BUSINESS COMBINATION AGREEMENT by and between FTAC ATHENA ACQUISITION CORP. AND PICO QUANTITATIVE TRADING HOLDINGS LLC dated as of August 3, 2021
Exhibit 2.1
BUSINESS COMBINATION AGREEMENT
by and between
AND
PICO QUANTITATIVE TRADING HOLDINGS LLC
dated as of August 3, 2021
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Article I | ||
THE TRANSACTIONS | ||
1.1 | Company Recapitalization | 3 |
1.2 | Closing DeSPAC Transactions | 3 |
Article II | ||
THE CLOSING | ||
2.1 | Closing | 3 |
2.2 | Closing Documents | 3 |
2.3 | Closing Payments | 5 |
2.4 | Withholding Taxes | 6 |
Article III | ||
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY | ||
3.1 | Organization and Qualification | 6 |
3.2 | Investment | 7 |
3.3 | Company Subsidiaries | 7 |
3.4 | Capitalization of the Company | 8 |
3.5 | Authority Relative to this Agreement | 9 |
3.6 | No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents | 9 |
3.7 | Compliance; Approvals | 10 |
3.8 | Financial Statements | 10 |
3.9 | No Undisclosed Liabilities | 11 |
3.10 | Absence of Certain Changes or Events | 11 |
3.11 | Litigation | 11 |
3.12 | Employee Benefit Plans | 12 |
3.13 | Labor Matters | 14 |
3.14 | Real Property; Tangible Property | 15 |
3.15 | Taxes | 17 |
3.16 | Environmental Matters | 19 |
3.17 | Brokers; Third Party Expenses | 19 |
3.18 | Intellectual Property | 20 |
3.19 | Privacy | 22 |
3.20 | Agreements, Contracts and Commitments | 23 |
3.21 | Insurance | 25 |
3.22 | Interested Party Transactions | 26 |
3.23 | Information Supplied | 26 |
3.24 | Indebtedness | 26 |
3.25 | Anti-Bribery; Anti-Corruption | 27 |
3.26 | International Trade; Sanctions | 27 |
3.27 | Top Customers. | 28 |
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3.28 | Top Suppliers.. | 28 |
3.29 | Disclaimer of Other Warranties | 29 |
Article IV | ||
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT | ||
4.1 | Organization and Qualification | 30 |
4.2 | Parent Subsidiaries | 30 |
4.3 | Capitalization | 30 |
4.4 | Authority Relative to this Agreement | 32 |
4.5 | No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents | 32 |
4.6 | Compliance; Approvals | 33 |
4.7 | Parent SEC Reports and Financial Statements | 33 |
4.8 | Absence of Certain Changes or Events | 34 |
4.9 | Litigation | 34 |
4.10 | Business Activities | 34 |
4.11 | Parent Material Contracts | 34 |
4.12 | Parent Listing | 35 |
4.13 | PIPE Investment Amount | 35 |
4.14 | Trust Account | 35 |
4.15 | Taxes | 36 |
4.16 | Information Supplied | 38 |
4.17 | Employees; Benefit Plans | 38 |
4.18 | Board Approval; Shareholder Vote | 38 |
4.19 | Affiliate Transactions | 38 |
4.20 | Investment | 39 |
4.21 | Brokers | 39 |
4.22 | Disclaimer of Other Warranties | 40 |
Article V | ||
CONDUCT PRIOR TO THE CLOSING DATE | ||
5.1 | Conduct of Business by the Group Companies | 40 |
5.2 | Conduct of Business by Parent | 44 |
Article VI | ||
ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS | ||
6.1 | Proxy Statement; General Meeting | 45 |
6.2 | Certain Regulatory Matters | 48 |
6.3 | Other Filings; Press Release | 48 |
6.4 | Confidentiality; Communications Plan; Access to Information | 49 |
6.5 | Reasonable Best Efforts | 50 |
6.6 | No Parent Securities Transactions | 50 |
6.7 | No Claim Against Trust Account | 51 |
6.8 | Disclosure of Certain Matters | 51 |
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6.9 | No Solicitation | 51 |
6.10 | Trust Account | 52 |
6.11 | Directors’ and Officers’ Liability Insurance | 52 |
6.12 | Transfer Taxes | 53 |
6.13 | Subscription Agreements | 53 |
6.14 | Section 16 Matters | 54 |
6.15 | Qualification as an Emerging Growth Company | 54 |
6.16 | Board of Directors | 54 |
6.17 | Release | 54 |
6.18 | DeSPAC Transaction Steps and Closing DeSPAC Transactions | 54 |
6.19 | Domestication.. | 55 |
6.20 | Parent Warrants.. | 55 |
6.21 | Equity Awards; Earnout | 55 |
Article VII | ||
CONDITIONS TO THE TRANSACTION | ||
7.1 | Conditions to Obligations of Each Party’s Obligations | 56 |
7.2 | Additional Conditions to Obligations of the Company | 56 |
7.3 | Additional Conditions to the Obligations of Parent | 57 |
Article VIII | ||
TERMINATION | ||
8.1 | Termination | 59 |
8.2 | Notice of Termination; Effect of Termination | 60 |
Article IX | ||
NO SURVIVAL | ||
9.1 | No Survival | 60 |
Article X | ||
GENERAL PROVISIONS | ||
10.1 | Notices | 61 |
10.2 | Interpretation | 62 |
10.3 | Counterparts; Electronic Delivery | 62 |
10.4 | Entire Agreement; Third Party Beneficiaries | 63 |
10.5 | Severability | 63 |
10.6 | Other Remedies; Specific Performance | 63 |
10.7 | Governing Law | 64 |
10.8 | Consent to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial | 64 |
10.9 | Rules of Construction | 65 |
10.10 | Expenses | 65 |
10.11 | Assignment | 65 |
10.12 | Amendment | 65 |
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10.13 | Extension; Waiver | 65 |
10.14 | No Recourse | 65 |
10.15 | Legal Representation.. | 66 |
10.16 | Disclosure Letters and Exhibits | 66 |
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SCHEDULES
Schedule A | Defined Terms | |
Schedule B | DeSPAC Transaction Steps; Closing DeSPAC Transactions | |
Schedule C | Subscribed Shares and Units Calculations |
EXHIBITS
Exhibit A | Form of Parent Certificate | |
Exhibit B | Form of Parent Bylaws | |
Exhibit C | Form of Incentive Equity Plan | |
Exhibit D | Form of Employee Stock Purchase Plan | |
Exhibit E | Form of Company A&R Operating Agreement | |
Exhibit F | Form of A&R Registration Rights Agreement | |
Exhibit G | Form of Tax Receivable Agreement | |
Exhibit H | Sponsor Letter Agreement | |
Exhibit I | Support Agreement | |
Exhibit J | Form of Lock-Up Agreement |
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BUSINESS COMBINATION AGREEMENT
This BUSINESS COMBINATION AGREEMENT is made and entered into effective as of August 3, 2021, by and between FTAC ATHENA ACQUISITION CORP., a Cayman Islands exempted company (“Parent”), and PICO QUANTITATIVE TRADING HOLDINGS LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”).
Each of Parent and the Company are referred to herein individually as a “Party” and collectively as the “Parties”. The term “Agreement” as used herein refers to this Business Combination Agreement, as the same may be amended from time to time, and all schedules, exhibits and annexes hereto (including the Company Disclosure Letter and the Parent Disclosure Letter, as defined herein). Defined terms used in this Agreement are listed alphabetically in Schedule A, together with the section and, if applicable, subsection in which the definition of each such term is located.
RECITALS
WHEREAS, Parent is a special purpose acquisition company incorporated for the purpose of effecting a Business Combination (as such term is defined in the Parent Memorandum and Articles);
WHEREAS, on the terms and conditions hereof, prior to the Closing (as defined below), on the Closing Date (as defined below), (i) Parent will domesticate as a Delaware corporation in accordance with Section 388 of the DGCL and transfer by way of continuation and de-register as a Cayman Islands exempted company in accordance with Section 206 of the Companies Act (the “Domestication”), (ii) pursuant to the Domestication, (a) Parent shall file the Parent Certificate with the Secretary of State of the State Delaware and (b) the Parent Bylaws will be adopted by the Parent Board that is in existence immediately following the Domestication, and (iii) pursuant to the Domestication, Parent will request a certificate of de-registration from the Registrar of Companies of the Cayman Islands;
WHEREAS, in connection with the Domestication, pursuant to Section 6.20 hereof, each issued and outstanding Parent Class A Ordinary Share in existence as of immediately prior to the Domestication shall convert automatically, on a one-for-one basis, into one share of Parent Class A Common Stock;
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WHEREAS, upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, the Parties intend to enter into a business combination transaction, pursuant to which, in connection with the Closing the Parties shall, following the Domestication, complete the DeSPAC Transaction Steps and effect the Closing DeSPAC Transactions, in each case as set forth on Schedule B (together with the Domestication, the “Transactions”); and
WHEREAS, in connection with the entry into and delivery of this Agreement:
(1) The board of directors of Parent has unanimously: (a) determined that it is in the best interests of Parent, and declared it advisable, for Parent to enter into and perform this Agreement and the Transactions; (b) approved this Agreement and the Transactions, on the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement; and (c) adopted a resolution recommending that the shareholders of Parent vote in favor of the Transactions submitted to the shareholders for approval (the “Parent Recommendation”);
(2) The board of managers of the Company has unanimously approved this Agreement and the Transactions, on the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement;
(3) Parent has entered into subscription agreements with certain investors for such investors to purchase shares of Parent Class A Common Stock (the “PIPE Investment”), such purchases to be consummated following the Domestication and immediately prior to the consummation of the other Transactions;
(4) Sponsors have entered into a letter agreement with Parent, which letter agreement is attached hereto as Exhibit H (the “Sponsor Letter Agreement”), pursuant to which Sponsors will, in connection with the Closing of the Transactions, (i) surrender to Parent an aggregate of 140,000 Private Placement Warrants held by them as of immediately prior to the consummation of the Transactions, without consideration therefor (the “Warrant Forfeiture”), (ii) subject their respective shares of Pre-Combination Class B Ordinary Shares (and the shares of Parent Class A Common Stock issued upon the automatic conversion of such shares of Pre-Combination Class B Ordinary Shares into shares of Parent Class A Common Stock in connection with the consummation of the Transactions) to certain restrictions on transfer or sale, as set forth therein and (iii) subject to specified exceptions, waive any adjustment to the conversion ratio set forth in the Parent Memorandum and Articles and any rights to other anti-dilution protections with respect to the Pre-Combination Class B Ordinary Shares that may result from the PIPE Investment and/or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement on the terms and conditions set forth in the Sponsor Letter Agreement;
(5) Parent, Sponsors, the Company, and the members of the Company (the “Members”) holding at least 67% of the Company’s voting units as of the date hereof (the “Supporting Members”) have entered into a support agreement, attached hereto as Exhibit I, by which each has agreed to support the Transaction (the “Support Agreement”) on the terms described therein; and
(6) Parent, the Supporting Members and certain other Members have entered into Lock-Up Agreements (the “Lock-Up Agreements”) to be effective upon the Closing, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit J.
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NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the covenants, promises and representations set forth herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties agree as follows:
Article I
THE TRANSACTIONS
1.1 Company Recapitalization. Prior to the Closing, the Company shall cause a recapitalization of its existing equity structure (the “Recapitalization”), as described in Schedule 1.1 of the Company Disclosure Letter, to be consummated without any material liability or obligation (Tax or otherwise) to Parent or the Group Companies.
1.2 Closing DeSPAC Transactions. At the Closing, the Parties shall, and shall cause their applicable Affiliates to, complete the Domestication and the DeSPAC Transaction Steps and effect the Closing DeSPAC Transactions, in each case in accordance with Schedule B.
Article II
THE CLOSING
2.1 Closing. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, the consummation of the Transactions (the “Closing”) shall occur by electronic exchange of documents at a time and date to be specified in writing by the Parties, which shall be no later than the third (3rd) Business Day after the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth in Article VII (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). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Closing may occur at such other time, date and location as the Parties agree in writing (the date on which the Closing occurs, the “Closing Date”). The Parties agree that the Closing signatures may be transmitted by email .pdf files.
2.2 Closing Documents. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement:
(a) At the Closing, Parent shall deliver:
(i) to the Company, evidence of the filing of each of the Certificate of Domestication and the Parent Certificate with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware;
(ii) to the Company, evidence of the filing of the application to de-register with the Registrar of Companies of the Cayman Islands;
(iii) to the Company, a certificate dated as of the Closing Date and signed by an officer of Parent, certifying as to copies of resolutions and actions taken by Parent’s board of directors in connection with the approval of this Agreement and the Transactions, including the adoption of the Parent Bylaws as of the Closing;
(iv) to the Company, evidence, in form and substance reasonably acceptable to Parent and the Company, of the issuance, by book-entry with the Transfer Agent, of the Parent Class C Common Stock acquired by the Company pursuant to item 3 of subsection (b) of Schedule B;
(v) to the Company, the A&R Registration Rights Agreement, duly executed by Parent and Sponsors;
(vi) to the Company, the Tax Receivable Agreement, duly executed by Parent;
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(vii) to the Company, the resignations of each of the officers and directors of Parent from their respective positions as officers and/or directors, effective as of the Closing Date; and
(viii) (A) all other documents, instruments or certificates required to be delivered by Parent at or prior to the Closing pursuant to Section 7.2; and (B) such other documents or certificates as shall reasonably be required by the Company and its counsel in order to consummate the Transactions.
(b) At the Closing, the Company shall deliver to Parent:
(i) a copy of the Company A&R Operating Agreement, duly executed by the Company and consented to by the requisite Members;
(ii) a certificate, dated as of the Closing Date and signed by an officer of the Company, certifying as to copies of resolutions and actions taken by the Company and/or its Members, as applicable, in connection with the approval of this Agreement and the Transactions, including the Recapitalization;
(iii) evidence, in form and substance reasonably acceptable to Parent, of the distribution of the Parent Class C Common Stock to the Members;
(iv) evidence, in form and substance reasonably acceptable to Parent, of the issuance of the Parent Subscribed Units being acquired by Parent pursuant to item 3 of subsection (b) of Schedule B;
(v) the A&R Registration Rights Agreement, duly executed by the Members party thereto;
(vi) the Tax Receivable Agreement, duly executed by the Company and the Members party thereto;
(vii) a certificate from the Company pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.1445-11T, and W-9 or W-8 (or equivalent applicable forms) certificates for each Person receiving a payment from Parent or the Company in connection with the Closing; and
(viii) (A) all other documents, instruments or certificates required to be delivered at or prior to the Closing pursuant to Section 7.3; and (B) such other documents or certificates as shall reasonably be required by Parent and its counsel in order to consummate the Transactions.
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(c) At least two (2) Business Days prior to the expected Closing Date, (i) Parent will deliver to the Company information regarding its Estimated Transaction Costs, the respective amounts thereof, which in no event shall exceed the aggregate amount set forth in Schedule 2.2(c) of the Parent Disclosure Letter, and the applicable wire transfer instructions for each such Estimated Transaction Cost, together with reasonable relevant supporting documentation used by Parent in calculating such amounts, including all invoices or, if no invoice is available, other documentation reasonably accounting for such costs, (ii) the Company will deliver to Parent (a) information regarding its Estimated Transaction Costs, the respective amounts thereof, which in no event shall exceed the aggregate amount set forth in Schedule 2.2(c) of the Company Disclosure Letter, and the applicable wire transfer instructions for each such Estimated Transaction Cost, together with reasonable relevant supporting documentation used by the Company in calculating such amounts, including all invoices or, if no invoice is available, other documentation reasonably accounting for such costs, and (b) evidence of the authorizations and approvals described in Schedule 3.7(b) of the Company Disclosure Letter, in each case in form and substance reasonably acceptable to Parent, and (iii) the Parties will together document their respective Estimated Transaction Costs in a funds flow memorandum (the “Funds Flow Memorandum”).
2.3 Closing Payments. At the Closing on the Closing Date, upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement:
(a) Parent shall make or cause to be made any payments required to be made in connection with the Parent Stockholder Redemption (the “Parent Stockholder Redemption Payments”);
(b) Parent shall deliver to the Company the Parent Cash in exchange for the Parent Subscribed Units;
(c) the Company shall pay, or, cause to be paid, the Specified Bonus Payments to the applicable payees as set forth in the Funds Flow Memorandum; provided, that the Specified Bonus Payments may be paid promptly after the Closing Date as necessary or appropriate; and
(d) the Company shall (on its own behalf, or on behalf of Parent, as applicable) pay, or, cause to be paid, all Estimated Transaction Costs to the applicable payees as set forth in the Funds Flow Memorandum; provided, that the Estimated Transaction Costs may be paid promptly after the Closing Date as necessary or appropriate.
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2.4 Withholding Taxes. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, each Party and its respective Affiliates shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from the consideration otherwise payable pursuant to this Agreement, any amount required to be deducted and withheld with respect to the making of such payment under applicable Legal Requirements and shall thereafter pay all such amounts so deducted or withheld to the proper Governmental Entity. If any Tax withholding is so required in connection with any such payments (other than compensatory payments to employees of the Group Companies), the Party required to so withhold shall provide written notice to the Party in respect of whom such withholding is to be paid of the amounts to be deducted and withheld no later than two (2) Business Days prior to such payment. Each Party shall expend commercially reasonable efforts to (a) avail itself of any available exemptions from, or any refunds, credits or other recovery of, any such Tax deductions and withholdings and shall cooperate with the other Parties in providing any information and documentation (including an Internal Revenue Service Form W-9 or other applicable Form) that may be necessary to obtain such exemptions, refunds, credits or other recovery and (b) minimize the amount of any such Tax deductions and withholdings. To the extent that amounts are so withheld, such withheld amounts shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid to the Person in respect of which such deduction and withholding was made.
Article III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY
Except as set forth in the letter dated as of the date of this Agreement and delivered by the Company to Parent prior to or in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement (the “Company Disclosure Letter”), the Company hereby represents and warrants to Parent as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date as follows:
3.1 Organization and Qualification. The Company is a limited liability company duly formed, validly existing and in good standing under the Legal Requirements of the State of Delaware and with all requisite limited liability company power and authority to own, lease and operate its assets and properties and to carry on its business as it is now being conducted, except as would not be material to the Group Companies, taken as a whole. The Company is duly qualified to do business in each jurisdiction in which it is conducting its business, or the operation, ownership or leasing of its properties, makes such qualification necessary, other than in such jurisdictions where the failure to so qualify would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to be material to the Group Companies, taken as a whole. Complete and correct copies of the Governing Documents of the Company as currently in effect have been made available to Parent. The Company is not in violation of any of the provisions of its Governing Documents.
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3.2 Investment. The shares of Parent Class C Common Stock, and shares of Parent Class A Common Stock issuable in exchange thereof, to be acquired by each of the Company and each Member (together, the “Parent Equity Recipients”) pursuant to this Agreement and the Transactions will be acquired for investment for such Parent Equity Recipient’s own account or for one or more separate accounts maintained by it for the benefit of one or more other accredited investors as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) of Regulation D and not with a view to the public resale or distribution thereof within the meaning of the Securities Act, and such Parent Equity Recipient has no present intention of selling, granting any participation in, or otherwise distributing the same. At no time was such Parent Equity Recipient presented with or solicited by any publicly issued or circulated newspaper, mail, radio, television or other form of general advertising or solicitation in connection with the offer, sale and purchase of shares of Parent Class C Common Stock. Such Parent Equity Recipient has received or has had full access to all the information such Parent Equity Recipient considers necessary or appropriate to make an informed investment decision with respect to the shares of Parent Class C Common Stock. Such Parent Equity Recipient further has had an opportunity to ask questions and receive answers from Parent regarding the terms and conditions of the offering of the shares of Parent Class C Common Stock, and shares of Parent Class A Common Stock issuable in exchange thereof, and to obtain additional information necessary to verify any information furnished to such Parent Equity Recipient or to which such Parent Equity Recipient had access. Such Parent Equity Recipient is fully aware of: (a) the highly speculative nature of the shares of Parent Class C Common Stock; and (b) the financial risks involved. Such Parent Equity Recipient has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters that such Parent Equity Recipient is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of this prospective investment, has the capacity to protect such Parent Equity Recipient’s own interest in connection with this transaction and is financially capable of bearing a total loss of the shares of Parent Class C Common Stock. Such Parent Equity Recipient understands and acknowledges that, in reliance upon the representations and warranties made by such Parent Equity Recipient herein, the shares of Parent Class C Common Stock are not being registered with the SEC under the Securities Act or any state securities laws, but instead are being transferred under an exemption or exemptions from the registration and qualification requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws which impose certain restrictions on such Parent Equity Recipient’s ability to transfer the shares of Parent Class C Common Stock. Such Parent Equity Recipient acknowledges that, because the shares of Parent Class C Common Stock have not been registered under the Securities Act, such shares must be held indefinitely unless subsequently registered under the Securities Act or unless an exemption from such registration is available. Such Parent Equity Recipient is aware of the restrictions on the use of Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act.
3.3 Company Subsidiaries.
(a) The Company’s direct and indirect Subsidiaries, together with their jurisdiction of incorporation or organization, as applicable, are listed on Schedule 3.3(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter (the “Company Subsidiaries”). The Company owns, directly or indirectly, all of the outstanding equity securities of the Company Subsidiaries, free and clear of all Liens (other than Permitted Liens). Except for the Company Subsidiaries, the Company does not own, directly or indirectly, any ownership, equity, profits or voting interest in any Person or have any agreement or commitment to purchase any such interest, and has not agreed and is not obligated to make nor is bound by any written, oral or other Contract, binding understanding, option, warranty or undertaking of any nature, as of the date hereof or as may hereafter be in effect under which it may become obligated to make, any future investment in or capital contribution to any other entity.
(b) Each Company Subsidiary is duly incorporated, formed or organized, validly existing and in good standing (to the extent such concept exists in the relevant jurisdiction) under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation, formation or organization and has the requisite corporate, limited liability company or equivalent power and authority to own, lease and operate its assets and properties and to carry on its business as it is now being conducted, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to be material to the Group Companies, taken as a whole. Each Company Subsidiary is duly qualified to do business in each jurisdiction in which the conduct of its business, or the operation, ownership or leasing of its properties, makes such qualification necessary, other than in such jurisdictions where the failure to so qualify or be in good standing would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to be material to the Group Companies, taken as a whole. Complete and correct copies of the Governing Documents of each Company Subsidiary, as amended and currently in effect, have been made available to Parent. No Company Subsidiary is in violation of any of the provisions of its Governing Documents.
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(c) All issued and outstanding shares of capital stock and equity interests of each Company Subsidiary (i) have been duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and are non-assessable (in each case to the extent that such concepts are applicable), (ii) are not subject to, nor have been issued in violation of, any purchase option, call option, right of first refusal, preemptive right, subscription right or any similar right and (iii) have been offered, sold and issued in compliance with Legal Requirements and the applicable Company Subsidiary’s respective Governing Documents.
(d) There are no subscriptions, options, warrants, equity securities, partnership interests or similar ownership interests, calls, rights (including preemptive rights), commitments or agreements of any character to which any Company Subsidiary is a party or by which it is bound obligating such Company Subsidiary to issue, deliver or sell, or cause to be issued, delivered or sold, or repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire, or cause the repurchase, redemption or acquisition of, any ownership interests of such Company Subsidiary or obligating such Company Subsidiary to grant, extend, accelerate the vesting of or enter into any such subscription, option, warrant, equity security, call, right, commitment or agreement.
3.4 Capitalization of the Company.
(a) The outstanding ownership interests of the Company as of the date of this Agreement, and the holders thereof, are as set forth on Schedule 3.4(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter.
(b) Other than as set forth on Schedule 3.4(b) of the Company Disclosure Letter or as contemplated by the Company A&R Operating Agreement, there are no other equity interests of the Company authorized, issued, outstanding or reserved for issuance.
(c) All issued and outstanding ownership interests of the Company (i) have been duly authorized and validly issued, (ii) are not subject to, nor have been issued in violation of, any purchase option, call option, right of first refusal, preemptive right, subscription right or any similar right, (iii) have been offered, sold and issued in compliance with Legal Requirements and the Company’s Governing Documents and (iv) are free and clear of all Liens (other than Permitted Liens).
(d) Except in connection with the Transactions, there are no subscriptions, options, warrants, equity securities, partnership interests or similar ownership interests, calls, rights (including preemptive rights), commitments or agreements of any character to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound obligating the Company to issue, deliver or sell, or cause to be issued, delivered or sold, or repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire, or cause the repurchase, redemption or acquisition of, any ownership interests of the Company or obligating the Company to grant, extend, accelerate the vesting of or enter into any such subscription, option, warrant, equity security, call, right, commitment or agreement. Other than as set forth on Schedule 3.4(d) of the Company Disclosure Letter, there are no stock appreciation, phantom stock, stock-based performance unit, profit participation, restricted stock, restricted stock unit or other equity-based compensation awards or similar rights with respect to the Company.
(e) Except as set forth in the Company’s Governing Documents and in connection with the Transactions, there are no registration rights, and there is no voting trust, proxy, rights plan, anti-takeover plan or other agreements or understandings to which the Company is a party or by which the Company is bound with respect to any ownership interests of the Company.
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(f) Except as provided for in this Agreement, as a result of the consummation of the Transactions, no shares of capital stock, warrants, options or other securities of the Company are issuable and no rights in connection with any shares, warrants, options or other securities of the Company accelerate or otherwise become triggered (whether as to vesting, exercisability, convertibility or otherwise).
3.5 Authority Relative to this Agreement. The Company has all requisite limited liability company power and authority to: (a) execute, deliver and perform this Agreement and the other Transaction Agreements to which it is a party, and each ancillary document that it has executed or delivered or is to execute or deliver pursuant to this Agreement; and (b) carry out its obligations hereunder and thereunder and to consummate the Transactions. The execution and delivery by the Company of this Agreement and the other Transaction Agreements to which it is a party and the consummation by it of the Transactions have been duly and validly authorized by all requisite action on the part of it, and no other proceedings on the part of the Company are necessary to authorize this Agreement or to consummate the Transactions. This Agreement and the other Transaction Agreements to which the Company is a party have been duly and validly executed and delivered by the Company and, assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery thereof by the other Parties thereto, constitute the legal and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against it in accordance with their terms, except insofar as enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally or by principles governing the availability of equitable remedies. The entry into and performance of this Agreement, and the consummation of the Transactions, do not give rise to any preemptive or appraisal rights in favor of any equity holder of the Company.
3.6 No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents.
(a) The execution and delivery by the Company of this Agreement and the other Transaction Agreements to which it is a party do not, the performance by the Company of this Agreement and the other Transaction Agreements to which it is a party shall not, and the consummation of the Transactions will not: (i) conflict with or violate the Governing Documents of the Company; (ii) assuming that the consents, approvals, orders, authorizations, registrations, filings or permits referred to in Schedule 3.6(b) of the Company Disclosure Letter are duly and timely obtained or made, conflict with or violate any Legal Requirements; (iii) result in any breach of or constitute a default (or an event that with or without notice or lapse of time, or both, would become a default) under, or materially impair the Company’s or any of its Subsidiaries’ rights or, in a manner adverse to the Company, alter the rights or obligations of any third party under, or give to any third party any rights of termination, amendment, acceleration (including any forced repurchase) or cancellation under, or result in the creation of a Lien (other than any Permitted Lien) on any of the properties or assets of the Company pursuant to any Company Material Contract, except, with respect to clause (iii), as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
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(b) The execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company or the other Transaction Agreements to which it is a party, does not, and the performance of its obligations hereunder and thereunder will not, require any consent, approval, authorization or permit of, or filing with or notification to, any Governmental Entity, except for: (i) applicable requirements, if any, of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or blue sky laws, and the rules and regulations thereunder, and appropriate documents received from or filed with the relevant authorities of other jurisdictions in which the Company is licensed or qualified to do business; (ii) filings required pursuant to Antitrust Laws (if any) and the expiration of the required waiting periods thereunder (if any); (iii) the consents, approvals, authorizations and permits described on Schedule 3.6(b) of the Company Disclosure Letter; and (iv) where the failure to obtain such consents, approvals, authorizations or permits, or to make such filings or notifications, would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to be material to the Group Companies, taken as a whole, or reasonably be expected to prevent or materially delay or impair the consummation of the Transactions or the ability of the Company to perform its obligations under this Agreement or the other Transaction Agreements.
3.7 Compliance; Approvals. Each of the Group Companies has since the Reference Date complied with and is not in violation of any Legal Requirements 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 are not reasonably likely to be material to the Group Companies, taken as a whole. No written or, to the Knowledge of the Company, oral notice of non-compliance with any Legal Requirements has been received by any of the Group Companies since the Reference Date. Each Group Company is in possession of all franchises, grants, authorizations, licenses, permits, consents, certificates, approvals and orders from Governmental Entities (“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, except where the failure to have such Approvals would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to be material to the Group Companies, taken as a whole. Each Approval held by the Group Companies is valid, binding and in full force and effect, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to be material to the Group Companies, taken as a whole. None of the Group Companies (i) are in default or violation (and no event has occurred that, with notice or the lapse of time or both, would constitute a default or violation) of any material term, condition or provision of any such Approval, or (ii) have received any notice from a Governmental Entity that has issued any such Approval that it intends to cancel, terminate, modify or not renew any such Approval except in the case of clauses (i) and (ii) as would not individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to be material to the Group Companies, taken as a whole, or reasonably be expected to prevent or materially delay or impair the consummation of the Transactions or the ability of the Company to perform its obligations under this Agreement or the other Transaction Agreements.
3.8 Financial Statements.
(a) The Company has made available to Parent true and complete copies of: (i) the audited consolidated balance sheets of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, and the audited consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss, changes in members’ equity and cash flows of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 (collectively, the “Audited Financial Statements”); and (ii) the unaudited consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries as of March 31, 2021, and statements of operations and comprehensive loss, changes in members’ equity and cash flows of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries for the three (3) month period ended March 31, 2021 (together the “Unaudited Financial Statements” and, together with the Audited Financial Statements, the “Financial Statements”). The Financial Statements: (w) fairly present in all material respects the consolidated financial position of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries, as at the respective dates thereof, and the consolidated results of earnings, income, changes in equity and cash flows for the respective periods then ended (subject, in the case of the Unaudited Financial Statements, to normal year-end adjustments and the inclusion of limited footnotes); (x) were prepared in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) applied on a consistent basis during the periods involved (except as may be indicated in the notes thereto and, in the case of the Unaudited Financial Statements, the inclusion of limited footnotes); (y) were prepared from, and are in accordance with, the books and records of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries; and (z) in the case of the Audited Financial Statements, were audited in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board.
(b) The Company has established and maintained a system of internal controls. Such internal controls are sufficient to provide reasonable assurance (i) that transactions, receipts and expenditures of the Group Companies are being executed and made only in accordance with appropriate authorizations of management of the Company, (ii) that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP and to maintain accountability for assets, (iii) regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the assets of the Group Companies and (iv) that accounts, notes and other receivables and inventory are recorded accurately. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.8(b) of the Company Disclosure Letter, the Company has not identified or been made aware of, and has not received from its independent auditors any notification of, any (x) “significant deficiency” in the internal controls over financial reporting of the Group Companies, (y) “material weakness” in the internal controls over financial reporting of the Group Companies or (z) fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees of the Group Companies who have a role in the internal controls over financial reporting of the Group Companies.
(c) There are no outstanding loans or other extensions of credit made by the Group Companies to any executive officer (as defined in Rule 3b-7 under the Exchange Act) or director of the Company.
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3.9 No Undisclosed Liabilities. The Group Companies have no liabilities (whether direct or indirect, absolute, accrued, contingent or otherwise) of a nature required to be disclosed on a balance sheet in accordance with U.S. GAAP, except: (a) liabilities provided for in, or otherwise disclosed or reflected in the most recent balance sheet included in the Financial Statements or in the notes thereto; (b) liabilities arising in the ordinary course of the Company’s business consistent with past practice since the date of the most recent balance sheet included in the Financial Statements; (c) liabilities to the extent incurred in connection with the Transactions that are described either in a Transaction Agreement or on Schedule 3.9 of the Company Disclosure Letter; and (d) liabilities that would not reasonably be expected to be, individually or in the aggregate, material to the Group Companies taken as a whole.
3.10 Absence of Certain Changes or Events. Except as contemplated by this Agreement (including the Recapitalization) or as set forth on Schedule 3.10 of the Company Disclosure Letter, since December 31, 2020, each of the Group Companies has conducted its business in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice and there has not been: (a) any Company Material Adverse Effect; (b) any purchase, redemption or other acquisition by a Group Company of any ownership interests or any other securities of a Group Company or any options, warrants, calls or rights to acquire any ownership interests or other securities of a Group Company; (c) any split, combination or reclassification of any equity securities of any Group Company; (d) any material change by a Group Company in its accounting methods, principles or practices, except as required by concurrent changes in U.S. GAAP (or any interpretation thereof) or Legal Requirements; (e) any change in the auditors of a Group Company; (f) any issuance of any ownership interests of a Group Company; (g) any revaluation by a Group Company of any of its assets, including any sales of assets of a Group Company other than with respect to (A) sales in the ordinary course of business and (B) sales of assets of any of the Group Companies that are not reasonably required for use in the businesses of any of the Group Companies and that individually or in the aggregate are not material to the Group Companies taken as a whole; or (h) any action taken or agreed upon by any of the Group Companies that would be prohibited by Section 5.1 if such action were taken on or after the date hereof without the consent of Parent.
3.11 Litigation. Except as disclosed on Schedule 3.11 of the Company Disclosure Letter or as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to be material to the Group Companies, taken as a whole, there is: (a) no pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened, Legal Proceeding against any Group Company or any of its properties or assets, or any of the directors or officers of any Group Company with regard to their actions as such, and, to the Knowledge of the Company, no facts exist that would reasonably be expected to form the basis for any such Legal Proceeding; (b) other than with respect to audits, examinations or investigations in the ordinary course of business conducted by a Governmental Entity pursuant to a government Contract, no pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened, audit, examination or investigation by any Governmental Entity against any Group Company or any of its properties or assets, or any of the directors, partners, managers or officers of any Group Company with regard to their actions as such, and, to the Knowledge of the Company, no facts exist that would reasonably be expected to form the basis for any such Legal Proceeding; (c) no pending or threatened Legal Proceeding by any Group Company against any third party; (d) no settlement or similar agreement that imposes any material ongoing obligation or restriction on any Group Company; and (e) no Order imposed or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened to be imposed upon any Group Company or any of its respective properties or assets, or any of the directors, managers or officers of any Group Company with regard to their actions as such.
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3.12 Employee Benefit Plans.
(a) Schedule 3.12(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth a true, correct and complete list of each material Employee Benefit Plan; provided, that Schedule 3.12(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter shall only be required to set forth a representative form of each individual employment or consulting agreement or offer letter; provided, further, that, Schedule 3.12(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter must set forth all such individual employment or consulting agreements or offer letters that provide for: (A) transaction bonuses or change in control payments; or (B) Tax gross-ups.
(b) With respect to each Employee Benefit Plan required to be set forth on Schedule 3.12(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter, the Company has provided a true, correct and complete copy of the following documents, to the extent applicable: (i) all plan documents, and all amendments thereto; (ii) for the most recent plan years: (A) the IRS Form 5500 and all schedules thereto; (B) audited financial statements; and (C) actuarial or other valuation reports; (iii) the most recent IRS determination letter or opinion letter, as applicable; and (iv) any non-routine correspondence with any Governmental Entity regarding any Employee Benefits Plan during the past three (3) years.
(c) Each Employee Benefit Plan has been established, maintained and administered in all material respects in accordance with its terms and with all Legal Requirements. No non-exempt “prohibited transaction” (within the meaning of Section 406 of ERISA and Section 4975 of the Code) has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur with respect to any Employee Benefit Plan.
(d) Each Employee Benefit Plan intended to qualify under Section 401 of the Code does so qualify, and any trusts intended to be exempt from federal income taxation under the provisions of Section 501(a) of the Code are so exempt. Nothing has occurred with respect to the operation of the Employee Benefit Plans that would reasonably be expected to cause the denial or loss of such qualification or exemption.
(e) No Group Company or any of its respective ERISA Affiliates has at any time sponsored or has ever been obligated to contribute to, or had any liability in respect of: (i) an “employee pension benefit plan” (as defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA) subject to Title IV of ERISA, Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA (including any “multiemployer plan” within the meaning of Section (3)(37) of ERISA); (ii) a “multiple employer plan” as defined in Section 413(c) of the Code; or (iii) a “multiple employer welfare arrangement” within the meaning of Section 3(40) of ERISA.
(f) None of the Employee Benefit Plans provides for, and the Group Companies have no liability in respect of, post-retiree health, welfare or life insurance benefits or coverage for any participant or any beneficiary of a participant, except as may be required under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended, or similar state or other Legal Requirements and at the sole expense of such participant or the participant’s beneficiary.
(g) With respect to any Employee Benefit Plan, no actions, suits, claims (other than routine claims for benefits in the ordinary course), audits, inquiries, proceedings or lawsuits are pending, or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened against any Employee Benefit Plan, the assets of any of the trusts under such plans or the plan sponsor or administrator, or against any fiduciary of any Employee Benefit Plan with respect to the operation thereof. No event has occurred, and to the Knowledge of the Company, no condition exists that would, by reason of the Company’s affiliation with any of its ERISA Affiliates, subject the Company to any material tax, fine, lien, penalty or other liability imposed by ERISA, the Code or other Legal Requirements.
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(h) All contributions, reserves or premium payments required to be made or accrued as of the date hereof to the Employee Benefit Plans have been timely made or accrued.
(i) Except as set forth on Schedule 3.12(i) of the Company Disclosure Letter, neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement nor the consummation of the Transactions will, either alone or in connection with any other event(s): (i) result in any payment or benefit becoming due to any current or former employee, contractor or director of the Company or its subsidiaries or under any Employee Benefit Plan; (ii) increase any amount of compensation or benefits otherwise payable to any current or former employee, contractor or director of the Company or its subsidiaries or under any Employee Benefit Plan; (iii) result in the acceleration of the time of payment, funding or vesting of any benefits to any current or former employee, contractor or director of the Company or its subsidiaries or under any Employee Benefit Plan; or (iv) limit the right to merge, amend or terminate any Employee Benefit Plan.
(j) Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement nor the consummation of the Transactions shall, either alone or in connection with any other event(s) give rise to any “excess parachute payment” as defined in Section 280G(b)(1) of the Code, any excise tax owing under Section 4999 of the Code or any other amount that would not be deductible under Section 280G of the Code.
(k) Each Group Company maintains no obligations to gross-up or reimburse any individual for any tax or related interest or penalties incurred by such individual, including under Sections 409A or 4999 of the Code or otherwise.
(l) Each Employee Benefit Plan which is a “nonqualified deferred compensation plan” subject to Section 409A of the Code has been established, operated and maintained in compliance with Section 409A of the Code in all material respects.
(m) With respect to each Employee Benefit Plan subject to the Legal Requirements of any jurisdiction outside the United States, (i) all employer contributions to each such Employee Benefit Plan required by Legal Requirements or by the terms of such Employee Benefit Plan have been made; (ii) each such Employee Benefit Plan required to be registered has been registered and has been maintained in good standing with applicable regulatory authorities and, to the Knowledge of the Company, no event has occurred since the date of the most recent approval or application therefor relating to any such Employee Benefit Plan that would reasonably be expected to adversely affect any such approval or good standing; and (iii) each such Employee Benefit Plan required to be fully funded or fully insured, is fully funded or fully insured, including any back-service obligations, on an ongoing and termination or solvency basis (determined using reasonable actuarial assumptions) in compliance with all Legal Requirements, in each of the foregoing cases except as would not be material to the Group Companies taken as a whole.
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3.13 Labor Matters.
(a) Except as disclosed on Schedule 3.13(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter, no Group Company is a party to or bound by any labor agreement, collective bargaining agreement or other labor Contract applicable to persons employed by any Group Company. No employees of the Group Companies are represented by any labor union, labor organization, or works council with respect to their employment with the Group Companies. There are no representation proceedings or petitions seeking a representation proceeding presently pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened to be brought or filed, with the National Labor Relations Board or other labor relations tribunal, nor has any such representation proceeding, petition, or demand been brought, filed, made, or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened in the last three (3) years. To the Knowledge of the Company, since the Reference Date, there have been no labor organizing activities involving any Group Company or with respect to any employees of the Group Companies or threatened by any labor organization, works council or group of employees.
(b) Since the Reference Date, there have been no strikes, work stoppages, slowdowns, lockouts or arbitrations, material grievances, unfair labor practice charges or other material labor disputes pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened, against or affecting the Group Companies involving any employee of the Group Companies. There are no material charges, grievances or complaints, in each case related to alleged unfair labor practices, pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened by or on behalf of any employee, former employee, or labor organization. There are no material continuing obligations of the Group Companies pursuant to the resolution of any such proceeding that is no longer pending.
(c) As of the date of this Agreement, none of the executive officers or senior management of a Group Company has given written notice of any intent to terminate his or her employment with such Group Company. The Group Companies are in compliance in all material respects and, to the Knowledge of the Company, each of their employees and consultants are in compliance in all material respects, with the terms of any employment, nondisclosure, restrictive covenant, and consulting agreements between any Group Company and such individuals.
(d) To the Knowledge of the Company, no written notice has been received by a Group Company since the Reference Date asserting or alleging sexual harassment or sexual misconduct against any current director of a Group Company or against any current officer of a Group Company who is presented as a named executive officer in the Proxy Statement.
(e) There are no material complaints, charges, proceedings, investigations, or claims against the Group Companies pending or, to Knowledge of the Company, threatened, to be brought or filed, before any Governmental Entity based on, arising out of, in connection with or otherwise relating to the employment or termination of employment or failure to employ by any Group Company, of any individual present or former employee of, or applicant for employment with, any Group Company. Each Group Company is in material compliance with all Legal Requirements respecting employment and employment practices, including all laws respecting terms and conditions of employment, wages and hours, the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, as amended (“WARN”), and any similar foreign, state or local “mass layoff” or “plant closing” laws, collective bargaining, immigration, employee benefits, labor relations, discrimination, civil rights, safety and health, workers’ compensation and the collection and payment of withholding and/or social security taxes and any similar tax.
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(f) There has been no “mass layoff” or “plant closing” (as defined by WARN) with respect to any Group Company within the six (6) months prior to the Closing.
(g) The Group Companies have since the Reference Date maintained an affirmative action plan in compliance with Legal Requirements.
(h) No Group Company is liable for any arrears of wages (other than arrearages occurring in the ordinary course of business) or any related penalties, except in each case as would not be material to the Group Companies taken as a whole. All amounts that the Group Companies are legally required to withhold from their employees’ wages and to pay to any Governmental Entity as required by Legal Requirements have been withheld and paid, and the Group Companies do not have any outstanding obligations to make any such withholding or payment, other than with respect to an open payroll period or as would not result in material liability to the Group Companies, taken as whole. There are no pending, or to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened Legal Proceedings against any Group Company by any employee in connection with such employee’s employment or termination of employment by such Group Company. Each Group Company has properly classified for all purposes (including for all Tax purposes and for purposes of determining eligibility to participate in any Employee Benefit Plan) all employees, leased employees, agents, consultants and independent contractors.
