporation in the State of Delaware at such address is [●].
ARTICLE III
PURPOSE
The purpose of the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may now or hereafter be organized under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”).
ARTICLE IV
CAPITAL STOCK
A. The total number of shares of all classes of stock that the Corporation shall have authority to issue is 800,000,000, which shall be divided into two classes as follows:
750,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“Common Stock”); and
50,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“Preferred Stock”).
B. The Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “Board of Directors”) is hereby expressly authorized, by resolution or resolutions, to provide, out of the unissued shares of Preferred Stock, for one or more series of Preferred Stock and, with respect to each such series, to fix the designation of such series, the powers (including voting powers), preferences and relative, participating, optional and other special rights, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, of such series of Preferred Stock and the number of shares of such series, which number the Board of Directors may, except where otherwise provided in the designation of such series, increase (but not above the total number of authorized shares of Preferred Stock) or decrease (but not below the number of shares of such series then outstanding) and as may be permitted by the DGCL. The powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional and other special rights of, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, of each series of Preferred Stock, if any, may differ from those of any and all other series at any time outstanding. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Certificate of Incorporation (including any certificate of designation relating to any series of Preferred Stock), no vote of the holders of shares of Preferred Stock or Common Stock shall be a prerequisite to the issuance of any shares of any series of the Preferred Stock so authorized in accordance with this Certificate of Incorporation.
C. Each holder of record of Common Stock, as such, shall have one vote for each share of Common Stock that 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. The holders of shares of Common Stock shall not have cumulative voting rights. Except as otherwise required by law, holders of Common Stock shall not be entitled to vote on any amendment to this Certificate of Incorporation (including any certificate of designation relating to any series of Preferred Stock) that relates solely to the terms, number of shares, powers, designations, preferences or relative, participating, optional or other special rights (including, without limitation, voting rights), or to qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, 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 (including any certificate of designation relating to any series of Preferred Stock) or pursuant to the DGCL.
D. Except as otherwise required by law, holders of any series of Preferred Stock shall be entitled to only such voting rights, if any, as shall expressly be granted thereto by this Certificate of Incorporation (including any certificate of designation relating to such series of Preferred Stock).
E. Subject to applicable law and the rights, if any, of the holders of any outstanding series of Preferred Stock or any class or series of stock having a preference over or the right to participate with the Common Stock with respect to the payment of dividends and other distributions in cash, property or shares of stock of the Corporation, dividends and other distributions may be declared and paid ratably on the Common Stock out of the assets of the Corporation that are legally available for this purpose at such times and in such amounts as the Board of Directors in its discretion shall determine.
F. Upon the dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Corporation, after payment or provision for payment of the debts and other liabilities of the Corporation and subject to the rights, if any, of the holders of any outstanding series of Preferred Stock or any class or series of stock having a preference over or the right to participate with the Common Stock with respect to the distribution of assets of the Corporation upon such dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Corporation, the holders of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive the remaining assets of the Corporation available for distribution to its stockholders ratably in proportion to the number of shares held by them.
G. The number of authorized shares of Preferred Stock or 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 in voting power of the stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon irrespective of the provisions of Section 242(b)(2) of the DGCL (or any successor provision thereto) on a one vote per share basis, and no vote of the holders of any of the Common Stock or the Preferred Stock voting separately as a class shall be required therefor, unless a vote of any such holder is required pursuant to this Certificate of Incorporation (including any certificate of designation relating to any series of Preferred Stock).
ARTICLE V
AMENDMENT OF THE CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION AND BYLAWS
A. In addition to any vote required by applicable law or this Certificate of Incorporation (including any certificate of designation relating to any series of Preferred Stock), the amendment, alteration, repeal or rescission of, in whole or in part, or the adoption of any provision inconsistent with, the following provisions in this Certificate of Incorporation shall require the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66⅔% in voting power of all the then-outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class: this Article V, Article VI, Article VII, Article VIII, Article IX and Article X(B).
B. The Board of Directors is expressly authorized to make, repeal, alter, amend and rescind, in whole or in part, the bylaws of the Corporation (as in effect from time to time, the “Bylaws”) without the assent or vote of the stockholders in any manner not inconsistent with the laws of the State of Delaware or this Certificate of Incorporation. In addition to any vote of the holders of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation required by this Certificate of Incorporation (including any certificate of designation relating to any series of Preferred Stock), by the Bylaws or applicable law, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66 2/3% in voting power of all the then-outstanding shares of 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.
ARTICLE VI
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
A. 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. Subject to the rights of holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect directors, the number of directors of the Corporation shall be fixed from time to time solely by resolution of the majority of the Board of Directors. No decrease in the number of directors constituting the Board of Directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent director.
B. Subject to the rights of holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect directors, the Board of Directors shall be and is divided into three classes, designated Class I, Class II and Class III. Each class shall consist, as nearly as may be possible, of one third of the total number of directors constituting the entire Board of Directors. The Board of Directors is authorized to assign members of the Board of Directors already in office to Class I, Class II or Class III at the time such classification becomes effective.
C. Subject to the rights granted to the holders of any one or more series of Preferred Stock then outstanding, each director shall serve for a term ending on the date of the third annual meeting of stockholders following the annual meeting of stockholders at which such director was elected; provided that each director initially assigned to Class I shall serve for a term expiring at the Corporation’s first annual meeting of stockholders held after the effectiveness of this Certificate of Incorporation; each director initially assigned to Class II shall serve for a term expiring at the Corporation’s second annual meeting of stockholders held after the effectiveness of this Certificate of Incorporation; and each director initially assigned to Class III shall serve for a term expiring at the Corporation’s third annual meeting of stockholders held after the effectiveness of this Certificate of Incorporation; 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, disqualification, resignation or removal.
D. Subject to the rights granted to the holders of any one or more series of Preferred Stock then outstanding, any newly-created directorship on the Board of Directors that results from an increase in the number of directors and any vacancy occurring on the Board of Directors (whether by death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, removal or other cause) shall be filled only by a majority of the directors then in office, even if less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director (and not by the stockholders). Any director elected to fill a vacancy or newly created directorship shall hold office until the next election of the class for which such director shall have been chosen and until his or her successor shall be elected and qualified, or until his or her earlier death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal.
E. Any director or the entire Board of Directors may be removed from office at any time, but only for cause and only by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66 2/3% in voting power of all the then outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote on the election of such director, voting together as a single class.
F. Elections of directors need not be by written ballot unless the Bylaws shall so provide.
G. Pursuant to the Bylaws, the Board of Directors may establish one or more committees to which may be delegated any or all of the powers and duties of the Board of Directors to the full extent permitted by law.
ARTICLE VII
LIMITATION OF DIRECTOR AND OFFICER LIABILITY
A. To the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL as it now exists or may hereafter be amended, a director or officer of the Corporation shall not be personally liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty owed to the Corporation or its stockholders. If the DGCL is hereafter amended to authorize corporate action further eliminating or limiting the personal liability of directors or officers, then the liability of a director or officer of the Corporation shall be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL as so amended, automatically and without further action, upon the date of such amendment.
B. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Corporation is authorized to provide indemnification of (and advancement of expenses to) directors, officers and agents of the Corporation (and any other persons to which applicable law permits the Corporation to provide indemnification and advancement of expenses) through provisions of the Bylaws, agreements with such persons, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors, or otherwise. Any repeal or modification of this provision shall not adversely affect any right or protection hereunder of any person in respect of any act or omission occurring prior to the time of such repeal or modification.
C. Neither the amendment nor repeal of this Article VII, nor the adoption of any provision of this Certificate of Incorporation, nor, to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, any modification of law shall eliminate, reduce or otherwise adversely affect any right or protection of a current or former director or officer of the Corporation existing at the time of such amendment, repeal, adoption or modification.
ARTICLE VIII
CONSENT OF STOCKHOLDERS IN LIEU OF MEETING, ANNUAL AND SPECIAL MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS
A. Any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting of such holders and may not be effected by any consent in lieu of a meeting of stockholders by such holders; 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(s) of designation relating to such series of Preferred Stock.
B. Except as otherwise required by law and subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock, special meetings of the stockholders of the Corporation for any purpose or purposes may be called at any time only by or at the direction of the Chair of the Board of Directors or by a resolution adopted by the affirmative vote of a majority of the total number of directors that the Company would have if there were no vacancies on the Board of Directors (the “Whole Board”), but such special meetings may not be called by stockholders or any other Person or Persons.
C. An annual meeting of stockholders for the election of directors to succeed those whose terms expire and for the transaction of such other business as may properly come before the meeting, shall be held at such place, if any, on such date, and at such time as shall be fixed exclusively by resolution adopted by the affirmative vote of the Whole Board or a duly authorized committee thereof.
ARTICLE IX
CERTAIN STOCKHOLDER RELATIONSHIPS
A. In recognition and anticipation that certain members of the Board who are not employees of the Corporation or a majority owned subsidiary thereof (“Non-Employee Directors”) and their respective Affiliates or Affiliated Entities (each as defined below) may now engage and may continue to engage in the same or similar activities or related lines of business as those in which the Corporation, directly or indirectly, may engage and/or other business activities that overlap with or compete with those in which the Corporation, directly or indirectly, may engage, the provisions of this Article IX are set forth to regulate and define the conduct of certain affairs of the Corporation with respect to certain classes or categories of business opportunities as they may involve any of the Non-Employee Directors or their respective Affiliates or Affiliated Entities and the powers, rights, duties and liabilities of the Corporation and its directors, officers and stockholders in connection therewith.
B. No Non-Employee Director or his or her Affiliates or Affiliated Entities (the Persons (as defined below) being referred to, collectively, as “Identified Persons” and, individually, as an “Identified Person”) shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, have any duty to refrain from directly or indirectly (1) engaging in the same or similar business activities or lines of business in which the Corporation or any of its Affiliates now engages or proposes to engage or (2) otherwise competing with the Corporation or any of its Affiliates, and, to the fullest extent permitted by law, no Identified Person shall be liable to the Corporation or its stockholders or to any Affiliate of the Corporation for breach of any fiduciary duty solely by reason of the fact that such Identified Person engages in any such activities. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Corporation hereby renounces any interest or expectancy in, or right to be offered an opportunity to participate in, any business opportunity which may be a corporate opportunity for an Identified Person and the Corporation or any of its Affiliates, except as provided in Section C of this Article IX. Subject to Section C of this Article IX, in the event that any Identified Person acquires knowledge of a potential transaction or other business opportunity which may be a corporate opportunity for itself, herself or himself and the Corporation or any of its Affiliates, such Identified Person shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, have no duty to communicate or offer such transaction or other business opportunity to the Corporation or any of its Affiliates and, to the fullest extent permitted by law, shall not be liable to the Corporation or its stockholders or to any Affiliate of the Corporation for breach of any fiduciary duty as a stockholder or director of the Corporation solely by reason of the fact that such Identified Person pursues or acquires such corporate opportunity for itself, herself or himself, offers or directs such corporate opportunity to another Person, or does not communicate information regarding such corporate opportunity to the Corporation or any Affiliate of the Corporation.
C. The Corporation does not renounce its interest in any corporate opportunity offered to any Non-Employee Director if such opportunity is expressly offered to such Person solely in his or her capacity as a director of the Corporation, and the provisions of Section B of this Article IX shall not apply to any such corporate opportunity.
D. In addition to and notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Article IX, a corporate opportunity shall not be deemed to be a potential corporate opportunity for the Corporation if it is a business opportunity that (i) the Corporation is neither financially or legally able, nor contractually permitted, to undertake, (ii) from its nature, is not in the line of the Corporation’s business or is of no practical advantage to the Corporation or (iii) is one in which the Corporation has no interest or reasonable expectancy.
E. Solely for purposes of this Article IX, (i) “Affiliate” shall mean (1) in respect of a Non-Employee Director, any Person that, directly or indirectly, is controlled by such Non-Employee Director (other than the Corporation and any entity that is controlled by the Corporation) and (2) in respect of the Corporation, any Person that, directly or indirectly, is controlled by the Corporation; (ii) “Affiliated Entity” shall mean (x) any Person of which a Non-Employee Director serves as an officer, director, employee, agent or other representative (other than the Corporation and any entity that is controlled by the Corporation), (y) any direct or indirect partner, stockholder, member, manager or other representative of such Person or (z) any Affiliate of any of the foregoing; and (iii) “Person” shall mean any individual, corporation, general or limited partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, association or any other entity.
F. To the fullest extent permitted by 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 IX.
ARTICLE X
MISCELLANEOUS
A. If any provision or provisions of this Certificate of Incorporation shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable as applied to any circumstance for any reason whatsoever: (i) the validity, legality and enforceability of such provisions in any other circumstance and of the remaining provisions of this Certificate of Incorporation (including, without limitation, each portion of any paragraph of this Certificate of Incorporation containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not, to the fullest extent permitted by law, in any way be affected or impaired thereby and (ii) to the fullest extent permitted by law, the provisions of this Certificate of Incorporation (including, without limitation, each such portion of any paragraph of this Certificate of Incorporation containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to permit the Corporation to protect its directors, officers, employees and agents from personal liability in respect of their good faith service or for the benefit of the Corporation to the fullest extent permitted by law.
B. Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (or if such court does not have subject matter jurisdiction another state or federal court (as appropriate) located within the State of Delaware) shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any current or former director, officer or other employee or stockholder of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporation’s stockholders, creditors or other constituents, (iii) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation or any current or former director or officer of the Corporation arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL or this Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws (as either may be amended and/or restated from time to time) or as to which the DGCL confers jurisdiction on the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or (iv) any action asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine. Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the federal district courts of the United States of America will be the exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the federal securities laws of the United States of America. Unless the Company consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the federal district courts of the United States of America shall be, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the sole and exclusive forum for any action asserting a claim arising under the Securities Act of 1933.
To the fullest extent permitted by 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 X(B). * * *
This Certificate of Incorporation shall be effective on [●], 2024 at [●] a.m. (Eastern Time).
[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, USA Rare Earth, Inc. has caused this Certificate of Incorporation to be executed by its duly authorized officer on this day of [●], 2024.
USA Rare Earth, Inc. | |
| | |
By: | | |
Name: | | |
Title: | | |
Exhibit B – Form of Purchaser Bylaws upon Domestication
USA Rare Earth, Inc.
BYLAWS
Table of Contents
| 1. | Time and Place of Meetings | 1 |
| | | |
| 2. | Annual Meetings | 1 |
| | | |
| 3. | Special Meetings | 1 |
| | | |
| 4. | Notice of Meetings | 1 |
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| 5. | Inspectors | 1 |
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| 6. | Quorum | 2 |
| | | |
| 7. | Voting; Proxies | 2 |
| | | |
| 8. | Order of Business | 2 |
| | | |
| 9. | Notice of Stockholder Proposals | 3 |
| | | |
| 10. | Notice of Director Nominations | 5 |
| | | |
| 11. | Additional Provisions Relating to the Notice of Stockholder Business and Director Nominations | 7 |
| | | |
| 12. | Record Dates | 8 |
| | | |
| 13. | Recesses and Adjournments | 9 |
| | | |
DIRECTORS | 9 |
| | | |
| 14. | Function | 9 |
| | | |
| 15. | Number, Election and Terms | 9 |
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| 16. | Vacancies and Newly Created Directorships | 9 |
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| 17. | Removal | 9 |
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| 18. | Resignation | 9 |
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| 19. | Regular Meetings | 10 |
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| 20. | Special Meetings | 10 |
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| 21. | Quorum; Voting | 10 |
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| 22. | Participation in Meetings by Remote Communications | 10 |
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| 23. | Committees | 10 |
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| 24. | Compensation | 11 |
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| 25. | Rules | 11 |
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| 26. | Chairman of the Board | 11 |
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| 27. | Indemnification | 11 |
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NOTICES | 14 |
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| 28. | Generally | 14 |
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| 29. | Waivers | 14 |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
(continued)
OFFICERS | 15 |
| | | |
| 30. | Generally | 15 |
| | | |
| 31. | Compensation | 16 |
| | | |
| 32. | Succession | 16 |
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| 33. | Authority and Duties | 16 |
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STOCK | 16 |
| | | |
| 34. | Certificates | 16 |
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| 35. | Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates | 16 |
| | | |
TRANSFERS | 17 |
| | | |
| 36. | Transfers Generally | 17 |
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| 37. | Lock-Up | 17 |
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GENERAL | 20 |
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| 38. | Fiscal Year | 20 |
| | | |
| 39. | Reliance upon Books, Reports and Records | 20 |
| | | |
| 40. | Amendments | 20 |
| | | |
| 41. | Certain Defined Terms | 21 |
STOCKHOLDERS MEETINGS
1. Time and Place of Meetings. All meetings of stockholders will be held at such time and place, within or without the State of Delaware, as may be designated by the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of USA Rare Earth, Inc. a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), from time to time in such manner as set forth in the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation (the “Certificate of Incorporation”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board may, in its sole discretion, determine that a meeting of stockholders will not be held at any place, but may instead be held by means of remote communications in accordance with Section 211(a)(2) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as amended (the “DGCL”), subject to such guidelines and procedures as the Board may adopt from time to time. The Board may cancel or reschedule to an earlier or later date any previously scheduled annual or special meeting of stockholders.
2. Annual Meetings. At each annual meeting of stockholders, the stockholders will elect the directors from the nominees for director, to succeed those directors whose terms expire at such meeting and will transact such other business, in such case as may properly be brought before the meeting in accordance with Sections 8, 9, 10 and 11.
3. Special Meetings.
(a) General. A special meeting of stockholders may be called only by such persons and only in such manner as set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation, in each case to transact only such business as is specified in the notice of such meeting.
(b) Meetings of Preferred Stockholders. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 3, special meetings of holders of any outstanding Preferred Stock may be called in the manner and for the purposes provided in the applicable Preferred Stock Designation.
4. Notice of Meetings. Notice of every meeting of stockholders, stating the place, if any, date and time thereof, 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 meeting, and, in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called, will be given, in a form permitted by Section 27 or by the DGCL, not less than ten nor more than 60 days before the date of the meeting to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at such meeting, except as otherwise provided by law. When a meeting is recessed or adjourned to another place, date, or time, notice need not be given of the recessed or adjourned meeting if the place, if any, date and time 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 recessed or adjourned meeting, are (a) announced at the meeting at which the recess or adjournment is taken (b) displayed, during the time scheduled for the meeting, on the same electronic network used to enable stockholders and proxy holders to participate in the meeting by means of remote communication or (c) set forth in the notice of meeting; provided, however, that if the recess or adjournment is for more than 30 days, or if after the recess or adjournment a new record date is fixed for the recessed or adjourned meeting, written notice of the place, if any, date and time 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 recessed or adjourned meeting, must be given in conformity herewith.
5. Inspectors. The Board will, in advance of any meeting of stockholders, appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting and make a written report thereof. The Board may designate one or more persons as alternate inspectors to replace any inspector who fails to act. If no inspector or alternate is able to act at a meeting of stockholders, the presiding officer of the meeting will appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting.
6. Quorum. Except as otherwise provided by law or in a Preferred Stock Designation, the holders of a majority in voting power of the shares of stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote at the meeting, present in person or represented by proxy, will constitute a quorum at a meeting of stockholders for the transaction of business thereat. A quorum, once established, will not be broken by the subsequent withdrawal of enough votes to leave less than a quorum. If, however, such a quorum shall not be present or represented at any meeting of the stockholders, the presiding officer of the meeting shall have the power to recess or adjourn the meeting from time to time, in the manner provided in Section 13, until a quorum is present or represented.
7. Voting; Proxies.
(a) General. Except as otherwise provided by law, by the Certificate of Incorporation, or in a Preferred Stock Designation, each stockholder will be entitled at every meeting of the stockholders to one vote for each share of stock having voting power standing in the name of such stockholder on the books of the Company on the record date for the meeting and such votes may be cast either in person or by proxy. Every proxy must be authorized in a manner permitted by Section 212 of the DGCL (or any successor provision) and may be documented, signed and delivered in accordance with Section 116 of the DGCL (or any successor provision) provided that such authorization shall set forth, or be delivered with, information enabling the Company to reasonably determine the identity of the stockholder granting such authorization.
(b) Vote Required for Stockholder Action. When a quorum is present at any meeting of stockholders, the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes properly cast on the matter (excluding any abstentions or broker non-votes) will be the act of the stockholders with respect to all matters other than the election of directors (who will be elected by a plurality of all votes properly cast), except as otherwise provided in these Bylaws, the Certificate of Incorporation, a Preferred Stock Designation, the rules or regulations of any stock exchange applicable to the Corporation, or by law.
8. Order of Business. The Chairman, or an officer of the Company designated from time to time by a majority of the total number of directors that the Company would have if there were no vacancies on the Board of Directors (the “Whole Board”), will call meetings of stockholders to order and will act as presiding officer thereof. Unless otherwise determined by the Board prior to the meeting, the presiding officer of any meeting of stockholders will also determine the order of business and have the authority in his or her sole discretion to determine the rules of procedure and regulate the conduct of the meeting, including without limitation by: (a) imposing restrictions on the persons (other than stockholders of the Company or their duly appointed proxy holders) that may attend the meeting; (b) ascertaining whether any stockholder or his or her proxy holder may be excluded from the meeting based upon any determination by the presiding officer, in his or her sole discretion, that any such person has disrupted or is likely to disrupt the proceedings thereat; (c) determining the circumstances in which any person may make a statement or ask questions at the meeting; (d) ruling on all procedural questions that may arise during or in connection with the meeting; (e) determining whether any nomination or business proposed to be brought before the meeting has been properly brought before the meeting; and (f) determining the time or times at which the polls for voting at the meeting will be opened and closed.
9. Notice of Stockholder Proposals.
(a) Business to Be Conducted at Annual Meeting. At an annual meeting of stockholders, only such business may be conducted as has been properly brought before the meeting. To be properly brought before an annual meeting, business (other than the nomination of a person for election as a director, which is governed by Section 10, and, to the extent applicable, Section 11), must be (i) brought before the meeting by or at the direction of the Board or (ii) otherwise properly brought before the meeting by a stockholder who (A) has complied with all applicable requirements of this Section 9 and Section 11 in relation to such business, (B) was a stockholder of record of the Company at the time of giving the notice required by Section 11(a) and is a stockholder of record of the Company at the time of the annual meeting, and (C) is entitled to vote at the annual meeting. For the avoidance of doubt, the foregoing clause (ii) will be the exclusive means for a stockholder to submit business before an annual meeting of stockholders (other than proposals properly made in accordance with Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (such act, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, the “Exchange Act”) and included in the notice of meeting given by or at the direction of the Board).
(b) Required Form for Stockholder Proposals. To be in proper form, regardless of whether the subject matter is already the subject of any notice to stockholders from the Board, a stockholder’s notice to the Secretary must set forth in writing, on the form provided to the stockholder upon written request to the Secretary and verification that the requesting party is a stockholder or is acting on behalf of a stockholder, including the following information, which must be updated and supplemented, if necessary, so that the information provided or required to be provided will be true and correct on the record date of the annual meeting and as of such date that is ten business days prior to the annual meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof; which update shall be delivered to the Secretary no later than five business days after the record date for the Annual Meeting and not later than eight business days prior to the date of the Annual Meeting.
(i) Information Regarding the Proposing Person. As to each Proposing Person (as such term is defined in Section 11(d)(ii)):
(A) the name and address of such Proposing Person, as they appear on the Company’s stock transfer book;
(B) the class, series and number of shares of the Company directly or indirectly beneficially owned or held of record by such Proposing Person (including any shares of any class or series of the Company as to which such Proposing Person has a right to acquire beneficial ownership, whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time);
(C) a representation (1) that the stockholder giving the notice is a holder of record of stock of the Company entitled to vote at the annual meeting and intends to appear at the annual meeting to bring such business before the annual meeting and (2) as to whether any Proposing Person intends to deliver a proxy statement and form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of shares of the Company entitled to vote and required to approve the proposal and, if so, identifying such Proposing Person;
(D) a description of any (1) option, warrant, convertible security, stock appreciation right or similar right or interest (including any derivative securities, as defined under Rule 16a-1 under the Exchange Act or other synthetic arrangement having characteristics of a long position), assuming for purposes of these Bylaws presently exercisable, with an exercise or conversion privilege or a settlement or payment mechanism at a price related to any class or series of securities of the Company or with a value derived in whole or in part from the value of any class or series of securities of the Company, whether or not such instrument or right is subject to settlement in whole or in part in the underlying class or series of securities of the Company or otherwise, directly or indirectly held of record or owned beneficially by such Proposing Person and whether or not such Proposing Person may have entered into transactions that hedge or mitigate the economic effects of such security or instrument and (2) each other direct or indirect right or interest that may enable such Proposing Person to profit or share in any profit derived from, or to manage the risk or benefit from, any increase or decrease in the value of the Company’s securities, in each case regardless of whether (x) such right or interest conveys any voting rights in such security to such Proposing Person, (y) such right or interest is required to be, or is capable of being, settled through delivery of such security, or (z) such Proposing Person may have entered into other transactions that hedge the economic effect of any such right or interest (any such right or interest referred to in this clause (D) being a “Derivative Interest”);
(E) any proxy, contract, agreement, arrangement, understanding or relationship pursuant to which the Proposing Person has a right to vote any shares of the Company or which has the effect of increasing or decreasing the voting power of such Proposing Person;
(F) any contract, agreement, arrangement, understanding or relationship including any repurchase or similar so called “stock borrowing” agreement or arrangement, the purpose or effect of which is to mitigate loss, reduce economic risk or increase or decrease voting power with respect to any capital stock of the Company or which provides any party, directly or indirectly, the opportunity to profit from any decrease in the price or value of the capital stock of the Company;
(G) any material pending or threatened legal proceeding involving the Company, any affiliate of the Company or any of their respective directors or officers, to which such Proposing Person or its affiliates is a party;
(H) any rights directly or indirectly held of record or beneficially by the Proposing Person to dividends on the shares of the Company that are separated or separable from the underlying shares of the Company;
(I) any equity interests, including any convertible, derivative or short interests, in any principal competitor of the Company;
(J) any performance-related fees (other than an asset-based fee) to which the Proposing Person or any affiliate or immediate family member of the Proposing Person may be entitled as a result of any increase or decrease in the value of shares of the Company or Derivative Interests;
(K) a representation whether the stockholder, the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or other business proposal is being made, any control person, or any other participant (as defined in Item 4 of Schedule 14A under the Exchange Act) will engage in a solicitation with respect to such nomination or other business proposal and, if so, the name of each participant in such solicitation; and a statement: (1) confirming whether, the stockholder, beneficial owner, or any control person intends, or is part of a group that (x) in the case of a nomination, intends to solicit proxies or votes in support of such director nominees or nomination in accordance with Rule 14a-19 under the Exchange Act, including but not limited to, delivering a proxy statement and form of proxy and soliciting at least the percentage of the voting power of all of the shares of the stock of the Company required under applicable law to elect the nominee, and (y) in the case of a business proposal, intends to deliver a proxy statement and form of proxy and solicit at least the percentage of voting power of all of the shares of stock of the Company required under applicable law to approve the proposal; and (2) whether or not any such stockholder, beneficial owner, or any control person intends to otherwise solicit proxies from stockholders in support of such nomination or other business proposal; and
(L) any other information relating to such Proposing Person that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filing required pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act to be made in connection with a general solicitation of proxies or consents by such Proposing Person in support of the business proposed to be brought before the meeting.
(ii) Information Regarding the Proposal: As to each item of business that the stockholder giving the notice proposes to bring before the annual meeting:
(A) a description in reasonable detail of the business desired to be brought before the annual meeting and the reasons why such stockholder or any other Proposing Person believes that the taking of the action or actions proposed to be taken would be in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders;
(B) a description in reasonable detail of any material interest of any Proposing Person in such business and a description in reasonable detail of all agreements, arrangements and understandings among the Proposing Persons or between any Proposing Person and any other person or entity (including their names) in connection with the proposal; and
(C) the text of the proposal or business (including the text of any resolutions proposed for consideration).
(c) No Right to Have Proposal Included. A stockholder is not entitled to have its proposal included in the Company’s proxy statement and form of proxy solely as a result of such stockholder’s compliance with the foregoing provisions of this Section 9.
(d) Requirement to Attend Annual Meeting. If a stockholder does not appear at the annual meeting to present its proposal, such proposal will be disregarded (notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such proposal may have been solicited, obtained or delivered).
10. Notice of Director Nominations.
(a) Nomination of Directors. Subject to the rights, if any, of any series of Preferred Stock to nominate or elect directors under circumstances specified in a Preferred Stock Designation, only persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 10 will be eligible to serve as directors. Nominations of persons for election as directors of the Company may be made only at an annual meeting of stockholders and only (i) by or at the direction of the Board or (ii) by a stockholder who (A) has complied with all applicable requirements of this Section 10 and Section 11 in relation to such nomination, (B) was a stockholder of record of the Company at the time of giving the notice required by Section 11(a) and is a stockholder of record of the Company at the time of the annual meeting, (C) is entitled to vote at the annual meeting and (D) subject to Section 11, has nominated a number of nominees that does not exceed the number of directors that will be elected at such meeting.
(b) Required Form for Director Nominations. To be in proper form, a stockholder’s notice to the Secretary must set forth in writing, substantially in the form provided to the stockholder upon written request to the Secretary, which form shall be provided only upon the receipt of evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Secretary verifying that the requesting party is a stockholder or is acting on behalf of a stockholder:
(i) Information Regarding the Nominating Person. As to each Nominating Person (as such term is defined in Section 11(d)(iii)), the information set forth in Section 9(b)(i) (except that for purposes of this Section 10, the term “Nominating Person” will be substituted for the term “Proposing Person” in all places where it appears in Section 9(b)(i) and any reference to “business” or “proposal” therein will be deemed to be a reference to the “nomination” contemplated by this Section 10).
(ii) Information Regarding the Nominee: As to each person whom the stockholder giving notice 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 Section 9(b)(i) if such proposed nominee were a Nominating Person;
(B) all information relating to such proposed nominee that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filing required pursuant to Section 14(a) under the Exchange Act to be made in connection with a general solicitation of proxies for an election of directors in a contested election (including such proposed nominee’s written consent to be named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serve as a director if elected);
(C) a reasonably detailed description of all direct and indirect compensation and other material monetary agreements, arrangements or understandings during the past three years, any other material relationships, between or among such Nominating Person and its affiliates and associates, or others acting in concert therewith, on the one hand, and each proposed nominee and his or her affiliates, associates or others acting in concert therewith, on the other hand, including all information that would be required to be disclosed pursuant to Items 403 and 404 under Regulation S-K if the stockholder giving the notice or any other Nominating Person were the “registrant” for purposes of such rule and the proposed nominee were a director or executive officer of such registrant;
(D) a completed questionnaire (in the form provided by the Secretary upon written request) with respect to the identity, background and qualification of the proposed nominee and the background of any other person or entity on whose behalf the nomination is being made; and
(E) a written representation and agreement (in the form provided by the Secretary upon written request) that the proposed nominee (1) is qualified and if elected intends to serve as a director of the Company for the entire term for which such proposed nominee is standing for election, (2) is not and will not become a party to (x) any agreement, arrangement or understanding with, and has not given any commitment or assurance to, any person or entity as to how the proposed nominee, if elected as a director of the Company, will act or vote on any issue or question (a “Voting Commitment”) that has not been disclosed to the Company or (y) any Voting Commitment that could limit or interfere with the proposed nominee’s ability to comply, if elected as a director of the Company, with the proposed nominee’s fiduciary duties under applicable law, (3) is not and will not become a party to any agreement, arrangement or understanding with any person or entity other than the Company with respect to any direct or indirect compensation, reimbursement or indemnification in connection with service or action as a director that has not been disclosed therein, and (4) has read and, if elected as a director of the Company, the proposed nominee would be in compliance and will comply, with all applicable publicly disclosed corporate governance, ethics, conflict of interest, confidentiality and stock ownership and trading policies and guidelines of the Company.
The Company may require any proposed nominee to furnish such other information as may be reasonably required by the Company to determine the qualifications and eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve as a director.
(c) No Right to Have Nominees Included. A stockholder is not entitled to have its nominees included in the Company’s proxy statement solely as a result of such stockholder’s compliance with the foregoing provisions of this Section 10.
(d) Requirement to Attend Annual Meeting. If a stockholder does not appear at the annual meeting to present its nomination, such nomination will be disregarded (notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such nomination may have been solicited, obtained or delivered).
11. Additional Provisions Relating to the Notice of Stockholder Business and Director Nominations.
(a) Timely Notice. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice required by Section 9(a) or Section 10(a) must be delivered to or mailed and received by the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Company not less than 120 nor more than 150 days prior to the first anniversary of the date on which the Company’s definitive proxy statement was first sent to stockholders in connection with the preceding year’s annual meeting of stockholders (which date shall, for purposes of the Corporation’s annual meeting of stockholders in the year of the closing of the transactions contemplated in the Business Combination Agreement be deemed to have occurred on [●], 202[●]); provided, however, that if the date of the annual meeting is scheduled for a date more than 30 days prior to or more than 60 days after the anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so delivered not later than the close of business on the later of the 120th day prior to such annual meeting and the 10th day following the day on which public disclosure of the date of such meeting is first made. In no event will a recess or adjournment of an annual meeting (or any announcement of any such recess or adjournment) commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event the number of directors to be elected to the Board at the annual meeting is increased by the Board, and there is no public announcement by the Company naming the nominees for the additional directors at least 100 days prior to the first anniversary of the date on which the Company held the preceding year’s annual meeting of stockholders, a stockholder’s notice pursuant to Section 10(a) will be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for the additional directorships, if it is delivered to or mailed and received by the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Company not later than the close of business on the tenth day following the day on which such public announcement is first made by the Company.
(b) Updating Information in Notice. A stockholder providing notice of business proposed to be brought before an annual meeting pursuant to Section 9 or notice of any nomination to be made at an annual meeting pursuant to Section 10 must further update and supplement such notice, if necessary, so that the information provided or required to be provided in such notice pursuant to Section 9 or Section 10, as applicable, is true and correct as of the record date for notice of the meeting and as of the date that is ten days prior to the meeting or any recess, adjournment or postponement thereof. Any such update and supplement must be delivered to, or mailed and received by, the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Company, as promptly as practicable.
(c) Determinations of Form, Effect of Noncompliance, Etc.
(i) The presiding officer of any annual meeting will, if the facts warrant, determine that a proposal was not made in accordance with the procedures prescribed by Section 9 and this Section 11 or that a nomination was not made in accordance with the procedures prescribed by Section 10 and this Section 11, and if he or she should so determine, he or she will so declare to the meeting and the defective proposal or nomination, as applicable, will be disregarded. Notwithstanding anything in these Bylaws to the contrary: (i) no nominations shall be made or business shall be conducted at any annual meeting or special meeting except in accordance with the procedures set forth in Sections 9, 10 and 11, and (ii) unless otherwise required by law, if a Proposing Person intending to propose business or a Nominating Person intending to make nominations at an annual meeting or special meeting pursuant to Sections 9, 10 and 11, as applicable, does not provide the information required under Sections 9, 10 and 11 to the Company in accordance with the applicable timing requirements set forth in these Bylaws, or the Proposing Person or Nominating Person (or a qualified representative thereof) does not appear at the meeting to present the proposed business or nominations, such business or nominations shall not be considered, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such business or nominations may have been received by the Company.
