Shares of Dissenting Stockholders Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, shares of Company Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time and held by a holder of record who did not vote in favor of the adoption of this Agreement (or consent thereto in writing) and is entitled to demand and properly demands appraisal of such shares of Company Common Stock pursuant to, and who complies in all respects with, Section 262 of the DGCL (“DGCL 262” and any such shares meeting the requirement of this sentence, “Dissenting Shares”) shall not be converted into the right to receive the Merger Consideration, but instead at the Effective Time shall be converted into the right to receive payment of such amounts as are payable in accordance with DGCL 262 (it being understood and acknowledged that at the Effective Time, such Dissenting Shares shall no longer be outstanding, shall automatically be cancelled and shall cease to exist, and such holder shall cease to have any rights with respect thereto other than the right to receive the fair value of such Dissenting Shares to the extent afforded by DGCL 262); provided that if any such holder shall fail to perfect or otherwise shall waive, withdraw or lose the right to payment of the fair value of such Dissenting Shares under DGCL 262, then the right of such holder to be paid the fair value of such holder’s Dissenting Shares shall cease and such Dissenting Shares shall be deemed to have been converted as of the Effective Time into, and to have become exchangeable solely for the right to receive, without interest or duplication, the Merger Consideration. The Company shall give prompt written notice to Parent of any demands received by the Company for fair value of any shares of Company Common Stock pursuant to DGCL 262 and of any withdrawals of such demands, and Parent shall have the opportunity to participate in all negotiations and proceedings with respect to such demands. Prior to the Effective Time, the Company shall not, without the prior written consent of Parent, make any payment with respect to, or settle or compromise or offer to settle or compromise, any such demand, or agree to do any of the foregoing.
Company Shares If the managing underwriter has not limited the number of Registrable Securities to be underwritten, the Company may include securities for its own account or for the account of others in such registration if the managing underwriter so agrees and if the number of Registrable Securities which would otherwise have been included in such registration and underwriting will not thereby be limited.
Common Shares 4 Company...................................................................................... 4
Founder Shares On July 30, 2021, the Company issued to AIB LLC (the “Sponsor”) 1,437,500 of the Company’s Class B ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Founder Shares”), for an aggregate consideration of $25,000, with economic effect as of June 30, 2021. On September 13, 2021, the Company effected a share dividend of 0.5 shares for each Class B ordinary share outstanding, resulting in an aggregate of 2,156,250 Founder Shares outstanding. No underwriting discounts, commissions, or placement fees have been or will be payable in connection with the purchase of Founder Shares. Except as described in the Registration Statement, none of the Founder Shares may be sold, assigned or transferred by the Initial Shareholders until the earlier of: (i) six months following the consummation of the Business Combination; (ii) subsequent to the consummation of a Business Combination, when the closing price of the Ordinary Shares equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within a 30-trading day period commencing within any 150-trading day period after the consummation of the Business Combination; or (iii) the date on which the Company completes a liquidation, merger, stock exchange or other similar transaction after the initial Business Combination, that results in all of the Company’s stockholders having the right to exchange their Ordinary Shares for cash, securities or other property. The Founder Shares shall be subject to restrictions on transfer as set forth in the Insider Letters (as defined in Section 2.21.1 herein). The holders of Founder Shares shall have no right to any liquidating distributions with respect to any portion of the Founder Shares in the event the Company fails to consummate a Business Combination. The holders of the Founder Shares shall not have redemption rights with respect to the Founder Shares. In the event that the Over-allotment Option is not exercised in full, the Sponsor will be required to forfeit such number of Founder Shares (up to 281,250 Founder Shares) such that the Founder Shares then outstanding will comprise 20% of the issued and outstanding shares of the Company (but not including any Placement Shares (as defined below)) after giving effect to the Offering and exercise, if any, of the Over-allotment Option.