(i) To the Knowledge of the Company, the execution of this Agreement and the consummation of the Transactions contemplated by this Agreement will not result in any breach or other violation of any collective bargaining agreement or any other labor-related agreement to which the Group Companies are a party or bound. The Group Companies have satisfied in all material respects any pre-signing legal or contractual requirement to provide notice to, or to enter into any consultation procedure with, any labor union, labor organization, or works council, which is representing any employee of the Group Companies, in connection with the execution of this Agreement or the Transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
3.14 Real Property; Tangible Property .
(a) No Group Company currently owns any real property or has owned any real property since the Reference Date.
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(b) Each Group Company has a valid, binding and enforceable leasehold interest in the applicable real property leased by each Group Company (the “Company Leased Properties”), free and clear of all Liens (other than Permitted Liens) and each of the leases, lease guarantees, agreements and documents related to any Company Leased Properties (other than for the avoidance of doubt, any subleases, sublicenses or other use and occupancy agreements where the Group Company is the sublandlord, sublicensor or grantor), including all amendments, terminations and modifications thereof (collectively, the “Company Real Property Leases”), is in full force and effect, except insofar as enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally or by principles governing the availability of equitable remedies. The Company has made available to Parent true, correct and complete copies of all Company Real Property Leases. No Group Company is in breach of or default under any Company Real Property Lease, and, to the Knowledge of the Company, 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 default, except for such breaches or defaults as would not individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to be material to the Group Companies, taken as a whole. To the Knowledge of the Company, (i) there are no pending condemnation proceedings with respect to any of the Company Leased Properties, and (ii) the current use of the Company Leased Properties does not violate any local planning, zoning or similar land use restrictions of any Governmental Entity in any material respect. No Group Company has received or given any written notice of any current default or event that with notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute a breach or default by any Group Company under any of the Company Real Property Leases and, to the Knowledge of the Company, no other party is in breach or default thereof, except for such breaches or defaults as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to be material to the Group Companies, taken as a whole. As of the date of this Agreement, no party to any Company Real Property Lease has exercised any termination rights with respect thereto. Except as permitted after the occurrence of an event of default thereunder, no party to a Company Real Property Lease has the unilateral right to terminate any of the Company Real Property Leases prior to the end of its current term. Schedule 3.14(b)(i) of the Company Disclosure Letter contains a true and correct list of all Company Real Property Leases. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.14(b)(ii) of the Company Disclosure Letter, no Person other than the Group Companies has the right to use the Company Leased Properties.
(c) Each Group Company has good and marketable title to, or a valid leasehold interest in or right to use, all of its tangible assets, free and clear of all Liens other than: (i) Permitted Liens; and (ii) the Liens specifically identified on Schedule 3.14(c) of the Company Disclosure Letter. The tangible assets (together with the Intellectual Property rights and contractual rights) of the Group Companies: (A) constitute all of the assets, rights and properties that are currently being used for the operation of the businesses of the Group Companies as they are now conducted, and taken together, are adequate and sufficient for the operation of the businesses of the Group Companies as currently conducted; and (B) are adequate and suitable for the uses to which they are being put, in each case of clauses (A) and (B) except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to be material to the Group Companies, taken as a whole.
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3.15 Taxes.
(a) Except as set forth on Schedule 3.15(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, all material Tax Returns required to be filed by or on behalf of each Group Company for tax years ending on or after the Reference Date have been duly and timely filed with the appropriate Governmental Entity (taking into account any applicable extensions) and all such Tax Returns are true, correct and complete in all material respects. All material amounts of Taxes payable by or on behalf of each Group Company (whether or not shown on any Tax Return) have been fully and timely paid (taking into account any applicable extensions), except as set forth on Schedule 3.15(a) or with respect to Taxes being contested in good faith by appropriate Legal Proceedings and for which appropriate reserves have been established in accordance with U.S. GAAP.
(b) Except as set forth on Schedule 3.15(b), each of the Group Companies has complied in all material respects with all applicable Legal Requirements relating to the withholding and remittance of all amounts of Taxes and withheld and paid all amounts of Taxes required to have been withheld and paid to the appropriate Governmental Entity.
(c) No claim, assessment, deficiency or proposed adjustment for any material amount of Tax has been asserted or assessed by any Governmental Entity in writing against the any Group Company which has not been paid or resolved.
(d) No material Tax audit or other examination of any Group Company by any Governmental Entity is presently in progress, nor has the Company been notified in writing of any (nor to the Company’s Knowledge is there any) request or threat for such an audit or other examination.
(e) There are no liens for Taxes (other than Permitted Liens) upon any of the assets of the Group Companies.
(f) Except as set forth on Schedule 3.15(f) of the Company Disclosure Letter, no Group Company: (i) has any liability for the Taxes of another Person (other than any Group Company) pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.1502-6 (or any similar provision of state, local or foreign Legal Requirements) or as a transferee or a successor or by Contract (other than pursuant to commercial agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business and the principal purpose of which is not related to Taxes); (ii) is a party to or bound by any Tax indemnity, Tax sharing or Tax allocation agreement (excluding (x) any agreement exclusively between the Group Companies or (y) credit or commercial agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business and the principal purposes of which is not related to Taxes), pursuant to which any Group Company will have any obligation to make payments for Taxes after the Closing Date; or (iii) has, since the Reference Date, ever been a member of an affiliated, consolidated, combined or unitary group filing for U.S. federal, state or local income Tax purposes, other than a group the common parent of which was and is the Company.
(g) No Group Company: (i) has consented to extend the time in which any Tax may be assessed or collected by any Governmental Entity (other than ordinary course extensions of time to file Tax Returns), which extension is still in effect; or (ii) has entered into or been a party to any “listed transaction” within the meaning of Section 6707A(c)(2) of the Code for a taxable period for which the applicable statute of limitations remains open.
(h) Other than the Group Companies listed on Schedule 3.15(h) of the Company Disclosure Letter, each Group Company domiciled outside of the United States is a “disregarded entity” for U.S. federal income tax purposes. No Group Company has, or has ever had, a permanent establishment in any country other than the country of its organization, or is, or has ever been, to the Knowledge of the Company, subject to income Tax in a jurisdiction outside the country of its organization, in each case where it is required to file an income Tax Return and does not file such a Tax Return.
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(i) No Group Company has constituted either a “distributing corporation” or a “controlled corporation” (within the meaning of Section 355(a)(1)(A) of the Code) in a distribution of stock intended to qualify for tax-free treatment under Section 355 of the Code in the two (2) years prior to the date of this Agreement.
(j) No Group Company will be required to include any material item of income in, or exclude any material item or deduction from, taxable income for any taxable period beginning after the Closing Date or, in the case of any taxable period beginning on or before and ending after the Closing Date, the portion of such period 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 any state, local or foreign Legal Requirements); (iii) any prepaid amount received or deferred revenue recognized on or prior to the Closing Date, other than in respect of such amounts reflected in the balance sheets included in the Financial Statements, or received in the ordinary course of business since the date of the most recent balance sheet included in the Financial Statements; (iv) to the Company’s Knowledge, any intercompany transaction described in Treasury Regulations under Section 1502 (or any corresponding or similar provision of state or local Legal Requirements); (v) any closing agreement pursuant to Section 7121 of the Code or any similar provision of state, local or foreign Legal Requirements executed on or prior to the Closing Date; or (vi) an election under Section 108(i) of the Code.
(k) No Group Company has been or will be required to include any amount in income after the Closing by reason of Section 965(a) of the Code, or has made an election described in Section 965(h) of the Code.
(l) Since the Reference Date, no claim has been made in writing by any Governmental Entity in a jurisdiction in which any Group Company does not file Tax Returns that is or may be subject to Tax by, or required to file Tax Returns in, that jurisdiction.
Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement, the representations and warranties in this Section 3.15 and Section 3.12 (to the extent specifically related to Taxes) shall be the sole representations and warranties made by the Company in this Agreement in respect of Taxes.
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3.16 Environmental Matters.
(a) Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to be material to the Group Companies, taken as a whole:
(i) The Group Companies are and have been in compliance with all Environmental Laws, which compliance includes obtaining, maintaining and complying with all Governmental Entity action/filings required under applicable Environmental Laws;
(ii) (A) The Group Companies possess all permits, approvals, authorizations, consents, licenses or certificates required by all applicable Environmental Laws (collectively, “Environmental Permits”); (B) all such Environmental Permits are valid and in full force and effect; and (C) no Group Company is in default, and, to the Knowledge of Company, no condition exists that with notice or lapse of time or both would constitute a default, under such Environmental Permits;
(iii) Neither the Company nor its Subsidiaries are party to any unresolved, pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened complaints, claims, actions, suits, investigations, inquiries, notices, judgments, decrees, injunctions, orders, requests for information or proceedings arising under or related to Environmental Laws. To the Knowledge of the Company, no conditions currently exist with respect to Company Leased Properties that would reasonably be expected to result in any of the Group Companies incurring liabilities or obligations under Environmental Laws; and
(iv) No portion of any property currently or formerly owned, used, leased, or operated by any Group Company has been used by any Group Company for the handling, manufacturing, processing, generation, storage or disposal of Hazardous Substances in a manner other than in compliance with applicable Environmental Law and associated Environmental Permits, and there are no Hazardous Substances in the environment (including natural resources, soil, surface water, ground water, any present or potential drinking water supply, subsurface strata or ambient air) in a manner or in quantities that would result in a violation of or give rise to a liability under Environmental Laws at any currently or formerly owned, used, leased or operated property or facility of any Group Company.
(b) The Group Companies have made available to Parent copies of all environmental assessments (including any phase I or II environmental assessments), studies, audits, analyses or reports relating to Company Leased Properties or the Group Companies and copies of all non-privileged documents relating to any material and outstanding liabilities of any of the Group Companies under Environmental Law to the extent such are in the possession, custody, or control of the Group Companies.
3.17 Brokers; Third Party Expenses
. The Group Companies have not incurred, nor will any of them incur, directly or indirectly, any liability for brokerage, finders’ fees, agent’s commissions or any similar charges in connection with this Agreement or the Transactions.
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3.18 Intellectual Property.
(a) Schedule 3.18(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth a true, correct and complete list of all of the following Intellectual Property that is owned by, and material to, the Group Companies: (i) Patents; (ii) registered Trademarks and pending applications for registration of Trademarks; (iii) registered Copyrights and pending applications for registration of Copyrights; and (iv) Internet domain names (the Intellectual Property referred to in clauses (i) through (iv), without any limitations as to materiality, collectively, the “Company Registered Intellectual Property”); and (v) unregistered Trademarks. All of the Company Registered Intellectual Property is subsisting and, to the Knowledge of the Company and excepting any pending applications included therein, valid and enforceable in all material respects and all necessary registration, maintenance, renewal, and other relevant filing fees due through the date of this Agreement have been timely paid and all necessary documents and certificates in connection therewith have been timely filed with the relevant Patent, Trademark, Copyright, domain name registrar, or other authorities in the United States or foreign jurisdictions, as the case may be, for the purpose of maintaining such Company Registered Intellectual Property.
(b) The Company or one of its Subsidiaries is the sole and exclusive owner of all right, title and interest in and to all Owned Intellectual Property and has a license, sublicense or otherwise possesses legally enforceable rights, to use all other material Intellectual Property used in the conduct of the businesses of the Group Companies as presently conducted, free and clear of all Liens (other than Permitted Liens). The Owned Intellectual Property and the Licensed Intellectual Property when used within the scope of the applicable Inbound Licenses include all of the material Intellectual Property necessary for each of the Group Companies to conduct its business as currently conducted.
(c) Since the Reference Date, the conduct of the businesses of the Group Companies has not infringed, misappropriated or otherwise violated, and is not infringing, misappropriating or otherwise violating, any Intellectual Property rights of any Person. No Person has infringed, misappropriated or otherwise violated, or is infringing, misappropriating or otherwise violating, any of the Owned Intellectual Property, and no such claims have been made in writing against any third party by any of the Group Companies since the Reference Date.
(d) There is no action pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened, against any of the Group Companies, and no Group Company has received since the Reference Date any notice from any Person pursuant to which any Person is: (i) alleging that the conduct of the business of any of the Group Companies is infringing, misappropriating or otherwise violating any Intellectual Property rights of any third party; or (ii) contesting the use, ownership, validity or enforceability of any of the Owned Intellectual Property. None of the Owned Intellectual Property is subject to any pending or outstanding injunction, order, judgment, settlement, consent order, ruling or other disposition of dispute that adversely restricts the use, transfer or registration of, or adversely affects the validity or enforceability of, any such Owned Intellectual Property.
(e) No past or present director, officer or employee of a Group Company owns (or has any claim or any right (whether or not currently exercisable) to any ownership interest in or to) any Owned Intellectual Property. Each of the past and present directors, officers, employees, consultants and independent contractors of any of the Group Companies who are or were engaged in creating or developing for such Group Company any Owned Intellectual Property in the course of such Person’s employment or retention has executed and delivered a written agreement, pursuant to which such Person has: (i) agreed to hold all confidential information of such Group Company in confidence both during and after such Person’s employment or retention, as applicable; and (ii) presently assigned to such Group Company all of such Person’s rights, title and interest in and to all Intellectual Property created or developed for such Group Company in the course of such Person’s employment or retention thereby. To the Knowledge of the Company, there is no material uncured breach by any such Person with respect to its obligation to assign Intellectual Property to a Group Company or to protect the confidential information of such Group Company under any such agreement.
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(f) Each of the Group Companies, as applicable, has taken commercially reasonable steps to maintain the secrecy, confidentiality and value of all Trade Secrets included in the Owned Intellectual Property. No Trade Secret that is material to the businesses of the Group Companies has been authorized to be disclosed, or, to the Knowledge of the Company, has been disclosed to any of the Group Companies’ past or present employees or any other Person, other than as subject to an agreement restricting the disclosure and use of such Trade Secret, and to the Knowledge of the Company, there is no uncured breach by any employee or Person under any such agreement.
(g) To the Knowledge of the Company, no funding, facilities or personnel of any Governmental Entity or any university, college, research institute or other educational institution has been or is being used to create, in whole or in part, any Owned Intellectual Property. To the Knowledge of the Company, no current or former employee, consultant or independent contractor of any of the Group Companies who contributed to the creation or development of any Owned Intellectual Property was performing services for a Governmental Entity or any university, college, research institute or other educational institution related to the Group Companies’ businesses during a period of time during which such employee, consultant or independent contractor was also performing services for any of the Group Companies.
(h) The Company or one of its Subsidiaries owns, or has a valid right to access and use pursuant to a written agreement (which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall include standard click-through agreements), all computer systems, including the Software, firmware, hardware, networks, interfaces, platforms and related systems, databases, websites and equipment used by any Group Company to process, store, maintain and operate data, information and functions that are material to and used in connection with the businesses of the Group Companies, including communication infrastructure such as phone systems and video conferencing (collectively, the “Company IT Systems”). The Company IT Systems are adequate for the operation of the businesses of the Group Companies as currently conducted. Since the Reference Date, there have been no failures, breakdowns, continued substandard performance or other adverse events affecting any such Company IT Systems that have caused or could reasonably be expected to result in a material disruption or interruption in or to the use of such Company IT Systems or the conduct of the businesses of the Group Companies. To the Knowledge of the Company, the Company IT Systems do not contain any viruses, worms, Trojan horses, bugs, faults or other devices, errors, contaminants or code that could (i) materially disrupt or adversely affect the functionality of the Company IT Systems, or (ii) enable or assist any Person to access any Company IT Systems without authorization.
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(i) None of the Group Companies have incorporated any Open Source Software in, or used any Open Source Software in connection with, any proprietary Group Company Software developed, licensed, distributed, used or otherwise exploited by any of the Group Companies in a manner that requires the contribution, licensing, attribution or disclosure to any third party of any material portion of any proprietary Group Company source code or that would otherwise diminish or transfer the rights of ownership in any Owned Intellectual Property to any Person. The Group Companies are in material compliance with the terms and conditions of all relevant licenses for Open Source Software used in the businesses of the Group Companies, including notice and attribution obligations.
(j) The execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Group Companies and the consummation of the Transactions will not: (i) result in the breach of, or create on behalf of any third party the right to terminate or modify, any Contract relating to any Owned Intellectual Property or material Licensed Intellectual Property; (ii) result in or require the grant, assignment or transfer to any other Person (other than Parent) of any license or other right or interest under, to or in any Owned Intellectual Property or any of the Intellectual Property of Parent; or (iii) cause a material loss or impairment of any Owned Intellectual Property or Licensed Intellectual Property.
3.19 Privacy.
(a) Each of the Group Companies and any Person acting for or on behalf of any of the Group Companies have since the Reference Date (in the case of any such Person, during the time such Person was acting for or on behalf of such Group Company and as applicable to such Group Company) complied in all material respects with: (i) all applicable Privacy Laws; (ii) all of the applicable Group Company’s applicable policies, records and notices regarding the processing of Personal Information; and (iii) all of such Group Company’s applicable contractual obligations with respect to the receipt, collection, compilation, use, storage, processing, sharing, safeguarding, security (technical, physical and administrative), disposal, destruction, disclosure, or transfer (including cross-border) of Personal Information. None of the Group Companies have, since the Reference Date, except with respect to investigations or inquiries conducted by, or inquiries received from, financial regulators in the ordinary course of business, (i) received any written claims of (including from individuals or third parties acting on its or their behalves), nor have any of the Group Companies been charged with, any material violation of any Privacy Laws, applicable privacy policies, or contractual commitments with respect to Personal Information or (ii) been subject to any investigations, notices or requests from any Governmental Entity in relation to their data processing activities. None of the Group Companies is in material violation of its applicable privacy policies, rules or notices (including its own).
(b) Each of the Group Companies has, as applicable, since the Reference Date: (i) implemented and at all times maintained appropriate safeguards, which safeguards are materially consistent with best practices in the industry in which the applicable Group Company operates, to protect Personal Information in its possession or under its control against loss, theft, misuse or unauthorized access, use, modification or disclosure; (ii) entered into written agreements with all third-party service providers, outsourcers, processors or other third parties who process, store or otherwise handle Personal Information for or on behalf of the applicable Group Company that obligate such Persons to comply with applicable Privacy Laws and to take appropriate steps to protect and secure Personal Information from loss, theft, misuse or unauthorized access, use, modification or disclosure; and (iii) any third party who has provided Personal Information to any of the Group Companies has to the Knowledge of the Company done so in compliance with applicable Privacy Laws, including providing any notice and obtaining any consent required under such Privacy Laws.
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(c) Since the Reference Date there have been no material breaches, security incidents, misuse of or unauthorized access to or disclosure of any Personal Information in the possession or control of any of the Group Companies or collected, used or processed by or on behalf of the Group Companies, and none of the Group Companies have provided or been legally or contractually required to provide any notices to any Person in connection with a disclosure of Personal Information since the Reference Date. Each of the Group Companies has implemented reasonable disaster recovery and business continuity plans, and taken actions consistent with such plans to safeguard the data and Personal Information in its possession or control. Each of the applicable Group Companies has conducted privacy and data security testing or audits at reasonable and appropriate intervals consistent with applicable cybersecurity standards and have resolved or remediated any privacy or data security issues or vulnerabilities identified. None of the Group Companies nor any third party acting at the direction or authorization of the Group Companies has paid: (i) any perpetrator of any data breach incident or cyber-attack; or (ii) any third party with actual or alleged information about a data breach incident or cyber-attack, pursuant to a request for payment from or on behalf of such perpetrator or other third party.
3.20 Agreements, Contracts and Commitments.
(a) Schedule 3.20(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth a true, correct and complete list of each Company Material Contract (as defined below) that is in effect as of the date of this Agreement. For purposes of this Agreement, “Company Material Contract” of the Group Companies shall mean:
(i) any Contract reasonably expected to result in future payments to or by any Group Company in excess of $3,000,000 per annum;
(ii) any Contract that purports to limit (A) the localities in which the Group Companies’ businesses are conducted, (B) any Group Company from engaging in any line of business or (C) any Group Company from developing, marketing or selling products or services, in each case, in any manner that is material to the Group Companies, taken as a whole, including any non-compete agreements or agreements limiting the ability of any of the Group Companies from soliciting customers or employees in a manner that is material to the Group Companies, taken as a whole;
(iii) any Contract that is related to the governance or operation of any joint venture, partnership or similar arrangement, other than such contract solely between or among any of the Group Companies;
(iv) any Contract with a Top Customer or a Top Supplier;
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(v) any Contract for or relating to any borrowing of money by or from the Company;
(vi) any employment, consulting (with respect to an individual, independent contractor) or management Contract providing for annual payments in excess of $250,000;
(vii) any Contract granting any Person (other than a Group Company) any right (exclusive or non-exclusive) to sell or distribute any product or service of any of the Group Companies;
(viii) any obligation to register any ownership interests or other securities of the Group Companies with any Governmental Entity (other than ordinary course requirements of foreign Legal Requirements related to the recording with an applicable Governmental Entity of the ownership of non-U.S. Group Companies);
(ix) any Contracts entered into since the Reference Date for the sale of any of the business, properties or assets of any Group Company or the acquisition by any Group Company of any operating business, properties or assets, whether by merger, purchase or sale of stock or assets or otherwise (other than Contracts for the purchase of inventory or supplies entered into in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice);
(x) any obligation to make payments, contingent or otherwise, arising out of the prior acquisition of the business, assets or stock of other Persons;
(xi) any labor agreement, collective bargaining agreement, or any other labor-related agreements or arrangements with any labor union, labor organization, or works council;
(xii) any Contract for the use by any of the Group Companies of any tangible property where the annual lease payments are greater than $250,000;
(xiii) any Contract under which any of the Group Companies: (A) licenses Intellectual Property from any third party (“Inbound License”), other than non-exclusive licenses for Software that are (x) subject to a total license fee of less than $300,000 per year or $1,000,000 in the aggregate or (y) that are in the nature of “shrink-wrap” or “click-wrap” license agreements for off-the-shelf Software that has not been modified; (B) licenses Intellectual Property to any third party (other than non-exclusive licenses granted to suppliers, service providers or vendors engaged to supply products or provide services to such Group Company or to distributors or customers in the ordinary course of business); or (C) is developing or has developed any Intellectual Property, itself or through a third party;
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(xiv) each Contract with any academic institution, research center or Governmental Entity that provides for the provision of funding to the Company for research and development or similar activities involving the creation of any Intellectual Property or other assets; and
(xv) any written offer or proposal which, if accepted, would constitute any of the foregoing.
(b) Each Company Material Contract is in full force and effect and represents a legal, valid and binding obligation of the applicable Group Company party thereto and, to the Knowledge of the Company, represents a legal, valid and binding obligation of the counterparties thereto, except insofar as enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally or by principles governing the availability of equitable remedies. True, correct and complete copies of all Company Material Contracts have been made available to Parent.
(c) Neither the Company nor, to the Knowledge of the Company, any other party thereto, is in breach of or in default under, and no event has occurred which with notice or lapse of time or both would become a breach of or default under, any Company Material Contract, and no party to any Company Material Contract has given any written notice of any claim of any such breach, default or event, which, individually or in the aggregate, are reasonably likely to be material to the Group Companies, taken as a whole.
3.21 Insurance. Each of the Group Companies maintains insurance policies or fidelity or surety bonds covering its assets, business, equipment, properties, operations, employees, officers and directors (collectively, the “Insurance Policies”) for certain material insurable risks in respect of its business and assets, and the Insurance Policies are in full force and effect. The coverages provided by such Insurance Policies are usual and customary in amount and scope for the Group Companies’ business and operations as concurrently conducted, and sufficient to comply with any insurance required to be maintained by Company Material Contracts. No written notice of cancellation or termination has been received by any Group Company with respect to any of the effective Insurance Policies. There is no pending claim by any Group Company against any insurance carrier under any of the existing Insurance Policies for which coverage has been denied or disputed by the applicable insurance carrier (other than a customary reservation of rights notice).
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3.22 Interested Party Transactions. No officer, director or manager of the Group Companies or any of their respective immediate family members, or, to the Knowledge of the Company, any employee of the Group Companies or its immediate family members, is indebted to the Group Companies for borrowed money, nor are any of the Group Companies indebted for borrowed money (or committed to make loans or extend or guarantee credit) to any of such Persons, other than: (a) for payment of salary, bonuses and other compensation for services rendered; (b) reimbursement for reasonable expenses incurred in connection with any of the Group Companies; and (c) for other employee benefits made generally available to all employees. To the Knowledge of the Company, no officer, director, employee, manager or holder of equity securities of the Group Companies (each, an “Insider”) or any member of an Insider’s immediate family is, directly or indirectly, interested in any Contract with any of the Group Companies (other than such Contracts as relate to any such Person’s ownership of Company membership interests or other securities of the Group Companies or such Person’s employment or consulting arrangements with the Group Companies).
3.23 Information Supplied. The information relating to the Group Companies supplied by the Company or its counsel for inclusion in the Proxy Statement will not, as of the date on which the Proxy Statement (or any amendment or supplement thereto) is first distributed to holders of Parent Class A Ordinary Shares or at the time of the General Meeting, 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 light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company makes no representation, warranty or covenant with respect to: (a) statements made or incorporated by reference therein based on information supplied by Parent for inclusion or incorporation by reference in the Proxy Statement or any Parent SEC Reports; or (b) any projections or forecasts included in the Proxy Statement.
3.24 Indebtedness. Schedule 3.24 of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth the outstanding principal amount of the Borrowed Indebtedness and the amount of all other outstanding Indebtedness of the Group Companies (other than the Borrowed Indebtedness) as of the date of this Agreement.
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3.25 Anti-Bribery; Anti-Corruption. Since the Reference Date, none of the Group Companies or, to the Knowledge of the Company, any of the Group Companies’ respective directors, officers, Affiliates or any other Persons acting on their behalf, at their direction or for their benefit has, in connection with the operation of the businesses of the Group Companies, directly or indirectly: (a) made, offered or promised to make or offer any payment, loan or transfer of anything of value, including any reward, advantage or benefit of any kind, to or for the benefit of any government official, candidate for public office, political party or political campaign, or any official of such party or campaign, for the purpose of: (i) influencing any act or decision of such government official, candidate, party or campaign or any official of such party or campaign; (ii) inducing such government official, candidate, party or campaign or any official of such party or campaign to do or omit to do any act in violation of a lawful duty; (iii) obtaining or retaining business for or with any Person; (iv) expediting or securing the performance of official acts of a routine nature; or (v) otherwise securing any improper advantage; (b) paid, offered or agreed or promised to make or offer any bribe, payoff, influence payment, kickback, unlawful rebate or other similar unlawful payment of any nature; (c) made, offered or agreed or promised to make or offer any unlawful contributions, gifts, entertainment or other unlawful expenditures; (d) established or maintained any unlawful fund of corporate monies or other properties; (e) created or caused the creation of any false or inaccurate books and records related to any of the foregoing; or (f) otherwise violated any provision of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, 15 U.S.C. §§78dd-1, et seq., the United Kingdom Xxxxxxx Xxx 0000 or any other applicable anti-corruption or anti-bribery Legal Requirements (the “Anti-Corruption Laws”). None of the Group Companies or any of the Group Companies’ respective directors, officers, Affiliates or, to the Knowledge of the Company, any of the Group Companies’ respective employees or any other Persons acting on their behalf, at their direction or for their benefit, (i) is or has been the subject of an unresolved claim or allegation relating to (A) any potential violation of the Anti-Corruption Laws or (B) any potentially unlawful payment, contribution, gift, bribe, rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other payment or the provision of anything of value, directly or indirectly, to an official, to any political party or official thereof or to any candidate for political office, or (ii) has received any notice or other communication from, or made a voluntary disclosure to, any Governmental Entity regarding any actual, alleged or potential violation of, or failure to comply with, any Anti-Corruption Law. Since the Reference Date, the Group Companies have had and maintained a system or systems of internal controls reasonably designed to (x) ensure compliance with the Anti-Corruption Laws and (y) prevent and detect violations of the Anti-Corruption Laws.
3.26 International Trade; Sanctions.
(a) Since the Reference Date, the Group Companies, the Group Companies’ respective directors, officers, Affiliates or, and, to the Knowledge of the Company, any of the Group Companies’ respective employees or any other Persons acting on their behalf, in connection with the operation of the businesses of the Group Companies, and in each case in all material respects, (a) have been in compliance with all applicable Customs & International Trade Laws, (b) have obtained all import and export licenses and all other consents, notices, waivers, approvals, orders, authorizations, registrations, declarations, classifications and filings required for the export, deemed export, import, re-export, deemed re-export or transfer of goods, services, software and technology required for the operation of the respective businesses of the Group Companies, including the Customs & International Trade Authorizations; (c) have not been the subject of any civil or criminal fine, penalty, seizure, forfeiture, revocation of a Customs & International Trade Authorization, debarment or denial of future Customs & International Trade Authorizations in connection with any actual or alleged violation of any applicable Customs & International Trade Laws; and (d) have not received any actual or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened claims, investigations or requests for information by a Governmental Entity with respect to Customs & International Trade Authorizations and compliance with applicable Customs & International Trade Laws and have not made any disclosures to any Governmental Entity with respect to any actual or potential noncompliance with any applicable Customs & International Trade Laws. The Group Companies have in place adequate controls and systems reasonably designed to ensure compliance with applicable Customs & International Trade Laws in each of the jurisdictions in which a Group Company is incorporated or does business.
(b) None of the Group Companies or any of the Group Companies’ respective directors, officers, Affiliates or, to the Knowledge of the Company, any of the Group Companies’ respective employees or any other Persons acting on their behalf is or has been since the Reference Date, a Sanctioned Person. Since the Reference Date, the Group Companies and the Group Companies’ respective directors, officers, Affiliates or, to the Knowledge of the Company, any of the Group Companies’ respective employees or any other Persons acting on their behalf have, in connection with the operation of the businesses of the Group Companies, been in material compliance with applicable Sanctions. Since the Reference Date, (i) no Governmental Entity has initiated any action or imposed any civil or criminal fine, penalty, seizure, forfeiture, revocation of an authorization, debarment or denial of future authorizations against any of the Group Companies or any of their respective directors or officers, or, to the Knowledge of the Company, any of the Group Companies’ respective employees or any other Persons acting on their behalf in connection with any actual or alleged violation of applicable Sanctions, (ii) there have been no actual or threatened claims, investigations or requests for information by a Governmental Entity received by a Group Company with respect to the Group Companies’ compliance with applicable Sanctions and (iii) and no disclosures have been made to any Governmental Entity with respect to any actual or potential noncompliance with applicable Sanctions. The Group Companies have in place adequate controls and systems reasonably designed to ensure compliance with applicable Sanctions in each of the jurisdictions in which any Group Company is incorporated or does business.
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3.27 Top Customers. Schedule 3.27 of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth a complete and correct list of (a) the names of the ten (10) largest customers (by aggregate revenue) of the Group Companies during the twelve-month period ended December 31, 2020 and during the three (3) month period ended March 31, 2021 and the dollar amount of such goods or services purchased by each such customer during such periods (the “Top Customers”). During the last 12 months, the Company has not received any written notice from any Top Customer that any such customer has terminated or cancelled, or intends to terminate or cancel, its business relationship with the Company or will materially reduce the annual volume of goods or services purchased from the Company. To the Company’s Knowledge, as of the date hereof, no Top Customer has filed for or is threatened with bankruptcy, insolvency or dissolution or any similar proceedings.
3.28 Top Suppliers. Schedule 3.28 of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth a complete and correct list of (a) the names of the ten (10) largest suppliers of goods or services to the Group Companies during the twelve-month period ended December 31, 2020 and during the three (3) month period ended March 31, 2021 and the dollar amount of such goods or services purchased by the Company with respect to each such supplier during such periods (the “Top Suppliers”). During the last 12 months, the Company has not received any written notice from any Top Supplier that any such supplier has terminated or cancelled, or intends to terminate or cancel, its business relationship with the Company or will materially reduce the annual volume of goods or services sold or provided to the Company. To the Company’s Knowledge, as of the date hereof no Top Supplier has filed for or is threatened with bankruptcy, insolvency or dissolution or any similar proceedings.
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3.29 Disclaimer of Other Warranties.
3.30. THE COMPANY HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGES THAT, EXCEPT AS EXPRESSLY PROVIDED IN THIS AGREEMENT, NONE OF PARENT OR ANY OF ITS AFFILIATES OR REPRESENTATIVES HAS MADE, IS MAKING, OR SHALL BE DEEMED TO MAKE ANY REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY WHATSOEVER, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AT LAW OR IN EQUITY, TO THE COMPANY OR ANY OF ITS AFFILIATES OR REPRESENTATIVES OR ANY OTHER PERSON, WITH RESPECT TO PARENT OR ITS BUSINESS, ASSETS OR PROPERTIES, OR OTHERWISE, INCLUDING ANY REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY AS TO MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, FUTURE RESULTS, PROPOSED BUSINESSES OR FUTURE PLANS. WITHOUT LIMITING THE FOREGOING AND NOTWITHSTANDING ANYTHING TO THE CONTRARY: (A) NONE OF PARENT OR ANY OF ITS AFFILIATES OR REPRESENTATIVES SHALL BE DEEMED TO MAKE TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AFFILIATES OR REPRESENTATIVES ANY REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY OTHER THAN AS EXPRESSLY MADE BY PARENT IN THIS AGREEMENT; AND (B) NONE OF PARENT OR ANY OF ITS AFFILIATES OR REPRESENTATIVES HAS MADE, IS MAKING OR SHALL BE DEEMED TO MAKE TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AFFILIATES OR REPRESENTATIVES OR ANY OTHER PERSON ANY REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, WITH RESPECT TO: (I) THE INFORMATION DISTRIBUTED OR MADE AVAILABLE TO THEM BY OR ON BEHALF OF PARENT IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT AND THE TRANSACTIONS; (II) ANY MANAGEMENT PRESENTATION, CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION MEMORANDUM OR SIMILAR DOCUMENT; OR (III) ANY FINANCIAL PROJECTION, FORECAST, ESTIMATE, BUDGET OR SIMILAR ITEM RELATING TO PARENT OR ITS BUSINESS, ASSETS, LIABILITIES, PROPERTIES, FINANCIAL CONDITION, RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND PROJECTED OPERATIONS. THE COMPANY HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT HAS NOT RELIED ON ANY PROMISE, REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY THAT IS NOT EXPRESSLY SET FORTH IN THIS AGREEMENT, AND THAT IT HAS CONDUCTED, TO ITS SATISFACTION, AN INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION AND VERIFICATION OF PARENT AND ITS BUSINESS, ASSETS, LIABILITIES, PROPERTIES, FINANCIAL CONDITION, RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND PROJECTED OPERATIONS, AND IN MAKING ITS DETERMINATION THE COMPANY HAS RELIED ON THE RESULTS OF ITS OWN INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION AND VERIFICATION, IN ADDITION TO THE REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT EXPRESSLY AND SPECIFICALLY SET FORTH IN THIS AGREEMENT. NOTWITHSTANDING ANYTHING TO THE CONTRARY IN THIS SECTION 3.29, CLAIMS AGAINST PARENT OR ANY OTHER PERSON SHALL NOT BE LIMITED IN ANY RESPECT IN THE EVENT OF INTENTIONAL FRAUD IN THE MAKING OF THE REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES IN THIS AGREEMENT BY SUCH PERSON. THE COMPANY HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGES THAT PARENT MAKES NO REPRESENTATION, WARRANTY OR COVENANT INCLUDING PURSUANT TO SECTION 4.7(A) WITH RESPECT TO (X) STATEMENTS MADE OR INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE IN ANY PARENT SEC REPORTS OR ADDITIONAL PARENT SEC REPORTS BASED ON INFORMATION SUPPLIED BY THE GROUP COMPANIES FOR INCLUSION OR INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE IN THE PROXY STATEMENT, OR (Y) ANY PROJECTIONS OR FORECASTS INCLUDED IN THE PROXY STATEMENT.
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Article IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT
Except: (i) as set forth in the letter dated as of the date of this Agreement and delivered by Parent to the Company on or prior to the date of this Agreement (the “Parent Disclosure Letter”); and (ii) as disclosed in the Parent SEC Reports filed or furnished with the SEC prior to the date of this Agreement (to the extent the qualifying nature of such disclosure is readily apparent from the content of such Parent SEC Reports), Parent represents and warrants to the Company as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date as follows:
4.1 Organization and Qualification.
(a) Until the occurrence of the Domestication, Parent is an exempted company with limited liability duly incorporated under the Legal Requirements of the Cayman Islands. Following the Domestication, Parent will be a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware.
(b) Parent has the requisite corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its assets and properties and to carry on its business as it is now being conducted, except as would not be material to Parent.
(c) Parent is not in violation of any of the provisions of its Governing Documents.
(d) Parent is duly qualified or licensed to do business as a foreign corporation and is in good standing in each jurisdiction where the character of the properties owned, leased or operated by it or the nature of its activities makes such qualification or licensing necessary.
4.2 Parent Subsidiaries. Parent has no direct or indirect Subsidiaries or participations in joint ventures or other entities, and does not own, directly or indirectly, any equity interests or other interests or investments (whether equity or debt) in any Person, whether incorporated or unincorporated.
4.3 Capitalization.
(a) As of the date of this Agreement: (i) 5,000,000 preference shares, par value $0.0001 per share, of Parent (“Parent Preference Shares”) are authorized and no such shares are issued and outstanding; (ii) 500,000,000 Parent Class A Ordinary Shares are authorized and 25,660,000 of such shares are issued and outstanding; (iii) 50,000,000 Pre-Combination Class B Ordinary Shares (together with the Parent Preference Shares and the Parent Class A Ordinary Shares, the “Parent Shares”), are authorized and of such shares 8,553,333 are issued and outstanding; (iv) 165,000 warrants to purchase one Parent Class A Ordinary Share (the “Private Placement Warrants”) are outstanding; and (v) 6,250,000 warrants to purchase one Parent Class A Ordinary Share (the “Public Warrants”, collectively with the Private Placement Warrants, the “Parent Warrants”) are outstanding. All outstanding Parent Class A Ordinary Shares and Pre-Combination Class B Ordinary Shares have been duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and are non-assessable and are not subject to, nor have been issued in violation of, any purchase option, call option, right of first refusal, preemptive right, subscription right or any similar right. The Parent Warrants have been validly issued, and constitute valid and binding obligations of Parent, enforceable against Parent in accordance with their terms, except insofar as enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally or by principles governing the availability of equitable remedies.
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(b) Except for the Parent Warrants, Pre-Combination Class B Ordinary Shares and the Subscription Agreements and other than as part of the Transactions, there are no outstanding options, warrants, rights, convertible or exchangeable securities, “phantom” stock rights, stock appreciation rights, stock-based performance units, commitments or Contracts of any kind to which Parent is a party or by which it is bound obligating Parent to issue, deliver or sell, or cause to be issued, delivered or sold, additional Parent Shares or any other shares of capital stock or membership interests or other interest or participation in, or any security convertible or exercisable for or exchangeable into, Parent Shares or any other shares of capital stock or membership interests or other interest or participation in Parent.
(c) Each Parent Share and Parent Warrant: (i) has been issued in compliance in all material respects with (A) Legal Requirements and (B) the Governing Documents of Parent; and (ii) was not issued in violation of any purchase option, call option, right of first refusal, preemptive right, subscription right or any similar right under any Legal Requirements, the Governing Documents of Parent or any Contract to which Parent is a party or otherwise by which it is bound.
(d) Subject to approval of the Parent Shareholder Matters, the shares of Parent Class C Common Stock to be issued by Parent in connection with the Transactions, upon issuance in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, and will not be subject to any preemptive rights of any other stockholder of Parent and will be capable of effectively vesting in the Company title to all such securities, free and clear of all Liens (other than Liens arising pursuant to applicable securities Legal Requirements).
(e) Each holder of Pre-Combination Class B Ordinary Shares: (i) is obligated to vote all of such holder’s Parent Shares in favor of approving the Transactions; and (ii) is not entitled to elect to redeem any of such holder’s Parent Shares pursuant to the Parent Organizational Documents.
(f) Except as set forth in the Parent Organizational Documents or the Current Registration Rights Agreement or in connection with the Transactions, there are no registration rights, and there is no voting trust, proxy, rights plan, anti-takeover plan or other agreements or understandings to which Parent is a party or by which Parent is bound with respect to any ownership interests of Parent.
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4.4 Authority Relative to this Agreement. Parent has the requisite corporate power and authority to: (a) execute, deliver and perform this Agreement and the other Transaction Agreements to which it is a party, and each ancillary document that it has executed or delivered or is to execute or deliver pursuant to this Agreement; and (b) carry out its obligations hereunder and thereunder and to consummate the Transactions. The execution and delivery by Parent of this Agreement and the other Transaction Agreements to which Parent is a party, and the consummation by Parent of the Transactions have been duly and validly authorized by all requisite corporate action on the part of Parent, and no other proceedings on the part of Parent are necessary to authorize this Agreement or the other Transaction Agreements to which Parent is a party or to consummate the transactions contemplated thereby, other than approval of the Parent Shareholder Matters. This Agreement and the other Transaction Agreements to which Parent is a party have been duly and validly executed and delivered by Parent and, assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery hereof and thereof by the other Parties hereto and thereto, constitute the legal and binding obligations of Parent, enforceable against Parent in accordance with their terms, except insofar as enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally or by principles governing the availability of equitable remedies.
4.5 No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents.
(a) Subject to the approval by the shareholders of Parent of the Parent Shareholder Matters, neither the execution, delivery nor performance by Parent of this Agreement or the other Transaction Agreements to which it is a party, nor the consummation of the Transactions, shall: (i) conflict with or violate its Governing Documents; (ii) assuming that the consents, approvals, orders, authorizations, registrations, filings or permits referred to in Schedule 4.5(b) of the Parent Disclosure Letter are duly and timely obtained or made, conflict with or violate any Legal Requirements; or (iii) result in any breach of or constitute a default (or an event that with or without notice or lapse of time or both would become a default) under, or materially impair its rights or alter the rights or obligations of any third party under, or give any third party any rights of consent, termination, amendment, acceleration (including any forced repurchase) or cancellation under, or result in the creation of a Lien (other than any Permitted Lien) on any of the properties or assets of Parent pursuant to, any Contracts, except, with respect to clause (iii), as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Parent Material Adverse Effect.
(b) The execution and delivery by Parent of this Agreement and the other Transaction Agreements to which it is a party does not, and the performance of its obligations hereunder and thereunder will not, require any consent, approval, authorization or permit of, or filing with or notification to, any Governmental Entity, except: (i) for applicable requirements, if any, of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, blue sky laws, foreign securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder, and appropriate documents received from or filed with the relevant authorities of other jurisdictions in which Parent is licensed or qualified to do business (including the Cayman Islands prior to the Domestication and Delaware following the Domestication); (ii) filings required pursuant to Antitrust Laws (if any) and the expiration of the required waiting periods thereunder (if any); (iii) for the consents, approvals, authorizations, and permits described in Schedule 4.5(b) of the Parent Disclosure Letter; and (iv) where the failure to obtain such consents, approvals, authorizations or permits, or to make such filings or notifications, would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect.