(ii) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 9, 10 and 11 and unless otherwise required by law, if any Proposing Person (A) provides notice pursuant to Rule 14a-19(b) under the Exchange Act with respect to any nomination or business proposal and (ii) subsequently fails to comply with the requirements of Rule 14a-19 under the Exchange Act (or fails to timely provide reasonable evidence sufficient to satisfy the Company that such Proposing Person has met the requirements of Rule 14a-19(a)(3) under the Exchange Act), then each applicable nomination or business proposal shall be disregarded, notwithstanding that the applicable nominee is included as a nominee in the Company’s proxy statement, notice of meeting or other proxy materials for any annual meeting (or any supplement thereto) and notwithstanding that proxies or votes in respect of the election of such proposed nominees may have been received by the Company (which proxies and votes shall be disregarded).
(d) Certain Definitions.
(i) For purposes of Section 9 and Section 10 and this Section 11, “public disclosure” means disclosure in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Bloomberg, Associated Press or comparable national news service or in a document filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Exchange Act or furnished by the Company to stockholders.
(ii) For purposes of Section 9 and this Section 11, “Proposing Person” means (A) the stockholder providing the notice of business proposed to be brought before an annual meeting, (B) 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 given, and (C) any Affiliate or Associate (each within the meaning of Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act) of such stockholder or beneficial owner.
(iii) For purposes of Section 10 and this Section 11, “Nominating Person” means (A) the stockholder providing the notice of the nomination proposed made to be at an annual meeting, (B) the beneficial owner or beneficial owners, if different, on whose behalf the notice of nomination proposed to be made at the annual meeting is given, and (C) any Affiliate or Associate (each within the meaning of Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act) of such stockholder or beneficial owner.
12. Record Dates.
(a) Voting Record Dates. In order that the Company may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of any meeting of stockholders, the Board may fix a record date, which will not precede the date upon which the Board resolution fixing the same is adopted and will not be more than 60 nor less than 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 will 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 the stockholders will apply to any recess or adjournment of the meeting; provided, however, that the Board may fix a new record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to vote at the recessed or adjourned meeting, and in such case shall also fix as the record date for stockholders entitled to such notice of such recessed or adjourned meeting the same or an earlier date as that fixed for determination of stockholders entitled to vote in accordance with the foregoing provisions of this Section 12(a) at the recessed or adjourned meeting.
(b) Payment Record Dates. In order that the Company 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 stock, or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board may fix a record date, which record date will not be more than 60 days prior to such action. If no record date is fixed, the record date for determining stockholders for any such purpose will be at the close of business on the day on which the Board adopts the resolution relating thereto.
(c) Identity of Registered Holder. The Company will be entitled to treat the person in whose name any share of its stock is registered as the owner thereof for all purposes, and will not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to, or interest in, such share on the part of any other person, whether or not the Company has notice thereof, except as expressly provided by applicable law.
13. Recesses and Adjournments. A meeting of stockholders may be recessed or adjourned from time to time by the presiding officer of the meeting. Upon any recessed or adjourned meeting being reconvened, any business may be transacted which properly could have been transacted in the absence of such recess or adjournment.
DIRECTORS
14. Function. The business and affairs of the Company will be managed under the direction of the Board.
15. Number, Election and Terms. Subject to the rights, if any, of any series of Preferred Stock to elect additional directors under circumstances specified in a Preferred Stock Designation, and to the minimum and maximum number of authorized directors provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, the authorized number of directors may be fixed from time to time only by a resolution adopted by a majority of the Whole Board. The directors, other than those who may be elected by the holders of any series of the Preferred Stock, will be classified with respect to the time for which they severally hold office in accordance with the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation.
16. Vacancies and Newly Created Directorships. Subject to the rights, if any, of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect additional directors under circumstances specified in a Preferred Stock Designation, newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors and any vacancies on the Board resulting from death, resignation, disqualification, removal or other cause may be filled only by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining directors then in office, even though less than a quorum of the Board, or by a sole remaining director. Any director elected in accordance with the preceding sentence will hold office for the remainder of the full term of the class of directors in which the new directorship was created or the vacancy occurred and until such director’s successor is elected and qualified. No decrease in the authorized number of directors will shorten the term of any incumbent director.
17. Removal. Directors may be removed from office only in the manner provided in the Certificate of Incorporation and applicable law.
18. Resignation. Any director may resign at any time upon notice given in writing or by electronic transmission to the Chairman or the Secretary. Any resignation is effective when the resignation is delivered to the Company unless the resignation specifies a later effective date or an effective date that is contingent upon the occurrence or non-occurrence of one or more specified events.
19. Regular Meetings. Regular meetings of the Board may be held immediately after the annual meeting of the stockholders and at such other time and place either within or without the State of Delaware as may from time to time be determined by the Board. Notice of regular meetings of the Board need not be given.
20. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board may be called by the Chairman on one day’s notice to each director by whom such notice is not waived, given in a manner permitted by Section 28 or by the DGCL, and will be called by the Chairman, in like manner and on like notice, upon the request of a majority of the Whole Board. The time and place of any such special meeting shall be as specified in the notice of such meeting.
21. Quorum; Voting. At all meetings of the Board, a majority of the Whole Board will constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. Except for action to be taken by committees of the Board as provided in Section 23, and except for actions required by these Bylaws or the Certificate of Incorporation to be taken by a majority of the Whole Board, the act of a majority of the directors present at any meeting at which there is a quorum will be the act of the Board. If a quorum is not present at any meeting of the Board, the directors present thereat may adjourn the meeting from time to time to another place, time, or date, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum is present. Except as otherwise provided in these Bylaws or in the Certificate of Incorporation or as required by applicable law, the vote of a majority of the directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board of Directors. Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws or applicable law, any action required to be taken at a meeting of the Board or any committee thereof, may be taken without a meeting if all directors or members of such committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing or by electronic transmission and any consent may be documented, signed and delivered in any manner permitted by Section 116 of the DGCL. After an action is taken by unanimous written consent, such consent shall be filed with the minutes of proceedings for the Board or committee in accordance with applicable law.
22. Participation in Meetings by Remote Communications. Members of the Board or any committee designated by the Board may participate in a meeting of the Board or any such committee, as the case may be, by means of conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and such participation in a meeting will constitute presence in person at the meeting.
23. Committees. The Board may designate one or more committees, each committee to consist of one or more of the directors. The Board may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee. In the absence or disqualification of a member of a committee, the member or members 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 provided in the resolution of the Board, or in these Bylaws, will have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board in the management of the business and affairs of the Company, and may authorize the seal of the Company to be affixed to all papers which may require it; but no such committee will have the power or authority in reference to the following matters: (a) approving or adopting, or recommending 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) making, adopting, amending or repealing any provision of these Bylaws. Unless the Board provides otherwise, each committee designated by the Board may make, alter and repeal rules and procedures for the conduct of its business. In the absence of such rules and procedures, each committee shall conduct its business in the same manner as the Board conducts its business. Any resolution of the Board establishing or directing any committee of the Board or establishing or amending 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.
24. Compensation. The Board may establish the compensation of directors, including without limitation compensation for membership on the Board and on committees of the Board, attendance at meetings of the Board or committees of the Board, and for other services provided to the Company or at the request of the Board.
25. Rules. The Board may adopt rules and regulations for the conduct of meetings and the oversight of the management of the affairs of the Company.
26. Chairman of the Board. The Board, by a majority vote of the Whole Board, shall elect a Chairman from among the members of the Board. The Chairman shall not be considered an officer of the Company in his or her capacity as such. The Chairman may be removed from that capacity by a majority vote of the Whole Board. The Chairman shall preside at meetings of the Board and of the stockholders of the Company and exercise and perform such other powers and duties as may from time to time be assigned to him or her by the Board or as may be prescribed by these Bylaws. In the absence of the Chairman, such other director of the Company designated by the Chairman or by the Board shall act as chairman of any such meeting. The Chairman or the Board may appoint a Vice Chairman of the Board to exercise and perform such other powers and duties as may from time to time be assigned to him or her by the Chairman or by the Board.
27. Indemnification.
(a) Right to Indemnification. Each person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise involved in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (hereinafter a “proceeding”), by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director or an officer of the Company or, while serving as a director or officer of the Company, is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee, agent or trustee of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan (hereinafter an “indemnitee”), whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a director, officer, employee, agent or trustee or in any other capacity while serving as a director, officer, employee, agent or trustee, shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended (but, in the case of any such amendment, if permitted, only to the extent that such amendment permits the Company to provide broader indemnification rights than such law permitted the Company to provide prior to such amendment), against all expense, liability and loss (including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes or penalties and amounts paid in settlement) actually and reasonably incurred or suffered by such indemnitee in connection therewith; provided, however, that, except with respect to proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification or advancement of expenses or with respect to any compulsory counterclaim brought by such indemnitee, the Company shall indemnify any such indemnitee in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such indemnitee only if such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Board. Any reference to an officer of the Company in this Section 27 shall be deemed to refer exclusively to the Chief Executive Officer, President, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Legal Officer and Secretary of the Company, as applicable, appointed pursuant to these Bylaws, and to any Vice President, Assistant Secretary, Assistant Treasurer or other officer of the Company appointed by the Board pursuant to these Bylaws, including, without limitation, any “executive officer” for purposes of Rule 3b-7 of the Exchange Act or “officer” for purposes of Section 16 of the Exchange Act, and any reference to an officer of any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise 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, employee benefit plan or other enterprise. The fact that any person who is or was an employee of the Company or an employee of any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, but not an officer thereof as described in the preceding sentence, 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 such an officer of the Company or of such other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise shall not result in such person being constituted as, or being deemed to be, such an officer of the Company or of such other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise for purposes of this Section 27.
(b) Right to Advancement of Expenses. In addition to the right to indemnification conferred in Section 27(a), an indemnitee shall also have the right to be paid by the Company, to the fullest extent not prohibited by applicable law, the expenses (including attorney’s fees) incurred by indemnitee in appearing at, participating in or defending any such proceeding in advance of its final disposition or in connection with a proceeding brought to establish or enforce a right to indemnification or advancement of expenses under this Section 27 (which shall be governed by Section 27(c) (hereinafter an “advancement of expenses”)); provided, however, that, if the DGCL requires or in the case of an advancement of expenses made in a proceeding brought to establish or enforce a right to indemnification or advancement of expenses, an advancement of expenses incurred by an indemnitee in his or her capacity as a director or officer of the Company (and not in any other capacity in which service was or is rendered by such indemnitee, including, without limitation, service to an employee benefit plan) shall be made solely upon delivery to the Company of an undertaking (hereinafter an “undertaking”), by or on behalf of such indemnitee, to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined by final judicial decision from which there is no further right to appeal (hereinafter a “final adjudication”) that such indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified under Section 27(a) and Section 27(b) or otherwise.
(c) Right of Indemnitee to Bring Suit. If a claim under Section 27(a) or Section 27(b) is not paid in full by the Company within (a) sixty (60) days after a written claim for indemnification has been received by the Company or (b) thirty (30) days after a claim for an advancement of expenses has been received by the Company, the indemnitee may at any time thereafter bring suit against the Company to recover the unpaid amount of the claim or to obtain advancement of expenses, as applicable. To the fullest extent permitted by law, if successful in whole or in part in any such suit, or in a suit brought by the Company to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the indemnitee shall be entitled to be paid also the expense of prosecuting or defending such suit. In any suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification or to an advancement of expenses hereunder, or brought by the Company to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the burden of proving that the indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified, or to such advancement of expenses, under this Section 27 or otherwise shall be on the Company.
(d) Indemnification Not Exclusive.
(i) The provision of indemnification to or the advancement of expenses and costs to any indemnitee under this Section 27, or the entitlement of any indemnitee to indemnification or advancement of expenses and costs under this Section 27, shall not limit or restrict in any way the power of the Company to indemnify or advance expenses and costs to such indemnitee in any other way permitted by law or be deemed exclusive of, or invalidate, any right to which any indemnitee seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses and costs may be entitled under any law, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in such indemnitee’s capacity as an officer, director, employee or agent of the Company and as to action in any other capacity.
(ii) Given that certain jointly indemnifiable claims (as defined below) may arise due to the service of the indemnitee as a director and/or officer of the Company at the request of the indemnitee-related entities (as defined below), the Company shall be fully and primarily responsible for the payment to the indemnitee in respect of indemnification or advancement of all expenses, judgments, penalties, fines and amounts paid in settlement to the extent legally permitted and as required by the terms of the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws of the Company (or any other agreement between the Company and such persons, as applicable) in connection with any such jointly indemnifiable claims, pursuant to and in accordance with the terms of this Section 27, irrespective of any right of recovery the indemnitee may have from the indemnitee-related entities. Any obligation on the part of any indemnitee-related entities to indemnify or advance expenses to any indemnitee shall be secondary to the Company’s obligation and shall be reduced by any amount that the indemnitee may collect as indemnification or advancement from the Company. The Company irrevocably waives, relinquishes and releases the indemnitee-related entities from any and all claims it may have against the indemnitee-related entities for contribution, subrogation or any other recovery of any kind in respect thereof. Under no circumstance shall the Company be entitled to any right of subrogation or contribution by the indemnitee-related entities and no right of advancement or recovery the indemnitee may have from the indemnitee-related entities shall reduce or otherwise alter the rights of the indemnitee or the obligations of the Company hereunder. In the event that any of the indemnitee-related entities shall make any payment to the indemnitee in respect of indemnification or advancement of expenses with respect to any jointly indemnifiable claim, the indemnitee-related entity making such payment shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of the indemnitee against the Company, and the indemnitee shall execute all papers reasonably required and shall do all things that may be reasonably necessary to secure such rights, including the execution of such documents as may be necessary to enable the indemnitee-related entities effectively to bring suit to enforce such rights. Each of the indemnitee-related entities shall be third-party beneficiaries with respect to this Section 27(d)(ii), entitled to enforce this Section 27(d)(ii).
For purposes of this Section 27(d)(ii), the following terms shall have the following meanings:
(A) The term “indemnitee-related entities” means any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise (other than the Company or any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise for which the indemnitee has agreed, on behalf of the Company or at the Company’s request, to serve as a director, officer, employee or agent and which service is covered by the indemnity described herein) from whom an indemnitee may be entitled to indemnification or advancement of expenses with respect to which, in whole or in part, the Company may also have an indemnification or advancement obligation (other than as a result of obligations under an insurance policy).
(B) The term “jointly indemnifiable claims” shall be broadly construed and shall include, without limitation, any action, suit or proceeding for which the indemnitee shall be entitled to indemnification or advancement of expenses from both the indemnitee-related entities and the Company pursuant to Delaware law, any agreement or certificate of incorporation, bylaws, partnership agreement, operating agreement, certificate of formation, certificate of limited partnership or comparable document or agreement.
(e) Corporate Obligations; Reliance. The rights granted pursuant to the provisions of this Section 27 shall vest at the time a person becomes a director or officer of the Company and shall be deemed to create a binding contractual obligation on the part of the Company to the persons who from time to time are elected as officers or directors of the Company, and such persons in acting in their capacities as officers or directors of the Company or any subsidiary shall be entitled to rely on such provisions of this Section 27 without giving notice thereof to the Company. Such rights shall continue as to an indemnitee who has ceased to be a director or officer and shall inure to the benefit of the indemnitee’s heirs, executors and administrators. Any amendment, alteration or repeal of this Section 27 that adversely affects any right of an indemnitee or its successors shall be prospective only and shall not limit, eliminate, or impair any such right with respect to any proceeding involving any occurrence or alleged occurrence of any action or omission to act that took place prior to such amendment or repeal.
(f) Insurance. The Company may purchase and maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect itself and any director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any expense, liability or loss, whether or not the Company would have the power to indemnify such person against such expense, liability or loss under the DGCL.
(g) Indemnification of Employees and Agents of the Company and Others. The Company may, to the extent authorized from time to time by the Board, grant rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses to any employee or agent of the Company and to any person (in addition to an indemnitee) serving at the request of the Company as an officer, director, employee or agent of any other enterprise to the fullest extent of the provisions of this Section 27 with respect to the indemnification and advancement of expenses of indemnitees hereunder.
NOTICES
28. Generally.
(a) Form of Notices. Except as otherwise provided by law, these Bylaws, or the Certificate of Incorporation, whenever by law or under the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws notice is required to be given to any director or stockholder, it will not be construed to require personal notice, but such notice may be given in writing, by mail or courier service or, to the extent permitted by the DGCL, by electronic transmission, addressed to such director or stockholder. Any notice sent to stockholders by mail or courier service shall be sent to the address of such stockholder as it appears on the records of the Company, with postage thereon prepaid, and such notice will be deemed to be given at the time when the same is deposited in the United States mail or with the courier service. Notices sent by electronic transmission shall be deemed effective as set forth in Section 232 of the DGCL. For purposes of this Section 28, “electronic transmission” means any form of communication, not directly involving the physical transmission of paper, 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.
(b) Notices to Directors. Notices to directors may be given by mail or courier service, telephone, electronic transmission or as otherwise may be permitted by these Bylaws.
29. Waivers. Whenever any notice is required to be given by law or under the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, a waiver thereof in writing, signed by the person entitled to such notice, or a waiver by electronic transmission by the person entitled to such notice, whether before or after the time of the event for which notice is to be given, will be deemed equivalent to such notice. Attendance of a person at a meeting will 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.
OFFICERS
30. Generally.
(a) The officers of the Company will be elected by the Board and will consist of officers with titles and duties as determined by the Board, but in any case shall include a Chief Executive Officer (which may be the President), a Treasurer and a Secretary, all of whom shall be elected at the annual meeting of the Board. The Board may also choose one or more Vice Presidents (who may be given particular designations with respect to authority, function, or seniority), one or more Assistant Secretaries, one or more Assistant Treasurers and such other officers as the Board may from time to time determine. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board may authorize the Chief Executive Officer to appoint any person to any office other than the Secretary or Treasurer. Any number of offices may be held by the same person. Any of the offices may be left vacant from time to time as the Board may determine. In the case of the absence or disability of any officer of the Company or for any other reason deemed sufficient by a majority of the Board, the Board may delegate the absent or disabled officer’s powers or duties to any other officer or to any director.
(b) Chief Executive Officer. Unless the Board has designated another person as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, the President shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the Company. The Chief Executive Officer shall have general charge and supervision of the business of the Company subject to the direction of the Board, and shall perform all duties and have all powers that are commonly incident to the office of chief executive or that are delegated to such officer by the Board. The President, if such exists, shall perform such other duties and shall have such other powers as the Board or the Chief Executive Officer (if the President is not the Chief Executive Officer) may from time to time prescribe.
(c) Vice Presidents. Each Vice President shall have such powers and perform such duties as may be assigned to him or her from time to time by the Board or the Chief Executive Officer (or the President if there is no Chief Executive Officer). The Board may assign to any Vice President the title of Executive Vice President, Senior Vice President or any other title selected by the Board.
(d) Secretary; Assistant Secretary. The Secretary, or an Assistant Secretary, shall attend all sessions of the Board and all meetings of the stockholders and record all votes and the minutes of all proceedings in a book to be kept for that purpose, and shall perform like duties for committees when required. He or she shall give, or cause to be given, notice of all meetings of the stockholders and meetings of the Board, and shall perform such other duties as may be assigned by the Board. The Secretary, or an Assistant Secretary, shall keep in safe custody the seal of the Company and have authority to affix the seal to all documents requiring it and attest to the same.
(e) Treasurer; Assistant Treasurer. The Treasurer, or an Assistant Treasurer, shall have the custody of the corporate funds and other property of the Company, except as otherwise provided by the Board, and shall keep full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the Company and shall deposit all moneys and other valuable effects in the name and to the credit of the Company in such depositories as may be designated by the Board. The Treasurer, or an Assistant Treasurer, shall disburse the funds of the Company as may be ordered by the Board, taking proper vouchers for such disbursements, and whenever requested by the Board, shall render an account of all his or her transactions as treasurer and of the financial condition of the Company, and shall perform such other duties as may be assigned by the Board.
(f) Delegation of Authority. The Board may from time to time delegate the powers or duties of any officer to any other officer or agent, notwithstanding the provisions herein.
(g) Voting Securities Owned by the Company. Powers of attorney, proxies, waivers of notice of meeting, consents and other instruments relating to securities owned by the Company may be executed in the name of and on behalf of the Company by the Chief Executive Officer, the President, any Vice President or any other officer authorized to do so by the Board and any such officer may, in the name of and on behalf of the Company, take all such action as any such officer may deem advisable to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of security holders of any company in which the Company may own securities and at any such meeting shall possess and may exercise any and all rights and power incident to the ownership of such securities and which, as the owner thereof, the Company might have exercised and possessed if present. The Board may, by resolution, from time to time confer like powers upon any other person or persons.
(h) Chairman of the Board. The Board, in its discretion, may choose a Chairman (who shall be a director but need not be elected as an officer). The Chairman of the Board shall preside at all meetings of the stockholders and all meetings of the Board. The Chairman of the Board shall perform such other duties and may exercise such other powers as may from time to time be assigned by these Bylaws or by the Board.
31. Compensation. The compensation of all directors and the executive officers of the Company will be fixed by the Board or by a committee of the Board. The Board may fix or delegate the power to fix, the compensation of other officers and agents of the Company to an officer of the Company.
32. Succession. The officers of the Company will hold office until their successors are elected and qualified or until such officer’s earlier death, resignation or removal. Any officer may be removed at any time by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Whole Board. Any vacancy occurring in any office of the Company may be filled by the Board or by the Chairman as provided in Section 29. Any officer of the Company may resign at any time by giving written notice of his or her resignation to the Chief Executive Officer, the President or the Secretary. Such resignation shall be effective upon receipt unless such notice provides that the resignation is effective at some later time or upon the occurrence of some later event.
33. Authority and Duties. Each of the officers of the Company will have such authority and will perform such duties as are customarily incident to their respective offices or as may be specified from time to time by the Board.
STOCK
34. Certificates. The Board may provide by resolution or resolutions that some or all of any or all classes or series of the stock of the Company shall be uncertificated shares. Certificates, if any, representing shares of stock of the Company will be in such form as is determined by the Board, subject to applicable legal requirements. Each such certificate shall be numbered and shall be signed by, or in the name of the Company by, the Chairman, or Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer, and by the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer or the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary. Any or all of the signatures on a certificate may be a facsimile signature. In case any officer, transfer agent or registrar who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon a certificate shall have ceased to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar before such certificate is issued, it may be issued by the Company with the same effect as if he or she were such officer, transfer agent or registrar at the date of issue.
35. Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates. The Secretary may direct a new certificate or certificates or uncertificated shares to be issued in place of any certificate or certificates theretofore issued by the Company alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact, satisfactory to the Secretary, by the person claiming the certificate of stock to be lost, stolen or destroyed. As a condition precedent to the issuance of a new certificate or certificates, the Secretary may require the owners of such lost, stolen or destroyed certificate or certificates to give the Company a bond in such sum and with such surety or sureties as the Secretary may direct as indemnity against any claims that may be made against the Company with respect to the certificate alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed or the issuance of the new certificate or uncertificated shares.
TRANSFERS
36. Transfers Generally.
(a) Transfers of shares shall be made (a) upon the books of the Company only by the holder of record thereof, or by a duly authorized agent, transferee or legal representative and (b) in the case of certificated shares, upon the surrender to the Company of the certificate or certificates for such shares. No transfer shall be made that is inconsistent with the provisions of applicable law.
(b) The Company 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.
37. Lock-Up.
(a) Subject to Section 37, the holders of Lock-Up Shares (the “Lock-Up Holders”), and their permitted transferees in accordance with this Section 37, may not effect any Transfer of any Lock-up Shares until the expiration of the Lock-Up Period.
(b) Permitted Transfers. The restrictions set forth in Section 37(a) shall not apply to Transfers permitted by this Section 37(b) or Transfers by any Lock-Up Holder following the expiration of the Lock-Up Period. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in these Bylaws, the Transfer restrictions set forth in Section 37(a), during the Lock-Up Period, shall not apply to:
(i) in the case of an entity, Transfers to a stockholder, partner, member, equityholder or affiliate of such entity;
(ii) in the case of an individual, Transfers by gift to members of the individual’s immediate family (as defined below) of an affiliate of such individual or to a trust, the beneficiary of which is a member of one of the individual’s immediate family;
(iii) Transfers to a charitable organization;
(iv) Transfers to any investment funds or vehicles controlled or managed by such Lock-Up Holder or any of his, her or its affiliates;
(v) in the case of an individual, Transfers by virtue of laws of descent and distribution upon death of the individual;
(vi) in the case of an individual, Transfers pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order;
(vii) in the case of an entity, Transfers by virtue of the laws of the jurisdiction of the entity’s organization and the entity’s organizational documents upon dissolution of the entity;
(viii) the exercise of any options or warrants to purchase shares of common stock of the Company (which exercises may be effected on a cashless basis to the extent the instruments representing such options or warrants permit exercises on a cashless basis), provided that the Lock-Up Holder shall comply with the Transfer restrictions set forth in this Section 37 applicable to such underlying shares of common stock of the Company;
(ix) Transfers to the Company to satisfy tax withholding obligations pursuant to the Company’s equity incentive plans or arrangements;
(x) Transfers to the Company pursuant to any contractual arrangement in effect at the consummation of the transactions contemplated in the Business Combination Agreement (such time is referred to in this Section 37 as, the “Closing”) that provides for the repurchase by the Company or forfeiture of the Lock-Up Holder’s shares in the Company or other securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares in the Company in connection with the termination of the Lock-Up Holder’s service to the Company;
(xi) the entry, by the Lock-Up Holder, at any time after the Closing, into any trading plan providing for the sale of Lock-Up Shares by the Lock-Up Holder, which trading plan meets the requirements of Rule 10b5-1(c) under the Exchange Act; provided, however, that such plan does not provide for, or permit, the sale of any Lock-Up Shares during the Lock-Up Period and no public announcement or filing is voluntarily made or required regarding such plan during the Lock-Up Period;
(xii) transactions in the event of completion of a liquidation, merger, stock exchange or other similar transaction that results in all of the Company’s stockholders having the right to exchange their Lock-Up Shares for cash, securities or other property; and
(xiii) transactions approved by the Board in its sole discretion to satisfy any U.S. federal, state, or local income tax obligations of the Lock-Up Holder (or its direct or indirect owners) arising from a change in the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), or the U.S. Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder after the date on which the Business Combination Agreement was executed by the parties thereto, and such change prevents such transaction from qualifying as a “reorganization” pursuant to Section 368 or as a transaction that qualifies for tax deferral under Section 351 of the Code (and such transaction does not qualify for similar tax-free treatment pursuant to any successor or other provision of the Code or Regulations taking into account such changes), in each case, solely and to the extent necessary to cover any tax liability as a direct result of the transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement;
provided, however, that (x) in the case of clauses (i) through (vii), such Transfer does not involve a disposition for value and (y) in the case of clauses (i) through (vii), these permitted transferees must enter into a written agreement, in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Board (it being understood that any references to “immediate family” in the agreement executed by such transferee shall expressly refer only to the immediate family of the Lock-Up Holder and not to the immediate family of the transferee), agreeing to be bound by the Transfer restrictions set forth in this Section 37.
(c) Authority.
(i) Notwithstanding the other provisions set forth in this Section 37, the Board may, in its sole discretion, determine to waive, amend, release or repeal the Lock-Up obligations set forth herein, in whole or in part (including, without limitation, any waiver, amendment, release or repeal, in connection with any agreement, investment, or otherwise); provided, that, any such waiver, amendment or repeal of any Lock-Up obligations set forth herein shall require, in addition to any other vote of the members of the Board required to take such action pursuant to these Bylaws or applicable law, the affirmative vote of the majority of the disinterested directors; provided, however, that, to the extent the applicable Lock-Up Holder is a stockholder or other person is party to a contractual lock-up, standoff, or similar agreement (a “Lock-Up Agreement”), no waiver, amendment or repeal of the Lock-Up obligations set forth herein by the Board shall affect any provisions, rights, obligations or restrictions applicable to such Lock-Up Holder in such Lock-Up Agreement, which provisions, rights, obligations and restrictions in the Lock-Up Agreement shall continue to apply to such Lock-Up Holder and Lock-Up Shares held by such Lock-Up Holder in accordance with the terms of such Lock-Up Agreement. In the event there is any conflict between these Bylaws and a Lock-Up Agreement, the terms of the Lock-Up Agreement shall prevail.
(d) Miscellaneous Provisions Relating to Transfers of Lock-Up Shares.
(i) The Company shall place customary restrictive legends on the certificates or book entries representing the Lock-Up Shares, in addition to any legends required by applicable law or these Bylaws, and remove such restrictive legends reasonably promptly after the expiration of the Lock-Up Period.
(ii) Any attempt to Transfer any Lock-Up Shares that is not in compliance with this Section 37 shall be null and void ab initio, and the Company shall not, and shall cause any transfer agent not to, give any effect in the Company’s stock records to such attempted Transfer and the purported transferee in any such purported Transfer shall not be treated as the owner of such Lock-Up Shares for purposes of these Bylaws (provided that this Section 37 shall continue to apply to such Lock-Up Shares).
(iii) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 37, the Lock-Up Shares, in each case, beneficially owned (as defined in Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) by a Lock-Up Holder shall remain subject to any restrictions on Transfer under applicable federal, state, local or foreign securities laws, including all applicable holding periods under the Securities Act of 1933 and other rules of the Securities Exchange Commission, and, as applicable, these Bylaws and the Certificate of Incorporation.
(e) Definitions. For purposes of this Section 37:
(i) the term “affiliate” shall have the meaning set forth in Rule 405 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended;
(ii) The term “Former USARE Stockholders” means the stockholders of the Company, excluding the Inflection Point Entities, following the Closing that were formerly members of USA Rare Earth, LLC immediately prior to the closing of the Business Combination (and for the avoidance of doubt, shall include those stockholders that were issued shares of common stock of the Company as consideration pursuant to, and in accordance with, the Business Combination Agreement) and any stockholders of the Company with respect to shares of common stock of the Company that are received pursuant to the permitted transfers under Section 37(b);
(iii) the term “immediate family” shall mean a spouse, domestic partner, child, grandchild or other lineal descendant (including by adoption), father, mother, brother or sister of the Lock-Up Holder;
(iv) the term “Inflection Point Entities” shall mean, collectively, Inflection Point Asset Management LLC, Kingstown Capital Management L.P., Newtyn Management, LLC, and their respective affiliates (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the funds any of them manage) and permitted transferees.
(v) the term “Lock-Up” shall refer to the restrictions on the Transfers of Lock-Up Shares set forth in Section 37(a).
(vi) the term “Lock-Up Period” means the period beginning on the date of Closing and ending on the date that is twelve (12) months after the date of Closing.
(vii) the term “Lock-Up Shares” means any shares of common stock of the Company that are or will be issued or are or will be issuable to the Former USARE Stockholders in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement, excluding any (i) shares of common stock of the Company issuable upon conversion of any shares of the Company’s Preferred Stock and (ii) shares of common stock of the Company issuable upon exercise of any warrants that are or will be issued or are or will be issuable to the Former USARE Stockholders in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement; provided, however, (A) that after the expiration of six months following the date of Closing, fifty percent (50%) of the Lock-Up Shares of any Former USARE Stockholder that is subject to the Lock-Up shall cease to be Lock-Up Shares, and (B) that after the expiration of six months following the date of Closing, if at any time, the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the national securities exchange on which such securities are listed equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (subject to adjustment for any stock splits or stock dividends with respect to the Company’s common stock) for any 20 trading days within any 30 trading day period (such 30 trading day period to commence no earlier than the expiration of six months following the date of Closing), the remaining Lock-Up Shares shall cease to be Lock-Up Shares.
(viii) The term “Transfer” or “Transfers” means any action to (i) sell, offer to sell, contract or agree to sell, hypothecate, pledge, grant any option to purchase or otherwise dispose of or agree to dispose of, directly or indirectly, or establish or increase a put equivalent position or liquidate or decrease a call equivalent position within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission promulgated thereunder, any Lock-Up Shares, any Lock-Up Shares issuable upon the exercise of any options or warrants to purchase Lock-Up Shares, or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Lock-Up Shares, (ii) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of any of such Lock-up Shares or securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Lock-Up Shares, whether any such transaction is to be settled by delivery of such securities, in cash or otherwise or (iii) publicly announce any intention to effect any transaction specified in clause (i) or (ii).
GENERAL
38. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Company will end on December 31 of each calendar year or such other date as may be fixed from time to time by the Board.
39. Reliance upon Books, Reports and Records. Each director, each member of a committee designated by the Board, and each officer of the Company will, in the performance of his or her duties, be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the records of the Company and upon such information, opinions, reports, or statements presented to the Company by any of the Company’s officers or employees, or committees of the Board, or by any other person or entity as to matters the director, committee member, or officer believes are within such other person’s professional or expert competence and who has been selected with reasonable care by or on behalf of the Company.
40. Amendments. Notwithstanding any other provision of these Bylaws, any alteration, amendment or repeal of these Bylaws, or the adoption of new Bylaws, shall require the approval of the Board or the stockholders of the Corporation as provided by the Certificate of Incorporation (including any applicable Preferred Stock Designation) and applicable law.
41. Certain Defined Terms.
(a) Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined have the meanings given to them in the Certificate of Incorporation. The use of the term “days” within these Bylaws, other than when referred to as “business days”, shall mean calendar days. The use of “business days” shall mean days other than Saturday, Sunday, and any day designated as a federal holiday as observed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The use of “including” shall mean, including without limitation.
(b) “Business Combination Agreement” shall mean that certain Business Combination Agreement, dated as of August 21, 2024, by and among the Company, USA Rare Earth, LLC, and IPXX Merger Sub, LLC, as may be subsequently amended.
Exhibit C – Form of Certificate of Merger
CERTIFICATE OF MERGER
OF
IPXX MERGER SUB, LLC
WITH AND INTO
USA RARE EARTH, LLC
__________________, 2025
Pursuant to Title 6, Section 18-209 of the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act, as amended, the undersigned has executed the following Certificate of Merger:
| 1. | The name and jurisdiction of formation of the surviving limited liability company is USA Rare Earth, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Surviving LLC”). |
| 2. | The name and jurisdiction of formation of the limited liability company being merged into the Surviving LLC is IPXX Merger Sub, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Merging LLC”). |
| 3. | The name of the Surviving LLC shall remain as USA Rare Earth, LLC. |
| 4. | An agreement and plan of merger (the “Merger Agreement”) has been approved, adopted, certified, executed, and acknowledged by each of the Surviving LLC and the Merging LLC. |
| 5. | The Merger Agreement is on file at the principal place of business of the Surviving LLC: c/o USA Rare Earth, LLC, 100 W Airport Road, Stillwater, OK 74075. |
| 6. | A copy of the Merger Agreement will be furnished by the Surviving LLC, on request and without cost, to any member of the Surviving LLC or the Merging LLC. |
| 7. | This Certificate of Merger shall become effective as of 11:59 P.M. Eastern Time on _______________, 2025. |
[Signature Page Follows]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Surviving LLC has caused this Certificate of Merger to be duly executed as of the date first written above.
| SURVIVING LLC: |
| |
| USA Rare Earth, LLC, |
| a Delaware limited liability company |
| |
| By: | |
| Name: | David Kronenfeld |
| Title: | Chief Legal Officer |
[Signature page to USA Rare Earth, LLC - Certificate of Merger]
Exhibit D – Form of Series A Preferred Stock Certificate of Designation
USA RARE EARTH, INC.
CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION OF PREFERENCES,
RIGHTS AND LIMITATIONS
OF
12.0% SERIES A CUMULATIVE CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK
PURSUANT TO SECTION 151(g) OF THE
DELAWARE GENERAL CORPORATION LAW
The undersigned, [●], does hereby certify that:
1. He is the Chief Executive Officer of USA Rare Earth, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Corporation”).
2. The Corporation is authorized to issue 50,000,000 shares of preferred stock, none of which have been issued.
3. The following resolutions were duly adopted by the board of directors of the Corporation (the “Board of Directors”):
WHEREAS, the certificate of incorporation of the Corporation provides for a class of its authorized stock known as preferred stock, consisting of 50,000,000 shares, $0.0001 par value per share, issuable from time to time in one or more series;
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors is authorized to fix the dividend rights, dividend rate, voting rights, conversion rights, rights and terms of redemption and liquidation preferences of any wholly unissued series of preferred stock and the number of shares constituting any series and the designation thereof, of any of them; and
WHEREAS, it is the desire of the Board of Directors, pursuant to its authority as aforesaid, to fix the rights, preferences, restrictions and other matters relating to a series of the preferred stock, which shall consist of, except as otherwise set forth in the Purchase Agreement, up to 50,000,000 shares of the preferred stock which the Corporation has the authority to issue, as follows:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Directors does hereby provide for the issuance of a series of preferred stock for cash or exchange of other securities, rights or property and does hereby fix and determine the rights, preferences, restrictions and other matters relating to such series of preferred stock as follows:
TERMS OF 12.0% SERIES A CUMULATIVE CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK
Section 1. Definitions. For the purposes hereof, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
“Accrued Dividend” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(a).
“Accrued Value” means, as of any date, with respect to each share of Preferred Stock as of the determination date, the sum, subject to appropriate adjustment in the event of any stock dividend, stock split, combination or other similar recapitalization with respect to the Preferred Stock, of (i) the Stated Value per share of Preferred Stock, plus (ii) the aggregate amount of any accrued PIK Dividends on such share of Preferred Stock as of such date, plus (iii) on each Semi-Annual Dividend Date and on a cumulative basis, an additional amount equal to the dollar value of all Cash Dividends that have accrued on such share pursuant to Section 3(a), but only to the extent such Cash Dividends have not been paid, whether or not declared, but that have not, as of such date, been added to the Accrued Value.
“Affiliate” means any Person that, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls or is controlled by or is under common control with a Person, as such terms are used in and construed under Rule 405 of the Securities Act.
“Alternate Consideration” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(f).
“Annual Rate” means with respect to a PIK Dividend, 12.0% of the Accrued Value and with respect to a Cash Dividend, 10% of the Accrued Value.
“Applicable Price” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(b).
“Attribution Parties” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(e).
“Available Proceeds” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(c)(i).
“Beneficial Ownership Limitation” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(e).
“Business Combination” means the transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement.
“Business Combination Agreement” means that certain Business Combination Agreement, dated as of ______, by and among the Corporation (or its predecessor), IPXX Merger Sub, LLC and USA Rare Earth, LLC.
“Business Day” means any day other than Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in The City of New York are authorized or required by law to remain closed; provided, however, for clarification, commercial banks shall not be deemed to be authorized or required by law to remain closed due to “stay at home”, “shelter-in-place”, “non-essential employee” or any other similar orders or restrictions or the closure of any physical branch locations at the direction of any governmental authority so long as the electronic funds transfer systems (including for wire transfers) of commercial banks in The City of New York generally are open for use by customers on such day.
“Buy-In” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(c)(iv).
“Cash Dividend” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(a).
“Closing” means the closing of the purchase and sale of the Securities pursuant to Section 2.1 of the Purchase Agreement.
“Closing Date” means the Trading Day on which all of the Transaction Documents have been executed and delivered by the applicable parties thereto and all conditions precedent to (i) each Holder’s obligations to pay for the Securities and (ii) the Corporation’s obligations to deliver the Securities have been satisfied or waived.
“Commission” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Common Stock” means the common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Corporation and stock of any other class of securities into which such securities may hereafter be reclassified or changed.
“Common Stock Equivalents” means any securities of the Corporation that would entitle the holder thereof to acquire at any time Common Stock, including, without limitation, any debt, preferred stock, right, option, warrant or other instrument that is at any time convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for, or otherwise entitles the holder thereof to receive, Common Stock.
“Conversion Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(a).
“Conversion Price” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(b).
“Conversion Shares” means, collectively, the shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the shares of Preferred Stock in accordance with the terms hereof.
“Convertible Securities” means any stock or securities (other than Options) directly or indirectly convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for, or which otherwise entitles the holder thereof to acquire, any shares of Common Stock;
“Corporation Notice” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8(a).
“Deemed Liquidation Event” means: (i) a merger or consolidation in which (a) the Corporation is a constituent party or (b) a subsidiary of the Corporation is a constituent party and the Corporation issues shares of its capital stock pursuant to such merger or consolidation; provided, that, a Deemed Liquidation Event shall not include any such merger or consolidation involving the Corporation or a subsidiary in which the shares of capital stock of the Corporation outstanding immediately prior to such merger or consolidation continue to represent, or are converted into or exchanged for shares of capital stock that represent, immediately following such merger or consolidation, at least a majority, by voting power, of the capital stock of (1) the surviving or resulting corporation; or (2) if the surviving or resulting corporation is a wholly owned subsidiary of another corporation immediately following such merger or consolidation, the parent corporation of such surviving or resulting corporation; or (ii) (a) the sale, in a single transaction or series of related transactions, by the Corporation or any subsidiary of the Corporation of all or substantially all the assets of the Corporation and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, or (b) the sale or disposition (whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise, and whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions) of one (1) or more subsidiaries of the Corporation if substantially all of the assets of the Corporation and its subsidiaries taken as a whole are held by such subsidiary or subsidiaries, except where such sale is to a wholly owned subsidiary of the Corporation.
“Delaware Courts” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9(d).
“Dilutive Issuance” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(b).
“Distribution” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(e).
“Effective Date” means the date that the Registration Statement filed by the Corporation pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement is first declared effective by the Commission.
“Equity Conditions” means (i) the Common Stock is duly authorized, listed and eligible for trading without restriction on a Trading Market, (ii) a resale registration statement shall be declared effective covering all Common Stock issuable to the Holders (assuming for this purpose that conversion occurs at a Conversion Price equal to the Floor Price), (iii) the Corporation’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission are current, (iv) issuance of additional shares of Common Stock to the applicable Holder will not violate such Holder’s Beneficial Ownership Limitation and (v) the Corporation is in compliance with the Transaction Documents in all material respects.
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
“Excluded Shares” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8(b)(ii).
“Exempt Issuance” means the issuance of (a) any securities of the Corporation to employees, officers or directors, consultants, contractors, vendors or other agents of the Corporation pursuant to any stock or option plan duly adopted for such purpose, by a majority of the non-employee members of the Board of Directors or a majority of the members of a committee of non-employee directors established for such purpose for services rendered to the Corporation, (b) securities upon the exercise or exchange of or conversion of any Securities issued pursuant to the Purchase Agreements or the Business Combination Agreement and/or other securities exercisable or exchangeable for or convertible into shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding on the Subscription Date, provided that such securities have not been amended since the Subscription Dates to increase the number of such securities or to decrease the exercise price, exchange price or conversion price of such securities (other than in connection with stock splits or combinations) or to extend the term of such securities, (c) the Underlying Shares, (d) securities issued pursuant to any merger, acquisition or strategic transaction or partnership approved by a majority of the directors of the Corporation, provided that (i) such securities are issued as “restricted securities” (as defined in Rule 144) or are issued pursuant to an effective registration statement pursuant to the Securities Act and (ii) any such issuance shall only be to a Person (or to the equityholders of a Person) which is, itself or through its subsidiaries, an operating company or an owner of an asset in a business synergistic with the business of the Corporation and shall provide to the Corporation additional benefits in addition to the investment of funds, and (e) any securities issued by the Corporation pursuant to any legal settlement or similar arrangement agreed or entered into by the Corporation, provided that, in the aggregate, not more than [●] shares of Common Stock are issued or deemed issued or issuable upon conversion, settlement, exercise or exchange of any such securities that are Options or Convertible Securities, but any such Exempt Issuance shall not include a transaction in which the Corporation is issuing securities (i) primarily for the purpose of raising capital, including an at-the-market offering, and (ii) to an entity whose primary business is investing in securities.
“Floor Price” means the lesser of (i) $5.00 (as adjusted for any stock dividend, stock split, stock combination, reclassification or similar transaction occurring after the date of the Purchase Agreement) and (ii) the Conversion Price then in effect.
“Fundamental Transaction” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(f).
“Holder” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.
“Inflection Point Entities” means, collectively, Inflection Point Asset Management LLC, Kingstown Capital Management L.P., Newtyn Management, LLC, and their respective Affiliates (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the funds any of them manage).
“Junior Securities” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(a).
“New Issuance Price” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(b).
“Notice of Conversion” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(a).
“Options” means any rights, warrants or options to subscribe for or purchase shares of Common Stock or Convertible Securities.
“Option Value” means the value of an Option based on the Black and Scholes Option Pricing model obtained from the “OV” function on Bloomberg determined as of (A) the Trading Day prior to the public announcement of the issuance of the applicable Option, if the issuance of such Option is publicly announced or (B) the Trading Day immediately following the issuance of the applicable Option if the issuance of such Option is not publicly announced, for pricing purpose and reflecting (i) a risk-free interest rate corresponding to the U.S. Treasury rate for a period equal to the remaining term of the applicable Option as of the applicable date of determination, (ii) an expected volatility equal to the greater of 100% and the 100 day volatility obtained from the HVT function on Bloomberg as of (A) the Trading Day immediately following the public announcement of the applicable Option if the issuance of such Option is publicly announced or (B) the Trading Day immediately following the issuance of the applicable Option if the issuance of such Option is not publicly announced, (iii) the underlying price per share used in such calculation shall be the highest weighted average price of the Common Stock during the period beginning on the Trading Day prior to the execution of definitive documentation relating to the issuance of the applicable Option and ending on (A) the Trading Day immediately following the public announcement of such issuance, if the issuance of such Option is publicly announced or (B) the Trading Day immediately following the issuance of the applicable Option if the issuance of such Option is not publicly announced, (iv) a zero cost of borrow and (v) a 360 day annualization factor.
“Original Issue Date” means the date of the first issuance of any shares of the Preferred Stock regardless of the number of transfers of any particular shares of Preferred Stock and regardless of the number of certificates which may be issued to evidence such Preferred Stock.
“Person” means an individual or corporation, partnership, trust, incorporated or unincorporated association, joint venture, limited liability company, joint stock company, government (or an agency or subdivision thereof) or other entity of any kind.
“PIK Dividend” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(a).
“Preferred Stock” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.
“Preferred Stock Liquidation Amount” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(b).
“Preferred Stock Register” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.
“Purchase Agreements” means the several Securities Purchase Agreements, among the Corporation and the original Holders, as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time in accordance with its terms.
“Purchase Rights” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(d).
“Redemption Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8(b)(i).
“Redemption Notice” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8(b)(ii).
“Redemption Price” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8(b)(i).
“Redemption Request” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8(b)(i).
“Registration Rights Agreement” means the Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of the Closing Date, among the Corporation and the original Holders, in the form of Exhibit B attached to the Purchase Agreement.
“Registration Statement” means a registration statement meeting the requirements set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement and covering the resale of the Underlying Shares by each Holder as provided for in the Registration Rights Agreement, including the Initial Registration Statement (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) and any additional Registration Statements which may be required thereunder.
“Required Holders” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4(c).
“Rule 144” means Rule 144 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having substantially the same effect as such Rule.
“Rule 424” means Rule 424 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended or interpreted from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having substantially the same purpose and effect as such Rule.
“Securities” means the Preferred Stock, the Warrants and the Underlying Shares.
“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
“Semi-Annual Dividend Date” shall mean June 1 and December 1 of each year.
“Share Delivery Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(c).
“Standard Settlement Period” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(c)(i).
“Stated Value” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.
“Subscription Date” shall mean the date of the applicable Purchase Agreement.
“Subsidiary” means any subsidiary of the Corporation as of the Closing Date and shall, where applicable, also include any direct or indirect subsidiary of the Corporation formed or acquired after the earliest Subscription Date.
“Successor Entity” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(f).
“Trading Day” means a day on which the principal Trading Market is open for business.
“Trading Market” means any of the following markets or exchanges on which the Common Stock is listed or quoted for trading on the date in question: the NYSE American, the Nasdaq Capital Market, the Nasdaq Global Market, the Nasdaq Global Select Market, the New York Stock Exchange (or any successors to any of the foregoing).
“Transaction Documents” means this Certificate of Designation, the Purchase Agreement, the Warrants, the Registration Rights Agreement, all exhibits and schedules thereto and hereto and any other documents or agreements executed in connection with the transactions contemplated pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.
“Transfer Agent” means Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, the current transfer agent of the Corporation, and any successor transfer agent of the Corporation.
“Underlying Shares” means the Conversion Shares and the Warrant Shares.
“VWAP” means, for any date, the price determined by the first of the following clauses that applies: (a) if the Common Stock is then listed or quoted on a Trading Market, the daily volume weighted average price of the Common Stock for the 20 Trading Days preceding such date (or the nearest preceding date) on the Trading Market on which the Common Stock is then listed or quoted as reported by Bloomberg L.P. (based on a Trading Day from 9:30 a.m. (New York City time) to 4:02 p.m. (New York City time)), (b) if OTCQB or OTCQX is not a Trading Market, the volume weighted average price of the Common Stock for the 20 Trading Days preceding such date (or the nearest preceding date) on OTCQB or OTCQX as applicable, (c) if the Common Stock is not then listed or quoted for trading on OTCQB or OTCQX and if prices for the Common Stock are then reported in The Pink Open Market (or a similar organization or agency succeeding to its functions of reporting prices), the average of the highest closing bid price and the lowest closing ask price of the Common Stock for the 20 Trading Days preceding such date, or (d) in all other cases, the fair market value of a share of Common Stock as determined by an independent appraiser selected in good faith by the Holders of a majority in interest of the Preferred Stock then outstanding and reasonably acceptable to the Corporation, the fees and expenses of which shall be paid by the Corporation.
“Warrant Shares” means, collectively, the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants in accordance with the terms of the Warrants.
“Warrants” means, collectively, the warrants to purchase shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.
Section 2. Designation, Amount and Par Value.
(a) The series of preferred stock shall be designated as its “12.0% Series A Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock” and the number of shares so designated shall be up to 50,000,000 (which shall not be subject to increase without the written consent of the holders of 50% of the then outstanding Preferred Stock (each, a “Holder” and collectively, the “Holders”)). Each share of Preferred Stock shall have a par value of $0.0001 per share and a stated value equal to $12.00 (the “Stated Value”).
(b) The Corporation shall register, or cause its Transfer Agent to register, shares of the Preferred Stock upon records to be maintained by the Corporation or its Transfer Agent for that purpose (the “Preferred Stock Register”), in the name of the Holders thereof from time to time. The Corporation may deem and treat the registered Holder of shares of Preferred Stock as the absolute owner thereof for the purpose of any conversion thereof and for all other purposes. The Corporation shall register, or cause its Transfer Agent to register, the transfer of any shares of Preferred Stock in the Preferred Stock Register, upon surrender of the certificates evidencing such shares to be transferred, duly endorsed by the Holder thereof, to the Corporation at its address specified herein. Upon any such registration or transfer, a new certificate evidencing the shares of Preferred Stock so transferred shall be issued to the transferee and a new certificate evidencing the remaining portion of the shares not so transferred, if any, shall be issued to the transferring Holder, in each case, within three Business Days.
Section 3. Dividends.
(a) From and after the Closing, subject to the terms of this Section 3, cumulative dividends shall accrue on the Accrued Value of each share of Preferred Stock at the Annual Rate. Dividends on each share of Preferred Stock shall be cumulative and shall accrue daily from and after the Closing, but shall compound on a semi-annual basis on each Semi-Annual Dividend Date (each, an “Accrued Dividend”) whether or not earned or declared, and whether or not there are earnings or profits, surplus, or other funds or assets of the Corporation legally available for the payment of dividends. Each Accrued Dividend shall be paid, at the election of the Corporation, (i) in cash (a “Cash Dividend”), or (ii) in kind by increasing the Accrued Value of such share (a “PIK Dividend”).
(b) The Corporation shall not declare, pay or set aside any dividends on shares of any other class or series of capital stock of the Corporation ranking junior to the “12.0% Series A Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock (other than dividends on shares of Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock) unless (in addition to the obtaining of any consents required in this Certificate of Designation or the Corporation’s certificate of incorporation) the Holders of the Preferred Stock then outstanding shall first receive, or simultaneously receive, a dividend on each outstanding share of Preferred Stock in an amount at least equal to the sum of (i) the amount of the aggregate Accrued Dividends then accrued on such share of Preferred Stock and not previously paid and (ii) (A) in the case of a dividend on Common Stock or any class or series that is convertible into Common Stock, that dividend per share of Preferred Stock as would equal the product of (1) the dividend payable on each share of such class or series determined, if applicable, as if all shares of such class or series had been converted into Common Stock and (2) the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of a share of Series A Preferred Stock, in each case calculated on the record date for determination of holders entitled to receive such dividend or (B) in the case of a dividend on any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation ranking junior to the 12.0% Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock that is not convertible into Common Stock, at a rate per share of Preferred Stock determined by (1) dividing the amount of the dividend payable on each share of such class or series of capital stock by the original issuance price of such class or series of capital stock (subject to appropriate adjustment in the event of any stock dividend, stock split, combination or other similar recapitalization with respect to such class or series) and (2) multiplying such fraction by an amount equal to the Accrued Value; provided that if the Corporation declares, pays or sets aside, on the same date, a dividend on shares of more than one class or series of capital stock of the Corporation that is junior to the “12.0% Series A Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, the dividend payable to the Holders of Preferred Stock pursuant to this Section 3 shall be calculated based upon the dividend on the class or series of capital stock that would result in the highest Preferred Stock dividend.
(c) Subject to Section 5 and Section 7, the Holders shall be entitled to receive, and the Corporation shall pay, dividends on shares of Preferred Stock (other than Accrued Dividends), on an as-converted basis, equal to and in the same form as dividends actually paid on shares of the Common Stock when, as and if such dividends are paid on shares of the Common Stock.
Section 4. Voting Rights.
(a) The Holders shall be entitled to notice of any meeting of stockholders of the Corporation and, except as otherwise required by law, shall vote together with the holders of Common Stock as a single class upon any matter submitted to the stockholders for a vote.
(b) On any matter presented to the stockholders of the Corporation for their action or consideration at any meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation (or by written consent in lieu of a meeting), a Holder, together with its Attribution Parties, shall be entitled to the number of votes equal to the number of whole shares of Common Stock into which the shares of Preferred Stock held by such Holder, together with its Attribution Parties, as are convertible on the record date for determining stockholders entitled to vote on such matter (as adjusted from time to time pursuant to Section 6 hereof and subject to the Beneficial Ownership Limitation), but without regard as to whether sufficient shares of Common Stock are available out of the Corporation’s authorized by unissued stock, for the purpose of effecting the conversion of the Preferred Stock.
(c) As long as the Inflection Point Entities hold 20% or more of the shares of Preferred Stock issued as of the closing of the Business Combination, the Corporation shall not, without the affirmative vote or action by written consent of the Holders of 80% of the issued and outstanding shares of the Preferred Stock (the “Required Holders”):
(i) liquidate, dissolve or wind-up the affairs of the Corporation;
(ii) amend, alter or repeal the Corporation’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws, this Certificate of Designation or any similar document of the Corporation in a manner that materially and adversely affects the powers, preferences or rights given to the Preferred Stock;
(iii) create any equity security, authorize the creation of any equity security, classify any equity security, reclassify any equity security, or issue any other security convertible into or exercisable for any equity security, unless such security ranks junior to the Preferred Stock with respect to its rights, preferences and privileges or increase the number of authorized shares of Preferred Stock;
(iv) except as set forth in Section 3, purchase or redeem or pay any cash dividend on any capital stock of the Corporation ranking junior to the 12.0% Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock prior to payment of such cash dividend on the Preferred Stock or purchase or redeem and capital stock of the Corporation ranking junior to the 12.0% Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock, other than capital stock repurchased at cost from former employees and consultants in connection with the cessation of their service or pursuant to the terms of any equity incentive plan of the Corporation;
(v) enter into any transaction with an affiliate, other than the issuance of equity or awards to eligible participants under the Corporation’s incentive plan, equity plan or equity-based compensation plan, or with respect to employment, consulting or award agreements with respect to executive officers of the Corporation, in each case regardless of whether such person (or such person’s affiliates) would be considered an affiliate of the Corporation; or
(vi) incur or guarantee any indebtedness other than equipment leases or trade payables incurred in the ordinary course of business, if the aggregate indebtedness of the Corporation and its subsidiaries for borrowed money following such action would exceed $5,000,000; provided, however, that the Preferred Stock shall not be considered indebtedness for purposes of this calculation.
(d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, Section 6(d) may not be amended, modified or waived.
Section 5. Ranking; Liquidation.
(a) The Preferred Stock shall rank senior to all of the Common Stock and any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation currently existing, (collectively, “Junior Securities”), in each case, as to dividends or distributions of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, whether voluntarily or involuntarily.
(b) Preferential Payments to Holders of Preferred Stock; Distribution of Remaining Assets.
(i) In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, the Holders of shares of Preferred Stock then outstanding shall be entitled to be paid out of the assets of the Corporation available for distribution to its stockholders, and in the event of a Deemed Liquidation Event, the Holders of shares of Preferred Stock then outstanding shall be entitled to be paid out of the consideration payable to stockholders in such Deemed Liquidation Event or out of the Available Proceeds (as defined below), as applicable, before any payment shall be made to the holders of Common Stock or other Junior Securities by reason of their ownership thereof, an amount per share equal to the greater of (i) 100% of the Accrued Value or (ii) such amount per share as would have been payable had all shares of Preferred Stock been converted into Common Stock pursuant to Section 6 immediately prior to such liquidation, dissolution, winding up or Deemed Liquidation Event based on the then effective rate of conversion and without giving effect to the Beneficial Ownership Limitation or any other limitations on conversion set forth herein. If upon any such liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation or Deemed Liquidation Event, the assets of the Corporation available for distribution to its stockholders shall be insufficient to pay the Holders of shares of Preferred Stock the full amount to which they shall be entitled under this Section 5(b), the Holders of shares of Preferred Stock shall share ratably in any distribution of the assets available for distribution in proportion to the respective amounts that would otherwise be payable in respect of the shares held by them upon such distribution if all amounts payable on or with respect to such shares were paid in full.
(ii) In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, after the payment in full of all amounts required to be paid to the holders of shares of Preferred Stock pursuant to Section 5(b)(i), the remaining assets of the Corporation available for distribution to its stockholders or, in the case of a Deemed Liquidation Event, the consideration not payable to the holders of shares of Preferred Stock pursuant to Section 5(b)(i) or the remaining Available Proceeds, as the case may be, shall be distributed among the holders of the shares of Preferred Stock and Common Stock, pro rata based on the number of shares held by each such holder, treating for this purpose all such securities as if they had been converted to Common Stock pursuant to the terms of this Certificate of Designation immediately prior to such liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation. The aggregate amount which a holder of a share of Preferred Stock is entitled to receive under Sections 5(b)(i) and 5(b)(ii) is hereinafter referred to as the “Preferred Stock Liquidation Amount.”
(c) Deemed Liquidation Events.
(i) In the event of a Deemed Liquidation Event, if the Corporation does not effect a dissolution of the Corporation under the Delaware General Corporation Law within ninety (90) days after such Deemed Liquidation Event, then (i) the Corporation shall send a written notice to each Holder of Preferred Stock no later than the ninetieth (90th) day after the Deemed Liquidation Event advising such Holders of their right (and the requirements to be met to secure such right) pursuant to the terms of the following clause to require the redemption of such shares of Preferred Stock, and (ii) if the Required Holders so request in a written instrument delivered to the Corporation not later than one hundred twenty (120) days after such Deemed Liquidation Event, the Corporation shall use the consideration received by the Corporation for such Deemed Liquidation Event (net of any retained liabilities associated with the assets sold or technology licensed, or any other expenses associated with the Deemed Liquidation Event or the dissolution of the Corporation, in each case as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Corporation), together with any other assets of the Corporation available for distribution to its stockholders, all to the extent permitted by Delaware law governing distributions to stockholders (the “Available Proceeds”), on the one hundred fiftieth (150th) day after such Deemed Liquidation Event, to redeem all outstanding shares of Preferred Stock at a price per share equal to the Preferred Stock Liquidation Amount. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event of a redemption pursuant to the preceding sentence, if the Available Proceeds are not sufficient to redeem all outstanding shares of Preferred Stock, the Corporation shall redeem a pro rata portion of each Holder’s shares of Preferred Stock to the fullest extent of such Available Proceeds, based on the respective amounts that would otherwise be payable in respect of the shares to be redeemed if the Available Proceeds were sufficient to redeem all such shares, and shall redeem the remaining shares as soon as it may lawfully do so under Delaware law governing distributions to stockholders. The provisions of Section 8 shall apply, with such necessary changes in the details thereof as are necessitated by the context, to the redemption of the Preferred Stock pursuant to this Section 5(c)(i). Prior to the distribution or redemption provided for in this Section 5(c)(i), the Corporation shall not expend or dissipate the consideration received for such Deemed Liquidation Event, except to discharge expenses incurred in connection with such Deemed Liquidation Event.
(ii) In any Deemed Liquidation Event, if Available Proceeds are in a form of property other than in cash, the value of such distribution shall be deemed to be the fair market value of such property. The determination of fair market value of such property shall be made in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Corporation, provided that to the extent such property consists of securities, the fair market value of such securities shall be determined as follows:
For securities not subject to investment letters or other similar restrictions on free marketability covered by Section 5(c)(iii) below, the value shall be the VWAP of such securities.
(iii) The method of valuation of securities subject to investment letters or other similar restrictions on free marketability (other than restrictions arising solely by virtue of a stockholder’s status as an affiliate or former affiliate) shall take into account an appropriate discount (as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Corporation) from the market value as determined pursuant to Section 5(c)(ii) above so as to reflect the approximate fair market value thereof.
(iv) If any portion of the consideration payable to the stockholders of the Corporation is payable only upon satisfaction of contingencies (the “Additional Consideration”), (a) the portion of such consideration that is not Additional Consideration (such portion, the “Initial Consideration”) shall be allocated in accordance with the foregoing Sections 5(b) or 5(c) as if the Initial Consideration were the only consideration payable in connection with such Deemed Liquidation Event; and (b) any Additional Consideration which becomes payable to the stockholders of the Corporation upon satisfaction of such contingencies shall be allocated among the holders of capital stock of the Corporation in accordance with Sections 5(b) and 5(c) after taking into account the previous payment of the Initial Consideration as part of the same transaction. For the purposes of this Section 5(c)(iv), consideration placed into escrow or retained as a holdback to be available for satisfaction of indemnification or similar obligations in connection with such Deemed Liquidation Event shall be deemed to be Additional Consideration.
Section 6. Conversion.
(a) Conversions at Option of Holder. Each share of Preferred Stock shall be convertible, at any time and from time to time from and after the Original Issue Date at the option of the Holder thereof, into that number of whole shares of Common Stock (subject to the limitations set forth in Section 6(d)) determined by dividing the Accrued Value of such share of Preferred Stock by the Conversion Price. Holders shall effect conversions by providing the Corporation with the form of conversion notice attached hereto as Annex A (a “Notice of Conversion”), unless the Corporation does not serve as its transfer agent, in which event the Notice of Conversion shall be delivered to the Corporation’s transfer agent. Each Notice of Conversion shall specify the number of shares of Preferred Stock to be converted, the number of shares of Preferred Stock owned prior to the conversion at issue, the number of shares of Preferred Stock owned subsequent to the conversion at issue and the date on which such conversion is to be effected, which date may not be prior to the date the applicable Holder delivers by e-mail attachment or by a nationally recognized overnight courier service such Notice of Conversion to the Corporation (such date, the “Conversion Date”). If no Conversion Date is specified in a Notice of Conversion, the Conversion Date shall be the date that such Notice of Conversion to the Corporation is deemed delivered hereunder. No ink-original Notice of Conversion shall be required, nor shall any medallion guarantee (or other type of guarantee or notarization) of any Notice of Conversion form be required. The calculations and entries set forth in the Notice of Conversion shall control in the absence of manifest or mathematical error. To effect conversions of shares of Preferred Stock, a Holder shall not be required to surrender the certificate(s) representing the shares of Preferred Stock to the Corporation unless all of the shares of Preferred Stock represented thereby are so converted, in which case such Holder shall deliver the certificate representing such shares of Preferred Stock promptly following the Conversion Date at issue. Shares of Preferred Stock converted into Common Stock or redeemed in accordance with the terms hereof shall be canceled and shall not be reissued, and all rights (other than the right to receive the Conversion Shares) with respect to such shares will terminate. The Corporation’s stock ledger and transfer book shall serve as the exclusive record of outstanding shares of Preferred Stock.
(b) Conversion Price. The initial conversion price is $12.00, subject to adjustment herein (the “Conversion Price”).
(c) Mechanics of Conversion
(i) Delivery of Conversion Shares Upon Conversion. Not later than the number of Trading Days comprising the Standard Settlement Period (as defined below) after each Conversion Date (the “Share Delivery Date”), the Corporation shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the converting Holder (A) the number of Conversion Shares being acquired upon the conversion of the Preferred Stock, which on or after the earlier of (i) the one year anniversary of the Original Issue Date or (ii) the Effective Date, shall be free of restrictive legends and trading restrictions (other than those which may then be required by the Purchase Agreement or any other applicable lock-up agreement or similar agreement) and (B) cash in an amount equal to any accrued and unpaid dividends, if any. On or after the earlier of (i) the one year anniversary of the Original Issue Date or (ii) the Effective Date, the Corporation shall deliver the Conversion Shares required to be delivered by the Corporation under this Section 6 electronically through the Depository Trust Company or another established clearing corporation performing similar functions. As used herein, “Standard Settlement Period” means the standard settlement period, expressed in a number of Trading Days, on the Corporation’s primary Trading Market with respect to the Common Stock as in effect on the date of delivery of the Notice of Conversion. Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to any Notice(s) of Conversion delivered at or prior to 12:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the Original Issue Date, the Corporation agrees to deliver the Conversion Shares subject to such notice(s) by 4:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the Original Issue Date.
(ii) Failure to Deliver Conversion Shares. If, in the case of any Notice of Conversion, such Conversion Shares are not delivered to or as reasonably directed by the applicable Holder by the Share Delivery Date, the Holder shall be entitled to elect by written notice to the Corporation at any time on or before its receipt of such Conversion Shares, to rescind such conversion, in which event the Corporation shall promptly return to the Holder any original Preferred Stock certificate delivered to the Corporation and the Holder shall promptly return to the Corporation the Conversion Shares issued to such Holder pursuant to the rescinded Notice of Conversion.
(iii) Obligation Absolute; Partial Liquidated Damages. The Corporation’s obligation to issue and deliver the Conversion Shares upon conversion of Preferred Stock in accordance with the terms hereof are absolute and unconditional, irrespective of any action or inaction by a Holder to enforce the same, any waiver or consent with respect to any provision hereof, the recovery of any judgment against any Person or any action to enforce the same, or any setoff, counterclaim, recoupment, limitation or termination, or any breach or alleged breach by such Holder or any other Person of any obligation to the Corporation or any violation or alleged violation of law by such Holder or any other person, and irrespective of any other circumstance which might otherwise limit such obligation of the Corporation to such Holder in connection with the issuance of such Conversion Shares; provided, however, that such delivery shall not operate as a waiver by the Corporation of any such action that the Corporation may have against such Holder. In the event a Holder shall elect to convert any or all of the Accrued Value of its Preferred Stock, the Corporation may not refuse conversion based on any claim that such Holder or anyone associated or affiliated with such Holder has been engaged in any violation of law, agreement or for any other reason, unless an injunction from a court, on notice to Holder, restraining and/or enjoining conversion of all or part of the Preferred Stock of such Holder shall have been sought and obtained, and the Corporation posts a surety bond for the benefit of such Holder in the amount of 150% of the Accrued Value of Preferred Stock which is subject to the injunction, which bond shall remain in effect until the completion of arbitration/litigation of the underlying dispute and the proceeds of which shall be payable to such Holder to the extent it obtains judgment. In the absence of such injunction, the Corporation shall issue Conversion Shares and, if applicable, cash, upon a properly noticed conversion. If the Corporation fails to deliver to a Holder such Conversion Shares pursuant to Section 6(c)(i) by 10th Trading Day after the Share Delivery Date applicable to such conversion, the Corporation shall pay to such Holder, in cash, as liquidated damages and not as a penalty, for each $5,000 of Accrued Value of Preferred Stock being converted, $25 per Trading Day (increasing to $50 per Trading Day on the third Trading Day and increasing to $100 per Trading Day on the sixth Trading Day after such damages begin to accrue) for each Trading Day after the 10th Trading Day after the Share Delivery Date until such Conversion Shares are delivered or Holder rescinds such conversion. Nothing herein shall limit a Holder’s right to pursue actual damages for the Corporation’s failure to deliver Conversion Shares within the period specified herein and such Holder shall have the right to pursue all remedies available to it hereunder, at law or in equity, including, without limitation, a decree of specific performance and/or injunctive relief. The exercise of any such rights shall not prohibit a Holder from seeking to enforce damages pursuant to any other Section hereof or under applicable law.
