Agreement and Plan of Merger
Exhibit 2.1
Agreement and Plan of Merger
by and among
Freedom Holding Corp., in the capacity as the sole member of buyer
Freedom U.S. Markets, LLC, as Buyer
LDM Merger Sub, Inc. as Merger Sub
LD Micro, INC., as the Company
and
SRAX, INC., in the capacity as the sole stockholder of the Company
dated as of
March 3, 2023
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Article I Definitions | 2 |
Article II The Merger | 8 |
Section 2.01 The Merger. | 9 |
Section 2.02 Closing. | 9 |
Section 2.03 Closing Deliverables. | 9 |
Section 2.04 Effective Time | 11 |
Section 2.05 Effects of the Merger. | 11 |
Section 2.06 Certificate of Incorporation; By-laws. | 11 |
Section 2.07 Directors and Officers. | 11 |
Section 2.07 Directors and Officers. | 11 |
Section 2.08 Effect of the Merger on Common Stock. | 11 |
Section 2.09 No Further Ownership Rights in Company Common Shares. | 12 |
Section 2.10 Withholding Rights. | 12 |
Section 2.11 Lost Certificates. | 12 |
Article III Representations and warranties Regarding the Company and SRAX | 12 |
Section 3.01 Organization and Qualification of the Company. | 12 |
Section 3.02 Authority; Board Approval. | 13 |
Section 3.03 No Conflicts; Consents. | 13 |
Section 3.04 Capitalization. | 13 |
Section 3.05 No Subsidiaries. | 14 |
Section 3.06 Financial Statements. | 14 |
Section 3.07 Undisclosed Liabilities; Indebtedness. | 15 |
Section 3.08 Absence of Certain Changes, Events and Conditions. | 15 |
Section 3.09 Material Contracts. | 17 |
Section 3.10 Title to Assets; Real Property. | 19 |
Section 3.11 Condition and Sufficiency of Assets. | 19 |
Section 3.12 Intellectual Property. | 20 |
Section 3.13 Intentionally Omitted]. | 21 |
Section 3.14 Accounts Receivable. | 21 |
Section 3.15 Customers and Suppliers. | 22 |
Section 3.16 Insurance. | 22 |
Section 3.17 Legal Proceedings; Governmental Orders. | 23 |
Section 3.18 Compliance with Laws; Permits. | 23 |
Section 3.19 [Intentionally Omitted]. | 23 |
Section 3.20 Employee Benefit Matters. | 24 |
Section 3.21 Employment Matters. | 27 |
Section 3.22 Taxes. | 28 |
Section 3.23 Books and Records. | 30 |
Section 3.24 Related Party Transactions. | 30 |
Section 3.25 Brokers. | 30 |
Section 3.26 No Other Representations or Warranties. | 30 |
Section 3.27 Accredited Status. | 31 |
Section 3.28 Experience of SRAX. | 31 |
Section 3.29 General Solicitation. | 31 |
Section 3.30 Access to Information. | 31 |
Section 3.31 Legend on Payment Shares. | 31 |
Article IV Representations and warranties of Parent, Xxxxx and Merger Sub | 32 |
Section 4.01 Organization and Authority of Buyer and Merger Sub. | 33 |
Section 4.02 No Conflicts; Consents. | 33 |
Section 4.03 No Prior Merger Sub Operations. | 33 |
Section 4.04 Brokers. | 33 |
Section 4.05 Sufficiency of Funds; Solvency. | 33 |
Section 4.06 Legal Proceedings. | 34 |
Section 4.07 Independent Investigation. | 34 |
Article V Tax matters | 34 |
Section 5.01 Tax Covenants. | 34 |
Section 5.02 Termination of Existing Tax Sharing Agreements. | 35 |
Section 5.03 Tax Indemnification. | 36 |
Section 5.04 Tax Returns | 36 |
Section 5.05 [Intentionally Omitted]. | 36 |
Section 5.06 Contests. | 36 |
Section 5.07 Cooperation and Exchange of Information. | 37 |
Section 5.08 Tax Treatment of Indemnification Payments. | 37 |
Section 5.09 Limitations on Tax Indemnification. | 37 |
Section 5.10 Survival. | 37 |
Article VI Indemnification | 37 |
Section 6.01 Survival. | 37 |
Section 6.02 Indemnification By SRAX. | 38 |
Section 6.03 Indemnification By Parent. | 38 |
Section 6.04 Certain Limitations. | 39 |
Section 6.05 Indemnification Procedures. | 39 |
Section 6.06 Payments. | 40 |
Section 6.07 Tax Treatment of Indemnification Payments. | 40 |
Section 6.08 Effect of Investigation. | 40 |
Section 6.09 Exclusive Remedies. | 41 |
Article VII Miscellaneous | 41 |
Section 7.01 Expenses. | 41 |
Section 7.02 Notices. | 41 |
Section 7.03 Interpretation. | 42 |
Section 7.04 Headings. | 42 |
Section 7.05 Severability. | 42 |
Section 7.06 Entire Agreement. | 42 |
Section 7.07 Successors and Assigns. | 43 |
Section 7.08 No Third-party Beneficiaries. | 43 |
Section 7.09 Amendment and Modification; Waiver. | 43 |
Section 7.10 Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial. | 43 |
Section 7.11 Specific Performance. | 43 |
Section 7.12 Counterparts. | 43 |
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
This Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of March 3, 2023 (this “Agreement”), is entered into by and among Freedom Holding Corp., a Nevada corporation (“Parent”), Freedom U.S. Markets, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent (“Buyer”), LDM Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of Buyer (“Merger Sub”), LD Micro, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and SRAX, Inc., a Delaware corporation and the sole stockholder of the Company (“SRAX”).
RECITALS
WHEREAS, the parties intend that the Company will be merged with and into Merger Sub (the “Merger”), with Xxxxxx Sub surviving the Merger, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein and in accordance with the Delaware General Corporation Law, as amended (the “DGCL”);
WHEREAS, the board of directors of each of the Company and SRAX has (a) determined that this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, as applicable, are in the best interests of the Company, SRAX and their respective stockholders, (b) approved and declared advisable this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, as applicable, and (c) solely with respect to the board of directors of SRAX, adopted and approved this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby as the sole stockholder of the Company;
WHEREAS, the managers or board of directors, as applicable, of each of Parent, Buyer and Merger Sub has (a) determined that this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger, are in the best interests of Parent, Buyer, Merger Sub and their respective equityholders, (b) approved and declared advisable this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger, and (c) solely with respect to the managers of Buyer, adopted and approved this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger, as the sole stockholder of Merger Sub; and
WHEREAS, for U.S. federal income Tax purposes, it is intended that the Merger qualify as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code, and the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder, and this Agreement constitute and be adopted as a “plan of reorganization” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Sections 1.368-2(g) and 1.368-3(a).
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements hereinafter set forth and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:
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Article
I
Definitions
The following terms have the meanings specified or referred to in this Article I:
“Action” means any claim, action, cause of action, demand, lawsuit, arbitration, inquiry, audit, notice of violation, proceeding, litigation, citation, summons, subpoena or investigation of any nature, civil, criminal, administrative, regulatory or otherwise, whether at law or in equity.
“Affiliate” of a Person means any other Person that directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such Person. The term “control” (including the terms “controlled by” and “under common control with”) means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.
“Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.
“Annual Financial Statements” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.06.
“Balance Sheet” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.06.
“Balance Sheet Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.06.
“Benefit Plan” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.20(a).
“Business Day” means any day except Saturday, Sunday or any other day on which commercial banks located in New York, New York are authorized or required by Law to be closed for business.
“Cash” means all cash and all cash equivalents, in each case determined in accordance with GAAP. For the avoidance of doubt, Xxxx will be calculated net of any expenses accrued and owed by the Company or Surviving Corporation, as applicable, prior to the Measurement Date.
“Cash Payment” means $4,000,000 in cash payable at the Closing.
“CERCLA” means the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, as amended by the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986, 42 U.S.C. §§ 9601 et seq.
“Certificate” means a certificate representing Company Common Shares.
“Closing” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.02.
“Closing Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.02.
“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
“Company” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.
“Company Charter Documents” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.03.
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“Company Common Shares” means the shares of common stock, par value 0.0001 per share, of the Company.
“Company Disclosure Schedules” means the Company Disclosure Schedules delivered by the Company and SRAX concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Agreement.
“Company Intellectual Property” means all Intellectual Property that is owned or held for use by the Company.
“Company IP Agreements” means all licenses, sublicenses, consent to use agreements, settlements, coexistence agreements, covenants not to sue, permissions and other Contracts (including any right to receive or obligation to pay royalties or any other consideration), whether written or oral, relating to Intellectual Property to which the Company is a party, beneficiary or otherwise bound.
“Company IP Registrations” means all Company Intellectual Property that is subject to any issuance registration, application or other filing by, to or with any Governmental Authority or authorized private registrar in any jurisdiction, including registered trademarks, domain names and copyrights, issued and reissued patents and pending applications for any of the foregoing.
“Contracts” means all contracts, leases, deeds, mortgages, licenses, instruments, notes, commitments, undertakings, indentures, joint ventures and all other agreements, commitments and legally binding arrangements, whether written or oral.
“DGCL” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.
“Direct Claim” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.05(c).
“Dollars or $” means the lawful currency of the United States.
“Effective Time” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.04.
“Employment Agreement” means the Employment Agreement, effective as of or following the Effective Time, by and between the Surviving Corporation and Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, to be entered into contemporaneously with the Closing.
“Encumbrance” means any charge, claim, community property interest, pledge, condition, equitable interest, lien (statutory or other), option, security interest, mortgage, easement, encroachment, right of way, right of first refusal, or restriction of any kind, including any restriction on use, voting, transfer, receipt of income or exercise of any other attribute of ownership.
“ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
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“ERISA Affiliate” means all employers (whether or not incorporated) that would be treated together with the Company or any of its Affiliates as a “single employer” within the meaning of Section 414 of the Code.
“Financial Statements” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.06.
“GAAP” means United States generally accepted accounting principles in effect from time to time.
“Government Contracts” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.09(a)(viii).
“Governmental Authority” means any federal, state, local or foreign government or political subdivision thereof, or any agency or instrumentality of such government or political subdivision, or any self-regulated organization or other non-governmental regulatory authority or quasi-governmental authority (to the extent that the rules, regulations or orders of such organization or authority have the force of Law), or any arbitrator, court or tribunal of competent jurisdiction.
“Governmental Order” means any order, writ, judgment, injunction, decree, stipulation, determination or award entered by or with any Governmental Authority.
“Indebtedness” means, without duplication and with respect to the Company, all (a) indebtedness for borrowed money; (b) obligations for the deferred purchase price of property or services, (c) long or short-term obligations evidenced by notes, bonds, debentures or other similar instruments; (d) obligations under any interest rate, currency swap or other hedging agreement or arrangement; (e) capital lease obligations; (f) reimbursement obligations under any letter of credit, banker’s acceptance or similar credit transactions; (g) any other accrued Liabilities or expenses; (h) guarantees made by the Company on behalf of any third party in respect of obligations of the kind referred to in the foregoing clauses (a) through (g); and (i) any unpaid interest, prepayment penalties, premiums, costs and fees that would arise or become due as a result of the prepayment of any of the obligations referred to in the foregoing clauses (a) through (h).
“Indemnified Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.05.
“Indemnifying Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.05.
“Insurance Policies” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.16.
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“Intellectual Property” means all intellectual property and industrial property rights and assets, and all rights, interests and protections that are associated with, similar to, or required for the exercise of, any of the foregoing, however arising, pursuant to the Laws of any jurisdiction throughout the world, whether registered or unregistered, including any and all: (a) trademarks, service marks, trade names, brand names, logos, trade dress, design rights and other similar designations of source, sponsorship, association or origin, together with the goodwill connected with the use of and symbolized by, and all registrations, applications and renewals for, any of the foregoing; (b) internet domain names, whether or not trademarks, registered in any top-level domain by any authorized private registrar or Governmental Authority, web addresses, web pages, websites and related content, accounts with Twitter, Facebook and other social media companies and the content found thereon and related thereto, and URLs; (c) works of authorship, expressions, designs and design registrations, whether or not copyrightable, including copyrights, author, performer, moral and neighboring rights, and all registrations, applications for registration and renewals of such copyrights; (d) inventions, discoveries, trade secrets, business and technical information and know-how, databases, data collections and other confidential and proprietary information and all rights therein; (e) patents (including all reissues, divisionals, provisionals, continuations and continuations-in-part, re-examinations, renewals, substitutions and extensions thereof), patent applications, and other patent rights and any other Governmental Authority-issued indicia of invention ownership (including inventor’s certificates, xxxxx patents and patent utility models); and (f) software and firmware, including data files, source code, object code, application programming interfaces, architecture, files, records, schematics, computerized databases and other related specifications and documentation.