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4.6 Compliance; Approvals. Since its incorporation or organization, as applicable, Parent has complied in all material respects with and has not been in violation of any Legal Requirements with respect to the conduct of its business, or the ownership or operation of its business. Since the date of its incorporation or organization, as applicable, to the Knowledge of Parent, no investigation or review by any Governmental Entity with respect to Parent has been pending or threatened. No written or, to the Knowledge of Parent, oral notice of non-compliance with any Legal Requirements has been received by Parent. Parent is in possession of all 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, except where the failure to have such Approvals would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to be material to Parent. Each Approval held by Parent is valid, binding and in full force and effect. Parent: (a) is not in default or violation (and no event has occurred that, with notice or the lapse of time or both, would constitute a default or violation) of any material term, condition or provision of any such Approval; and (b) has not received any written notice from a Governmental Entity that has issued any such Approval that it intends to cancel, terminate, modify or not renew any such Approval.
4.7 Parent SEC Reports and Financial Statements.
(a) Parent has filed all forms, reports, schedules, statements and other documents required to be filed or furnished by Parent with the SEC under the Exchange Act or the Securities Act since Parent’s incorporation to the date of this Agreement, together with any amendments, restatements or supplements thereto (all of the foregoing filed prior to the date of this Agreement, the “Parent SEC Reports”), and will have filed all such forms, reports, schedules, statements and other documents required to be filed subsequent to the date of this Agreement through the Closing Date (the “Additional Parent SEC Reports”). All Parent SEC Reports, Additional Parent SEC Reports, any correspondence from or to the SEC (other than such correspondence in connection with the initial public offering of Parent) 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 Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act with respect to any of the foregoing (collectively, the “Certifications”) are available on the SEC’s Electronic Data-Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system (XXXXX) in full without redaction. Parent has heretofore furnished to the Company true and correct copies of all amendments and modifications that have not been filed by Parent with the SEC to all agreements, documents and other instruments that previously had been filed by Parent with the SEC and are currently in effect. The Parent SEC Reports were, and the Additional Parent SEC Reports will be, prepared in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act, as the case may be, and the rules and regulations thereunder. The Parent SEC Reports did not, and the Additional Parent SEC Reports will not, at the time they were or are filed with the SEC, as the case may be, 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. Parent maintains disclosure controls and procedures required by Rule 13a-15(e) or 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act. Each director and executive officer of Parent has filed with the SEC on a timely basis all statements required with respect to Parent by Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder. As used in this Section 4.7, 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.
(b) The financial statements and notes of Parent contained or incorporated by reference in the Parent SEC Reports fairly present, and the financial statements and notes of Parent to be contained in or to be incorporated by reference in the Additional Parent SEC Reports will fairly present in all material respects the financial condition and the results of operations, changes in shareholders’ equity and cash flows of Parent as at the respective dates of, and for the periods referred to in, such financial statements, all in accordance with: (i) U.S. 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 (the effect of which will not, individually or in the aggregate, be material) and the omission of notes to the extent permitted by Regulation S-X or Regulation S-K, as applicable. Parent has no off-balance sheet arrangements that are not disclosed in the Parent SEC Reports.
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4.8 Absence of Certain Changes or Events. Except as set forth in the Parent SEC Reports, and except as contemplated by this Agreement, since December 31, 2020, there has not been: (a) any Parent Material Adverse Effect; (b) any declaration, setting aside or payment of any dividend on, or other distribution in respect of, any of Parent’s capital stock, or any purchase, redemption or other acquisition by Parent of any of Parent’s capital stock or any other securities of Parent or any options, warrants, calls or rights to acquire any such shares or other securities; (c) any split, combination or reclassification of any of Parent’s capital stock; (d) any material change by Parent in its accounting methods, principles or practices, except as required by concurrent changes in U.S. GAAP (or any interpretation thereof) or Legal Requirements; (e) any change in the auditors of Parent; (f) any issuance of capital stock of Parent; (g) any revaluation by Parent of any of its assets, including, without limitation, any sale of assets of Parent other than in the ordinary course of business; or (h) any action taken or agreed upon by Parent or any of its Subsidiaries that would be prohibited by Section 5.2 if such action were taken on or after the date hereof without the consent of the Company.
4.9 Litigation. There are no Legal Proceedings pending or, to the Knowledge of Parent, threatened in writing against or otherwise relating to Parent before any Governmental Entity: (a) challenging or seeking to enjoin, alter or materially delay the Transactions; or (b) that would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to be material to Parent.
4.10 Business Activities. Since its date of incorporation, Parent has not conducted any business activities other than activities: (a) in connection with its organization; (b) in connection with its initial public offering; and (c) directed toward the accomplishment of a business combination. Except as set forth in the Parent SEC Reports, there is no Contract or Order binding upon Parent or to which it is a party which has or could reasonably be expected to have the effect of prohibiting or materially impairing any business practice of it, any acquisition of property by it or the conduct of business by it as currently conducted or as currently contemplated to be conducted (including, in each case, following the Closing).
4.11 Parent Material Contracts. Schedule 4.11 of the Parent Disclosure Letter sets forth a true, correct and complete list of each “material contract” (as such term is defined in Regulation S-K) to which Parent is party (the “Parent Material Contracts”), other than any such Parent Material Contract that is listed as an exhibit to Parent’s periodic reports available on XXXXX.
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4.12 Parent Listing. The Parent Units, Parent Class A Ordinary Shares and Parent Warrants are each registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and are listed for trading on NASDAQ under the symbols “FTAAU,” “FTAA” and “FTAAW,” respectively. There is no action or proceeding pending or, to the Knowledge of Parent, threatened in writing against Parent by NASDAQ or the SEC with respect to any intention by such entity to deregister the Parent Units, the Parent Class A Ordinary Shares or the Parent Warrants or to terminate the listing of Parent on NASDAQ. None of Parent or any of its Affiliates has taken any action to terminate the registration of the Parent Units, the Parent Class A Ordinary Shares or the Parent Warrants under the Exchange Act other than pursuant to the Transactions.
4.13 PIPE Investment Amount. Pursuant to, and on the terms and subject to the conditions of, certain subscription agreements (together with any agreements or instruments with respect to any assignments or transfers contemplated therein or otherwise permitted thereby, and as they may be amended in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, the “Subscription Agreements”) entered into by Parent and the applicable investors named therein (collectively, with any permitted assignees or transferees, the “PIPE Investors”), the PIPE Investors have agreed to purchase shares of Parent Class A Common Stock for an aggregate purchase price of $200,000,000 (the “PIPE Investment Amount”). To Parent’s Knowledge with respect to each PIPE Investor, the Subscription Agreements are in full force and effect and have not been withdrawn or terminated, or otherwise amended or modified, in any respect, and no withdrawal, termination, amendment or modification is contemplated by Parent, except in each case for such assignments of subscription obligations contemplated by or permitted by the Subscription Agreements. Each Subscription Agreement is a legal, valid and binding obligation of Parent and, to Parent’s Knowledge, each PIPE Investor, except insofar as enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally or by principles governing the availability of equitable remedies. Other than as contemplated by or referred to in the Subscription Agreements, there are no other agreements, side letters or arrangements between Parent and any PIPE Investor relating to any Subscription Agreement that could affect the obligation of the PIPE Investors to contribute to Parent the applicable portion of the PIPE Investment Amount set forth in the Subscription Agreements, and, as of the date hereof, Parent does not know of any facts or circumstances that may reasonably be expected to result in any of the conditions set forth in any Subscription Agreement not being satisfied, or the PIPE Investment Amount not being available to Parent, on the Closing Date. No event has occurred that, with or without notice, lapse of time or both, would constitute a default or breach on the part of Parent under any material term or condition of any Subscription Agreement and, as of the date hereof, Parent has no reason to believe that it will be unable to satisfy in all material respects on a timely basis any term or condition of closing to be satisfied by it contained in any Subscription Agreement. The Subscription Agreements contain all of the conditions precedent (other than the conditions contained in the other Transaction Agreements) to the obligations of the PIPE Investors to contribute to Parent the applicable portion of the PIPE Investment Amount set forth in the Subscription Agreements on the terms therein.
4.14 Trust Account.
(a) As of June 30, 2021, Parent had $250,008,562.54 in a trust account (the “Trust Account”), maintained and invested pursuant to that certain Investment Management Trust Agreement (the “Trust Agreement”) dated as of February 22, 2021, by and between Parent and Transfer Agent, for the benefit of Parent’s public shareholders, with such funds invested in U.S. Government securities or money market funds meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 promulgated under the Investment Company Act. Other than pursuant to the Trust Agreement and the Subscription Agreements, the obligations of Parent under this Agreement are not subject to any conditions regarding Parent’s, its Affiliates’ or any other Person’s ability to obtain financing for the consummation of the Transactions.
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(b) The Trust Agreement has not been amended or modified and, to the Knowledge of Parent with respect to the Transfer Agent, is valid and in full force and effect and is enforceable in accordance with its terms, except insofar as enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally or by principles governing the availability of equitable remedies. Parent has complied in all material respects with the terms of the Trust Agreement and is not in breach thereof or default thereunder, and there does not exist under the Trust Agreement any event that, with the giving of notice or the lapse of time, would constitute such a breach or default by Parent or, to the Knowledge of Parent, the Transfer Agent. There are no separate Contracts, side letters or other understandings (whether written or unwritten, express or implied): (i) between Parent and the Transfer Agent that would cause the description of the Trust Agreement in the Parent SEC Reports to be inaccurate in any material respect; or (ii) to the Knowledge of Parent, that would entitle any Person (other than shareholders of Parent holding Parent Class A Ordinary Shares sold in Parent’s initial public offering who shall have elected to redeem their Parent Class A Ordinary Shares pursuant to Parent’s Organizational Documents or the underwriters of Parent’s initial public offering with respect to any deferred underwriting compensation) 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 except: (A) to pay income and franchise taxes from any interest income earned in the Trust Account; and (B) to redeem Parent Class A Ordinary Shares in accordance with the provisions of Parent’s Organizational Documents. There are no Legal Proceedings pending or, to the Knowledge of Parent, threatened in writing with respect to the Trust Account.
4.15 Taxes.
(a) All material Tax Returns required to be filed by or on behalf of Parent have been duly and timely filed with the appropriate Governmental Entity (taking into account any applicable extensions) and all such Tax Returns are true, correct and complete in all material respects. All material amounts of Taxes payable by or on behalf of Parent (whether or not shown on any Tax Return) have been fully and timely paid (taking into account any applicable extensions), except with respect to Taxes being contested in good faith by appropriate Legal Proceedings and for which appropriate reserves have been established in accordance with GAAP.
(b) Parent has complied in all material respects with all applicable Legal Requirements relating to the withholding and remittance of all material amounts of Taxes and withheld and paid all material amounts of Taxes required to have been withheld and paid to the appropriate Governmental Entity.
(c) No claim, assessment, deficiency or proposed adjustment for any material amount of Tax has been asserted or assessed by any Governmental Entity in writing against Parent which has not been paid or resolved.
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(d) No material Tax audit or other examination of Parent by any Governmental Entity is presently in progress, nor has Parent been notified in writing of any (nor to Parent’s Knowledge is there any) request or threat for such an audit or other examination.
(e) There are no liens for Taxes (other than Permitted Liens) upon any of Parent’s assets.
(f) Parent (i) does not have any liability for the Taxes of another Person pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.1502-6 (or any similar provision of state, local or foreign Legal Requirements) or as a transferee or a successor or by Contract (other than pursuant to commercial agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business and the principal purpose of which is not related to Taxes); (ii) is not a party to or bound by any Tax indemnity, Tax sharing or Tax allocation agreement (excluding commercial agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business and the principal purpose of which is not related to Taxes) pursuant to which Parent will have any obligation to make payments for Taxes after the Closing Date; or (iii) has not, since its incorporation, ever been a member of an affiliated, consolidated, combined or unitary group filing for U.S. federal, state or local income Tax purposes.
(g) Parent: (i) has not consented to extend the time in which any Tax may be assessed or collected by any Governmental Entity (other than ordinary course extensions of time to file Tax Returns), which extension is still in effect; or (ii) has not entered into or been a party to any “listed transaction” within the meaning of Section 6707A(c)(2) of the Code for a taxable period for which the applicable statute of limitations remains open.
(h) Parent does not have and has never had any subsidiaries that are regarded entities for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
(i) Parent has never constituted either a “distributing corporation” or a “controlled corporation” (within the meaning of Section 355(a)(1)(A) of the Code) in a distribution of stock intended to qualify for tax-free treatment under Section 355 of the Code.
(j) Parent will not be required to include any material item of income in, or exclude any material item or deduction from, taxable income for any taxable period beginning after the Closing Date or, in the case of any taxable period beginning on or before and ending after the Closing Date, the portion of such period 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 any state, local or foreign Legal Requirements); (iii) any prepaid amount received or deferred revenue recognized on or prior to the Closing Date, other than in respect of such amounts reflected in the balance sheets included in the Financial Statements, or received in the ordinary course of business since the date of the most recent balance sheet included in the Financial Statements; (iv) to Parent’s Knowledge, any intercompany transaction described in Treasury Regulations under Section 1502 (or any corresponding or similar provision of state or local Legal Requirements); (v) any closing agreement pursuant to Section 7121 of the Code or any similar provision of state, local or foreign Legal Requirements executed on or prior to the Closing Date; or (vi) an election under Section 108(i) of the Code.
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(k) Parent neither has nor will be required to include any amount in income after the Closing by reason of Section 965(a) of the Code, and has not made an election described in Section 965(h) of the Code.
(l) Since its incorporation, no claim has been made in writing by any Governmental Entity in a jurisdiction in which Parent does not file Tax Returns that Parent is or may be subject to Tax by, or required to file Tax Returns in, that jurisdiction.
(m) As of December 31, 2020, Parent was not a passive foreign investment company, as defined in Section 1297 of the Code.
4.16 Information Supplied. None of the information supplied or to be supplied by Parent for inclusion or incorporation by reference in the Proxy Statement will, at the date mailed to shareholders of Parent or at the time of the General 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 contained therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Parent makes no representation, warranty or covenant with respect to: (a) statements made or incorporated by reference therein based on information supplied by the Group Companies for inclusion or incorporation by reference in the Proxy Statement; or (b) any projections or forecasts included in the Proxy Statement.
4.17 Employees; Benefit Plans. Other than any former officers or as described in the Parent SEC Reports, Parent has never had any employees. Other than reimbursement of any out-of-pocket expenses incurred by Parent’s officers and directors in connection with activities on Parent’s behalf in an aggregate amount not in excess of the amount of cash held by Parent outside of the Trust Account, Parent has no unsatisfied material liability with respect to any employee. Parent does not currently maintain or have any direct liability under any benefit plan, and neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the other Transaction Agreements nor the consummation of the Transactions will: (a) result in any payment (including severance, unemployment compensation, golden parachute, bonus or otherwise) becoming due to any director, officer or employee of Parent; or (b) result in the acceleration of the time of payment or vesting of any such benefits.
4.18 Board Approval; Shareholder Vote. The board of directors of Parent (including any required committee or subgroup of the board of directors of Parent) has, as of the date of this Agreement, unanimously: (a) approved and declared the advisability of this Agreement, the other Transaction Agreements and the consummation of the Transactions; and (b) determined that the consummation of the Transactions is in the best interests of the shareholders of Parent. Other than the approval of the Parent Shareholder Matters, no other corporate proceedings on the part of Parent are necessary to approve the consummation of the Transactions.
4.19 Affiliate Transactions. Except as described in the Parent SEC Reports, no Contract between Parent, on the one hand, and any director, officer or shareholder (or Affiliate thereof) of Parent, on the other hand, will continue in effect following the Closing, other than any such Contract that is not material to Parent.
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4.20 Investment. Parent is an accredited investor as defined in Rule 501(a) of Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act. The Parent Subscribed Units to be acquired by Parent pursuant to this Agreement and the Transactions will be acquired for investment for Parent’s own account and not with a view to the public resale or distribution thereof within the meaning of the Securities Act, and Parent has no present intention of selling, granting any participation in, or otherwise distributing the same. At no time was Parent presented with or solicited by any publicly issued or circulated newspaper, mail, radio, television or other form of general advertising or solicitation in connection with the offer, sale and purchase of the Parent Subscribed Units. Parent has received or has had full access to all the information Parent considers necessary or appropriate to make an informed investment decision with respect to the Parent Subscribed Units. Parent represents that it has conducted and completed its own independent due diligence and has independently made its own analysis and decision with respect to the Parent Subscribed Units. Parent further has had an opportunity to ask questions and receive answers from the Company regarding the terms and conditions of the offering of the Parent Subscribed Units, and to obtain additional information necessary to verify any information furnished to Parent or to which Parent had access. Parent is fully aware of: (a) the highly speculative nature of the Parent Subscribed Units; and (b) the financial risks involved. Parent has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters that Parent is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of this prospective investment, has the capacity to protect Parent’s own interest in connection with this transaction and is financially capable of bearing a total loss of the Parent Subscribed Units. Parent understands and agrees that no federal or state agency has passed upon or endorsed the merits of the offering of the Parent Subscribed Units or made any findings or determination as to the fairness of this investment. Parent understands and acknowledges that, in reliance upon the representations and warranties made by Parent herein, the Parent Subscribed Units are not being registered with the SEC under the Securities Act or any state securities laws, but instead are being transferred under an exemption or exemptions from the registration and qualification requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws which impose certain restrictions on Parent’s ability to transfer the Parent Subscribed Units. Parent acknowledges that, because the Parent Subscribed Units have not been registered under the Securities Act, such shares will be subject to transfer restrictions and must be held indefinitely unless subsequently registered under the Securities Act or unless an exemption from such registration is available. Parent is aware of the restrictions on the use of Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act.
4.21 Brokers. Other than fees or commissions included in the Estimated Transaction Costs, Parent has no liability or obligation to pay any fees or commissions to any broker, finder or investment bank with respect to the Transactions.
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4.22 Disclaimer of Other Warranties. PARENT HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGES THAT, EXCEPT AS EXPRESSLY PROVIDED IN THIS AGREEMENT, NO GROUP COMPANY OR ANY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE AFFILIATES OR REPRESENTATIVES HAS MADE, IS MAKING OR SHALL BE DEEMED TO MAKE ANY REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY WHATSOEVER, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AT LAW OR IN EQUITY, TO PARENT OR ANY OF ITS AFFILIATES OR REPRESENTATIVES OR ANY OTHER PERSON, WITH RESPECT TO ANY GROUP COMPANY OR THEIR RESPECTIVE BUSINESSES, ASSETS OR PROPERTIES, OR OTHERWISE, INCLUDING ANY REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY AS TO MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, FUTURE RESULTS, PROPOSED BUSINESSES OR FUTURE PLANS. WITHOUT LIMITING THE FOREGOING AND NOTWITHSTANDING ANYTHING TO THE CONTRARY: (A) NO GROUP COMPANY OR ANY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE AFFILIATES OR REPRESENTATIVES SHALL BE DEEMED TO MAKE TO PARENT OR ANY OF ITS AFFILIATES OR REPRESENTATIVES ANY REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY OTHER THAN AS EXPRESSLY MADE IN THIS AGREEMENT; AND (B) NO GROUP COMPANY OR ANY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE AFFILIATES OR REPRESENTATIVES, HAS MADE, IS MAKING OR SHALL BE DEEMED TO MAKE TO PARENT OR ANY OF ITS AFFILIATES OR REPRESENTATIVES OR ANY OTHER PERSON ANY REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, WITH RESPECT TO: (1) THE INFORMATION DISTRIBUTED OR MADE AVAILABLE TO PARENT OR ITS REPRESENTATIVES BY OR ON BEHALF OF ANY GROUP COMPANY IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT AND THE TRANSACTIONS; (2) ANY MANAGEMENT PRESENTATION, CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION MEMORANDUM OR SIMILAR DOCUMENT; OR (3) ANY FINANCIAL PROJECTION, FORECAST, ESTIMATE, BUDGET OR SIMILAR ITEM RELATING TO ANY GROUP COMPANY AND/OR THE BUSINESS, ASSETS, LIABILITIES, PROPERTIES, FINANCIAL CONDITION, RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND PROJECTED OPERATIONS OF THE FOREGOING. PARENT HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT HAS NOT RELIED ON ANY PROMISE, REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY THAT IS NOT EXPRESSLY SET FORTH IN THIS AGREEMENT. PARENT ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT HAS CONDUCTED, TO ITS SATISFACTION, AN INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION AND VERIFICATION OF EACH GROUP COMPANY AND THEIR RESPECTIVE BUSINESSES, ASSETS, LIABILITIES, PROPERTIES, FINANCIAL CONDITION, RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND PROJECTED OPERATIONS OF THE FOREGOING, AND IN MAKING ITS DETERMINATION TO PROCEED WITH THE TRANSACTIONS, PARENT HAS RELIED ON THE RESULTS OF ITS OWN INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION AND VERIFICATION, IN ADDITION TO THE REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY OR EXPRESSLY AND SPECIFICALLY SET FORTH IN THIS AGREEMENT. NOTWITHSTANDING ANYTHING TO THE CONTRARY IN THIS SECTION 4.22, CLAIMS AGAINST ANY GROUP COMPANY OR ANY OTHER PERSON SHALL NOT BE LIMITED IN ANY RESPECT IN THE EVENT OF INTENTIONAL FRAUD IN THE MAKING OF THE REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES IN THIS AGREEMENT BY SUCH PERSON.
Article V
CONDUCT PRIOR TO THE CLOSING DATE
5.1 Conduct of Business by the Group Companies. During the period from the date of this Agreement and continuing until the earlier of the termination of this Agreement in accordance with its terms and the occurrence of the Closing, the Company shall, and shall cause the Company Subsidiaries to, other than as a result of or in connection with a COVID-19 Response, carry on its business in the ordinary course consistent with past practice and in accordance with Legal Requirements, except to: (a) the extent that Parent shall otherwise consent in writing (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed); or (b) as expressly contemplated by this Agreement or Schedule 5.1 of the Company Disclosure Letter. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, except as required or expressly permitted by the terms of this Agreement or Schedule 5.1 of the Company Disclosure Letter, or as required by Legal Requirements or as a result of or in connection with a COVID-19 Response, without the prior written consent of Parent, during the period from the date of this Agreement and continuing until the earlier of the termination of this Agreement in accordance with its terms and the occurrence of the Closing, the Company shall not, and shall cause the Company Subsidiaries not to, do any of the following:
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(a) except in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice (measured by the applicable jurisdiction) or as otherwise required by any existing Employee Benefit Plan or Legal Requirements: (i) increase or grant any increase in the compensation, bonus, fringe or other benefits of, or pay, grant or promise any bonus to, any current or former employee, director or independent contractor; (ii) grant or pay any severance or change in control pay or benefits to, or otherwise increase the severance or change in control pay or benefits of, any current or former employee, director or independent contractor; (iii) enter into, amend or terminate any Employee Benefit Plan or any employee benefit plan, policy, program, agreement, trust or arrangement that would have constituted an Employee Benefit Plan if it had been in effect on the date of this Agreement; (iv) take any action to accelerate the vesting or payment of, or otherwise fund or secure the payment of, any compensation or benefits under any Employee Benefit Plan; (v) grant any equity or equity-based compensation awards; or (vi) hire or terminate any employee or independent contractor;
(b) (i) transfer, sell, assign, license, sublicense, encumber, impair, abandon, fail to diligently maintain, transfer or otherwise dispose of any right, title or interest of the Company in any Owned Intellectual Property or material Licensed Intellectual Property; (ii) extend, amend, waive, cancel or modify any material rights in or to any Owned Intellectual Property or Licensed Intellectual Property; (iii) fail to diligently prosecute the patent applications owned by the Company; or (iv) divulge, furnish to or make accessible any Trade Secrets within Owned Intellectual Property to any third party who is not subject to an enforceable written agreement to maintain the confidentiality of such Trade Secrets; provided, that in no event shall the Company license on an exclusive basis or sell any Owned Intellectual Property;
(c) except for transactions solely among the Company and the Company Subsidiaries: (i) declare, set aside or pay any dividends on or make any other distributions (whether in cash, stock, equity securities or property) in respect of any capital stock or otherwise, or split, combine or reclassify any capital stock or issue or authorize the issuance of any other securities in respect of, in lieu of or in substitution for any capital stock; (ii) repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire, or offer to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire, any membership interests, capital stock or any other equity interests, as applicable, in any Group Company; (iii) grant, issue sell or otherwise dispose of, or authorize to grant, issue, sell or otherwise dispose of, any membership interests, capital stock or any other equity interests (such as stock options, stock units, restricted stock or other Contracts for the purchase or acquisition of such capital stock), as applicable, in any Group Company; or (iv) issue, deliver, sell, authorize, pledge or otherwise encumber, or agree to any of the foregoing with respect to, any shares of capital stock or other equity securities or ownership interests or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of capital stock or other equity securities or ownership interests, or subscriptions, rights, warrants or options to acquire any shares of capital stock or other equity securities or ownership interests or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of capital stock or other equity securities or other ownership interests, or enter into other agreements or commitments of any character obligating any Group Company to issue any such shares, equity securities or other ownership interests or convertible or exchangeable securities;
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(d) amend its Governing Documents, or form or establish any Subsidiary;
(e) (i) merge, consolidate or combine with any Person; or (ii) acquire or agree to acquire by merging or consolidating with, or by purchasing any equity interest in or a substantial portion of the assets of, or by any other manner, any business or any corporation, partnership, association or other business organization or division thereof;
(f) dispose of or lose rights under any Company Real Property Lease other than in the ordinary course of business;
(g) other than with respect to the Company Real Property Leases, sell, lease, license, sublicense, abandon, divest, transfer, cancel, abandon or permit to lapse or expire, dedicate to the public, or otherwise dispose of, or agree to do any of the foregoing, or otherwise dispose of material assets or properties, other than pursuant to agreements existing on the date hereof and set forth on Schedule 5.1(g) of the Company Disclosure Letter;
(h) (i) issue or sell any debt securities or rights to acquire any debt securities of any of the Group Companies or guarantee any debt securities of another Person; (ii) make, create any loans, advances or capital contributions to, or investments in, any Person other than any of the Group Companies; (iii) create, incur, assume, guarantee or otherwise become liable for, any Indebtedness other than guarantees of any Indebtedness of any Subsidiaries or guarantees by the Company Subsidiaries of the Indebtedness of the Company; (iv) create any Liens on any material property or material assets of any of the Group Companies in connection with any Indebtedness thereof (other than Permitted Liens); (v) fail to comply in any material respect with the terms of the Existing Credit Agreement or take any action, or omit to take any action, that would constitute or result in a default or event of default under the Existing Credit Agreement; or (vi) cancel or forgive any Indebtedness owed to any of the Group Companies other than ordinary course compromises of amounts owed to the Group Companies by their respective customers consistent with past practice;
(i) make, incur or commit to make or incur, or authorize any capital expenditures that will require payments after the Closing Date, other than capital expenditures in an aggregate amount less than $2,400,000;
(j) make any change in the Group Companies’ cash management practices and its policies, practices and procedures with respect to collection of accounts receivable, establishment of reserves for uncollectible accounts, accrual of accounts receivable, revenue recognition, prepayment of expenses, payment of accounts payable, accrual of other expenses, deferral of revenue and acceptance of customer deposits;
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(k) release, assign, compromise, settle or agree to settle any Legal Proceeding involving payments by any Group Company of $500,000 or more or that imposes any material non-monetary obligations on a Group Company;
(l) except in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice: (i) modify, amend in a manner that is adverse to the applicable Group Company or terminate any Company Material Contract; (ii) enter into any Contract that would have been a Company Material Contract had it been entered into prior to the date of this Agreement; (iii) waive, delay the exercise of, release or assign any material rights or claims under any Company Material Contract; or (iv) incur or enter into a Contract requiring the Company to pay in excess of $500,000 in any 12-month period;
(m) except as required by U.S. GAAP (or any interpretation thereof) or Legal Requirements, make any change in accounting methods, principles or practices;
(n) except as required by applicable Legal Requirements, (i) make, change or revoke any Tax election; (ii) settle or compromise any Tax claim; (iii) change (or request to change) any method of accounting for Tax purposes; (iv) file any amended Tax Return; (v) waive or extend any statute of limitations in respect of a period within which an assessment or reassessment of Taxes may be issued (other than any extension pursuant to an extension to file any Tax Return); (vi) knowingly surrender any claim for a refund of Taxes; or (vii) enter into any “closing agreement” as described in Section 7121 of the Code (or any similar Legal Requirement) with any Governmental Entity;
(o) authorize, recommend, propose or announce an intention to adopt a plan of complete or partial liquidation, restructuring, recapitalization, dissolution or winding-up;
(p) subject to clause (a) above, enter into or amend any agreement with, or pay, distribute or advance any assets or property to, any of its officers, directors, employees, partners, equityholders or other Affiliates, other than payments or distributions relating to (i) obligations in respect of arm’s-length commercial transactions pursuant to the agreements set forth on Schedule 5.1(p) of the Company Disclosure Letter as existing on the date of this Agreement and (ii) the payment of Taxes;
(q) engage in any material new line of business;
(r) (i) limit the rights of any Group Company: (A) to engage in any line of business or in any geographic area; (B) to develop, market or sell products or services; or (C) to compete with any Person; or (ii) grant any exclusive or similar rights to any Person;
(s) terminate or amend, in a manner materially detrimental to any Group Company, any insurance policy insuring the business of any Group Company;
(t) amend in a manner materially detrimental to any Group Company, terminate, permit to lapse or fail to use commercially reasonable efforts to maintain any Approval; or
(u) agree in writing or otherwise agree, commit or resolve to take any of the actions described in Sections 5.1(a) through (t) above.
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5.2 Conduct of Business by Parent. During the period from the date of this Agreement and continuing until the earlier of the termination of this Agreement in accordance with its terms and the occurrence of the Closing, Parent shall, other than as a result of or in connection with a COVID-19 Response, carry on its business in the ordinary course consistent with past practice and in accordance with Legal Requirements, except to: (a) the extent that the Company shall otherwise consent in writing (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed); or (b) as expressly contemplated by this Agreement (including as contemplated by the PIPE Investment, the Sponsor Letter Agreement and the Domestication) or Schedule 5.2 of the Parent Disclosure Letter. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, except as required or expressly permitted by the terms of this Agreement or Schedule 5.2 of the Parent Disclosure Letter or as required by Legal Requirements or as a result of or in connection with a COVID-19 Response, without the prior written consent of the Company, during the period from the date of this Agreement and continuing until the earlier of the termination of this Agreement in accordance with its terms and the occurrence of the Closing, Parent shall not do any of the following:
(a) declare, set aside or pay any dividends on or make any other distributions (whether in cash, stock, equity securities or property) in respect of any capital stock (or warrant) or split, combine or reclassify any capital stock (or warrant), effect a recapitalization or issue or authorize the issuance of any other securities in respect of, in lieu of or in substitution for any capital stock or warrant, or effect any like change in capitalization;
(b) purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire, directly or indirectly, any equity securities of Parent;
(c) other than in connection with the PIPE Investment, grant, issue, deliver, sell, authorize, pledge or otherwise encumber, or agree to any of the foregoing with respect to, any shares of capital stock or other equity securities or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of capital stock or other equity securities, or subscriptions, rights, warrants or options to acquire any shares of capital stock or other equity securities or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of capital stock or other equity securities, or enter into other agreements or commitments of any character obligating it to issue any such shares of capital stock or equity securities or convertible or exchangeable securities;
(d) amend its Governing Documents or form or establish any Subsidiary;
(e) (i) merge, consolidate or combine with any Person; or (ii) acquire or agree to acquire by merging or consolidating with, or by purchasing any equity interest in or a substantial portion of the assets of, or by any other manner, any business or any corporation, partnership, association or other business organization or division thereof, or otherwise acquire or agree to acquire any assets, or enter into any joint ventures, strategic partnerships or alliances;
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(f) (i) incur any Indebtedness or guarantee any such Indebtedness of another Person or Persons; (ii) issue or sell any debt securities or options, warrants, calls or other rights to acquire any debt securities of Parent, as applicable, enter into any “keep well” or other agreement to maintain any financial statement condition; or (iii) enter into any arrangement having the economic effect of any of the foregoing, in each case, except in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice; provided, however, that Parent shall be permitted to incur Indebtedness from its Affiliates (including the Sponsors) and shareholders in order to meet its reasonable capital requirements, with any such loans to be made only as reasonably required by the operation of Parent in due course on a non-interest basis and otherwise on terms and conditions as set forth in the Parent SEC Reports;
(g) except as required by U.S. GAAP (or any interpretation thereof) or Legal Requirements, make any change in accounting methods, principles or practices;
(h) (i) settle or compromise any Tax claim; (ii) change (or request to change) any method of accounting for Tax purposes; (iii) file any amended Tax Return; (iv) waive or extend any statute of limitations in respect of a period within which an assessment or reassessment of Taxes may be issued (other than any extension pursuant to an extension to file any Tax Return); (v) knowingly surrender any claim for a refund of Taxes; (vi) enter into any “closing agreement” as described in Section 7121 of the Code (or any similar Legal Requirement) with any Governmental Entity; or (vii) make, change or revoke any Tax election;
(i) create any Liens on any material property or material assets of Parent;
(j) liquidate, dissolve, reorganize or otherwise wind up the business or operations of Parent;
(k) commence, settle or compromise any Legal Proceeding material to Parent or its properties or assets;
(l) engage in any material new line of business;
(m) amend the Trust Agreement or any other agreement related to the Trust Account; or
(n) agree in writing or otherwise agree, commit or resolve to take any of the actions described in Sections 5.2(a) through (m) above.
Article VI
ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS
6.1 Proxy Statement; General Meeting.
(a) Proxy Statement.
(i) As promptly as practicable following the execution and delivery of this Agreement, Parent shall, in accordance with this Section 6.1(a), prepare and file with the SEC, in preliminary form, a proxy statement in connection with the Transactions (as amended or supplemented from time to time, the “Proxy Statement”) to be sent to the shareholders of Parent relating to the General Meeting, for the purpose of, among other things: (A) providing Parent’s shareholders with notice of the opportunity to redeem shares of Parent Class A Common Stock following the Domestication (the “Parent Stockholder Redemption”); and (B) soliciting proxies from holders of Parent Ordinary Shares to vote at the General Meeting in favor of: (1) the adoption of this Agreement and approval of the Transactions, including the Domestication; (2) the issuance of shares of Parent Class C Common Stock as contemplated by item 3 of subsection (b) of Schedule B; (3) the approval of the Parent Certificate attached hereto as Exhibit A and the Parent Bylaws attached hereto as Exhibit B and the material differences between the Parent Certificate and the Parent Bylaws and the Parent Memorandum and Articles; (4) the approval of the Incentive Equity Plan in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C; (5) the approval of the Employee Stock Purchase Plan in the form attached hereto as Exhibit D; (6) the election of directors; (7) the adjournment of the General Meeting; and (8) any other proposals the Parties deem necessary or desirable to consummate the Transactions (collectively, the “Parent Shareholder Matters”). The Proxy Statement will comply as to form and substance with the applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder. Parent shall file the definitive Proxy Statement with the SEC and cause the Proxy Statement to be mailed to its shareholders of record, as of the record date to be established by the board of directors of Parent, as promptly as practicable following receipt of oral or written notification of the completion of the review by the SEC (the “Proxy Clearance Date”).
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(i) Prior to filing with the SEC, Parent will make available to the Company drafts of the Proxy Statement and any other documents to be filed with the SEC that relate to the Transactions, both preliminary and final, and any amendment or supplement to the Proxy Statement or such other document and will provide the Company and its counsel with a reasonable opportunity to comment on such drafts and shall consider such comments in good faith. Parent shall not file any such documents with the SEC without the prior written consent of the Company (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed). Parent will advise the Company promptly after it receives notice of: (A) the time when the Proxy Statement has been filed; (B) receipt of oral or written notification of the completion of the review by the SEC; (C) the filing of any supplement or amendment to the Proxy Statement; (D) the issuance of any stop order by the SEC; (E) any request by the SEC for amendment of the Proxy Statement; (F) any comments from the SEC relating to the Proxy Statement and responses thereto; and (G) requests by the SEC for additional information relating to the Proxy Statement. Parent shall promptly respond to any SEC comments on the Proxy Statement and shall use its reasonable best efforts to have the Proxy Statement cleared by the SEC under the Exchange Act as promptly as practicable; provided, that prior to responding to any requests or comments from the SEC, Parent will make available to the Company drafts of any such response and provide the Company with a reasonable opportunity to comment on such drafts and consider such comments in good faith.
(ii) If, at any time prior to the General Meeting, there shall be discovered any information that should be set forth in an amendment or supplement to the Proxy Statement so that the Proxy Statement would not include any misstatement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, Parent shall promptly file an amendment or supplement to the Proxy Statement containing such information. If, at any time prior to the Closing, the Company discovers any information, event or circumstance relating to the Company, its business or any of its Affiliates, officers, directors or employees that should be set forth in an amendment or a supplement to the Proxy Statement so that the Proxy Statement would not include any misstatement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, then the Company shall promptly inform Parent of such information, event or circumstance.
(iii) Parent shall make all necessary filings with respect to the Transactions under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and applicable “blue sky” laws, and any rules and regulations thereunder. The Company agrees to promptly provide Parent with all information concerning the business, management, operations and financial condition of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries, in each case, reasonably requested by Parent for inclusion in the Proxy Statement. The Company shall cause the officers and employees of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries to be reasonably available to Parent and its counsel, auditors and other advisors in connection with the drafting of the Proxy Statement and responding in a timely manner to comments on the Proxy Statement from the SEC.
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(b) Until the earlier of the termination of this Agreement in accordance with its terms and the occurrence of the Closing, the Company shall deliver to Parent (together, the “Required Financial Information”): (i) monthly management reports (non-GAAP) of the Company within thirty (30) days following each month-end, in form and substance as historically provided to management; (ii) as promptly as reasonably practicable, but no later than July 31, 2021, the audited consolidated balance sheets of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, and the audited consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss, changes in members’ equity and cash flows of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2020, together with the auditor’s report thereon and the related pro forma financial information, each in form and substance as necessary to comply with applicable disclosure requirements under Regulation S-X promulgated by the SEC were Parent filing (x) a general form for registration of securities under Form 10 following the consummation of the Transactions and (y) a registration statement on Form S-1 for the resale of the securities issued in the PIPE Investment following the consummation of the Transactions, and (iii) no later than the fiftieth (50th) day following each calendar quarter that occurs after March 31, 2021 and at least sixty (60) days prior to the Closing Date, the unaudited, auditor-reviewed (except for quarters ended December 31), consolidated balance sheets of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries as of such quarter-end, and consolidated statements of earnings (loss), comprehensive income (loss), equity and cash flows of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries for the fiscal quarter then ended, each in form and substance as necessary to comply with applicable disclosure requirements under Regulation S-X promulgated by the SEC were Parent filing (x) a general form for registration of securities under Form 10 following the consummation of the Transactions and (y) a registration statement on Form S-1 for the resale of the securities issued in the PIPE Investment following the consummation of the Transactions.
(c) Parent shall, as promptly as practicable following the Proxy Clearance Date, establish a record date for, duly call and give notice of, the General Meeting. Parent shall convene and hold a general meeting (annual or extraordinary) of Parent’s shareholders (the “General Meeting”), for the purpose of obtaining the approval of the Parent Shareholder Matters, which meeting shall be held not more than forty-five (45) days after the date on which Parent mails the Proxy Statement to its shareholders. Parent shall use its reasonable best efforts to obtain the approval of the Parent Shareholder Matters at the General Meeting, including by soliciting proxies as promptly as practicable in accordance with Legal Requirements for the purpose of seeking the approval of the Parent Shareholder Matters. Subject to the proviso in the immediately following sentence, Parent shall include the Parent Recommendation in the Proxy Statement. The board of directors of Parent shall not (and no committee or subgroup thereof shall) change, withdraw, withhold, qualify or modify, or publicly propose to change, withdraw, withhold, qualify or modify, the Parent Recommendation (a “Change in Recommendation”); provided, that the Parent board of directors may make a Change in Recommendation if it determines in good faith, after consultation with its outside legal counsel, that a failure to make a Change in Recommendation would reasonably be expected to constitute a breach by the board of directors of its fiduciary obligations to Parent’s shareholders under Legal Requirements. Parent agrees that its obligation to establish a record date for, duly call, give notice of, convene and hold the General Meeting for the purpose of seeking approval of the Parent Shareholder Matters shall not be affected by any Change in Recommendation, and Parent agrees to establish a record date for, duly call, give notice of, convene and hold the General Meeting and submit for the approval of its shareholders the matters contemplated by the Proxy Statement as contemplated by this Section 6.1(c), regardless of whether or not there shall have occurred any Change in Recommendation. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, Parent may postpone or adjourn the General Meeting: (i) to ensure that any supplement or amendment to the Proxy Statement that the board of directors of Parent has determined in good faith is required by Legal Requirements is disclosed to Parent’s shareholders and for such supplement or amendment to be promptly disseminated to Parent’s shareholders prior to the General Meeting; (ii) if, as of the time for which the General Meeting is originally scheduled (as set forth in the Proxy Statement), there are insufficient Parent Ordinary Shares represented (either in person or by proxy) to constitute a quorum necessary to conduct the business to be conducted at the General Meeting; (iii) to seek withdrawals of redemption requests from Parent’s shareholders if Parent reasonably expects the Parent Stockholder Redemption Payments would cause the condition in Section 7.2(h) to not be satisfied at the Closing; or (iv) in order to solicit additional proxies from shareholders for purposes of obtaining approval of the Parent Shareholder Matters; provided, that in the event of a postponement or adjournment pursuant to clauses (i) or (ii) above, the General Meeting shall be reconvened as promptly as practicable following such time as the matters described in such clauses have been resolved.