Dissenting Shareholders Any holder of shares of Seller Common Stock who perfects such holder’s dissenter’s rights, if applicable and available, in accordance with and as contemplated by Article 13 of the GBCC and has not effectively withdrawn or lost such right as of the Effective Time shall be entitled to receive from the Surviving Company the value of such shares in cash as determined pursuant to such provision of Law (any shareholder duly making such demand being hereinafter called a “Dissenting Shareholder”); provided, that no such payment shall be made to any such Dissenting Shareholder unless and until such Dissenting Shareholder has complied with the applicable provisions of the GBCC and surrendered to Seller the certificate or certificates representing the shares for which payment is being made. Seller shall give Buyer prompt notice upon receipt by Seller of any such demands for payment of the fair value of such shares of Seller Common Stock and of withdrawals of such notice and any other instruments provided pursuant to applicable Law, and Buyer shall have the right to participate in all negotiations and proceedings with respect to any such demands. Seller shall not, except with the prior written consent of Buyer, make any payment with respect to, or settle, offer to settle or otherwise negotiate, any such demands, or waive any failure to timely deliver a written demand for appraisal or the taking of any other action as may be necessary to perfect dissenter’s rights. In the event that after the Effective Time a Dissenting Shareholder of Seller fails to perfect, or effectively withdraws or loses, such holder’s right to appraisal of and payment for such holder’s shares, the Surviving Company shall issue and deliver the Merger Consideration to which such holder of shares of Seller Common Stock is entitled under Section 3.1 (without interest) upon a proper surrender by such holder of the certificate or certificates representing the shares of Seller Common Stock held by such holder subject to the procedures in Article 4.
Class B Shares (i) In consideration of the Underwriter’s services as principal underwriter of each Fund’s Class B shares pursuant to this Agreement and in accordance with the provisions of the Trust’s Second Amended and Restated Distribution and Service Plan (the “Plan”) in respect of such shares, each Fund agrees: (I) to pay to the Underwriter or, at the Underwriter’s direction, to a third party, monthly in arrears on or prior to the 5th business day of the following calendar month (A) a service fee (the “Service Fee”) equal to 0.25 of 1% per annum of the average daily net asset value of the Class B shares of such Fund outstanding from time to time, and (B) the Underwriter’s “Allocable Portion” (as hereinafter defined) of a fee (the “Distribution Fee”) equal to 0.75 of 1% per annum of the average daily net asset value of the Class B shares of such Fund outstanding from time to time, and (II) to withhold from redemption proceeds in respect of Class B shares of such Fund the Underwriter’s Allocable Portion of the Contingent Deferred Sales Charges (“CDSCs”) payable in respect of such redemption as provided in the current Prospectus of such Fund and to pay the same over to the Underwriter or, at the Underwriter’s direction, to a third party, at the time the redemption proceeds in respect of such redemption are payable to the holder of the Class B shares redeemed.
(ii) The Underwriter will be deemed to have performed all services required to be performed in order to be entitled to receive its Allocable Portion of the Distribution Fee payable in respect of the Class B shares of the Funds upon the settlement date of each sale of a “Commission Share” (as defined in the Allocation Schedule attached hereto as Schedule B) of the Funds taken into account in determining the Underwriter’s Allocable Portion of such Distribution Fees.
(iii) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement or (to the extent waiver thereof is permitted thereby) applicable law, each Fund’s obligation to pay the Underwriter’s Allocable Portion of the Distribution Fees payable in respect to the Class B shares of the Funds shall not be terminated or modified for any reason (including a termination of this Agreement) except: (a) to the extent required by a change in the 1940 Act, the rules thereunder or the Conduct Rules of FINRA, in each case enacted or promulgated after Xxxxx 00, 0000, (x) on a basis which does not alter the Underwriter’s Allocable Portion of the Distribution Fees computed with reference to Commission Shares the Date of Original Issuance (as defined in the Allocation Schedule) of which occurs on or prior to the adoption of such termination or modification and with respect to Free Shares (as defined in the Allocation Schedule) which would be attributed to such Underwriter under the Allocation Schedule with reference, or (c) in connection with a “Complete Termination” (as hereinafter defined) of the Plan.