“Intended Tax Treatment” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.01(a).
“Interim Balance Sheet” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.06.
“Interim Balance Sheet Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.06.
“Interim Financial Statements” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.06.
“Knowledge” means, when used with respect to any Person, the actual or constructive knowledge of any director or officer of a Person, after due inquiry.
“Law” means any statute, law, ordinance, regulation, rule, code, order, constitution, treaty, common law, judgment, decree, other requirement or rule of law of any Governmental Authority.
“Liabilities” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.07.
“Losses” means losses, damages, liabilities, deficiencies, Actions, judgments, interest, awards, penalties, fines, costs or expenses of whatever kind, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and the cost of enforcing any right to indemnification hereunder and the cost of pursuing any insurance providers; provided, however, that “Losses” shall not include punitive damages, except to the extent actually awarded to a Governmental Authority or other third party.
“Material Adverse Effect” means any event, occurrence, fact, condition or change that is, or could reasonably be expected to become, individually or in the aggregate, materially adverse to (a) the business, results of operations, condition (financial or otherwise) or assets of the Company and/or Buyer, or (b) the ability of the Company and/or Buyer to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby on a timely basis; provided, however, that “Material Adverse Effect” shall not include any event, occurrence, fact, condition or change, directly or indirectly, arising out of or attributable to: (i) general economic or political conditions; (ii) conditions generally affecting the industries in which the Company and/or Buyer operate; (iii) any changes in financial or securities markets in general; (iv) acts of war (whether or not declared), armed hostilities or terrorism, or the escalation or worsening thereof; (v) any action required or permitted by this Agreement; (vi) any changes in applicable Laws or accounting rules, including GAAP; or (vii) the public announcement, pendency or completion of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; provided further, however, that any event, occurrence, fact, condition or change referred to in clauses (i) through (iv) immediately above shall be taken into account in determining whether a Material Adverse Effect has occurred or could reasonably be expected to occur to the extent that such event, occurrence, fact, condition or change has a disproportionate effect on the Company compared to other participants in the industries in which the Company conducts its businesses.
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“Material Contracts” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.09(a).
“Material Customers” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.15(a).
“Material Suppliers” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.15(b).
“Merger” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.
“Merger Certificate” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.04.
“Merger Consideration” means the aggregate Purchase Price.
“Merger Sub” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.
“Multiemployer Plan” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.20(c).
“Non-U.S. Benefit Plan” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.20(a).
“Original Issuance Price” means $71.95, which is equal to the volume weighted average of the daily closing sales price of Parent Common Stock (rounded down to the nearest cent) as reported on the Nasdaq Capital Market for the thirty (30) consecutive trading days ending on the day that is three (3) trading days prior to the Closing Date.
“Parent” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.
“Parent Common Stock” means the common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of Parent.
“Parent Indemnitees” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.02.
“Payment Shares” means 59,763 shares of Parent Common Stock, which is equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) $4,300,000 by (y) the Original Issuance Price (with such quotient rounded down to the nearest whole share, provided that SRAX shall be entitled to receive cash in lieu of any such fractional share of Parent Common Stock pursuant to Section 2.03(b)(ii).
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“Permits” means all permits, licenses, franchises, approvals, authorizations, registrations, certificates, variances and similar rights obtained, or required to be obtained, from Governmental Authorities.
“Permitted Encumbrances” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.10(a).
“Person” means an individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, Governmental Authority, unincorporated organization, trust, association or other entity.
“Piggyback Registration” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.31.
“Post-Closing Tax Period” means any taxable period beginning after the Closing Date and, with respect to any taxable period beginning before and ending after the Closing Date, the portion of such taxable period beginning after the Closing Date.
“Post-Closing Taxes” means Taxes of the Company for any Post-Closing Tax Period.
“Post-Closing Tax Return” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.01(b).
“Pre-Closing Tax Period” means any taxable period ending on or before the Closing Date and, with respect to any Straddle Period, the portion of such Straddle Period ending on and including the Closing Date.
“Pre-Closing Taxes” means Taxes of the Company for any Pre-Closing Tax Period.
“Purchase Price” means the Payment Shares and the Cash Payment.
“Qualified Benefit Plan” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.20(c).
“Real Property” means the real property owned, leased or subleased by the Company, together with all buildings, structures and facilities located thereon.
“Registration Statement” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.31.
“Release” means any actual or threatened release, spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying, discharging, injecting, escaping, leaching, dumping, abandonment, disposing or allowing to escape or migrate into or through the environment (including, without limitation, ambient air (indoor or outdoor), surface water, groundwater, land surface or subsurface strata or within any building, structure, facility or fixture).
“Representative” means, with respect to any Person, any and all directors, officers, employees, consultants, financial advisors, counsel, accountants and other agents of such Person.
“Required Consents” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.03.
“Securities Act” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.31.
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“Sponsorship Agreement” means that certain Sponsorship Agreement, by and between the Surviving Corporation on the one hand, and SRAX on the other hand, entered into contemporaneously with the Closing.
“SRAX” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.
“SRAX Indemnitees” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.03.
“Straddle Period” means a Tax period that includes, but does not end on, the Closing Date.
“Surviving Corporation” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.01.
“Taxes” means all federal, state, local, foreign and other income, gross receipts, sales, use, production, ad valorem, transfer, franchise, registration, profits, license, lease, service, service use, withholding, payroll, employment, unemployment, estimated, excise, severance, environmental, stamp, occupation, premium, property (real or personal), real property gains, windfall profits, customs, duties or other taxes, fees, assessments or charges of any kind whatsoever, together with any interest, additions or penalties with respect thereto and any interest in respect of such additions or penalties.
“Tax Claim” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.06.
“Tax Return” means any return, declaration, report, claim for refund, information return or statement or other document relating to Taxes, including any schedule or attachment thereto, and including any amendment thereof.
“Third Party Claim” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.05(a).
“Treasury Regulations” means the federal income tax regulations promulgated under the Code, as such regulations may be amended from time to time.
“Union” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.21(b).
Article
II
The Merger
Section 2.01 The Merger. On the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, and in accordance with the DGCL, at the Effective Time (as defined below), the Company will merge with and into Merger Sub and the separate corporate existence of the Company will cease and Merger Sub will continue its corporate existence under the DGCL as the surviving corporation in the Merger (sometimes referred to herein as the “Surviving Corporation”).
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Section 2.02 Closing. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the closing of the Merger (the “Closing”) shall take place on the date hereof simultaneously with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, or at such other time or on such other date the Company and Buyer may mutually agree upon in writing, which may be remotely, via the electronic exchange of documents (the date on which the Closing takes place being the “Closing Date”). All proceedings to be taken, all documents to be executed and delivered by the parties, and all payments to be made and consideration to be delivered at the Closing will be deemed to have been taken and executed simultaneously, and, except as permitted hereunder, no proceedings will be deemed taken nor any documents executed or delivered until all have been taken, executed and delivered.
Section 2.03 Closing Deliverables.
(a) At or prior to the Closing, the Company or SRAX shall deliver or cause to be delivered to Parent and Buyer the following:
(i) written resignations, effective as of the Effective Time, of the officers and directors of the Company set forth on Section 2.07 of the Company Disclosure Schedules;
(ii) a certificate of the Secretary (or equivalent officer) of the Company certifying that (A) attached thereto are true and complete copies of all (1) resolutions adopted by the board of directors of the Company authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and (2) resolutions of SRAX approving the Merger and adopting this Agreement, as sole stockholder of the Company, and (B) all such resolutions are in full force and effect and are all the resolutions adopted in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby;
(iii) a certificate of the Secretary (or equivalent officer) of the Company certifying as to the incumbency and genuineness of the signatures of the officers of the Company authorized to sign this Agreement, and the other documents to be delivered hereunder and thereunder;
(iv) a good standing certificate (or its equivalent), dated within ten (10) days of the Closing Date, from the secretary of state or similar Governmental Authority of the jurisdiction in which the Company is organized;
(v) the Sponsorship Agreement, duly executed by SRAX;
(vi) the Employment Agreement, duly executed by Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx;
(vii) written evidence of receipt of the Required Consents set forth in Section 3.03 of the Company Disclosure Schedules;
(viii) written evidence of the release and termination of (A) the Company’s obligations as a guarantor pursuant to SRAX’s Senior Secured Revolving Credit Facility Agreement, dated as of August 8, 2022 (the “Credit Agreement”) with ATW Opportunities Master Fund II, LP (“Lender”) and (B) any liens or security interests granted by the Company in favor of Lender in connection with the Credit Agreement;
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(ix) written evidence of the Company’s ownership of the domain name registration for xxxxxxx.xxx; and
(x) such other documents or instruments as Parent or Buyer reasonably requests and are reasonably necessary to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(b) At or prior to the Closing, Parent or Buyer shall deliver or caused to be delivered to SRAX, each of the following:
(i) the Cash Payment, to be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds in accordance with the wire instructions set forth in Section 2.03(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedules;
(ii) the Payment Shares (which, for all purposes in this Agreement, may be in the form of book-entry security entitlements representing such shares);
(iii) a certificate of the Secretary (or equivalent officer) of each of Parent, Xxxxx and Merger Sub certifying that (A) attached thereto are true and complete copies of all (1) resolutions adopted by the managers or board of directors, as applicable, of each of the Parent, Buyer and Xxxxxx Sub authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and (2) resolutions of Buyer approving the Merger and the transactions contemplated hereby and adopting this Agreement, as sole stockholder of Merger Sub, and (B) that all such resolutions are in full force and effect and are all the resolutions adopted in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby;
(iv) a certificate of the Secretary (or equivalent officer) of Parent, Xxxxx and Merger Sub certifying as to the incumbency and genuineness of the signatures of the officers of the Parent, Xxxxx and Xxxxxx Sub authorized to sign this Agreement, and the other documents to be delivered hereunder and thereunder;
(v) a good standing certificate (or its equivalent), dated within ten (10) days of the Closing Date, from the secretary of state or similar Governmental Authority of the jurisdiction in which each of Parent, Buyer and Merger Sub is organized;
(vi) the Sponsorship Agreement, duly executed by the Surviving Corporation;
(vii) the Employment Agreement, duly executed by the Surviving Corporation; and
(viii) such other documents or instruments as the Company reasonably requests and are reasonably necessary to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
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Section 2.04 Effective Time. Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, as soon as practicable on the Closing Date, Buyer shall cause to be filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware a certificate of merger, in the form agreed to by the parties (the “Merger Certificate”), and executed in accordance with the relevant provisions of the DGCL, and shall make all other filings or recordings required under the DGCL. The Merger shall become effective at such time as the Merger Certificate has been duly filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware or at such later date or time as may be agreed by the Company and Buyer in writing and specified in the Merger Certificate in accordance with the DGCL (the effective time of the Merger being hereinafter referred to as the “Effective Time”).
Section 2.05 Effects of the Merger. The Merger shall have the effects set forth herein and in the applicable provisions of the DGCL. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, and subject thereto, from and after the Effective Time, all property, rights, privileges, immunities, powers, franchises, licenses and authority of the Company and Merger Sub shall vest in the Surviving Corporation, and all debts, liabilities, obligations, restrictions and duties of each of the Company shall become the debts, liabilities, obligations, restrictions and duties of the Surviving Corporation.
Section 2.06 Certificate of Incorporation; By-laws.
(a) At the Effective Time (i) the certificate of incorporation of Merger Sub as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the certificate of incorporation of the Surviving Corporation until thereafter amended in accordance with the terms thereof or as provided by applicable Law, and (b) the bylaws of Merger Sub as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the bylaws of the Surviving Corporation until thereafter amended in accordance with the terms thereof, the certificate of incorporation of the Surviving Corporation or as provided by applicable Law; provided, however, in each case, that the name of the corporation set forth therein shall be changed to the name of the Company.
Section 2.07 Directors and Officers. The directors and officers of the Company immediately prior to the Effective Time are set forth in Section 2.07 of the Company Disclosure Schedules. The directors and officers of the Surviving Corporation shall, from and after the Effective Time, be as set forth in Section 2.07 of the Company Disclosure Schedules.