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6.2 Certain Regulatory Matters. As promptly as practicable following the date of this Agreement, Parent and the Company shall make any required filings under applicable Antitrust Laws. Parent and the Company shall promptly and in good faith respond to all information requested of it by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission and U.S. Department of Justice or other Governmental Entity (as it relates to Antitrust Laws) in connection with such notifications and filings and otherwise cooperate in good faith with each other and such Governmental Entities. Each Party will promptly furnish to the other such information and assistance as the other may reasonably request in connection with its preparation of any filing or submission that is necessary under applicable Antitrust Laws and will take all other actions necessary or desirable to cause the expiration or termination of the applicable waiting periods as soon as practicable. Each Party will promptly provide the other with copies of all written communications (and memoranda setting forth the substance of all oral communications) between each of them, any of their Affiliates and their respective agents, representatives and advisors, on the one hand, and any Governmental Entity, on the other hand, with respect to this Agreement or the Transactions. Without limiting the foregoing, Parent and the Company shall: (a) promptly inform the other of any communication to or from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, the U.S. Department of Justice or any other Governmental Entity regarding the Transactions; (b) permit each other to review in advance any proposed written communication to any such Governmental Entity and incorporate reasonable comments thereto; (c) give the other prompt written notice of the commencement of any Legal Proceeding with respect to the Transactions; (d) not agree to participate in any substantive meeting or discussion with any such Governmental Entity in respect of any filing, investigation or inquiry concerning this Agreement or the Transactions unless, to the extent reasonably practicable, it consults with the other Party in advance and, to the extent permitted by such Governmental Entity, gives the other Party the opportunity to attend; (e) keep the other reasonably informed as to the status of any such Legal Proceeding; and (f) promptly furnish each other with copies of all correspondence, filings (to the extent allowed under Legal Requirements) and written communications between such Party and their Affiliates and their respective agents, representatives and advisors, on one hand, and any such Governmental Entity, on the other hand, in each case, with respect to this Agreement and the Transactions. Parent shall pay any filing fees required by Governmental Entities in connection with filings under applicable Antitrust Laws.
6.3 Other Filings; Press Release.
(a) As promptly as practicable after execution of this Agreement, Parent will prepare and file a Current Report on Form 8-K pursuant to the Exchange Act to report the execution of this Agreement, the form and substance of which shall be approved in advance in writing by the Company.
(b) Promptly after the execution of this Agreement, Parent and the Company shall also issue a mutually agreed joint press release announcing the execution of this Agreement.
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(c) Parent shall prepare a draft Current Report on Form 8-K announcing the Closing, together with, or incorporating by reference, the financial statements prepared by the Company and its accountant, and such other information that may be required to be disclosed with respect to the Transactions in any report or form to be filed with the SEC (“Closing Form 8-K”), the form and substance of which shall be approved in advance in writing by the Company. Prior to Closing, Parent and the Company shall prepare a mutually agreed joint press release announcing the consummation of the Transactions (the “Closing Press Release”). Substantially concurrently with the Closing, Parent shall issue the Closing Press Release. Concurrently with the Closing, or as soon as practicable thereafter, Parent shall file the Closing Form 8-K with the SEC.
6.4 Confidentiality; Communications Plan; Access to Information.
(a) The Confidentiality Agreement, and the terms thereof, are hereby incorporated herein by reference. Following Closing, the Confidentiality Agreement shall be superseded in its entirety by the provisions of this Agreement; provided, however, that if for any reason this Agreement is terminated prior to the Closing, the Confidentiality Agreement shall nonetheless continue in full force and effect in accordance with its terms. Beginning on the date hereof and ending on the second anniversary of this Agreement, each Party agrees to maintain in confidence any non-public information received from the other Parties, and to use such non-public information only for purposes of consummating the Transactions. Such confidentiality obligations will not apply to: (i) information which was known to one Party or its agents or representatives prior to receipt from the Company, on the one hand, or Parent, on the other hand, as applicable; (ii) information which is or becomes generally known to the public without breach of this Agreement or an existing obligation of confidentiality; (iii) information acquired by a Party or their respective agents from a third party who was not bound to an obligation of confidentiality; (iv) information developed by such Party independently without any reliance on the non-public information received from any other Party; (v) disclosure required by Legal Requirement or stock exchange rule; or (vi) disclosure consented to in writing by Parent or the Company.
(b) Parent and the Company shall reasonably cooperate to create and implement a communications plan regarding the Transactions (the “Communications Plan”) promptly following the date hereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, none of the Parties will make any public announcement or issue any public communication regarding this Agreement, the other Transaction Agreements or the Transactions or any matter related to the foregoing, without the prior written consent of the Company, in the case of a public announcement by Parent, or Parent, in the case of a public announcement by the Company (such consents, in either case, not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), except: (i) if such announcement or other communication is required by Legal Requirements, in which case the disclosing Party shall, to the extent permitted by Legal Requirements, first allow such other Parties to review such announcement or communication and have the opportunity to comment thereon and the disclosing Party shall consider such comments in good faith; (ii) to the extent provided for in the Communications Plan, internal announcements to employees of the Group Companies; (iii) to the extent such announcements or other communications contain only information previously disclosed in a public statement, press release or other communication previously approved in accordance with Section 6.3 or this Section 6.4(b); and (iv) announcements and communications to Governmental Entities in connection with registrations, declarations and filings relating to the Transactions required to be made under this Agreement.
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(c) The Company will afford Parent and its financial advisors, accountants, counsel and other representatives reasonable access during normal business hours, upon reasonable notice, to the properties, books, records and personnel of the Company during the period prior to the Closing to obtain all information concerning the business, including the status of business development efforts, properties, results of operations and personnel of the Company, as Parent may reasonably request in connection with the consummation of the Transactions; provided, however, that any such access shall be conducted in a manner not to materially interfere with the businesses or operations of the Company. Parent will afford the Company and its financial advisors, accountants, counsel and other representatives reasonable access during normal business hours, upon reasonable notice, to the properties, books, records and personnel of Parent during the period prior to the Closing to obtain all information concerning the business, including properties, results of operations and personnel of Parent, as the Company may reasonably request in connection with the consummation of the Transactions; provided, however, that any such access shall be conducted in a manner not to materially interfere with the businesses or operations of Parent. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Parties shall not be required to take any action, provide any access or furnish any information that such Party in good faith reasonably believes would be reasonably likely to (i) cause or constitute a waiver of the attorney-client or other privilege or, (ii) violate any Contract to which such Party is a party or bound, provided, that the Parties agree to cooperate in good faith to make alternative arrangements to allow for such access or furnishing in a manner that does not result in the events set out in clauses (i) and (ii) above.
6.5 Reasonable Best Efforts. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, each of the Parties agrees to use its reasonable best efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions, and to do, or cause to be done, and to assist and cooperate with the other Parties in doing, all things necessary, proper or advisable to consummate and make effective, in the most expeditious manner practicable, the Transactions and the other transactions contemplated hereby, including using reasonable best efforts to accomplish the following: (a) the taking of all commercially reasonable acts necessary to cause the conditions precedent set forth in Article VII to be satisfied; (b) the obtaining of all necessary actions, waivers, consents, approvals, orders and authorizations from Governmental Entities and the making of all necessary registrations, declarations and filings, including registrations, declarations and filings with Governmental Entities, if any, and filings required pursuant to Antitrust Laws and the taking of all commercially reasonable steps as may be necessary to avoid any Legal Proceeding; (c) the obtaining of all consents, approvals or waivers from third parties required as a result of the Transactions, including the consents referred to on Schedule 3.7(b) of the Company Disclosure Letter (it being understood for the avoidance of doubt that nothing herein shall require the Company in connection therewith to subject itself or any of its Subsidiaries to any limitation on the ability of any of them to conduct their business or own or exercise control over their assets or properties); (d) the defending of any suits, claims, actions, investigations or proceedings, whether judicial or administrative, challenging this Agreement or the consummation of the Transactions, including seeking to have any stay or temporary restraining order entered by any court or other Governmental Entity vacated or reversed; and (e) the execution or delivery of any additional instruments reasonably necessary to consummate, and to fully carry out the purposes of, the Transactions. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to require a Party to agree to any divestiture by itself or any of its Affiliates of shares of capital stock or of any business, assets or property or the imposition of any limitation on the ability of any of them to conduct their business or to own or exercise control over their respective assets, properties and capital stock.
6.6 No Parent Securities Transactions. Neither the Company nor any of its controlled Affiliates, directly or indirectly, shall engage in any transactions involving the securities of Parent prior to the time of the making of a public announcement regarding all of the material terms of the business and operations of the Company and the Transactions. The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to direct each of its officers, directors, members, employees, agents, advisors, contractors, associates, clients, customers and representatives to comply with the foregoing requirement.
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6.7 No Claim Against Trust Account. For and in consideration of Parent entering into this Agreement, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company hereby irrevocably waives any right, title, interest or claim of any kind it has or may have in the future in or to the Trust Account and agrees not to seek recourse against the Trust Account or any funds distributed therefrom as a result of, or arising out of, this Agreement and any negotiations, contracts or agreements with Parent; provided, that: (a) nothing herein shall serve to limit or prohibit the right to pursue a claim against Parent pursuant to this Agreement for legal relief against monies or other assets of Parent held outside the Trust Account or for specific performance or other equitable relief in connection with the Transactions (so long as such claim would not affect Parent’s ability to fulfill its obligation to effectuate any Parent Stockholder Redemption); and (b) nothing herein shall serve to limit or prohibit any claims that the Company may have in the future pursuant to this Agreement against Parent’s assets or funds that are not held in the Trust Account.
6.8 Disclosure of Certain Matters. Each Party will promptly provide the other Parties with prompt written notice of any event, development or condition of which they have Knowledge that: (a) is reasonably likely to cause any of the conditions set forth in Article VII not to be satisfied; or (b) would require any amendment or supplement to the Proxy Statement.
6.9 No Solicitation.
(a) During the period from the date of this Agreement and continuing until the earlier of the termination of this Agreement pursuant to its terms and the Closing, the Company shall not, and shall cause the other Group Companies not to, and shall direct its employees, agents, officers, directors, representatives and advisors (collectively, “Representatives”) not to, directly or indirectly: (i) solicit, initiate, enter into or continue discussions, negotiations or transactions with, or encourage or respond to any inquiries or proposals by, or provide any information to, any Person (other than Parent and its Representatives) concerning any merger, sale of ownership interests and/or assets of such Persons, or any recapitalization or similar transaction with such Persons (each, a “Company Business Combination”); (ii) enter into any agreement regarding, continue or otherwise participate in any discussions or negotiations regarding, or cooperate in any way that would otherwise reasonably be expected to lead to a Company Business Combination; or (iii) commence, continue or renew any due diligence investigation regarding a Company Business Combination. In addition, the Company shall, and shall cause the other Group Companies to, and shall cause their respective Representatives to, immediately cease any and all existing discussions or negotiations with any Person with respect to any Company Business Combination.
(b) During the period from the date of this Agreement and continuing until the earlier of the termination of this Agreement pursuant to its terms and the Closing, Parent shall not, and shall direct its Representatives not to, directly or indirectly: (i) solicit, initiate, enter into or continue discussions or transactions with, or encourage or respond to any inquiries or proposals by, or provide any information to, any Person (other than the Company and its Representatives) concerning any merger, purchase of ownership interests or assets of Parent, or recapitalization or similar business combination transaction with Parent (each, a “Parent Business Combination”); (ii) enter into any agreement regarding, continue or otherwise participate in any discussions or negotiations regarding, or cooperate in any way that would otherwise reasonably be expected to lead to a Parent Business Combination; or (iii) commence, continue or renew any due diligence investigation regarding a Parent Business Combination. Parent shall, and shall cause its Representatives to, immediately cease any and all existing discussions or negotiations with any Person with respect to any Parent Business Combination.
(c) Each Party shall promptly (and in no event later than twenty-four (24) hours after becoming aware of such inquiry, proposal, offer or submission) notify the other Party if it or, to its Knowledge, any of its Representatives receives any inquiry, proposal, offer or submission with respect to a Company Business Combination or Parent Business Combination, as applicable (including the identity of the Person making such inquiry or submitting such proposal, offer or submission), after the date of this Agreement and provide the other Party with a copy of such inquiry, proposal, offer or submission.
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6.10 Trust Account. Upon satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth in Article VII and provision of notice thereof to the Transfer Agent (which notice Parent shall provide to the Transfer Agent in accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement): (a) in accordance with and pursuant to the Trust Agreement, at the Closing, Parent: (i) shall cause the documents, opinions and notices required to be delivered to the Transfer Agent pursuant to the Trust Agreement to be so delivered, including providing the Transfer Agent with the Trust Termination Letter; and (ii) shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Transfer Agent to distribute the Trust Account as directed in the Trust Termination Letter, including all amounts payable: (A) to shareholders who properly elect to have their Parent Class A Common Stock redeemed for cash in accordance with the provisions of the Parent Organizational Documents; (B) for income tax or other tax obligations of Parent prior to Closing; (C) to the underwriters of Parent’s initial public offering with respect to any deferred underwriting compensation held in the Trust Account; (D) for any transaction costs of Parent to the extent Parent elects to pay these prior to Closing; and (E) as repayment of loans and reimbursement of expenses to directors, officers and shareholders of Parent; and (b) thereafter, the Trust Account shall terminate, except as otherwise provided therein.
6.11 Directors’ and Officers’ Liability Insurance.
(a) All rights to exculpation, indemnification and advancement of expenses now existing in favor of the current or former directors or officers, as the case may be, of any Group Company (each, together with such person’s heirs, executors or administrators, a “D&O Indemnified Party”), as provided in their respective Governing Documents, shall survive the Closing and shall continue in full force and effect in accordance with their respective terms. For a period of six (6) years from the Closing Date, the Company shall maintain in effect the exculpation, indemnification and advancement of expenses provisions of such Group Company’s Governing Documents as in effect immediately prior to the Closing Date, and shall 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.
(b) For a period beginning at the Closing and ending no earlier than six (6) years after the Closing, the Company shall purchase and maintain for the benefit of the D&O Indemnified Parties insurance that provides coverage with respect to acts, omissions, circumstances or events occurring at or prior to the Closing (the “D&O Insurance”), with terms, conditions, retentions and limits of liability that are no less favorable than the then-existing officers’ and directors’ liability insurance of the Company as of the date of this Agreement; provided, that the Company and/or one or more members of the Group Companies shall not be required to pay an annual premium for the D&O Insurance in excess of three hundred percent (300%) of the last aggregate annual premium paid for such insurance prior to the date of this Agreement (the “Maximum Amount”); provided, further, that if such insurance is not available or the premiums for such insurance exceed the Maximum Amount, the Company and/or one or more members of the Group Companies shall obtain such insurance with the best coverage available for a cost not exceeding the Maximum Amount. In lieu thereof, at or prior to the Closing, the Company may purchase and maintain in effect for a period of six (6) years thereafter (or, with respect to any insurance outside the United States, for the three (3) year period following the Closing to the extent that six (6) year “tail” insurance is not readily available) prepaid non-cancellable officers’ and directors’ liability “tail” insurance covering the D&O Indemnified Parties with respect to acts, omissions, circumstances or events occurring at or prior to the Closing with terms, conditions, retentions and limits of liability with respect to the D&O Indemnified Parties that are no less favorable than the then-existing officers’ and directors’ liability insurance of the Company as of the date of this Agreement; provided, that the Company shall not be required to spend in excess of the Maximum Amount to obtain such prepaid “tail” insurance; provided, further, that if such insurance is not available or the premiums for such insurance exceed the Maximum Amount, the Company may obtain such “tail” insurance with the best coverage available for a cost not exceeding the Maximum Amount. The Company shall maintain such “tail” insurance in full force and effect for the full terms of the policies and cause all obligations thereunder to be honored by the Group Companies, as applicable.
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(c) Prior to the Closing, Parent shall arrange for the purchase and binding, in connection with the Closing, of a “tail” or “runoff” directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policy in respect of claims arising out of or relating to events which occurred at or prior to the Closing Date covering each such Person that is a director or officer of Parent on terms with at least the same coverage and amount and containing terms and conditions that are, in the aggregate, no less advantageous than those of such policy in effect on the date of this Agreement for the six (6) year period following the Closing. Parent shall maintain such policy in full force and effect for its full term and cause all obligations thereunder to be honored.
(d) 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 Governing Documents of any Group Company, any other indemnification arrangement, any Legal Requirement or otherwise. The obligations of Parent and the Group Companies under this Section 6.11 shall not be terminated or modified in such a manner as to adversely affect any D&O Indemnified Party without the consent of such D&O Indemnified Party. The provisions of this Section 6.11 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 6.11.
(e) If Parent or, after the Closing, any Group 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 Parent or such Group Company, as applicable, assume the obligations set forth in this Section 6.11.
6.12 Transfer Taxes. 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 (collectively, “Transfer Taxes”) shall be borne and paid by the Company. Unless otherwise required by applicable law, the Company shall timely file any Tax Return or other document with respect to such Taxes or fees (and the Company and Parent shall reasonably cooperate with respect thereto as necessary).
6.13 Subscription Agreements. Parent shall not permit any amendment or modification to be made to, or any waiver of any provision or remedy under, or any replacements of, the Subscription Agreements in a manner materially adverse to the Company, it being understood that any amendments or arrangements contemplated by or referred to in the Subscription Agreements, and any assignments or transfers otherwise permitted by the Subscription Agreements, shall not be considered to be materially adverse to the Company. Parent shall use its 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 to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Subscription Agreements on the terms and conditions described therein, including maintaining in effect the Subscription Agreements and using its commercially reasonable efforts to: (i) satisfy in all material respects on a timely basis all conditions and covenants applicable to Parent in the Subscription Agreements and otherwise comply with its obligations thereunder; (ii) in the event that all conditions in the Subscription Agreements (other than conditions that Parent or any of its Affiliates control the satisfaction of and other than those conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at the Closing) have been satisfied, consummate the transactions contemplated by the Subscription Agreements at or prior to Closing; and (iii) enforce its rights under the Subscription Agreements in the event that all conditions in the Subscription Agreements (other than conditions that Parent or any of its Affiliates control the satisfaction of and other than those conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at the Closing) have been satisfied, to cause the applicable PIPE Investors to pay to (or as directed by) Parent the applicable portion of the PIPE Investment Amount set forth in the Subscription Agreements at or prior to the Closing (if all conditions set forth in the applicable Subscription Agreement have been satisfied or waived (other than those conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at the Closing and other than conditions that Parent or any of its Affiliates control the satisfaction of)). Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Parent shall give the Company prompt written notice: (A) of any amendment to any Subscription Agreement (other than as a result of any assignments or transfers contemplated therein or otherwise permitted thereby); (B) of any breach or default (or any event or circumstance that, with or without notice, lapse of time or both, could give rise to any breach or default) by any party to any Subscription Agreement known to Parent; (C) of the receipt of any written notice or other written communication from any party to any Subscription Agreement with respect to any actual, potential or claimed expiration, lapse, withdrawal, breach, default, termination or repudiation by any party to any Subscription Agreement or any provisions of any Subscription Agreement; and (D) if Parent does not expect to receive all or any portion of the PIPE Investment Amount on the terms, in the manner or from the PIPE Investors contemplated by the Subscription Agreements.
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6.14 Section 16 Matters. Prior to the Closing Date, Parent shall take all reasonable steps as may be required or permitted to cause any acquisition or disposition of Parent Class A Common Stock or Parent Class C Common Stock that occurs or is deemed to occur by reason of or pursuant to the Transactions by each director and officer of Parent who is or will be subject to the reporting requirements of Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act with respect to Parent following the Closing to be exempt under Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act, including by taking steps in accordance with the No-Action Letter, dated January 12, 1999, issued by the SEC regarding such matters.
6.15 Qualification as an Emerging Growth Company. Parent shall, at all times during the period from the date hereof until the occurrence of the Closing: (a) take all actions necessary to continue to qualify as an “emerging growth company” within the meaning of the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012; and (b) not take any action that would cause Parent to not qualify as an “emerging growth company” within the meaning of such Act.
6.16 Board of Directors. The Parties shall use commercially reasonable efforts to ensure that the persons listed on Schedule 6.16 of the Company Disclosure Letter and the other persons identified by the applicable Party following the date hereof and prior to the initial filing with the SEC of the Proxy Statement are elected and appointed as directors of Parent effective upon the Closing. The Parent board of directors following the Closing shall initially consist of seven to nine members (at least one of which shall be female), divided into three classes, each class serving a staggered term of three years. The Company will appoint five to seven of the initial board members, three or four of which shall be “independent” for purposes of applicable SEC and NASDAQ regulations, and which shall be in such classes that shall have the longest initial terms. Parent will appoint one of the initial members. The final initial member shall be mutually agreeable to the Parties and shall be “independent” for purposes of applicable SEC and NASDAQ regulations.
6.17 Release.
(a) Effective upon the Closing, Parent, generally, irrevocably, unconditionally and completely releases and forever discharges each of the Group Companies, each of their respective Affiliates and each of their respective Affiliates’ respective Related Parties, and each of their respective successors and assigns and each of their respective Related Parties (collectively, the “Company Released Parties”) from all disputes, claims, losses, controversies, demands, rights, liabilities, actions and causes of action of every kind and nature, whether known or unknown, arising from any matter concerning any Group Company occurring prior to the Closing Date (other than as contemplated by this Agreement); provided, however, that nothing in this Section 6.17(a) shall release any Company Released Parties from: (i) claims based on intentional fraud; (ii) their obligations under this Agreement or the other Transaction Agreements; or (iii) as applicable, any disputes, claims, losses, controversies, demands, rights, liabilities, breaches of fiduciary duty, actions and causes of action arising out of such Company Released Party’s employment by any Group Company.
(b) Effective upon the Closing, the Company, on its own behalf and on behalf of its controlled Affiliates, generally, irrevocably, unconditionally and completely releases and forever discharges Parent, each of its Affiliates and each of their respective Affiliates’ respective Related Parties, and each of their respective successors and assigns and each of their respective Related Parties (collectively, the “Parent Released Parties”) from all disputes, claims, losses, controversies, demands, rights, liabilities, actions and causes of action of every kind and nature, whether known or unknown, arising from any matter concerning Parent occurring prior to the Closing Date (other than as contemplated by this Agreement); provided, however, that nothing in this Section 6.17(b) shall release any Parent Released Parties from: (i) claims based on intentional fraud; (ii) their obligations under this Agreement or the other Transaction Agreements; or (iii) as applicable, any disputes, claims, losses, controversies, demands, rights, liabilities, breaches of fiduciary duty, actions and causes of action arising out of such Parent Released Party’s employment by any Group Company.
6.18 DeSPAC Transaction Steps and Closing DeSPAC Transactions. In connection with the Closing, the Parties shall and shall cause their Affiliates, as applicable, to take the DeSPAC Transaction Steps (as such term is defined in Schedule B) and effect the Closing DeSPAC Transactions (as such term is defined in Schedule B).
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6.19 Domestication. Immediately prior to the Domestication on the Closing Date, in accordance with applicable Legal Requirements and the Parent Memorandum and Articles, each issued and outstanding Pre-Combination Class B Ordinary Share will be converted, on a one-for-one basis, into a Parent Class A Ordinary Share, subject to certain adjustments described in the Parent Organizational Documents. Assuming prior receipt of the Domestication Approval, Parent shall cause the Domestication to become effective on the Closing Date prior to the Closing, including by (a) filing with the Delaware Secretary of State a Certificate of Domestication, in form and substance reasonably acceptable to Parent and the Company, together with the Parent Certificate, in each case, in accordance with the provisions thereof and applicable Legal Requirements, (b) adopting the Parent Bylaws, (c) completing, making and procuring all filings required to be made with the Registrar of Companies of the Cayman Islands in connection with the Domestication, (d) obtaining evidence of the filing of the application to de-register with the Registrar of Companies of the Cayman Islands and, thereafter, a certificate of de-registration from the Registrar of Companies of the Cayman Islands and (e) completing and making all filings required to be made with the SEC and NASDAQ to list Parent Class A Common Stock on NASDAQ. In accordance with applicable Legal Requirements, the Domestication shall provide that at the effective time of the Domestication, by virtue of the Domestication, and without any action on the part of any Parent shareholder, each issued and outstanding Parent Class A Ordinary Share in existence as of immediately prior to the Domestication shall convert automatically, on a one-for-one basis, into a share of Parent Class A Common Stock.
6.20 Parent Warrants. By virtue of the Domestication and without any action on the part of any holder of Parent Warrants, each Parent Warrant that is outstanding immediately prior to the consummation of the Domestication shall, pursuant to and in accordance with Section 4.5 of the applicable warrant agreement, automatically and irrevocably be modified to provide that such Parent Warrant shall entitle the holder thereof to acquire shares of Parent Class A Common Stock rather than Parent Class A Ordinary Shares (after giving effect to the Domestication).
6.21 Equity Awards; Earnout.
(a) Following the Closing, Parent shall take all actions necessary so that the officers and other executives of the Group Companies listed on Schedule 6.21(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter shall receive equity awards under the Incentive Equity Plan effective upon the Closing Date. The Parties shall mutually determine, upon the recommendation of Company management but subject to final approval by the compensation committee of the Parent board of directors, the amount of equity awards to be granted and the performance and/or time based vesting criteria applicable thereto.
(b) Following the Closing, Parent shall take all actions necessary to establish an equity incentive bonus pool for eligible members of management of the Group Companies, such eligibility to be determined by the compensation committee of the Parent board of directors. The aggregate number of shares of Parent Class A Common Stock available for issuance from the bonus pool shall be up to 5,000,000 shares, subject to satisfaction of one or both of the following conditions:
(i) If the closing sale price per share of Parent Class A Common Stock exceeds $13.00 for 20 out of 30 consecutive trading days at any time prior to the fifth anniversary of the Closing Date, one half of the bonus pool shares (i.e., 2,500,000) shall be issued; and
(ii) If the closing sale price per share of Parent Class A Common Stock exceeds $15.00 for 20 out of 30 consecutive trading days at any time prior to the tenth anniversary of the Closing Date, the remaining bonus pool shares (i.e., 2,500,000) shall be issued.
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Article VII
CONDITIONS TO THE TRANSACTION
7.1 Conditions to Each Party’s Obligations. The respective obligations of each Party to this Agreement to consummate and effect the Transactions shall be subject to the satisfaction or written waiver at or prior to the Closing of the following conditions:
(a) Each of the Sponsor Letter Agreement and the Support Agreement shall continue to be in full force and effect.
(b) Parent shall have at least $5,000,001 of net tangible assets following the exercise by the holders of Parent Class A Ordinary Shares issued in Parent’s initial public offering of securities and outstanding immediately before the Closing of their right to redeem their Parent Class A Ordinary Shares held by them into a pro rata share of the Trust Account in accordance with the Parent Organizational Documents.
(c) the Parties will have received or have been deemed to have received all necessary pre-Closing authorizations, consents, clearances, waivers and approvals of the Governmental Entities set forth on Section 7.1(d) of the Company Disclosure Letter and Section 7.1(d) of the Parent Disclosure Letter in connection with the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the Transactions (or any applicable waiting period thereunder shall have expired or been terminated).
(d) The PIPE Investment (and the funding of the PIPE Investment Amount) shall have been consummated or will be consummated substantially concurrently with the Closing in accordance with the terms of the Subscription Agreements.
(e) The shares of Parent Class A Common Stock to be issued in connection with the PIPE Investment shall have been approved for listing on NASDAQ, subject to official notice of issuance.
(f) The Domestication shall have been completed as provided in Section 6.20.
(g) No provision of any applicable Legal Requirement prohibiting, enjoining, restricting or making illegal the consummation of the Transactions shall be in effect, and no temporary, preliminary or permanent restraining Order enjoining, restricting or making illegal the consummation of the Transactions will be in effect or shall be threatened in writing by a Governmental Entity.
7.2 Additional Conditions to Obligations of the Company. The obligations of the Company to consummate and effect the Transactions shall be subject to the satisfaction at or prior to the Closing of each of the following conditions, any of which may be waived, in writing, exclusively by the Company:
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(a) The Fundamental Representations of Parent shall be true and correct in all but de minimis respects (without giving effect to any limitation as to “materiality” or “Parent Material Adverse Effect” or any similar limitation contain herein) on and as of the date of this Agreement and on and as of the Closing Date as though made on and as of the Closing Date (except to the extent that any such representation and warranty expressly speaks as of an earlier date, in which case such representation and warranty shall be true and correct as of such earlier date); and all other representations and warranties of Parent set forth in Article IV hereof shall be true and correct in all material respects (without giving effect to any limitation as to “materiality” or “Parent Material Adverse Effect” or any similar limitation contained herein) on and as of the date of this Agreement and on and as of the Closing Date as though made on and as of the Closing Date (except to the extent that any such representation and warranty expressly speaks as of an earlier date, in which case such representation and warranty shall be true and correct as of such earlier date).
(b) Parent shall have performed or complied with all agreements and covenants required by this Agreement to be performed or complied with by Parent on or prior to the Closing Date, in each case in all material respects.
(c) Parent shall have delivered to the Company a certificate, signed by an authorized representative of Parent and dated as of the Closing Date, certifying as to the matters set forth in Section 7.2(a), Section 7.2(b) and Section 7.2(d).
(d) No Parent Material Adverse Effect shall have occurred since the date of this Agreement.
(e) The persons listed on Schedule 7.2(e) of the Company Disclosure Letter shall have resigned from all of their positions and offices with Parent.
(f) Parent shall have delivered or shall stand ready to deliver all of the certificates, instruments, Contracts and other documents specified to be delivered by it hereunder, including copies of the documents to be delivered by Parent pursuant to Section 2.2(a), as applicable.
(g) Parent shall have made appropriate arrangements to have the Trust Account, less amounts paid and to be paid pursuant to Section 6.10, available to Parent at the Closing.
(h) The amount of Parent Cash shall equal or exceed $250,000,000.
7.3 Additional Conditions to the Obligations of Parent. The obligations of Parent to consummate and effect the Transactions shall be subject to the satisfaction at or prior to the Closing of each of the following conditions, any of which may be waived, in writing, exclusively by Parent:
(a) The Fundamental Representations of the Company shall be true and correct in all but de minimis respects (without giving effect to any limitation as to “materiality” or “Company Material Adverse Effect” or any similar limitation contain herein) on and as of the date of this Agreement and on and as of the Closing Date as though made on and as of the Closing Date (except to the extent that any such representation and warranty expressly speaks as of an earlier date, in which case such representation and warranty shall be true and correct as of such earlier date); and all other representations and warranties of the Company set forth in Article III hereof shall be true and correct in all material respects (without giving effect to any limitation as to “materiality” or “Company Material Adverse Effect” or any similar limitation contained herein) on and as of the date of this Agreement and on and as of the Closing Date as though made on and as of the Closing Date (except to the extent that any such representation and warranty expressly speaks as of an earlier date, in which case such representation and warranty shall be true and correct as of such earlier date).
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(b) The Company shall have performed or complied with all agreements and covenants required by this Agreement to be performed or complied with by it at or prior to the Closing Date, in each case in all material respects.
(c) The Company shall have delivered to Parent a certificate, signed by an authorized representative of the Company and dated as of the Closing Date, certifying as to the matters set forth in Section 7.3(a), Section 7.3(b) and Section 7.3(d).
(d) No Company Material Adverse Effect shall have occurred since the date of this Agreement.
(e) At the General Meeting (including any adjournments thereof pursuant to Section 6.1(c)), the Parent Shareholder Matters shall have been duly adopted by the shareholders of Parent in accordance with the Companies Act, the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”), the Parent Organizational Documents and NASDAQ rules and regulations, as applicable.
(f) The Company shall have obtained and delivered to Parent at or prior to Closing the consents, authorizations and approvals listed on Schedule 7.3(f) of the Company Disclosure Letter, in each case in substance and form reasonably satisfactory to the Parties, and no such consents, authorizations or approvals shall have been revoked.
(g) Members who will hold not less than ninety-nine percent (99%) of the shares of Parent Class C Common Stock distributed by the Company shall have delivered, or cause to be delivered, to Parent copies of the Lock-Up Agreements duly executed by each such Member.
(h) The Company shall have delivered, or caused to be delivered, or shall stand ready to deliver all of the certificates, instruments, Contracts and other documents specified to be delivered by it hereunder, including copies of the documents to be delivered by the Company pursuant to Section 2.2(b), as applicable.
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Article VIII
TERMINATION
8.1 Termination. This Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the Closing:
(a) by mutual written agreement of Parent and the Company at any time;
(b) by either Parent or the Company if the Transactions shall not have been consummated by February 28, 2022 (the “Outside Date”); provided, however, that the right to terminate this Agreement under this Section 8.1(b) shall not be available to any Party whose action or failure to act has been a principal cause of or resulted in the failure of the Transactions to occur on or before such date and such action or failure to act constitutes a breach of this Agreement; provided, further, that (i) the Outside Date may be extended by Parent by written notice to the Company for up to three (3) additional one (1)-month periods if all of the conditions set forth in Section 7.1, Section 7.2 and Section 7.3 have been satisfied or waived at the Outside Date, other than the condition set forth in Section 7.1(d) and those conditions which by their terms would be satisfied at the Closing and (ii) the Outside Date shall be extended automatically once for sixty (60) days if all of the conditions set forth in Section 7.1, Section 7.2 and Section 7.3 have been satisfied or waived at the Outside Date, other than the condition set forth in Section 7.1(c) and those conditions which by their terms would be satisfied at the Closing;
(c) by either Parent or the Company if a Governmental Entity shall have issued an Order or taken any other action, in any case having the effect of permanently restraining, enjoining or otherwise prohibiting the Transactions, which Order or other action is final and nonappealable;
(d) by the Company, upon a breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement set forth in this Agreement on the part of Parent, or if any representation or warranty of Parent shall have become untrue, in either case such that the conditions set forth in Article VII would not be satisfied as of the time of such breach or as of the time such representation or warranty shall have become untrue; provided, that if such breach by Parent is curable by Parent prior to the Closing, then the Company must first provide written notice of such breach and may not terminate this Agreement under this Section 8.1(d) until the earlier of: (i) thirty (30) days after delivery of written notice from the Company to Parent of such breach; and (ii) the Outside Date; provided, further, that Parent continues to exercise commercially reasonable efforts to cure such breach (it being understood that the Company may not terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 8.1(d) if: (A) it shall have materially breached this Agreement and such breach has not been cured; or (B) if such breach by Parent is cured during such thirty (30) day period);
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(e) by Parent, upon a breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement set forth in this Agreement on the part of the Company or if any representation or warranty of the Company shall have become untrue, in either case such that the conditions set forth in Article VII would not be satisfied as of the time of such breach or as of the time such representation or warranty shall have become untrue; provided, that if such breach is curable by the Company prior to the Closing, then Parent must first provide written notice of such breach and may not terminate this Agreement under this Section 8.1(e) until the earlier of: (i) thirty (30) days after delivery of written notice from Parent to the Company of such breach; and (ii) the Outside Date; provided, further, that the Company continues to exercise commercially reasonable efforts to cure such breach (it being understood that Parent may not terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 8.1(e) if: (A) it shall have materially breached this Agreement and such breach has not been cured; or (B) if such breach by the Company is cured during such thirty (30) day period);
(f) by either Parent or the Company, if, at the General Meeting (including any adjournments thereof pursuant to Section 6.1(c)), the Parent Shareholder Matters are not duly adopted by the shareholders of Parent by the requisite vote under the Companies Act and the Parent Organizational Documents; or
(g) by either the Company or Parent, if the condition set forth in Section 7.1(d), becomes incapable of being satisfied at the Closing.
8.2 Notice of Termination; Effect of Termination.
(a) Any termination of this Agreement under Section 8.1 above will be effective immediately upon the delivery of written notice of the terminating Party to the other Parties.
(b) In the event of the termination of this Agreement as provided in Section 8.1, this Agreement shall be of no further force or effect and the Transactions shall be abandoned, except for and subject to the following: (i) Section 6.4, Section 6.7, this Section 8.2, Article X (General Provisions) and the Confidentiality Agreement shall survive the termination of this Agreement; and (ii) nothing herein shall relieve any Party from liability for any intentional breach of this Agreement or intentional fraud in the making of the representations and warranties in this Agreement.
Article IX
NO SURVIVAL
9.1 No Survival. None of the representations, warranties, covenants or agreements in this Agreement or in any instrument delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall survive the Closing and all rights, claims and causes of action (whether in contract or in tort or otherwise, or whether at law or in equity) with respect thereto shall terminate at the Closing. Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither this Section 9.1 nor anything else in this Agreement to the contrary (including Section 10.14) shall limit: (a) the survival of any covenant or agreement of the Parties which by its terms is required to be performed or complied with in whole or in part after the Closing, which covenants and agreements shall survive the Closing in accordance with their respective terms; or (b) any claim against any Person with respect to intentional fraud in the making of the representations and warranties by such Person in Article III or Article IV, as applicable.
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Article X
GENERAL PROVISIONS
10.1 Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed given: (a) on the date established by the sender as having been delivered personally; (b) one (1) Business Day after being sent by a nationally recognized overnight courier guaranteeing overnight delivery; (c) on the date delivered, if delivered by email of a pdf document; or (d) on the fifth (5th) Business Day after the date mailed, by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid. Such communications, to be valid, must be addressed as follows:
if to Parent, to:
c/o FTAC Athena Acquisition Corp.
0000 Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Phone: (000) 000-0000
Email: xxxxxx@xxxxxx.xxx
with a copy to:
Ledgewood, PC
Two Commerce Square, Suite 3400
0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Phone: (000) 000-0000
Email: xxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxx.xxx
if to the Company, to:
Pico Quantitative Trading Holdings LLC
00 Xxx Xxxx, 00xx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Phone: (000) 000-0000
Email: Xxxxxxx.xxxxxx@xxxx.xxx
with a copy to:
DLA Piper LLP
00 Xxxx X. Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxx Xxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Xxxxx X. Xxxxx
Phone: (000) 000-0000
Email: xxxxxx.xxxxxxx@xx.xxxxxxxx.xxx
xxxxx.xxxxx@xx.xxxxxxxx.xxx
or to such other address or to the attention of such Person or Persons as the recipient Party has specified by prior written notice to the sending Party (or in the case of counsel, to such other readily ascertainable business address as such counsel may hereafter maintain). If more than one method for sending notice as set forth above is used, the earliest notice date established as set forth above shall control.
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10.2 Interpretation. The words “hereof,” “herein,” “hereinafter,” “hereunder,” and “hereto” and words of similar import refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular section or subsection of this Agreement and reference to a particular section of this Agreement will include all subsections thereof, unless, in each case, the context otherwise requires. The definitions of the terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined. Whenever the context shall require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. When a reference is made in this Agreement to an Exhibit, such reference shall be to an Exhibit to this Agreement unless otherwise indicated. When a reference is made in this Agreement to Sections or subsections, such reference shall be to a Section or subsection of this Agreement. Unless otherwise indicated the words “include,” “includes” and “including” when used herein shall be deemed in each case to be followed by the words “without limitation.” The words “made available” mean that the subject documents or other materials were included in and available in the “Liberty Xxxx” project folder hosted by Datasite at least one (1) Business Days prior to the date of this Agreement. The table of contents and headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement. When reference is made herein to “the business of” an entity, such reference shall be deemed to include the business of all direct and indirect subsidiaries of such entity. Reference to the subsidiaries of an entity shall be deemed to include all direct and indirect subsidiaries of such entity. The word “or” shall be disjunctive but not exclusive. When calculating the period of time before which, within which or following which any act is to be done or step taken pursuant to this Agreement, the date that is the reference date in calculating such period shall be excluded and if the last day of such period is a non-Business Day, the period in question shall end on the next succeeding Business Day. References to a particular statute or regulation including all rules and regulations thereunder and any predecessor or successor statute, rule, or regulation, in each case as amended or otherwise modified from time to time. All references to currency amounts in this Agreement shall mean United States dollars.
10.3 Counterparts; Electronic Delivery. This Agreement, the Transaction Agreements and each other document executed in connection with the Transactions, and the consummation thereof, may be executed in two or more counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same document and shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each of the Parties and delivered to the other Parties, it being understood that all Parties need not sign the same counterpart. Delivery by electronic transmission of a counterpart executed by a Party shall be deemed to meet the requirements of the previous sentence.
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10.4 Entire Agreement; Third Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement, the other Transaction Agreements and any other documents and instruments and agreements among the Parties as contemplated by or referred to herein, including the Exhibits and Schedules hereto: (a) constitute the entire agreement among the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede all prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, among the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof; and (b) other than the rights, at and after the Closing Date, of Persons pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.11 and Section 10.14 (which will be for the benefit of the Persons set forth therein), are not intended to confer upon any other Person other than the Parties any rights or remedies.
10.5 Severability. In the event that any term, provision, covenant or restriction of this Agreement, or the application thereof, is held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable under any present or future Legal Requirement: (a) such provision will be fully severable; (b) this Agreement will be construed and enforced as if such illegal, invalid or unenforceable provision had never comprised a part hereof; (c) the remaining provisions of this Agreement will remain in full force and effect and will not be affected by the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provision or by its severance herefrom; and (d) in lieu of such illegal, invalid or unenforceable provision, there will be added automatically as a part of this Agreement a legal, valid and enforceable provision as similar in terms of such illegal, invalid or unenforceable provision as may be possible.
10.6 Other Remedies; Specific Performance. Except as otherwise provided herein, prior to the Closing, any and all remedies herein expressly conferred upon a Party will be deemed cumulative with and not exclusive of any other remedy conferred hereby, or by law or equity upon such Party, and the exercise by a Party of any one remedy will not preclude the exercise of any other remedy. The Parties agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached. It is accordingly agreed that each Party shall be entitled to enforce specifically the terms and provisions of this Agreement in any court of the United States or any state having jurisdiction and immediate injunctive relief to prevent breaches of this Agreement, without the necessity of proving the inadequacy of money damages as a remedy and without bond or other security being required, this being in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at law or in equity. Each of the Parties hereby acknowledges and agrees that it may be difficult to prove damages with reasonable certainty, that it may be difficult to procure suitable substitute performance, and that injunctive relief and/or specific performance will not cause an undue hardship to the Parties. Each of the Parties hereby further acknowledges that the existence of any other remedy contemplated by this Agreement does not diminish the availability of specific performance of the obligations hereunder or any other injunctive relief. Each Party hereby further agrees that in the event of any action by any other party for specific performance or injunctive relief, it will not assert that a remedy at law or other remedy would be adequate or that specific performance or injunctive relief in respect of such breach or violation should not be available on the grounds that money damages are adequate or any other grounds. Parent acknowledges and agrees that the Company shall be entitled to bring an action for specific enforcement to cause the Parent to seek to enforce the provisions of the Subscription Agreements to the fullest extent permissible pursuant to such Subscription Agreements as if it were a party thereto.
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10.7 Governing Law. This Agreement and the consummation the Transactions, and any action, suit, dispute, controversy or claim arising out of this Agreement and the consummation of the Transactions, or the validity, interpretation, breach or termination of this Agreement and the consummation of the Transactions, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal law of the State of Delaware regardless of the law that might otherwise govern under applicable principles of conflicts of law thereof.