(iv) The Funds will not take any action to waive or change any CDSC in respect of the Class B shares, except as provided in each Fund’s current Prospectus or statement of additional information forming a part of that Fund’s initial Registration Statement on the date such Fund’s initial Registration Statement was declared effective by the SEC, without the consent of the Underwriter and the permitted assigns of all or any portion of its rights to its Allocable Portion of the CDSCs.
(v) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, neither the termination of the Underwriter’s role as principal distributor of the Class B shares of a Fund, nor the termination of this Agreement with respect to a Fund, nor the termination of the Plan with respect to a Fund will terminate the Underwriter’s right to its Allocable Portion of the CDSCs in respect of the Class B shares of each Fund.
(vi) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Underwriter may assign, sell or pledge (collectively, “Transfer”) its rights to the Service Fees and its Allocable Portion of the Distribution Fees and CDSCs (but not its obligations to the Funds under this Agreement) to raise funds to make the expenditures related to the distribution of Class B shares of a Fund and in connection therewith, upon receipt of notice of such Transfer, a Fund shall pay, or cause to be paid, to the assignee, purchaser or pledgee (collectively with their subsequent transferees, “Transferees”) such portion of the Underwriter’s Service Fees, Allocable Portion of the Distribution Fees and CDSCs in respect of the Class B shares of a Fund so Transferred. Except as provided in (iii) above and notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth elsewhere in this Agreement, to the extent the Underwriter has Transferred its rights thereto to raise funds as aforesaid, a Fund’s obligation to pay the Underwriter’s Allocable Portion of the Distribution Fees and CDSCs payable in respect of the Class B shares of a Fund shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be subject to dispute, offset, counterclaim or any defense whatsoever, at law or equity, including, without limitation, any of the foregoing based on the insolvency or bankruptcy of the Underwriter (it being understood that such provision is not a waiver of the Funds’ right to pursue the Underwriter and enforce claims against the assets of the Underwriter other than the Underwriter’s right to the Distribution Fees and CDSCs in respect of the Class B shares of each Fund, which have been so transferred in connection with such Transfer). The Funds agree that each such Transferee is a third party beneficiary of the provisions of this clause (vi) but only insofar as those provisions relate to Distribution Fees and CDSCs transferred to such Transferee.
(vii) For purposes of the Agreement, the term “Allocable Portion” of Distribution Fees and CDSCs payable in respect of the Class B shares of a Fund shall mean the portion of such Distribution Fees and CDSCs allocated to the Underwriter.
(viii) For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Complete Termination” of the Plan in respect of a Fund means a termination of the Plan involving the complete cessation of the payment of Distribution Fees in respect of all Class B shares of the Funds, and the termination of the Plan and the complete cessation of the payment of distribution fees pursuant to any other distribution Plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act in respect of the Class B shares of the Funds and any successor fund or the Funds acquiring a substantial portion of the assets of the Funds and for every future class of shares which has substantially similar characteristics to the Class B shares of the Funds taking into account the manner of payment and amount of sales charge, CDSC or other similar charges borne directly or indirectly by the holders of such shares; provided that (a) the Trustees of the Trust, including the Independent Trustees of the Trust, shall have determined that such termination is in the best interest of the Funds and the shareholders of the Funds, and (b) such termination does not alter the CDSC as in effect at the time of such termination applicable to Commission Shares of the Funds, the Date of Original Issuance (as defined in the Allocation Schedule) of which occurs on or prior to such termination.
(ix) The Underwriter may reallow any or all of the Distribution and Service Fees and CDSCs which it is paid under the Agreement to such dealers as the Underwriter may from time to time determine.
(x) The Underwriter may fix quantity discounts and other similar variances or waivers of the CDSCs not inconsistent with the provisions of the 1940 Act; provided however, that the Underwriter shall not impose any commission, permit any quantity discount, or impose any other similar waiver or variance in connection with the sale of Class B shares except as disclosed in each Fund’s current Prospectus.