Section 2.08 Effect of the Merger on Common Stock. At the Effective Time, as a result of the Merger and without any action on the part of Parent, Buyer, Merger Sub, the Company or SRAX:
(a) Cancellation of Certain Company Common Shares. The Company Common Shares that are owned by the Company (as treasury stock or otherwise) shall automatically be cancelled and retired and shall cease to exist, and no consideration shall be delivered in exchange therefor.
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(b) Conversion of Company Common Shares. The Company Common Shares that are issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (other than Shares to be cancelled and retired in accordance with Section 2.08(a)) shall be converted into the right to receive the Merger Consideration.
(c) Conversion of Merger Sub Capital Stock. Each share of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of Merger Sub issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be converted into and become one newly issued, fully paid and non-assessable share of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Surviving Corporation.
Section 2.09 No Further Ownership Rights in Company Common Shares. All Merger Consideration paid in accordance with the terms hereof shall be deemed to have been paid or payable in full satisfaction of all rights pertaining to the Company Common Shares.
Section 2.10 Withholding Rights. Each of Parent, Buyer, Merger Sub and the Surviving Corporation shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from the consideration otherwise payable to any Person pursuant to this Article II such amounts as may be required to be deducted and withheld with respect to the making of such payment under any provision of Tax Law. To the extent that amounts are so deducted and withheld by Xxxxxx. Buyer, Merger Sub or the Surviving Corporation, as the case may be, such amounts shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid to the Person in respect of which the Parent, Buyer, Merger Sub or the Surviving Corporation, as the case may be, made such deduction and withholding.
Section 2.11 Lost Certificates. If any Certificate shall have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the Person claiming such Certificate to be lost, stolen or destroyed and, if required by Parent, the posting by such Person of a bond, in such reasonable amount as Parent may direct, as indemnity against any claim that may be made against it with respect to such Certificate, Parent shall issue, in exchange for such lost, stolen or destroyed Certificate, the Merger Consideration to be paid in respect of the Company Common Shares formerly represented by such Certificate as contemplated under this Article II less any amounts previously paid.
Article
III
Representations and warranties Regarding the Company and SRAX
Except as otherwise set forth in the Company Disclosure Schedules, the Company and SRAX represent and warrant to Parent, Buyer and Merger Sub that the statements contained in this Article III are true and correct as of the date hereof. For purposes of clarity, any references to the Knowledge of the Company shall be deemed to include the Knowledge of SRAX and vice versa.
Section 3.01 Organization and Qualification of the Company. The Company is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the State of Delaware. The Company has full corporate power and authority to own, operate or lease the properties and assets now owned, operated or leased by it and to carry on its business as it has been and is currently conducted. Section 3.01 of the Company Disclosure Schedules sets forth each jurisdiction in which the Company is licensed or qualified to do business, and the Company is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which it is duly licensed or qualified to do business.
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Section 3.02 Authority; Board Approval. The Company has full corporate power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement and the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by all requisite corporate action on the part of the Company and no other corporate proceedings on the part of the Company are necessary to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement or to consummate the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Company, and (assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by each other party hereto) this Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms.
Section 3.03 No Conflicts; Consents. The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, including the Merger, do not and will not: (i) conflict with or result in a violation or breach of, or default under, any provision of the certificate of incorporation, bylaws or other organizational documents of the Company (“Company Charter Documents”); (ii) conflict with or result in a violation or breach of any provision of any Law or Governmental Order applicable to the Company; (iii) except as set forth in Section 3.03 of the Company Disclosure Schedules (the “Required Consents”), (A) require the consent, notice or other action by any Person under, (B) conflict with, result in a violation or breach of, constitute a default or an event that, with or without notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute a default under, (C) result in the acceleration of or create in any party the right to accelerate, terminate, modify or cancel, in each case, any Contract to which the Company is a party or by which the Company is bound or to which any of its properties and assets are subject (including any Material Contract) or any Permit affecting the properties, assets or business of the Company; or (iv) result in the creation or imposition of any Encumbrance other than Permitted Encumbrances on any properties or assets of the Company. No consent, approval, Permit, Governmental Order, declaration or filing with, or notice to, any Governmental Authority is required by or with respect to the Company in connection with the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, except for the filing of the Merger Certificate with the Secretary of State of Delaware.
Section 3.04 Capitalization.
(a) The authorized capital stock of the Company consists of 1,000 Company Common Shares, all of which are issued and outstanding and are owned by SRAX. There are no other issued or outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company and SRAX is the only stockholder of the Company.
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(b) (i) No subscription, warrant, option, convertible or exchangeable security, or other right (contingent or otherwise) to purchase or otherwise acquire equity securities of the Company is authorized or outstanding, and (ii) there is no commitment by the Company to issue shares, subscriptions, warrants, options, convertible or exchangeable securities, or other such rights or to distribute to holders of any of its equity securities any evidence of indebtedness or asset, to repurchase or redeem any securities of the Company or to grant, extend, accelerate the vesting of, change the price of, or otherwise amend any warrant, option, convertible or exchangeable security or other such right. There are no declared or accrued unpaid dividends with respect to any shares of Company Common Shares.
(c) All issued and outstanding shares of Company Common Shares are (i) duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable; (ii) not subject to any preemptive rights created by statute, the Company Charter Documents or any agreement to which the Company is a party; and (iii) free of any Encumbrances. All issued and outstanding shares of Company Common Shares were issued in compliance with applicable Law.
(d) No outstanding Company Common Shares are subject to vesting or forfeiture rights or repurchase by the Company. There are no outstanding or authorized stock appreciation, dividend equivalent, phantom stock, profit participation or other similar rights with respect to the Company or any of its securities.
(e) All distributions, dividends, repurchases and redemptions of the capital stock (or other equity interests) of the Company were undertaken in compliance with the Company Charter Documents then in effect, any agreement to which the Company then was a party and in compliance with applicable Law.
Section 3.05 No Subsidiaries. The Company does not own, have any interest in any shares or have an ownership interest in any other Person.
Section 3.06 Financial Statements. Complete copies of the Company’s unaudited financial statements consisting of the balance sheet of the Company as of December 31 in each of the years 2021 and 2020, and the related statement of income for the years then ended (the “Annual Financial Statements”), and unaudited financial statements consisting of the balance sheet of the Company as of September 30, 2022 and the related statement of income for the nine-month period then ended (the “Interim Financial Statements” and together with the Annual Financial Statements, the “Financial Statements”) are included in the Company Disclosure Schedules. The Financial Statements are based on the books and records of the Company, and fairly present in all material respects the financial condition of the Company as of the respective dates they were prepared and the results of the operations of the Company for the periods indicated. The balance sheet of the Company as of December 31, 2021 is referred to herein as the “Balance Sheet” and the date thereof as the “Balance Sheet Date” and the balance sheet of the Company as of September 30, 2022 is referred to herein as the “Interim Balance Sheet” and the date thereof as the “Interim Balance Sheet Date”. The Company maintains a standard system of accounting established and administered in accordance with GAAP. The Company and SRAX represent and warrant that the Financial Statements are accurate and correct to the best of their Knowledge.
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Section 3.07 Undisclosed Liabilities; Indebtedness. The Company has no liabilities, obligations or commitments of any nature whatsoever, asserted or unasserted, known or unknown, absolute or contingent, accrued or unaccrued, matured or unmatured or otherwise (“Liabilities”), except (a) those which are adequately reflected or reserved against in the Interim Balance Sheet as of the Interim Balance Sheet Date and (b) those which have been incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice since the Interim Balance Sheet Date. The Company has no Indebtedness.
Section 3.08 Absence of Certain Changes, Events and Conditions. Except as set forth in Section 3.08 of the Company Disclosure Schedules, since the Balance Sheet Date, and other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, there has not been, with respect to the Company, any:
(a) event, occurrence or development that has had, or could reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect;
(b) amendment of the charter, by-laws or other organizational documents of the Company;
(c) split, combination or reclassification of any shares of its capital stock;
(d) issuance, sale or other disposition of any of its capital or grant of any options, warrants or other rights to purchase or obtain (including upon conversion, exchange or exercise) any of its capital stock;
(e) declaration or payment of any dividends or distributions on or in respect of any of its capital stock or redemption, purchase or acquisition of its capital stock;
(f) material change in any method of accounting or accounting practice of the Company, except as required by GAAP or as disclosed in the notes to the Financial Statements;
(g) material change in the Company’s 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, inventory control, prepayment of expenses, payment of trade accounts payable, accrual of other expenses, deferral of revenue and acceptance of customer deposits;
(h) entry into any Contract that would constitute a Material Contract;
(i) incurrence, assumption or guarantee of any indebtedness for borrowed money except unsecured current obligations and Liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;
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(j) transfer, assignment, sale or other disposition of any of the assets shown or reflected in the Balance Sheet or cancellation of any debts or entitlements;
(k) transfer, assignment or grant of any license or sublicense of any material rights under or with respect to any Company Intellectual Property or Company IP Agreements;
(l) material damage, destruction or loss (whether or not covered by insurance) to its property;
(m) any capital investment in, or any loan to, any other Person;
(n) acceleration, termination, material modification to or cancellation of any material Contract (including, but not limited to, any Material Contract) to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound;
(o) any material capital expenditures;
(p) imposition of any Encumbrance upon any of the Company properties, capital stock or assets, tangible or intangible;
(q) (i) grant of any bonuses, whether monetary or otherwise, or increase in any wages, salary, severance, pension or other compensation or benefits in respect of its current or former employees, officers, directors, independent contractors or consultants, other than as provided for in any written agreements or required by applicable Law, (ii) change in the terms of employment for any employee or any termination of any employees for which the aggregate costs and expenses exceed $1,000, or (iii) action to accelerate the vesting or payment of any compensation or benefit for any current or former employee, officer, director, independent contractor or consultant;
(r) hiring or promoting any person as or to (as the case may be) an officer or hiring or promoting any employee below officer except to fill a vacancy in the ordinary course of business;
(s) adoption, modification or termination of any: (i) employment, severance, retention or other agreement with any current or former employee, officer, director, independent contractor or consultant, (ii) Benefit Plan or (iii) collective bargaining or other agreement with a Union, in each case whether written or oral;
(t) any loan to (or forgiveness of any loan to), or entry into any other transaction with, any of its stockholders or current or former directors, officers and employees;
(u) entry into a new line of business or abandonment or discontinuance of existing lines of business;
(v) except for the Merger, adoption of any plan of merger, consolidation, reorganization, liquidation or dissolution or filing of a petition in bankruptcy under any provisions of federal or state bankruptcy Law or consent to the filing of any bankruptcy petition against it under any similar Law;
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(w) purchase, lease or other acquisition of the right to own, use or lease any property or assets for an amount in excess of $25,000, individually (in the case of a lease, per annum) or $25,000 in the aggregate (in the case of a lease, for the entire term of the lease, not including any option term), except for purchases of inventory or supplies in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;
(x) acquisition by merger or consolidation with, or by purchase of a substantial portion of the assets or stock of, or by any other manner, any business or any Person or any division thereof;
(y) action by the Company to make, change or rescind any Tax election, amend any Tax Return or take any position on any Tax Return, take any action, omit to take any action or enter into any other transaction that would have the effect of increasing the Tax liability or reducing any Tax asset of Buyer in respect of any Post-Closing Tax Period; or
(z) any Contract to do any of the foregoing, or any action or omission that would result in any of the foregoing.
Section 3.09 Material Contracts.
(a) Section 3.09(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedules lists each of the following Contracts of the Company (such Contracts, together with all Contracts concerning the occupancy, management or operation of any Real Property, including, without limitation, brokerage contracts) listed or otherwise disclosed in Section 3.10(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedules and all Company IP Agreements set forth in Section 3.12(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedules, being “Material Contracts”):
(i) each Contract of the Company involving aggregate consideration in excess of $50,000 and which, in each case, cannot be cancelled by the Company without penalty or without more than ninety (90) days’ notice;
(ii) all Contracts that require the Company to purchase its total requirements of any product or service from a third party or that contain “take or pay” provisions;
(iii) all Contracts that provide for the indemnification by the Company of any Person or the assumption of any Tax, environmental or other Liability of any Person;
(iv) all Contracts that relate to the acquisition or disposition of any business, a material amount of stock or assets of any other Person or any real property (whether by merger, sale of stock, sale of assets or otherwise);
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(v) all broker, distributor, dealer, manufacturer’s representative, franchise, agency, sales promotion, market research, marketing consulting and advertising Contracts to which the Company is a party;
(vi) all employment agreements and Contracts with independent contractors or consultants (or similar arrangements) to which the Company is a party and which are not cancellable without material penalty or without more than sixty (60) days’ notice;
(vii) except for Contracts relating to trade receivables, all Contracts relating to Indebtedness (including, without limitation, guarantees) of the Company;
(viii) all Contracts with any Governmental Authority to which the Company is a party (“Government Contracts”);
(ix) all Contracts that limit or purport to limit the ability of the Company to compete in any line of business or with any Person or in any geographic area or during any period of time;
(x) any Contracts to which the Company is a party that provide for any joint venture, partnership or similar arrangement by the Company;
(xi) all collective bargaining agreements or Contracts with any Union to which the Company is a party; and
(xii) any other Contract that is material to the conduct of the business of the Company and not previously disclosed pursuant to this Section 3.09.