10.8 Consent to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial.
(a) Each of the Parties irrevocably consents to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the Court of Chancery in the State of Delaware (or, to the extent that such Court does not have subject matter jurisdiction, the Superior Court of the State of Delaware) or if it has or can acquire jurisdiction in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware, in each case in connection with any matter based upon or arising out of this Agreement, the other Transaction Agreements and the consummation of the Transactions, agrees that process may be served upon them in any manner authorized by the laws of the State of Delaware for such Person and waives and covenants not to assert or plead any objection which they might otherwise have to such manner of service of process. Each Party and any Person asserting rights as a third-party beneficiary may do so only if he, she or it hereby waives, and shall not assert as a defense in any legal dispute, that: (a) such Person is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of the above named courts for any reason; (b) such Legal Proceeding may not be brought or is not maintainable in such court; (c) such Person’s property is exempt or immune from execution; (d) such Legal Proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum; or (e) the venue of such Legal Proceeding is improper. Each Party and any Person asserting rights as a third-party beneficiary hereby agrees not to commence or prosecute any such action, claim, cause of action or suit other than before one of the above-named courts, nor to make any motion or take any other action seeking or intending to cause the transfer or removal of any such action, claim, cause of action or suit to any court other than one of the above-named courts, whether on the grounds of inconvenient forum or otherwise. Each Party hereby consents to service of process in any such proceeding in any manner permitted by Delaware law, and further consents to service of process by nationally recognized overnight courier service guaranteeing overnight delivery, or by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, at its address specified pursuant to Section 10.1. Notwithstanding the foregoing in this Section 10.8, any Party may commence any action, claim, cause of action or suit in a court other than the above-named courts solely for the purpose of enforcing an order or judgment issued by one of the above-named courts.
(b) TO THE EXTENT NOT PROHIBITED BY APPLICABLE LAW WHICH CANNOT BE WAIVED, EACH OF THE PARTIES AND ANY PERSON ASSERTING RIGHTS AS A THIRD-PARTY BENEFICIARY MAY DO SO ONLY IF HE, SHE OR IT IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY ON ANY CLAIMS OR COUNTERCLAIMS ASSERTED IN ANY LEGAL DISPUTE RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, EACH OTHER TRANSACTION AGREEMENT AND THE CONSUMMATION OF THE TRANSACTIONS, AND FOR ANY COUNTERCLAIM RELATING THERETO, IN EACH CASE WHETHER NOW EXISTING OR HEREAFTER ARISING. IF THE SUBJECT MATTER OF ANY SUCH LEGAL DISPUTE IS ONE IN WHICH THE WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL IS PROHIBITED, NO PARTY NOR ANY PERSON ASSERTING RIGHTS AS A THIRD-PARTY BENEFICIARY SHALL ASSERT IN SUCH LEGAL DISPUTE A NON-COMPULSORY COUNTERCLAIM ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, THE OTHER TRANSACTION AGREEMENTS AND THE CONSUMMATION OF THE TRANSACTIONS. FURTHERMORE, NO PARTY NOR ANY PERSON ASSERTING RIGHTS AS A THIRD-PARTY BENEFICIARY SHALL SEEK TO CONSOLIDATE ANY SUCH LEGAL DISPUTE WITH A SEPARATE ACTION OR OTHER LEGAL PROCEEDING IN WHICH A JURY TRIAL CANNOT BE WAIVED.
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10.9 Rules of Construction. Each of the Parties agrees that it has been represented by independent counsel of its choice during the negotiation and execution of this Agreement and each Party hereto and its counsel cooperated in the drafting and preparation of this Agreement and the documents referred to herein and, therefore, waive the application of any law, regulation, holding or rule of construction providing that ambiguities in an agreement or other document will be construed against the Party drafting such agreement or document.
10.10 Expenses. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, whether or not the Transactions are consummated, each Party will pay its own costs and expenses incurred in anticipation of, relating to and in connection with the negotiation and execution of this Agreement and the Transaction Agreements and the consummation of the Transactions.
10.11 Assignment. No Party may assign, directly or indirectly, including by operation of law, either this Agreement or any of its rights, interests, or obligations hereunder without the prior written approval of the other Parties. Subject to the first sentence of this Section 10.11, this Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the Parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns.
10.12 Amendment. This Agreement may be amended by the Parties at any time by execution of an instrument in writing signed on behalf of each of the Parties.
10.13 Extension; Waiver. At any time prior to the Closing, Parent and the Company may, to the extent not prohibited by Legal Requirements: (a) extend the time for the performance of any of the obligations or other acts of the other Party; (b) waive any inaccuracies in the representations and warranties made to the other Party contained herein or in any document delivered pursuant hereto; and (c) waive compliance with any of the agreements or conditions for the benefit of such Party contained herein. Any agreement on the part of a Party to any such extension or waiver shall be valid only if set forth in an instrument in writing signed on behalf of such Party. Delay in exercising any right under this Agreement shall not constitute a waiver of such right. In the event any provision of any other Transaction Agreement in any way conflicts with the provisions of this Agreement (except where a provision therein expressly provides that it is intended to take precedence over this Agreement), this Agreement shall control.
10.14 No Recourse. Notwithstanding anything that may be expressed or implied in this Agreement, this Agreement may only be enforced against, and any Legal Proceeding for breach of this Agreement may only be made against, the entities that are expressly identified herein as Parties to this Agreement, and no Related Party of a Party shall have any liability for any liabilities or obligations of the Parties for any Legal Proceeding (whether in tort, contract or otherwise) for breach of this Agreement or in respect of any oral representations made or alleged to be made in connection herewith. No Party shall have any right of recovery in respect hereof against any Related Party of a Party and no personal liability shall attach to any Related Party of a Party through such Party, whether by or through attempted piercing of the corporate veil, by the enforcement of any judgment, fine or penalty or by virtue of any Legal Requirement or otherwise. The provisions of this Section 10.14 are intended to be for the benefit of, and enforceable by the Related Parties of the Parties and each such Person shall be a third-party beneficiary of this Section 10.14. This Section 10.14 shall be binding on all successors and assigns of Parties.
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10.15 Legal Representation. The Company has advised Parent that DLA Piper LLP (the “Firm”) has represented both the Group Companies and the Members prior to the Closing with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby (the “Pre-Closing Engagement”), and, recognizing that the Company intends to engage the Firm to act as legal counsel to the Company and its Affiliates after the Closing, Parent hereby waives, on its own behalf, and agrees to cause its Affiliates, to waive any conflict of interest that may arise in connection with the Firm representing the Company or any of its Affiliates after the Closing as it relates to the Pre-Closing Engagement. In light of the foregoing and subject to the following sentence, the Parties agree that any attorney-client privilege or attorney work-product to the extent recognized as such under applicable Legal Requirement with respect to the Pre-Closing Engagement and all information and documents to the extent covered by such privilege or protection under applicable Legal Requirement and all confidential communications solely between and documents solely exchanged by the Group Companies, the Members, their respective Affiliates, on one hand, and the Firm, on the other hand, with respect to the Pre-Closing Engagement (the “Privileged Communications”) shall belong to and be controlled by the Company and may be waived only by the Company and shall not pass to or be claimed or used by Parent or any of its Affiliates after the Closing. Accordingly, Parent shall not, without the Company’s consent, have access to the files of the Firm relating to the Pre-Closing Engagement to the extent they constitute Privileged Communications.
10.16 Disclosure Letters and Exhibits. The Company Disclosure Letter and the Parent Disclosure Letter shall each be arranged in separate parts corresponding to the numbered and lettered sections and subsections contained in this Agreement, and the information disclosed in any numbered or lettered part shall be deemed to relate to and to qualify only the particular representation or warranty set forth in the corresponding numbered or lettered Section or subsection of this Agreement, except to the extent that: (a) such information is cross-referenced in another part of the Company Disclosure Letter or the Parent Disclosure Letter, as applicable; or (b) it is reasonably apparent on the face of the disclosure (without reference to any document referred to therein or any independent knowledge on the part of the reader regarding the matter disclosed) that such information qualifies another representation and warranty in this Agreement. Certain information set forth in the Company Disclosure Letter and the Parent Disclosure Letter is or may be included solely for informational purposes, is not an admission of liability with respect to the matters covered by the information, and may not be required to be disclosed pursuant to this Agreement. The specification of any dollar amount in the representations and warranties contained in this Agreement or the inclusion of any specific item in the Company Disclosure Letter or the Parent Disclosure Letter is not intended to imply that such amounts (or higher or lower amounts) are or are not material, and no Party shall use the fact of the setting of such amounts or the fact of the inclusion of any such item in the Company Disclosure Letter or the Parent Disclosure Letter in any dispute or controversy between the Parties as to whether any obligation, item, or matter not described herein or included in the Company Disclosure Letter or the Parent Disclosure Letter is or is not material for purposes of this Agreement.
[Signature Page Follows]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above.
FTAC ATHENA ACQUISITION CORP. | |||
By: | /s/ Xxxxxx Xxxxxx | ||
Name: | Xxxxxx Xxxxxx | ||
Title: | President and Chief Executive Officer | ||
PICO QUANTITATIVE TRADING HOLDINGS LLC | |||
By: | /s/ Xxxxxx Xxxxxx | ||
Name: | Xxxxxx Xxxxxx | ||
Title: | Chairman, Founder & Chief Executive Officer |
[Signature Page to Business Combination Agreement]
SCHEDULE A
DEFINED TERMS
1.1. Defined Terms. For purposes of this Agreement, the following capitalized terms have the following meanings:
“A&R Registration Rights Agreement” is defined in Schedule B.
“Additional Parent SEC Reports” is defined in Section 4.7(a).
“Affiliate” shall mean, as applied to any Person, any other Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with, such Person. For purposes of this definition, “control” (including with correlative meanings, the terms “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common control with”), as applied to any Person, shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.
“Aggregate Parent Stockholder Redemption Payments Amount” shall mean the aggregate amount of all payments required to be made by Parent in connection with the Parent Stockholder Redemption.
“Agreement” is defined in the Preamble.
“Anti-Corruption Laws” is defined in Section 3.25.
“Antitrust Laws” shall mean any Legal Requirements of any Governmental Entity regarding matters of anti-competition or foreign investment.
“Approvals” is defined in Section 3.8.
“Audited Financial Statements” is defined in Section 3.8(a).
“Borrowed Indebtedness” shall mean, as of the applicable date of determination, the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Indebtedness of the Group Companies under the Existing Credit Agreement.
“Business Day” shall mean any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York, New York are authorized or required by Legal Requirements to close.
“Certifications” is defined in Section 4.7(a).
“Change in Recommendation” is defined in Section 6.1(c).
“Closing” is defined in Section 2.1.
Sch. A – page 1
“Closing Date” is defined in Section 2.1.
“Closing DeSPAC Transactions” is defined in Schedule B.
“Closing Form 8-K” is defined in Section 6.3(c).
“Closing Press Release” is defined in Section 6.3(c).
“Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
“Communications Plan” is defined in Section 6.4(b).
“Companies Act” means the Cayman Islands Companies Act (2021 Revision), as amended, modified, re-enacted or replaced from time to time.
“Company” is defined in the Preamble.
“Company A&R Operating Agreement” is defined in Schedule B.
“Company Business Combination” is defined in Section 6.9(a).
“Company Disclosure Letter” is defined in the lead-in to Article III.
“Company IT Systems” is defined in Section 3.18(h).
“Company Leased Properties” is defined in Section 3.14(b).
“Company Material Adverse Effect” shall mean any state of facts, development, change, circumstance, occurrence, event or effect, that, individually or in the aggregate: (a) has had, or would reasonably be expected to have, a materially adverse effect on the business, assets, financial condition or results of operations of the Group Companies, taken as a whole; or (b) has prevented or materially delayed or impaired, or is reasonably likely to prevent or materially delay or impair, the ability of the Company to consummate the Transactions; provided, however, that in no event would any of the following (or the effect of any of the following), alone or in combination, be taken into account in determining whether a Company Material Adverse Effect on or in respect of the Group Companies pursuant to clause (a) has occurred: (i) acts of war, sabotage, civil unrest or terrorism, or any escalation or worsening of any such acts of war, sabotage, civil unrest or terrorism, or changes in global, national, regional, state or local political or social conditions; (ii) earthquakes, hurricanes, tornados, pandemics (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any effect resulting from, arising in connection with or otherwise related to the COVID-19 or SARS-CoV-2 virus) or other natural disasters; (iii) changes or proposed changes in Legal Requirements or interpretations thereof after the date of this Agreement; (iv) changes in U.S. GAAP (or any interpretation thereof) after the date of this Agreement; (v) any downturn in general economic conditions, including changes in the credit, debt, securities or financial markets (including changes in interest or exchange rates); (vi) events or conditions generally affecting the industries and markets in which the Company operates; (vii) any failure to meet any projections, forecasts, guidance, estimates or financial or operating predictions of revenue, earnings, cash flow or cash position, provided, that this clause (vii) shall not prevent a determination that the underlying facts and circumstances resulting in such failure has resulted in a Company Material Adverse Effect; or (viii) any actions (A) required to be taken, or required not to be taken, pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or (B) taken with the prior written consent of or at the prior written request of Parent; provided, however, that if any state of facts, developments, changes, circumstances, occurrences, events or effects related to clauses (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v) or (vi) above disproportionately and adversely affect the business, assets, financial condition or results of operations of the Group Companies, taken as a whole, relative to similarly situated companies in the industries in which the Group Companies conduct their respective operations, then such impact may be taken into account in determining whether a Company Material Adverse Effect has occurred.
Sch. A – page 2
“Company Material Contract” is defined in Section 3.20(a).
“Company Real Property Leases” is defined in Section 3.14(b).
“Company Registered Intellectual Property” is defined in Section 3.18(a).
“Company Released Parties” is defined in Section 6.17(a).
“Company Subsidiaries” is defined in Section 3.3(a).
“Confidentiality Agreement” shall mean the Nondisclosure Agreement, dated as of April 21, 2021, by and between the Company and Parent.
“Contract” shall mean any contract, subcontract, agreement, indenture, note, bond, loan or credit agreement, instrument, installment obligation, lease, mortgage, deed of trust, license, sublicense, commitment, power of attorney, guaranty or other legally binding commitment, arrangement, understanding or obligation, whether written or oral, in each case, as amended and supplemented from time to time and including all schedules, annexes and exhibits thereto.
“Copyrights” is defined in the definition of “Intellectual Property”.
“COVID-19 Response” shall mean any action, inaction, activity or conduct reasonably necessary (such determination to be made in the reasonable discretion of the Company following good faith consultation with Parent) in response to any Order, guidance, shelter in place and non-essential business order by any Governmental Entity in order to mitigate, remedy, respond to or otherwise address the effects or impact of the COVID-19 or SARS-CoV-2 virus.
“Current Registration Rights Agreement” shall mean the Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of February 22, 2021, by and among Parent, Sponsors and the other parties thereto.
“Customs & International Trade Authorizations” shall mean any and all licenses, license exceptions, notification requirements, registrations and approvals required pursuant to the Customs & International Trade Laws for the lawful export, deemed export, re-export, deemed re-export transfer or import of goods, software, technology, technical data and services.
Sch. A – page 3
“Customs & International Trade Laws” shall mean the applicable import, customs and trade, export and anti-boycott laws of any jurisdiction in which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is incorporated or does business, including, but not limited to: (i) the laws, regulations, and programs administered or enforced by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the U.S. Department of Commerce (International Trade Administration), the U.S. International Trade Commission, the U.S. Department of Commerce (Bureau of Industry and Security), the U.S. Department of State (Directorate of Defense Trade Controls) and their predecessor agencies; (ii) the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (iii) the Export Administration Act of 1979, as amended; (iv) the Export Control Reform Act of 2018; (v) the Export Administration Regulations, including related restrictions with regard to transactions involving Persons on the U.S. Department of Commerce Denied Persons List, Unverified List or Entity List; (vi) the Arms Export Control Act, as amended; (vii) the International Traffic in Arms Regulations, including related restrictions with regard to transactions involving Persons on the Debarred List; (viii) the Foreign Trade Regulations pursuant to 15 C.F.R. Part 30; (ix) the anti-boycott laws and regulations administered by the U.S. Department of Commerce; and (x) the anti-boycott laws and regulations administered by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
“D&O Indemnified Party” is defined in Section 6.11(a).
“D&O Insurance” is defined Section 6.11(b).
“DeSPAC Transaction Steps” is defined in Schedule B.
“DGCL” is defined in Section 7.3(e).
“Domestication” is defined in the Recitals.
“Domestication Approval” means the adoption and approval of the Domestication by the shareholders of Parent in accordance with the Parent Organizational Documents.
“Employee Benefit Plan” shall mean each “employee benefit plan” (within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA) and each other retirement, supplemental retirement, deferred compensation, employment, bonus, incentive compensation, stock purchase, employee stock ownership, equity-based, phantom-equity, profit-sharing, severance, termination protection, change in control, retention, employee loan, retiree medical or life insurance, educational, employee assistance, fringe benefit and all other employee benefit plan, policy, agreement, program or arrangement, whether or not subject to ERISA, whether formal or informal, oral or written, which any Group Company sponsors or maintains for the benefit of its current or former employees, individuals who provide services and are compensated as individual independent contractors or directors, or with respect to which any Group Company has any direct or indirect present or future liability.
“Employee Stock Purchase Plan” is defined in Schedule B.
Sch. A – page 4
“Environmental Law” shall mean any federal, state, local or foreign law, regulation, order, decree, permit, authorization, opinion, common law or agency requirement relating to: (a) the protection, investigation or restoration of the environment, health and safety (concerning exposure to Hazardous Substances), or natural resources; (b) the handling, use, presence, disposal, release or threatened release of any Hazardous Substance; or (c) noise, odor, wetlands, pollution, contamination or any injury or threat of injury to persons or property, and shall include, but not be limited to, federal statutes known as the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act, Endangered Species Act, Hazardous Materials Transportation Act, Migratory Bird Treaty Act, National Environmental Policy Act, Occupational Safety and Health Act, Oil Pollution Act of 1990, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, Safe Drinking Water Act, and Toxic Substances Control Act.
“Environmental Permits” is defined in Section 3.16(a).
“ERISA Affiliate” shall mean any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) that, together with the Company or any of its subsidiaries is treated as a single employer under Section 414 of the Code.
“Estimated Transaction Costs” shall mean, to the extent unpaid as of the Closing, all fees, costs, payments and expenses to be borne by Parent, on the one hand, or by the Company, on the other hand, and incurred prior to and through the Closing Date, in connection with (a) the identification of the Company as a business combination target, and the negotiation, preparation and execution of this Agreement, the other Transaction Agreements and the consummation of the Transactions, including to the extent triggered by or payable as a result of the Closing; (b) all bonuses, change in control payments, severance payments, retirement payments, retention or similar payments or success fees payable in connection with or anticipation of the consummation of the Transactions; and (c) all transaction, deal, brokerage, financial advisory or any similar fees payable in connection with or anticipation of the consummation of the Transactions.
“Exchange Act” shall mean the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
“Existing Credit Agreement” shall mean that certain Credit Agreement dated as of February 7, 2020 by and among Pico Quantitative Trading LLC, Spryware, LLC, the Company, the Lenders from time to time party thereto, Cortland Capital Market Services LLC, as administrative agent, and Obsidian Agency Services, Inc., as collateral agent, as amended from time to time.
“Financial Statements” is defined in Section 3.8(a).
“Fundamental Representations” shall mean: (a) in the case of the Company, the representations and warranties contained in Section 3.1, Section 3.4, Section 3.5, the first sentence of Section 3.10 and Section 3.17; and (b) in the case of Parent, the representations and warranties contained in Sections 4.1, Section 4.3, Section 4.4 and Section 4.21.
“Funds Flow Memorandum” is defined in Section 2.2(d).
“General Meeting” is defined in Section 6.1(c).
Sch. A – page 5
“Governing Documents” shall mean the legal document(s) by which any Person (other than an individual) establishes its legal existence or which govern its internal affairs. For example, the “Governing Documents” of a corporation are its certificate of incorporation and bylaws, the “Governing Documents” of a limited partnership are its limited partnership agreement and certificate of limited partnership and the “Governing Documents” of a limited liability company are its limited liability company operating agreement and certificate of formation.
“Governmental Entity” shall mean: (a) any federal, provincial, state, local, municipal, national or international court, governmental commission, government or governmental authority, department, regulatory or administrative agency, board, bureau, agency or instrumentality, tribunal, arbitrator or arbitral body (public or private), or similar body; (b) any self-regulatory organization; or (c) any political subdivision of any of the foregoing.
“Group Companies” shall mean the Company and all of the Company’s direct and indirect Subsidiaries.
“Hazardous Substances” shall mean any pollutant or contaminant or any toxic, radioactive, ignitable, corrosive, reactive or otherwise hazardous substance, waste or material, including petroleum, its derivatives, by-products and other hydrocarbons, and any other substance, waste or material regulated as a pollutant or otherwise as “hazardous” under any Legal Requirements pertaining to the environment.
“Inbound Licenses” is defined in Section 3.20(a)(xii).
“Incentive Equity Plan” is defined in Schedule B.
“Indebtedness” shall mean all of the following: (a) any indebtedness for borrowed money including the Borrowed Indebtedness and any premiums, fees and expenses related to the paydown of any Borrowed Indebtedness at or immediately following the Closing; (b) any obligations evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments; (c) any obligations to pay the deferred purchase price of property, stock or services including any earn-out payments; (d) any obligations as lessee under capitalized leases; (e) any obligations, contingent or otherwise, under acceptance, letters of credit or similar facilities to the extent drawn; (f) any guaranty of any of the foregoing; (g) any accrued interest, fees and charges in respect of any of the foregoing; and (h) any prepayment premiums and penalties actually due and payable, and any other fees, expenses, indemnities and other amounts actually payable as a result of the prepayment or discharge of any of the foregoing.
“Insider” is defined in Section 3.22.
“Insurance Policies” is defined in Section 3.21.
Sch. A – page 6
“Intellectual Property” shall mean all rights, title and interest in or relating to intellectual property throughout the world, whether protected, created or arising under the laws of the United States or any other jurisdiction, including: (a) all patents and patent applications, provisional patent applications and similar filings and any and all substitutions, divisions, continuations, continuations-in-part, divisions, reissues, renewals, extensions, reexaminations, patents of addition, supplementary protection certificates, utility models, inventors’ certificates, or the like and any foreign equivalents of the foregoing (including certificates of invention and any applications therefor) (collectively, “Patents”); (b) all copyrights and copyrightable subject matter, whether registered or unregistered, including any of the foregoing that protect original works of authorship fixed in any tangible medium of expression, including literary works (including all forms and types of Software), pictorial and graphic works (collectively, “Copyrights”); (c) all trademarks, service marks, trade names, business marks, service names, brand names, trade dress rights, logos, corporate names, trade styles, and other source or business identifiers and general intangibles of a like nature, together with the goodwill associated with any of the foregoing, along with all applications, registrations, renewals and extensions thereof (collectively, “Trademarks”); (d) all Internet domain names and social media accounts; (e) trade secrets, technology, discoveries and improvements, know-how, proprietary rights, formulae, confidential and proprietary information, technical information, techniques, inventions (including conceptions and/or reductions to practice), designs, drawings, procedures, processes, models, formulations, manuals and systems, whether or not patentable or copyrightable (collectively “Trade Secrets”); (f) all applications and registrations, and any renewals, extensions and reversions, of the foregoing; and (g) all other intellectual property rights, proprietary rights, or confidential information and materials.
“intentional fraud” shall mean fraud by a Party to this Agreement in the making of a representation or warranty contained in Article III or Article IV of this Agreement, and requires that: (i) a Party to this Agreement made a false representation of material fact in a representation or warranty in Article III or Article IV of this Agreement (either when made or when “brought down” to Closing); (ii) such Party had actual (not constructive) knowledge that such representation or warranty was false when made and acted with scienter; (iii) the false representation or warranty caused the party to whom it was made, acting in justifiable reliance upon such false representation and with ignorance as to the falsity of such representation, to take or refrain from taking action and suffer damage by reason of such justifiable reliance. The phrase “intentional fraud” expressly excludes legal theories such as equitable fraud, promissory fraud, unfair dealings fraud, negligent or reckless misrepresentation, and other fraud-based claims (including fraud) based on negligence or recklessness.
“Knowledge” shall mean the actual knowledge or awareness as to a specified fact or event, following reasonable inquiry, of: (a) with respect to the Company, the individuals listed on Schedule 1.1 of the Company Disclosure Letter; and (b) with respect to Parent, the individuals listed on Schedule 1.1 of the Parent Disclosure Letter.
“Legal Proceeding” shall mean any action, suit, hearing, claim, charge, audit, lawsuit, litigation, investigation (formal or informal), inquiry, arbitration or proceeding (in each case, whether civil, criminal or administrative or at law or in equity) by or before a Governmental Entity.
“Legal Requirements” shall mean any federal, state, local, municipal, foreign or other law, statute, constitution, treaty, principle of common law, resolution, ordinance, code, edict, decree, rule, regulation, ruling, injunction, judgment, order, assessment, writ or other legal requirement, administrative policy or guidance, or requirement issued, enacted, adopted, promulgated, implemented or otherwise put into effect by or under the authority of any Governmental Entity.
Sch. A – page 7
“Licensed Intellectual Property” shall mean all Intellectual Property licensed to any of the Group Companies.
“Lien” shall mean any mortgage, pledge, security interest, encumbrance, lien, license, grant, restriction or charge of any kind (including, any conditional sale or other title retention agreement or lease in the nature thereof, any agreement to give any security interest and any restriction relating to use, quiet enjoyment, voting, transfer, receipt of income or exercise of any other attribute of ownership).
“Lock-Up Agreements” is defined in the Recitals.
“Maximum Amount” is defined in Section 6.11(b).
“Members” is defined in the Recitals.
“NASDAQ” shall mean the NASDAQ Capital Market.
“OFAC” shall mean the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
“Open Source Software” shall mean any Software that is distributed (a) as “free software” (as defined by the Free Software Foundation); (b) as “open source software” or pursuant to any license identified as an “open source license” by the Open Source Initiative (xxxxxxxxxx.xxx/xxxxxxxx) or other license that substantially conforms to the Open Source Definition (xxxxxxxxxx.xxx/xxx); or (c) under a license that requires disclosure of source code or requires derivative works based on such Software to be made publicly available under the same license.
“Order” shall mean any award, injunction, judgment, regulatory or supervisory mandate, order, writ, decree or ruling entered, issued, made, or rendered by any Governmental Entity that possesses competent jurisdiction.
“Outside Date” is defined in Section 8.1(b).
“Owned Intellectual Property” shall mean all Intellectual Property owned or purported to be owned by any of the Group Companies.
“Parent” is defined in the Preamble.
“Parent Business Combination” is defined in Section 6.9(b).
“Parent Bylaws” is defined in Schedule B.
Sch. A – page 8
“Parent Cash” shall mean an amount equal to (a) the aggregate amount of cash contained in the Trust Account immediately prior to the Closing; minus (b) the Aggregate Parent Stockholder Redemption Payments Amount; plus (c) the gross proceeds received by Parent upon consummation of the PIPE Investment.
“Parent Certificate” is defined in Schedule B.
“Parent Class A Common Stock” shall mean the Class A Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of Parent at any time following the Domestication.
“Parent Class A Ordinary Shares” shall mean the Class A Ordinary Shares, par value $0.0001 per share, of Parent at any time prior to the Domestication.
“Parent Class C Common Stock” shall mean the shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of Parent designated as “Class C Common Stock”, created and authorized by the Parent Certificate.
“Parent Disclosure Letter” is defined in the lead-in to Article IV.
“Parent Equity Recipients” is defined in Section 3.3.
“Parent Material Adverse Effect” shall mean any state of facts, development, change, circumstance, occurrence, event or effect that does, or would reasonably be expected to, individually or in the aggregate, prevent or materially delay or impair the ability of Parent to perform its obligations under this Agreement or to consummate the Transactions.
“Parent Material Contracts” is defined in Section 4.11.
“Parent Memorandum and Articles” means the amended and restated memorandum and articles of association of Parent adopted by special resolution dated February 22, 2021, as in effect on the date hereof.
“Parent Ordinary Shares” means, collectively, the Parent Class A Ordinary Shares and the Pre-Combination Class B Ordinary Shares.
“Parent Organizational Documents” means (a) at any time prior to the Domestication, the Parent Memorandum and Articles, as amended or modified, and (b) at any time following the Domestication, the Parent Certificate, as amended or modified, and the Parent Bylaws, as amended or modified.
“Parent Preference Shares” is defined in Section 4.3(a).
“Parent Recommendation” is defined in the Recitals.
“Parent Released Parties” is defined in Section 6.18(b).
“Parent SEC Reports” is defined in Section 4.7(a).
“Parent Shares” is defined in Section 4.3(a).
Sch. A – page 9
“Parent Shareholder Matters” is defined in Section 6.1(a)(i).
“Parent Stockholder Redemption” is defined in Section 6.1(a)(i).
“Parent Stockholder Redemption Payments” is defined in Section 2.3(a).
“Parent Subscribed Units” is defined in Schedule B.
“Parent Units” shall mean equity securities of Parent each consisting of one Parent Class A Ordinary Share and one-fourth of one Public Warrant.
“Parent Warrants” is defined in Section 4.3(a).
“Party” and “Parties” are defined in the Preamble.
“Patents” is defined in the definition of “Intellectual Property”.
“Permitted Lien” shall mean (a) Liens for current period Taxes not yet delinquent or for Taxes that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which there are sufficient reserves on the Financial Statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP; (b) any Company Real Property Lease; (c) Liens of carriers, warehousemen, mechanics, materialmen and repairmen incurred in the ordinary course and: (i) not yet delinquent; or (ii) that are being contested in good faith through appropriate proceedings; (d) in the case of leased real property, zoning, building, or other similar restrictions regulating the use or occupancy of real property or the activities conducted thereon, to the extent they do not, individually or in the aggregate, interfere in any material respect with the present use of or occupancy of the affected parcel by any of the Group Companies; (e) Liens securing the Indebtedness of any of the Group Companies; (f) in the case of Intellectual Property, non-exclusive licenses granted in the ordinary course; (g) purchase money Liens and Liens securing rental payments in connection with capital lease obligations of any of the Group Companies; and (h) all exceptions, restrictions, easements, imperfections of title, charges, rights-of-way and other Liens of record that do not materially interfere with the present use of the assets of the Group Companies and the rights under the Company Real Property Leases, taken as a whole and do not result in a material liability to the Group Companies.
“Person” shall mean any individual, corporation (including any non-profit corporation), general partnership, limited partnership, limited liability partnership, joint venture, estate, trust, company (including any limited liability company or joint stock company), firm or other enterprise, association, organization, entity or Governmental Entity.
“Personal Information” shall mean, “personal information,” “personal data,” “personally identifiable information,” “nonpublic personal information” and similar terms under any applicable Legal Requirement, or by the Group Companies in any of its privacy policies, notices or Contracts.
“PIPE Investment” is defined in the Recitals.
“PIPE Investment Amount” is defined in Section 4.13.
Sch. A – page 10
“PIPE Investors” is defined in Section 4.13.
“Pre-Closing Engagement” is defined in Section 10.15.
“Pre-Combination Class B Ordinary Shares” shall mean the Class B ordinary shares, par value $0.001 per share, of Parent at any time prior to the Domestication.
“Privacy Laws” shall mean any and all Legal Requirements and self-regulatory guidelines (including of any applicable foreign jurisdiction) relating to the receipt, collection, compilation, use, storage, processing, sharing, safeguarding, security (both technical and physical), disposal, destruction, disclosure or transfer (including cross-border) of Personal Information, including the Federal Trade Commission Act, General Data Protection Regulation, Regulation 2016/679/EU on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data (GDPR) and any and all Legal Requirements relating to breach notification in connection with Personal Information.
“Private Placement Warrants” is defined in Section 4.3(a).
“Privileged Communications” is defined in Section 10.15.
“Proxy Clearance Date” is defined in Section 6.1(a)(i).
“Proxy Statement” is defined in Section 6.1(a)(i).
“Public Warrants” is defined in Section 4.3(a).
“Recapitalization” is defined in Section 1.1.
“Reference Date” shall mean January 1, 2016.
“Related Parties” shall mean, with respect to a Person, such Person’s former, current and future direct or indirect equityholders, controlling Persons, shareholders, optionholders, members, general or limited partners, Affiliates, Representatives, and each of their respective successors and assigns.
“Representatives” is defined in Section 6.9(a).
“Required Financial Information” is defined in Section 6.1(b).
“Sanctioned Country” shall mean, at any time, a country or territory which is itself the subject or target of comprehensive Sanctions (at the time of this Agreement, Crimea, Cuba, Iran, North Korea and Syria).
“Sanctioned Person” shall mean any Person that is the subject or target of Sanctions, including (i) any Person listed in any Sanctions-related list maintained by OFAC or the U.S. Department of State, the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, Her Majesty’s Treasury of the United Kingdom, Switzerland or any European Union member state; (ii) any Person located, organized, resident in or national of a Sanctioned Country; or (iii) any Person fifty percent (50%) or more owned, directly or indirectly, by any such Person or Persons described in the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii).
Sch. A – page 11
“Sanctions” shall mean economic or financial sanctions or trade embargoes imposed, administered or enforced from time to time by the U.S. government through OFAC or the U.S. Department of State, the United Nations Security Council, the European Union or any European Union member state, Her Majesty’s Treasury of the United Kingdom or Switzerland.
“SEC” shall mean the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Securities Act” shall mean the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
“Software” shall mean any and all computer programs (whether in source code, object code, human readable form or other form), algorithms, user interfaces, firmware, development tools, templates and menus.
“Specified Bonus Payments” shall mean the bonuses payable at the Closing in the aggregate amount set forth on Schedule A of the Company Disclosure Letter, with the allocation of such bonuses to be made by the Company in its sole discretion.
“Sponsor Letter Agreement” is defined in the Recitals.
“Sponsors” means FTAC Athena Sponsor, LLC and FTAC Athena Advisors, LLC.
“Subscription Agreements” is defined in Section 4.13.
“Subsidiary” shall mean, with respect to any Person, any partnership, limited liability company, corporation or other business entity of which: (a) if a corporation, a majority of the total voting power of shares of capital 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; (b) if a partnership, limited liability company 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 that Person or one or more Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof; or (c) in any case, such Person controls the management thereof.
“Support Agreement” is defined in the Recitals.
“Supporting Members” is defined in the Recitals.
“Tax” or “Taxes” shall mean: (a) any and all federal, state, local and foreign taxes, including gross receipts, income, profits, license, sales, use, estimated, occupation, value added, ad valorem, transfer, franchise, withholding, payroll, recapture, net worth, employment, escheat and unclaimed property obligations, excise and property taxes, assessments, stamp, environmental, registration, governmental charges, duties, levies and other similar assessments or charges, in each case, imposed by a Governmental Entity (whether disputed or not), together with any and all interest, penalties and additions to tax that may become payable imposed by a Governmental Entity with respect to any such amounts; and (b) any liability in respect of any items described in clause (a) payable by reason of Contract transferee liability or Treasury Regulation Section 1.1502-6(a) (or any predecessor or successor thereof of any analogous or similar provision under law) or otherwise.
Sch. A – page 12
“Tax Receivable Agreement” is defined in Schedule B.
“Tax Return” shall mean any return, declaration, report, claim for refund, information return or statement or other document relating to Taxes that is filed or required to be filed with a Governmental Entity, including any schedule or attachment thereto and any amendment thereof.
“Top Customers” is defined in Section 3.27.
“Top Suppliers” is defined in Section 3.28.
“Trade Secrets” is defined in the definition of “Intellectual Property”.
“Trademarks” is defined in the definition of “Intellectual Property”.
“Transaction Agreements” shall mean this Agreement, the Parent Certificate, the Parent Bylaws, the Company A&R Operating Agreement, the A&R Registration Rights Agreement, the Tax Receivable Agreement, the Sponsor Letter Agreement, the Subscription Agreements, the Lock-Up Agreements, the Confidentiality Agreement, and all the agreements, documents, instruments and certificates entered into in connection herewith or therewith and any and all exhibits and schedules thereto.
“Transactions” is defined in the Recitals.
“Transfer Agent” shall mean Continental Stock Trust & Transfer Company.
“Treasury Regulations” shall mean the regulations promulgated by the U.S. Department of the Treasury pursuant to and in respect of provisions of the Code.
“Trust Account” is defined in Section 4.14(a).
“Trust Agreement” is defined in Section 4.14(a).
“Trust Termination Letter” shall mean the termination letter to the Transfer Agent substantially in the form attached to the Trust Agreement.
“Unaudited Financial Statements” is defined in Section 3.8(a).
“U.S. GAAP” is defined in Section 3.8(a).
“WARN” is defined in Section 3.13(e).
“Warrant Forfeiture” is defined in the Recitals.
Sch. A – page 13
SCHEDULE B
DESPAC TRANSACTION STEPS; CLOSING DESPAC TRANSACTIONS
(a) DeSPAC Transaction Steps. The following steps will be taken as set forth under this subsection (a) (the “DeSPAC Transaction Steps”), provided that if any of such DeSPAC Transaction Steps requires an approval as set forth below, such DeSPAC Transaction Step will not be taken unless and until such approval is obtained:
1. | The Company and the Members will amend and restate the limited liability company agreement of the Company in substantially the form of Exhibit E attached hereto (the “Company A&R Operating Agreement”). |
2. | Parent will, subject to obtaining the approval of the Parent Shareholder Matters, including the Domestication Approval, (i) adopt the Certificate of Incorporation of Parent (the “Parent Certificate”) in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A; (ii) adopt the Bylaws of Parent (the “Parent Bylaws”) in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B; (iii) adopt a new stock incentive plan (the “Incentive Equity Plan”) in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit C, with a total pool of awards of Parent Class A Common Stock equal to ten percent (10%) of the total number of shares of capital stock of Parent outstanding on a fully diluted basis immediately after the Closing with an annual “evergreen” increase of three percent (3%) of the shares of Parent Class A Common Stock outstanding as of the day prior to such increase, and (iv) adopt a new employee stock purchase plan (the “Employee Stock Purchase Plan”) in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit D, with a total pool of awards of Parent Class A Common Stock equal to two percent (2%) of the total number of shares of capital stock of Parent outstanding on a fully diluted basis immediately after the Closing with an annual “evergreen” increase of one percent (1%) of the shares of Parent Class A Common Stock outstanding as of the day prior to such increase. |
3. | Parent will contribute to the Company (i) certain shares of Parent Class C Common Stock (that are intended to have no economic value) which the Company will distribute to the Members and (ii) the Parent Cash, in exchange for Class A Common Units of the Company (the “Parent Subscribed Units”) as described in the Company A&R Operating Agreement. |
4. | Parent, Sponsors and certain Members named therein, 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. |
5. | Parent, the Company and the Members party thereto will enter into a Tax Receivable Agreement (the “Tax Receivable Agreement”) in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit G. |
(b) Closing DeSPAC Transactions. At the Closing, the following steps will be taken as set forth below under this subsection (b) (the “Closing DeSPAC Transactions”):
Sch. B – page 1
1. | Company A&R Operating Agreement. At the Closing, the Company and the Members shall take such steps as are necessary to authorize and adopt, and enter into, the Company A&R Operating Agreement, in form and substance reasonably acceptable to Parent. |
2. | Adoption of Parent Certificate and Parent Bylaws. Parent will adopt the Parent Certificate and the Parent Bylaws. |
3. | Parent Subscribed Units; Parent Class C Common Stock. At the Closing, following the transactions contemplated by Section 1.1 and item 1 of this subsection (b), the Company shall issue to Parent, and Parent shall receive from the Company, such number of Parent Subscribed Units as is determined pursuant to the calculation set forth on Schedule C attached hereto, and in consideration thereof, Parent shall (i) issue to the Company, and the Company shall receive from Parent, such number of shares of Parent Class C Common Stock as is determined pursuant to the calculation set forth on Schedule C attached hereto and (ii) contribute to the Company cash, by wire transfer of readily available funds to the account designated by the Company, in an amount equal to the Parent Cash, each in accordance with the Company A&R Operating Agreement, and with the documentation of such exchange/contribution to be in form and substance reasonably acceptable to Parent and the Company. The shares of Parent Class C Common Stock received by the Company will thereupon be distributed to the Members in accordance with the Company A&R Operating Agreement. |
4. | Conversion of Pre-Combination Class B Ordinary Shares. Immediately prior to the Domestication on the Closing Date, in accordance with applicable Legal Requirements and the Parent Memorandum and Articles, each issued and outstanding Pre-Combination Class B Ordinary Share will be converted, on a one-for-one basis, into a Parent Class A Ordinary Share, subject to certain adjustments described in the Parent Memorandum and Articles. |
5. | Redemption of Founder Shares; Founder Lock-Up. At the Closing, the Company and the Founder (as such term is defined in the Company A&R Operating Agreement) will enter into a redemption agreement in a form to be negotiated between the Company and the Founder, pursuant to which the Founder will surrender to the Company for redemption, and the Company will accept for redemption, retire and cancel, a portion of the Founder’s Nonvoting Class A Common Units (as such term is defined in the A&R Operating agreement) and a proportionate number of Parent Class C Common Stock that the Founder will have received pursuant to this Agreement, for an aggregate purchase price of $15,000,000, to be paid by the Company from the Parent Cash. Pursuant to the Founder’s Lock-Up Agreement, the Founder and its Affiliates shall be permitted to sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of 2,500,000 shares of Parent Class A Common Stock held by the Founder and its Affiliates on the date that is one hundred eighty (180) days from the Closing Date. |
Sch. B – page 2
SCHEDULE C
SUBSCRIBED SHARES AND UNITS CALCULATIONS
Parent Subscribed Units
The number of Parent Subscribed Units to be issued shall, taken together, represent a percentage of the “Class A Common Units” (as such term is defined in the Company A&R Operating Agreement) of the Company equal to the result of:
100% minus [Equity Value / $10.00] / [Parent Fully Diluted Capitalization], where
Equity Value = $1,280,286,890; and
Parent Fully Diluted Capitalization = (1) the aggregate number of outstanding shares of Parent Class A Common Stock as of immediately prior to the Closing, after giving effect to all Parent Stockholder Redemptions, plus (2) 8,553,333 (i.e., the number of Pre-Combination Class B Ordinary Shares outstanding), plus (3) the aggregate number of shares of Parent Class A Common Stock to be issued in connection with the PIPE Investment, plus (4) the quotient obtained by dividing Equity Value by $10.00.
Parent Class C Common Stock
The aggregate number of shares of Parent Class C Common Stock, taken together, to be issued to the Company pursuant to item 3 of subsection (b) of Schedule B shall be equal to the number of “Class A Common Units” (as such term is defined in the Company A&R Operating Agreement) of the Company held by the Members following the Recapitalization.
Sch. C – page 1
EXHIBIT A
FORM OF
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
[PARENT]1
[Parent], a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “Corporation”), DOES HEREBY CERTIFY AS FOLLOWS:
1. The name of the Corporation is “[Parent]”.
2. This Certificate of Incorporation shall become effective on the date of filing with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware.
ARTICLE
I
NAME
The name of the corporation is [Parent] (the “Corporation”).
ARTICLE
II
PURPOSE
The purpose of the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the DGCL. In addition to the powers and privileges conferred upon the Corporation by law and those incidental thereto, the Corporation shall possess and may exercise all the powers and privileges that are necessary or convenient to the conduct, promotion or attainment of the business or purposes of the Corporation.
ARTICLE
III
REGISTERED AGENT
The address of the Corporation’s registered office in the State of Delaware is 000 Xxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxx, xx xxx Xxxx xx Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxx of Xxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx xx Xxxxxxxx, 00000, and the name of the Corporation’s registered agent at such address is Corporation Service Company.