(iv) Compensation for Buy-In on Failure to Timely Deliver Conversion Shares Upon Conversion. In addition to any other rights available to the Holder, if the Corporation fails for any reason unrelated to the actions of the Holder or its Affiliates to deliver to a Holder the applicable Conversion Shares by the Share Delivery Date pursuant to Section 6(c)(i), and if after such Share Delivery Date such Holder is required by its brokerage firm to purchase (in an open market transaction or otherwise), or the Holder’s brokerage firm otherwise purchases, shares of Common Stock to deliver in satisfaction of a sale by such Holder of the Conversion Shares which such Holder was entitled to receive upon the conversion relating to such Share Delivery Date (a “Buy-In”), then the Corporation shall (A) pay in cash to such Holder (in addition to any other remedies available to or elected by such Holder) the amount, if any, by which (x) such Holder’s total purchase price (including any brokerage commissions) for the Common Stock so purchased exceeds (y) the product of (1) the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock that such Holder was entitled to receive from the conversion at issue multiplied by (2) the actual sale price at which the sell order giving rise to such purchase obligation was executed (excluding any brokerage commissions) and (B) at the option of such Holder, either reissue (if surrendered) the shares of Preferred Stock equal to the number of shares of Preferred Stock submitted for conversion (in which case, such conversion shall be deemed rescinded) or deliver to such Holder the number of shares of Common Stock that would have been issued if the Corporation had timely complied with its delivery requirements under Section 6(c)(i). For example, if a Holder purchases shares of Common Stock having a total purchase price of $11,000 to cover a Buy-In with respect to an attempted conversion of shares of Preferred Stock with respect to which the actual sale price of the Conversion Shares (including any applicable brokerage commissions) giving rise to such purchase obligation was a total of $10,000, under clause (A) of the immediately preceding sentence, the Corporation shall be required to pay such Holder $1,000. The Holder shall provide the Corporation written notice indicating the amounts payable to such Holder in respect of the Buy-In and, upon the request of the Corporation, evidence of the amount of such loss. If a Holder purchases shares of Common Stock having a total purchase price of $9,000 to cover a Buy-In with respect to an attempted conversion of shares of Preferred Stock with respect to which the actual sale price of the Conversion Shares (including any applicable brokerage commissions) giving rise to such purchase obligation was a total of $10,000, under clause (A) of the preceding sentence, the Corporation shall not be required to pay Holder any amount. For the avoidance of doubt, in the event of a Buy-In, the Holder shall use commercially reasonable efforts to purchase shares at the lowest available price, paying the lowest reasonably available brokerage commission. The Holder shall provide the Corporation written notice indicating the amounts payable to such Holder in respect of the Buy-In and evidence of the amount of such loss. Nothing herein shall limit a Holder’s right to pursue any other remedies available to it hereunder, at law or in equity including, without limitation, a decree of specific performance and/or injunctive relief with respect to the Corporation’s failure to timely deliver Conversion Shares upon conversion of the shares of Preferred Stock as required pursuant to the terms hereof.
(v) Reservation of Shares Issuable Upon Conversion. The Corporation covenants that it will at all times reserve and keep available out of its authorized and unissued shares of Common Stock for the sole purpose of issuance upon conversion of the Preferred Stock as herein provided, free from preemptive rights or any other actual contingent purchase rights of Persons other than the Holder (and the other Holders of the Preferred Stock), not less than such aggregate number of shares of the Common Stock as shall (subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Purchase Agreement) be issuable (taking into account the adjustments and restrictions of Section 7) upon the conversion of the then outstanding shares of Preferred Stock (assuming for such purpose a Conversion Price equal to the Floor Price and any such conversions are made without regard to any limitations on conversion set forth herein). The Corporation covenants that all shares of Common Stock that shall be so issuable shall, upon issue, be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and, if a Registration Statement is then effective under the Securities Act, shall be registered for public resale in accordance with such Registration Statement (subject to such Holder’s compliance with its obligations under the Registration Rights Agreement).
(vi) Fractional Shares. No fractional shares or scrip representing fractional shares shall be issued upon the conversion of the Preferred Stock. As to any fraction of a share which the Holder would otherwise be entitled to purchase upon such conversion, the Corporation shall at its election, either pay a cash adjustment in respect of such final fraction in an amount equal to such fraction multiplied by the Conversion Price or round up to the next whole share. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, but consistent with the provisions of this subsection with respect to fractional Conversion Shares, nothing shall prevent any Holder from converting fractional shares of Preferred Stock.
(vii) Transfer Taxes and Expenses. The issuance of Conversion Shares on conversion of this Preferred Stock shall be made without charge to any Holder for any documentary stamp or similar taxes that may be payable in respect of the issue or delivery of such Conversion Shares, provided that the Corporation shall not be required to pay any tax that may be payable in respect of any transfer involved in the issuance and delivery of any such Conversion Shares upon conversion in a name other than that of the Holders of such shares of Preferred Stock and the Corporation shall not be required to issue or deliver such Conversion Shares unless or until the Person or Persons requesting the issuance thereof shall have paid to the Corporation the amount of such tax or shall have established to the satisfaction of the Corporation that such tax has been paid.
(d) Beneficial Ownership Limitation. A Holder may notify the Corporation in writing in the event it elects to be subject to the provisions contained in this Section 6(d); however, no Holder shall be subject to this Section 6(d) unless he, she or it makes such election. If the election is made, (i) the Corporation shall not effect any conversion of the Preferred Stock, and such Holder shall not have the right to convert all or any portion of the Preferred Stock, to the extent that, after giving effect to the conversion set forth on the applicable Notice of Conversion, such Holder (together with such Holder’s Affiliates, and any Persons acting as a group together with such Holder or any of such Holder’s Affiliates (such Persons, “Attribution Parties”)) would beneficially own in excess of 4.9%, 9.9%, 19.9% of the Corporation’s Common Stock (or such other amount as a Holder may specify) (the “Beneficial Ownership Limitation”) and (ii) the Corporation shall not permit the Holder to vote, and such Holder shall not have the right vote pursuant to Section 4(b) of this Certificate of Designation, all or any portion of the Preferred Stock that such Holder is not permitted to convert pursuant to the preceding clause (i) (provided, however, that such Holder shall retain the right to vote pursuant to Section 4(c) of this Certificate of Designation to the extent that retaining such right does not cause such Holder to be deemed to beneficially own Conversion Shares within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act. For purposes of the foregoing sentence, the number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by such Holder and its Affiliates and Attribution Parties shall include the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Preferred Stock with respect to which such determination is being made, but shall exclude the number of shares of Common Stock which are issuable upon (i) conversion of the remaining, unconverted Accrued Value of Preferred Stock beneficially owned by such Holder or any of its Affiliates or Attribution Parties and (ii) exercise or conversion of the unexercised or unconverted portion of any other securities of the Corporation subject to a limitation on conversion or exercise analogous to the limitation contained herein (including, without limitation, the Preferred Stock or the Warrants) beneficially owned by such Holder or any of its Affiliates or Attribution Parties. Except as set forth in the preceding sentence, for purposes of this Section 6(d), beneficial ownership shall be calculated in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. To the extent that the limitation contained in this Section 6(d) applies, the determination of whether the Preferred Stock is convertible (in relation to other securities owned by such Holder together with any Affiliates and Attribution Parties) and of how many shares of Preferred Stock are convertible shall be in the sole discretion of such Holder, and the submission of a Notice of Conversion shall be deemed to be such Holder’s determination of whether the shares of Preferred Stock may be converted (in relation to other securities owned by such Holder together with any Affiliates and Attribution Parties) and how many shares of the Preferred Stock are convertible, in each case subject to the Beneficial Ownership Limitation. To ensure compliance with this restriction, each Holder will be deemed to represent to the Corporation each time it delivers a Notice of Conversion that such Notice of Conversion has not violated the restrictions set forth in this paragraph and the Corporation shall have no obligation to verify or confirm the accuracy of such determination. In addition, a determination as to any group status as contemplated above shall be determined in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. The Holder shall provide the Corporation with any information reasonably requested by the Corporation in connection with this Beneficial Ownership Limitation and the provisions related thereto, in each case with respect to the Corporation's reporting obligations pursuant to the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, or other federal or state securities regulations. For purposes of this Section 6(d), in determining the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock, a Holder may rely on the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock as stated in the most recent of the following: (i) the Corporation’s most recent periodic or annual report filed with the Commission, as the case may be, (ii) a more recent public announcement by the Corporation or (iii) a more recent written notice by the Corporation or the Transfer Agent setting forth the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding. Upon the written or oral request (which may be via email) of a Holder, the Corporation shall within two Trading Days confirm orally and in writing to such Holder the number of shares of Common Stock then outstanding. In any case, the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock shall be determined after giving effect to the conversion or exercise of securities of the Corporation, including the Preferred Stock, by such Holder or its Affiliates or Attribution Parties since the date as of which such number of outstanding shares of Common Stock was reported. By written notice to the Corporation, a Holder may from time to time increase or decrease the Beneficial Ownership Limitation applicable to such Holder, provided, however, that any such increase in the Beneficial Ownership Limitation will not be effective until the sixty-first (61st) day after such notice is delivered to the Corporation. The provisions of this paragraph shall be construed and implemented in a manner otherwise than in strict conformity with the terms of this Section 6(d) to correct this paragraph (or any portion hereof) which may be defective or inconsistent with the intended Beneficial Ownership Limitation contained herein or to make changes or supplements necessary or desirable to properly give effect to such limitation. The limitations contained in this paragraph shall apply to a successor Holder of Preferred Stock.
Section 7. Certain Adjustments.
(a) Stock Dividends and Stock Splits. If the Corporation, at any time while this Preferred Stock is outstanding: (i) pays a stock dividend or otherwise makes a distribution or distributions payable in shares of Common Stock on shares of Common Stock or any other Common Stock Equivalents (which, for avoidance of doubt, shall not include any shares of Common Stock issued by the Corporation upon conversion of, or payment of a dividend on, this Preferred Stock or any cash distributions), (ii) subdivides outstanding shares of Common Stock into a larger number of shares, (iii) combines (including by way of a reverse stock split) outstanding shares of Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, or (iv) issues, in the event of a reclassification of shares of the Common Stock, any shares of capital stock of the Corporation, then each of the Conversion Price and the Floor Price shall be multiplied by a fraction of which the numerator shall be the number of shares of Common Stock (excluding any treasury shares of the Corporation) outstanding immediately before such event, and of which the denominator shall be the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event. Any adjustment made pursuant to this Section 7(a) shall become effective immediately after the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to receive such dividend or distribution and shall become effective immediately after the effective date in the case of a subdivision, combination or re-classification.
(b) VWAP Reset. If on the twenty-first trading day following the date that is six months after the Closing Date, the VWAP (the “Measurement Price”) is less than the Conversion Price then in effect, then the Conversion Price then in effect shall be reduced to an amount equal to the greater of (i) the Measurement Price and (ii) $7.50.
(c) Adjustment of Conversion Price upon Issuance of Common Stock. If and whenever on or after the Closing Date until the first date on which no shares of Preferred Stock are outstanding the Corporation issues or sells, or in accordance with this Section 7(c) is deemed to have issued or sold, any shares of Common Stock (including the issuance or sale of shares of Common Stock owned or held by or for the account of the Corporation, but excluding shares of Common Stock deemed to have been issued or sold by the Corporation in connection with any Exempt Issuance) for a consideration per share (the “New Issuance Price”) less than the lesser of (i) $10.00 and (ii) the Conversion Price then in effect (such price thresholds described in clauses (i) and (ii), collectively, the “Applicable Price”, and each such issue, sale or deemed issuance or sale, a “Dilutive Issuance”), in issuances and sales conducted for the purpose of raising capital by the Corporation where the aggregate amount of consideration received by the Corporation, together with all prior issuances and sales conducted for the purpose of raising capital by the Corporation on or after the Closing Date that were excluded from this Section 7(c) by this clause, exceeds $500,000, then, immediately after such Dilutive Issuance, the Conversion Price then in effect shall be reduced to an amount equal to the New Issuance Price. For all purposes of the foregoing (including, without limitation, determining the adjusted Conversion Price and the New Issuance Price under this Section 7(c)), the following shall be applicable:
(i) Options and Convertible Securities. The consideration per share received by the Corporation for Common Stock deemed to have been issued pursuant to Section 7(d)(ii), relating to Options and Convertible Securities, shall be determined by dividing:
| a. | the total amount, if any, received or receivable by the Corporation as consideration for the issue of such Options or Convertible Securities, plus the minimum aggregate amount of additional consideration (as set forth in the instruments relating thereto, without regard to any provision contained therein for a subsequent adjustment of such consideration) payable to the Corporation upon the exercise of such Options or the conversion or exchange of such Convertible Securities, or in the case of Options for Convertible Securities, the exercise of such Options for Convertible Securities and the conversion or exchange of such Convertible Securities, by |
| b. | the maximum number of shares of Common Stock (as set forth in the instruments relating thereto, without regard to any provision contained therein for a subsequent adjustment of such number) deemed to be issued pursuant to Section 7(c)(ii) upon the issuance of such Options or Convertible Securities. |
(ii) Deemed Issuance of Options and Convertible Securities.
| a. | If the Corporation at any time or from time to time shall issue any Options or Convertible Securities or shall fix a record date for the determination of holders of any class of securities entitled to receive any such Options or Convertible Securities, then the maximum number of shares of Common Stock (as set forth in the instrument relating thereto, assuming the satisfaction of any conditions to exercisability, convertibility or exchangeability but without regard to any provision contained therein for a subsequent adjustment of such number) issuable upon the exercise of such Options or, in the case of Convertible Securities and Options therefor, the conversion or exchange of such Convertible Securities, shall be deemed to be outstanding and to have been issued as of the time of such issue or, in case such a record date shall have been fixed, as of the close of business on such record date. |
| b. | If the purchase or exercise price provided for in any Options, the additional consideration, if any, payable upon the issue, conversion, exercise or exchange of any Convertible Securities, or the rate at which any Convertible Securities are convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock increases or decreases at any time (other than (i) proportional changes in conversion or exercise prices, as applicable, in connection with an event referred to in Section 7(a) above and (ii) automatic adjustments to such terms pursuant to anti-dilution or similar provisions of such Option or Convertible Security which are not more favorable to the holder thereof than the anti-dilution and similar provisions set forth herein), the Conversion Price in effect at the time of such increase or decrease shall be adjusted to the Conversion Price which would have been in effect at such time had such Options or Convertible Securities provided for such increased or decreased purchase price, additional consideration or increased or decreased conversion rate (as the case may be) at the time initially granted, issued or sold. For purposes of this Section 7(c), if the terms of any Option or Convertible Security that was outstanding as of the date of first issuance of a share of Preferred Stock are increased or decreased in the manner described in the immediately preceding sentence, then such Option or Convertible Security and the shares of Common Stock deemed issuable upon exercise, conversion or exchange thereof shall be deemed to have been issued as of the date of such increase or decrease. No adjustment pursuant to this Section 7(c)(ii) shall be made if such adjustment would result in an increase of the Conversion Price then in effect. |
(iii) Calculation of Consideration Received. In case any Option is issued in connection with the issue or sale of other securities of the Corporation, together comprising one integrated transaction, (x) the Options will be deemed to have been issued for the Option Value of such Options and (y) the other securities issued or sold in such integrated transaction shall be deemed to have been issued or sold for the difference of (I) the aggregate consideration received by the Corporation less any consideration paid or payable by the Corporation pursuant to the terms of such other securities of the Corporation, less (II) the Option Value. If any shares of Common Stock, Options or Convertible Securities are issued or sold or deemed to have been issued or sold for cash, the consideration other than cash received therefor will be deemed to be the net amount received by the Corporation therefor. If any shares of Common Stock, Options or Convertible Securities are issued or sold for a consideration other than cash, the amount of such consideration received by the Corporation will be the fair value of such consideration, except where such consideration consists of publicly traded securities, in which case the amount of consideration received by the Corporation will be the VWAP of such publicly traded securities on the date of receipt. If any shares of Common Stock, Options or Convertible Securities are issued to the owners of the non-surviving entity in connection with any merger in which the Corporation is the surviving entity, the amount of consideration therefor will be deemed to be the fair value of such portion of the net assets and business of the non-surviving entity as is attributable to such shares of Common Stock, Options or Convertible Securities, as the case may be. The fair value of any consideration other than cash or publicly traded securities will be determined jointly by the Corporation and the Required Holders. If such parties are unable to reach agreement within ten (10) days after the occurrence of an event requiring valuation (the “Valuation Event”), the fair value of such consideration will be determined within five (5) Business Days after the tenth (10th) day following the Valuation Event by an independent, reputable appraiser jointly selected by the Corporation and the Required Holders. The determination of such appraiser shall be final and binding upon all parties absent manifest error and the fees and expenses of such appraiser shall be borne by the Corporation.
(iv) Record Date. If the Corporation takes a record of the holders of shares of Common Stock for the purpose of entitling them (A) to receive a dividend or other distribution payable in shares of Common Stock, Options or in Convertible Securities or (B) to subscribe for or purchase shares of Common Stock, Options or Convertible Securities, then such record date will be deemed to be the date of the issuance or sale of the shares of Common Stock deemed to have been issued or sold upon the declaration of such dividend or the making of such other distribution or the date of the granting of such right of subscription or purchase (as the case may be).
(v) Expiration or Termination of Options or Convertible Securities. Upon the expiration or termination of any unexercised Option or unconverted or unexchanged Convertible Securities (or portion thereof) which resulted (either upon its original issuance or upon a revision of its terms) in an adjustment to the Conversion Price pursuant to the terms of Section 7(c), the Conversion Price shall be readjusted to such Conversion Price as would have obtained had such Option or Convertible Securities (or portion thereof) never been issued.
(d) Subsequent Rights Offerings. In addition to any adjustments pursuant to Section 7(a) or Section 7(b) above, if at any time the Corporation grants, issues or sells any Common Stock Equivalents or rights to purchase stock, warrants, securities or other property pro rata to the record holders of any class of shares of Common Stock (the “Purchase Rights”), then the Holders will be entitled to acquire, upon the terms applicable to such Purchase Rights, the aggregate Purchase Rights which the Holder could have acquired if the Holder had held the number of shares of Common Stock acquirable upon complete conversion of such Holder’s Preferred Stock (without regard to any limitations on conversion hereof, including without limitation, the Beneficial Ownership Limitation) immediately before the date on which a record is taken for the grant, issuance or sale of such Purchase Rights, or, if no such record is taken, the date as of which the record holders of shares of Common Stock are to be determined for the grant, issue or sale of such Purchase Rights (provided, however, that, to the extent that the Holder’s right to participate in any such Purchase Right would result in the Holder exceeding the Beneficial Ownership Limitation, then the Holder shall not be entitled to participate in such Purchase Right to such extent (or beneficial ownership of such shares of Common Stock as a result of such Purchase Right to such extent) and such Purchase Right to such extent shall be held in abeyance for the Holder until such time, if ever, as its right thereto would not result in the Holder exceeding the Beneficial Ownership Limitation). To the extent that the issue price of such Purchase Rights would result in an adjustment of the Conversion Price pursuant to Section 7(c), such adjustment shall not occur to the extent the Holders were granted the right to acquire such Purchase Rights on the applicable terms.
(e) Pro Rata Distributions. During such time as this Preferred Stock is outstanding, if the Corporation declares or makes any dividend or other distribution of its assets (or rights to acquire its assets) to holders of shares of Common Stock, by way of return of capital or otherwise (including, without limitation, any distribution of cash, stock or other securities, property or options by way of a dividend, spin off, reclassification, corporate rearrangement, scheme of arrangement or other similar transaction) (a “Distribution”), in each such case, the Holders shall be entitled to participate in such Distribution to the same extent that the Holders would have participated therein if the Holder had held the number of shares of Common Stock acquirable upon complete conversion of this Preferred Stock (without regard to any limitations on conversion hereof, including without limitation, the Beneficial Ownership Limitation) immediately before the date of which a record is taken for such Distribution, or, if no such record is taken, the date as of which the record holders of shares of Common Stock are to be determined for the participation in such Distribution (provided, however, to the extent that the Holder’s right to participate in any such Distribution would result in the Holder exceeding the Beneficial Ownership Limitation, then the Holder shall not be entitled to participate in such Distribution to such extent (or in the beneficial ownership of any shares of Common Stock as a result of such Distribution to such extent) and the portion of such Distribution shall be held in abeyance for the benefit of the Holder until such time, if ever such grant, issuance or sale, as its right thereto would not result in the Holder exceeding the Beneficial Ownership Limitation).
(f) Fundamental Transaction. If, at any time while this Preferred Stock is outstanding, (i) the Corporation, directly or indirectly, in one or more related transactions effects any merger or consolidation of the Corporation with or into another Person, (ii) the Corporation (and all of its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole), directly or indirectly, effects any sale, lease, license, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of its assets in one or a series of related transactions, (iii) any, direct or indirect, purchase offer, tender offer or exchange offer (whether by the Corporation or another Person) is completed pursuant to which holders of Common Stock are permitted to sell, tender or exchange their shares for other securities, cash or property and has been accepted by the holders of 50% or more of the outstanding Common Stock or 50% or more of the voting power of the common equity of the Corporation, (iv) the Corporation, directly or indirectly, in one or more related transactions effects any reclassification, reorganization or recapitalization of the Common Stock or any compulsory share exchange pursuant to which the Common Stock is effectively converted into or exchanged for other securities, cash or property (other than as a result of a stock split, combination or reclassification of shares of Common Stock covered by Section 7(a)), or (v) the Corporation, directly or indirectly, in one or more related transactions consummates a stock or share purchase agreement or other business combination (including, without limitation, a reorganization, recapitalization, spin-off or scheme of arrangement) with another Person whereby such other Person acquires 50% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock or 50% or more of the voting power of the common equity of the Corporation (each a “Fundamental Transaction”), then, upon any subsequent conversion of this Preferred Stock, the Holder shall have the right to receive, for each Conversion Share that would have been issuable upon such conversion immediately prior to the occurrence of such Fundamental Transaction (without regard to any limitation in Section 6(d) on the conversion of this Preferred Stock), the number of shares of capital stock of the successor or acquiring corporation or of the Corporation, if it is the surviving corporation, and any additional consideration (the “Alternate Consideration”) receivable as a result of such Fundamental Transaction by a holder of the number of shares of Common Stock for which this Preferred Stock is convertible immediately prior to such Fundamental Transaction (without regard to any limitation in Section 6(d) on the conversion of this Preferred Stock). For purposes of any such conversion, the determination of the Conversion Price shall be appropriately adjusted to apply to such Alternate Consideration based on the amount of Alternate Consideration issuable in respect of one share of Common Stock in such Fundamental Transaction, and the Corporation shall apportion the Conversion Price among the Alternate Consideration in a reasonable manner reflecting the relative value of any different components of the Alternate Consideration. If holders of Common Stock are given any choice as to the securities, cash or property to be received in a Fundamental Transaction, then the Holder shall be given the same choice as to the Alternate Consideration it receives upon any conversion of this Preferred Stock following such Fundamental Transaction. To the extent necessary to effectuate the foregoing provisions, any successor to the Corporation or surviving entity in such Fundamental Transaction shall file a new Certificate of Designation with the same terms and conditions and issue to the Holders new preferred stock consistent with the foregoing provisions and evidencing the Holders’ right to convert such preferred stock into Alternate Consideration. The Corporation shall cause any successor entity in a Fundamental Transaction in which the Corporation is not the survivor (the “Successor Entity”) to assume in writing all of the obligations of the Corporation under this Certificate of Designation and the other Transaction Documents (as defined in the Purchase Agreement) in accordance with the provisions of this Section 7(e) pursuant to written agreements in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Required Holders and approved by the Required Holders (without unreasonable delay) prior to such Fundamental Transaction and shall, at the option of the Holder of this Preferred Stock, deliver to the Holder in exchange for this Preferred Stock a security of the Successor Entity evidenced by a written instrument substantially similar in form and substance to this Preferred Stock which is convertible for a corresponding number of shares of capital stock of such Successor Entity (or its parent entity) equivalent to the shares of Common Stock acquirable and receivable upon conversion of this Preferred Stock (without regard to any limitations on the conversion of this Preferred Stock) prior to such Fundamental Transaction, and with a conversion price which applies the Conversion Price hereunder to such shares of capital stock (but taking into account the relative value of the shares of Common Stock pursuant to such Fundamental Transaction and the value of such shares of capital stock, such number of shares of capital stock and such conversion price being for the purpose of protecting the economic value of this Preferred Stock immediately prior to the consummation of such Fundamental Transaction), and which is reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Required Holders. Upon the occurrence of any such Fundamental Transaction, the Successor Entity shall succeed to, and be substituted for (so that from and after the date of such Fundamental Transaction, the provisions of this Certificate of Designation and the other Transaction Documents referring to the “Corporation” shall refer instead to the Successor Entity), and may exercise every right and power of the Corporation and shall assume all of the obligations of the Corporation under this Certificate of Designation and the other Transaction Documents with the same effect as if such Successor Entity had been named as the Corporation herein.
(g) Calculations. All calculations under this Section 7 shall be made to the nearest cent or the nearest 1/100th of a share, as the case may be. For purposes of this Section 7, the number of shares of Common Stock deemed to be issued and outstanding as of a given date shall be the sum of the number of shares of Common Stock (excluding any treasury shares of the Corporation) issued and outstanding.
(h) Notice to the Holders.
(i) Adjustment to Conversion Price. Whenever the Conversion Price is adjusted pursuant to any provision of this Section 7, the Corporation shall promptly deliver to each Holder by facsimile or email a notice setting forth the Conversion Price after such adjustment and setting forth a brief statement of the facts requiring such adjustment.
(ii) Notice to Allow Conversion by Holder. If (A) the Corporation shall declare a dividend (or any other distribution in whatever form) on the Common Stock, (B) the Corporation shall declare a special nonrecurring cash dividend on or a redemption of the Common Stock, (C) the Corporation shall authorize the granting to all holders of the Common Stock of rights or warrants to subscribe for or purchase any shares of capital stock of any class or of any rights, (D) the approval of any stockholders of the Corporation shall be required in connection with any reclassification of the Common Stock, any consolidation or merger to which the Corporation is a party, any sale or transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Corporation (and all of its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole), or any compulsory share exchange whereby the Common Stock is converted into other securities, cash or property or (E) the Corporation shall authorize the voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation, then, in each case, the Corporation shall cause to be filed at each office or agency maintained for the purpose of conversion of this Preferred Stock, and shall cause to be delivered by email to each Holder at its email address as it shall appear upon the stock books of the Corporation, at least twenty (20) calendar days prior to the applicable record or effective date hereinafter specified, a notice stating (x) the date on which a record is to be taken for the purpose of such dividend, distribution, redemption, rights or warrants, or if a record is not to be taken, the date as of which the holders of the Common Stock of record to be entitled to such dividend, distributions, redemption, rights or warrants are to be determined or (y) the date on which such reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, transfer or share exchange is expected to become effective or close, and the date as of which it is expected that holders of the Common Stock of record shall be entitled to exchange their shares of the Common Stock for securities, cash or other property deliverable upon such reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, transfer or share exchange, provided that the failure to deliver such notice or any defect therein or in the delivery thereof shall not affect the validity of the corporate action required to be specified in such notice. To the extent that any notice provided hereunder constitutes, or contains, material, non-public information regarding the Corporation or any of the Subsidiaries, the Corporation shall simultaneously file such notice with the Commission pursuant to a Current Report on Form 8-K, unless determined by the Company that such filing would be harmful to the Company at such time, in which case the Company shall file such 8-K as soon as is reasonably practicable in its discretion. For the avoidance of doubt, and without limiting the conversion rights of any Holder, each Holder shall remain entitled to convert the Accrued Value of this Preferred Stock (or any part hereof) during the twenty (20)-day period commencing on the date of such notice through the effective date of the event triggering such notice except as may otherwise be expressly set forth herein.
Section 8. Redemption.
(a) Redemption by the Corporation. Subject to the provisions of this Section 8 and unless prohibited by applicable law governing distributions to stockholders, the Corporation may, in its sole discretion, redeem all or a portion of the outstanding shares of Preferred Stock:
(i) on or after the Closing but prior to the first anniversary of the Closing, at a redemption price per share equal to 150% of the Accrued Value;
(ii) on or after the first anniversary of the Closing but prior to the second anniversary of the Closing, at a redemption price per share equal to 140% of the Accrued Value;
(iii) on or after the second anniversary of the Closing but prior to the third anniversary of the Closing, at a redemption price per share equal to 130% of the Accrued Value;
(iv) on or after the third anniversary of the Closing but prior to the fourth anniversary of the Closing, at a redemption price per share equal to 120% of the Accrued Value;
(v) on or after the fourth anniversary of the Closing but prior to the fifth anniversary of the Closing, at a redemption price per share equal to 110% of the Accrued Value; and
(vi) on or after the fifth anniversary of the Closing, at a redemption price per share equal to 100% of the Accrued Value.
If, on the date of such redemption, applicable law governing distributions to stockholders prevents the Corporation from redeeming all shares of Preferred Stock scheduled to be redeemed, the Corporation shall be entitled to ratably redeem the maximum number of shares that it may redeem consistent with such law and any Preferred Stock not so redeemed shall remain outstanding. The Corporation shall provide written notice (the “Corporation Notice”) by e-mail and first class mail postage prepaid, to each Holder of record (determined at the close of business on the Business Day next preceding the day on which the Corporation Notice is given) of the Preferred Stock to be redeemed, at the address last shown on the records of the Corporation for such Holder, notifying such Holder of the redemption to be effected, specifying the number of shares to be redeemed from such Holder, specifying the date of such redemption, the redemption price, the place at which payment may be obtained and calling upon such Holder to surrender to the Corporation, in the manner and at the place designated, his, her or its certificate or certificates representing the shares to be redeemed; provided that the date of redemption shall be not less than 15 days from the date of the Corporation Notice. Except as otherwise provided herein, on or after the applicable date of redemption, each Holder to be redeemed shall surrender to the Corporation the certificate or certificates representing such shares, in the manner and at the place designated in the Corporation Notice, and thereupon the price of redemption of such shares shall be payable to the order of the person whose name appears on such certificate or certificates as the owner thereof and each surrendered certificate shall be cancelled. In the event less than all the shares represented by any such certificate are redeemed, a new certificate shall be issued representing the unredeemed shares. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, each Holder shall remain entitled to convert the Accrued Value of its Preferred Stock (or any part thereof) during the 15-day period commencing on the date of the Corporation Notice through the applicable date of redemption.
(b) Redemption by the Holders.
(i) Unless prohibited by applicable law governing distribution to stockholders, shares of Preferred Stock shall be redeemed by the Corporation at a purchase price equal to the Accrued Value (the “Redemption Price”), if at any time and from time to time after the fifth (5th) anniversary of the Closing, the Required Holders deliver to the Corporation a written notice demanding redemption of all shares of Preferred Stock (the “Redemption Request”). The 20th day after the date of the Corporation Notice shall be referred to as the “Redemption Date.” Upon receipt of a Redemption Request, the Corporation shall apply all of its assets to any such redemption, and to no other corporate purpose, until the Redemption Price has been paid in full, except to the extent prohibited by Delaware law governing distributions to stockholders.
(ii) Following receipt of a Redemption Request, the Corporation shall send written notice of the mandatory redemption (the “Redemption Notice”) to each Holder of record of Preferred Stock not less than 15 days prior to the Redemption Date. The Redemption Notice shall state:
| a. | the number of shares of Preferred Stock held by the Holder that the Corporation shall redeem on the Redemption Date; |
| b. | the Redemption Date and the Redemption Price; |
| c. | the date upon which the Holder’s right to convert such shares terminates; and |
| d. | for Holders of shares in certificated form, that the Holder is to surrender to the Corporation, in the manner and at the place designated, his, her or its certificate or certificates representing the shares of Preferred Stock to be redeemed. |
If the Corporation receives, on or prior to the 10th day after the date of delivery of the Redemption Notice to a Holder of Preferred Stock, written notice from a Holder of greater than 10% of the outstanding shares of Preferred Stock that such Holder elects to be excluded from the redemption provided in this Section 8(b), then the shares of Preferred Stock registered on the books of the Corporation in the name of such Holder at the time of the Corporation’s receipt of such notice shall thereafter be “Excluded Shares.” Excluded Shares shall not be redeemed or redeemable pursuant to this Section 8(b), whether on such Redemption Date or thereafter.
(iii) On the Redemption Date, the Corporation shall redeem the Preferred Stock owned by each Holder; provided, however, that Excluded Shares shall not be redeemed. If on the Redemption Date Delaware law governing distributions to stockholders prevents the Corporation from redeeming all shares of Preferred Stock to be redeemed, the Corporation shall ratably redeem the maximum number of shares that it may redeem consistent with such law, and shall redeem the remaining shares as soon as it may lawfully do so under such law. In the event that any portion of the Redemption Price has not been paid within five (5) Business Days following the Redemption Date, interest on such unpaid portion of the Redemption Price shall accrue thereon until such amount is paid in full at a rate equal to the lesser of (i) 24.0% per annum and (ii) the maximum rate permitted under applicable law. Such interest shall be paid by the Corporation, in its sole discretion, (i) in cash or (ii) subject to the satisfaction of the Equity Conditions at the time of payment, shares of Common Stock.
(c) Rights Subsequent to Redemption. Upon the redemption of shares of Preferred Stock pursuant to Section 8(a) or Section 8(b), all rights with respect to such shares of Preferred Stock shall immediately terminate, except with respect to the right of the Holders to receive the applicable redemption price with respect to such shares of Preferred Stock in accordance with Section 8(a) or Section 8(b), as applicable.
Section 9. Miscellaneous.
(a) Notices. Any and all notices or other communications or deliveries to be provided by the Holders hereunder including, without limitation, any Notice of Conversion, shall be in writing and delivered personally, by e-mail, or sent by nationally recognized overnight courier service, addressed to the Corporation, at the address set forth above the address or email address most recently provided to Holders by the Corporation for purposes of notice hereunder Attention: General Counsel, 100, W. Airport Road, Stillwater, OK 74075, e-mail address legal@usare.com, or such other e-mail address or address as the Corporation may specify for such purposes by notice to the Holders delivered in accordance with this Section 9. Any and all notices or other communications or deliveries to be provided by the Corporation hereunder shall be in writing and delivered personally, by e-mail, or sent by a nationally recognized overnight courier service addressed to each Holder at the e-mail address or address of such Holder appearing on the books of the Corporation, or if no such facsimile number, e-mail address or address appears on the books of the Corporation, at the principal place of business of such Holder, as set forth in the Purchase Agreement. Any notice or other communication or deliveries hereunder shall be deemed given and effective on the earliest of (i) the time of transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via facsimile at the facsimile number or e-mail at the e-mail address set forth in this Section prior to 5:30 p.m. (New York City time) on any date, (ii) the next Trading Day after the time of transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via e-mail at the e-mail address set forth in this Section on a day that is not a Trading Day or later than 5:30 p.m. (New York City time) on any Trading Day, (iii) the second Trading Day following the date of mailing, if sent by U.S. nationally recognized overnight courier service, or (iv) upon actual receipt by the party to whom such notice is required to be given.
(b) Absolute Obligation. Except as expressly provided herein, no provision of this Certificate of Designation shall alter or impair the obligation of the Corporation, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay liquidated damages and accrued dividends, as applicable, on the shares of Preferred Stock at the time, place, and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed.
(c) Lost or Mutilated Preferred Stock Certificate. If a Holder’s Preferred Stock certificate shall be mutilated, lost, stolen or destroyed, the Corporation shall issue or cause to be issued, in exchange and substitution for and upon cancellation of a mutilated certificate, or in lieu of or in substitution for a lost, stolen or destroyed certificate, a new certificate for the shares of Preferred Stock so mutilated, lost, stolen or destroyed, but only upon receipt of evidence of such loss, theft or destruction of such certificate, and of the ownership hereof reasonably satisfactory to the Corporation (which shall not include the posting of any bond). The applicant for a new certificate under such circumstances shall also pay any reasonable third-party costs (including customary indemnity) associated with the issuance of such replacement certificate.