(b) Each Material Contract is valid and binding on the Company in accordance with its terms and is in full force and effect. None of the Company or, to the Company’s Knowledge, any other party thereto is in breach of or default under. No event or circumstance has occurred that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute an event of default under any Material Contract or result in a termination thereof or would cause or permit the acceleration or other changes of any right or obligation or the loss of any benefit thereunder. Complete and correct copies of each Material Contract (including all modifications, amendments and supplements thereto and waivers thereunder) have been made available to Parent or Buyer.
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Section 3.10 Title to Assets; Real Property.
(a) The Company has good and valid (and, in the case of owned Real Property, good and marketable fee simple) title to, or a valid leasehold interest in, all Real Property and assets reflected in the Interim Balance Sheet or acquired thereafter prior to the execution of this Agreement, other than properties and assets sold or otherwise disposed of in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice since the Interim Balance Sheet Date and assets that are not, individually or in the aggregate, material to the conduct of the business of the Company. All such properties and assets (including leasehold interests) are free and clear of Encumbrances except for the following (collectively referred to as “Permitted Encumbrances”):
(i) liens for Taxes not yet due and payable;
(ii) mechanics, carriers’, workmen’s, repairmen’s or other like liens arising or incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice or amounts that are not delinquent and which are not, individually or in the aggregate, material to the business of the Company;
(iii) easements, rights of way, zoning ordinances and other similar encumbrances affecting Real Property, which do not materially impair the occupation or the use of the Real Property for the purposes which it is currently used; or
(iv) other than with respect to owned Real Property, liens arising under original purchase price conditional sales contracts and equipment leases with third parties entered into in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice which are not, individually or in the aggregate, material to the business of the Company.
(b) Section 3.10(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedules lists each parcel of Real Property and describes the current use of such property. With respect to owned Real Property, the Company has delivered or made available to Parent or Buyer true, complete and correct copies of the deeds and other instruments (as recorded) by which the Company acquired such Real Property, and copies of all title insurance policies, opinions, abstracts and surveys in the possession of the Company and relating to the Real Property. With respect to leased Real Property, the Company has delivered or made available to Parent or Buyer true, complete and correct copies of any leases affecting the Real Property. The Company is not a sublessor or grantor under any sublease or other instrument granting to any other Person any right to the possession, lease, occupancy or enjoyment of any leased Real Property. There are no Actions pending nor, to the Company’s Knowledge, threatened against or affecting the Real Property or any portion thereof or interest therein in the nature or in lieu of condemnation or eminent domain proceedings.
Section 3.11 Condition and Sufficiency of Assets. Except as set forth in Section 3.11 of the Company Disclosure Schedules, the buildings, plants, structures, furniture, fixtures, machinery, equipment, vehicles and other items of tangible personal property of the Company are structurally sound, are in good operating condition and repair, and are adequate for the uses to which they are being put, and, to the Company’s Knowledge, none of such buildings, plants, structures, furniture, fixtures, machinery, equipment, vehicles and other items of tangible personal property is in need of maintenance or repairs except for ordinary, routine maintenance and repairs that are not material in nature or cost. The buildings, plants, structures, furniture, fixtures, machinery, equipment, vehicles and other items of tangible personal property currently owned or leased by the Company, together with all other properties and assets of the Company, are sufficient for the continued conduct of the Company’s business after the Closing in substantially the same manner as conducted prior to the Closing and constitute all of the rights, property and assets necessary to conduct the business of the Company as currently conducted.
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Section 3.12 Intellectual Property.
(a) Section 3.12(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedules lists all (i) Company IP Registrations and (ii) Company Intellectual Property, including software, that are not registered but that are material to the Company’s business or operations. All required filings and fees related to the Company IP Registrations have been timely filed with and paid to the relevant Governmental Authorities and authorized registrars, and all Company IP Registrations are otherwise in good standing. The Company has provided Buyer with true and complete copies of file histories, documents, certificates, office actions, correspondence and other materials related to all Company IP Registrations.
(b) Section 3.12(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedules list all Company IP Agreements. The Company has provided Buyer with true and complete copies of all such Company IP Agreements, including all modifications, amendments and supplements thereto and waivers thereunder. Each Company IP Agreement is valid and binding on the Company in accordance with its terms and is in full force and effect. Neither the Company nor any other party thereto is in breach of or default under (or is alleged to be in breach of or default under), or has provided or received any notice of breach or default of or any intention to terminate, any Company IP Agreement.
(c) Except as set forth in Section 3.12(c) of the Company Disclosure Schedules, the Company is the sole and exclusive legal and beneficial, and with respect to the Company IP Registrations, record, owner of all right, title and interest in and to the Company Intellectual Property, and has the valid right to use all other Intellectual Property used in or necessary for the conduct of the Company’s current business or operations, in each case, free and clear of Encumbrances other than Permitted Encumbrances. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company has entered into binding, written agreements with every current and former employee, and with every current and former independent contractor, whereby such employees and independent contractors (i) assign to the Company any ownership interest and right they may have in the Company Intellectual Property; and (ii) acknowledge the Company’s exclusive ownership of all Company Intellectual Property. The Company has provided Buyer with true and complete copies of all such agreements. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company owns all properties and assets and has the valid right to use all Intellectual Property used in or necessary for the conduct of (i) the LD Micro Index, a market index of publicly traded small and microcap issuers, and (ii) the conferences for the investment community that are sponsored by the Company and focused on small and microcap issuers. Notwithstanding the foregoing and for the avoidance of doubt, each of the parties hereto acknowledges and agrees that “Intellectual Property,” as used this Section 3.12, does not include software legally and beneficially owned by SRAX and used in or necessary for the conduct of SRAX’s business or operations.
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(d) The consummation of the transactions contemplated hereunder will not result in the loss or impairment of or payment of any additional amounts with respect to, nor require the consent of any other Person in respect of, the Company’s right to own, use or hold for use any Intellectual Property as owned, used or held for use in the conduct of the Company’s business or operations as currently conducted.
(e) The Company’s rights in the Company Intellectual Property are valid, subsisting and enforceable. The Company has taken all reasonable steps to maintain the Company Intellectual Property and to protect and preserve the confidentiality of all trade secrets included in the Company Intellectual Property, including requiring all Persons having access thereto to execute written non-disclosure agreements.
(f) To the Company’s Knowledge, the conduct of the Company’s business as currently and formerly conducted, and the products, processes and services of the Company, have not infringed, misappropriated, diluted or otherwise violated, and do not infringe, dilute, misappropriate or otherwise violate the Intellectual Property or other rights of any Person. To the Company’s Knowledge, no Person has infringed, misappropriated, diluted or otherwise violated, or is currently infringing, misappropriating, diluting or otherwise violating, any Company Intellectual Property.
(g) There are no Actions (including any oppositions, interferences or re-examinations) settled, pending or threatened (including in the form of offers to obtain a license): (i) alleging any infringement, misappropriation, dilution or violation of the Intellectual Property of any Person by the Company; (ii) challenging the validity, enforceability, registrability or ownership of any Company Intellectual Property or the Company’s rights with respect to any Company Intellectual Property; or (iii) by the Company or any other Person alleging any infringement, misappropriation, dilution or violation by any Person of the Company Intellectual Property. The Company is not subject to any outstanding or prospective Governmental Order (including any motion or petition therefor) that does or would restrict or impair the use of any Company Intellectual Property.
Section 3.13 [Intentionally Omitted].
Section 3.14 Accounts Receivable. The accounts receivable reflected on the Interim Balance Sheet and the accounts receivable arising after the date thereof (a) have arisen from bona fide transactions entered into by the Company involving the sale of goods or the rendering of services in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice; (b) constitute valid, undisputed claims of the Company not subject to any known rights of set-off or other defenses or counterclaims other than normal cash discounts accrued in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice; and (c) subject to a reserve for bad debts shown on the Interim Balance Sheet or, with respect to accounts receivable arising after the Interim Balance Sheet Date, on the accounting records of the Company that have been furnished to Buyer, are collectible in full. The reserve for bad debts shown on the Interim Balance Sheet or, with respect to accounts receivable arising after the Interim Balance Sheet Date, on the accounting records of the Company have been determined in accordance with GAAP, consistently applied, subject to normal year-end adjustments and the absence of disclosures normally made in footnotes.
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Section 3.15 Customers and Suppliers.
(a) Section 3.15(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedules sets forth (i) each customer who has paid aggregate consideration to the Company for goods or services rendered in an amount greater than or equal to $50,000 during each of the two (2) most recent fiscal years (collectively, the “Material Customers”); and (ii) the amount of consideration paid by each Material Customer during such periods. Except as set forth in Section 3.15(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedules, the Company has not received any notice, and, to the Company’s Knowledge, has no reason to believe, that any of its Material Customers has ceased, or intends to cease after the Closing, to use its goods or services or to otherwise terminate or materially reduce its relationship with the Company.
(b) Section 3.15(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedules sets forth (i) each supplier to whom the Company has paid consideration for goods or services rendered in an amount greater than or equal to $50,000 during each of the two (2) most recent fiscal years (collectively, the “Material Suppliers”); and (ii) the amount of purchases from each Material Supplier during such periods. Except as set forth in Section 3.15(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedules, the Company has not received any notice, and, to the Company’s Knowledge, has no reason to believe, that any of its Material Suppliers has ceased, or intends to cease, to supply goods or services to the Company or to otherwise terminate or materially reduce its relationship with the Company.
Section 3.16 Insurance. Section 3.16 of the Company Disclosure Schedules sets forth a true and complete list of all current policies or binders of fire, liability, product liability, umbrella liability, real and personal property, workers’ compensation, vehicular, directors’ and officers’ liability, fiduciary liability and other casualty and property insurance maintained by Company and relating to the assets, business, operations, employees, officers and directors of the Company (collectively, the “Insurance Policies”) and true and complete copies of such Insurance Policies have been made available to Parent or Buyer. Such Insurance Policies are in full force and effect and shall remain in full force and effect following the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. The Company has not received any written notice of cancellation of, premium increase with respect to, or alteration of coverage under, any of such Insurance Policies. All premiums due on such Insurance Policies have either been paid or, if due and payable prior to Closing, will be paid prior to Closing in accordance with the payment terms of each Insurance Policy. The Insurance Policies do not provide for any retrospective premium adjustment or other experience-based liability on the part of the Company. All such Insurance Policies (a) are valid and binding in accordance with their terms and (b) have not been subject to any lapse in coverage. Except as set forth on Section 3.16 of the Company Disclosure Schedules, there are no claims related to the business of the Company pending under any such Insurance Policies as to which coverage has been questioned, denied or disputed or in respect of which there is an outstanding reservation of rights. The Company is not in default under, and has not otherwise failed to comply with, in any material respect, any provision contained in any such Insurance Policy.
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Section 3.17 Legal Proceedings; Governmental Orders.
(a) Except as set forth in Section 3.17(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedules, there are no Actions pending or, to the Company’s Knowledge, threatened (a) against or by the Company affecting any of its properties or assets; or (b) against or by the Company that challenges or seeks to prevent, enjoin or otherwise delay the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. To the Company’s Knowledge, no event has occurred or circumstances exist that may give rise to, or serve as a basis for, any such Action.
(b) Except as set forth in Section 3.17(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedules, there are no outstanding Governmental Orders and no unsatisfied judgments, penalties or awards against or affecting the Company or any of its properties or assets. The Company is in compliance with the terms of each Governmental Order set forth in Section 3.17(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedules. No event has occurred or circumstances exist that may constitute or result in (with or without notice or lapse of time) a violation of any such Governmental Order.
Section 3.18 Compliance with Laws; Permits.
(a) Except as set forth in Section 3.18(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedules, the Company is in compliance, in all material respects, with all Laws applicable to its business.