ARTICLE
IV
CAPITALIZATION
Section 4.1. Authorized Capital Stock. The total number of shares of all classes of capital stock, each with a par value of $0.0001 per share, which the Corporation is authorized to issue is 550,000,000 shares, consisting of (a) 500,000,000 shares of common stock (the “Common Stock”), divided into (i) 370,000,000 shares of Class A common stock (“Class A Common Stock”) and (ii) 130,000,000 shares of Class C common stock (“Class C Common Stock”), and (b) 50,000,000 shares of preferred stock (the “Preferred Stock”).
Section 4.2. Preferred Stock. The Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “Board”) is hereby expressly authorized to provide, out of the unissued shares of the Preferred Stock for one or more series of Preferred Stock, and to establish from time to time the number of shares to be included in each such series and to fix the voting rights, if any, designations, powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional, special and other rights, if any, of each such series and any qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof, as shall be stated in the resolution or resolutions adopted by the Board providing for the issuance of such series and included in a certificate of designation (a “Preferred Stock Designation”) filed pursuant to the DGCL, and the Board is hereby expressly vested with the authority to the full extent provided by law, now or hereafter, to adopt any such resolution or resolutions.
Section 4.3. Common Stock.
(a) Voting.
1 Note to Draft: To be updated to reflect Parent’s name change.
(i) Except as otherwise required by law or this Certificate of Incorporation (including any Preferred Stock Designation), the holders of the Common Stock shall exclusively possess all voting power with respect to the Corporation.
(ii) Except as otherwise required by law or this Certificate of Incorporation (including any Preferred Stock Designation), the holders of shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to one vote for each such share on each matter properly submitted to the stockholders of the Corporation on which the holders of the Common Stock are entitled to vote. For the avoidance of doubt, shares of Class C Common Stock that are Excess Shares shall have no voting rights except as otherwise required by applicable law.
(iii) Except as otherwise required by law or this Certificate of Incorporation (including any Preferred Stock Designation), at any annual or special meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation, and subject to Section 4.3(a)(iv) below with respect to shares of Class C Common Stock which are Excess Shares, holders of the Common Stock shall have the exclusive right to vote for the election of directors and on all other matters properly submitted to a vote of the stockholders. Notwithstanding the foregoing, except as otherwise required by law or this Certificate of Incorporation (including any Preferred Stock Designation), holders of shares of Common Stock shall not be entitled to vote on any amendment to this Certificate of Incorporation (including any amendment to any Preferred Stock Designation) that relates solely to the terms of one or more outstanding series of Preferred Stock if the holders of such affected series of Preferred Stock 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 Preferred Stock Designation) or the DGCL.
(iv) Excess Shares.
(A) If any Regulated Holder (as defined below), together with any of its Affiliates (as defined below), at any time would otherwise hold any shares of Class C Common Stock that, in the aggregate, would constitute more than 4.99% of a “class of voting securities” (as defined below) of the Corporation (such shares of Class C Common Stock in excess of such 4.99% threshold by such Regulated Holder and its Affiliates, “Excess Shares”), then, except as otherwise required by applicable law, any Excess Shares shall not be entitled to vote on or consent with respect to any matter (and regardless of the class or classes of securities that are voting on such matter) pursuant to this Certificate of Incorporation, the By-Laws of the Corporation or any other agreements between the Corporation and its stockholders where the consent or vote of the stockholders is required on a particular matter, and such Excess Shares shall not be entitled to vote or to be counted for purposes of determining whether any vote required under this Certificate of Incorporation has been approved by the requisite percentage of voting securities or to be counted towards any quorum or outstanding share threshold pursuant to this Certificate of Incorporation or the By-Laws of the Corporation. Without limitation of the foregoing, a Regulated Holder may voluntarily elect to classify all or a portion of the shares of Class C Common Stock held by it as “Excess Shares” automatically and immediately upon delivery of written notice of the same to the Corporation, without the need for further action by such Regulated Holder, the Corporation or any other person or entity. Once shares of Class C Common Stock have been classified as “Excess Shares” hereunder (whether automatically due to being in excess of such 4.99% threshold or by voluntary election by a Regulated Holder), such shares shall remain nonvoting, including in the event such Regulated Holder’s holdings fall below 4.99% of such class of voting securities of the Corporation, except upon a Permitted Regulatory Transfer (as defined below). No other rights attaching to the Excess Shares shall be amended, reduced, waived or otherwise modified pursuant to this Section 4.3(a)(iv). For the sake of clarity, only shares of Class C Common Stock shall be classifiable as “Excess Shares” under this Certificate of Incorporation, and under no circumstances shall any share of Class A Common Stock be classifiable or otherwise considered Excess Shares under this Certificate of Incorporation.
(B) If a Regulated Holder and one or more of its Affiliates each hold shares of Class C Common Stock that, in the aggregate, would, if not for the effect of Section 4.3(a)(iv)(A), constitute more than 4.99% of a class of voting securities of the Corporation, such Regulated Holder and such Affiliates may direct the Corporation as to how to allocate the Excess Shares among the Regulated Holder and such Affiliates. Nothing herein or elsewhere shall prohibit a Regulated Holder from transferring any portion of its shares to an Affiliate of such Regulated Holder.
2
(C) Any shares of Class C Common Stock which become Excess Shares hereunder shall remain nonvoting upon transfer (including, without limitation, upon transfer to any other Regulated Holder), except that Excess Shares shall be entitled to full voting rights for shares of Class C Common Stock set forth in this Certificate of Incorporation and shall no longer be deemed to be Excess Shares upon the transfer of such Excess Shares (i) in a widespread public distribution; (ii) to the Corporation (or to Pico (as defined below) in connection with any exchange pursuant to Section 14.1 of the LLC Agreement (as defined below)); (iii) in a transfer in which no transferee (or group of associated transferees) would receive 2% or more of any class of voting securities of the Corporation or (iv) to a transferee that would control more than 50% of every class of voting securities of the Corporation, without giving effect the transfer of such Excess Shares (clauses (i) through (iv) each a “Permitted Regulatory Transfer”).
(D) For purposes of this Certificate of Incorporation:
(1) the “BHCA” shall mean the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended, together with the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder;
(2) “Regulated Holder” shall mean any holder of Class C Common Stock that is (i) a bank, bank holding company, financial holding company or any entity that is controlled by a bank, bank holding company or financial holding company, as such terms are defined under the BHCA, or any Affiliate of any such entity or (ii) a foreign bank subject to the BHCA under Section 8(a) of the International Banking Act of 1978, together with the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, or any Affiliate of any such entity;
(3) an “Affiliate” of any person or entity shall have the meaning set forth in the BHCA and Regulation Y;
(4) “Regulation Y” shall mean the BHCA’s implementing regulation, Regulation Y, as promulgated by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System; and
(5) a “class of voting securities” shall have the same meaning as a “class of voting shares” under Regulation Y.
(b) Dividends. Subject to applicable law and the rights, if any, of the holders of any outstanding series of the Preferred Stock, the holders of shares of Class A Common Stock shall be entitled to receive such dividends and other distributions (payable in cash, property or capital stock of the Corporation) when, as and if declared thereon by the Board from time to time out of any assets or funds of the Corporation legally available therefor and shall share equally on a per share basis in such dividends and distributions. Without limiting the rights of the holders of Class C Common Stock to have their Class C Common stock exchanged for shares of Class A Common Stock in accordance with Section 14.1 of the LLC Agreement (as defined below), no dividends or other distributions may be declared or paid on the Class C Common Stock. For purposes of this Certificate of Incorporation, “LLC Agreement” means the Seventh Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Pico Quantitative Trading Holdings LLC (“Pico Sub”), by and among Pico Sub, the Corporation and the other members or holders of capital interests in Pico Sub, as the same may be amended, restated, supplemented and/or otherwise modified, from time to time.
(c) Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up of the Corporation. Subject to applicable law and the rights, if any, of the holders of any outstanding series of the Preferred Stock, in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, after payment or provision for payment of the debts and other liabilities of the Corporation, the holders of shares of Class A Common Stock shall be entitled to receive all the remaining assets of the Corporation available for distribution to its stockholders, ratably in proportion to the number of shares of Class A Common Stock held by them. Without limiting the rights of the holders of Class C Common Stock to have their Class C Common Stock exchanged for shares of Class A Common Stock in accordance with Section 14.1 of the LLC Agreement (or for the consideration payable in respect of shares of Class A Common Stock in such voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up), the holders of shares of Class C Common Stock, as such, will not be entitled to receive, with respect to such shares, any assets of the Corporation in excess of the par value thereof, in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation.
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(d) Reservation of Shares of Class A Common Stock. The Corporation will at all times reserve and keep available out of its authorized and unissued shares of Class A Common Stock, solely for the purpose of voluntary exchanges of Class C Common Stock pursuant to Section 14.1 of the LLC Agreement, the number of shares of Class A Common Stock that are then issuable upon the exchange of all outstanding shares of Class C Common Stock. The Corporation covenants that all the shares of Class A Common Stock that are issued upon such exchange will, upon issuance, be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
(e) Issuance of Class C Common Stock; Retirement of Class C Common Stock. No shares of Class C Common Stock may be issued by the Corporation except to a holder of Class A Common Interests in Pico LLC, such that after such issuance of Class C Common Stock such holder of Class A Common Interests in Pico LLC holds an identical number of Class A Common Interests in Pico LLC and shares of Class C Common Stock. In the event that no shares of Class C Common Stock remain exchangeable for shares of Class A Common Stock, the Class C Common Stock shall automatically and without further action on the part of the Corporation or its holder be transferred to the Corporation for no consideration, and the Board shall take all necessary action to retire such shares. Shares of Class C Common Stock that are transferred, repurchased, exchanged or otherwise acquired by the Corporation shall not be reissued.
(f) Stock Splits or Combinations. In no event will any subdivision (by stock split, subdivision, exchange, stock dividend, reclassification or otherwise) or combination (by reverse stock split, exchange, reclassification or otherwise) or similar reclassification be declared or made on any class of Common Stock (each, a “Stock Adjustment”) unless (i) a corresponding Stock Adjustment for all other classes of Common Stock not so adjusted at the time outstanding is made in the same proportion and the same manner and (i) the Stock Adjustment has been reflected in the same economically equivalent manner on all Class A Common Units of Pico Sub and in each of clause (i) and (ii), with corresponding changes made with respect to any other exchangeable or convertible securities.
Section 4.4. Rights and Options. The Corporation has the authority to create and issue rights, warrants and options entitling the holders thereof to acquire from the Corporation any shares of its capital stock of any class or classes, with such rights, warrants and options to be evidenced by or in instrument(s) approved by the Board. The Board is empowered to set the exercise price, duration, times for exercise and other terms and conditions of such rights, warrants or options; provided, however, that the consideration to be received for any shares of capital stock issuable upon exercise thereof may not be less than the par value thereof.
Section 4.5. No Class Vote on Changes in Authorized Number of Shares of Stock. The number of authorized shares of any class or classes of stock may be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding) by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of the stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, irrespective of the provisions of Section 242(b)(2) of the DGCL (or any successor provision thereto), voting together as a single class, without a separate vote of the holders of the class or classes the number of authorized shares of which are being increased or decreased, unless a vote by any holders of one or more series of Preferred Stock is required by the express terms of any Preferred Stock Designation.
ARTICLE
V
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Section 5.1. Board Powers. The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by, or under the direction of, the Board. In addition to the powers and authority expressly conferred upon the Board by statute, this Certificate of Incorporation, as it may be further amended from time to time, or the Amended and Restated By-Laws of the Corporation (as amended from time to time in accordance with the provisions hereof and thereof, the “By-Laws”), the Board is hereby empowered to exercise all such powers and do all such acts and things as may be exercised or done by the Corporation, subject, nevertheless, to the provisions of the DGCL and this Certificate of Incorporation.
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Section 5.2. Number, Election and Term.
(a) The number of directors of the Corporation, other than those who may be elected by the holders of one or more series of the Preferred Stock voting separately by class or series, shall be fixed from time to time in the manner provided in the By-laws.
(b) Subject to Section 5.5 hereof, the Board shall be divided into three classes, as nearly equal in number as possible and designated Class I, Class II and Class III. The Board is authorized to assign members of the Board already in office to Class I, Class II or Class III. The term of the initial Class I Directors shall expire at the first annual meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation following the effectiveness of this Certificate of Incorporation, the term of the initial Class II Directors shall expire at the second annual meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation following the effectiveness of this Certificate of Incorporation and the term of the initial Class III Directors shall expire at the third annual meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation following the effectiveness of this Certificate of Incorporation. At each succeeding annual meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation, beginning with the first annual meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation following the effectiveness of this Certificate of Incorporation, each of the successors elected to replace the class of directors whose term expires at that annual meeting shall be elected for a three-year term or until the election and qualification of their respective successors in office, subject to their earlier death, resignation or removal. Subject to Section 5.5 hereof, if the number of directors that constitute the Board is changed, any increase or decrease shall be apportioned by the Board among the classes so as to maintain the number of directors in each class as nearly equal as possible, but in no case shall a decrease in the number of directors constituting the Board shorten the term of any incumbent director. Subject to the rights of the holders of one or more series of Preferred Stock, voting separately by class or series, to elect directors pursuant to the terms of one or more series of Preferred Stock, the election of directors shall be determined by a plurality of the votes cast by the stockholders present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote thereon. The Board is hereby expressly authorized, by resolution or resolutions thereof, to assign members of the Board already in office to the aforesaid classes at the time this Certificate of Incorporation (and therefore such classification) becomes effective in accordance with the DGCL.
(c) Subject to Section 5.5 hereof, a director shall hold office until the annual meeting for the year in which his or her term expires and until his or her successor has been elected and qualified, subject, however, to such director’s earlier death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal. There shall be no limit on the number of terms a director may serve on the Board.
(d) Unless and except to the extent that the By-Laws shall so require, the election of directors need not be by written ballot. The holders of shares of Common Stock shall not have cumulative voting rights with regard to the election of directors.
Section 5.3. Newly Created Directorships and Vacancies. Subject to Section 5.5 hereof, newly created directorships resulting from an increase in the number of directors and any vacancies on the Board resulting from death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, removal or other cause may be filled solely and exclusively by a majority vote of the remaining directors then in office, even if less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director (and not by stockholders), and any director so chosen shall hold office for the remainder of the full term of the class of directors to which the new directorship was added or in which the vacancy occurred and until his or her successor has been elected and qualified, subject, however, to such director’s earlier death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal.
Section 5.4. Removal. Subject to Section 5.5 hereof and except as otherwise required by law, any or all of the directors may be removed from office at any time, but only for cause and only by the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the voting power of all then outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class.
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Section 5.5 Preferred Stock - Directors. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article V, and except as otherwise required by law, whenever the holders of one or more series of the Preferred Stock shall have the right, voting separately by class or series, to elect one or more directors, the term of office, the filling of vacancies, the removal from office and other features of such directorships shall be governed by the terms of such series of the Preferred Stock as set forth in this Certificate of Incorporation (including any Preferred Stock Designation) and such directors shall not be included in any of the classes created pursuant to this Article V unless expressly provided by such terms.
ARTICLE
VI
BY-LAWS
In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred upon it by law, the Board shall have the power and is expressly authorized to adopt, amend, alter or repeal the By-Laws. The affirmative vote of a majority of the Board shall be required to adopt, amend, alter or repeal the By-Laws. The By-Laws also may be adopted, amended, altered or repealed by the stockholders; provided, however, that in addition to any vote of the holders of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation required by law or by this Certificate of Incorporation (including any Preferred Stock Designation), the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of all then outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class, shall be required for the stockholders to adopt, amend, alter or repeal the By-Laws; and provided further, however, that no By-Laws hereafter adopted by the stockholders shall invalidate any prior act of the Board that would have been valid if such By-Laws had not been adopted.
ARTICLE
VII
SPECIAL MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS; ACTION BY WRITTEN CONSENT
Section 7.1. Special Meetings. Subject to the rights, if any, of the holders of any outstanding series of the Preferred Stock, and to the requirements of applicable law, special meetings of stockholders of the Corporation may be called only by the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation, or the Board pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the Board, and the ability of the stockholders of the Corporation to call a special meeting is hereby specifically denied. Except as provided in the foregoing sentence, special meetings of stockholders of the Corporation may not be called by another person or persons.
Section 7.2. Advance Notice. Advance notice of stockholder nominations for the election of directors and of business to be brought by stockholders before any meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation shall be given in the manner provided in the By-Laws.
Section 7.3. Action by Written Consent. Except as otherwise expressly provided for or fixed pursuant to any Preferred Stock Designation permitting the holders of one or more series of Preferred Stock to act by written consent, any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation must be effected by a duly called annual or special meeting of such stockholders and may not be effected by written consent of the stockholders.
ARTICLE
VIII
LIMITED LIABILITY; INDEMNIFICATION
Section 8.1. Limitation of Director Liability. A director of the Corporation shall not be personally liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except to the extent such exemption from liability or limitation thereof is not permitted under the DGCL, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended, unless they violated their duty of loyalty to the Corporation or its stockholders, acted in bad faith, knowingly or intentionally violated the law, authorized unlawful payments of dividends, unlawful stock purchases or unlawful redemptions, or derived improper personal benefit from their actions as directors. Any amendment, modification or repeal of the foregoing sentence shall not adversely affect any right or protection of a director of the Corporation hereunder in respect of any act or omission occurring prior to the time of such amendment, modification or repeal.
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Section 8.2. Indemnification and Advancement of Expenses.
(a) To the fullest extent permitted by the applicable laws of the State of Delaware, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended, the Corporation shall indemnify and hold harmless each person who is or was made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise involved in any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, including an action by or in the right of the Corporation to procure a judgment in its favor (a “proceeding”), by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director or officer of the Corporation or, while a director or officer of the Corporation, is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust, other enterprise or nonprofit entity, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan (an “indemnitee”), whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a director, officer, employee or agent, or in any other capacity while serving as a director, officer, employee or agent, against all liability and loss suffered and expenses (including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees and disbursements, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes, damages, claims and penalties and amounts paid in settlement) reasonably incurred by such indemnitee in connection with such proceeding. The Corporation shall to the fullest extent not prohibited by applicable law pay the expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by an indemnitee in defending or otherwise participating in any proceeding in advance of its final disposition; provided, however, that, to the extent required by applicable law, such payment of expenses in advance of the final disposition of the proceeding shall be made only upon receipt of an undertaking, by or on behalf of the indemnitee, to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined that the indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified under this Section 8.2 or otherwise. The rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses conferred by this Section 8.2 shall be contractual rights and such rights shall continue as to an indemnitee who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of his or her heirs, executors and administrators. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 8.2(a), except for proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses, the Corporation shall indemnify and advance expenses to an 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.
(b) The rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses conferred on any indemnitee by this Section 8.2 shall not be exclusive of any other rights that any indemnitee may have or hereafter acquire under law, this Certificate of Incorporation as it may be further amended from time to time, the By-Laws, an agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors, or otherwise.
(c) Any repeal or amendment of this Section 8.2 by the stockholders of the Corporation or by changes in law, or the adoption of any other provision of this Certificate of Incorporation inconsistent with this Section 8.2, shall, unless otherwise required by law, be prospective only (except to the extent such amendment or change in law permits the Corporation to provide broader indemnification rights on a retroactive basis than permitted prior thereto), and shall not in any way diminish or adversely affect any right or protection existing at the time of such repeal or amendment or adoption of such inconsistent provision in respect of any proceeding (regardless of when such proceeding is first threatened, commenced or completed) arising out of, or related to, any act or omission occurring prior to such repeal or amendment or adoption of such inconsistent provision.
(d) This Section 8.2 shall not limit the right of the Corporation, to the extent and in the manner authorized or permitted by law, to indemnify and to advance expenses to persons other than indemnitees.
ARTICLE
IX
corporate opportunity
Section 9.1. To the extent allowed by law, the doctrine of corporate opportunity, or any other analogous doctrine, shall not apply with respect to the Corporation or any of its officers, directors or stockholders, or any of their respective affiliates, in circumstances where the application of any such doctrine would conflict with any fiduciary duties or contractual obligations they may have as of the date of this Certificate of Incorporation or in the future, and the Corporation renounces any expectancy that any of the directors, officers or stockholders of the Corporation will offer any such corporate opportunity of which he, she or it may become aware to the Corporation, except, the doctrine of corporate opportunity shall apply with respect to any of the directors or officers of the Corporation with respect to a corporate opportunity that was offered to such person solely in his or her capacity as a director or officer of the Corporation and (i) such opportunity is one the Corporation is legally and contractually permitted to undertake and would otherwise be reasonable for the Corporation to pursue and (ii) the director or officer is permitted to refer that opportunity to the Corporation without violating any legal obligation.
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Section 9.2. Neither the alteration, amendment, addition to or repeal of this Article IX, nor the adoption of any provision of this Certificate of Incorporation (including any Preferred Stock Designation) inconsistent with this Article IX, shall eliminate or reduce the effect of this Article IX in respect of any business opportunity first identified or any other matter occurring, or any cause of action, suit or claim that, but for this Article IX, would accrue or arise, prior to such alteration, amendment, addition, repeal or adoption. This Article IX shall not limit any protections or defenses available to, or indemnification or advancement rights of, any director or officer of the Corporation under this Certificate of Incorporation, the By-laws or applicable law.
ARTICLE
X
AMENDMENT OF Certificate of Incorporation
The Corporation reserves the right at any time and from time to time to amend, alter, change or repeal any provision contained in this Certificate of Incorporation (including any Preferred Stock Designation), and other provisions authorized by the laws of the State of Delaware at the time in force that may be added or inserted, in the manner now or hereafter prescribed by this Certificate of Incorporation and the DGCL; and, except as set forth in Article VIII, all rights, preferences and privileges of whatever nature herein conferred upon stockholders, directors or any other persons by and pursuant to this Certificate of Incorporation in its present form or as hereafter amended are granted subject to the right reserved in this Article X.
Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Certificate of Incorporation or any provision of law which might otherwise permit a lesser vote or no vote, but in addition to any affirmative vote of the holders of any particular class or series of the Corporation required by law or by this Certificate of Incorporation or any Preferred Stock Designation filed with respect to a series of Preferred Stock, the affirmative vote of (i) the stockholders holding at least 66.7% of the voting power of all outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class, shall be required to alter, amend or repeal Article V, Article VII and this Article X and (ii) the Regulated Holders holding at least 66.7% of the voting power of all outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors held by all Regulated Holders shall be required to alter, amend, repeal or waive Section 4.3(a)(iv) or Section 4.3(d).
ARTICLE
XI
ExclusIve Forum for Certain lawsuits
Section 11.1. Forum. Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, to the fullest extent permitted by the applicable law, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (or, if, and only if, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware lacks subject matter jurisdiction, any state court located within the State of Delaware or, if, and only if, all such state courts lack subject matter jurisdiction, the federal district court for the District of Delaware) and any appellate court therefrom shall be the sole and exclusive forum for any stockholder (including a beneficial owner) to bring (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 director, officer or other employee of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporation’s stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation, its directors, officers or employees arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL or this Certificate of Incorporation or the By-Laws, (iv) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation, its directors, officers or employees governed by the internal affairs doctrine, or (v) any action asserting an “internal corporate claim” as such term is defined in Section 115 of the DGCL, and, if brought outside of Delaware, the stockholder bringing the suit will be deemed to have consented to service of process on such stockholder’s counsel, except any action (A) as to which the Court of Chancery in the State of Delaware determines that there is an indispensable party not subject to the jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery (and the indispensable party does not consent to the personal jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery within ten days following such determination), (B) which is vested in the exclusive jurisdiction of a court or forum other than the Court of Chancery, (C) for which the Court of Chancery does not have subject matter jurisdiction, or (D) any action arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provisions of this Section 11.1 will not apply to suits brought to enforce any liability or duty created by the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or any other claim for which the federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction. 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 the sole and exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or any other claim for which the federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring or holding any interest in any security of the Company shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to this provision.
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Section 11.2. Consent to Jurisdiction. If any action the subject matter of which is within the scope of Section 11.1 immediately above is filed in a court other than a court located within the State of Delaware (a “Foreign Action”) in the name of any stockholder, such stockholder shall be deemed to have consented to (i) the personal jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located within the State of Delaware in connection with any action brought in any such court to enforce Section 11.1 immediately above (an “FSC Enforcement Action”) and (ii) having service of process made upon such stockholder in any such FSC Enforcement Action by service upon such stockholder’s counsel in the Foreign Action as agent for such stockholder.
Section 11.3. Severability. If any provision or provisions of this Article XI shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable as applied to any person or entity or circumstance for any reason whatsoever, then, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the validity, legality and enforceability of such provisions in any other circumstance and of the remaining provisions of this Article XI (including, without limitation, each portion of any sentence of this Article XI containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) and the application of such provision to other persons or entities and circumstances shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
Section 11.4. Consent. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring 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 XI.
[Signature Page Follows]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, [Parent] has caused this Certificate of Incorporation to be duly executed and acknowledged in its name and on its behalf by an authorized officer as of the date first set forth above.
[PARENT] | |||
By: | |||
Name: | |||
Title: |
[Signature Page to Certificate of Incorporation]
EXHIBIT B
AMENDED AND RESTATED Bylaws
of
[PARENT]
Effective as of [_], 2021
ARTICLE I
CORPORATE OFFICES
1.1 Registered Office. The address of the registered office of [Parent] (the “Corporation”) in the State of Delaware, and the name of its registered agent at such address, shall be as set forth in the Corporation’s certificate of incorporation, as the same may be amended and/or restated from time to time (the “Certificate of Incorporation”).
1.2 Other Offices. The Corporation may have an office or offices other than its registered office at such place or places, either within or outside the State of Delaware, as the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “Board”) may from time to time determine or the business of the Corporation may require.
ARTICLE
II
STOCKHOLDERS
2.1 Place of Meetings. All meetings of stockholders shall be held at such place (if any) within or without the State of Delaware as may be determined from time to time by the Board or, if not determined by the Board, by the Chairperson of the Board, the President or the Chief Executive Officer; provided that the Board may, in its sole discretion, determine that any meeting of stockholders shall not be held at any place but shall be held solely by means of remote communication in accordance with Section 2.13.
2.2 Annual Meeting. The annual meeting of stockholders for the election of directors and for the transaction of such other business as may properly be brought before the meeting shall be held on a date to be fixed by the Board at a time to be fixed by the Board and stated in the notice of the meeting.
2.3 Special Meetings. Subject to the Certificate of Incorporation, the rights of the holders of any series of preferred stock then outstanding and to the requirements of applicable law, special meetings of the stockholders of the Corporation may be called only by the Board acting pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the total number of authorized directors (whether or not there exist any vacancies in previously authorized directorships at the time any such resolution is presented to the Board for adoption), the Chairperson of the Board, or the Chief Executive Officer and may not be called by any other person or persons. Any business transacted at any special meeting of stockholders shall be limited to matters relating to the purpose or purposes stated in the notice of the meeting.
2.4 Notice of Meetings.
(a) Written notice of each meeting of stockholders, whether annual or special, shall be given not less than 10 nor more than 60 days before the date on which the meeting is to be held, to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting as of the record date fixed by the Board for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting, except as otherwise provided herein or required by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”) or the Certificate of Incorporation. The notice of any meeting shall state the place, if any, date and hour of the meeting, and the means of remote communication, if any, by which stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such meeting. The notice of a special meeting shall state, in addition, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called.
(b) Notice to stockholders shall be delivered in writing or in any other manner permitted by the DGCL. If mailed, such notice shall be delivered by postage prepaid envelope directed to each stockholder at such stockholder’s address as it appears in the records of the Corporation and shall be deemed given when deposited in the United States mail. Without limiting the manner by which notices of meetings otherwise may be given effectively to stockholders, any such notice may be given by electronic transmission in the manner provided in Section 232 of the DGCL. An affidavit of the secretary or an assistant secretary or of the transfer agent or other agent of the Corporation that the notice has been given by personal delivery, by mail, or by a form of electronic transmission shall, in the absence of fraud, be prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein.
(c) Notice of any meeting of stockholders need not be given to any stockholder if waived by such stockholder either in a writing signed by such stockholder or by electronic transmission, whether such waiver is given before or after such meeting is held. If such a waiver is given by electronic transmission, the electronic transmission must either set forth or be submitted with information from which it can be determined that the electronic transmission was authorized by the stockholder.
2.5 Voting List. The officer who has charge of the stock ledger of the Corporation shall prepare, at least 10 days before each meeting of stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting; the list shall reflect the stockholders entitled to vote as of the tenth day before the meeting date, arranged in alphabetical order for each class of stock and showing the mailing address of each stockholder and the number of shares registered in the name of each stockholder. The Corporation shall not be required to include electronic mail addresses or other electronic contact information on such list. Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting, for a period of at least 10 days prior to the meeting: (a) on a reasonably accessible electronic network, provided that the information required to gain access to such list is provided with the notice of the meeting, (b) during ordinary business hours at the principal place of business of the Corporation or (c) in any other manner provided by law. If the meeting is to be held at a place, the list shall be produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time of the meeting, and may be examined by any stockholder who is present. If the meeting is to be held solely by means of remote communication, such list shall also be open to the examination of any stockholder during the whole time of the meeting on a reasonably accessible electronic network, and the information required to access such list shall be provided with the notice of the meeting. The stock ledger shall be the only evidence as to the stockholders who are entitled to examine the list required by this Section 2.5 or to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of stockholders.
2.6 Quorum. Except as otherwise provided by law or these Bylaws, the holders of a majority of the shares of the capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote at the meeting, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. Where a separate class vote by a class or classes or series is required, a majority of the shares of such class or classes or series present in person or represented by proxy shall constitute a quorum entitled to take action with respect to that vote on that matter.
2.7 Adjournments. Any meeting of stockholders may be adjourned to any other time and to any other place at which a meeting of stockholders may be held under these Bylaws by the chairperson of the meeting or, in the absence of such person, by any officer entitled to preside at or to act as secretary of such meeting, or by the holders of a majority of the shares of stock present or represented at the meeting and entitled to vote, although less than a quorum. When a meeting is adjourned to another place, date or time, written notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting if the date, time and place, if any, thereof, and the means of remote communication, if any, by which stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such adjourned meeting, are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken; provided, however, that if the date of any adjourned meeting is more than 30 days after the date for which the meeting was originally noticed, or if the Board fixes a new record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at the adjourned meeting in accordance with Section 5.5, written notice of the place, if any, date and time of the adjourned meeting and the means of remote communication, if any, by which stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such adjourned meeting, shall be given in conformity herewith. At the adjourned meeting, the Corporation may transact any business which might have been transacted at the original meeting.
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2.8 Voting and Proxies. Each stockholder shall have one vote for each share of stock entitled to vote held of record by such stockholder and a proportionate vote for each fractional share so held, unless otherwise provided by law or in the Certificate of Incorporation. Each stockholder of record entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders may vote in person or may authorize any other person or persons to vote or act for such stockholder by a written proxy executed by the stockholder or the stockholder’s authorized agent or by an electronic transmission permitted by law and delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation. Any copy, facsimile transmission or other reliable reproduction of the writing or electronic transmission created pursuant to this section may be substituted or used in lieu of the original writing or electronic transmission for any and all purposes for which the original writing or transmission could be used, provided that such copy, facsimile transmission or other reproduction shall be a complete reproduction of the entire original writing or electronic transmission.
2.9 Action at Meeting.
(a) At any meeting of stockholders for the election of one or more directors at which a quorum is present, the election shall be determined by a plurality of the votes cast by the stockholders entitled to vote at the election.
(b) All other matters shall be determined by a majority of the votes cast by stockholders present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the matter (or if there are two or more classes of stock entitled to vote as separate classes, then in the case of each such class, a majority of the shares of each such class present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote on the matter shall decide such matter), provided that a quorum is present, except when a different vote is required by express provision of law, the Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws or applicable stock exchange rules, in which case such provision shall govern and control the decision of such matter.
(c) All voting, including on the election of directors, but excepting where otherwise required by law, may be by a voice vote; provided, that upon demand therefor by a stockholder entitled to vote or the stockholder’s proxy, a vote by ballot shall be taken. Each ballot shall state the name of the stockholder or proxy voting and such other information as may be required under the procedure established for the meeting. The Corporation may, and to the extent required by law, shall, in advance of any meeting of stockholders, appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting and make a written report thereof. The Corporation may designate one or more persons as an alternate inspector to replace any inspector who fails to act. If no inspector or alternate is able to act at a meeting of stockholders, the person presiding at the meeting may, and to the extent required by law, shall, appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting. Each inspector, before entering upon the discharge of his duties, shall take and sign an oath to faithfully execute the duties of inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of his ability.
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2.10 Stockholder Business (Other Than the Election of Directors).
(a) Only such business (other than nominations for election of directors, which is governed by Section 3.17 of these Bylaws) shall be conducted as shall have been properly brought before an annual meeting. To be properly brought before an annual meeting, business must be either (i) specified in the notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto) given by or at the direction of the Board, (ii) otherwise properly brought before the meeting by or at the direction of the Board, or (iii) otherwise properly brought before the meeting by a stockholder who (A) is a stockholder of record (and, with respect to any beneficial owner, if different, on whose behalf such business is proposed, only if such beneficial owner is the beneficial owner of shares of the Corporation) both at the time of giving the notice provided for in this Section 2.10 and at the time of the meeting, (B) is entitled to vote at the meeting and (C) has complied with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 2.10 as to such business. For any business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder (other than nominations for election of directors, which is governed by Section 3.17 of these Bylaws), it must be a proper matter for stockholder action under the DGCL, and the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice shall be in writing and must be received at the Corporation’s principal executive offices not later than ninety (90) days nor earlier than one hundred twenty (120) days prior to the first anniversary of the date of the preceding year’s annual meeting as first specified in the Corporation’s notice of meeting (without regard to any postponements or adjournments of such meeting after such notice was first sent), provided, however, that if no annual meeting was held in the previous year or the date of the annual meeting is advanced by more than thirty (30) days, or delayed (other than as a result of adjournment) by more than thirty (30) days from the anniversary of the previous year’s annual meeting, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be received not later than the close of business on the later of the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such annual meeting or the tenth (10th) day following the date on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made. “Public announcement” for purposes hereof shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.17(c) of these Bylaws. In no event shall the public announcement of an adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above. For business to be properly brought before a special meeting by a stockholder, the business must be limited to the purpose or purposes set forth in a request under Section 2.3.
(b) A stockholder’s notice to the Secretary of the Corporation shall set forth (i) as to each matter the stockholder proposes to bring before the annual meeting, a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the annual meeting and the text of the proposal or business, including the text of any resolutions proposed for consideration and in the event that such business includes a proposal to amend the Bylaws of the Corporation, the language of the proposed amendment, and (ii) as to the stockholder giving the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is being made, and any of their respective affiliates or associates (each within the meaning of Rule 12b-2 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) or others acting in concert therewith (each, a “Proposing Person”), (A) the name and address, as they appear on the Corporation’s books, of the stockholder proposing such business and of any other Proposing Person, (B) the class or series and number of shares of the Corporation which are owned beneficially and of record by the stockholder and any other Proposing Person as of the date of the notice, and a representation that the stockholder will notify the Corporation in writing within five (5) business days after the record date for voting at the meeting of the class or series and number of shares of the Corporation owned beneficially and of record by the stockholder and any other Proposing Person as of the record date for voting at the meeting, (C) a representation that the stockholder intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to propose the business specified in the notice, (D) any material interest of the stockholder and any other Proposing Person in such business, (E) the following information regarding the ownership interests of the stockholder and any other Proposing Person which shall be supplemented in writing by the stockholder not later than ten (10) days after the record date for voting at the meeting to disclose such interests as of such record date: (1) a description of any option, warrant, convertible security, stock appreciation right, or similar right with an exercise or conversion privilege or a settlement payment or mechanism at a price related to any class or series of shares of the Corporation or with a value derived in whole or in part from the value of any class or series of shares of the Corporation, any derivative or synthetic arrangement having the characteristics of a long position in any class or series of shares of the Corporation, or any contract, derivative, swap or other transaction or series of transactions designed to produce economic benefits and risks that correspond substantially to the ownership of any class or series of shares of the Corporation, including due to the fact that the value of such contract, derivative, swap or other transaction or series of transactions is determined by reference to the price, value or volatility of any class or series of shares of the Corporation, whether or not such instrument, contract or right shall be subject to settlement in the underlying class or series of shares of the Corporation, through the delivery of cash or other property, or otherwise, and without regard to whether the stockholder of record or any other Proposing Person may have entered into transactions that hedge or mitigate the economic effect of such instrument, contract or right (a “Derivative Instrument”) directly or indirectly owned beneficially by such stockholder or other Proposing Person, and any other direct or indirect opportunity to profit or share in any profit derived from any increase or decrease in the value of shares of the Corporation; (2) a description of any proxy, contract, arrangement, understanding, or relationship pursuant to which such stockholder or other Proposing Person has a right to vote any shares of any security of the Corporation; (3) a description of any agreement, arrangement, understanding, relationship or otherwise, including any repurchase or similar so-called “stock borrowing” agreement or arrangement, engaged in, directly or indirectly, by such stockholder or other Proposing Person, the purpose or effect of which is to mitigate loss to, reduce the economic risk (of ownership or otherwise) of any class or series of the shares of the Corporation by, manage the risk of share price changes for, or increase or decrease the voting power of, such stockholder or other Proposing Person with respect to any class or series of the shares of the Corporation, or which provides, directly or indirectly, the opportunity to profit or share in any profit derived from any decrease in the price or value of any class or series of the shares of the Corporation (“Short Interests”); (4) a description of any rights to dividends on the shares of the Corporation owned beneficially by such stockholder or other Proposing Person that are separated or separable from the underlying shares of the Corporation; (5) a description of any proportionate interest in shares of the Corporation or Derivative Instruments held, directly or indirectly, by a general or limited partnership in which such stockholder or other Proposing Person is a general partner or, directly or indirectly, beneficially owns an interest in a general partner; (6) a description of any performance-related fees (other than an asset-based fee) to which such stockholder or other Proposing Person is entitled based on any increase or decrease in the value of shares of the Corporation or Derivative Instruments, if any, as of the date of such notice, including, without limitation, any such interests held by members of such stockholder’s or other Proposing Person’s immediate family sharing the same household; (7) a description of any significant equity interests or any Derivative Instruments or Short Interests in any principal competitor of the Corporation held by such stockholder or other Proposing Person; and (8) a description of any direct or indirect interest of such stockholder or other Proposing Person in any contract with the Corporation, any affiliate of the Corporation or any principal competitor of the Corporation (including, in any such case, any employment agreement, collective bargaining agreement or consulting agreement), and (F) any other information relating to such stockholder or other Proposing Person, if any, that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for, as applicable, the proposal and/or for the election of directors in a contested election pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
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(c) Unless otherwise required by law, if the stockholder (or a qualified representative of the stockholder) does not appear at the annual meeting of stockholders to present the proposed business, such proposed business shall not be transacted, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the Corporation. For purposes of this section, to be considered a qualified representative of the stockholder, a person must be a duly authorized officer, manager or partner of such stockholder or authorized by a writing executed by such stockholder (or a reliable reproduction or electronic transmission of the writing) delivered to the Corporation prior to the making of such proposal at such meeting by such stockholder stating that such person is authorized to act for such stockholder as proxy at the meeting of stockholders.
(d) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.10, a stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to the matters set forth in this Section 2.10; provided however, that any references in this Section 2.10 to the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder are not intended to and shall not limit any requirements applicable to proposals as to any business to be considered pursuant to this Section 2.10. Nothing in this Section 2.10 shall be deemed to affect any rights (i) of stockholders to request inclusion of proposals in the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act or (ii) of the holders of any series of preferred stock if and to the extent provided for under law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws.
(e) Notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary, the notice requirements set forth in subsections (a) and (b) above shall be deemed satisfied by a stockholder if the stockholder has notified the Corporation of the stockholder’s intention to present a proposal at an annual meeting in compliance with applicable rules and regulations promulgated under the Exchange Act and such stockholder’s proposal has been included in a proxy statement that has been prepared by the Corporation to solicit proxies for such annual meeting.
2.11 Conduct of Business. At every meeting of the stockholders, the Chairperson of the Board, or, in his absence, the Chief Executive Officer, or, in his absence, such other person as may be appointed by the Board, shall act as chairperson. The Secretary of the Corporation or a person designated by the chairperson of the meeting shall act as secretary of the meeting. Unless otherwise approved by the chairperson of the meeting, attendance at the stockholders’ meeting is restricted to stockholders of record, persons authorized in accordance with Section 2.8 of these Bylaws to act by proxy, and officers of the Corporation.
The chairperson of the meeting shall call the meeting to order, establish the agenda, and conduct the business of the meeting in accordance therewith or, at the chairperson’s discretion, the business of the meeting may be conducted otherwise in accordance with the wishes of the stockholders in attendance. The date and time of the opening and closing of the polls for each matter upon which the stockholders will vote at the meeting shall be announced at the meeting.
The chairperson shall also conduct the meeting in an orderly manner, rule on the precedence of, and procedure on, motions and other procedural matters, and exercise discretion with respect to such procedural matters with fairness and good faith toward all those entitled to take part. Without limiting the foregoing, the chairperson may (a) restrict attendance at any time to bona fide stockholders of record and their proxies and other persons in attendance at the invitation of the presiding officer or Board, (b) restrict use of audio or video recording devices at the meeting, and (c) impose reasonable limits on the amount of time taken up at the meeting on discussion in general or on remarks by any one stockholder. Should any person in attendance become unruly or obstruct the meeting proceedings, the chairperson shall have the power to have such person removed from the meeting. Notwithstanding anything in the Bylaws to the contrary, no business shall be conducted at a meeting except in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 2.10, this Section 2.11 and Section 3.13. The chairperson of the meeting, in addition to making any other determinations that may be appropriate to the conduct of the meeting, shall have the power and duty to determine whether a nomination or any business proposed to be brought before the meeting was made or proposed, as the case may be, in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.10, this Section 2.11 and Section 3.13, and if he should so determine that any proposed nomination or business is not in compliance with such sections, he shall so declare to the meeting that such defective nomination or proposal shall be disregarded.
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2.12 Stockholder Action Without Meeting. 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 stockholders of the Corporation and may not be effected by any consent in writing by such stockholders.
2.13 Meetings by Remote Communication. If authorized by the Board, and subject to such guidelines and procedures as the Board may adopt, stockholders and proxy holders not physically present at a meeting of stockholders may, by means of remote communication, participate in the meeting and be deemed present in person and vote at the meeting, whether such meeting is to be held at a designated place or solely by means of remote communication, provided that (a) the Corporation shall implement reasonable measures to verify that each person deemed present and permitted to vote at the meeting by means of remote communication is a stockholder or proxy holder, (b) the Corporation shall implement reasonable measures to provide such stockholders and proxy holders a reasonable opportunity to participate in the meeting and to vote on matters submitted to the stockholders, including an opportunity to read or hear the proceedings of the meeting substantially concurrently with such proceedings, and (c) if any stockholder or proxy holder votes or takes other action at the meeting by means of remote communication, a record of such vote or other action shall be maintained by the Corporation.