(d) Governing Law. All questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation of this Certificate of Designation shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to the principles of conflict of laws thereof. All legal proceedings concerning the interpretation, enforcement and defense of the transactions contemplated by this Certificate of Designation (whether brought against a party hereto or its respective Affiliates, directors, officers, shareholders, employees or agents) shall be commenced in the state and federal courts sitting in the City of Wilmington, Delaware, County of New Castle (the “Delaware Courts”). The Corporation and each Holder hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Delaware Courts for the adjudication of any dispute hereunder or in connection herewith or with any transaction contemplated hereby or discussed herein (including with respect to the enforcement of any of the Transaction Documents), and hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert in any suit, action or proceeding, any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of such Delaware Courts, or such Delaware Courts are improper or inconvenient venue for such proceeding. The Corporation and each Holder hereby irrevocably waives personal service of process and consents to process being served in any such suit, action or proceeding by mailing a copy thereof via registered or certified mail or overnight delivery (with evidence of delivery) to such party at the address in effect for notices to it under this Certificate of Designation and agrees that such service shall constitute good and sufficient service of process and notice thereof. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit in any way any right to serve process in any other manner permitted by applicable law. The Corporation and each Holder 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 Certificate of Designation or the transactions contemplated hereby. If the Corporation or any Holder shall commence an action or proceeding to enforce any provisions of this Certificate of Designation, then the prevailing party in such action or proceeding shall be reimbursed by the other party for its attorneys’ fees and other costs and expenses incurred in the investigation, preparation and prosecution of such action or proceeding.
(e) Waiver. Any waiver by the Corporation or a Holder of a breach of any provision of this Certificate of Designation shall not operate as or be construed to be a waiver of any other breach of such provision or of any breach of any other provision of this Certificate of Designation or a waiver by any other Holders. The failure of the Corporation or a Holder to insist upon strict adherence to any term of this Certificate of Designation on one or more occasions shall not be considered a waiver or deprive that party (or any other Holder) of the right thereafter to insist upon strict adherence to that term or any other term of this Certificate of Designation on any other occasion. Any waiver by the Corporation or a Holder must be in writing.
(f) Severability. If any provision of this Certificate of Designation is invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the balance of this Certificate of Designation shall remain in effect, and if any provision is inapplicable to any Person or circumstance, it shall nevertheless remain applicable to all other Persons and circumstances. If it shall be found that any interest or other amount deemed interest due hereunder violates the applicable law governing usury, the applicable rate of interest due hereunder shall automatically be lowered to equal the maximum rate of interest permitted under applicable law.
(g) Next Business Day. Whenever any payment or other obligation hereunder shall be due on a day other than a Business Day, such payment shall be made on the next succeeding Business Day.
(h) Headings. The headings contained herein are for convenience only, do not constitute a part of this Certificate of Designation and shall not be deemed to limit or affect any of the provisions hereof.
(i) Status of Converted or Redeemed Preferred Stock. Shares of Preferred Stock may only be issued pursuant to the Purchase Agreement. If any shares of Preferred Stock shall be converted, redeemed or reacquired by the Corporation, such shares shall resume the status of authorized but unissued shares of preferred stock and shall no longer be designated as 12.0% Series A Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock.
(j) Tax Withholding. The Corporation agrees that, provided that each Holder delivers to the Corporation a properly executed IRS Form W-9 or other certification satisfactory to the Corporation certifying as to such Holder’s status (or the status of such Holder’s beneficial owner(s)) as a United States person (within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code) and such Holder’s (or such beneficial owners’) eligibility for complete exemption from backup withholding (“U.S. Person Certification”), under current law the Corporation (including any paying agent of the Corporation) shall not be required to, and shall not, withhold on any payments or deemed payments to any such Holder. In the event that any Holder fails to deliver to the Corporation such properly executed U.S. Person Certification, the Corporation reasonably believes that a previously delivered U.S. Person Certification is no longer accurate and/or valid, or there is a change in law that affects the withholding obligations of the Corporation, the Corporation and its paying agent shall be entitled to withhold taxes on all payments made to the relevant Holder in the form of cash or otherwise treated, in the Corporation's reasonable discretion, as a dividend for U.S. federal tax purposes or to request that the relevant Holder promptly pay the Corporation in cash any amounts required to satisfy any withholding tax obligations, in each case, to the extent the Corporation or its paying agent determines in good faith it is required to deduct and withhold tax on payments to the relevant Holder under applicable law; provided, that the Corporation shall use commercially reasonable efforts to notify the relevant Holder of any required withholding tax reasonably in advance of the date of the relevant payment. In the event that the Corporation does not have sufficient cash with respect to any Holder from withholding on cash payments otherwise payable to such Holder and cash paid to the Corporation by such Holder to the Corporation pursuant to the immediately preceding sentence, the Corporation and its paying agent shall be entitled to withhold taxes on deemed payments, including distributions of additional Preferred Stock in lieu of cash and constructive distributions on the Preferred Stock to the extent required by law, and the Corporation and its paying agent shall be entitled to satisfy any required withholding tax on non-cash payments (including deemed payments) through a sale of a portion of the Preferred Stock received as a dividend or from cash dividends or sales proceeds subsequently paid or credited on the Preferred Stock.
(k) Tax Treatment. Absent a change in law, Internal Revenue Service practice or a contrary determination (as defined in Section 1313(a) of the Internal Revenue Code, as amended (the “Code”)), each holder of Preferred Stock and the Corporation shall not treat the Preferred Stock (based on their terms as set forth in this Certificate of Designation) as “preferred stock” within the meaning of Section 305 of the Code and Treasury Regulation Section 1.305-5 for United States federal income tax and withholding tax purposes and shall not take any position inconsistent with such treatment.
*********************
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Certificate of Designation is executed on behalf of the Corporation by its Chief Executive Officer this [●] day of [●].
| USA RARE EARTH, INC. |
| |
| By: | |
| Name: | |
| Title: | |
ANNEX A
NOTICE OF CONVERSION
(TO BE EXECUTED BY THE REGISTERED HOLDER IN ORDER TO CONVERT SHARES OF 12.0% SERIES A CUMULATIVE CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK)
The undersigned hereby elects to convert the number of shares of 12.0% Series A Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Preferred Stock”), indicated below into shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”), of USA Rare Earth, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Corporation”), according to the conditions hereof, as of the date written below. If shares of Common Stock are to be issued in the name of a Person other than the undersigned, the undersigned will pay all transfer taxes payable with respect thereto and is delivering herewith such certificates and opinions as may be required by the Corporation in accordance with the Purchase Agreement. No fee will be charged to the Holders for any conversion, except for any such transfer taxes.
Conversion calculations:
Date to Effect Conversion:
Number of shares of Preferred Stock owned prior to Conversion:
Number of shares of Preferred Stock to be Converted:
Accrued Value of shares of Preferred Stock to be Converted:
Number of shares of Common Stock to be Issued:
Applicable Conversion Price:
Number of shares of Preferred Stock subsequent to Conversion:
Address for Delivery:
or
DWAC Instructions:
Broker no:
Account no:
| [HOLDER] |
| |
| By: | |
| Name: | |
| Title: | |
Exhibit A
Exhibit E – Form of Domesticated Purchaser Series A Investor Warrants
Final Form
[NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR THE SECURITIES FOR WHICH THIS SECURITY IS EXERCISABLE HAVE BEEN REGISTERED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR THE SECURITIES COMMISSION OF ANY STATE IN RELIANCE UPON AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND, ACCORDINGLY, MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR PURSUANT TO AN AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM, OR IN A TRANSACTION NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. THIS SECURITY AND THE SECURITIES ISSUABLE UPON EXERCISE OF THIS SECURITY MAY BE PLEDGED IN CONNECTION WITH A BONA FIDE MARGIN ACCOUNT OR OTHER LOAN SECURED BY SUCH SECURITIES.]1
COMMON STOCK PURCHASE WARRANT
USA Rare Earth, Inc.
Warrant Shares: [_______] | Initial Exercise Date: [_______], 202[●] |
THIS COMMON STOCK PURCHASE WARRANT (the “Warrant”) certifies that, for value received, [_____________] or its assigns (the “Holder”) is entitled, upon the terms and subject to the limitations on exercise and the conditions hereinafter set forth, at any time on or after the date hereof (the “Initial Exercise Date”) and on or prior to 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on [_____], 202[●] (the “Termination Date”) but not thereafter, to subscribe for and purchase from USA Rare Earth, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), up to [______] shares (as subject to adjustment hereunder, the “Warrant Shares”) of common stock, par value $[0.0001] per share, of the Company (the “Common Stock”). The purchase price of one share of Common Stock under this Warrant shall be equal to the Exercise Price, as defined in Section 2(b).
Section 1. Definitions. Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in that certain Securities Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”), dated as of [●], by and among the Company and the purchasers signatory thereto.
Section 2. Exercise.
| (a) | Exercise of Warrant. Exercise of the purchase rights represented by this Warrant may be made, in whole or in part, at any time or times on or after the Initial Exercise Date and on or before the Termination Date by delivery to the Company (or such other office or agency that the Company may designate by notice in writing to the registered Holder at the address of the Holder appearing on the books of the Company), as applicable, of a duly executed facsimile copy or PDF copy submitted by e-mail (or e-mail attachment) of the Notice of Exercise in the form annexed hereto (the “Notice of Exercise”). Not later than the number of Trading Days comprising the Standard Settlement Period (as defined in Section 2(d)(i) herein) following the date of exercise as aforesaid, the Holder shall deliver to the Company the aggregate Exercise Price for the shares specified in the applicable Notice of Exercise by wire transfer or cashier’s check drawn on a United States bank unless the cashless exercise procedure specified in Section 2(c) below is specified in the applicable Notice of Exercise. No ink-original Notice of Exercise shall be required, nor shall any medallion guarantee (or other type of guarantee or notarization) of any Notice of Exercise be required. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Holder shall not be required to physically surrender this Warrant to the Company until the Holder has purchased all of the Warrant Shares available hereunder and the Warrant has been exercised in full, in which case, the Holder shall surrender this Warrant to the Company for cancellation within three (3) Trading Days of the date on which the final Notice of Exercise is delivered to the Company. Partial exercises of this Warrant resulting in purchases of a portion of the total number of Warrant Shares available hereunder shall have the effect of lowering the outstanding number of Warrant Shares purchasable hereunder in an amount equal to the applicable number of Warrant Shares purchased. The Holder and the Company shall maintain records showing the number of Warrant Shares purchased and the date of such purchases. The Company shall deliver any objection to any Notice of Exercise within one (1) Business Day of receipt of such notice. The Holder and any assignee, by acceptance of this Warrant, acknowledge and agree that, by reason of the provisions of this paragraph, following the purchase of a portion of the Warrant Shares hereunder, the number of Warrant Shares available for purchase hereunder at any given time may be less than the amount stated on the face hereof. |
| 1 | NTD: To be included on Warrants issued for new money on the Closing Date, but not on Warrants issued in exchange for USARE Class A Preferred Investor Warrants unless required by applicable securities law. |
| (b) | Exercise Price. The exercise price per share of Common Stock under this Warrant shall be $12.00, subject to adjustment hereunder (the “Exercise Price”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, at any time that the Conversion Price (as defined in the Certificate of Designation) adjusts (or is otherwise lowered) pursuant to the terms of the Certificate of Designation (each, an “Adjustment Time”, and such adjusted Conversion Price related thereto, each, an “Adjusted Conversion Price”), if the Exercise Price then in effect immediately following such Adjustment Time is greater than such related Adjusted Conversion Price, immediately following such Adjustment Time the Exercise Price then in effect shall automatically be lowered by an amount equal to the difference between the Conversion Price immediately prior to the Adjustment Time and the Adjusted Conversion Price immediately after the Adjustment Time. Simultaneously with any adjustment to the Exercise Price pursuant to this Section 2(b), the number of Warrant Shares that may be purchased upon exercise of this Warrant shall be increased proportionately, so that after such adjustment, the aggregate Exercise Price payable hereunder for the adjusted number of Warrant Shares shall be the same as the aggregate Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to such adjustment (without regard to any limitations on exercise contained herein). |
| (c) | Cashless Exercise. If at any time after the six (6) month anniversary of the Closing Date, there is no effective registration statement registering, or the prospectus contained therein is not available for the resale of the Warrant Shares by the Holder, then this Warrant may also be exercised, in whole or in part, at such time by means of a “cashless exercise” in which the Holder shall be entitled to receive a number of Warrant Shares equal to the quotient obtained by dividing ((A-B) multiplied by (X)) by (A), where: |
| (A) = | as applicable: (i) the VWAP on the Trading Day immediately preceding the date of the applicable Notice of Exercise if such Notice of Exercise is (1) both executed and delivered pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof on a day that is not a Trading Day or (2) both executed and delivered pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof on a Trading Day prior to the opening of “regular trading hours” (as defined in Rule 600(b) of Regulation NMS promulgated under the federal securities laws) on such Trading Day, (ii) at the option of the Holder, either (y) the VWAP on the Trading Day immediately preceding the date of the applicable Notice of Exercise or (z) the Bid Price of the Common Stock on the principal Trading Market as reported by Bloomberg L.P. (“Bloomberg”) as of the time of the Holder’s execution of the applicable Notice of Exercise if such Notice of Exercise is executed during “regular trading hours” on a Trading Day and is delivered within two (2) hours thereafter (including until two (2) hours after the close of “regular trading hours” on a Trading Day) pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof or (iii) the VWAP on the date of the applicable Notice of Exercise if the date of such Notice of Exercise is a Trading Day and such Notice of Exercise is both executed and delivered pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof after the close of “regular trading hours” on such Trading Day; |
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| (B) = | the Exercise Price of this Warrant, as adjusted hereunder; and |
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| (X) = | the number of Warrant Shares that would be issuable upon exercise of this Warrant in accordance with the terms of this Warrant if such exercise were by means of a cash exercise rather than a cashless exercise. |
If Warrant Shares are issued in such a cashless exercise, the parties acknowledge and agree that in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act, the Warrant Shares shall take on the characteristics of the Warrants being exercised, and the holding period of the Warrant Shares being issued may be tacked on to the holding period of this Warrant. The Company agrees not to take any position contrary to this Section 2(c).
“Bid Price” means, for any date, the price determined by the first of the following clauses that applies: (a) if the Common Stock is then listed or quoted on a Trading Market, the bid price of the Common Stock for the time in question (or the nearest preceding date) on the Trading Market on which the Common Stock is then listed or quoted as reported by Bloomberg (based on a Trading Day from 9:30 a.m. (New York City time) to 4:02 p.m. (New York City time)), (b) if OTCQB or OTCQX is not a Trading Market, the volume weighted average price of the Common Stock for such date (or the nearest preceding date) on OTCQB or OTCQX as applicable, (c) if the Common Stock is not then listed or quoted for trading on OTCQB or OTCQX and if prices for the Common Stock are then reported on The Pink Open Market (or a similar organization or agency succeeding to its functions of reporting prices), the most recent bid price per share of the Common Stock so reported, or (d) in all other cases, the fair market value of a share of Common Stock as determined by an independent appraiser selected in good faith by the Purchasers of a majority in interest of the Securities then outstanding and reasonably acceptable to the Company, the fees and expenses of which shall be paid by the Company.
“VWAP” means, for any date, the price determined by the first of the following clauses that applies: (a) if the Common Stock is then listed or quoted on a Trading Market, the daily volume weighted average price of the Common Stock for the 20 Trading Day preceding such date (or the nearest preceding date) on the Trading Market on which the Common Stock is then listed or quoted as reported by Bloomberg (based on a Trading Day from 9:30 a.m. (New York City time) to 4:02 p.m. (New York City time)), (b) if OTCQB or OTCQX is not a Trading Market, the volume weighted average price of the Common Stock for the 20 Trading Days preceding such date (or the nearest preceding date) on OTCQB or OTCQX as applicable, (c) if the Common Stock is not then listed or quoted for trading on OTCQB or OTCQX and if prices for the Common Stock are then reported in The Pink Open Market (or a similar organization or agency succeeding to its functions of reporting prices), the average of the highest closing bid price per share and the lowest closing ask price per share of the Common Stock for the 20 Trading Days preceding such date, or (d) in all other cases, the fair market value of a share of Common Stock as determined by an independent appraiser selected in good faith by the Purchasers of a majority in interest of the Securities then outstanding and reasonably acceptable to the Company, the fees and expenses of which shall be paid by the Company.
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, on the Termination Date, this Warrant shall be automatically exercised via cashless exercise pursuant to this Section 2(c).
| (d) | Mechanics of Exercise. |
| (i) | Delivery of Warrant Shares Upon Exercise. The Company shall cause the Warrant Shares purchased hereunder to be transmitted by the Transfer Agent to the Holder by crediting the account of the Holder’s or its designee’s balance account with The Depository Trust Company through its Deposit or Withdrawal at Custodian system if the Company is then a participant in such system and there is an effective registration statement permitting the issuance of the Warrant Shares to or resale of the Warrant Shares by the Holder, and otherwise by physical delivery of a certificate, (or reasonable evidence of issuance by book entry of ownership of the Warrant Shares) registered in the Company’s share register in the name of the Holder or its designee, for the number of Warrant Shares to which the Holder is entitled pursuant to such exercise to the address specified by the Holder in the Notice of Exercise by the date that is the later of (i) the Standard Settlement Period after the delivery to the Company of the Notice of Exercise, and (ii) one (1) Trading Day after delivery of the aggregate Exercise Price to the Company (such date, the “Warrant Share Delivery Date”); provided, however, in any event, the Company shall not be obligated to deliver Warrant Shares until it has received the aggregate Exercise Price therefor. Upon delivery of the Notice of Exercise, the Holder shall be deemed for all corporate purposes to have become the holder of record of the Warrant Shares with respect to which this Warrant has been exercised, irrespective of the date of delivery of the Warrant Shares, provided that payment of the aggregate Exercise Price (other than in the case of a cashless exercise) is received no later than the number of Trading Days comprising the Standard Settlement Period following delivery of the Notice of Exercise. The Company agrees to maintain a transfer agent that is a participant in the FAST program so long as this Warrant remains outstanding and exercisable. As used herein, “Standard Settlement Period” means the standard settlement period, expressed in a number of Trading Days, on the Company’s primary Trading Market with respect to the Common Stock as in effect on the date of delivery of the Notice of Exercise. |
| (ii) | Delivery of New Warrants Upon Exercise. If this Warrant shall have been exercised in part, the Company shall, at the request of a Holder and upon surrender of this Warrant certificate, at the time of delivery of the Warrant Shares, deliver to the Holder a new Warrant evidencing the rights of the Holder to purchase the unpurchased Warrant Shares called for by this Warrant, which new Warrant shall in all other respects be identical with this Warrant. |
| (iii) | Rescission Rights. If the Company fails to cause the Transfer Agent to transmit to the Holder the Warrant Shares pursuant to Section 2(d)(i) by the Warrant Share Delivery Date (subject to receipt of the aggregate Exercise Price for the applicable exercise (other than in the case of a cashless exercise)), then the Holder will have the right to rescind such exercise prior to the delivery of the Warrant Shares. |
| (iv) | No Fractional Shares or Scrip. No fractional shares or scrip representing fractional shares shall be issued upon the exercise of this Warrant. As to any fraction of a share which the Holder would otherwise be entitled to purchase upon such exercise, the Company shall, at its election, either pay a cash adjustment in respect of such final fraction in an amount equal to such fraction multiplied by the Exercise Price or round up to the next whole share. |
| (v) | Charges, Taxes and Expenses. Issuance of Warrant Shares shall be made without charge to the Holder for any issue or transfer tax or other incidental expense in respect of the issuance of such Warrant Shares, all of which taxes and expenses shall be paid by the Company, and such Warrant Shares shall be issued in the name of the Holder or in such name or names as may be directed by the Holder; provided, however, that, in the event that Warrant Shares are to be issued in a name other than the name of the Holder, this Warrant when surrendered for exercise shall be accompanied by the Assignment Form attached hereto duly executed by the Holder and the Company may require, as a condition thereto, the payment of a sum sufficient to reimburse it for any transfer tax incidental thereto. The Company shall pay all Transfer Agent fees required for same-day processing of any Notice of Exercise and all fees to the Depository Trust Company (or another established clearing corporation performing similar functions) required for same-day electronic delivery of the Warrant Shares pursuant to the terms of this Warrant. |
| (vi) | Closing of Books. The Company will not close its stockholder books or records in any manner intended to prevent the timely exercise of this Warrant, pursuant to the terms hereof. |
| (e) | Holder’s Exercise Limitations. The Holder may notify the Company in writing in the event it elects to be subject to the provisions contained in this Section 2(e); however, the Holder shall not be subject to this Section 2(e) unless he, she or it makes such election. If the election is made, the Company shall not effect any exercise of this Warrant, and a Holder shall not have the right to exercise any portion of this Warrant, pursuant to Section 2 or otherwise, to the extent that after giving effect to such issuance after exercise as set forth on the applicable Notice of Exercise, the Holder (together with the Holder’s Affiliates, and any Persons acting as a group together with the Holder or any of the Holder’s Affiliates (such Persons, “Attribution Parties”)) would beneficially own in excess of 4.9%, 9.9%, 19.9% (or such other amount as the Holder may specify) (the “Beneficial Ownership Limitation”). For purposes of the foregoing sentence, the number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by the Holder, its Affiliates and Attribution Parties shall include the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of this Warrant with respect to which such determination is being made, but shall exclude the number of shares of Common Stock which would be issuable upon (i) exercise of the remaining, nonexercised portion of this Warrant beneficially owned by the Holder or any of its Affiliates or Attribution Parties and (ii) exercise or conversion of the unexercised or unconverted portion of any other securities of the Company (including, without limitation, any other Common Stock Equivalents) subject to a limitation on conversion or exercise analogous to the limitation contained herein beneficially owned by the Holder or any of its Affiliates or Attribution Parties. Except as set forth in the preceding sentence, for purposes of this Section 2(e), beneficial ownership shall be calculated in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, it being acknowledged by the Holder that the Company is not representing to the Holder that such calculation is in compliance with Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and the Holder is solely responsible for any schedules required to be filed in accordance therewith. To the extent that the limitation contained in this Section 2(e) applies, the determination of whether this Warrant is exercisable (in relation to other securities owned by the Holder together with any Affiliates and Attribution Parties) and, of which portion of this Warrant is exercisable up to the Beneficial Ownership Limitation shall be in the sole discretion of the Holder, and the submission of a Notice of Exercise shall be deemed to be the Holder’s good faith determination of whether this Warrant is exercisable (in relation to other securities owned by the Holder together with any Affiliates and Attribution Parties) and of which portion of this Warrant is exercisable, in each case, subject to the Beneficial Ownership Limitation, and the Company shall have no obligation to verify or confirm the accuracy of such determination and shall have no liability for exercises of this Warrant that are not in compliance with the Beneficial Ownership Limitation. In addition, a determination as to any group status as contemplated above shall be determined in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder and the Company shall have no obligation to verify or confirm the accuracy of such determination and shall have no liability for exercises of the Warrant that are not in compliance with the Beneficial Ownership Limitation. For purposes of this Section 2(e), in determining the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock, a Holder may rely on the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock as reflected in (A) the Company’s most recent periodic or annual report filed with the Commission, as the case may be, (B) a more recent public announcement by the Company or (C) a more recent written notice by the Company or the Transfer Agent setting forth the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding. Upon the written or oral request of a Holder, the Company shall within two (2) Trading Days confirm orally and in writing to the Holder the number of shares of Common Stock then outstanding. In any case, the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock shall be determined after giving effect to the conversion or exercise of securities of the Company, including this Warrant, by the Holder or its Affiliates or Attribution Parties since the date as of which such number of outstanding shares of Common Stock was reported. By written notice to the Company, the Holder may from time to time increase or decrease the Beneficial Ownership Limitation applicable to the Holder, provided, however, that any such increase in the Beneficial Ownership Limitation will not be effective until the sixty-first (61st) day after such notice is delivered to the Company. The provisions of this paragraph shall be construed and implemented in a manner otherwise than in strict conformity with the terms of this Section 2(e) to correct this paragraph (or any portion hereof) which may be defective or inconsistent with the intended Beneficial Ownership Limitation herein contained or to make changes or supplements necessary or desirable to properly give effect to such limitation. The limitations contained in this paragraph shall apply to a successor holder of this Warrant. |
Section 3. Certain Adjustments.
| (a) | Stock Dividends and Splits. If the Company at any time while this Warrant is outstanding: (i) pays a stock dividend or otherwise makes a distribution or distributions on shares of its Common Stock or any other equity or equity equivalent securities payable in shares of Common Stock (which, for avoidance of doubt, shall not include any shares of Common Stock issued by the Company upon exercise of this Warrant or any cash distributions), (ii) subdivides outstanding shares of Common Stock into a larger number of shares, (iii) combines (including by way of a reverse stock split) outstanding shares of Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, or (iv) issues by reclassification of shares of the Common Stock any shares of capital stock of the Company, then in each case the Exercise Price shall be multiplied by a fraction of which the numerator shall be the number of shares of Common Stock (excluding treasury shares, if any) outstanding immediately before such event and of which the denominator shall be the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event, and the number of shares issuable upon exercise of this Warrant shall be proportionately adjusted such that the aggregate Exercise Price of this Warrant shall remain unchanged. Any adjustment made pursuant to this Section 3(a) shall become effective immediately after the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to receive such dividend or distribution and shall become effective immediately after the effective date in the case of a subdivision, combination or re-classification. |
| (b) | VWAP Reset. If on the twenty-first trading day following the date that is six months after the Closing Date, the VWAP (as defined by Bloomberg) of the Common Stock for the twenty trading period commencing on the date that is six months after the Closing Date (the “Measurement Price”) is less than the Exercise Price then in effect, then the Exercise Price then in effect shall be reduced to an amount equal to the greater of (i) the Measurement Price and (ii) $7.50. |
| (c) | Adjustment Upon Issuance of Common Stock. If and whenever on or after the Closing Date, the Company issues or sells, or in accordance with this Section 3(c) is deemed to have issued or sold, any shares of Common Stock (including the issuance or sale of shares of Common Stock owned or held by or for the account of the Company, but excluding shares of Common Stock deemed to have been issued or sold by the Company in connection with any Exempt Issuance) for a consideration per share (the “New Issuance Price”) less than the lesser of (i) $10.00 and (ii) the Exercise Price then in effect (such price thresholds described in clauses (i) and (ii), collectively, the “Applicable Price”, and each such issue, sale or deemed issuance or sale, a “Dilutive Issuance”), in issuances and sales conducted for the purpose of raising capital by the Company where the aggregate amount of consideration received by the Company, together with all prior issuances and sales conducted for the purpose of raising capital by the Company on or after the Closing Date that were excluded from this Section 3(c) by this clause, exceeds $500,000, then immediately after such Dilutive Issuance, the Exercise Price then in effect shall be reduced to an amount equal to the New Issuance Price. |
As used in this Warrant, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
| (I) | “Common Stock Equivalents” means any securities of the Company which would entitle the holder thereof to acquire at any time Common Stock, including, without limitation, any debt, preferred stock, right, option, warrant or other instrument that is at any time convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for, or otherwise entitles the holder thereof to receive, Common Stock, and any securities of the Company that when paired with one or more other securities of the Company or another entity entitles the holder thereof to receive, Common Stock. |
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| (II) | “Convertible Securities” means any stock or securities (other than Options) directly or indirectly convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for, or which otherwise entitles the holder thereof to acquire, any shares of Common Stock and any securities of the Company that when paired with one or more other securities of the Company or another entity entitles the holder thereof to receive, Common Stock. |
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| (III) | “Exempt Issuance” means the issuance of (a) any securities of the Company to employees, officers or directors, consultants, contractors, vendors or other agents of the Company pursuant to any stock or option plan duly adopted for such purpose, by a majority of the non-employee members of the Board of Directors or a majority of the members of a committee of non-employee directors established for such purpose for services rendered to the Company, (b) securities upon the exercise or exchange of or conversion of any Securities issued pursuant to the Purchase Agreement or the Business Combination Agreement and/or other securities exercisable or exchangeable for or convertible into shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding on the date of this Warrant, provided that such securities have not been amended since the date of this Warrant to increase the number of such securities or to decrease the exercise price, exchange price or conversion price of such securities (other than in connection with stock splits or combinations) or to extend the term of such securities, (c) the Underlying Shares, (d) securities issued pursuant to any merger, acquisition or strategic transaction or partnership approved by a majority of the directors of the Company, provided that (i) such securities are issued as “restricted securities” (as defined in Rule 144) or are issued pursuant to an effective registration statement pursuant to the Securities Act and (ii) any such issuance shall only be to a Person (or to the equityholders of a Person) which is, itself or through its subsidiaries, an operating company or an owner of an asset in a business synergistic with the business of the Company and shall provide to the Company additional benefits in addition to the investment of funds, and (e) any securities issued by the Company pursuant to any legal settlement or similar arrangement agreed or entered into by the Company, provided that, in the aggregate, not more than [●]2 shares of Common Stock are issued or deemed issued or issuable upon conversion, settlement, exercise or exchange of any such securities that are Options or Convertible Securities, but any such Exempt Issuance shall not include a transaction in which the Company is issuing securities (i) primarily for the purpose of raising capital, including an at-the-market offering, and (ii) to an entity whose primary business is investing in securities. |
2 | NTD: To be 1,000,000 multiplied by the Exchange Ratio |
| (IV) | “Options” means any rights, warrants or options to subscribe for or purchase shares of Common Stock or Convertible Securities; and |
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| (V) | “Option Value” means the value of an Option based on the Black-Scholes Option Pricing model obtained from the “OV” function on Bloomberg determined as of (A) the Trading Day prior to the public announcement of the issuance of the applicable Option, if the issuance of such Option is publicly announced or (B) the Trading Day immediately following the issuance of the applicable Option if the issuance of such Option is not publicly announced, for pricing purposes and reflecting (i) a risk-free interest rate corresponding to the U.S. Treasury rate for a period equal to the remaining term of the applicable Option as of the applicable date of determination, (ii) an expected volatility equal to the greater of 100% and the 100 day volatility obtained from the HVT function on Bloomberg as of (A) the Trading Day immediately following the public announcement of the applicable Option if the issuance of such Option is publicly announced or (B) the Trading Day immediately following the issuance of the applicable Option if the issuance of such Option is not publicly announced, (iii) the underlying price per share used in such calculation shall be the highest weighted average price of the Common Stock during the period beginning on the Trading Day prior to the execution of definitive documentation relating to the issuance of the applicable Option and ending on (A) the Trading Day immediately following the public announcement of such issuance, if the issuance of such Option is publicly announced or (B) the Trading Day immediately following the issuance of the applicable Option if the issuance of such Option is not publicly announced, (iv) a zero cost of borrow and (v) a 360 day annualization factor. |
For purposes of determining the adjusted Exercise Price under this Section 3(c), the following shall be applicable:
| (i) | Options and Convertible Securities. The consideration per share received by the Company for Common Stock deemed to have been issued pursuant to Section 3(c)(ii), relating to Options and Convertible Securities, shall be determined by dividing: (x) the total amount, if any, received or receivable by the Company as consideration for the issue of such Options or Convertible Securities, plus the minimum aggregate amount of additional consideration (as set forth in the instruments relating thereto, without regard to any provision contained therein for a subsequent adjustment of such consideration) payable to the Company upon the exercise of such Options or the conversion or exchange of such Convertible Securities, or in the case of Options for Convertible Securities, the exercise of such Options for Convertible Securities and the conversion or exchange of such Convertible Securities, by (y) the maximum number of shares of Common Stock (as set forth in the instruments relating thereto, without regard to any provision contained therein for a subsequent adjustment of such number) deemed to be issued pursuant to Section 3(c)(ii) upon the issuance of such Options or Convertible Securities. |
| (ii) | Deemed Issuance of Options and Convertible Securities. If the Company at any time or from time to time shall issue any Options or Convertible Securities or shall fix a record date for the determination of holders of any class of securities entitled to receive any such Options or Convertible Securities, then the maximum number of shares of Common Stock (as set forth in the instrument relating thereto, assuming the satisfaction of any conditions to exercisability, convertibility or exchangeability but without regard to any provision contained therein for a subsequent adjustment of such number) issuable upon the exercise of such Options or, in the case of Convertible Securities and Options therefor, the conversion or exchange of such Convertible Securities, shall be deemed to be outstanding and to have been issued as of the time of such issue or, in case such a record date shall have been fixed, as of the close of business on such record date. |
| (iii) | Change in Option Price. If, after the Initial Exercise Date, the purchase price provided for in any Options, the additional consideration, if any, payable upon the issue, conversion, exercise or exchange of any Convertible Securities, or the rate at which any Convertible Securities are convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock increases or decreases at any time, (other than (x) proportional changes in conversion or exercise prices, as applicable, in connection with an event referred to in Section 3(a) above and (y) automatic adjustments to such terms pursuant to anti-dilution or similar provisions of such Option or Convertible Security which are not more favorable to the holder thereof than the anti-dilution and similar provisions set forth herein), the Exercise Price in effect at the time of such increase or decrease shall be adjusted to the Exercise Price, which would have been in effect at such time had such Options or Convertible Securities provided for such increased or decreased purchase price, additional consideration or increased or decreased conversion rate, as the case may be, at the time initially granted, issued or sold. For purposes of this Section 3(c)(iii), if the terms of any Option or Convertible Security that was outstanding as of the Initial Exercise Date are increased or decreased in the manner described in the immediately preceding sentence, then such Option or Convertible Security and the shares of Common Stock deemed issuable upon exercise, conversion or exchange thereof shall be deemed to have been issued as of the date of such increase or decrease. No adjustment pursuant to this Section 3(c) shall be made if such adjustment would result in an increase of the Exercise Price then in effect. |
| (iv) | Calculation of Consideration Received. In case any Option is issued in connection with the issue or sale of other securities of the Company, together comprising one integrated transaction, (x) the Options will be deemed to have been issued for the Option Value of such Options and (y) the other securities issued or sold in such integrated transaction shall be deemed to have been issued or sold for the difference of (I) the aggregate consideration received by the Company less any consideration paid or payable by the Company pursuant to the terms of such other securities of the Company, less (II) the Option Value. If any shares of Common Stock, Options or Convertible Securities are issued or sold or deemed to have been issued or sold for cash, the consideration other than cash received therefor will be deemed to be the net amount received by the Company therefor. If any shares of Common Stock, Options or Convertible Securities are issued or sold for a consideration other than cash, the amount of such consideration received by the Company will be the fair value of such consideration, except where such consideration consists of publicly traded securities, in which case the amount of consideration received by the Company will be the closing sale price of such publicly traded securities on the date of receipt. If any shares of Common Stock, Options or Convertible Securities are issued to the owners of the non-surviving entity in connection with any merger in which the Company is the surviving entity, the amount of consideration therefor will be deemed to be the fair value of such portion of the net assets and business of the non-surviving entity as is attributable to such shares of Common Stock, Options or Convertible Securities, as the case may be. The fair value of any consideration other than cash or publicly traded securities will be determined jointly by the Company and a majority in interest of the Securities then outstanding. If such parties are unable to reach agreement within ten (10) days after the occurrence of an event requiring valuation (the “Valuation Event”), the fair value of such consideration will be determined within five (5) Business Days after the tenth (10th) day following the Valuation Event by an independent, reputable appraiser jointly selected by the Company and a majority in interest of the Securities then outstanding. The determination of such appraiser shall be final and binding upon all parties absent manifest error and the fees and expenses of such appraiser shall be borne by the Company. |
| (v) | Record Date. If the Company takes a record of the holders of shares of Common Stock for the purpose of entitling them (A) to receive a dividend or other distribution payable in shares of Common Stock, Options or in Convertible Securities or (B) to subscribe for or purchase shares of Common Stock, Options or Convertible Securities, then such record date will be deemed to be the date of the issuance or sale of the shares of Common Stock deemed to have been issued or sold upon the declaration of such dividend or the making of such other distribution or the date of the granting of such right of subscription or purchase, as the case may be. |
| (vi) | Expiration or Termination of Options or Convertible Securities. Upon the expiration or termination of any unexercised Option or unconverted or unexchanged Convertible Securities (or portion thereof) which resulted (either upon its original issuance or upon a revision of its terms) in an adjustment to the Exercise Price pursuant to the terms of Section 3(b), the Exercise Price shall be readjusted to such Conversion Price as would have obtained had such Option or Convertible Securities (or portion thereof) never been issued. |