(b) All Permits required for the Company to conduct its business have been obtained by it and are valid and in full force and effect. All fees and charges with respect to such Permits as of the date hereof have been paid in full. Section 3.18(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedules lists all current Permits issued to the Company, including the names of the Permits and their respective dates of issuance and expiration. To the Company’s Knowledge, no event has occurred that, with or without notice or lapse of time or both, would reasonably be expected to result in the revocation, suspension, lapse or limitation of any Permit set forth in Section 3.18(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedules.
Section 3.19 [Intentionally Omitted].
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Section 3.20 Employee Benefit Matters.
(a) Section 3.20(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedules contains a true and complete list of each pension, benefit, retirement, compensation, employment, consulting, profit-sharing, deferred compensation, incentive, bonus, performance award, phantom equity, stock or stock-based, change in control, retention, severance, vacation, paid time off, welfare, fringe-benefit and other similar agreement, plan, policy, program or arrangement (and any amendments thereto), in each case whether or not reduced to writing and whether funded or unfunded, including each “employee benefit plan” within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA, whether or not tax-qualified and whether or not subject to ERISA, which is or has been maintained, sponsored, contributed to, or required to be contributed to by the Company for the benefit of any current or former employee, officer, director, retiree, independent contractor or consultant of the Company or any spouse or dependent of such individual, or under which the Company or any of its ERISA Affiliates has or may have any Liability, or with respect to which Buyer or any of its Affiliates would reasonably be expected to have any Liability, contingent or otherwise (as listed on Section 3.20(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedules, each, a “Benefit Plan”). The Company has separately identified in Section 3.20(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedules (i) each Benefit Plan that contains a change in control provision and (ii) each Benefit Plan that is maintained, sponsored, contributed to, or required to be contributed to by the Company primarily for the benefit of employees outside of the United States (a “Non-U.S. Benefit Plan”).
(b) With respect to each Benefit Plan, the Company has made available to Parent or Buyer accurate, current and complete copies of each of the following: (i) where the Benefit Plan has been reduced to writing, the plan document together with all amendments; (ii) where the Benefit Plan has not been reduced to writing, a written summary of all material plan terms; (iii) where applicable, copies of any trust agreements or other funding arrangements, custodial agreements, insurance policies and contracts, administration agreements and similar agreements, and investment management or investment advisory agreements, now in effect or required in the future as a result of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or otherwise; (iv) copies of any summary plan descriptions, summaries of material modifications, employee handbooks and any other written communications (or a description of any oral communications) relating to any Benefit Plan; (v) in the case of any Benefit Plan that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code, a copy of the most recent determination, opinion or advisory letter from the Internal Revenue Service; (vi) in the case of any Benefit Plan for which a Form 5500 is required to be filed, a copy of the two most recently filed Form 5500, with schedules and financial statements attached; (vii) actuarial valuations and reports related to any Benefit Plans with respect to the two most recently completed plan years; (viii) the most recent nondiscrimination tests performed under the Code; and (ix) copies of material notices, letters or other correspondence from the Internal Revenue Service, Department of Labor, Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or other Governmental Authority relating to the Benefit Plan.
(c) Except as set forth in Section 3.20(c) of the Company Disclosure Schedules, each Benefit Plan and any related trust (other than any multiemployer plan within the meaning of Section 3(37) of ERISA (each a “Multiemployer Plan”)) has been established, administered and maintained in accordance with its terms and in compliance with all applicable Laws (including ERISA, and the Code, and any applicable local Laws). Each Benefit Plan that is intended to be qualified within the meaning of Section 401(a) of the Code (a “Qualified Benefit Plan”) is so qualified and has received a favorable and current determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service, or with respect to a prototype plan, can rely on an opinion letter from the Internal Revenue Service to the prototype plan sponsor, to the effect that such Qualified Benefit Plan is so qualified and that the plan and the trust related thereto are exempt from federal income taxes under Sections 401(a) and 501(a), respectively, of the Code, and nothing has occurred that could reasonably be expected to adversely affect the qualified status of any Qualified Benefit Plan. Nothing has occurred with respect to any Benefit Plan that has subjected or could reasonably be expected to subject the Company or any of its ERISA Affiliates or, with respect to any period on or after the Closing Date, Buyer or any of its Affiliates, to a penalty under Section 502 of ERISA or to tax or penalty under Section 4975 of the Code. Except as set forth in Section 3.20(c) of the Company Disclosure Schedules, all benefits, contributions and premiums relating to each Benefit Plan have been timely paid in accordance with the terms of such Benefit Plan and all applicable Laws and accounting principles, and all benefits accrued under any unfunded Benefit Plan have been paid, accrued or otherwise adequately reserved to the extent required by, and in accordance with, GAAP. All Non-U.S. Benefit Plans that are intended to be funded and/or book-reserved are funded and/or book-reserved, as appropriate, based upon reasonable actuarial assumptions.
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(d) Neither the Company nor any of its ERISA Affiliates has (i) incurred or reasonably expects to incur, either directly or indirectly, any material Liability under Title I or Title IV of ERISA or related provisions of the Code or applicable local Law relating to employee benefit plans; (ii) failed to timely pay premiums to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation; (iii) withdrawn from any Benefit Plan; or (iv) engaged in any transaction which would give rise to liability under Section 4069 or Section 4212(c) of ERISA.
(e) With respect to each Benefit Plan (i) no such plan is a Multiemployer Plan/except as set forth in Section 3.20(e) of the Company Disclosure Schedules, no such plan is a Multiemployer Plan, and (A) all contributions required to be paid by the Company or its ERISA Affiliates have been timely paid to the applicable Multiemployer Plan, (B) neither the Company nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred any withdrawal liability under Title IV of ERISA which remains unsatisfied, and (C) a complete withdrawal from all such Multiemployer Plans at the Effective Time would not result in any material liability to the Company; (ii) no such plan is a “multiple employer plan” within the meaning of Section 413(c) of the Code or a “multiple employer welfare arrangement” (as defined in Section 3(40) of ERISA); (iii) no Action has been initiated by the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation to terminate any such plan or to appoint a trustee for any such plan; (iv) no such plan is subject to the minimum funding standards of Section 412 of the Code or Title IV of ERISA, and none of the assets of the Company or any ERISA Affiliate is, or may reasonably be expected to become, the subject of any lien arising under Section 302 of ERISA or Section 412(a) of the Code/ except as set forth in Section 3.20(e) of the Company Disclosure Schedules, no such plan is subject to the minimum funding standards of Section 412 of the Code or Title IV of ERISA, and no plan listed in Section 3.20(e) of the Company Disclosure Schedules has failed to satisfy the minimum funding standards of Section 302 of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code; and (v) no “reportable event,” as defined in Section 4043 of ERISA, has occurred with respect to any such plan.
(f) Each Benefit Plan can be amended, terminated or otherwise discontinued after the Closing in accordance with its terms, without material liabilities to Buyer, the Company or any of their Affiliates other than ordinary administrative expenses typically incurred in a termination event. The Company has no commitment or obligation and has not made any representations to any employee, officer, director, independent contractor or consultant, whether or not legally binding, to adopt, amend, modify or terminate any Benefit Plan or any collective bargaining agreement, in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or otherwise.
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(g) Except as set forth in Section 3.20(g) of the Company Disclosure Schedules and other than as required under Section 601 et. seq. of ERISA or other applicable Law, no Benefit Plan provides post-termination or retiree welfare benefits to any individual for any reason, and neither the Company nor any of its ERISA Affiliates has any Liability to provide post-termination or retiree welfare benefits to any individual or ever represented, promised or contracted to any individual that such individual would be provided with post-termination or retiree welfare benefits.
(h) Except as set forth in Section 3.20(h) of the Company Disclosure Schedules, there is no pending or, to the Company’s Knowledge, threatened Action relating to a Benefit Plan (other than routine claims for benefits), and no Benefit Plan has within the three (3) years prior to the date hereof been the subject of an examination or audit by a Governmental Authority or the subject of an application or filing under or is a participant in, an amnesty, voluntary compliance, self-correction or similar program sponsored by any Governmental Authority.
(i) There has been no amendment to, announcement by the Company or any of its Affiliates relating to, or change in employee participation or coverage under, any Benefit Plan or collective bargaining agreement that would increase the annual expense of maintaining such plan above the level of the expense incurred for the most recently completed fiscal year with respect to any director, officer, employee, independent contractor or consultant, as applicable. Neither the Company nor any of its Affiliates has any commitment or obligation or has made any representations to any director, officer, employee, independent contractor or consultant, whether or not legally binding, to adopt, amend, modify or terminate any Benefit Plan or any collective bargaining agreement.
(j) Each Benefit Plan that is subject to Section 409A of the Code has been administered in compliance with its terms and the operational and documentary requirements of Section 409A of the Code and all applicable regulatory guidance (including notices, rulings and proposed and final regulations) thereunder. The Company does not have any obligation to gross up, indemnify or otherwise reimburse any individual for any excise taxes, interest or penalties incurred pursuant to Section 409A of the Code.
(k) Each individual who is classified by the Company as an independent contractor has been properly classified for purposes of participation and benefit accrual under each Benefit Plan.
(l) Except as set forth in Section 3.20(l) of the Company Disclosure Schedules, neither the execution of this Agreement nor any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will (either alone or upon the occurrence of any additional or subsequent events): (i) entitle any current or former director, officer, employee, independent contractor or consultant of the Company to severance pay or any other payment; (ii) accelerate the time of payment, funding or vesting, or increase the amount of compensation due to any such individual; (iii) limit or restrict the right of the Company to merge, amend or terminate any Benefit Plan; (iv) increase the amount payable under or result in any other material obligation pursuant to any Benefit Plan; (v) result in “excess parachute payments” within the meaning of Section 280G(b) of the Code; or (vi) require a “gross-up” or other payment to any “disqualified individual” within the meaning of Section 280G(c) of the Code.
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Section 3.21 Employment Matters.
(a) Section 3.21(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedules contains a list of all persons who are employees, independent contractors or consultants of the Company as of the Closing, including any employee who is on a leave of absence of any nature, paid or unpaid, authorized or unauthorized, and sets forth for each such individual the following: (i) name; (ii) title or position (including whether full or part time); (iii) hire date; (iv) current annual base compensation rate; (v) commission, bonus or other incentive-based compensation; and (vi) a description of the fringe benefits provided to each such individual as of the date hereof. Except as set forth in Section 3.21(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedules, as of the date hereof, all compensation, including wages, commissions and bonuses, payable to all employees, independent contractors or consultants of the Company for services performed on or prior to the date hereof have been paid in full and there are no outstanding agreements, understandings or commitments of the Company with respect to any compensation, commissions or bonuses. Further, the Company and SRAX represent and warrant that all employees and consultants have been properly characterized and all taxes related thereto have been fully paid.
(b) Except as set forth in Section 3.21(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedules, the Company is not, and has not been for the past three (3) years, a party to, bound by, or negotiating any collective bargaining agreement or other Material Contract with a union, works council or labor organization (collectively, “Union”), and there is not, and has not been for the past three (3) years, any Union representing or purporting to represent any employee of the Company, and, to the Company’s Knowledge, no Union or group of employees is seeking or has sought to organize employees for the purpose of collective bargaining. Except as set forth in Section 3.21(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedules, there has never been, nor has there been any threat of, any strike, slowdown, work stoppage, lockout, concerted refusal to work overtime or other similar labor disruption or dispute affecting the Company or any of its employees.
(c) The Company is in compliance with the terms of the collective bargaining agreements and other Material Contracts listed on Section 3.21(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedules and in material compliance with all applicable Laws pertaining to employment and employment practices to the extent they relate to employees of the Company, including all Laws relating to labor relations, equal employment opportunities, fair employment practices, employment discrimination, harassment, retaliation, reasonable accommodation, disability rights or benefits, immigration, wages, hours, overtime compensation, child labor, hiring, promotion and termination of employees, working conditions, meal and break periods, privacy, health and safety, workers’ compensation, leaves of absence and unemployment insurance. All individuals characterized and treated by the Company as independent contractors or consultants are properly treated as independent contractors under all applicable Laws. All employees of the Company classified as exempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act and state and local wage and hour laws are properly classified. Except as set forth in Section 3.21(c), there are no Actions against the Company pending, or to the Company’s Knowledge, threatened to be brought or filed, by or with any Governmental Authority or arbitrator in connection with the employment of any current or former applicant, employee, consultant, volunteer, intern or independent contractor of the Company, including, without limitation, any claim relating to unfair labor practices, employment discrimination, harassment, retaliation, equal pay, wage and hours or any other employment-related matter arising under applicable Laws.