ARTICLE
III
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
3.1 General Powers. The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of a Board, who may exercise all of the powers of the Corporation except as otherwise provided by law or the Certificate of Incorporation. In the event of a vacancy on the Board, the remaining directors, except as otherwise provided by law, may exercise the powers of the full Board until the vacancy is filled.
3.2 Election. Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of preferred stock to elect directors under specified circumstances, members of the Board shall be elected by a plurality of the votes of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote in the election of directors; provided that, whenever the holders of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation are entitled to elect one or more directors pursuant to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation (including, but not limited to, any duly authorized certificate of designation), such directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes of such class or series present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote in the election of such directors. Elections of directors need not be by written ballot.
3.3 Number and Term. Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of preferred stock to elect directors under specified circumstances, the number of directors shall be fixed from time to time exclusively by the Board pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the total number of authorized directors (whether or not there exist any vacancies in previously authorized directorships at the time any such resolution is presented to the Board for adoption).
3.4 Classes of Directors. The Board shall be and is divided into three classes: Class I, Class II and Class III. No one class shall have more than one director more than any other class. If a fraction is contained in the quotient arrived at by dividing the designated number of directors by three, then, if such fraction is one-third, the extra director shall be a member of Class I, and if such fraction is two-thirds, one of the extra directors shall be a member of Class I and one of the extra directors shall be a member of Class II, unless otherwise provided from time to time by resolution adopted by the Board.
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3.5 Resignations. Any director may resign at any time upon notice given in writing or by electronic transmission to the Board, the Chairperson of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation or the Secretary. The resignation shall take effect at the time specified therein, and if no time is specified, at the time of its receipt. The acceptance of a resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective unless otherwise expressly provided in the resignation.
3.6 Removal. Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of preferred stock to elect directors under specified circumstances, directors may only be removed for cause and only upon the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of all of the then outstanding shares of the capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class.
3.7 Vacancies and Newly Created Directorships. Except as otherwise provided by applicable law, vacancies occurring in any directorship (whether by death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, removal or other cause) and newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the number of directors shall be filled in accordance with the Certificate of Incorporation. 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 duly elected and qualified, or until his or her earlier death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal.
3.8 Regular Meetings. Regular meetings of the Board may be held without notice at such time and place, either within or without the State of Delaware, as shall be determined from time to time by the Board; provided that any director who is absent when such a determination is made shall be given notice of the determination. A regular meeting of the Board may be held without notice immediately after and at the same place as the annual meeting of stockholders.
3.9 Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board may be called by the Chairperson of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or a majority of the directors then in office and may be held at any time and place, within or without the State of Delaware.
3.10 Notice of Special Meetings. Notice of any special meeting of directors shall be given to each director by whom it is not waived by the Secretary or by the officer or one of the directors calling the meeting. Notice shall be duly given to each director by (a) giving notice to such director in person or by telephone, electronic transmission or voice message system at least 24 hours in advance of the meeting, (b) sending a facsimile to such director’s last known facsimile number, or delivering written notice by hand to such director’s last known business or home address, at least 24 hours in advance of the meeting, or (c) mailing written notice to such director’s last known business or home address at least three days in advance of the meeting. A notice or waiver of notice of a meeting of the Board need not specify the purposes of the meeting. Unless otherwise indicated in the notice thereof, any and all business may be transacted at a special meeting.
3.11 Participation in Meetings by Telephone Conference Calls or Other Methods of Communication. Directors or any members of any committee designated by the directors may participate in a meeting of the Board or such committee by means of conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and participation by such means shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.
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3.12 Quorum; Adjournment. A majority of the total number of authorized directors shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of the Board. In the absence of a quorum at any such meeting, a majority of the directors present may adjourn the meeting from time to time without further notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall be present. Interested directors may be counted in determining the presence of a quorum at a meeting of the Board or at a meeting of a committee which authorizes a particular contract or transaction.
3.13 Action at Meeting. At any meeting of the Board at which a quorum is present, the vote of a majority of those present shall be sufficient to take any action, unless a different vote is specified by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws.
3.14 Action by Written Consent. Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board or of any committee of the Board may be taken without a meeting if all members of the Board or committee, as the case may be, consent to the action in writing or by electronic transmission, and the writings or electronic transmissions are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board or committee. Such filing shall be in paper form if the minutes are maintained in paper form and shall be in electronic form if the minutes are maintained in electronic form.
3.15 Committees. The Board may designate one or more committees, each committee to consist of one or more of the directors of the Corporation, with such lawfully delegated powers and duties as it therefor confers; provided that, the committee membership of each committee designated by the Board will comply with the applicable rules of the exchange on which any securities of the Corporation are listed. 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 of the committee 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 and subject to the provisions of the DGCL, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board in the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation and may authorize the seal of the Corporation to be affixed to all papers which may require it. Each such committee shall keep minutes and make such reports as the Board may from time to time request. Except as the Board may otherwise determine, any committee may make rules for the conduct of its business, but unless otherwise provided by such rules, its business shall be conducted as nearly as possible in the same manner as is provided in these Bylaws for the Board. Unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws or the resolutions of the Board designating the committee, a committee may create one or more subcommittees, each subcommittee consists of one or more members of the committee, and delegate to a subcommittee any or all of the powers and authority of the committee.
3.16 Compensation of Directors. Directors may be paid such compensation for their services and such reimbursement for expenses of attendance at meetings as the Board may from time to time determine. No such payment shall preclude any director from serving the Corporation or any of its parent or subsidiary Corporations in any other capacity and receiving compensation for such service.
3.17 Nomination of Director Candidates. Subject to the rights of holders of any class or series of preferred stock then outstanding, nominations for the election of directors at an annual meeting may be made by (i) the Board or a duly authorized committee thereof or (ii) by any stockholder of the Corporation who is a stockholder of record at the time of giving the notice provided for in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this Section 3.17, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who complies with the procedures set forth in this Section 3.17.
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(a) All nominations by stockholders must be made pursuant to timely notice given in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation. To be timely, a stockholder’s nomination for a director to be elected at an annual meeting must be received at the Corporation’s principal executive offices not later than ninety (90) days nor earlier than one hundred twenty (120) days prior to the first anniversary of the date of the preceding year’s annual meeting as first specified in the Corporation’s notice of meeting (without regard to any postponements or adjournments of such meeting after such notice was first sent), provided, however, that if no annual meeting was held in the previous year or the date of the annual meeting is advanced by more than thirty (30) days or delayed (other than as a result of adjournment) by more than thirty (30) days from the first anniversary of the previous year’s annual meeting, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be received not later than the close of business on the later of the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such annual meeting or the tenth (10th) day following the date on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made. Each such notice shall set forth (i) as to the stockholder and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination is being made, and any of their respective affiliates or associates or others acting in concert therewith (each, a “Nominating Person”), the name and address, as they appear on the Corporation’s books, of the stockholder who intends to make the nomination and of any other Nominating Person, (ii) the class or series and number of shares of the Corporation which are owned beneficially and of record by the stockholder and any other Nominating Person as of the date of the notice, and a representation that the stockholder will notify the Corporation in writing within five (5) business days after the record date for voting at the meeting of the class or series and number of shares of the Corporation owned beneficially and of record by the stockholder and any other Nominating Person as of the record date for voting at the meeting, (iii) a representation that the stockholder intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to nominate the nominee specified in the notice, (iv) the following information regarding the ownership interests of the stockholder and any other Nominating Person, which shall be supplemented in writing by the stockholder not later than ten (10) days after the record date for notice of the meeting to disclose such interests as of such record date: (A) a description of any Derivative Instrument directly or indirectly owned beneficially by such stockholder or other Nominating Person, and any other direct or indirect opportunity to profit or share in any profit derived from any increase or decrease in the value of shares of the Corporation; (B) a description of any proxy, contract, arrangement, understanding, or relationship pursuant to which such stockholder or other Nominating Person has a right to vote any shares of any security of the Corporation; (C) a description of any Short Interests in any securities of the Corporation directly or indirectly owned beneficially by such stockholder or other Nominating Person; (D) a description of any rights to dividends on the shares of the Corporation owned beneficially by such stockholder or other Nominating Person that are separated or separable from the underlying shares of the Corporation; (E) a description of any proportionate interest in shares of the Corporation or Derivative Instruments held, directly or indirectly, by a general or limited partnership in which such stockholder or other Nominating Person is a general partner or, directly or indirectly, beneficially owns an interest in a general partner; (F) a description of any performance-related fees (other than an asset-based fee) to which such stockholder or other Nominating Person is entitled based on any increase or decrease in the value of shares of the Corporation or Derivative Instruments, if any, as of the date of such notice, including, without limitation, any such interests held by members of such stockholder’s or other Nominating Person’s immediate family sharing the same household; (G) a description of any significant equity interests or any Derivative Instruments or Short Interests in any principal competitor of the Corporation held by such stockholder or other Nominating Person; and (H) a description of any direct or indirect interest of such stockholder or other Nominating Person in any contract with the Corporation, any affiliate of the Corporation or any principal competitor of the Corporation (including, in any such case, any employment agreement, collective bargaining agreement or consulting agreement), (v) a description of all arrangements or understandings between the stockholder or other Nominating Person and each nominee and any other person or persons (naming such person or persons) pursuant to which the nomination or nominations are to be made by the stockholder, (vi) a description of all direct and indirect compensation and other material monetary agreements, arrangements and understandings during the past three years, and any other material relationships, between or among such stockholder and any other Nominating Person, on the one hand, and each nominee, and his respective affiliates and associates, or others acting in concert therewith, on the other hand, including, without limitation all information that would be required to be disclosed pursuant to Rule 404 promulgated under Regulation S-K if the stockholder and any Nominating Person, if any, or any affiliate or associate thereof or person acting in concert therewith, were the “registrant” for purposes of such rule and the nominee were a director or executive officer of such registrant, (vii) such other information regarding each nominee as would be required to be included in a proxy statement filed pursuant to the proxy rules of the SEC, had the nominee been nominated, or intended to be nominated, by the Board, and (viii) the signed consent of each nominee to serve as a director of the Corporation if so elected. In no event shall the public announcement of an adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above. Notwithstanding the second sentence of this Section 3.17(b), in the event that the number of directors to be elected at an annual meeting is increased and there is no public announcement by the Corporation naming the nominees for the additional directorships at least 100 days prior to the one-year anniversary of the date of the preceding year’s annual meeting as first specified in the Corporation’s notice of meeting (without regard to any postponements or adjournments of such meeting after such notice was first sent), a stockholder’s notice required by this Section 3.17(b) shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for the additional directorships, if it shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the 10th day following the day on which such public announcement is first made by the Corporation.
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(b) Subject to the rights of holders of any class or series of preferred stock then outstanding, nominations of persons for election to the Board may be made at a special meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting (i) by or at the direction of the Board or a committee thereof or (ii) by any stockholder who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 3.17 and who is a stockholder of record at the time such notice is delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation. In the event the Corporation calls a special meeting of stockholders for the purpose of electing one or more directors to the Board, any such stockholder may nominate a person or persons (as the case may be), for election to such position(s) as are specified in the Corporation’s notice of meeting, if the stockholder’s notice as required by Section 3.13(a) is delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not earlier than ninety (90) days prior to such special meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the sixtieth (60th) day prior to such special meeting or the tenth (10th) day following the day on which public announcement is first made of the date of the special meeting and of the nominees proposed by the Board to be elected at such meeting. In no event shall the public announcement of an adjournment or postponement of a special meeting commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above.
(c) For purposes of these Bylaws, “public announcement” shall mean disclosure in a press release reported by the Dow Xxxxx News Service, Associated Press or comparable national news service or in a document publicly filed or furnished by the Corporation with the SEC pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.
(d) Only those persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this section shall be eligible for election as directors at any meeting of stockholders. The Chairperson of the Board or Secretary may, if the facts warrant, determine that a notice received by the Corporation relating to a nomination proposed to be made does not satisfy the requirements of this Section 3.17 (including if the stockholder does not provide the updated information required under Section 3.13(b) to the Corporation within five (5) business days following the record date for the meeting), and if it be so determined, shall so declare and any such nomination shall not be introduced at such meeting of stockholders, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been received. The chairperson of the meeting shall have the power and duty to determine whether a nomination brought before the meeting was made in accordance with the procedures set forth in this section, and, if any nomination is not in compliance with this section (including if the stockholder does not provide the updated information required under Section 3.13(b) to the Corporation within five (5) business days following the record date for the meeting), to declare that such defective nomination shall be disregarded, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been received. Unless otherwise required by law, if the stockholder (or a qualified representative of the stockholder) does not appear at the annual meeting or a special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation to present a nomination, such nomination shall be disregarded, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the Corporation. For purposes of this Section 3.17, to be considered a qualified representative of the stockholder, a person must be a duly authorized officer, manager or partner of such stockholder or authorized by a writing executed by such stockholder (or a reliable reproduction or electronic transmission of the writing) delivered to the Corporation prior to the making of such nomination at such meeting by such stockholder stating that such person is authorized to act for such stockholder as proxy at the meeting of stockholders.
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(e) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 3.17, a stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to the matters set forth in this Section 3.17; provided however, that any references in this Section 3.17 to the Exchange Act or the rules promulgated thereunder are not intended to and shall not limit any requirements applicable to nominations to be considered pursuant to this Section 3.17. Nothing in this Section 3.17 shall be deemed to affect any rights of the holders of any series of preferred stock if and to the extent provided for under law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws.
3.18 Reliance on Books and Records. Each director, each member of any committee designated by the Board, and each officer of the Corporation shall, in the performance of such individual’s duties, be fully protected in relying in good faith upon records of the Corporation and upon such information, opinions, reports or statements presented to the Corporation by any of the Corporation’s officers or employees, or committees of the Board, or by any other person as to matters the member reasonably 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 Corporation.
ARTICLE
IV
Officers
4.1 Enumeration. The officers of the Corporation shall consist of a Chief Executive Officer, a President, a Secretary, a Treasurer, a Chief Financial Officer and such other officers with such other titles as the Board shall determine, including, at the discretion of the Board, a Chairperson of the Board and one or more Vice Presidents and Assistant Secretaries. The Board may appoint such other officers as it may deem appropriate.
4.2 Election. Officers shall be elected annually by the Board at its first meeting following the annual meeting of stockholders. Officers may be appointed by the Board at any other meeting.
4.3 Qualification. No officer need be a stockholder. Any two or more offices may be held by the same person.
4.4 Tenure. Except as otherwise provided by law, by the Certificate of Incorporation or by these Bylaws, each officer shall hold office until such officer’s successor is elected and qualified, unless a different term is specified in the vote appointing the officer, or until such officer’s earlier death, resignation or removal.
4.5 Resignation and Removal. Any officer may resign by delivering his written resignation to the Corporation at its principal office or to the President or Secretary. Such resignation shall be effective upon receipt unless it is specified to be effective at some other time or upon the happening of some other event. Any officer elected by the Board may be removed at any time, with or without cause, by the Board.
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4.6 Chairperson of the Board. The Board may appoint a Chairperson of the Board. If the Board appoints a Chairperson of the Board, the Chairperson of the Board shall perform such duties and possess such powers as are assigned to the Chairperson by the Board and these Bylaws. Unless otherwise provided by the Board, the Chairperson of the Board shall preside at all meetings of the Board.
4.7 Chief Executive Officer. The Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation shall, subject to the direction of the Board, have general supervision, direction and control of the business and the officers of the Corporation. The Chief Executive Officer shall preside at all meetings of the stockholders and, in the absence or nonexistence of a Chairperson of the Board, at all meetings of the Board. The Chief Executive Officer shall have the general powers and duties of management usually vested in the chief executive officer of a Corporation, including general supervision, direction and control of the business and supervision of other officers of the Corporation, and shall have such other powers and duties as may be prescribed by the Board or these Bylaws.
4.8 President. Subject to the direction of the Board and such supervisory powers as may be given by these Bylaws or the Board to the Chairperson of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer, if such titles be held by other officers, the President shall have general supervision, direction and control of the business and supervision of other officers of the Corporation. Unless otherwise designated by the Board, the President shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation. The President shall have such other powers and duties as may be prescribed by the Board or these Bylaws. The President shall have power to sign stock certificates, contracts and other instruments of the Corporation which are authorized and shall have general supervision and direction of all of the other officers, employees and agents of the Corporation, other than the Chairperson of the Board and the Chief Executive Officer.
4.9 Vice Presidents. Any Vice President shall perform such duties and possess such powers as the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or the President may from time to time prescribe. In the event of the absence, inability or refusal to act of the President, the Vice President (or if there shall be more than one, the Vice Presidents in the order determined by the Board) shall perform the duties of the President and when so performing shall have all the powers of and be subject to all the restrictions upon the President. 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.
4.10 Secretary and Assistant Secretaries. The Secretary shall perform such duties and shall have such powers as the Board or the President may from time to time prescribe. In addition, the Secretary shall perform such duties and have such powers as are set forth in these Bylaws and as are incident to the office of the Secretary, including, without limitation, the duty and power to give notices of all meetings of stockholders and special meetings of the Board, to keep a record of the proceedings of all meetings of stockholders and the Board, to maintain a stock ledger and prepare lists of stockholders and their addresses as required, to be custodian of corporate records and the corporate seal and to affix and attest to the same on documents.
Any Assistant Secretary shall perform such duties and possess such powers as the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or the Secretary may from time to time prescribe. In the event of the absence, inability or refusal to act of the Secretary, the Assistant Secretary (or if there shall be more than one, the Assistant Secretaries in the order determined by the Board) shall perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Secretary.
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In the absence of the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary at any meeting of stockholders or directors, the person presiding at the meeting shall designate a temporary secretary to keep a record of the meeting.
4.11 Treasurer. The Treasurer shall perform such duties and have such powers as are incident to the office of treasurer, including without limitation, the duty and power to keep and be responsible for all funds and securities of the Corporation, to maintain the financial records of the Corporation, to deposit funds of the Corporation in depositories as authorized, to disburse such funds as authorized, to make proper accounts of such funds, and to render as required by the Board accounts of all such transactions and of the financial condition of the Corporation.
4.12 Chief Financial Officer. The Chief Financial Officer shall perform such duties and shall have such powers as may from time to time be assigned to the Chief Financial Officer by the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or the President. Unless otherwise designated by the Board, the Chief Financial Officer shall be the Treasurer of the Corporation.
4.13 Salaries. Officers of the Corporation shall be entitled to such salaries, compensation or reimbursement as shall be fixed or allowed from time to time by the Board.
4.14 Delegation of Authority. The Board may from time to time delegate the powers or duties of any officer to any other officers or agents, notwithstanding any provision hereof.
ARTICLE
V
Capital Stock
5.1 Issuance of Stock. Subject to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, the whole or any part of any unissued balance of the authorized capital stock of the Corporation or the whole or any part of any unissued balance of the authorized capital stock of the Corporation held in its treasury may be issued, sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of by vote of the Board in such manner, for such consideration and on such terms as the Board may determine.
5.2 Stock Certificates. The shares of stock of the Corporation shall be represented by certificates, provided that the Board may provide by resolution or resolutions that some or all of any class or series of stock of the Corporation shall be uncertificated shares; provided, however, that no such resolution shall apply to shares represented by a certificate until such certificate is surrendered to the Corporation. Every holder of stock of the Corporation represented by certificates, and, upon written request to the Corporation’s transfer agent or registrar, any holder of uncertificated shares, shall be entitled to have a certificate, in such form as may be prescribed by law and by the Board, certifying the number and class of shares of stock owned by such stockholder in the Corporation. Each such certificate shall be signed by, or in the name of the Corporation by, the Chairperson or Vice Chairperson, if any, of the Board, or the President or a Vice President, and the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer, or the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Corporation. Any or all of the signatures on the certificate may be a facsimile.
Each certificate for shares of stock which are subject to any restriction on transfer pursuant to the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, applicable securities laws or any agreement among any number of stockholders or among such holders and the Corporation shall have conspicuously noted on the face or back of the certificate either the full text of the restriction or a statement of the existence of such restriction.
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5.3 Transfers. Except as otherwise established by rules and regulations adopted by the Board, and subject to applicable law, shares of stock may be transferred on the books of the Corporation: (i) in the case of shares represented by a certificate, by the surrender to the Corporation or its transfer agent of the certificate representing such shares properly endorsed or accompanied by a written assignment or power of attorney properly executed, and with such proof of authority or authenticity of signature as the Corporation or its transfer agent may reasonably require; and (ii) in the case of uncertificated shares, upon the receipt of proper transfer instructions from the registered owner thereof. Except as may be otherwise required by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws, the Corporation shall be entitled to treat the record holder of stock as shown on its books as the owner of such stock for all purposes, including the payment of dividends and the right to vote with respect to such stock, regardless of any transfer, pledge or other disposition of such stock until the shares have been transferred on the books of the Corporation in accordance with the requirements of these Bylaws.
5.4 Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates. The Corporation may issue a new certificate in place of any previously issued certificate alleged to have been lost, stolen, or destroyed, or it may issue uncertificated shares if the shares represented by such certificate have been designated as uncertificated shares in accordance with Section 5.2, upon such terms and conditions as the Board may prescribe, including the presentation of reasonable evidence of such loss, theft or destruction and the giving of such indemnity as the Board may require for the protection of the Corporation or any transfer agent or registrar.
5.5 Record Dates. The Board may fix in advance a record date for the determination of the stockholders entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders. Such record date shall not precede the date on which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted and shall not be more than 60 nor less than 10 days before the date of such meeting.
If no record date is fixed by the Board, the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be the close of business on the day before the date on which notice is given, or, if notice is waived, the close of business on the day before the date on which the meeting is held.
A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided, however, that the Board may fix a new record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to vote at the adjourned meeting, and in such case shall also fix as the record date for stockholders entitled to notice of such adjourned meeting the same or an earlier date as that fixed for the determination of stockholders entitled to vote in accordance with the foregoing provisions.
The Board may fix in advance a record date (a) for the determination of stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights in respect of any change, concession or exchange of stock, or (b) for the purpose of any other lawful action. Any such record date shall not precede the date on which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted and shall not be more than 60 days prior to the action to which such record date relates. If no record date is fixed by the Board, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to express consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting when no prior action by the Board is necessary shall be the date on which the first written consent is expressed. The record date for determining stockholders for any other purpose shall be the close of business on the day on which the Board adopts the resolution relating to such purpose.
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ARTICLE
VI
General Provisions
6.1 Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be as fixed by the Board.
6.2 Waiver of Notice. Whenever any notice whatsoever is required to be given by law, by the Certificate of Incorporation or by these Bylaws, a waiver of such notice either in writing signed by the person entitled to such notice or such person’s duly authorized attorney, or by electronic transmission or any other method permitted under the DGCL, whether before, at or after the time stated in such waiver, or the appearance of such person or persons at such meeting in person or by proxy, shall be deemed equivalent to such notice. Neither the business nor the purpose of any meeting need be specified in such a waiver. Attendance at any meeting shall constitute waiver of notice except attendance for the sole purpose of objecting to the timeliness or manner of notice.
6.3 Actions with Respect to Securities of Other Corporations. Except as the Board may otherwise designate, the Chief Executive Officer or President or any officer of the Corporation authorized by the Chief Executive Officer or President shall have the power to vote and otherwise act on behalf of the Corporation, in person or by proxy, and may waive notice of, and act as, or appoint any person or persons to act as, proxy or attorney-in-fact to this Corporation (with or without power of substitution) at any meeting of stockholders or shareholders (or with respect to any action of stockholders) of any other Corporation or organization, the securities of which may be held by this Corporation and otherwise to exercise any and all rights and powers that this Corporation may possess by reason of this Corporation’s ownership of securities in such other Corporation or other organization.
6.4 Evidence of Authority. A certificate by the Secretary, or an Assistant Secretary, or a temporary Secretary, as to any action taken by the stockholders, directors, a committee or any officer or representative of the Corporation shall as to all persons who rely on the certificate in good faith be conclusive evidence of such action.
6.5 Certificate of Incorporation. All references in these Bylaws to the Certificate of Incorporation shall be deemed to refer to the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, as amended and in effect from time to time.
6.6 Severability. Any determination that any provision of these Bylaws is for any reason inapplicable, illegal or ineffective shall not affect or invalidate any other provision of these Bylaws.
6.7 Pronouns. All pronouns used in these Bylaws shall be deemed to refer to the masculine, feminine or neuter, singular or plural, as the identity of the person or persons may require.
6.8 Notices. Except as otherwise specifically provided herein or required by law, all notices required to be given to any stockholder, director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation shall be in writing and may in every instance be effectively given by hand delivery to the recipient thereof, by depositing such notice in the mails, postage paid, or by sending such notice by commercial courier service, or by facsimile or other electronic transmission, provided that notice to stockholders by electronic transmission shall be given in the manner provided in Section 232 of the DGCL. Any such notice shall be addressed to such stockholder, director, officer, employee or agent at his, her or its last known address as the same appears on the books of the Corporation. The time when such notice shall be deemed to be given shall be the time such notice is received by such stockholder, director, officer, employee or agent, or by any person accepting such notice on behalf of such person, if delivered by hand, facsimile, other electronic transmission or commercial courier service, or the time such notice is dispatched, if delivered through the mails. Without limiting the manner by which notice otherwise may be given effectively, notice to any stockholder shall be deemed given: (a) if by facsimile, when directed to a number at which the stockholder has consented to receive notice; (b) if by electronic mail, when directed to an electronic mail address at which the stockholder has consented to receive notice; (c) if by a posting on an electronic network together with separate notice to the stockholder of such specific posting, upon the later of (i) such posting and (ii) the giving of such separate notice; (d) if by any other form of electronic transmission, when directed to the stockholder; and (e) if by mail, when deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, directed to the stockholder at such stockholder’s address as it appears on the records of the Corporation.
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6.9 Time Periods. In applying any provision of these Bylaws which require that an act be done or not done a specified number of days prior to an event or that an act be done during a period of a specified number of days prior to an event, calendar days shall be used, the day of the doing of the act shall be excluded, and the day of the event shall be included.
6.10 Facsimile Signatures. In addition to the provisions for use of facsimile signatures elsewhere specifically authorized in these Bylaws, facsimile signatures of any officer or officers of the Corporation may be used whenever and as authorized by the Board or a committee thereof.
ARTICLE
VII
Amendments
7.1 By the Board. Except as otherwise set forth in these Bylaws, these Bylaws may be altered, amended or repealed or new Bylaws may be adopted only in accordance with Article X of the Certificate of Incorporation.
7.2 By the Stockholders. Except as otherwise set forth in these Bylaws, and subject to the Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws may be altered, amended or repealed or new Bylaws may be adopted by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of all of the shares of capital stock of the Corporation issued and outstanding and entitled to vote generally in any election of directors, voting together as a single class. Such vote may be held at any annual meeting of stockholders, or at any special meeting of stockholders provided that notice of such alteration, amendment, repeal or adoption of new Bylaws shall have been stated in the notice of such special meeting.
ARTICLE
VIII
Indemnification of Directors and Officers
8.1 Right to Indemnification. Each person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is involved in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (“proceeding”), by reason of the fact that such person or a person of whom he or she is the legal representative, is or was a director or officer of the Corporation or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director or officer of another Corporation, or as a controlling person of a partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to employee benefit plans, whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a director or officer, or in any other capacity while serving as a director or officer, shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Corporation to the fullest extent authorized by the DGCL, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended (but, in the case of any such amendment, only to the extent that such amendment permits the Corporation to provide broader indemnification rights than such law permitted the Corporation to provide prior to such amendment) against all expenses, liability and loss reasonably incurred or suffered by such person in connection therewith and such indemnification shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director or officer and shall inure to the benefit of his heirs, executors and administrators; provided, that except as provided in Section 8.2 of this Article VIII, the Corporation shall indemnify any such person seeking indemnity in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such person only if (a) such indemnification is expressly required to be made by law, (b) the proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Board, (c) such indemnification is provided by the Corporation, in its sole discretion, pursuant to the powers vested in the Corporation under the DGCL, or (d) the proceeding (or part thereof) is brought to establish or enforce a right to indemnification or advancement under an indemnity agreement or any other statute or law or otherwise as required under Section 145 of the DGCL. The rights hereunder shall be contract rights and shall include the right to be paid reasonable expenses and attorneys’ fees incurred in defending any such proceeding in advance of its final disposition; provided, that the payment of such expenses incurred by a director or officer of the Corporation in his capacity as a director or officer (and not in any other capacity in which service was or is tendered by such person while a director or officer, including, without limitation, service to an employee benefit plan) in advance of the final disposition of such proceeding, shall be made only upon delivery to the Corporation of an undertaking, by or on behalf of such director or officer, to repay all amounts so advanced if it should be determined ultimately by final judicial decision from which there is no further right to appeal that such director or officer is not entitled to be indemnified under this section or otherwise.
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8.2 Right of Claimant to Bring Suit. If a claim under Section 8.1 is not paid in full by the Corporation within sixty (60) days after a written claim has been received by the Corporation, or twenty (20) days in the case of a claim for advancement of expenses, the claimant may at any time thereafter bring suit against the Corporation to recover the unpaid amount of the claim and, if such suit is not frivolous or brought in bad faith, the claimant shall be entitled to be paid also the expense of prosecuting such claim. It shall be a defense to any such action (other than an action brought to enforce a claim for expenses incurred in defending any proceeding in advance of its final disposition where the required undertaking, if any, has been tendered to this Corporation) that the claimant has not met the standards of conduct which make it permissible under the DGCL for the Corporation to indemnify the claimant for the amount claimed. Neither the failure of the Corporation (including its Board, independent legal counsel, or its stockholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such action that indemnification of the claimant is proper in the circumstances because the claimant has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the DGCL, nor an actual determination by the Corporation (including its Board, independent legal counsel or its stockholders) that the claimant has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall be a defense to the action or create a presumption that claimant has not met the applicable standard of conduct. In any suit brought by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the Corporation shall be entitled to recover such expenses upon a final judicial decision from which there is no further right to appeal that the indemnitee has not met any applicable standard for indemnification set forth in the DGCL. In any suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification or to an advancement of expenses hereunder, or brought by the Corporation 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, shall be on the Corporation.
8.3 Indemnification of Employees and Agents. The Corporation may, to the extent authorized from time to time by the Board, grant rights to indemnification, and to the advancement of related expenses, to any employee or agent of the Corporation to the fullest extent of the provisions of this Article VIII with respect to the indemnification of and advancement of expenses to directors and officers of the Corporation.
8.4 Non-Exclusivity of Rights. The rights conferred on any person in this Article VIII shall not be exclusive of any other right which such persons may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, provision of the Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.
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8.5 Indemnification Contracts. The Board is authorized to enter into a contract with any director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, or any person serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another Corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including employee benefit plans, providing for indemnification rights equivalent to or, if the Board so determines, greater than, those provided for in this Article VIII.
8.6 Insurance. The Corporation shall maintain insurance to the extent reasonably available, at its expense, to protect itself and any such director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or another Corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any such expense, liability or loss, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such expense, liability or loss under the DGCL.
8.7 Effect of Amendment. Any amendment, repeal or modification of any provision of this Article VIII shall not adversely affect any right or protection of an indemnitee or his successor in respect of any act or omission occurring prior to such amendment, repeal or modification.
8.8 Reliance. Persons who after the date of the adoption of this provision become or remain directors or officers of the Corporation or who, while a director or officer of the Corporation, become or remain a director, officer, employee or agent of a subsidiary, shall be conclusively presumed to have relied on the rights to indemnity, advance of expenses and other rights contained in this Article VIII in entering into or continuing such service. The rights to indemnification and to the advance of expenses conferred in this Article VIII shall apply to claims made against an indemnitee arising out of acts or omissions which occurred or occur both prior and subsequent to the adoption hereof.
ARTICLE
IX
MISCELLANEOUS
9.1 Place of Meetings. If the place of any meeting of stockholders, the Board or committee of the Board for which notice is required under these Bylaws is not designated in the notice of such meeting, such meeting shall be held at the principal business office of the Corporation; provided, however, if the Board has, in its sole discretion, determined that a meeting shall not be held at any place, but instead shall be held by means of remote communication pursuant to Section 2.13 hereof, then such meeting shall not be held at any place.
9.2 Dividends. The Board may from time to time declare, and the Corporation may pay, dividends (payable in cash, property or shares of the Corporation’s capital stock) on the Corporation’s outstanding shares of capital stock, subject to applicable law and the Certificate of Incorporation.
9.3 Reserves. The Board may set apart out of the funds of the Corporation available for dividends a reserve or reserves for any proper purpose and may abolish any such reserve.
9.4 Contracts and Negotiable Instruments. Except as otherwise provided by applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, any contract, bond, deed, lease, mortgage or other instrument may be executed and delivered in the name and on behalf of the Corporation by such officer or officers or other employee or employees of the Corporation as the Board may from time to time authorize. Such authority may be general or confined to specific instances as the Board may determine. The Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer or any Vice President may execute and deliver any contract, bond, deed, lease, mortgage or other instrument in the name and on behalf of the Corporation. Subject to any restrictions imposed by the Board, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, President, the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer or any Vice President may delegate powers to execute and deliver any contract, bond, deed, lease, mortgage or other instrument in the name and on behalf of the Corporation to other officers or employees of the Corporation under such person’s supervision and authority, it being understood, however, that any such delegation of power shall not relieve such officer of responsibility with respect to the exercise of such delegated power.
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9.5 Seal. The Board may adopt a corporate seal, which shall be in such form as the Board determines. The seal may be used by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed, affixed or otherwise reproduced.
9.6 Books and Records. The books and records of the Corporation may be kept within or outside the State of Delaware at such place or places as may from time to time be designated by the Board.
9.7 Surety Bonds. Such officers, employees and agents of the Corporation (if any) as the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, President or the Board may direct, from time to time, shall be bonded for the faithful performance of their duties and for the restoration to the Corporation, in case of their death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal from office, of all books, papers, vouchers, money and other property of whatever kind in their possession or under their control belonging to the Corporation, in such amounts and by such surety companies as the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, President or the Board may determine. The premiums on such bonds shall be paid by the Corporation and the bonds so furnished shall be in the custody of the Secretary.
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EXHIBIT C
[PARENT]
2021 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page | |||
1. | Establishment, Purpose and term of Plan. | 1 | |
1.1 | Establishment | 1 | |
1.2 | Purpose | 1 | |
1.3 | Term of Plan | 1 | |
2. | Definitions and Construction. | 1 | |
2.1 | Definitions | 1 | |
2.2 | Construction | 8 | |
3. | Administration. | 8 | |
3.1 | Administration by the Committee | 8 | |
3.2 | Authority of Officers | 8 | |
3.3 | Administration with Respect to Insiders | 8 | |
3.4 | Powers of the Committee | 9 | |
3.5 | Option or SAR Repricing | 10 | |
3.6 | Indemnification | 10 | |
4. | Shares Subject to Plan. | 10 | |
4.1 | Maximum Number of Shares Issuable | 10 | |
4.2 | Share Counting | 11 | |
4.3 | Adjustments for Changes in Capital Structure | 11 | |
4.4 | Assumption or Substitution of Awards | 12 | |
5. | Eligibility, Participation and Award Limitations. | 12 | |
5.1 | Persons Eligible for Awards | 12 | |
5.2 | Participation in the Plan | 12 | |
5.3 | Incentive Stock Option Limitations | 12 | |
5.4 | Nonemployee Director Award Limit | 13 | |
6. | Stock Options. | 13 | |
6.1 | Exercise Price | 13 | |
6.2 | Exercisability and Term of Options | 13 | |
6.3 | Payment of Exercise Price | 14 | |
6.4 | Effect of Termination of Service | 15 | |
6.5 | Transferability of Options | 16 |
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
(continued)
Page | |||
7. | Stock Appreciation Rights. | 16 | |
7.1 | Types of SARs Authorized | 16 | |
7.2 | Exercise Price | 16 | |
7.3 | Exercisability and Term of SARs | 17 | |
7.4 | Exercise of SARs | 17 | |
7.5 | Deemed Exercise of SARs | 17 | |
7.6 | Effect of Termination of Service | 18 | |
7.7 | Transferability of SARs | 18 | |
8. | Restricted Stock Awards. | 18 | |
8.1 | Types of Restricted Stock Awards Authorized | 18 | |
8.2 | Purchase Price | 18 | |
8.3 | Purchase Period | 19 | |
8.4 | Payment of Purchase Price | 19 | |
8.5 | Vesting and Restrictions on Transfer | 19 | |
8.6 | Voting Rights; Dividends and Distributions | 19 | |
8.7 | Effect of Termination of Service | 20 | |
8.8 | Nontransferability of Restricted Stock Award Rights | 20 | |
9. | Restricted Stock Units. | 20 | |
9.1 | Grant of Restricted Stock Unit Awards | 20 | |
9.2 | Purchase Price | 20 | |
9.3 | Vesting | 21 | |
9.4 | Voting Rights, Dividend Equivalent Rights and Distributions | 21 | |
9.5 | Effect of Termination of Service | 21 | |
9.6 | Settlement of Restricted Stock Unit Awards | 22 | |
9.7 | Nontransferability of Restricted Stock Unit Awards | 22 | |
10. | Performance Awards. | 22 | |
10.1 | Types of Performance Awards Authorized | 22 | |
10.2 | Initial Value of Performance Shares and Performance Units | 22 | |
10.3 | Establishment of Performance Period, Performance Goals and Performance Award Formula | 23 | |
10.4 | Measurement of Performance Goals | 23 | |
10.5 | Settlement of Performance Awards | 25 |
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
(continued)
Page | |||
10.6 | Voting Rights; Dividend Equivalent Rights and Distributions | 26 | |
10.7 | Effect of Termination of Service | 27 | |
10.8 | Nontransferability of Performance Awards | 27 | |
11. | Cash-Based Awards and Other Stock-Based Awards. | 27 | |
11.1 | Grant of Cash-Based Awards | 27 | |
11.2 | Grant of Other Stock-Based Awards | 27 | |
11.3 | Value of Cash-Based and Other Stock-Based Awards | 28 | |
11.4 | Payment or Settlement of Cash-Based Awards and Other Stock-Based Awards | 28 | |
11.5 | Voting Rights; Dividend Equivalent Rights and Distributions | 28 | |
11.6 | Effect of Termination of Service | 29 | |
11.7 | Nontransferability of Cash-Based Awards and Other Stock-Based Awards | 29 | |
12. | Standard Forms of Award Agreement. | 29 | |
12.1 | Award Agreements | 29 | |
12.2 | Authority to Vary Terms | 29 | |
13. | Change in Control. | 29 | |
13.1 | Effect of Change in Control on Awards | 29 | |
13.2 | Effect of Change in Control on Nonemployee Director Awards | 31 | |
13.3 | Federal Excise Tax Under Section 4999 of the Code | 31 | |
14. | Compliance with Securities Law. | 32 | |
15. | Compliance with Section 409A. | 32 | |
15.1 | Awards Subject to Section 409A | 32 | |
15.2 | Deferral and/or Distribution Elections | 33 | |
15.3 | Subsequent Elections | 33 | |
15.4 | Payment of Section 409A Deferred Compensation | 34 | |
16. | Tax Withholding. | 36 | |
16.1 | Tax Withholding in General | 36 | |
16.2 | Withholding in or Directed Sale of Shares | 36 | |
17. | Amendment, Suspension or Termination of Plan. | 36 | |
18. | Miscellaneous Provisions. | 37 | |
18.1 | Repurchase Rights | 37 | |
18.2 | Forfeiture Events | 37 | |
18.3 | Provision of Information | 37 | |
18.4 | Rights as Employee, Consultant or Director | 37 | |
18.5 | Rights as a Stockholder | 38 | |
18.6 | Delivery of Title to Shares | 38 | |
18.7 | Fractional Shares | 38 | |
18.8 | Retirement and Welfare Plans | 38 | |
18.9 | Beneficiary Designation | 38 | |
18.10 | Severability | 38 | |
18.11 | No Constraint on Corporate Action | 39 | |
18.12 | Unfunded Obligation | 39 | |
18.13 | Choice of Law | 39 |
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[Parent]
2021 Equity Incentive Plan
1. | Establishment, Purpose and term of Plan. |
1.1 Establishment. The [Parent] 2021 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) is hereby established effective as of [•], 2021, the date of the closing of the transactions contemplated by that certain business combination agreement dated as of August 3, 2021, entered into by and between the Company and Pico Quantitative Trading Holdings LLC, following the Plan’s approval by the stockholders of the Company (the “Effective Date”).
1.2 Purpose. The purpose of the Plan is to advance the interests of the Participating Company Group and its stockholders by providing an incentive to attract, retain and reward persons performing services for the Participating Company Group and by motivating such persons to contribute to the growth and profitability of the Participating Company Group. The Plan seeks to achieve this purpose by providing for Awards in the form of Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock Awards, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Shares, Performance Units, Cash-Based Awards and Other Stock-Based Awards.
1.3 Term of Plan. The Plan shall continue in effect until its termination by the Committee; provided, however, that all Awards shall be granted, if at all, within ten (10) years from the earlier of the date that the Plan was approved by the Board or the stockholders of the Company.
2. | Definitions and Construction. |
2.1 Definitions. Whenever used herein, the following terms shall have their respective meanings set forth below:
(a) “Affiliate” means (i) a parent entity, other than a Parent Corporation, that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediary entities, controls the Company or (ii) a subsidiary entity, other than a Subsidiary Corporation, that is controlled by the Company directly or indirectly through one or more intermediary entities. For this purpose, the terms “parent,” “subsidiary,” “control” and “controlled by” shall have the meanings assigned to such terms for the purposes of registration of securities on Form S-8 under the Securities Act.
(b) “Award” means any Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock Purchase Right, Restricted Stock Bonus, Restricted Stock Unit, Performance Share, Performance Unit, Cash-Based Award or Other Stock-Based Award granted under the Plan.
(c) “Award Agreement” means a written or electronic agreement between the Company and a Participant setting forth the terms, conditions and restrictions applicable to an Award.
(d) “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.
(e) “Cash-Based Award” means an Award denominated in cash and granted pursuant to Section 11.
(f) “Cashless Exercise” means a Cashless Exercise as defined in Section 6.3(b)(i).
(g) “Cause” means, unless such term or an equivalent term is otherwise defined by the applicable Award Agreement or other written agreement between a Participant and a Participating Company applicable to an Award, any of the following: (i) the Participant’s theft, dishonesty, willful misconduct, breach of fiduciary duty for personal profit, or falsification of any Participating Company documents or records; (ii) the Participant’s material failure to abide by a Participating Company’s code of conduct or other policies (including, without limitation, policies relating to confidentiality and reasonable workplace conduct); (iii) the Participant’s unauthorized use, misappropriation, destruction or diversion of any tangible or intangible asset or corporate opportunity of a Participating Company (including, without limitation, the Participant’s improper use or disclosure of a Participating Company’s confidential or proprietary information); (iv) any intentional act by the Participant which has a material detrimental effect on a Participating Company’s reputation or business; (v) the Participant’s repeated failure or inability to perform any reasonable assigned duties after written notice from a Participating Company of, and a reasonable opportunity to cure, such failure or inability; (vi) any material breach by the Participant of any employment, service, non-disclosure, non-competition, non-solicitation or other similar agreement between the Participant and a Participating Company, which breach is not cured pursuant to the terms of such agreement (except with respect to a disclosure protected by applicable law); or (vii) the Participant’s conviction (including any plea of guilty or nolo contendere) of any criminal act involving fraud, dishonesty, misappropriation or moral turpitude, or which impairs the Participant’s ability to perform his or her duties with a Participating Company.