| (d) | Subsequent Rights Offerings. In addition to any adjustments pursuant to Section 3(a) above, if at any time after the Initial Exercise Date the Company grants, issues or sells any Common Stock Equivalents or rights to purchase stock, warrants, securities or other property pro rata to the record holders of any class of shares of Common Stock (the “Purchase Rights”), then the Holder will be entitled to acquire, upon the terms applicable to such Purchase Rights, the aggregate Purchase Rights which the Holder could have acquired if the Holder had held the number of shares of Common Stock acquirable upon complete exercise of this Warrant (without regard to any limitations on exercise hereof, including without limitation, any applicable Beneficial Ownership Limitation) immediately before the date on which a record is taken for the grant, issuance or sale of such Purchase Rights, or, if no such record is taken, the date as of which the record holders of shares of Common Stock are to be determined for the grant, issue or sale of such Purchase Rights (provided, however, that, to the extent that the Holder’s right to participate in any such Purchase Right would result in the Holder exceeding any applicable Beneficial Ownership Limitation, then the Holder shall not be entitled to participate in such Purchase Right to such extent (or beneficial ownership of such shares of Common Stock as a result of such Purchase Right to such extent) and such Purchase Right to such extent shall be held in abeyance for the Holder until such time, if ever, as its right thereto would not result in the Holder exceeding any applicable Beneficial Ownership Limitation). To the extent that the issue price of such Purchase Rights would result in an adjustment of the Conversion Price pursuant to Section 7(c), such adjustment shall not occur to the extent the Holders were granted the right to acquire such Purchase Rights on the applicable terms. |
| (e) | Pro Rata Distributions. During such time after the Initial Exercise Date as this Warrant is outstanding, if the Company shall declare or make any dividend or other distribution of its assets (or rights to acquire its assets) to holders of shares of Common Stock, by way of return of capital or otherwise (including, without limitation, any distribution of cash, stock or other securities, property or options by way of a dividend, spin off, reclassification, corporate rearrangement, scheme of arrangement or other similar transaction) (a “Distribution”), at any time after the issuance of this Warrant, then, in each such case, the Holder shall be entitled to participate in such Distribution to the same extent that the Holder would have participated therein if the Holder had held the number of shares of Common Stock acquirable upon complete exercise of this Warrant (without regard to any limitations on exercise hereof, including without limitation, any applicable Beneficial Ownership Limitation) immediately before the date of which a record is taken for such Distribution, or, if no such record is taken, the date as of which the record holders of shares of Common Stock are to be determined for the participation in such Distribution (provided, however, that, to the extent that the Holder’s right to participate in any such Distribution would result in the Holder exceeding any applicable Beneficial Ownership Limitation, then the Holder shall not be entitled to participate in such Distribution to such extent (or in the beneficial ownership of any shares of Common Stock as a result of such Distribution to such extent) and the portion of such Distribution shall be held in abeyance for the benefit of the Holder until such time, if ever, as its right thereto would not result in the Holder exceeding any applicable Beneficial Ownership Limitation). |
| (f) | Fundamental Transaction. If, at any time after the Initial Exercise Date while this Warrant is outstanding, (i) the Company, directly or indirectly, in one or more related transactions effects any merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another Person, (ii) the Company (and all of its subsidiaries, taken as a whole), directly or indirectly, effects any sale, lease, license, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of its assets in3 one or a series of related transactions, (iii) any, direct or indirect, purchase offer, tender offer or exchange offer (whether by the Company or another Person) is completed pursuant to which holders of Common Stock are permitted to sell, tender or exchange their shares for other securities, cash or property and has been accepted by the holders of 50% or more of the outstanding Common Stock, (iv) the Company, directly or indirectly, in one or more related transactions effects any reclassification, reorganization or recapitalization of the Common Stock or any compulsory share exchange pursuant to which the Common Stock is effectively converted into or exchanged for other securities, cash or property (other than as a result of a stock split, combination or reclassification of shares of Common Stock covered by Section 3(a)), or (v) the Company, directly or indirectly, in one or more related transactions consummates a stock or share purchase agreement or other business combination (including, without limitation, a reorganization, recapitalization, spin-off, merger or scheme of arrangement) with another Person or group of Persons whereby such other Person or group acquires 50% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (not including any shares of Common Stock held by the other Person or other Persons making or party to, or associated or affiliated with the other Persons making or party to, such stock or share purchase agreement or other business combination) or 50% or more of the voting power of the common equity of the Company (each a “Fundamental Transaction”), then, upon any subsequent exercise of this Warrant, the Holder shall have the right to receive, for each Warrant Share that would have been issuable upon such exercise immediately prior to the occurrence of such Fundamental Transaction, at the option of the Holder (without regard to any limitation in Section 2(e) on the exercise of this Warrant), the number of shares of Common Stock of the successor or acquiring corporation or of the Company, if it is the surviving corporation, and any additional consideration (the “Alternate Consideration”) receivable as a result of such Fundamental Transaction by a holder of the number of shares of Common Stock for which this Warrant is exercisable immediately prior to such Fundamental Transaction (without regard to any limitation in Section 2(e) on the exercise of this Warrant). For purposes of any such exercise, the determination of the Exercise Price shall be appropriately adjusted to apply to such Alternate Consideration based on the amount of Alternate Consideration issuable in respect of one share of Common Stock in such Fundamental Transaction, and the Company shall apportion the Exercise Price among the Alternate Consideration in a reasonable manner reflecting the relative value of any different components of the Alternate Consideration. If holders of Common Stock are given any choice as to the securities, cash or property to be received in a Fundamental Transaction, then the Holder shall be given the same choice as to the Alternate Consideration it receives upon any exercise of this Warrant following such Fundamental Transaction. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, in the event of a Fundamental Transaction, the Company or any Successor Entity (as defined below) shall, at the Holder’s option, exercisable at any time concurrently with, or within 30 days after, the consummation of the Fundamental Transaction (or, if later, the date of the public announcement of the applicable Fundamental Transaction), purchase this Warrant from the Holder by paying to the Holder an amount of cash equal to the Black Scholes Value (as defined below) of the remaining unexercised portion of this Warrant on the date of the consummation of such Fundamental Transaction; provided, that if holders of Common Stock of the Company are not offered or paid any consideration in such Fundamental Transaction, such holders of Common Stock will be deemed to have received common stock or ordinary shares of the Successor Entity (which Successor Entity may be the Company following such Fundamental Transaction) in such Fundamental Transaction. “Black Scholes Value” means the value of this Warrant based on the Black-Scholes Option Pricing Model obtained from the “OV” function on Bloomberg determined as of the day of consummation of the applicable Fundamental Transaction for pricing purposes and reflecting (A) a risk-free interest rate corresponding to the U.S. Treasury rate for a period equal to the time between the date of the public announcement of the applicable contemplated Fundamental Transaction and the Termination Date, (B) an expected volatility equal to the greater of 100% and the 100 day volatility obtained from the HVT function on Bloomberg (determined utilizing a 365 day annualization factor) as of the Trading Day immediately following the public announcement of the applicable contemplated Fundamental Transaction, (C) the underlying price per share used in such calculation shall be the greater of (i) the sum of the price per share being offered in cash, if any, plus the value of any non-cash consideration, if any, being offered in such Fundamental Transaction and (ii) the highest VWAP during the period beginning on the Trading Day immediately preceding the announcement of the applicable Fundamental Transaction (or the consummation of the applicable Fundamental Transaction, if earlier) and ending on the Trading Day of the Holder’s request pursuant to this Section 3(f), (D) a remaining option time equal to the time between the date of the public announcement of the applicable Fundamental Transaction and the Termination Date and (E) a zero cost of borrow. The payment of the Black Scholes Value will be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds (or such other consideration) within the later of (i) five Business Days of the Holder’s election and (ii) the date of consummation of the Fundamental Transaction. The Company shall cause any successor entity in a Fundamental Transaction in which the Company is not the survivor (the “Successor Entity”) to assume in writing all of the obligations of the Company under this Warrant and the other Transaction Documents in accordance with the provisions of this Section 3(f) pursuant to written agreements in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Holder and approved by the Holder (without unreasonable delay) prior to such Fundamental Transaction and shall, at the option of the Holder, deliver to the Holder in exchange for this Warrant a security of the Successor Entity evidenced by a written instrument substantially similar in form and substance to this Warrant which is exercisable for a corresponding number of shares of capital stock of such Successor Entity (or its parent entity) equivalent to the shares of Common Stock acquirable and receivable upon exercise of this Warrant (without regard to any limitations on the exercise of this Warrant) prior to such Fundamental Transaction, and with an exercise price which applies the Exercise Price hereunder to such shares of capital stock (but taking into account the relative value of the shares of Common Stock pursuant to such Fundamental Transaction and the value of such shares of capital stock, such number of shares of capital stock and such exercise price being for the purpose of protecting the economic value of this Warrant immediately prior to the consummation of such Fundamental Transaction), and which is reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Holder. Upon the occurrence of any such Fundamental Transaction, the Successor Entity shall succeed to, and be substituted for (so that from and after the date of such Fundamental Transaction, the provisions of this Warrant and the other Transaction Documents referring to the “Company” shall refer instead to the Successor Entity), and may exercise every right and power of the Company and shall assume all of the obligations of the Company under this Warrant and the other Transaction Documents with the same effect as if such Successor Entity had been named as the Company herein. |
| (g) | Calculations. All calculations under this Section 3 shall be made to the nearest cent or the nearest 1/100th of a share, as the case may be. For purposes of this Section 3, the number of shares of Common Stock deemed to be issued and outstanding as of a given date shall be the sum of the number of shares of Common Stock (excluding treasury shares, if any) issued and outstanding. |
| (h) | Number of Warrant Shares. Simultaneously with any adjustment to the Exercise Price pursuant to this Section 3(a), the number of Warrant Shares that may be purchased upon exercise of this Warrant shall be increased or decreased proportionately so that after such adjustment the aggregate Exercise Price payable hereunder for the adjusted number of Warrant Shares shall be the same as the aggregate Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to such adjustment (without regard to any limitations on exercise contained herein). |
| (i) | Adjustment to Exercise Price. Whenever the Exercise Price is adjusted pursuant to any provision of this Section 3, the Company shall promptly deliver to the Holder by facsimile or email a notice setting forth the Exercise Price after such adjustment and any resulting adjustment to the number of Warrant Shares and setting forth a brief statement of the facts requiring such adjustment. |
| (ii) | Notice to Allow Exercise by Holder. If (A) the Company shall declare a dividend (or any other distribution in whatever form) on the Common Stock, (B) the Company shall declare a special nonrecurring cash dividend on or a redemption of the Common Stock, (C) the Company shall authorize the granting to all holders of the Common Stock rights or warrants to subscribe for or purchase any shares of capital stock of any class or of any rights, (D) the approval of any stockholders of the Company shall be required in connection with any reclassification of the Common Stock, any consolidation or merger to which the Company (or any of its subsidiaries) is a party, any sale or transfer of all or substantially all of its assets, or any compulsory share exchange whereby the Common Stock is converted into other securities, cash or property, or (E) the Company shall authorize the voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the affairs of the Company, then, in each case, the Company shall cause to be delivered by facsimile or email to the Holder at its last facsimile number or email address as it shall appear upon the Warrant Register of the Company, at least 20 calendar days prior to the applicable record or effective date hereinafter specified, a notice stating (x) the date on which a record is to be taken for the purpose of such dividend, distribution, redemption, rights or warrants, or if a record is not to be taken, the date as of which the holders of the Common Stock of record to be entitled to such dividend, distributions, redemption, rights or warrants are to be determined or (y) the date on which such reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, transfer or share exchange is expected to become effective or close, and the date as of which it is expected that holders of the Common Stock of record shall be entitled to exchange their shares of the Common Stock for securities, cash or other property deliverable upon such reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, transfer or share exchange; provided, that, notwithstanding the foregoing, any notice delivery requirement hereunder shall also be deemed satisfied by filing or furnishing such communication with the Commission via the EDGAR system; provided, further, that the failure to deliver such notice or any defect therein or in the delivery thereof shall not affect the validity of the corporate action required to be specified in such notice. To the extent that any notice provided to the Holder in accordance with the terms of this Warrant constitutes, or contains, material, non-public information regarding the Company or any of the subsidiaries, the Company shall simultaneously file such notice with the Commission pursuant to a Current Report on Form 8-K, unless determined by the Company that such filing would be harmful to the Company at such time, in which case the Company shall file such 8-K as soon as is reasonably practicable in its discretion. The Holder shall remain entitled to exercise this Warrant during the period commencing on the date of such notice to the effective date of the event triggering such notice except as may otherwise be expressly set forth herein. |
| (j) | Voluntary Adjustment By Company. Subject to the rules and regulations of the Trading Market, the Company may at any time during the term of this Warrant, subject to the prior written consent of the Holder, reduce the then current Exercise Price to any amount and for any period of time deemed appropriate by the board of directors of the Company. |
Section 4. Transfer of Warrant.
| (a) | Transferability. Subject to compliance with any applicable securities laws and the conditions set forth in Section 4(d) hereof and to the provisions of Section 4.1 of the Purchase Agreement, this Warrant and all rights hereunder (including, without limitation, any registration rights) are transferable, in whole or in part, upon surrender of this Warrant at the principal office of the Company or its designated agent, together with a written assignment of this Warrant substantially in the form attached hereto duly executed by the Holder or its agent or attorney and funds sufficient to pay any transfer taxes payable upon the making of such transfer. Upon such surrender and, if required, such payment, the Company shall execute and deliver a new Warrant or Warrants in the name of the assignee or assignees, as applicable, and in the denomination or denominations specified in such instrument of assignment, and shall issue to the assignor a new Warrant evidencing the portion of this Warrant not so assigned, and this Warrant shall promptly be cancelled. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Holder shall not be required to physically surrender this Warrant to the Company unless the Holder has assigned this Warrant in full, in which case, the Holder shall surrender this Warrant to the Company within three (3) Trading Days of the date on which the Holder delivers an assignment form to the Company assigning this Warrant in full. The Warrant, if properly assigned in accordance herewith, may be exercised by a new holder for the purchase of Warrant Shares without having a new Warrant issued. |
| (b) | New Warrants. This Warrant may be divided or combined with other Warrants upon presentation hereof at the aforesaid office of the Company, together with a written notice specifying the names and denominations in which new Warrants are to be issued, signed by the Holder or its agent or attorney. Subject to compliance with Section 4(a), as to any transfer which may be involved in such division or combination, the Company shall execute and deliver a new Warrant or Warrants in exchange for the Warrant or Warrants to be divided or combined in accordance with such notice. All Warrants issued on transfers or exchanges shall be dated the Initial Exercise Date and shall be identical with this Warrant except as to the number of Warrant Shares issuable pursuant thereto. |
| (c) | Warrant Register. The Company shall register this Warrant, upon records to be maintained by the Company for that purpose (the “Warrant Register”), in the name of the record Holder hereof from time to time. The Company may deem and treat the registered Holder of this Warrant as the absolute owner hereof for the purpose of any exercise hereof or any distribution to the Holder, and for all other purposes, absent actual notice to the contrary. |
| (d) | Transfer Restrictions. If, at the time of the surrender of this Warrant in connection with any transfer of this Warrant, the transfer of this Warrant shall not be either (i) registered pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act and under applicable state securities or blue sky laws or (ii) eligible for resale without volume or manner-of-sale restrictions or current public information requirements pursuant to Rule 144, the Company may require, as a condition of allowing such transfer, that the Holder or transferee of this Warrant, as the case may be, comply with the provisions of Section 5.7 of the Purchase Agreement. |
| (e) | Representation by the Holder. The Holder, by the acceptance hereof, represents and warrants that it is acquiring this Warrant and, upon any exercise hereof, will acquire the Warrant Shares issuable upon such exercise, for its own account and not with a view to or for distributing or reselling such Warrant Shares or any part thereof in violation of the Securities Act or any applicable state securities law, except pursuant to sales registered or exempted under the Securities Act. |
Section 5. Miscellaneous.
| (a) | No Rights as Stockholder Until Exercise. This Warrant does not entitle the Holder to any voting rights, dividends or other rights as a stockholder of the Company prior to the exercise hereof as set forth in Section 2(d)(i), except as expressly set forth in Section 3. |
| (b) | Loss, Theft, Destruction or Mutilation of Warrant. The Company covenants that upon receipt by the Company of evidence reasonably satisfactory to it of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of this Warrant or any stock certificate relating to the Warrant Shares, and in case of loss, theft or destruction, of indemnity or security reasonably satisfactory to it (which, in the case of the Warrant, shall not include the posting of any bond), and upon surrender and cancellation of such Warrant or stock certificate, if mutilated, the Company will make and deliver a new Warrant or stock certificate of like tenor and dated as of such cancellation, in lieu of such Warrant or stock certificate. |
| (c) | Saturdays, Sundays, Holidays, etc. If the last or appointed day for the taking of any action or the expiration of any right required or granted herein shall not be a Business Day, then, such action may be taken or such right may be exercised on the next succeeding Business Day. |
| (i) | The Company covenants that, during the period the Warrant is outstanding, it will reserve from its authorized and unissued Common Stock a sufficient number of shares to provide for the issuance of the Warrant Shares upon the exercise of any purchase rights under this Warrant (without regard to any limitation on exercise set forth herein and assuming an Exercise Price equal to the lower of (i) $[5.00] and (ii) the Exercise Price then in effect). The Company further covenants that its issuance of this Warrant shall constitute full authority to its officers who are charged with the duty of issuing the necessary Warrant Shares upon the exercise of the purchase rights under this Warrant. The Company will take all such reasonable action as may be necessary to assure that such Warrant Shares may be issued as provided herein without violation of any applicable law or regulation, or of any requirements of the Trading Market upon which the Common Stock may be listed. The Company covenants that all Warrant Shares which may be issued upon the exercise of the purchase rights represented by this Warrant will, upon exercise of the purchase rights represented by this Warrant and payment for such Warrant Shares in accordance herewith, be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and free from all taxes, liens and charges created by the Company in respect of the issue thereof (other than taxes in respect of any transfer occurring contemporaneously with such issue). |
| (ii) | Except and to the extent as waived or consented to by the Holder, the Company shall not by any action, including, without limitation, amending its Certificate of Incorporation (or any Certificate of Designation thereto) or through any reorganization, transfer of assets, consolidation, merger, dissolution, issue or sale of securities or any other voluntary action, avoid or seek to avoid the observance or performance of any of the terms of this Warrant, but will at all times in good faith assist in the carrying out of all such terms and in the taking of all such actions as may be necessary or appropriate to protect the rights of Holder as set forth in this Warrant against impairment. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company will (i) not increase the par value of any Warrant Shares above the amount payable therefor upon such exercise immediately prior to such increase in par value, (ii) take all such action as may be necessary or appropriate in order that the Company may validly and legally issue fully paid and nonassessable Warrant Shares upon the exercise of this Warrant and (iii) use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain all such authorizations, exemptions or consents from any public regulatory body having jurisdiction thereof, as may be, necessary to enable the Company to perform its obligations under this Warrant. |
| (iii) | Before taking any action which would result in an adjustment in the number of Warrant Shares for which this Warrant is exercisable or in the Exercise Price, the Company shall obtain all such authorizations or exemptions thereof, or consents thereto, as may be necessary from any public regulatory body or bodies having jurisdiction thereof. |
| (e) | Jurisdiction. All questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation of this Warrant shall be determined in accordance with the provisions of the Purchase Agreement. |
| (f) | Restrictions. The Holder acknowledges that the Warrant Shares acquired upon the exercise of this Warrant, if not registered, and the Holder does not utilize cashless exercise, will have restrictions upon resale imposed by state and federal securities laws. |
| (g) | Nonwaiver and Expenses. No course of dealing or any delay or failure to exercise any right hereunder on the part of Holder shall operate as a waiver of such right or otherwise prejudice the Holder’s rights, powers or remedies. Without limiting any other provision of this Warrant or the Purchase Agreement, if the Company willfully and knowingly fails to comply with any provision of this Warrant, which results in any material damages to the Holder, the Company shall pay to the Holder such amounts as shall be sufficient to cover any costs and expenses including, but not limited to, reasonable attorneys’ fees, including those of appellate proceedings, incurred by the Holder in collecting any amounts due pursuant hereto or in otherwise enforcing any of its rights, powers or remedies hereunder. |
| (h) | Notices. Any notice, request or other document required or permitted to be given or delivered to the Holder by the Company shall be delivered in accordance with the notice provisions of the Purchase Agreement. |
| (i) | Limitation of Liability. No provision hereof, in the absence of any affirmative action by the Holder to exercise this Warrant to purchase Warrant Shares, and no enumeration herein of the rights or privileges of the Holder, shall give rise to any liability of the Holder for the purchase price of any Common Stock or as a stockholder of the Company, whether such liability is asserted by the Company or by creditors of the Company. |
| (j) | Remedies. The Holder, in addition to being entitled to exercise all rights granted by law, including recovery of damages, will be entitled to specific performance of its rights under this Warrant. The Company agrees that monetary damages would not be adequate compensation for any loss incurred by reason of a breach by it of the provisions of this Warrant and hereby agrees to waive and not to assert the defense in any action for specific performance that a remedy at law would be adequate. |
| (k) | Successors and Assigns. Subject to applicable securities laws, this Warrant and the rights and obligations evidenced hereby shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors and permitted assigns of the Company and the successors and permitted assigns of Holder. The provisions of this Warrant are intended to be for the benefit of any Holder from time to time of this Warrant and shall be enforceable by the Holder or holder of Warrant Shares. |
| (l) | Amendment. This Warrant may be modified, waived or amended or the provisions hereof waived with the written consent of the Company and the Holder. |
| (m) | Severability. Wherever possible, each provision of this Warrant shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Warrant shall be prohibited by or invalid under applicable law, such provision shall be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or invalidity, without invalidating the remainder of such provisions or the remaining provisions of this Warrant. |
| (n) | Headings. The headings used in this Warrant are for the convenience of reference only and shall not, for any purpose, be deemed a part of this Warrant. |
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(Signature Page Follows)
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Common Stock Purchase Warrant to be duly executed by their respective authorized signatories as of the date first indicated above.
[USA RARE EARTH, INC.] | | Address for Notice: |
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By: | | | |
Name: | | | |
Title: | | | Email: |
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With a copy to (which shall not constitute notice): | | |
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused this Common Stock Purchase Warrant to be duly executed by their respective authorized signatories as of the date first indicated above.
Name of Purchaser:
Signature of Authorized Signatory of Purchaser:
Name of Authorized Signatory:
Title of Authorized Signatory:
Email Address of Authorized Signatory:
Address for Notice to Purchaser:
Address for Delivery of Securities to Purchaser (if not same as address for notice):
Subscription Amount:
Shares of Preferred Stock:
Warrant Shares:
EIN Number:
EXHIBIT A
NOTICE OF EXERCISE
(1) The undersigned hereby elects to purchase ________ Warrant Shares of the Company pursuant to the terms of the attached Warrant (only if exercised in full), and tenders herewith payment of the exercise price in full, together with all applicable transfer taxes, if any.
(2) Payment shall take the form of (check applicable box):
☐ in lawful money of the United States; or
☐ if permitted the cancellation of such number of Warrant Shares as is necessary, in accordance with the formula set forth in subsection 2(c), to exercise this Warrant with respect to the maximum number of Warrant Shares purchasable pursuant to the cashless exercise procedure set forth in subsection 2(c).
(3) Please issue said Warrant Shares in the name of the undersigned or in such other name as is specified below:
The Warrant Shares shall be delivered to the following DWAC Account Number:
(4) Accredited Investor. The undersigned is an “accredited investor” as defined in Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
[SIGNATURE OF HOLDER]
Name of Investing Entity:_______________________________________________________________________ |
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Signature of Authorized Signatory of Investing Entity:________________________________________________ |
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Name of Authorized Signatory:_________________________________________________________________ _ |
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Title of Authorized Signatory:___________________________________________________________________ |
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Date:______________________________________________________________________________________ |
EXHIBIT B
ASSIGNMENT FORM
(To assign the foregoing Warrant, execute this form and supply required information. Do not use this form to purchase shares.)
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the foregoing Warrant and all rights evidenced thereby are hereby assigned to
Name: | | |
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Address: | | |
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Phone Number: | | |
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Email Address: | | |
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Dated: _______________ __, ______ | | |
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Holder’s Signature: | | |
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Holder’s Address: | | |
Exhibit F – Form of A&R Registration Rights Agreement
FORM OF
AMENDED AND RESTATED
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of [●], 2024, is made and entered into by and among USA Rare Earth, Inc. a Delaware corporation (formerly known as Inflection Point Acquisition Corp. II, a Cayman Islands exempted company limited by shares, prior to the Domestication (as defined herein)) (the “Company”), Cantor Fitzgerald & Co., a New York general partnership (“Cantor”), Inflection Point Holdings II LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Sponsor”), the members of the Sponsor identified on the signature page hereto under “Other Sponsor Holder” (such members, together with the Sponsor, the “Sponsor Holders”) and each of the undersigned parties listed on the signature page hereto under “USARE Holders” (the “USARE Holders” and each such party, together with the Sponsor, the Sponsor Holders, Cantor and any person or entity who hereafter becomes a party to this Agreement pursuant to Section 5.2 of this Agreement, a “Holder” and collectively the “Holders”).
RECITALS
WHEREAS, the Company, Cantor, and the Sponsor are party to that certain Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of May 24, 2023 (the “Original RRA”);
WHEREAS, the Company is party to that certain Business Combination Agreement, dated as of August 21, 2024 (as the same may be amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Business Combination Agreement” and the transactions contemplated thereby, the “Business Combination”), by and between the Company, USA Rare Earth, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Legacy Rare Earth”) and IPXX Merger Sub, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company;
WHEREAS, prior to the date hereof and subject to the conditions of the Business Combination Agreement, IPXX migrated to and domesticated as a Delaware corporation in accordance with Section 388 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, as amended, and the Cayman Islands Companies Law (As Revised) (the “Domestication”), and as part of the Domestication, (i) each Class A ordinary share, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company converted into one share of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company (the “Common Stock”) and (ii) each warrant to purchase one Class A ordinary share of the Company converted into one warrant to purchase one share of Common Stock (the “Warrants”);
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement, on the date hereof, the holders Legacy Rare Earth’s Class A Convertible Preferred Units received shares of 12% Series A Cumulative Convertible Preferred Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company (the “Series A Preferred Stock”) in exchange for such units;
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement, on the date hereof, the holders of Legacy Rare Earth’s Class A Preferred Investor Warrants received warrants to purchase Common Stock (the “Series A Investor Warrants”) in exchange for such Class A Preferred Investor Warrants;
WHEREAS, pursuant to the transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement and subject to the terms and conditions set forth therein, the USARE Holders and the other pre-Business Combination security holders of Legacy Rare Earth received an aggregate of [●] shares of Common Stock;
WHEREAS, on the date hereof, the Company issued an additional [●] shares of Series A Preferred Stock and additional Series A Investor Warrants to purchase an aggregate of [●] shares of Common Stock (subject to adjustment) to certain investors pursuant to that certain Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as of [●] 2024, by and among the Company and such investors or other securities purchase agreements regarding the Series A Preferred Stock and Series A Investor Warrants;
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 5.5 of the Original RRA, the provisions, covenants and conditions set forth therein may be amended or modified upon the written consent of the Company and the Holders (as defined in the Original RRA) (the “Original Holders”) of at least a majority in interest of the Registrable Securities (as defined in the Original RRA) (the “Original Registrable Securities”) at the time in question, and the Sponsor Holders party hereto are Original Holders of at least a majority in interest of the Original Registrable Securities as of the date hereof; and
WHEREAS, in connection with the consummation of the transactions described above, the Company and the Original Holders desire to amend and restate the Original RRA in its entirety as set forth herein, and the Company and the Holders desire to enter into this Agreement, pursuant to which the Company shall grant the Holders certain registration rights with respect to the Registrable Securities (as defined below) on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the representations, covenants and agreements contained herein, and certain other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE 1
DEFINITIONS
1.1 Definitions. The terms defined in this ARTICLE 1 shall, for all purposes of this Agreement, have the respective meanings set forth below:
“Additional Holder” shall have the meaning given in Section 5.11.
“Additional Holder Common Stock” shall have the meaning given in Section 5.11.
“Adverse Disclosure” shall mean any public disclosure of material non-public information, which disclosure, in the good faith judgment of the Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer of the Company or the Board, in each case, after consultation with counsel to the Company, (i) would be required to be made in any Registration Statement or Prospectus in order for the applicable Registration Statement or Prospectus not to contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements contained therein (in the case of any prospectus and any preliminary prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, (ii) would not be required to be made at such time if the Registration Statement were not being filed, declared effective or used, as the case may be, and (iii) the Company has a bona fide business purpose for not making such information public.
“Agreement” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble hereto.
“Board” shall mean the board of directors of the Company.
“Business Combination Agreement” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
“Business Day” means a day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York, New York are authorized or required by Law to close.
“Cantor” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble hereto.
“Closing” shall have the meaning given in the Business Combination Agreement.
“Closing Date” shall have the meaning given in the Business Combination Agreement.
“Commission” shall mean the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Common Stock” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
“Company” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble hereto and includes the Company’s successors by recapitalization, merger, consolidation, spin-off, reorganization or similar transaction.
“Competing Registration Rights” shall have the meaning given in Section 5.8.
“Demanding Holder” shall have the meaning given in Section 2.1.4.
“Earnout Shares” shall have the meaning given in the Business Combination Agreement.
“Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as it may be amended from time to time.
“Floor Price” shall mean $1.00.
“Form S-1 Shelf” shall have the meaning given in Section 2.1.1.
“Form S-3 Shelf” shall have the meaning given in Section 2.1.1.
“Governmental Authority” means any federal, state, local, foreign or other governmental, quasi-governmental or administrative body, instrumentality, department or agency or any court, tribunal, administrative hearing body, arbitration panel, commission, or other similar dispute-resolving panel or body.
“Holder Information” shall have the meaning given in Section 4.1.2.
“Holders” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble.
“Joinder” shall have the meaning given in Section 5.10.
“Law” shall mean any federal, state, local, municipal, foreign or other law, statute, legislation, principle of common law, ordinance, code, edict, decree, proclamation, treaty, convention, rule, regulation, directive, requirement, writ, injunction, settlement, order or consent that is or has been issued, enacted, adopted, passed, approved, promulgated, made, implemented or otherwise put into effect by or under the authority of any Governmental Authority.
“Legacy Rare Earth” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
“Legal Proceeding” means any notice of noncompliance or violation, or any claim, demand, charge, action, suit, litigation, audit, settlement, complaint, stipulation, assessment or arbitration, or any request (including any request for information), inquiry, hearing, proceeding or investigation, by or before any Governmental Authority.
“Lock-Up Agreements” means the Company’s bylaws as may be in effect from time to time and the Sponsor Holder Lock-Up Agreement, collectively.
“Lock-Up Period” shall mean (a) with respect to the Sponsor Holder and their respective Permitted Transferees, the lock-up period specified with respect to a party in the Sponsor Holder Lock-Up Agreement and (b) with respect to the USARE Holders and their respective Permitted Transferees, the lock-up period specified with respect to a Person in the Company’s bylaws as may be in effect from time to time.
“Maximum Number of Securities” shall have the meaning given in Section 2.1.5.
“Minimum Takedown Threshold” shall have the meaning given in Section 2.1.4.
“Misstatement” shall mean an untrue statement of a material fact or an omission to state a material fact required to be stated in a Registration Statement or Prospectus, or necessary to make the statements in a Registration Statement or Prospectus (in the case of a Prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading.
“Original Registrable Securities” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
“Original RRA” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
“Other Coordinated Offering” shall have the meaning given in Section 2.4.1.
“Permitted Transferees” means persons to whom a holder of Registrable Securities is permitted to transfer such Registrable Securities prior to the expiration of the applicable Lock-Up Period pursuant to the applicable Lock-Up Agreement.
“Person” means an individual, corporation, partnership (including a general partnership, limited partnership or limited liability partnership), limited liability company, association, trust or other entity or organization, including a government, domestic or foreign, or political subdivision thereof, or an agency or instrumentality thereof.
“Piggyback Registration” shall have the meaning given in Section 2.2.1.
“Prospectus” shall mean the prospectus included in any Registration Statement, as supplemented by any and all prospectus supplements and as amended by any and all post-effective amendments and including all material incorporated by reference in such prospectus.
“Registrable Security” shall mean: (i) any outstanding shares of Common Stock held by a Holder following the Closing that are issued in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement, including, for the avoidance of doubt, any shares of Common Stock issued in connection with the Domestication (other than the Earnout Shares); (ii) any shares of Common Stock that may be acquired by Holders upon the exercise, conversion or redemption of any other security of the Company or other right to acquire Common Stock held by a Holder following the Closing that are issued in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement, including, for the avoidance of doubt, the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of Warrants, the Earnout Shares (provided that, prior to the release of such Earnout Shares to the Eligible Stockholders (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement) in accordance with the terms of the Business Combination Agreement, the Earnout Shares shall only be deemed to be “Registrable Securities” for purposes of Sections 2.1.1, 2.1.2 and 2.1.3) and only where the person receiving such Earnout Shares has executed and become a party to this Agreement, the shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of any outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock and the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of Series A Investor Warrants; [(iii) any outstanding Warrants held by a Holder any outstanding shares of Common Stock]; (iv) any outstanding shares of Common Stock or warrants to purchase shares of Common Stock (including any shares of Common Stock issued or issuable upon the exercise of any such warrant) of the Company held by a Holder following the date hereof to the extent that such securities are “restricted securities” (as defined in Rule 144) or are otherwise held by an “affiliate” (as defined in Rule 144) of the Company; and (v) any other equity security of the Company issued or issuable with respect to any securities referenced in clause (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) above by way of a stock dividend or stock split or in connection with a combination of shares, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, spin-off, reorganization or similar transaction; provided, however, that, as to any particular Registrable Security, such securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities upon the earliest to occur of the following events: (i) a Registration Statement with respect to the sale of such securities shall have become effective under the Securities Act and such securities shall have been sold, transferred, disposed of or exchanged in accordance with such Registration Statement by the applicable Holder to a Person that is not an “affiliate” (as defined in Rule 144) of the Company and new certificates for such securities not bearing (or book-entry positions not subject to) a legend restricting further transfer shall have been delivered by the Company and subsequent public distribution of such securities shall not require registration under the Securities Act; (ii) such securities shall have been otherwise transferred (or moved to a brokerage account), new certificates for such securities not bearing (or book-entry positions not subject to) a legend restricting further transfer shall have been delivered by the Company and subsequent public distribution of such securities shall not require registration under the Securities Act; (iii) such securities shall have ceased to be outstanding; (iv) such securities may be sold without registration pursuant to Rule 144 (but with no volume or other restrictions or limitations including as to manner or timing of sale or current public information requirements); (v) such securities have been sold to, or through, a broker, dealer or underwriter in a public distribution or other public securities transaction; (vi) after such time as the Holder of such securities holds less than 10% of the Registrable Securities issued to such Holder in connection with Closing, unless the Company consents otherwise and (vii) the expiration of five years after the closing of the Business Combination, which such five-year period may be extended the Company in its sole discretion.