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Section 3.22 Taxes. Except as set forth in Section 3.22 of the Company Disclosure Schedules:
(a) All Tax Returns required to be filed on or before the Closing Date by the Company have been, or will be, timely filed. Such Tax Returns are, or will be, true, complete and correct in all respects. All Taxes due and owing by the Company (whether or not shown on any Tax Return) have been, or will be, timely paid.
(b) The Company has withheld and paid each Tax required to have been withheld and paid in connection with amounts paid or owing to any employee, independent contractor, creditor, customer, shareholder or other party, and complied with all information reporting and backup withholding provisions of applicable Law.
(c) No claim has been made by any taxing authority in any jurisdiction where the Company does not file Tax Returns that it is, or may be, subject to Tax by that jurisdiction.
(d) No extensions or waivers of statutes of limitations have been given or requested with respect to any Taxes of the Company.
(e) The amount of the Company’s Liability for unpaid Taxes for all periods ending on or before September 30, 2022 does not, in the aggregate, exceed the amount of accruals for Taxes (excluding reserves for deferred Taxes) reflected on the Financial Statements. The amount of the Company’s Liability for unpaid Taxes for all periods following the end of the recent period covered by the Financial Statements shall not, in the aggregate, exceed the amount of accruals for Taxes (excluding reserves for deferred Taxes) as adjusted for the passage of time in accordance with the past custom and practice of the Company (and which accruals shall not exceed comparable amounts incurred in similar periods in prior years).
(f) Section 3.22(f) of the Company Disclosure Schedules sets forth:
(i) the taxable years of the Company as to which the applicable statutes of limitations on the assessment and collection of Taxes have not expired;
(ii) those years for which examinations by the taxing authorities have been completed; and
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(iii) those taxable years for which examinations by taxing authorities are presently being conducted.
(g) All deficiencies asserted, or assessments made, against the Company as a result of any examinations by any taxing authority have been fully paid.
(h) The Company is not a party to any Action by any taxing authority. There are no pending or threatened Actions by any taxing authority.
(i) [Intentionally Omitted].
(j) There are no Encumbrances for Taxes (other than for current Taxes not yet due and payable) upon the assets of the Company.
(k) The Company is not a party to, or bound by, any Tax indemnity, Tax sharing or Tax allocation agreement.
(l) No private letter rulings, technical advice memoranda or similar agreement or rulings have been requested, entered into or issued by any taxing authority with respect to the Company.
(m) The Company will not be required to include any item of income in, or exclude any item or deduction from, taxable income for taxable period or portion thereof ending after the Closing Date as a result of:
(i) any change in a method of accounting under Section 481 of the Code (or any comparable provision of state, local or foreign Tax Laws), or use of an improper method of accounting, for a taxable period ending on or prior to the Closing Date;
(ii) an installment sale or open transaction occurring on or prior to the Closing Date;
(iii) a prepaid amount received on or before the Closing Date;
(iv) any closing agreement under Section 7121 of the Code, or similar provision of state, local or foreign Law; or
(v) any election under Section 108(i) of the Code.
(n) The Company is not, nor has it been, a United States real property holding corporation (as defined in Section 897(c)(2) of the Code) during the applicable period specified in Section 897(c)(1)(a) of the Code.
(o) The Company has not been a “distributing corporation” or a “controlled corporation” in connection with a distribution described in Section 355 of the Code.
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(p) The Company is not, and has not been, a party to, or a promoter of, a “reportable transaction” within the meaning of Section 6707A(c)(1) of the Code and Treasury Regulations Section 1.6011 4(b).
(q) There is currently no limitation on the utilization of net operating losses, capital losses, built-in losses, tax credits or similar items of the Company under Sections 269, 382, 383, 384 or 1502 of the Code and the Treasury Regulations thereunder (and comparable provisions of state, local or foreign Law).
(r) Section 3.22(r) of the Company Disclosure Schedules sets forth all foreign jurisdictions in which the Company is subject to Tax, is engaged in business or has a permanent establishment. The Company has not entered into a gain recognition agreement pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.367(a)-8. The Company has not transferred an intangible the transfer of which would be subject to the rules of Section 367(d) of the Code.
(s) No property owned by the Company is (i) required to be treated as being owned by another person pursuant to the so-called “safe harbor lease” provisions of former Section 168(f)(8) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended, (ii) subject to Section 168(g)(1)(A) of the Code, or (iii) subject to a disqualified leaseback or long-term agreement as defined in Section 467 of the Code.
Section 3.23 Books and Records. The minute books and stock record books of the Company, all of which have been made available to Parent or Buyer, are complete and correct and have been maintained in accordance with sound business practices. At the Closing, all of those books and records will be in the possession of the Company. To the extent required by Law, approval of all material actions or contracts undertaken by the Company since January 1, 2020 have been accurately described and documented in the minute books.
Section 3.24 Related Party Transactions. Except as set forth in Section 3.24 of the Company Disclosure Schedules, no executive officer or director of the Company or any person owning 5% of the Shares (or any of such person’s immediate family members or Affiliates or associates) is a party to any Contract with or binding upon the Company or any of its assets, rights or properties or has any interest in any property owned by the Company or has engaged in any transaction with any of the foregoing within the last twelve (12) months.
Section 3.25 Brokers. No broker, finder or investment banker is entitled to any brokerage, finder’s or other fee or commission in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of the Company.
Section 3.26 No Other Representations or Warranties. Except for the representations and warranties contained in this Agreement (including the related portions of the Company Disclosure Schedules), neither the Company nor any other Person has made or makes any other express or implied representation or warranty, either written or oral, on behalf of the Company.
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Section 3.27 Accredited Status. At the time SRAX was offered the Payment Shares, SRAX was, and as of the date hereof, is an “accredited investor” as defined in Rule 501(a) under the Securities Act (as defined below).
Section 3.28 Experience of SRAX. SRAX, either alone or together with his representatives, has such knowledge, sophistication and experience in business and financial matters so as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of the prospective investment in and ownership of the Payment Shares, and has so evaluated the merits and risks of such investment and ownership of such securities. SRAX is able to bear the economic risk of an investment in the Payment Shares and, at the present time, is able to afford a complete loss of the value of such Payment Shares.
Section 3.29 General Solicitation. SRAX is not, to its Knowledge, purchasing / receiving the Payment Shares as a result of any advertisement, article, notice or other communication regarding the Payment Shares published in any newspaper, magazine or similar media or broadcast over television or radio or presented at any seminar or, to the Knowledge of SRAX, any other general solicitation or general advertisement.
Section 3.30 Access to Information. SRAX acknowledges that it has had the opportunity to review this Agreement (including all exhibits and schedules thereto) and has been afforded (i) the opportunity to ask such questions as it has deemed necessary of, and to receive answers from, representatives of Parent concerning the terms and conditions of the offering of the Payment Shares and the merits and risks of investing / receiving the Payment Shares; (ii) access to information about Parent and its financial condition, results of operations, business, properties, management and prospects sufficient to enable it to evaluate its investment; and (iii) the opportunity to obtain such additional information that Parent possesses or can acquire without unreasonable effort or expense that is necessary to make an informed investment decision with respect to the investment. SRAX acknowledges and agrees that neither Xxxxxx, nor any Affiliate of Parent has provided SRAX with any information or advice with respect to the Payment Shares nor is such information or advice necessary or desired. In connection with the issuance of the Payment Shares to the SRAX, neither Parent nor any of its Affiliates has acted as a financial advisor or fiduciary to the SRAX.
Section 3.31 Legend on Payment Shares. SRAX understands that there are substantial restrictions on the transferability of the Payment Shares and that the certificates or book-entry security entitlements representing the Payment Shares shall bear a restrictive legend in substantially the following form:
THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR THE SECURITIES COMMISSION OF ANY STATE IN RELIANCE UPON AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND, ACCORDINGLY, MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR PURSUANT TO AN AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM, OR IN A TRANSACTION NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. THIS SECURITY MAY BE PLEDGED IN CONNECTION WITH A BONA FIDE MARGIN ACCOUNT WITH A REGISTERED BROKER-DEALER OR OTHER LOAN WITH A FINANCIAL INSTITUTION THAT IS AN “ACCREDITED INVESTOR” AS DEFINED IN RULE 501(a) UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR OTHER LOAN SECURED BY SUCH SECURITIES.
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Parent shall be obligated to promptly reissue unlegended certificates upon the request of SRAX (x) at such time as the holding period under Rule 144 or another applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), has been satisfied or (y) at such time Parent registers the Payment Shares for resale pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-1 or Form S-3 (each, a “Registration Statement”), as applicable; provided, however, that if, at any time on or after the date hereof, Parent proposes to file a Registration Statement under the Securities Act with respect to an offering of equity securities, or securities or other obligations exercisable or exchangeable for, or convertible into equity securities, for its own account or for the account of persons other than SRAX, other than a Registration Statement (a) filed in connection with any employee stock option or other benefit plan, (b) for an exchange offer or offering of securities solely to Parent’s existing stockholders, (c) for a registered offering not involving a “road show” or other substantial marketing efforts or a widespread distribution of securities, such as a “registered direct” offering (whether or not underwritten), (d) for an “at the market” or similar registered offering through a broker, sales agent or distribution agent, whether as agent or principal, or (e) pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-4 (or similar form that relates to a transaction subject to Rule 145 under the Securities Act or any successor rule thereto), then Parent shall give written notice of such proposed filing to SRAX as soon as reasonably practicable but not less than ten (10) days before the anticipated filing date of such registration statement which notice shall (i) describe the amount and type of securities to be included in such offering, the intended method(s) of distribution, and (ii) offer to SRAX the opportunity to register the sale of such number of Payment Shares as SRAX may request in writing within five (5) Business Days after receipt of such written notice (the “Piggyback Registration”). Parent shall, in good faith, cause such Payment Shares to be included in such Piggyback Registration and, if applicable, shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the managing underwriter(s) of such offering, if any, to permit the Payment Shares request by SRAX pursuant to this Section 3.31 to be included in the Piggyback Registration on the same terms and conditions as any similar securities of Parent, included in such registration and to permit the sale or other disposition of the Payment Shares in accordance with the intended method(s) of distribution thereof.
Article
IV
Representations and warranties of Parent, Xxxxx and Merger Sub
Parent, Buyer and Xxxxxx Sub represent and warrant to the Company and SRAX that the statements contained in this Article IV are true and correct as of the date hereof.
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Section 4.01 Organization and Authority of Buyer and Merger Sub. Each of Parent and Merger Sub is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation and Buyer is a limited liability company duly formed, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its formation. Each of Parent, Buyer and Merger Sub has full corporate or limited liability company power (as applicable) and authority to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. The execution, delivery and performance by Xxxxx and Merger Sub of this Agreement and the consummation by Buyer and Merger Sub of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by all requisite corporate or limited liability company action (as applicable) on the part of Parent, Buyer and Merger Sub and no other corporate or limited liability company proceedings (as applicable) on the part of Parent, Buyer or Merger Sub are necessary to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement or to consummate the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Xxxxxx, Xxxxx and Xxxxxx Sub, and (assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by each other party hereto) this Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of Parent, Buyer and Merger Sub enforceable against Parent, Buyer and Merger Sub in accordance with its terms.
Section 4.02 No Conflicts; Consents. The execution, delivery and performance by Parent, Buyer and Merger Sub of this Agreement, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, do not and will not: (a) conflict with or result in a violation or breach of, or default under, any provision of the certificate of incorporation, bylaws or other organizational documents of Parent, Buyer or Merger Sub; (b) conflict with or result in a violation or breach of any provision of any Law or Governmental Order applicable to Parent, Buyer or Merger Sub; or (c) require the consent, notice or other action by any Person under any Contract to which Parent, Buyer or Merger Sub is a party. No consent, approval, Permit, Governmental Order, declaration or filing with, or notice to, any Governmental Authority is required by or with respect to Parent, Buyer or Merger Sub in connection with the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, except for the filing of the Merger Certificate with the Secretary of State of Delaware.
Section 4.03 No Prior Merger Sub Operations. Merger Sub was formed solely for the purpose of effecting the Merger and has not engaged in any business activities or conducted any operations other than in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby.
Section 4.04 Brokers. No broker, finder or investment banker is entitled to any brokerage, finder’s or other fee or commission in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of Parent, Buyer or Merger Sub.