(h) “Change in Control” means the occurrence of any one or a combination of the following:
(i) any “person” (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) becomes the “beneficial owner” (as such term is defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the total Fair Market Value or total combined voting power of the Company’s then-outstanding securities entitled to vote generally in the election of Directors; provided, however, that a Change in Control shall not be deemed to have occurred if such degree of beneficial ownership results from any of the following: (A) an acquisition by any person who on the Effective Date is the beneficial owner of more than fifty percent (50%) of such voting power, (B) any acquisition directly from the Company, including, without limitation, pursuant to or in connection with a public offering of securities, (C) any acquisition by the Company, (D) any acquisition by a trustee or other fiduciary under an employee benefit plan of a Participating Company or (E) any acquisition by an entity owned directly or indirectly by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of the voting securities of the Company; or
(ii) an Ownership Change Event or series of related Ownership Change Events (collectively, a “Transaction”) in which the stockholders of the Company immediately before the Transaction do not retain immediately after the Transaction direct or indirect beneficial ownership of more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of the outstanding securities entitled to vote generally in the election of Directors or, in the case of an Ownership Change Event described in Section 2.1(dd)(iii), the entity to which the assets of the Company were transferred (the “Transferee”), as the case may be; or
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(iii) a date specified by the Committee following approval by the stockholders of a plan of complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company;
provided, however, that a Change in Control shall be deemed not to include a transaction described in subsections (i) or (ii) of this Section 2.1(h) in which a majority of the members of the board of directors of the continuing, surviving or successor entity, or parent thereof, immediately after such transaction is comprised of Incumbent Directors.
For purposes of the preceding sentence, indirect beneficial ownership shall include, without limitation, an interest resulting from ownership of the voting securities of one or more corporations or other business entities which own the Company or the Transferee, as the case may be, either directly or through one or more subsidiary corporations or other business entities. The Committee shall determine whether multiple events described in subsections (i), (ii) and (iii) of this Section 2.1(h) are related and to be treated in the aggregate as a single Change in Control, and its determination shall be final, binding and conclusive.
(i) “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any applicable regulations and administrative guidelines promulgated thereunder.
(j) “Committee” means the Compensation Committee and such other committee or subcommittee of the Board, if any, duly appointed to administer the Plan and having such powers in each instance as shall be specified by the Board. If, at any time, there is no committee of the Board then authorized or properly constituted to administer the Plan, the Board shall exercise all of the powers of the Committee granted herein, and, in any event, the Board may in its discretion exercise any or all of such powers and, in such instances, references herein to the Committee shall mean the Board. Unless the Board specifically determines otherwise, each member of the Committee shall, at the time it takes any action with respect to an Award under the Plan, be a “non-employee director” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 and an “independent director” under the rules of any stock exchange on which the Stock is listed. However, the fact that a Committee member shall fail to qualify as “non-employee director” or an “independent director” shall not invalidate any Award granted by the Committee which Award is otherwise validly granted under the Plan.
(k) “Company” means [Parent], a Delaware corporation, and any successor corporation thereto.
(l) “Consultant” means a person engaged to provide consulting or advisory services (other than as an Employee or a Director) to a Participating Company, provided that the identity of such person, the nature of such services or the entity to which such services are provided would not preclude the Company from offering or selling securities to such person pursuant to the Plan in reliance on registration on Form S-8 under the Securities Act.
(m) “Director” means a member of the Board.
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(n) “Disability” means the permanent and total disability of the Participant, within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code.
(o) “Dividend Equivalent Right” means the right of a Participant, granted at the discretion of the Committee or as otherwise provided by the Plan, to receive a credit for the account of such Participant in an amount equal to the cash dividends paid on one share of Stock for each share of Stock represented by an Award held by such Participant.
(p) “Employee” means any person treated as an employee (including an Officer or a Director who is also treated as an employee) in the records of a Participating Company and, with respect to any Incentive Stock Option granted to such person, who is an employee for purposes of Section 422 of the Code; provided, however, that neither service as a Director nor payment of a Director’s fee shall be sufficient to constitute employment for purposes of the Plan. The Company shall determine in good faith and in the exercise of its discretion whether an individual has become or has ceased to be an Employee and the effective date of such individual’s employment or termination of employment, as the case may be. For purposes of an individual’s rights, if any, under the terms of the Plan as of the time of the Company’s determination of whether or not the individual is an Employee, all such determinations by the Company shall be final, binding and conclusive as to such rights, if any, notwithstanding that the Company or any court of law or governmental agency subsequently makes a contrary determination as to such individual’s status as an Employee.
(q) “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
(r) “Fair Market Value” means, as of any date, the value of a share of Stock or other property as determined by the Committee, in its discretion, or by the Company, in its discretion, if such determination is expressly allocated to the Company herein, subject to the following:
(i) Except as otherwise determined by the Committee, if, on such date, the Stock is listed or quoted on a national or regional securities exchange or quotation system, the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock shall be the closing price of a share of Stock as quoted on the national or regional securities exchange or quotation system constituting the primary market for the Stock, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Company deems reliable. If the relevant date does not fall on a day on which the Stock has traded on such securities exchange or quotation system, the date on which the Fair Market Value shall be established shall be the last day on which the Stock was so traded or quoted prior to the relevant date, or such other appropriate day as shall be determined by the Committee, in its discretion.
(ii) If, on such date, the Stock is not listed or quoted on a national or regional securities exchange or quotation system, the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock shall be as determined by the Committee in good faith without regard to any restriction other than a restriction which, by its terms, will never lapse, and in a manner consistent with the requirements of Section 409A or Section 422 of the Code to the extent applicable.
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(s) “Full Value Award” means any Award settled in Stock, other than (i) an Option, (ii) a Stock Appreciation Right, or (iii) a Restricted Stock Purchase Right or an Other Stock-Based Award under which the Company will receive monetary consideration equal to the Fair Market Value (determined on the effective date of grant) of the shares subject to such Award.
(t) “Incentive Stock Option” means an Option intended to be (as set forth in the Award Agreement) and which qualifies as an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422(b) of the Code.
(u) “Incumbent Director” means a director who either (i) is a member of the Board as of the Effective Date or (ii) is elected, or nominated for election, to the Board with the affirmative votes of at least a majority of the Incumbent Directors at the time of such election or nomination (but excluding a director who was elected or nominated in connection with an actual or threatened proxy contest relating to the election of directors of the Company).
(v) “Insider” means an Officer, a Director or other person whose transactions in Stock are subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act.
(w) “Net Exercise” means a Net Exercise as defined in Section 6.3(b)(iii).
(x) “Nonemployee Director” means a Director who is not an Employee.
(y) “Nonemployee Director Award” means any Award granted to a Nonemployee Director.
(z) “Nonstatutory Stock Option” means an Option not intended to be (as set forth in the Award Agreement) or which does not qualify as an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422(b) of the Code.
(aa) “Officer” means any person designated by the Board as an officer of the Company.
(bb) “Option” means an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonstatutory Stock Option granted pursuant to the Plan.
(cc) “Other Stock-Based Award” means an Award denominated in shares of Stock and granted pursuant to Section 11.
(dd) “Ownership Change Event” means the occurrence of any of the following with respect to the Company: (i) the direct or indirect sale or exchange in a single or series of related transactions by the stockholders of the Company of securities of the Company representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities entitled to vote generally in the election of Directors; (ii) a merger or consolidation in which the Company is a party; or (iii) the sale, exchange, or transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company (other than a sale, exchange or transfer to one or more subsidiaries of the Company).
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(ee) “Parent Corporation” means any present or future “parent corporation” of the Company, as defined in Section 424(e) of the Code.
(ff) “Participant” means any eligible person who has been granted one or more Awards.
(gg) “Participating Company” means the Company or any Parent Corporation, Subsidiary Corporation or Affiliate.
(hh) “Participating Company Group” means, at any point in time, the Company and all other entities collectively which are then Participating Companies.
(ii) “Performance Award” means an Award of Performance Shares or Performance Units.
(jj) “Performance Award Formula” means, for any Performance Award, a formula or table established by the Committee pursuant to Section 10.3 which provides the basis for computing the value of a Performance Award at one or more levels of attainment of the applicable Performance Goal(s) measured as of the end of the applicable Performance Period.
(kk) “Performance Goal” means a performance goal established by the Committee pursuant to Section 10.3.
(ll) “Performance Period” means a period established by the Committee pursuant to Section 10.3 at the end of which one or more Performance Goals are to be measured.
(mm) “Performance Share” means a right granted to a Participant pursuant to Section 10 to receive a payment equal to the value of a Performance Share, as determined by the Committee, based upon attainment of applicable Performance Goal(s).
(nn) “Performance Unit” means a right granted to a Participant pursuant to Section 10 to receive a payment equal to the value of a Performance Unit, as determined by the Committee, based upon attainment of applicable Performance Goal(s).
(oo) “Restricted Stock Award” means an Award of a Restricted Stock Bonus or a Restricted Stock Purchase Right.
(pp) “Restricted Stock Bonus” means Stock granted to a Participant pursuant to Section 8.
(qq) “Restricted Stock Purchase Right” means a right to purchase Stock granted to a Participant pursuant to Section 8.
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(rr) “Restricted Stock Unit” means a right granted to a Participant pursuant to Section 9 to receive on a future date or occurrence of a future event a share of Stock or cash in lieu thereof, as determined by the Committee.
(ss) “Rule 16b-3” means Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act, as amended from time to time, or any successor rule or regulation.
(tt) “SAR” or “Stock Appreciation Right” means a right granted to a Participant pursuant to Section 7 to receive payment, for each share of Stock subject to such Award, of an amount equal to the excess, if any, of the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date of exercise of the Award over the exercise price thereof.
(uu) “Section 409A” means Section 409A of the Code.
(vv) “Section 409A Deferred Compensation” means compensation provided pursuant to an Award that constitutes nonqualified deferred compensation within the meaning of Section 409A.
(ww) “Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
(xx) “Service” means a Participant’s employment or service with the Participating Company Group, whether as an Employee, a Director or a Consultant. Unless otherwise provided by the Committee, a Participant’s Service shall not be deemed to have terminated merely because of a change in the capacity in which the Participant renders Service or a change in the Participating Company for which the Participant renders Service, provided that there is no interruption or termination of the Participant’s Service. Furthermore, a Participant’s Service shall not be deemed to have been interrupted or terminated if the Participant takes any military leave, sick leave, or other bona fide leave of absence approved by the Company. However, unless otherwise provided by the Committee, if any such leave taken by a Participant exceeds ninety (90) days, then on the ninety-first (91st) day following the commencement of such leave the Participant’s Service shall be deemed to have terminated, unless the Participant’s right to return to Service is guaranteed by statute or contract. Notwithstanding the foregoing, unless otherwise designated by the Company or required by law, an unpaid leave of absence shall not be treated as Service for purposes of determining vesting under the Participant’s Award Agreement. A Participant’s Service shall be deemed to have terminated either upon an actual termination of Service or upon the business entity for which the Participant performs Service ceasing to be a Participating Company. Subject to the foregoing, the Company, in its discretion, shall determine whether the Participant’s Service has terminated and the effective date of and reason for such termination.
(yy) “Stock” means the Class A Common Stock of the Company, as adjusted from time to time in accordance with Section 4.
(zz) “Stock Tender Exercise” means a Stock Tender Exercise as defined in Section 6.3(b)(ii).
(aaa) “Subsidiary Corporation” means any present or future “subsidiary corporation” of the Company, as defined in Section 424(f) of the Code.
7
(bbb) “Ten Percent Owner” means a Participant who, at the time an Option is granted to the Participant, owns stock possessing more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of a Participating Company (other than an Affiliate) within the meaning of Section 422(b)(6) of the Code.
(ccc) “Trading Compliance Policy” means the written policy of the Company pertaining to the purchase, sale, transfer or other disposition of the Company’s equity securities by Directors, Officers, Employees or other service providers who may possess material, nonpublic information regarding the Company or its securities.
(ddd) “Vesting Conditions” mean those conditions established in accordance with the Plan prior to the satisfaction of which an Award or shares subject to an Award remain subject to forfeiture or a repurchase option in favor of the Company exercisable for the Participant’s monetary purchase price, if any, for such shares upon the Participant’s termination of Service or failure of a performance condition to be satisfied.
2.2 Construction. Captions and titles contained herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the meaning or interpretation of any provision of the Plan. Except when otherwise indicated by the context, the singular shall include the plural and the plural shall include the singular. Use of the term “or” is not intended to be exclusive, unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
3. | Administration. |
3.1 Administration by the Committee. The Plan shall be administered by the Committee. All questions of interpretation of the Plan, of any Award Agreement or of any other form of agreement or other document employed by the Company in the administration of the Plan or of any Award shall be determined by the Committee, and such determinations shall be final, binding and conclusive upon all persons having an interest in the Plan or such Award, unless fraudulent or made in bad faith. Any and all actions, decisions and determinations taken or made by the Committee in the exercise of its discretion pursuant to the Plan or Award Agreement or other agreement thereunder (other than determining questions of interpretation pursuant to the preceding sentence) shall be final, binding and conclusive upon all persons having an interest therein. All expenses incurred in connection with the administration of the Plan shall be paid by the Company.
3.2 Authority of Officers. Any Officer shall have the authority to act on behalf of the Company with respect to any matter, right, obligation, determination or election that is the responsibility of or that is allocated to the Company herein, provided that the Officer has apparent authority with respect to such matter, right, obligation, determination or election.
3.3 Administration with Respect to Insiders. With respect to participation by Insiders in the Plan, at any time that any class of equity security of the Company is registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act, the Plan shall be administered in compliance with the requirements, if any, of Rule 16b-3.
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3.4 Powers of the Committee. In addition to any other powers set forth in the Plan and subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall have the full and final power and authority, in its discretion:
(a) to determine the persons to whom, and the time or times at which, Awards shall be granted and the number of shares of Stock, units or monetary value to be subject to each Award;
(b) to determine the type of Award granted;
(c) to determine the Fair Market Value of shares of Stock or other property;
(d) to determine the terms, conditions and restrictions applicable to each Award (which need not be identical) and any shares acquired pursuant thereto, including, without limitation, (i) the exercise or purchase price of shares pursuant to any Award, (ii) the method of payment for shares purchased pursuant to any Award, (iii) the method for satisfaction of any tax withholding obligation arising in connection with any Award, including by the withholding or delivery of shares of Stock, (iv) the timing, terms and conditions of the exercisability or vesting of any Award or any shares acquired pursuant thereto, (v) the Performance Measures, Performance Period, Performance Award Formula and Performance Goals applicable to any Award and the extent to which such Performance Goals have been attained, (vi) the time of expiration of any Award, (vii) the effect of any Participant’s termination of Service on any of the foregoing, and (viii) all other terms, conditions and restrictions applicable to any Award or shares acquired pursuant thereto not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan;
(e) to determine whether an Award will be settled in shares of Stock, cash, other property or in any combination thereof;
(f) to approve one or more forms of Award Agreement;
(g) to amend, modify, extend, cancel or renew any Award or to waive any restrictions or conditions applicable to any Award or any shares acquired pursuant thereto;
(h) to accelerate, continue, extend or defer the exercisability or vesting of any Award or any shares acquired pursuant thereto, including with respect to the period following a Participant’s termination of Service;
(i) to prescribe, amend or rescind rules, guidelines and policies relating to the Plan, or to adopt sub-plans or supplements to, or alternative versions of, the Plan, including, without limitation, as the Committee deems necessary or desirable to comply with the laws of, or to accommodate the tax policy, accounting principles or custom of, foreign jurisdictions whose residents may be granted Awards; and
(j) to correct any defect, supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan or any Award Agreement and to make all other determinations and take such other actions with respect to the Plan or any Award as the Committee may deem advisable to the extent not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan or applicable law.
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3.5 Option or SAR Repricing. Without the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the shares of Stock cast in person or by proxy at a meeting of the stockholders of the Company at which a quorum representing a majority of all outstanding shares of Stock is present or represented by proxy, the Committee shall not approve a program providing for either (a) the cancellation of outstanding Options or SARs having exercise prices per share greater than the then Fair Market Value of a share of Stock (“Underwater Awards”) and the grant in substitution therefor of new Options or SARs having a lower exercise price, Full Value Awards or payments in cash, or (b) the amendment of outstanding Underwater Awards to reduce the exercise price thereof. This Section shall not be construed to apply to (i) “issuing or assuming a stock option in a transaction to which Section 424(a) applies,” within the meaning of Section 424 of the Code, (ii) adjustments pursuant to the assumption of or substitution for an Option or SAR in a manner that would comply with Section 409A, or (iii) an adjustment pursuant to Section 4.
3.6 Indemnification. In addition to such other rights of indemnification as they may have as members of the Board or the Committee or as officers or employees of the Participating Company Group, to the extent permitted by applicable law, members of the Board or the Committee and any officers or employees of the Participating Company Group to whom authority to act for the Board, the Committee or the Company is delegated shall be indemnified by the Company against all reasonable expenses, including attorneys’ fees, actually and necessarily incurred in connection with the defense of any action, suit or proceeding, or in connection with any appeal therein, to which they or any of them may be a party by reason of any action taken or failure to act under or in connection with the Plan, or any right granted hereunder, and against all amounts paid by them in settlement thereof (provided such settlement is approved by independent legal counsel selected by the Company) or paid by them in satisfaction of a judgment in any such action, suit or proceeding, except in relation to matters as to which it shall be adjudged in such action, suit or proceeding that such person is liable for gross negligence, bad faith or intentional misconduct in duties; provided, however, that within sixty (60) days after the institution of such action, suit or proceeding, such person shall offer to the Company, in writing, the opportunity at its own expense to handle and defend the same.
4. | Shares Subject to Plan. |
4.1 Maximum Number of Shares Issuable. Subject to adjustment as provided in Sections 4.2 and 4.3, the maximum aggregate number of shares of Stock that may initially be issued under the Plan shall be equal to [•]shares. In addition, as of the first trading day of January during the term of the Plan, beginning with calendar year 2022, an additional positive number of shares of Stock shall be added to the number of shares of Stock authorized to be issued or transferred pursuant to the Plan, equal to 3% of the total number of shares of Stock outstanding on the last trading day in December of the immediately preceding calendar year.
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4.2 Share Counting. If an outstanding Award for any reason expires or is terminated or canceled without having been exercised or settled in full, or if shares of Stock acquired pursuant to an Award subject to forfeiture or repurchase are forfeited or repurchased by the Company for an amount not greater than the Participant’s purchase price, the shares of Stock allocable to the terminated portion of such Award or such forfeited or repurchased shares of Stock shall again be available for issuance under the Plan. Shares of Stock shall not be deemed to have been issued pursuant to the Plan with respect to any portion of an Award that is settled in cash. Upon payment in shares of Stock pursuant to the exercise of an SAR, the number of shares available for issuance under the Plan shall be reduced by the gross number of shares for which the SAR is exercised. If the exercise price of an Option is paid by tender to the Company, or attestation to the ownership, of shares of Stock owned by the Participant, or by means of a Net Exercise, the number of shares available for issuance under the Plan shall be reduced only by the net number of shares for which the Option is exercised. Shares purchased in the open market with proceeds from the exercise of Options shall not be added to the limit set forth in Section 4.1. Shares withheld or reacquired by the Company in satisfaction of tax withholding obligations pursuant to the exercise or settlement of Options or SARs pursuant to Section 16.2 and Shares withheld or reacquired by the Company in satisfaction of tax withholding obligations pursuant to the vesting or settlement of Full Value Awards pursuant to Section 16.2 shall again become available for issuance under the Plan.
4.3 Adjustments for Changes in Capital Structure. Subject to any required action by the stockholders of the Company and the requirements of Section 409A and Section 424 of the Code to the extent applicable, in the event of any change in the Stock effected without receipt of consideration by the Company, whether through merger, consolidation, reorganization, reincorporation, recapitalization, reclassification, stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, split-up, split-off, spin-off, combination of shares, exchange of shares, or similar change in the capital structure of the Company, or in the event of payment of a dividend or distribution to the stockholders of the Company in a form other than Stock (excepting regular, periodic cash dividends) that has a material effect on the Fair Market Value of shares of Stock, appropriate and proportionate adjustments shall be made in the number and kind of shares subject to the Plan and to any outstanding Awards, the Award limits set forth in Section 5.3, and in the exercise or purchase price per share under any outstanding Award in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of Participants’ rights under the Plan. For purposes of the foregoing, conversion of any convertible securities of the Company shall not be treated as “effected without receipt of consideration by the Company.” If a majority of the shares which are of the same class as the shares that are subject to outstanding Awards are exchanged for, converted into, or otherwise become (whether or not pursuant to an Ownership Change Event) shares of another corporation (the “New Shares”), the Committee may unilaterally amend the outstanding Awards to provide that such Awards are for New Shares. In the event of any such amendment, the number of shares subject to, and the exercise or purchase price per share of, the outstanding Awards shall be adjusted in a fair and equitable manner as determined by the Committee, in its discretion and in accordance with Section 409A and Section 424 of the Code to the extent applicable. Any fractional share resulting from an adjustment pursuant to this Section shall be rounded down to the nearest whole number and the exercise or purchase price per share shall be rounded up to the nearest whole cent. In no event may the exercise or purchase price, if any, under any Award be decreased to an amount less than the par value, if any, of the stock subject to such Award. The Committee in its discretion, may also make such adjustments in the terms of any Award to reflect, or related to, such changes in the capital structure of the Company or distributions as it deems appropriate, including modification of Performance Goals, Performance Award Formulas and Performance Periods. The adjustments determined by the Committee pursuant to this Section shall be final, binding and conclusive.
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4.4 Assumption or Substitution of Awards. The Committee may, without affecting the number of shares of Stock reserved or available hereunder, authorize the issuance or assumption of equity awards under this Plan in connection with any merger, consolidation, acquisition of property or stock, or reorganization upon such terms and conditions as it may deem appropriate, subject to compliance with Section 409A and any other applicable provisions of the Code, without reducing the number of shares otherwise available for issuance under the Plan. In addition, subject to compliance with applicable laws, and listing requirements, shares available for grant under a stockholder approved plan of an acquired company (as appropriately adjusted to reflect the transaction) may be used for awards under the Plan to individuals who were not Employees or Directors of the Participating Company Group prior to the transaction and shall not reduce the number of shares otherwise available for issuance under the Plan.
5. | Eligibility, Participation and Award Limitations. |
5.1 Persons Eligible for Awards. Awards may be granted only to Employees, Consultants and Directors.
5.2 Participation in the Plan. Awards are granted solely at the discretion of the Committee. Eligible persons may be granted more than one Award. However, eligibility in accordance with this Section shall not entitle any person to be granted an Award, or, having been granted an Award, to be granted an additional Award.
5.3 Incentive Stock Option Limitations.
(a) Maximum Number of Shares Issuable Pursuant to Incentive Stock Options. Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4.3, the maximum aggregate number of shares of Stock that may be issued under the Plan pursuant to the exercise of Incentive Stock Options shall not exceed [•]shares. The maximum aggregate number of shares of Stock that may be issued under the Plan pursuant to all Awards other than Incentive Stock Options shall be the number of shares determined in accordance with Section 4.1, subject to adjustment as provided in Sections 4.2 and 4.3.
(b) Persons Eligible. An Incentive Stock Option may be granted only to a person who, on the effective date of grant, is an Employee of the Company, a Parent Corporation or a Subsidiary Corporation (each being an “ISO-Qualifying Corporation”). Any person who is not an Employee of an ISO-Qualifying Corporation on the effective date of the grant of an Option to such person may be granted only a Nonstatutory Stock Option.
(c) Fair Market Value Limitation. To the extent that options designated as Incentive Stock Options (granted under all stock plans of the Participating Company Group, including the Plan) become exercisable by a Participant for the first time during any calendar year for stock having a Fair Market Value greater than One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000), the portion of such options which exceeds such amount shall be treated as Nonstatutory Stock Options. For purposes of this Section, options designated as Incentive Stock Options shall be taken into account in the order in which they were granted, and the Fair Market Value of stock shall be determined as of the time the option with respect to such stock is granted. If the Code is amended to provide for a limitation different from that set forth in this Section, such different limitation shall be deemed incorporated herein effective as of the date and with respect to such Options as required or permitted by such amendment to the Code. If an Option is treated as an Incentive Stock Option in part and as a Nonstatutory Stock Option in part by reason of the limitation set forth in this Section, the Participant may designate which portion of such Option the Participant is exercising. In the absence of such designation, the Participant shall be deemed to have exercised the Incentive Stock Option portion of the Option first. Upon exercise of the Option, shares issued pursuant to each such portion shall be separately identified.
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5.4 Nonemployee Director Award Limit. Annual compensation awarded to any Nonemployee Director during each calendar year, including both shares of Stock subject to Awards and any cash fees paid to such Nonemployee Director (but excluding any cash retainer fees, including cash retainer fees converted into equity awards at the election of the Nonemployee Director, expense reimbursements or distributions from any deferred compensation program applicable to the Nonemployee Director), may not exceed $[1,000,000] in total value, or $[2,000,000] in the calendar year in which any Nonemployee Director is initially elected to the Board (calculating the value of any such Awards based on the grant date fair value of such Awards for financial reporting purposes).
6. | Stock Options. |
Options shall be evidenced by Award Agreements specifying the number of shares of Stock covered thereby, in such form as the Committee shall establish. Such Award Agreements may incorporate all or any of the terms of the Plan by reference and shall comply with and be subject to the following terms and conditions:
6.1 Exercise Price. The exercise price for each Option shall be established in the discretion of the Committee; provided, however, that (a) the exercise price per share shall be not less than the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the effective date of grant of the Option and (b) no Incentive Stock Option granted to a Ten Percent Owner shall have an exercise price per share less than one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the effective date of grant of the Option. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Option (whether an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonstatutory Stock Option) may be granted with an exercise price less than the minimum exercise price set forth above if such Option is granted pursuant to an assumption or substitution for another option in a manner that would qualify under the provisions of Section 409A or Section 424(a) of the Code.
6.2 Exercisability and Term of Options. Options shall be exercisable at such time or times, or upon such event or events, and subject to such terms, conditions, performance criteria and restrictions as shall be determined by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement evidencing such Option; provided, however, that (a) no Option shall be exercisable after the expiration of ten (10) years after the effective date of grant of such Option, (b) no Incentive Stock Option granted to a Ten Percent Owner shall be exercisable after the expiration of five (5) years after the effective date of grant of such Option and (c) no Option granted to an Employee who is a non-exempt employee for purposes of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, as amended, shall be first exercisable until at least six (6) months following the date of grant of such Option (except in the event of such Employee’s death, disability or retirement, upon a Change in Control, or as otherwise permitted by the Worker Economic Opportunity Act). Subject to the foregoing, unless otherwise specified by the Committee in the grant of an Option, each Option shall terminate ten (10) years after the effective date of grant of the Option, unless earlier terminated in accordance with its provisions.
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6.3 Payment of Exercise Price.
(a) Forms of Consideration Authorized. Except as otherwise provided below, payment of the exercise price for the number of shares of Stock being purchased pursuant to any Option shall be made (i) in cash, by check or in cash equivalent; (ii) if permitted by the Committee and subject to the limitations contained in Section 6.3(b), by means of (1) a Cashless Exercise, (2) a Stock Tender Exercise or (3) a Net Exercise; (iii) by such other consideration as may be approved by the Committee from time to time to the extent permitted by applicable law, or (iv) if permitted by the Committee, by any combination thereof. The Committee may at any time or from time to time grant Options which do not permit all of the foregoing forms of consideration to be used in payment of the exercise price or which otherwise restrict one or more forms of consideration.
(b) Limitations on Forms of Consideration.
(i) Cashless Exercise. A “Cashless Exercise” means the delivery of a properly executed notice of exercise together with irrevocable instructions to a broker providing for the assignment to the Company of the proceeds of a sale or loan with respect to some or all of the shares being acquired upon the exercise of the Option (including, without limitation, through an exercise complying with the provisions of Regulation T as promulgated from time to time by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System). The Company reserves, at any and all times, the right, in the Company’s sole and absolute discretion, to establish, decline to approve or terminate any program or procedures for the exercise of Options by means of a Cashless Exercise, including with respect to one or more Participants specified by the Company notwithstanding that such program or procedures may be available to other Participants.
(ii) Stock Tender Exercise. A “Stock Tender Exercise” means the delivery of a properly executed exercise notice accompanied by a Participant’s tender to the Company, or attestation to the ownership, in a form acceptable to the Company of whole shares of Stock owned by the Participant having a Fair Market Value that does not exceed the aggregate exercise price for the shares with respect to which the Option is exercised. A Stock Tender Exercise shall not be permitted if it would constitute a violation of the provisions of any law, regulation or agreement restricting the redemption of the Company’s stock. If required by the Company, an Option may not be exercised by tender to the Company, or attestation to the ownership, of shares of Stock unless such shares either have been owned by the Participant for a period of time required by the Company (and not used for another option exercise by attestation during such period) or were not acquired, directly or indirectly, from the Company.
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(iii) Net Exercise. A “Net Exercise” means the delivery of a properly executed exercise notice followed by a procedure pursuant to which (1) the Company will reduce the number of shares otherwise issuable to a Participant upon the exercise of an Option by the largest whole number of shares having a Fair Market Value that does not exceed the aggregate exercise price for the shares with respect to which the Option is exercised, and (2) the Participant shall pay to the Company in cash the remaining balance of such aggregate exercise price not satisfied by such reduction in the number of whole shares to be issued.
6.4 Effect of Termination of Service.
(a) Option Exercisability. Subject to earlier termination of the Option as otherwise provided by this Plan and unless otherwise provided by the Committee or in an Award Agreement, an Option shall terminate immediately upon the Participant’s termination of Service to the extent that it is then unvested and shall be exercisable after the Participant’s termination of Service to the extent it is then vested only during the applicable time period determined in accordance with this Section and thereafter shall terminate.
(i) Disability. If the Participant’s Service terminates because of the Disability of the Participant, the Option, to the extent unexercised and exercisable for vested shares on the date on which the Participant’s Service terminated, may be exercised by the Participant (or the Participant’s guardian or legal representative) at any time prior to the expiration of twelve (12) months (or such longer or shorter period provided by the Award Agreement) after the date on which the Participant’s Service terminated, but in any event no later than the date of expiration of the Option’s term as set forth in the Award Agreement evidencing such Option (the “Option Expiration Date”).
(ii) Death. If the Participant’s Service terminates because of the death of the Participant, the Option, to the extent unexercised and exercisable for vested shares on the date on which the Participant’s Service terminated, may be exercised by the Participant’s legal representative or other person who acquired the right to exercise the Option by reason of the Participant’s death at any time prior to the expiration of twelve (12) months (or such longer or shorter period provided by the Award Agreement) after the date on which the Participant’s Service terminated, but in any event no later than the Option Expiration Date. The Participant’s Service shall be deemed to have terminated on account of death if the Participant dies within three (3) months (or such longer or shorter period provided by the Award Agreement) after the Participant’s termination of Service for any reason other than Cause.
(iii) Termination for Cause. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, if the Participant’s Service is terminated for Cause or if, following the Participant’s termination of Service and during any period in which the Option otherwise would remain exercisable, the Participant engages in any act that would constitute Cause, the Option shall terminate in its entirety and cease to be exercisable immediately upon such termination of Service or act.
(iv) Other Termination of Service. If the Participant’s Service terminates for any reason, except Disability, death or Cause, the Option, to the extent unexercised and exercisable for vested shares on the date on which the Participant’s Service terminated, may be exercised by the Participant at any time prior to the expiration of three (3) months (or such longer or shorter period provided by the Award Agreement) after the date on which the Participant’s Service terminated, but in any event no later than the Option Expiration Date.
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(b) Extension if Exercise Prevented by Law. Notwithstanding the foregoing, other than termination of Service for Cause, if the exercise of an Option within the applicable time periods set forth in Section 6.4(a) or an Award Agreement is prevented by the provisions of Section 14 below, the Option shall remain exercisable until the later of (i) thirty (30) days after the date such exercise first would no longer be prevented by such provisions or (ii) the end of the applicable time period under Section 6.4(a), but in any event no later than the Option Expiration Date.
6.5 Transferability of Options. During the lifetime of the Participant, an Option shall be exercisable only by the Participant or the Participant’s guardian or legal representative. An Option shall not be subject in any manner to anticipation, alienation, sale, exchange, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance, or garnishment by creditors of the Participant or the Participant’s beneficiary, except transfer by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent permitted by the Committee, in its discretion, and set forth in the Award Agreement evidencing such Option, an Option shall be assignable or transferable subject to the applicable limitations, if any, described in the General Instructions to Form S-8 under the Securities Act or, in the case of an Incentive Stock Option, only as permitted by applicable regulations under Section 421 of the Code in a manner that does not disqualify such Option as an Incentive Stock Option.
7. | Stock Appreciation Rights. |
Stock Appreciation Rights shall be evidenced by Award Agreements specifying the number of shares of Stock subject to the Award, in such form as the Committee shall establish. Such Award Agreements may incorporate all or any of the terms of the Plan by reference and shall comply with and be subject to the following terms and conditions:
7.1 Types of SARs Authorized. SARs may be granted in tandem with all or any portion of a related Option (a “Tandem SAR”) or may be granted independently of any Option (a “Freestanding SAR”). A Tandem SAR may only be granted concurrently with the grant of the related Option.
7.2 Exercise Price. The exercise price for each SAR shall be established in the discretion of the Committee; provided, however, that (a) the exercise price per share subject to a Tandem SAR shall be the exercise price per share under the related Option and (b) the exercise price per share subject to a Freestanding SAR shall be not less than the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the effective date of grant of the SAR. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an SAR may be granted with an exercise price lower than the minimum exercise price set forth above if such SAR is granted pursuant to an assumption or substitution for another stock appreciation right in a manner that would qualify under the provisions of Section 409A.
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7.3 Exercisability and Term of SARs.
(a) Tandem SARs. Tandem SARs shall be exercisable only at the time and to the extent, and only to the extent, that the related Option is exercisable, subject to such provisions as the Committee may specify where the Tandem SAR is granted with respect to less than the full number of shares of Stock subject to the related Option. The Committee may, in its discretion, provide in any Award Agreement evidencing a Tandem SAR that such SAR may not be exercised without the advance approval of the Company and, if such approval is not given, then the Option shall nevertheless remain exercisable in accordance with its terms. A Tandem SAR shall terminate and cease to be exercisable no later than the date on which the related Option expires or is terminated or canceled. Upon the exercise of a Tandem SAR with respect to some or all of the shares subject to such SAR, the related Option shall be canceled automatically as to the number of shares with respect to which the Tandem SAR was exercised. Upon the exercise of an Option related to a Tandem SAR as to some or all of the shares subject to such Option, the related Tandem SAR shall be canceled automatically as to the number of shares with respect to which the related Option was exercised.
(b) Freestanding SARs. Freestanding SARs shall be exercisable at such time or times, or upon such event or events, and subject to such terms, conditions, performance criteria and restrictions as shall be determined by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement evidencing such SAR; provided, however, that (i) no Freestanding SAR shall be exercisable after the expiration of ten (10) years after the effective date of grant of such SAR and (ii) no Freestanding SAR granted to an Employee who is a non-exempt employee for purposes of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, as amended, shall be first exercisable until at least six (6) months following the date of grant of such SAR (except in the event of such Employee’s death, disability or retirement, upon a Change in Control, or as otherwise permitted by the Worker Economic Opportunity Act). Subject to the foregoing, unless otherwise specified by the Committee in the grant of a Freestanding SAR, each Freestanding SAR shall terminate ten (10) years after the effective date of grant of the SAR, unless earlier terminated in accordance with its provisions.
7.4 Exercise of SARs. Upon the exercise (or deemed exercise pursuant to Section 7.5) of an SAR, the Participant (or the Participant’s legal representative or other person who acquired the right to exercise the SAR by reason of the Participant’s death) shall be entitled to receive payment of an amount for each share with respect to which the SAR is exercised equal to the excess, if any, of the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date of exercise of the SAR over the exercise price. Payment of such amount shall be made (a) in the case of a Tandem SAR, solely in shares of Stock in a lump sum upon the date of exercise of the SAR and (b) in the case of a Freestanding SAR, in cash, shares of Stock, or any combination thereof as determined by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement, in a lump sum upon the date of exercise of the SAR. When payment is to be made in shares of Stock, the number of shares to be issued shall be determined on the basis of the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date of exercise of the SAR. For purposes of Section 7, an SAR shall be deemed exercised on the date on which the Company receives notice of exercise from the Participant or as otherwise provided in Section 7.5.
7.5 Deemed Exercise of SARs. If, on the date on which an SAR would otherwise terminate or expire, the SAR by its terms remains exercisable immediately prior to such termination or expiration and, if so exercised, would result in a payment to the holder of such SAR, then any portion of such SAR which has not previously been exercised shall automatically be deemed to be exercised as of such date with respect to such portion. The Company may elect to discontinue the deemed exercise of SARs pursuant to this Section 7.5 at any time upon notice to a Participant or to apply the deemed exercise feature only to certain groups of Participants. The deemed exercise of a SAR pursuant to this Section 7.5 shall apply only to a SAR that has been timely accepted by a Participant under procedures specified by the Company from time to time.
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7.6 Effect of Termination of Service. Subject to earlier termination of the SAR as otherwise provided herein and unless otherwise provided by the Committee or in an Award Agreement, an SAR shall be exercisable after a Participant’s termination of Service only to the extent and during the applicable time period determined in accordance with Section 6.4 (treating the SAR as if it were an Option) and thereafter shall terminate.
7.7 Transferability of SARs. During the lifetime of the Participant, an SAR shall be exercisable only by the Participant or the Participant’s guardian or legal representative. An SAR shall not be subject in any manner to anticipation, alienation, sale, exchange, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance, or garnishment by creditors of the Participant or the Participant’s beneficiary, except transfer by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent permitted by the Committee, in its discretion, and set forth in the Award Agreement evidencing such Award, a Tandem SAR related to a Nonstatutory Stock Option or a Freestanding SAR shall be assignable or transferable subject to the applicable limitations, if any, described in the General Instructions to Form S-8 under the Securities Act.
8. | Restricted Stock Awards. |
Restricted Stock Awards shall be evidenced by Award Agreements specifying whether the Award is a Restricted Stock Bonus or a Restricted Stock Purchase Right and the number of shares of Stock subject to the Award, in such form as the Committee shall establish. Such Award Agreements may incorporate all or any of the terms of the Plan by reference and shall comply with and be subject to the following terms and conditions:
8.1 Types of Restricted Stock Awards Authorized. Restricted Stock Awards may be granted in the form of either a Restricted Stock Bonus or a Restricted Stock Purchase Right. Restricted Stock Awards may be granted upon such conditions as the Committee shall determine, including, without limitation, upon the attainment of one or more Performance Goals described in Section 10.4. If either the grant of or satisfaction of Vesting Conditions applicable to a Restricted Stock Award is to be contingent upon the attainment of one or more Performance Goals, the Committee shall follow procedures substantially equivalent to those set forth in Sections 10.3 through 10.5(a).
8.2 Purchase Price. The purchase price for shares of Stock issuable under each Restricted Stock Purchase Right shall be established by the Committee in its discretion. No monetary payment (other than applicable tax withholding) shall be required as a condition of receiving shares of Stock pursuant to a Restricted Stock Bonus, the consideration for which shall be services actually rendered to a Participating Company or for its benefit. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if required by applicable state corporate law, the Participant shall furnish consideration in the form of cash or past services rendered to a Participating Company or for its benefit having a value not less than the par value of the shares of Stock subject to a Restricted Stock Award.
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8.3 Purchase Period. A Restricted Stock Purchase Right shall be exercisable within a period established by the Committee, which shall in no event exceed thirty (30) days from the effective date of the grant of the Restricted Stock Purchase Right.
8.4 Payment of Purchase Price. Except as otherwise provided below, payment of the purchase price for the number of shares of Stock being purchased pursuant to any Restricted Stock Purchase Right shall be made (a) in cash, by check or in cash equivalent, (b) by such other consideration as may be approved by the Committee from time to time to the extent permitted by applicable law, or (c) by any combination thereof.
8.5 Vesting and Restrictions on Transfer. Shares issued pursuant to any Restricted Stock Award may (but need not) be made subject to Vesting Conditions based upon the satisfaction of such Service requirements, conditions, restrictions or performance criteria, including, without limitation, Performance Goals as described in Section 10.4, as shall be established by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement evidencing such Award. During any period in which shares acquired pursuant to a Restricted Stock Award remain subject to Vesting Conditions, such shares may not be sold, exchanged, transferred, pledged, assigned or otherwise disposed of other than pursuant to an Ownership Change Event or as provided in Section 8.8. The Committee, in its discretion, may provide in any Award Agreement evidencing a Restricted Stock Award that, if the satisfaction of Vesting Conditions with respect to any shares subject to such Restricted Stock Award would otherwise occur on a day on which the sale of such shares would violate the provisions of the Trading Compliance Policy, then satisfaction of the Vesting Conditions automatically shall be determined on the next trading day on which the sale of such shares would not violate the Trading Compliance Policy. Upon request by the Company, each Participant shall execute any agreement evidencing such transfer restrictions prior to the receipt of shares of Stock hereunder and shall promptly present to the Company any and all certificates representing shares of Stock acquired hereunder for the placement on such certificates of appropriate legends evidencing any such transfer restrictions.
8.6 Voting Rights; Dividends and Distributions. Except as provided in this Section, Section 8.5 and any Award Agreement, during any period in which shares acquired pursuant to a Restricted Stock Award remain subject to Vesting Conditions, the Participant shall have all of the rights of a stockholder of the Company holding shares of Stock, including the right to vote such shares and to receive all dividends and other distributions paid with respect to such shares; provided, however, that if so determined by the Committee and provided by the Award Agreement, such dividends and distributions shall be subject to the same Vesting Conditions as the shares subject to the Restricted Stock Award with respect to which such dividends or distributions were paid, and otherwise shall be paid no later than the end of the calendar year in which such dividends or distributions are paid to stockholders (or, if later, the 15th day of the third month following the date such dividends or distributions are paid to stockholders). In the event of a dividend or distribution paid in shares of Stock or other property or any other adjustment made upon a change in the capital structure of the Company as described in Section 4.3, any and all new, substituted or additional securities or other property (other than regular, periodic cash dividends) to which the Participant is entitled by reason of the Participant’s Restricted Stock Award shall be immediately subject to the same Vesting Conditions as the shares subject to the Restricted Stock Award with respect to which such dividends or distributions were paid or adjustments were made.