“Registration” shall mean a registration, including related Shelf Takedowns, effected by preparing and filing a Registration Statement, Prospectus or similar document in compliance with the requirements of the Securities Act, and the applicable rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and such registration statement becoming effective.
“Registration Expenses” shall mean the documented, out-of-pocket expenses of a Registration, including, without limitation, the following:
(A) all registration and filing fees (including fees with respect to filings required to be made with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. and any national securities exchange on which the Common Stock are then listed);
(B) fees and expenses of compliance with securities or blue sky laws (including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with blue sky qualifications of Registrable Securities);
(C) printing, messenger, telephone and delivery expenses;
(D) reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company;
(E) reasonable fees and disbursements of all independent registered public accountants of the Company incurred specifically in connection with such Registration; and
(F) reasonable fees and expenses of one (1) legal counsel selected by the majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders in an Underwritten Offering or Other Coordinated Offering.
“Registration Statement” shall mean any registration statement that covers Registrable Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, including any Shelf, and in each case, including the Prospectus included in such registration statement, amendments (including post-effective amendments) and supplements to such registration statement, and all exhibits to and all material incorporated by reference in such registration statement.
“Requesting Holders” shall have the meaning given in Section 2.1.5.
“Rule 144” shall mean Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act, as amended from time to time, or any similar successor rule thereto that may be promulgated by the Commission.
“Securities Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time.
“Series A Investor Warrants” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
“Series A Preferred Stock” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
“Shelf” shall mean the Form S-1 Shelf, the Form S-3 Shelf, or any Subsequent Shelf Registration, as the case may be.
“Shelf Registration” shall mean a registration of securities pursuant to a registration statement filed with the Commission in accordance with and pursuant to Rule 415 promulgated under the Securities Act, as amended from time to time, or any similar successor rule thereto that may be promulgated by the Commission.
“Shelf Takedown” shall mean an Underwritten Shelf Takedown or any proposed transfer or sale using a Registration Statement, including a Piggyback Registration.
“Sponsor” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble hereto.
“Sponsor Holders” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble hereto.
“Sponsor Holder Lock-Up Agreement” means the lock-up agreement, dated [ ], entered into by the Company and the Sponsor.
“Sponsor Majority Holders” shall mean the Sponsor Holders holding in the aggregate a majority of the Registrable Securities then held by the Sponsor Holders on an as-converted to Common Stock basis.
“Subsequent Shelf Registration” shall have the meaning given in Section 2.1.2.
“Total Limit” shall have the meaning given in Section 2.1.6.
“Transactions” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
“Transfer” shall mean the (i) sale or assignment of, offer to sell, contract or agreement to sell, hypothecation, pledge, grant of any option to purchase or otherwise dispose of or agreement to dispose of, directly or indirectly, or establishment or increase of a put equivalent position or liquidation with respect to or decrease of a call equivalent position within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act with respect to, any security, (ii) entry into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of any security, whether any such transaction is to be settled by delivery of such securities, in cash or otherwise, or (iii) public announcement of any intention to effect any transaction specified in clause (i) or (ii).
“Underwriter” shall mean a securities dealer who purchases any Registrable Securities as principal in an Underwritten Offering and not as part of such dealer’s market-making activities.
“Underwritten Lock-Up Period” shall have the meaning given in Section 2.3.
“Underwritten Registration” or “Underwritten Offering” shall mean a Registration in which securities of the Company are sold to an Underwriter in a firm commitment underwriting for distribution to the public.
“Underwritten Shelf Takedown” shall have the meaning given in subsection 2.1.4.
“USARE Holders” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble hereto.
“Withdrawal Notice” shall have the meaning given in Section 2.1.6.
“Yearly Limit” shall have the meaning given in Section 2.1.4.
ARTICLE 2
REGISTRATIONS
2.1.1 Filing. The Company shall, subject to Section 3.4, submit or file as promptly as practicable following the Closing Date a Registration Statement for a Shelf Registration on Form S-1 (the “Form S-1 Shelf”) or, if the Company is eligible to use a Registration Statement on Form S-3, a Shelf Registration on Form S-3 (the “Form S-3 Shelf”), in each case, covering the resale of all Registrable Securities (determined as of two (2) Business Days prior to such submission or filing and assuming that (i) all shares of Series A Preferred Stock are converted into shares of Common Stock at a conversion price equal to the Floor Price and (ii) all Series A Investor Warrants are exercised in full at an exercise price equal to the Floor Price) on a delayed or continuous basis and shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to have such Shelf declared effective as soon as reasonably practicable after the filing thereof, but no later than the earlier of (a) the 90th calendar day following the filing date thereof if the Commission notifies the Company that it will “review” the Registration Statement and (b) the tenth (10th) business day after the date the Company is notified (orally or in writing, whichever is earlier) by the Commission that the Registration Statement will not be “reviewed” or will not be subject to further review. Such Shelf shall provide for the resale of the Registrable Securities included therein pursuant to any method or combination of methods legally available to, and requested by, any Holder named therein. Subject to Sections 2.1.3 and 3.4, the Company shall maintain a Shelf in accordance with the terms hereof, and shall prepare and file with the Commission such amendments, including post-effective amendments, and supplements as may be necessary to keep a Shelf continuously effective, available for use to permit the Holders named therein to sell their Registrable Securities included therein and in compliance with the provisions of the Securities Act until such time as there are no longer any Registrable Securities. In the event the Company files a Form S-1 Shelf, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to convert the Form S-1 Shelf (and any Subsequent Shelf Registration) to a Form S-3 Shelf as soon as reasonably practicable after the Company is eligible to use Form S-3.
2.1.2 Subsequent Shelf Registration. If any Shelf ceases to be effective under the Securities Act for any reason at any time while Registrable Securities are still outstanding, the Company shall, subject to Section 3.4, use its commercially reasonable efforts to, as promptly as is reasonably practicable, cause such Shelf to again become effective under the Securities Act (including using its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the prompt withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of such Shelf), and shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to, as promptly as is reasonably practicable, amend such Shelf in a manner reasonably expected to result in the withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of such Shelf or file an additional registration statement as a Shelf Registration (a “Subsequent Shelf Registration”) registering the resale of all Registrable Securities under such Shelf (determined as of two (2) business days prior to such filing and assuming that (i) all shares of Series A Preferred Stock are converted into shares of Common Stock at a conversion price equal to the Floor Price and (ii) all Series A Investor Warrants are exercised in full at an exercise price equal to the Floor Price), and pursuant to any method or combination of methods legally available to, and requested by, any Holder named therein. If a Subsequent Shelf Registration is filed, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to (i) cause such Subsequent Shelf Registration to become effective under the Securities Act as promptly as is reasonably practicable after the filing thereof (it being agreed that the Subsequent Shelf Registration shall be an automatic shelf registration statement (as defined in Rule 405 promulgated under the Securities Act) if the Company is a well-known seasoned issuer (as defined in Rule 405 promulgated under the Securities Act) at the most recent applicable eligibility determination date) and (ii) keep such Subsequent Shelf Registration continuously effective, available for use to permit the Holders named therein to sell their Registrable Securities included therein and in compliance with the provisions of the Securities Act until such time as there are no longer any Registrable Securities. Any such Subsequent Shelf Registration shall be on Form S-3 to the extent that the Company is eligible to use such form. Otherwise, such Subsequent Shelf Registration shall be on another appropriate form.
2.1.3 New Registrable Securities. Subject to Section 3.4, in the event that any Holder holds Registrable Securities that are not registered for resale on a delayed or continuous basis, the Company shall, upon the written request of such Holder, promptly use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the resale of such Registrable Securities to be covered by either, at the Company’s option, any then-available Shelf (including by means of a post-effective amendment) or a Subsequent Shelf Registration and cause the same to become effective as soon as practicable after such filing and such Shelf or Subsequent Shelf Registration shall be subject to the terms hereof; provided, however, that the Company shall only be required to cause such Registrable Securities to be so covered twice per calendar year for each of (i) the Sponsor Holders, collectively and (ii) the USARE Holders, collectively.
2.1.4 Requests for Underwritten Shelf Takedowns. Subject to Section 3.4, at any time and from time to time when an effective Shelf is on file with the Commission, any Holder (a “Demanding Holder”) may request to sell all or any portion of its Registrable Securities in an Underwritten Offering or other coordinated offering that is registered pursuant to the Shelf (each, an “Underwritten Shelf Takedown”); provided that the Company shall only be obligated to effect an Underwritten Shelf Takedown if such offering shall include Registrable Securities proposed to be sold by the Demanding Holder, either individually or together with other Demanding Holders, with a total offering price reasonably expected to exceed, in the aggregate, $25 million (the “Minimum Takedown Threshold”). All requests for Underwritten Shelf Takedowns shall be made by giving written notice to the Company, which shall specify the approximate number of Registrable Securities proposed to be sold in the Underwritten Shelf Takedown. Subject to Section 2.4.4, the Company shall have the right to select the Underwriters for such offering (which shall consist of one or more reputable nationally recognized investment banks), subject to the initial Demanding Holder’s prior approval (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed). Subject to Section 2.4.6, each of (i) the Sponsor Holders, collectively and (ii) the USARE Holders, collectively, may demand Underwritten Shelf Takedowns pursuant to this Section 2.1.4 (x) not more than two (2) times in any 12-month period (the “Yearly Limit”). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Company may effect any Underwritten Offering pursuant to any then-effective Registration Statement, including a Form S-3, that is then available for such offering.
2.1.5 Reduction of Underwritten Offering. If the managing Underwriter or Underwriters in an Underwritten Shelf Takedown, in good faith, advises the Company, the Demanding Holders and the Holders requesting piggy back rights pursuant to this Agreement with respect to such Underwritten Shelf Takedown (the “Requesting Holders”) (if any) in writing that the dollar amount or number of Registrable Securities that the Demanding Holders and the Requesting Holders (if any) desire to sell, taken together with all other shares of Common Stock or other equity securities that the Company desires to sell all other shares of Common Stock or other equity securities, if any, that have been requested to be sold in such Underwritten Offering pursuant to separate written contractual piggy-back registration rights held by any other stockholders who desire to sell, exceeds the maximum dollar amount or maximum number of equity securities that can be sold in the Underwritten Offering without adversely affecting the proposed offering price, the timing, the distribution method, or the probability of success of such offering (such maximum dollar amount or maximum number of such securities, as applicable, the “Maximum Number of Securities”), then the Company shall include in such Underwritten Offering, before including any shares of Common Stock or other equity securities proposed to be sold by the Company or by other holders of Common Stock or other equity securities, the Registrable Securities of the Demanding Holders and the Requesting Holders (if any) (pro rata, as nearly as possible, based on the respective number of Registrable Securities that each Demanding Holder and Requesting Holder (if any) has requested be included in such Underwritten Shelf Takedown and the aggregate number of Registrable Securities that the Demanding Holders and Requesting Holders have requested be included in such Underwritten Shelf Takedown that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities). To facilitate the allocation of Registrable Securities in accordance with the above provisions, the Company or the Underwriters may round the number of shares allocated to any Holder to the nearest 10 Registrable Securities.
2.1.6 Underwritten Shelf Takedown Withdrawal. Prior to the filing of the applicable “red herring” prospectus or prospectus supplement used for marketing such Underwritten Shelf Takedown, a majority in interest of the Demanding Holders initiating an Underwritten Shelf Takedown shall have the right to withdraw from such Underwritten Shelf Takedown for any or no reason whatsoever upon written notification (a “Withdrawal Notice”) to the Company and the Underwriter or Underwriters (if any) of their intention to withdraw from such Underwritten Shelf Takedown; provided that any other Demanding Holder(s) may elect to have the Company continue an Underwritten Shelf Takedown if the Minimum Takedown Threshold would still be satisfied by the Registrable Securities proposed to be sold in the Underwritten Shelf Takedown by the Demanding Holder(s). If withdrawn, a demand for an Underwritten Shelf Takedown shall constitute a demand for an Underwritten Shelf Takedown by the withdrawing Demanding Holder for purposes of Section 2.1.4 and shall count toward the Yearly Limit and the Total Limit, unless either (i) the Demanding Holder(s) making the withdrawal has not previously withdrawn any Underwritten Shelf Takedown or (ii) the Demanding Holder(s) making the withdrawal reimburses the Company for all Registration Expenses with respect to such Underwritten Shelf Takedown (or, if there is more than one Demanding Holder, a pro rata portion of such Registration Expenses based on the respective number of Registrable Securities that each Demanding Holder has requested be included in such Underwritten Shelf Takedown); provided that, if any other Demanding Holder(s) elects to continue an Underwritten Shelf Takedown pursuant to the proviso in the immediately preceding sentence, such Underwritten Shelf Takedown shall instead count as an Underwritten Shelf Takedown demanded by such Demanding Holder(s) for purposes of Section 2.1.4 and shall count toward the Yearly Limit and the Total Limit. Following the receipt of any Withdrawal Notice, the Company shall promptly forward such Withdrawal Notice to any other Requesting Holders. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Company shall be responsible for the Registration Expenses incurred in connection with a Shelf Takedown prior to its withdrawal under this Section 2.1.6, other than if a Demanding Holder elects to pay such Registration Expenses pursuant to clause (ii) of the second sentence of this Section 2.1.6.
2.2 | Piggyback Registration. |
| 2.2.1 | Piggyback Rights. If the Company or any Holder proposes to conduct a registered offering of, or if the Company proposes to file a Registration Statement under the Securities Act with respect to the Registration of, equity securities, or securities or other obligations exercisable or exchangeable for, or convertible into equity securities, or Company equity securities for its own account or for the account of stockholders of the Company (or by the Company and by the securityholders of the Company including, without limitation, an Underwritten Shelf Takedown pursuant to Section 2.2.1), other than a Registration Statement (or any registered offering with respect thereto) (i) filed in connection with any employee stock option or other benefit plan, (ii) for an exchange offer or offering of securities solely to the Company’s existing securityholders, (iii) pursuant to a Registration Statement on Form S-4 (or similar form that relates to a transaction subject to Rule 145 under the Securities Act or any successor rule thereto), (iv) for an offering of debt that is convertible into equity securities of the Company, (v) for a dividend reinvestment plan, or (vi) a Block Trade or an Other Coordinated Offering (which shall be subject to Section 2.4), then the Company shall give written notice of such proposed offering to all of the Holders of Registrable Securities as soon as practicable but not less than seven days before the anticipated filing date of such Registration Statement or, in the case of an Underwritten Offering pursuant to a Shelf Registration, the applicable “red herring” prospectus or prospectus supplement used for marketing such offering, which notice shall (A) describe the amount and type of securities to be included in such offering, the intended method(s) of distribution, and the name of the proposed managing Underwriter or Underwriters, if any, in such offering, and (B) offer to all of the Holders of Registrable Securities the opportunity to include in such registered offering such number of Registrable Securities as such Holders may request in writing within two (2) business days after transmission of such written notice (such Registration, a “Piggyback Registration”). Subject to Section 2.2.2, the Company shall, in good faith, cause such Registrable Securities to be included in such Piggyback Registration and, if applicable, shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the managing Underwriter or Underwriters of such Piggyback Registration to permit the Registrable Securities requested by the Holders pursuant to this Section 2.2.1 to be included therein on the same terms and conditions as any similar securities of the Company included in such registered offering and to permit the sale or other disposition of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended method(s) of distribution thereof. The inclusion of any Holder’s Registrable Securities in a Piggyback Registration shall be subject to such Holder’s agreement to enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the Underwriter(s) selected for such Underwritten Offering by the Company. |
| 2.2.2 | Reduction of Piggyback Registration. If the managing Underwriter or Underwriters in an Underwritten Offering that is to be a Piggyback Registration, in good faith, advises the Company and the Holders of Registrable Securities participating in the Piggyback Registration in writing that the dollar amount or number of shares of Common Stock or other equity securities that the Company or the Demanding Holders desire to sell, taken together with (i) the shares of Common Stock or other equity securities, if any, as to which Registration or a registered offering has been demanded pursuant to separate written contractual arrangements with Persons other than the Holders of Registrable Securities hereunder (ii) the Registrable Securities as to which Registration has been requested pursuant to this Section 2.2, and (iii) the shares of Common Stock or other equity securities, if any, as to which Registration or a registered offering has been requested pursuant to separate written contractual piggy-back registration rights of Persons other than the Holders of Registrable Securities hereunder, exceeds the Maximum Number of Securities, then: |
| (a) | If the Registration or registered offering is undertaken for the Company’s account, the Company shall include in any such Registration or registered offering (A) first, the shares of Common Stock or other equity securities that the Company desires to sell, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; (B) second, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clause (A), the Registrable Securities of Holders exercising their rights to register their Registrable Securities pursuant to subsection 2.2.1 hereof (pro rata, as nearly as practicable, based on the respective number of Registrable Securities that such Holder has requested be included in such Underwritten Offering and the aggregate number of Registrable Securities that the Holders have requested to be included in such Underwritten Offering), which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; and (C) third, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (A) and (B), the shares of Common Stock or other equity securities, if any, as to which Registration or a registered offering has been requested pursuant to separate written contractual piggy-back registration rights of Persons other than the Holders of Registrable Securities hereunder, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; |
| (b) | If the Registration or registered offering is pursuant to a request by Persons other than the Holders of Registrable Securities, then the Company shall include in any such Registration or registered offering (A) first, the shares of Common Stock or other equity securities, if any, of such requesting Persons, other than the Holders of Registrable Securities, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; (B) second, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clause (A), the Registrable Securities of Holders exercising their rights to register their Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 2.2.1, pro rata, as nearly as practicable, based on the respective number of Registrable Securities that each Holder has requested be included in such Underwritten Offering and the aggregate number of Registrable Securities that the Holders have requested to be included in such Underwritten Offering, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; (C) third, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (A) and (B), the shares of Common Stock or other equity securities that the Company desires to sell, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; and (D) fourth, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (A), (B) and (C), the shares of Common Stock or other equity securities, if any, as to which Registration or a registered offering has been requested pursuant to separate written contractual piggy-back registration rights of such Persons other than the Holder of Registrable Securities hereunder, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; and |
| (c) | If the Registration or registered offering is pursuant to a request by Holder(s) of Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 2.1, then the Company shall include in any such Registration or registered offering securities in the priority set forth in Section 2.1.5. |
| 2.2.3 | Piggyback Registration Withdrawal. Any Holder of Registrable Securities (other than a Demanding Holder, whose right to withdraw from an Underwritten Shelf Takedown, and related obligations, shall be governed by Section 2.1.6) shall have the right to withdraw from a Piggyback Registration for any or no reason whatsoever upon written notification to the Company and the Underwriter or Underwriters (if any) of his, her or its intention to withdraw from such Piggyback Registration prior to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement filed with the Commission with respect to such Piggyback Registration or, in the case of a Piggyback Registration pursuant to a Shelf Registration, the filing of the applicable “red herring” prospectus or prospectus supplement with respect to such Piggyback Registration used for marketing such transaction. The Company (whether on its own good faith determination or as the result of a request for withdrawal by persons pursuant to separate written contractual obligations) may withdraw a Registration Statement filed with the Commission in connection with a Piggyback Registration at any time prior to the effectiveness of such Registration Statement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement (other than Section 2.1.6), the Company shall be responsible for the Registration Expenses incurred in connection with the Piggyback Registration prior to its withdrawal under this Section 2.2.3. |
| 2.2.4 | Unlimited Piggyback Registration Rights. For purposes of clarity, subject to Section 2.1.6, any Piggyback Registration effected pursuant to Section 2.2 hereof shall not be counted as an Underwritten Shelf Takedown under Section 2.1.4 and shall not count toward the Yearly Limit or the Total Limit. |
| 2.3 | Market Stand-off. In connection with any Underwritten Offering of equity securities of the Company (other than a Block Trade or Other Coordinated Offering), if requested by the managing Underwriter, each Holder that is an executive officer or director of the Company or a Holder in excess of 5.0% of the then-outstanding Common Stock or securities convertible thereinto (and for which it is customary for such a Holder to agree to a lock-up) agrees that it shall not Transfer any shares of Common Stock or other equity securities of the Company (other than those included in such offering pursuant to this Agreement), without the prior written consent of the Company, during the 90-day period (or such shorter time agreed to by the managing Underwriters) beginning on the date of pricing of such offering (the “Underwritten Lock-Up Period”), except (i) to Permitted Transferees, (ii) as expressly permitted in writing by the Company or (iii) in the event the Underwriters managing the offering otherwise consent in writing. Each such Holder agrees to execute a customary lock-up agreement in favor of the Underwriters to such effect (in each case on substantially the same terms and conditions as all other Holders). The Company will not be obligated to undertake an Underwritten Shelf Takedown during any Underwritten Lock-Up Period binding on the Holders, nor will the Company be obligated to include in any Piggyback Registration any Registrable Securities that are then subject to a “lock-up” agreement. |
| 2.4 | Block Trades; Other Coordinated Offerings. |
| 2.4.1 | Notwithstanding any other provision of this ARTICLE 2 but subject to Section 3.4, at any time and from time to time when an effective Shelf is on file with the Commission, if a Demanding Holder wishes to engage in (a) an underwritten registered offering not involving a “roadshow,” an offer commonly known as a “block trade” (a “Block Trade”) or (b) an “at the market” or similar registered offering through a broker, sales agent or distribution agent, whether as agent or principal, (an “Other Coordinated Offering”), in each case, with an anticipated aggregate offering price of, either (x) at least $25 million or (y) all remaining Registrable Securities held by the Demanding Holder, then such Demanding Holder only needs to notify the Company of the Block Trade or Other Coordinated Offering at least five (5) Business Days prior to the day such offering is to commence and the Company shall as expeditiously as possible use its commercially reasonable efforts to facilitate such Block Trade or Other Coordinated Offering; provided that the Demanding Holders representing a majority of the Registrable Securities wishing to engage in the Block Trade or Other Coordinated Offering shall use commercially reasonable efforts to work with the Company and any Underwriters, brokers, sales agents or placement agents prior to making such request in order to facilitate preparation of the registration statement, prospectus and other offering documentation related to the Block Trade or Other Coordinated Offering. |
| 2.4.2 | Prior to the filing of the applicable “red herring” prospectus or prospectus supplement used in connection with a Block Trade or Other Coordinated Offering, a majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders initiating such Block Trade or Other Coordinated Offering shall have the right to submit a Withdrawal Notice to the Company, the Underwriter or Underwriters (if any) and any brokers, sale agents or placement agents (if any) of their intention to withdraw from such Block Trade or Other Coordinated Offering. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Demanding Holder shall be responsible for the Registration Expenses incurred in connection with a Block Trade or Other Coordinated Offering prior to its withdrawal under this Section 2.4.2. |
| 2.4.3 | Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, Section 2.2 shall not apply to a Block Trade or Other Coordinated Offering initiated by a Demanding Holder pursuant to this Agreement. |
| 2.4.4 | The Demanding Holder in a Block Trade or Other Coordinated Offering shall have the right to select the Underwriters and any brokers, sale agents or placement agents (if any) for such Block Trade or Other Coordinated Offering (in each case, which shall consist of one or more reputable nationally recognized investment banks). |
| 2.4.5 | Subject to Section 2.4.6, each of (i) the Sponsor Holders, as a group, and (ii) the USARE Holders, as a group, may demand no more than two (2) Block Trades or Other Coordinated Offerings pursuant to this Section 2.4 in any twelve (12) month period. For the avoidance of doubt, any Block Trade or Other Coordinated Offering effected pursuant to this Section 2.4 shall not be counted as a demand for an Underwritten Shelf Takedown pursuant to Section 2.1.4. |
| 2.4.6 | Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, with respect to (i) the Sponsor Holders, as a group, or (ii) the USARE Holders, as a group, in no event may the number of Block Trades or Other Coordinated Offerings demanded pursuant to this Section 2.4 plus the number of Underwritten Shelf Takedowns demanded pursuant to Section 2.1.4 exceed a total of three (3) demands for such group in any twelve (12) month period. |
| 2.5 | Legends. In connection with any sale or other disposition of the Registrable Securities by a Holder pursuant to Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act (or any successor rule promulgated thereafter by the Commission) and upon compliance by the Holder with the requirements of this Section 2.5, if requested by the Holder, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the transfer agent for the Registrable Securities (the “Transfer Agent”) to remove any restrictive legends related to the book entry account holding such Registrable Securities (if the requirements of Rule 144 have been met) and make a new, unlegended entry for such book entry shares sold or disposed of without restrictive legends promptly after any such request therefor from the Holder; provided that the Company and the Transfer Agent have timely received from the Holder customary representations and other documentation reasonably acceptable to the Company and the Transfer Agent in connection therewith. Subject to receipt from the Holder by the Company and the Transfer Agent of customary representations and other documentation reasonably acceptable to the Company and the Transfer Agent in connection therewith, the Holder may request that the Company remove any legend from the book entry position evidencing its Registrable Securities and the Company will, if required by the Transfer Agent, use its commercially reasonable efforts cause an opinion of the Company’s counsel be provided, in a form reasonably acceptable to the Transfer Agent, to the effect that the removal of such restrictive legends in such circumstances may be effected under the Securities Act, following the earliest of such time as such Registrable Securities (i) are subject to or have been or are about to be sold pursuant to an effective registration statement or (ii) have been or are about to be sold pursuant to Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act (or any successor rule promulgated thereafter by the Commission). If restrictive legends are no longer required for such Registrable Securities pursuant to the foregoing, the Company shall, in accordance with the provisions of this section promptly after any request therefor from the Holder accompanied by such customary and reasonably acceptable representations and other documentation referred to above establishing that restrictive legends are no longer required, deliver to the Transfer Agent irrevocable instructions that the Transfer Agent shall make a new, unlegended entry for such book entry shares. The Company shall be responsible for the fees of its Transfer Agent, its legal counsel and all DTC fees associated with such issuance. |
| 2.6 | FINRA Compliance. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, Cantor may not (i) exercise demand registration rights after five (5) years from the commencement of sales in the Company’s initial public offering, (ii) exercise demand rights on more than one occasion or (iii) exercise its “piggyback” registration rights after seven (7) years from the effective date of the Company’s initial public offering. |
ARTICLE 3
COMPANY PROCEDURES
| 3.1 | General Procedures. In connection with any Shelf and/or Shelf Takedown, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to effect such Registration to permit the sale of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended plan of distribution thereof (and including all manners of distribution in such Registration Statement as Holders may reasonably request in connection with the filing of such Registration Statement and as permitted by law, including distribution of Registrable Securities to a Holder’s members, securityholders or partners), and pursuant thereto the Company shall, as expeditiously as possible: |
| 3.1.1 | prepare and file with the Commission, as soon as reasonably practicable, a Registration Statement with respect to such Registrable Securities and use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become effective and remain effective until all Registrable Securities have ceased to be Registrable Securities; |
| 3.1.2 | prepare and file with the Commission such amendments and post-effective amendments to the Registration Statement, and such supplements to the Prospectus, as may be reasonably requested by any Holder that holds at least five percent (5%) of the Registrable Securities registered on such Registration Statement or any Underwriter of Registrable Securities or as may be required by the rules, regulations or instructions applicable to the registration form used by the Company or by the Securities Act or rules and regulations thereunder to keep the Registration Statement effective until all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement are sold in accordance with the intended plan of distribution set forth in such Registration Statement or supplement to the Prospectus; |
| 3.1.3 | prior to filing a Registration Statement or Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, furnish without charge to the Underwriters, if any, and the Holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration, and such Holders’ legal counsel, copies of such Registration Statement as proposed to be filed, each amendment and supplement to such Registration Statement (in each case including all exhibits thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein), the Prospectus included in such Registration Statement (including each preliminary Prospectus), and such other documents as the Underwriters and the Holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration or the legal counsel for any such Holders may request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such Holders; |
| 3.1.4 | prior to any public offering of Registrable Securities, use its commercially reasonable efforts to (i) register or qualify the Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement under such securities or “blue sky” laws of such jurisdictions in the United States as the Holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement (in light of their intended plan of distribution) may request (or provide evidence reasonably satisfactory to such Holders that the Registrable Securities are exempt from such registration or qualification) and (ii) take such action necessary to cause such Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement to be registered with or approved by such other governmental authorities as may be necessary by virtue of the business and operations of the Company and do any and all other acts and things that may be necessary or advisable to enable the Holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement to consummate the disposition of such Registrable Securities in such jurisdictions; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify or take any action to which it would be subject to general service of process or taxation in any such jurisdiction where it is not then otherwise so subject; |
| 3.1.5 | use commercially reasonable efforts to cause all such Registrable Securities to be listed on each national securities exchange or automated quotation system on which similar securities issued by the Company are then listed; |
| 3.1.6 | provide a transfer agent or warrant agent, as applicable, and registrar for all such Registrable Securities no later than the effective date of such Registration Statement; |
| 3.1.7 | advise each seller of such Registrable Securities, promptly after it shall receive notice or obtain knowledge thereof, of the issuance of any stop order by the Commission suspending the effectiveness of such Registration Statement or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose and promptly use its commercially reasonable efforts to prevent the issuance of any stop order or to obtain its withdrawal if such stop order should be issued; |
| 3.1.8 | prior to the filing of any Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to such Registration Statement or Prospectus as may be (a) necessary in order to comply with the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated under the Securities Act or Exchange Act, as applicable or (b) advisable in order to reduce the number of days that sales are suspended pursuant to Section 3.4, furnish a copy thereof to each seller of such Registrable Securities and by means of one counsel on behalf of all such sellers (excluding any exhibits thereto and any filing made under the Exchange Act that is to be incorporated by reference therein); |
| 3.1.9 | notify the selling Holders at any time when a Prospectus relating to such Registration Statement is required to be delivered under the Securities Act, of the happening of any event as a result of which the Prospectus included in such Registration Statement, as then in effect, includes a Misstatement, and then to correct such Misstatement as set forth in Section 3.4 hereof; |
| 3.1.10 | in the event of an Underwritten Offering, a Block Trade, an Other Coordinated Offering, or sale by a broker, placement agent or sales agent that is registered pursuant to a Registration Statement, permit a representative of the Holders (such representative to be selected by a majority of the participating Holders), the Underwriters or other financial institutions facilitating such Underwritten Offering, Block Trade, Other Coordinated Offering or other sale pursuant to such Registration, if any, and any attorney, consultant or accountant retained by such Holders collectively, Underwriters or other financial institutions to participate, at each such Person’s own expense, in the preparation of the Registration Statement, and cause the Company’s officers, directors and employees to supply all information reasonably requested by any such representative, Underwriter, financial institution, attorney, consultant or accountant in connection with the Registration; provided, however, that such representative, Underwriters or financial institutions agree to confidentiality arrangements, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Company, prior to the release or disclosure of any such information; |
| 3.1.11 | use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain a “comfort” letter (including a bring-down letter dated as of the date the Registrable Securities are delivered for sale pursuant to such Registration) from the Company’s independent registered public accountants in the event of an Underwritten Offering, a Block Trade, an Other Coordinated Offering or a sale by a broker, placement agent or sales agent pursuant to a Registration Statement (subject to such Underwriter or other financial institution facilitating such offering providing such certification or representation as reasonably requested by the Company’s independent registered public accountings and the Company’s counsel), to the extent customary, in customary form and covering such matters of the type customarily covered by “comfort” letters as the managing Underwriter or other similar type of sales agent or placement agent may reasonably request; |
| 3.1.12 | use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain, in the event of an Underwritten Offering, a Block Trade, an Other Coordinated Offering or sale by a broker, placement agent or sales agent pursuant to a Registration Statement, to the extent customary, on the date the Registrable Securities are delivered for sale pursuant to such Registration, obtain an opinion and negative assurance letter, dated such date, of counsel representing the Company for the purposes of such Registration, addressed to the participating Holders, the broker, the placement agent or sales agent, if any, and the Underwriters, if any, covering such legal matters with respect to the Registration in respect of which such opinion is being given as the participating Holders, broker, placement agent, sales agent, or Underwriter may reasonably request and as are customarily included in such opinions and negative assurance letters, provided, in each case, that such participating Holders provide such information to such counsel as is customarily required for, or is reasonably requested by such counsel for purposes of, such opinion or negative assurance letter; |
| 3.1.13 | in the event of any Underwritten Offering, a Block Trade, an Other Coordinated Offering or sale by a broker, placement agent or sales agent pursuant to a Registration Statement, enter into and perform its obligations under an underwriting agreement, purchase agreement, sales agreement or placement agreement in usual and customary form, with the managing Underwriter or broker, sales agent or placement agent of such offering or sale; |
| 3.1.14 | make available to its security holders, as soon as reasonably practicable, an earnings statement covering the period of at least twelve (12) months beginning with the first day of the Company’s first full calendar quarter after the effective date of the Registration Statement which satisfies the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 thereunder (or any successor rule promulgated thereafter by the Commission); |
| 3.1.15 | with respect to an Underwritten Offering pursuant to Section 2.1.4, use its commercially reasonable efforts to make available senior executives of the Company to participate in customary “road show” presentations that may be reasonably requested (in light of the circumstances of the Company at the time) by the Underwriter in such Underwritten Offering; and |
| 3.1.16 | otherwise, in good faith, cooperate reasonably with, and take such customary actions as may reasonably be requested by the Holders participating in such Registration, consistent with the terms of this Agreement, in connection with such Registration. |
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not be required to provide any documents or information to an Underwriter or other sales agent or placement agent if such Underwriter or other sales agent or placement agent has not then been named with respect to the applicable Underwritten Offering or other offering involving a registration as an Underwriter or broker, sales agent or placement agent, as applicable.