Section 4.05 Sufficiency of Funds; Solvency. Parent has sufficient cash on hand or other sources of immediately available funds to enable it to make the Cash Payment portion of the Merger Consideration and consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. As of the date of this Agreement and immediately prior to the Closing, each of Parent and Xxxxx is able to pay its current debts and obligations in the ordinary course of business as they become due. Immediately after giving effect to transactions contemplated hereby, each of Parent, Buyer and the Surviving Corporation shall be able to pay their debts and obligations in the ordinary course of business as they become due. In consummating the transactions contemplated hereby, neither Parent nor Buyer intend to hinder, delay or defraud any present or future creditors of Parent, Buyer, Merger Sub, the Company or the Surviving Corporation.
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Section 4.06 Legal Proceedings. Except with respect to any Actions which could not result in a Materially Adverse Effect, there are no Actions pending or, to Parent’s, Buyer’s or Merger Sub’s Knowledge, threatened against or by Parent, Buyer, Merger Sub or any of their respective Affiliates (a) affecting any of its properties or assets or (b) that challenge or seek to prevent, enjoin or otherwise delay the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. No event has occurred or circumstances exist that may give rise or serve as a basis for any such Action.
Section 4.07 Independent Investigation. Xxxxxx, Xxxxx and Xxxxxx Sub have conducted their own independent investigation, review and analysis of the business, results of operations, prospects, condition (financial or otherwise) or assets of the Company, and acknowledges that they have been provided adequate access to the personnel, properties, assets, premises, books and records and other documents and data of the Company for such purpose. Parent, Buyer and Merger Sub acknowledge and agree that (a) in making their decision to enter into this Agreement and any ancillary documents and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, Parent, Buyer and Merger Sub have relied solely upon their own investigation and the representations and warranties of the Company and SRAX set forth in this Agreement (including the related portions of the Company Disclosure Schedules), and (b) neither the Company nor any other Person has made any representation or warranty as to the Company or this Agreement, except as expressly set forth in this Agreement (including the related portions of the Company Disclosure Schedules).
Article
V
Tax matters
Section 5.01 Tax Covenants.
(a) The parties hereto agree that, for federal income tax purposes, the Merger should be treated as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Code Section 368(a)(2)(D) (the “Intended Tax Treatment”). None of Parent, Buyer or any of their Affiliates (including Merger Sub) shall make or permit to be made any election under Section 338 or Section 336 of the Code or any similar provision of state, local, or non-U.S. Tax law with respect to any transactions contemplated herein. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the covenant contained in this Section shall survive the Closing indefinitely. None of Parent, Buyer, the Company, Merger Sub or SRAX shall take any actions, including taking any position on any Tax Return or other similar document, or take any other Tax reporting position for federal, state and local income Tax purposes, inconsistent with the Intended Tax Treatment; provided, however, that after reasonable written notice and consultation with the other parties, a party may settle any audit or other claim initiated by a Taxing authority concerning the Intended Tax Treatment that does not result in a taxable exchange by SRAX otherwise intended to be tax-free pursuant to Section 354 of the Code. In the event of an audit or claim that any exchange by SRAX does not qualify as a tax-free exchange pursuant to Section 354 of the Code, SRAX shall have the right to assume the defense of such claim, at SRAX’s expense.
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(b) The parties hereto agree that the Company shall cease to exist and thus its final taxable year shall end on the date of the Merger. SRAX shall timely prepare and file (or cause to be timely prepared and filed) the final Tax Returns for the Company required to be filed after the Closing Date (each, a “Post-Closing Tax Return”). All Post-Closing Tax Returns shall be prepared in accordance with past practice of the Company except as otherwise required by applicable Law. SRAX shall timely pay (or cause to be paid) all Taxes shown to be due and payable on all Post-Closing Tax Returns. SRAX shall provide Buyer with copies of all such Post-Closing Tax Returns at least twenty (20) days prior to the due date thereof (giving effect to any extensions thereto) and shall consider in good faith any written comments provided by Buyer with respect to such Post-Closing Tax Return.
(c) For purposes of allocating Taxes payable for a Straddle Period, the portion of such Taxes relating to the Pre-Closing Tax Period portion thereof shall: (i) in the case of all Taxes not based upon or related to income or receipts, be equal to the amount of such Tax for the entire Straddle Period, multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days in the portion of the Straddle Period ending on and including the Closing Date, and the denominator of which is the number of days in the entire Straddle Period, and (ii) in the case of any Tax based upon or related to income or receipts be equal to the amount payable if the relevant Straddle Period ended on and including the Closing Date.
(d) Without the prior written consent of Parent or Buyer, prior to the Closing, the Company, its Representatives and SRAX shall not make, change or rescind any Tax election, amend any Tax Return or take any position on any Tax Return, take any action, omit to take any action or enter into any other transaction that would have the effect of increasing the Tax liability or reducing any Tax asset of Parent, Buyer or the Surviving Corporation in respect of any Post-Closing Tax Period. The Company agrees that Xxxxx is to have no liability for any Tax resulting from any action of the Company, any of its Representatives or SRAX. SRAX shall indemnify and hold harmless Buyer against any such Tax or reduction of any Tax asset.
(e) All transfer, documentary, sales, use, stamp, registration, value added and other such Taxes and fees (including any penalties and interest) incurred in connection with this Agreement (including any real property transfer Tax and any other similar Tax) shall be borne and paid by SRAX when due. SRAX shall timely file any Tax Return or other document with respect to such Taxes or fees (and Buyer shall cooperate with respect thereto as necessary).
Section 5.02 Termination of Existing Tax Sharing Agreements. Any and all existing Tax sharing agreements (whether written or not) binding upon the Company shall be terminated as of the Closing Date. After such date neither the Company nor any of its Representatives shall have any further rights or liabilities thereunder.
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Section 5.03 Tax Indemnification. Subject to the applicable conditions and limitations set forth herein, SRAX shall indemnify each of Parent, Buyer and their Affiliates (including the Surviving Corporation) and their respective Representatives, and hold them harmless from and against (a) any Loss attributable to any breach of or inaccuracy in any representation or warranty made in Section 3.22; (b) any Loss attributable to any breach or violation of, or failure to fully perform, any covenant, agreement, undertaking or obligation in Article V; (c) all Taxes of the Company or relating to the business of the Company for all Pre-Closing Tax Periods; (d) all Taxes of any member of an affiliated, consolidated, combined or unitary group of which the Company (or any predecessor of the Company) is or was a member on or prior to the Closing Date by reason of a liability under Treasury Regulation Section 1.1502-6 or any comparable provisions of foreign, state or local Law; and (e) any and all Taxes of any person imposed on the Company arising under the principles of transferee or successor liability or by contract, relating to an event or transaction occurring before the Closing Date. In each of the above cases, together with any out-of-pocket fees and expenses (including attorneys’ and accountants’ fees) incurred in connection therewith, SRAX shall reimburse Parent or Buyer for any Taxes of the Company that are the responsibility of SRAX pursuant to this Section 5.03 within ten (10) Business Days after payment of such Taxes by Parent, Buyer or the Company.
Section 5.04 Tax Returns
(a) The Company shall prepare and timely file, or cause to be prepared and timely filed, all Tax Returns required to be filed by it that relate to the Pre-Closing Tax Period and are due after the Closing Date (taking into account any extensions), and shall timely pay all Taxes that are due and payable on or before the Closing Date (taking into account any extensions), and shall timely pay all Taxes that are due and payable on or before the Closing Date. Any such Tax Return shall be prepared in a manner consistent with past practice (unless otherwise required by Law).
Section 5.05 [Intentionally Omitted].
Section 5.06 Contests. Parent or Buyer shall give written notice to SRAX of the receipt of any written notice by Xxxxxx, Buyer or any of their Affiliates which involves the assertion of any claim, or the commencement of any Action, in respect of which an indemnity may be sought by Parent or Buyer pursuant to this Article V (a “Tax Claim”); provided, that failure to comply with this provision shall not affect Parent’s or Xxxxx’s right to indemnification hereunder. Buyer shall control the contest or resolution of any Tax Claim; provided, however, that Buyer shall obtain the prior written consent of SRAX (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed) before entering into any settlement of a claim or ceasing to defend such claim; and, provided further, that SRAX shall be entitled to participate in the defense of such claim and to employ counsel of its choice for such purpose, the fees and expenses of which separate counsel shall be borne solely by SRAX.
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Section 5.07 Cooperation and Exchange of Information. SRAX, the Company, Parent and Buyer shall provide each other with such cooperation and information as either of them reasonably may request of the others in filing any Tax Return pursuant to this Article V or in connection with any audit or other proceeding in respect of Taxes of the Company. Such cooperation and information shall include providing copies of relevant Tax Returns or portions thereof, together with accompanying schedules, related work papers and documents relating to rulings or other determinations by tax authorities. Each of SRAX, the Company and Buyer shall retain all Tax Returns, schedules and work papers, records and other documents in its possession relating to Tax matters of the Company for any taxable period beginning before the Closing Date until the expiration of the statute of limitations of the taxable periods to which such Tax Returns and other documents relate, without regard to extensions except to the extent notified by any of the other parties in writing of such extensions for the respective Tax periods. Prior to transferring, destroying or discarding any Tax Returns, schedules and work papers, records and other documents in its possession relating to Tax matters of the Company for any taxable period beginning before the Closing Date, SRAX, the Company or Buyer (as the case may be) shall provide the other parties with reasonable written notice and offer the other parties the opportunity to take custody of such materials.
Section 5.08 Tax Treatment of Indemnification Payments. Any indemnification payments pursuant to this Article V shall be treated as an adjustment to the Purchase Price by the parties for Tax purposes, unless otherwise required by Law.
Section 5.09 Limitations on Tax Indemnification. The indemnification provided for in Section 5.03 shall be subject to the following limitation: SRAX shall not be required to indemnify any Persons in respect of any Losses for which indemnification is claimed under Section 5.03 unless and until the aggregate amount of all Losses in respect of indemnification under Section 5.03 exceeds $50,000, in which event SRAX shall be required to indemnify such Persons for all such Losses from the first dollar. The aggregate amount of all Losses for which the SRAX shall be liable pursuant to Section 5.03 shall not exceed $1,000,000.
Section 5.10 Survival. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the provisions of Section 3.22 and this Article V shall survive for the full period of all applicable statutes of limitations (giving effect to any waiver, mitigation or extension thereof) plus sixty (60) days.
Article
VI
Indemnification
Section 6.01 Survival. Subject to the limitations and other provisions of this Agreement, the representations and warranties contained herein (other than any representations or warranties contained in Section 3.22 which are subject to Article V) shall survive the Closing and shall remain in full force and effect until the date that is eighteen (18) months from the Closing Date; provided, that the representations and warranties in (a) Section 3.01, Section 3.02, Section 3.03, Section 3.04, Section 3.20, Section 3.22, Section 3.25 and Section 4.01 through Section 4.04 shall survive for the full period of all applicable statutes of limitations (giving effect to any waiver, mitigation or extension thereof). All covenants and agreements of the parties contained herein (other than any covenants or agreements contained in Article V which are subject to Article V) shall survive the Closing until they are fully performed in accordance with their own terms or for the period explicitly specified therein. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any claims asserted in good faith with reasonable specificity (to the extent known at such time) and in writing by notice from the Indemnified Party to the Indemnifying Party prior to the expiration date of the applicable survival period shall not thereafter be barred by the expiration of the relevant representation or warranty and such claims shall survive until finally resolved.
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Section 6.02 Indemnification By SRAX. From and after the Closing, and subject to the applicable conditions and limitations set forth herein, SRAX shall indemnify and defend each of Parent and its Affiliates (including the Surviving Corporation) and their respective Representatives (collectively, the “Parent Indemnitees”) against, and shall hold each of them harmless from and against, and shall pay and reimburse each of them for, any and all Losses incurred or sustained by, or imposed upon, the Parent Indemnitees based upon, arising out of, with respect to or by reason of:
(a) any inaccuracy in or breach of any of the representations or warranties of the Company or SRAX contained in this Agreement (other than in respect of Section 3.22, it being understood that the sole remedy for any such inaccuracy in or breach thereof shall be pursuant to Article V);
(b) any breach or non-fulfillment of any covenant, agreement or obligation to be performed by the Company or SRAX pursuant to this Agreement (other than any breach or violation of, or failure to fully perform, any covenant, agreement, undertaking or obligation in Article V, it being understood that the sole remedy for any such breach, violation or failure shall be pursuant to Article V);
(c) any claim made by a Person relating to such Person’s rights with respect to the Merger Consideration; or
(d) any Indebtedness of the Company outstanding as of the Closing to the extent not paid or satisfied by the Company at or prior to the Closing.