Dissenting Stockholders Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, shares of Common Stock that are issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time and which are held by a Stockholder who did not vote in favor of the Merger (or consent thereto in writing) and who is entitled to demand and properly demands appraisal of such shares (the “Dissenting Shares”) pursuant to, and who complies in all respects with, the provisions of Section 262 of the DGCL (the “Dissenting Stockholders”) shall not be converted into or be exchangeable for the right to receive the Per Share Merger Consideration, but instead such holder shall be entitled to receive such consideration as may be determined to be due to such Dissenting Stockholder pursuant to Section 262 of the DGCL, unless and until such holder shall have failed to perfect or shall have effectively withdrawn or lost its right to appraisal under the DGCL. If any Dissenting Stockholder shall have failed to perfect or shall have effectively withdrawn or lost such right, such holder’s shares of Common Stock shall thereupon be treated as if they had been converted into and become exchangeable for the right to receive, as of the Effective Time, the Per Share Merger Consideration for each such share, in accordance with Section 3.1, without interest. The Company shall give Parent prompt notice and a copy of any written demands for appraisal, attempted withdrawals of such demands, and any other instruments served pursuant to applicable Law that are received by the Company relating to Stockholders’ rights of appraisal, and, at Parent’s expense, Parent shall have the opportunity and right to direct all negotiations and proceedings with respect to demands for appraisal by Stockholders under the DGCL, so long as Parent does not create any pre-Closing obligations of the Company. The Company shall not, except with the prior written consent of Parent, make any payment with respect to any demands for appraisal, offer to settle or settle any such demands or approve any withdrawal of any such demands.
Preferred Shares The Preferred Shares have been duly and validly authorized, and, when issued and delivered pursuant to this Agreement, such Preferred Shares will be duly and validly issued and fully paid and non-assessable, will not be issued in violation of any preemptive rights, and will rank pari passu with or senior to all other series or classes of Preferred Stock, whether or not issued or outstanding, with respect to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets in the event of any dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Company.
Parent Shares All outstanding Parent Shares, and all Parent Shares, which may be issued pursuant to this Agreement shall when issued in accordance with this Agreement be, duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and not subject to preemptive rights.
Company Stock (1) As of the date hereof, the authorized capital stock of the Company consists of 20,000,000 shares of Company Common Stock, of which no more than 12,574,572 shares are outstanding. As of the date hereof, under Company Stock Plans, no more than 446,000 shares of Company Common Stock are subject to Company Stock Options. The Company holds 29,200 shares of Company Common Stock as treasury shares. The outstanding shares of Company Common Stock have been duly authorized and are validly issued and outstanding, fully paid and nonassessable and are not subject to preemptive rights (and were not issued in violation of any preemptive rights). The shares of Company Common Stock issuable pursuant to Company Stock Plans and the Company Rights Agreement, as the case may be, have been duly authorized and, upon issuance, will be validly issued and outstanding, fully paid and nonassessable and not be subject to preemptive rights (and will not be issued in violation of any preemptive rights). The Company does not have any Rights issued or outstanding with respect to Company Stock and the Company does not have any commitment to authorize, issue or sell any Company Stock or Rights, except Company Stock Options issued and vesting on the date hereof and pursuant to the Company Rights Agreement, as Previously Disclosed. With respect to each Company Stock Option, the Company has Previously Disclosed the recipient, the date of grant, the number of shares of Company Common Stock and the exercise price. It has no commitment to redeem, repurchase or otherwise acquire, or to register with the SEC, any shares of Company Stock. It has no outstanding bonds, debentures, notes or other obligations, the holders of which have the right to vote (or which are convertible into or exercisable for securities having the right to vote) on any matter.
(2) To its knowledge, there are no voting trusts, proxies, shareholder agreements or other agreements or understandings with respect to the voting of shares of Company Stock other than the Voting Agreements contemplated by Recital D hereto.