| 3.2 | Registration Expenses. The Registration Expenses of all Registrations shall be borne by the Company. It is acknowledged by the Holders that the Holders shall bear all incremental selling expenses relating to the sale of Registrable Securities, such as Underwriters’ or agents’ commissions and discounts, brokerage fees, Underwriter marketing costs and, other than as set forth in the definition of “Registration Expenses,” all reasonable fees and expenses of any legal counsel representing the Holders. |
| 3.3 | Requirements for Participation in Underwritten Offerings. The Holders of Registrable Securities shall provide such information as may reasonably be requested by the Company, or the managing Underwriter or placement agent or sales agent, if any, in connection with the preparation of any Registration Statement or Prospectus, including amendments and supplements thereto, in order to effect the registration of any Registrable Securities under the Securities Act pursuant to ARTICLE 2 and in connection with the Company’s obligation to comply with federal and applicable state securities Laws. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, if any Holder does not timely provide the Company with its requested Holder Information, the Company may exclude such Holder’s Registrable Securities from the applicable Registration Statement or Prospectus if the Company determines, based on the advice of counsel, that such information is necessary to effect the registration and such Holder continues thereafter to withhold such information. No Person may participate in any Underwritten Offering or other coordinated offering for equity securities of the Company pursuant to a Registration initiated by the Company hereunder unless such Person (i) agrees to sell such Person’s securities on the basis provided in any arrangements approved by the Company and (ii) timely completes and executes all customary questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, lock-up agreements, underwriting or other agreements and other customary documents as may be reasonably required under the terms of such arrangements. The exclusion of a Holder’s Registrable Securities as a result of this Section 3.3 shall not affect the registration of the other Registrable Securities to be included in such Registration. |
| 3.4 | Suspension of Sales; Adverse Disclosure; Restrictions on Registration Rights. |
| 3.4.1 | Upon receipt of written notice from the Company that a Registration Statement or Prospectus contains a Misstatement, each of the Holders shall forthwith discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities until he, she or it has received copies of a supplemented or amended Prospectus correcting the Misstatement (it being understood that the Company hereby covenants to prepare and file such supplement or amendment as soon as practicable after the time of such notice), or until he, she or it is advised in writing by the Company that the use of the Prospectus may be resumed. |
| 3.4.2 | If the filing, initial effectiveness or continued use of a Registration Statement in respect of any Registration at any time would (i) require the Company to make an Adverse Disclosure, (ii) require the inclusion in such Registration Statement of financial statements that are unavailable to the Company for reasons beyond the Company’s control or (iii) in the good faith judgment of the majority of the Board, be seriously detrimental to the Company, and the majority of the Board concludes as a result that it is essential to defer such filing, initial effectiveness or continued use at such time, the Company may, upon giving prompt written notice of such action to the Holders (which notice shall not specify the nature of the event giving rise to such delay or suspension), delay the filing or initial effectiveness of, or suspend use of, such Registration Statement for the shortest period of time determined in good faith by the Company to be necessary for such purpose. In the event the Company exercises its rights under this Section 3.4.2, the Holders agree to suspend, immediately upon their receipt of the notice referred to above, their use of the Prospectus relating to any Registration in connection with any sale or offer to sell Registrable Securities until such Holder receives written notice from the Company that such sales or offers of Registrable Securities may be resumed, and in each case maintain the confidentiality of such notice and its contents. |
| 3.4.3 | Subject to Section 3.4.4, if (i) during the period starting with the date 60 days prior to the Company’s good faith estimate of the date of the filing of, and ending on a date 120 days after the effective date of, a Company-initiated Registration, and provided that the Company continues to actively employ, in good faith, all commercially reasonable efforts to maintain the effectiveness of the applicable Shelf Registration, or (ii) if, pursuant to Section 2.1.4, Holders have requested an Underwritten Shelf Takedown and the Company and such Holders are unable to obtain the commitment of underwriters to firmly underwrite such offering, then, in each case, the Company may, upon giving prompt written notice of such action to the Holders, delay any other registered offering pursuant to Section 2.1.4. |
| 3.4.4 | The right to delay or suspend any filing, initial effectiveness or continued use of a Registration Statement pursuant to Section 3.4.2 or a registered offering pursuant to Section 3.4.3 shall be exercised by the Company, in the aggregate, for not more than 90 consecutive calendar days or more 120 total calendar days in each case, during any 12-month period. |
| 3.5 | Reporting Obligations. As long as any Holder shall own Registrable Securities, the Company, at all times while it shall be a reporting company under the Exchange Act, covenants to use commercially reasonable efforts to file timely (or obtain extensions in respect thereof and file within the applicable grace period) all reports required to be filed by the Company after the date hereof pursuant to Sections 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act. Upon the request of any Holder, the Company shall deliver to such Holder a written certification of a duly authorized officer as to whether is has complied with such requirements. |
ARTICLE 4
INDEMNIFICATION AND CONTRIBUTION
| 4.1.1 | The Company agrees to indemnify, to the extent permitted by law, each Holder of Registrable Securities, its officers, directors and agents and each Person who controls such Holder (within the meaning of the Securities Act) against all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable outside attorneys’ fees) resulting from any untrue or alleged untrue statement of material fact contained in or incorporated by reference in any Registration Statement, Prospectus or preliminary Prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto filed pursuant to this Agreement or any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, except insofar as the same are caused by or contained in any information or affidavit so furnished in writing to the Company by such Holder expressly for use therein. The Company shall indemnify the Underwriters, their officers and directors and each Person who controls such Underwriters (within the meaning of the Securities Act) to the same extent as provided in the foregoing with respect to the indemnification of the Holder. |
| 4.1.2 | In connection with any Registration Statement filed pursuant to this Agreement in which a Holder of Registrable Securities is participating, such Holder shall furnish (or cause to be furnished) to the Company in writing such information and affidavits as the Company reasonably requests for use in connection with any such Registration Statement or Prospectus (the “Holder Information”) and, to the extent permitted by law, shall indemnify the Company, its directors, officers and agents and each Person who controls the Company (within the meaning of the Securities Act) against all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable outside attorneys’ fees) resulting from any untrue or alleged untrue statement of material fact contained in or incorporated by reference in any Registration Statement, Prospectus or preliminary Prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, but only to the extent that such untrue statement is contained in (or not contained in, in the case of an omission) any information or affidavit so furnished in writing by such Holder expressly for use therein; provided, however, that the obligation to indemnify shall be several, not joint and several, among such Holders of Registrable Securities, and the liability of each such Holder of Registrable Securities shall be in proportion to and limited to the net proceeds received by such Holder from the sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement. The Holders of Registrable Securities shall indemnify the Underwriters, their officers, directors and each person or entity who controls such Underwriters (within the meaning of the Securities Act) to the same extent as provided in the foregoing with respect to indemnification of the Company. |
| 4.1.3 | Any Person entitled to indemnification herein shall (i) give prompt written notice to the indemnifying party of any claim with respect to which it seeks indemnification (provided that the failure to give prompt notice shall not impair any Person’s right to indemnification hereunder to the extent such failure has not materially prejudiced the indemnifying party) and (ii) unless in such indemnified party’s reasonable judgment a conflict of interest between such indemnified and indemnifying parties may exist with respect to such claim, permit such indemnifying party to assume the defense of such claim with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party. If such defense is assumed, the indemnifying party shall not be subject to any liability for any settlement made by the indemnified party without its consent (but such consent shall not be unreasonably withheld). An indemnifying party who is not entitled to, or elects not to, assume the defense of a claim shall not be obligated to pay the fees and expenses of more than one counsel for all parties indemnified by such indemnifying party with respect to such claim, unless in the reasonable judgment of any indemnified party a conflict of interest may exist between such indemnified party and any other of such indemnified parties with respect to such claim. No indemnifying party shall, without the consent of the indemnified party, consent to the entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement which cannot be settled in all respects by the payment of money (and such money is so paid by the indemnifying party pursuant to the terms of such settlement) or which settlement includes a statement or admission of fault and culpability on the part of such indemnified party or which settlement does not include as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such indemnified party of a release from all liability in respect to such claim or litigation. |
| 4.1.4 | The indemnification provided for under this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the indemnified party or any officer, director or controlling Person of such indemnified party and shall survive the transfer of securities. The Company and each Holder of Registrable Securities participating in an offering also agrees to make such provisions as are reasonably requested by any indemnified party for contribution to such party in the event the Company’s or such Holder’s indemnification is unavailable for any reason. |
| 4.1.5 | If the indemnification provided under Section 4.1 hereof from the indemnifying party is unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities and out-of-pocket expenses referred to herein, then the indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying the indemnified party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by the indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages, liabilities and out-of-pocket expenses in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party and the indemnified party, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the indemnifying party and indemnified party shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any action in question, including any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact, was made by (or not made by, in the case of an omission), or relates to information supplied by (or not supplied by, in the case of an omission), such indemnifying party or indemnified party, and the indemnifying party’s and indemnified party’s relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such action; provided, however, that the liability of any Holder under this Section 4.1.5 shall be limited to the amount of the net proceeds received by such Holder in such offering giving rise to such liability. The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of the losses or other liabilities referred to above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth in Section 4.1.1, 4.1.2 and 4.1.3 above, any legal or other fees, charges or out-of-pocket expenses reasonably incurred by such party in connection with any investigation or proceeding. The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 4.1.5 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 4.1.5. No Person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution pursuant to this Section 4.1.5 from any Person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. |
| 4.2 | Waiver of Medallion Guaranty. The Company agrees to use commercially reasonable efforts to enter into that certain indemnification agreement, substantially in the form attached as Exhibit B to this Agreement, in favor of Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company (or any successor transfer agent or warrant agent of the Company) in connection with the waiver of any requirement to provide a medallion guarantee in connection with any Transfer of any equity securities of the Company by any Sponsor Holder or Cantor or any of their respective Permitted Transferees; provided that, in each case, as a prerequisite to the Company’s entry into such indemnification agreement, such Sponsor Holder or Cantor or their respective Permitted Transferee enters into an indemnification agreement, substantially in the form attached as Exhibit C to this Agreement, in favor of the Company. |
ARTICLE 5
MISCELLANEOUS
| 5.1 | Notices. All notices, consents, waivers and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered (i) in person, (ii) by email or other electronic means (including email), (iii) one (1) Business Day after being sent, if sent by reputable, nationally recognized overnight courier service or (iv) three (3) Business Days after being mailed, if sent by registered or certified mail, pre-paid and return receipt requested, in each case to the applicable party at the following addresses (or at such other address for a party as shall be specified by like notice). Any notice or communication under this Agreement must be addressed, if to the Company, to: USA Rare Earth, Inc., Attention: [●], Email: [●], with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to King & Spalding, 1100 Louisiana, Suite 4100, Houston, Texas 77002-5213, Attention: Trevor G. Pinkerton, Tim FitzSimons, Email: TPinkerton@kslaw.com, TFitzsimons@kslaw.com; and if to any Holder, at such Holder’s address or contact information as set forth in the Company’s books and records. Any party may change its address for notice at any time and from time to time by written notice to the other parties hereto, and such change of address shall become effective thirty (30) days after delivery of such notice as provided in this Section 5.1. |
| 5.2 | Assignment; No Third Party Beneficiaries. |
| 5.2.1 | This Agreement and the rights, duties and obligations of the Company hereunder may not be assigned or delegated by the Company in whole or in part. |
| 5.2.2 | This Agreement and the rights, duties and obligations of the Holders hereunder may not be assigned or delegated by the Holders in whole or in part; provided, however, that, subject to Section 5.2.5, a Holder may assign the rights and obligations of such Holder hereunder relating to particular Registrable Securities in connection with the transfer of such Registrable Securities to a Permitted Transferee of such Holder (it being understood that no such Transfer shall reduce any rights of the Holder with respect to Registrable Securities still held by such Holder). A Permitted Transferee receiving Registrable Securities from a Sponsor Holder shall become a Sponsor Holder, a Permitted Transferee receiving Registrable Securities from an USARE Holder shall become a USARE Holder and a Permitted Transferee receiving Registrable Securities from an Other Holder shall become an Other Holder. |
| 5.2.3 | This Agreement and the provisions hereof shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of each of the parties and its successors and the permitted assigns of the Holders, which shall include Permitted Transferees. |
| 5.2.4 | This Agreement shall not confer any rights or benefits on any Persons that are not parties hereto, other than as expressly set forth in this Agreement and Section 5.2 hereof. |
| 5.2.5 | No assignment by any party hereto of such party’s rights, duties and obligations hereunder shall be binding upon or obligate the Company unless such assignment is permitted under Section 5.2.2 unless and until the Company shall have received (i) written notice of such assignment as provided in Section 5.1 hereof and (ii) the written agreement of the assignee, in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Company, to be bound by the terms and provisions of this Agreement (which may be accomplished by an addendum or certificate of joinder to this Agreement). Any transfer or assignment made other than as provided in this Section 5.2 shall be null and void. |
| 5.3 | Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed and delivered (including by facsimile or other electronic transmission) in one or more counterparts, and by the different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when executed shall be deemed to be an original but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement. |
| 5.4 | Governing Law. This Agreement, and all claims or causes of action based upon, arising out of, or related to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the Laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to principles or rules of conflict of Laws to the extent such principles or rules would require or permit the application of Laws of another jurisdiction. |
| 5.5 | Jurisdiction. Any Legal Proceeding based upon, arising out of or related to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby must be brought in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (or, to the extent such court does not have jurisdiction, in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware and to the extent such court does not have subject matter jurisdiction, the Superior Court of the State of Delaware), and each of the parties irrevocably (i) submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of each such court in any such Legal Proceeding, (ii) waives any objection it may now or hereafter have to personal jurisdiction, venue or to convenience of forum, (iii) agrees that all claims in respect of the Legal Proceeding shall be heard and determined only in any such court, and (iv) agrees not to bring any Legal Proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby in any other court. Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to affect the right of any party to serve process in any manner permitted by Law or to commence Legal Proceedings or otherwise proceed against any other party in any other jurisdiction, in each case, to enforce judgments obtained in any Legal Proceeding, suit or proceeding brought pursuant to this Section 5.5. |
| 5.6 | Waiver of Jury Trial. EACH PARTY ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY ARISE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT AND THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT ISSUES, AND THEREFORE EACH SUCH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY, UNCONDITIONALLY AND VOLUNTARILY WAIVES ANY RIGHT SUCH PARTY MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY. |
| 5.7 | Amendments and Modifications. Upon the written consent of the Company and the Holders of at least a majority in interest of the Registrable Securities at the time in question, compliance with any of the provisions, covenants and conditions set forth in this Agreement may be waived, or any of such provisions, covenants or conditions may be amended or modified; provided, however, that notwithstanding the foregoing, any amendment hereto or waiver hereof that adversely affects the Sponsor Holders shall also require the written consent of the Sponsor Majority Holders so long as the Sponsor Holders hold, in the aggregate, at least two percent (2%) of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (on an as converted to Common Stock basis); and provided, further, that any amendment hereto or waiver hereof that adversely affects one Holder, solely in his, her or its capacity as a holder of the shares of capital stock of the Company, in a manner that is materially different from the other Holders (in such capacity) shall require the consent of the Holder so affected. No course of dealing between any Holder or the Company and any other party hereto or any failure or delay on the part of a Holder or the Company in exercising any rights or remedies under this Agreement shall operate as a waiver of any rights or remedies of any Holder or the Company. No single or partial exercise of any rights or remedies under this Agreement by a party shall operate as a waiver or preclude the exercise of any other rights or remedies hereunder or thereunder by such party. |
| 5.8 | Other Registration Rights. Other than as provided in the Warrant Agreement, dated as of May 24, 2023, between the Company and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, the Company represents and warrants that no Person, other than a Holder of Registrable Securities, has any right to require the Company to register any securities of the Company for sale or to include such securities of the Company in any Registration Statement filed by the Company for the sale of securities for its own account or for the account of any other Person. Further, the Company represents and warrants that this Agreement supersedes any other registration rights agreement or agreement with similar terms and conditions, and in the event of a conflict between any such agreement or agreements and this Agreement, the terms of this Agreement shall prevail. |
| 5.9 | Term. This Agreement shall terminate upon the earlier of (i) the fifth anniversary of the date of this Agreement and (ii) with respect to any Holder, the date that such Holder no longer holds any Registrable Securities. The provisions of ARTICLE 4 shall survive any termination. |
| 5.10 | Holder Information. Each Holder agrees, if requested in writing, to represent to the Company the total number of Registrable Securities held by such Holder in order for the Company to make determinations hereunder. |
| 5.11 | Additional Holders; Joinder. In addition to Persons who may become Holders pursuant to Section 5.2, subject to the prior written consent of at least a majority in interest of the aggregate Registrable Securities at the time in question, the Company may make any Person who acquires Common Stock or rights to acquire Common Stock after the date hereof a party to this Agreement (each such Person, an “Additional Holder”) by obtaining an executed joinder to this Agreement from such Additional Holder in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto (a “Joinder”). Such Joinder shall specify the rights and obligations of the applicable Additional Holder under this Agreement. Upon the execution and delivery and subject to the terms of a Joinder by such Additional Holder, the Common Stock of the Company then owned, or underlying any rights then owned, by such Additional Holder (the “Additional Holder Common Stock”) shall be Registrable Securities to the extent provided herein and therein, and such Additional Holder shall be a Holder under this Agreement with respect to such Additional Holder Common Stock. |
| 5.12 | Severability. In case any provision in this Agreement shall be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in a jurisdiction, such provision shall be modified or deleted, as to the jurisdiction involved, only to the extent necessary to render the same valid, legal and enforceable, and the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions hereof shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby nor shall the validity, legality or enforceability of such provision be affected thereby in any other jurisdiction. Upon such determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the parties will substitute for any invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision a suitable and equitable provision that carries out, so far as may be valid, legal and enforceable, the intent and purpose of such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision. |
| 5.13 | Entire Agreement; Restatement. This Agreement and the documents or instruments referred to herein, including any exhibits and schedules attached hereto, which exhibits and schedules are incorporated herein by reference, embody the entire agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained herein. There are no restrictions, promises, representations, warranties, covenants or undertakings, other than those expressly set forth or referred to herein or the documents or instruments referred to herein, which collectively supersede all prior agreements and the understandings among the parties with respect to the subject matter contained herein. Upon the Closing, the Original RRA shall no longer be of any force or effect. |
[Signature Page Follows]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above.
| COMPANY: |
| |
| USA Rare Earth, Inc., a Delaware corporation |
| |
| By: | |
| Name: | |
| Title: | |
| USARE HOLDERS: |
| |
| |
| [●] |
| |
| [●] |
| |
| [●] |
| SPONSOR: |
| |
| INFLECTION POINT HOLDINGS II LLC, a |
| Delaware limited liability company |
| |
| By: | |
| Name: | |
| Title: | |
| OTHER SPONSOR HOLDERS: |
| |
| [●] |
| CANTOR FITZGERALD & CO. |
| | |
| By: | |
| Name: | |
| Title: | |
Exhibit A
AMENDED AND RESTATED
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
JOINDER
The undersigned is executing and delivering this joinder (this “Joinder”) pursuant to the Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of [____], 2024 (as the same may hereafter be amended, the “Registration Rights Agreement”), among USA Rare Earth, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and the other Persons named as parties therein. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings provided in the Registration Rights Agreement.
By executing and delivering this Joinder to the Company, and upon acceptance hereof by the Company upon the execution of a counterpart hereof, the undersigned hereby agrees to become a party to, to be bound by and to comply with the Registration Rights Agreement as a Holder of Registrable Securities in the same manner as if the undersigned were an original signatory to the Registration Rights Agreement as [a Sponsor Holder / a USARE Holder / an Other Holder], and the undersigned’s [shares of Common Stock] shall be included as Registrable Securities under the Registration Rights Agreement to the extent provided therein; provided, however, that the undersigned and its permitted assigns (if any) shall not have any rights as Holders, and the undersigned’s (and its transferees’) [shares of Common Stock] shall not be included as Registrable Securities, for purposes of the Excluded Sections.
For purposes of this Joinder, “Excluded Sections” shall mean [__________].
Accordingly, the undersigned has executed and delivered this Joinder as of the __________ day of __________, 20__.
| |
| Signature of Stockholder |
| |
| |
| Print Name of Stockholder |
| Its: |
Agreed and Accepted as of
____________, 20__
Exhibit B
USA Rare Earth, Inc.
[●]
[●]
[ ], 2024
Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company
1 State Street, 30th Floor
New York, NY 10004
Re: Indemnification in-lieu-of Medallion Signature Guarantee
To whom it may concern:
This letter is in regards to the transfer by [Inflection Point Holdings II LLC / Name of Sponsor Holder] to [ ], of [ ] [shares of Common Stock / warrants] of USA Rare Earth, Inc. (the “Company”). Please be advised that the Company authorizes Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company to process the subject transfer, which includes securities that have been duly endorsed by the registered holder but do not bear a customary medallion signature guarantee. The Company agrees to indemnify Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company against all losses, liability or costs that may ensue as a result of its processing the above referenced transaction.
I, [ ● ], a duly authorized officer of the Company, have the authority to execute this indemnification on behalf of the Company.
| Very truly yours, |
| |
| USA Rare Earth, Inc. |
| |
| By: | |
| Name: | |
| Title: | |
Exhibit C
[Inflection Point Holdings II LLC / Name of Sponsor Holder]
[●]
[●]
[ ], 2024
USA Rare Earth, Inc.
[●]
[●]
Re: Indemnification in-lieu-of Medallion Signature Guarantee
To whom it may concern:
This letter is in regards to the transfer by [Inflection Point Holdings II LLC / Name of Sponsor Holder] (the “Transferor”) to [ ], of [ ] [shares of Common Stock / warrants] of USA Rare Earth, Inc. (the “Company”). Please be advised that the Transferor authorizes the Company and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company to process the subject transfer, which includes securities that have been duly endorsed by the Transferor but do not bear a customary medallion signature guarantee. The Transferor agrees to indemnify the Company against all losses, liability or costs that may ensue as a result of its processing the above referenced transaction.
I, [ ● ], a duly authorized officer of the Company, have the authority to execute this indemnification on behalf of the Company.
| Very truly yours, |
| |
| [Inflection Point Holdings II LLC / Name of Sponsor Holder] |
| |
| By: | |
| Name: | |
| Title: | |
Exhibit G – Form of Sponsor Lock-Up Agreement
FORM OF LOCK-UP AGREEMENT
THIS LOCK-UP AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of [●], is made and entered into by and among USA Rare Earth, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) (formerly known as Inflection Point Acquisition Corp. II, a Cayman Islands exempted company limited by shares, prior to its domestication as a Delaware corporation), and Inflection Point Holdings II LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Sponsor”), and, together with any Person who hereafter becomes a party to this Agreement pursuant to Section 2 or Section 7 of this Agreement, the “Securityholders” and each, a “Securityholder”). Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the respective meanings ascribed to such terms in the Business Combination Agreement (as defined herein).
WHEREAS, the Company is party to that certain Business Combination Agreement, dated as of [●], 2024 (as the same may be amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Business Combination Agreement”), by and among the Company, IPXX Merger Sub, LLC (“Merger Sub”) and USA Rare Earth, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Legacy USARE”), pursuant to which the Company, Merger Sub and Legacy USARE consummated a business combination (the “Business Combination”);
WHEREAS, immediately prior to the Business Combination, the Company transferred by way of continuation to and domesticated as a Delaware corporation in accordance with Section 388 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, as amended, and the Companies Act (As Revised) of the Cayman Islands (the “Domestication”);
WHEREAS, prior to the Domestication, the Sponsor owned (i) 6,250,000 Purchaser Class B Ordinary Shares and (ii) 6,000,000 Cayman Purchaser Warrants;
WHEREAS, (i) immediately prior to the Domestication, each then issued and outstanding Purchaser Class B Ordinary Share converted automatically, on a one-for-one basis, into a Purchaser Class A Ordinary Share and (ii) in connection with the Domestication, (a) each then issued and outstanding Purchaser Class A Ordinary Share converted automatically, on a one-for-one basis, into a share of Domesticated Purchaser Class A Common Stock and (b) each then issued and outstanding Cayman Purchaser Warrant converted automatically into a Domesticated Purchaser Warrant, following which the Sponsor owned (i) 6,250,000 shares of Domesticated Purchaser Common Stock (the “Lock-Up Shares”) and (ii) 6,000,000 Domesticated Purchaser Warrants (the “Lock-Up Warrants”);
WHEREAS, in connection with the Business Combination, the parties hereto wish to set forth herein certain understandings between such parties with respect to restrictions on transfer of equity interests in the Company.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual agreements contained herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto, each intending to be legally bound hereby, hereby agree as follows:
1. Transfer Restrictions.
| (i) | Subject to the exceptions set forth herein, each Securityholder agrees not to, without the prior written consent of the board of directors of the Company, (i) sell, offer to sell, contract or agree to sell, hypothecate, pledge, grant any option to purchase or otherwise dispose of or agree to dispose of, directly or indirectly, any Lock-Up Shares, (ii) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of any Lock-Up Shares or (iii) take any action in furtherance of any of the matters described in the foregoing clause (i) or (ii) (the actions specified in clauses (i)-(iii), collectively, “Transfer”) prior to the date that is six (6) months after the consummation of the Merger (the “Initial Common Stock Lock-Up Period”). |
| (ii) | Subject to the exceptions set forth herein, each Securityholder further agrees not to, without the prior written consent of the board of directors of the Company, Transfer more than 50% of the Lock-Up Shares prior to the date that is one (1) year after the consummation of the Merger (the “Second Common Stock Lock-Up Period”). |
| (iii) | Each Securityholder further agrees not to Transfer any Lock-Up Warrants (or any shares of Common Stock issued or issuable upon the exercise of such Lock-Up Warrants), prior to the date that is 30 days after the date hereof (the “Warrant Lock-Up Period” and, each of the Initial Common Stock Lock-Up Period, the Second Common Stock Lock-Up Period and the Warrant Lock-Up Period, a “Lock-Up Period”). |
2. Permitted Transfers. The restrictions set forth in Section 1 shall not apply to:
| (i) | Transfers of any securities other than the (a) Lock-Up Shares, (b) the Lock-Up Warrants, (c) any shares of Common Stock issued or issuable upon the exercise of such Lock-Up Warrants, (d) any securities that may be acquired by Securityholders upon the exercise, conversion or redemption of any of the securities described in clauses (a), (b) or (c), and (e) any other equity security of the Company issued or issuable with respect to any securities referenced in clause (a), (b), (c) or (d) above by way of a stock dividend or stock split or in connection with a combination of shares, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, spin-off, reorganization or similar transaction. |
| (ii) | Transfers to the Company’s officers or directors, any Affiliate or family member of any of the Company’s officers or directors, any members or partners of the Sponsor or their Affiliates, any Affiliates of the Sponsor, or any employees of such Affiliates; |
| (iii) | In the case of an individual, Transfers to any Affiliates or family members of the Securityholder; |
| (iv) | Transfers to any investment funds or vehicles controlled or managed by the Securityholder or any of its Affiliates; |
| (v) | Transfers by gift to a trust, the beneficiary of which is a Person to whom a Transfer would be permitted under Section 2(iii), or to a charitable organization; |
| (vi) | in the case of an individual, Transfers by virtue of laws of descent and distribution upon death of such individual; |
| (vii) | in the case of an individual, Transfers pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order; |
| (viii) | Transfers to a nominee or custodian of a Person to whom a Transfer would be permitted under Section 2(iii); |
| (ix) | by private sales or transfers made in connection with any forward purchase agreement or similar arrangement at prices no greater than the price at which the Lock-Up Shares or Lock-Up Warrants (as applicable) were originally purchased; |
| (x) | Transfers in connection with any legal, regulatory or other order; |
| (xi) | in the case of an entity that is a trust, Transfers to a trustor or beneficiary of the trust or to the estate of a beneficiary of such trust; |
| (xii) | in the case of an entity, Transfers as part of a distribution to members, partners, shareholders or equityholders of the Securityholder; |
| (xiii) | in the case of an entity, Transfers by virtue of the laws of the state of the entity’s organization and the entity’s organizational documents upon dissolution of the entity; |
| (xiv) | the exercise of stock options or warrants to purchase shares of Common Stock or the vesting of stock awards relating to shares of Common Stock and any related Transfer of shares of Common Stock in connection therewith (x) deemed to occur upon the “cashless” or “net” exercise of such options or warrants or (y) for the purpose of paying the exercise price of such options or warrants or for paying taxes due as a result of the exercise of such options or warrants, the vesting of such options, warrants or stock awards, or as a result of the vesting of such shares of Common Stock, it being understood that all shares of Common Stock received upon such exercise, vesting or transfer will remain subject to the restrictions of this Agreement during the Lock-Up Period; |
| (xv) | Transfers to the Company pursuant to any contractual arrangement in effect upon the consummation of the Merger that provides for the repurchase by the Company or forfeiture of Common Stock or other securities convertible into, or exercisable, redeemable or exchangeable for, Common Stock in connection with the termination of the Securityholder’s service to the Company; |
| (xvi) | the entry, by the Securityholder, at any time after the consummation of the Merger, of any trading plan providing for the sale of shares of Common Stock by the Securityholder, which trading plan meets the requirements of Rule 10b5-1(c) under the Exchange Act; provided, however, that such plan does not provide for, or permit, the sale of any shares of Common Stock during any applicable Lock-Up Period and no public announcement or filing is voluntarily made or required regarding such plan during any applicable Lock-Up Period; |
| (xvii) | Transfers in the event of the completion of a liquidation, merger, stock exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction that results in all of the Company’s securityholders having the right to exchange their shares of Common Stock for cash, securities or other property; and |
| (xviii) | Transfers to satisfy any U.S. federal, state, or local income tax obligations of a Securityholder (or its direct or indirect owners) arising from a change in the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), or the U.S. Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder (the “Regulations”) after the date on which the Business Combination Agreement was executed by the parties, and such change prevents the Domestication or the Merger from qualifying as a “reorganization” pursuant to Section 368 of the Code (and such Transaction does not qualify for similar tax-free treatment pursuant to any successor or other provision of the Code or Regulations taking into account such changes), in each case solely and to the extent necessary to cover any tax liability as a direct result of the transaction. |
provided, however, that (A) in the case of clauses (ii) through (xii), as a prerequisite to such Transfer, such permitted transferee(s) must enter into joinder to this Agreement, substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto, in order to become a “Securityholder” for purposes of this Agreement. For purposes of this Section 2, “immediate family” shall mean a spouse, domestic partner, child (including by adoption), father, mother, brother or sister of the Securityholder, and lineal descendant (including by adoption) of the Securityholder or of any of the foregoing persons.
3. Termination. This Agreement shall terminate upon the earlier of (i) the expiration of the Second Common Stock Lock-Up Period, (ii) the closing of a merger, liquidation, stock exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction after the date hereof that results in all of the public stockholders of the Company having the right to exchange their shares of Common Stock for cash securities or other property and (iii) the liquidation of the Company.
4. Prohibited Transfers. In furtherance of the foregoing, the Company, and any duly appointed transfer agent for the registration or transfer of the securities described therein, are hereby authorized to decline to make any transfer of securities if such transfer would constitute a violation or breach of this Agreement.
5. Amendment. This Agreement may be amended, supplemented or modified only by execution of a written instrument signed by the Company and the Securityholders holding a majority of the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock then held by all Securityholders as to which this Agreement has not been terminated, executed in the same manner as this Agreement and which makes reference to this Agreement.
6. Entire Agreement. This Agreement and the documents or instruments referred to herein embody the entire agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained herein. There are no restrictions, promises, representations, warranties, covenants or undertakings, other than those expressly set forth or referred to herein or the documents or instruments referred to herein, which collectively supersede all prior agreements and the understandings among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter contained herein.
7. Binding Effect; Assignment. This Agreement and all of the provisions hereof shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns. This Agreement shall not be assigned by operation of Law or otherwise without the prior written consent of the parties hereto, and any assignment without such consent shall be null and void; provided that no such assignment shall relieve the assigning party of its obligations hereunder.
8. Governing Law. This Agreement, and all claims or causes of action based upon, arising out of, or related to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the Laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to principles or rules of conflict of Laws to the extent such principles or rules would require or permit the application of Laws of another jurisdiction.
9. Jurisdiction. Any Legal Proceeding based upon, arising out of or related to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby must be brought in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (or, to the extent such court does not have jurisdiction, in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware and to the extent such court does not have subject matter jurisdiction, the Superior Court of the State of Delaware), and each of the parties irrevocably (i) submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of each such court in any such Legal Proceeding, (ii) waives any objection it may now or hereafter have to personal jurisdiction, venue or to convenience of forum, (iii) agrees that all claims in respect of the Legal Proceeding shall be heard and determined only in any such court, and (iv) agrees not to bring any Legal Proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby in any other court. Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to affect the right of any party to serve process in any manner permitted by Law or to commence Legal Proceedings or otherwise proceed against any other party in any other jurisdiction, in each case, to enforce judgments obtained in any Legal Proceeding, suit or proceeding brought pursuant to this Section 9.
10. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH PARTY ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY ARISE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT AND THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT ISSUES, AND THEREFORE EACH SUCH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY, UNCONDITIONALLY AND VOLUNTARILY WAIVES ANY RIGHT SUCH PARTY MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.
11. Counterparts. This Agreement (and any joinder to this Agreement) may be executed and delivered (including by facsimile or other electronic transmission) in one or more counterparts, and by the different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when executed shall be deemed to be an original but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.
12. Severability. In case any provision in this Agreement shall be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in a jurisdiction, such provision shall be modified or deleted, as to the jurisdiction involved, only to the extent necessary to render the same valid, legal and enforceable, and the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions hereof shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby nor shall the validity, legality or enforceability of such provision be affected thereby in any other jurisdiction. Upon such determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the parties will substitute for any invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision a suitable and equitable provision that carries out, so far as may be valid, legal and enforceable, the intent and purpose of such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision.
13. Liability. The liability of any Securityholder hereunder is several (and not joint). Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, in no event will any Securityholder be liable for any other Securityholder’s breach of such other Securityholder’s obligations under this Agreement.
[Remainder of page intentionally left blank]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.
| USA RARE EARTH, INC. |
| | |
| By: | |
| Name: | |
| Title: | |
[Signature Page to Lock-Up Agreement]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have duly executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.
| SECURITYHOLDER: |
| |
| INFLECTION POINT HOLDINGS II LLC |
| | |
| By: | |
| Name: | |
| Title: | |
[Signature Page to Lock-Up Agreement]
EXHIBIT A
JOINDER TO LOCKUP AGREEMENT
[●], 20__
Reference is made to the Lockup Agreement, dated as of [●], by and among USA Rare Earth, Inc. (the “Company”) and the Securityholders (as defined therein) from time to time party thereto (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Lockup Agreement”). Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Lockup Agreement.
Each of the Company and the undersigned holder of equity interests in the Company (the “New Securityholder”) agrees that this Joinder to the Lockup Agreement (this “Joinder”) is being executed and delivered for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged.
The New Securityholder hereby agrees to and does become party to the Lockup Agreement as a Securityholder. This Joinder shall serve as a counterpart signature page to the Lockup Agreement and by executing below, the New Securityholder is deemed to have executed the Lockup Agreement with the same force and effect as if originally named a party thereto.
This Joinder may be executed and delivered (including by facsimile or other electronic transmission) in one or more counterparts, and by the different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when executed shall be deemed to be an original but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.
[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank.]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have duly executed this Joinder as of the date first set forth above.
| USA RARE EARTH, INC. |
| | |
| By: | |
| | Name: | |
| | Title: | |
| new securityholder: |
| | |
| [●] | |
| | |
| By: | |
| | Name: | |
| | Title: | |
[Signature Page to Joinder to Lock-Up Agreement]
G-9