Section 6.03 Indemnification By Parent. From and after the Closing, and subject to the applicable conditions and limitations set forth herein, Parent shall indemnify and defend SRAX and its Affiliates and their respective Representatives (collectively, the “SRAX Indemnitees”) against, and shall hold each of them harmless from and against, and shall pay and reimburse each of them for, any and all Losses incurred or sustained by, or imposed upon, the SRAX Indemnitees based upon, arising out of, with respect to or by reason of:
(a) any inaccuracy in or breach of any of the representations or warranties of Parent and Merger Sub contained in this Agreement; or
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(b) any breach or non-fulfillment of any covenant, agreement or obligation to be performed by Parent or Merger Sub pursuant to this Agreement (other than Article V, it being understood that the sole remedy for any such breach thereof shall be pursuant to Article V).
Section 6.04 Certain Limitations. The indemnification provided for in Section 6.02, Section 6.03 and Section 5.03 shall be subject to the following limitation:
(a) None of the parties to this Agreement shall be required to indemnify any other party with respect of any Losses for which indemnification is claimed under Section 6.02, Section 6.03 or Section 5.03, unless and until the aggregate amount of all Losses incurred by the party seeking indemnification under Section 6.02, Section 6.03 or Section 5.03 exceeds $100,000, in which event the indemnifying party shall be required to indemnify the party seeking indemnification for all such Losses from the first dollar. The aggregate amount of all Losses for which SRAX or the Parent (including Merger Sub) shall be liable pursuant to Section 6.02 or Section 6.03, as the case may be, shall not exceed $400,000.
Section 6.05 Indemnification Procedures. The party making a claim under this Article VI is referred to as the “Indemnified Party”, and the party against whom such claims are asserted under this Article VI is referred to as the “Indemnifying Party”.
(a) Third Party Claims. If any Indemnified Party receives notice of the assertion or commencement of any Action made or brought by any Person who is not a party to this Agreement or an Affiliate of a party to this Agreement or a Representative of the foregoing (a “Third Party Claim”) against such Indemnified Party with respect to which the Indemnifying Party is obligated to provide indemnification under this Agreement, the Indemnified Party shall give the Indemnifying Party reasonably prompt written notice thereof, but in any event not later than thirty (30) calendar days after receipt of such notice of such Third Party Claim. The failure to give such prompt written notice shall not, however, relieve the Indemnifying Party of its indemnification obligations, except and only to the extent that the Indemnifying Party forfeits rights or defenses by reason of such failure. Such notice by the Indemnified Party shall describe the Third Party Claim in reasonable detail, shall include copies of all material written evidence thereof and shall indicate the estimated amount, if reasonably practicable, of the Loss that has been or may be sustained by the Indemnified Party. The Indemnifying Party shall have the right to participate in, or by giving written notice to the Indemnified Party, to assume the defense of any Third Party Claim at the Indemnifying Party’s expense and by the Indemnifying Party’s own counsel, and the Indemnified Party shall cooperate in good faith in such defense; provided, that if the Indemnifying Party is SRAX, such Indemnifying Party shall not have the right to defend or direct the defense of any such Third Party Claim that (x) is asserted directly by or on behalf of a Person that is a supplier or customer of the Company, or (y) seeks an injunction or other equitable relief against the Indemnified Parties. In the event that the Indemnifying Party assumes the defense of any Third Party Claim, subject to Section 6.05(b), it shall have the right to take such action as it deems necessary to avoid, dispute, defend, appeal or make counterclaims pertaining to any such Third Party Claim in the name and on behalf of the Indemnified Party. The Indemnified Party shall have the right to participate in the defense of any Third Party Claim with counsel selected by it subject to the Indemnifying Party’s right to control the defense thereof. The fees and disbursements of such counsel shall be at the expense of the Indemnified Party, provided, that if in the reasonable opinion of counsel to the Indemnified Party, (A) there are legal defenses available to an Indemnified Party that are different from or additional to those available to the Indemnifying Party; or (B) there exists a conflict of interest between the Indemnifying Party and the Indemnified Party that cannot be waived, the Indemnifying Party shall be liable for the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel to the Indemnified Party in each jurisdiction for which the Indemnified Party determines counsel is required. If the Indemnifying Party elects not to compromise or defend such Third Party Claim, fails to promptly notify the Indemnified Party in writing of its election to defend as provided in this Agreement, or fails to diligently prosecute the defense of such Third Party Claim, the Indemnified Party may, subject to Section 6.05(b), pay, compromise, defend such Third Party Claim and seek indemnification for any and all Losses based upon, arising from or relating to such Third Party Claim. SRAX and Parent shall cooperate with each other in all reasonable respects in connection with the defense of any Third Party Claim, including making available records relating to such Third Party Claim and furnishing, without expense (other than reimbursement of actual out-of-pocket expenses) to the defending party, management employees of the non-defending party as may be reasonably necessary for the preparation of the defense of such Third Party Claim.
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(b) Settlement of Third Party Claims. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Indemnifying Party shall not enter into settlement of any Third Party Claim without the prior written consent of the Indemnified Party, except as provided in this Section 6.05(b). If a firm offer is made to settle a Third Party Claim without leading to liability or the creation of a financial or other obligation on the part of the Indemnified Party and provides, in customary form, for the unconditional release of each Indemnified Party from all liabilities and obligations in connection with such Third Party Claim and the Indemnifying Party desires to accept and agree to such offer, the Indemnifying Party shall give written notice to that effect to the Indemnified Party. If the Indemnified Party fails to consent to such firm offer within ten (10) days after its receipt of such notice, the Indemnified Party may continue to contest or defend such Third Party Claim and in such event, the maximum liability of the Indemnifying Party as to such Third Party Claim shall not exceed the amount of such settlement offer. If the Indemnified Party fails to consent to such firm offer and also fails to assume defense of such Third Party Claim, the Indemnifying Party may settle the Third Party Claim upon the terms set forth in such firm offer to settle such Third Party Claim. If the Indemnified Party has assumed the defense pursuant to Section 6.05(a), it shall not agree to any settlement without the written consent of the Indemnifying Party (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed).
(c) Direct Claims. Any Action by an Indemnified Party on account of a Loss which does not result from a Third Party Claim (a “Direct Claim”) shall be asserted by the Indemnified Party giving the Indemnifying Party reasonably prompt written notice thereof, but in any event not later than thirty (30) days after the Indemnified Party becomes aware of such Direct Claim. The failure to give such prompt written notice shall not, however, relieve the Indemnifying Party of its indemnification obligations, except and only to the extent that the Indemnifying Party forfeits rights or defenses by reason of such failure. Such notice by the Indemnified Party shall describe the Direct Claim in reasonable detail, shall include copies of all material written evidence thereof and shall indicate the estimated amount, if reasonably practicable, of the Loss that has been or may be sustained by the Indemnified Party. The Indemnifying Party shall have thirty (30) days after its receipt of such notice to respond in writing to such Direct Claim. The Indemnified Party shall allow the Indemnifying Party and its professional advisors to investigate the matter or circumstance alleged to give rise to the Direct Claim, and whether and to what extent any amount is payable in respect of the Direct Claim and the Indemnified Party shall assist the Indemnifying Party’s investigation by giving such information and assistance (including access to the Company’s premises and personnel and the right to examine and copy any accounts, documents or records) as the Indemnifying Party or any of its professional advisors may reasonably request. If the Indemnifying Party does not so respond within such thirty (30) day period, the Indemnifying Party shall be deemed to have rejected such claim, in which case the Indemnified Party shall be free to pursue such remedies as may be available to the Indemnified Party on the terms and subject to the provisions of this Agreement.
(d) Tax Claims. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the control of any claim, assertion, event or proceeding in respect of Taxes of the Company (including, but not limited to, any such claim in respect of a breach of the representations and warranties in Section 3.22 hereof or any breach or violation of or failure to fully perform any covenant, agreement, undertaking or obligation in Article VI) shall be governed exclusively by Article V hereof.
Section 6.06 Payments.
(a) Once a Loss is agreed to by the Indemnifying Party or finally adjudicated to be payable pursuant to this Article VI, the Indemnifying Party shall satisfy its obligations within fifteen (15) Business Days of such final, non-appealable adjudication by wire transfer of immediately available funds. The parties hereto agree that should an Indemnifying Party not make full payment of any such obligations within such fifteen (15) Business Day period, any amount payable shall accrue interest from and including the date of agreement of the Indemnifying Party or final, non-appealable adjudication to but excluding the date such payment has been made at a rate per annum equal to 10%. Such interest shall be calculated daily on the basis of a 365 day year and the actual number of days elapsed, without compounding.
Section 6.07 Tax Treatment of Indemnification Payments. All indemnification payments made under this Agreement shall be treated by the parties as an adjustment to the Purchase Price for Tax purposes, unless otherwise required by Law.
Section 6.08 Effect of Investigation. No Indemnifying Party shall be liable under this Article VI or Section 5.03 with respect to any Losses arising out of matters known to the Indemnified Party at the Closing Date.
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Section 6.09 Exclusive Remedies. Subject to Section 7.11, the parties acknowledge and agree that their sole and exclusive remedy with respect to any and all claims (other than claims arising from fraud, criminal activity or willful misconduct on the part of a party hereto in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement) for any breach of any representation, warranty, covenant, agreement or obligation set forth herein or otherwise relating to the subject matter of this Agreement, shall be pursuant to the indemnification provisions set forth in Article V and this Article VI. In furtherance of the foregoing, each party hereby waives, to the fullest extent permitted under Law, any and all rights, claims and causes of action for any breach of any representation, warranty, covenant, agreement or obligation set forth herein or otherwise relating to the subject matter of this Agreement it may have against the other parties hereto and their Affiliates and each of their respective Representatives arising under or based upon any Law, except pursuant to the indemnification provisions set forth in Article V and this Article VI. Nothing in this Section 7.09 shall limit any Person’s right to seek and obtain any equitable relief to which any Person shall be entitled or to seek any remedy on account of any party’s fraudulent, criminal or intentional misconduct.
Article
VII
Miscellaneous
Section 7.01 Expenses. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all costs and expenses, including, without limitation, fees and disbursements of counsel, financial advisors and accountants, incurred in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be paid by the party incurring such costs and expenses.
Section 7.02 Notices. All notices, requests, consents, claims, demands, waivers and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been given (a) when delivered by hand (with written confirmation of receipt); (b) when received by the addressee if sent by a nationally recognized overnight courier (receipt requested); (c) on the date sent by e-mail of a PDF or WORD document (with confirmation of transmission) if sent during normal business hours of the recipient, and on the next Business Day if sent after normal business hours of the recipient or (d) on the third (3rd) day after the date mailed, by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid. Such communications must be sent to the respective parties at the following addresses (or at such other address for a party as shall be specified in a notice given in accordance with this Section 7.02):
If to the Company prior to the Closing: | LD Micro, Inc. E-mail: Attention: Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, President | |
with a copy to: | Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx & Xxxxx LLP E-mail: Attention: | |
If to SRAX: |
E-mail: Attention: Xxxxx Xxxxxxx, CEO | |
with a copy to: | Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx & Xxxxx LLP E-mail: Attention: | |
If to Parent, Buyer or Merger Sub (or Surviving Corporation after the Closing): | Freedom U.S. Markets, LLC E-mail: Attention: | |
with a copy to: | Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx & Schole LLP E-mail: Attention: |
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Section 7.03 Interpretation. For purposes of this Agreement, (a) the words “include,” “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation”; (b) the word “or” is not exclusive; and (c) the words “herein,” “hereof,” “hereby,” “hereto” and “hereunder” refer to this Agreement as a whole. Unless the context otherwise requires, references herein: (x) to Articles, Sections, Exhibits mean the Articles and Sections of, and the exhibits attached to, this Agreement; (y) to an agreement, instrument or other document means such agreement, instrument or other document as amended, supplemented and modified from time to time to the extent permitted by the provisions thereof and (z) to a statute means such statute as amended from time to time and includes any successor legislation thereto and any regulations promulgated thereunder. This Agreement shall be construed without regard to any presumption or rule requiring construction or interpretation against the party drafting an instrument or causing any instrument to be drafted. The Company Disclosure Schedules and any exhibits referred to herein shall be construed with, and as an integral part of, this Agreement to the same extent as if they were set forth verbatim herein.
Section 7.04 Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for reference only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Agreement.
Section 7.05 Severability. If any term or provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other term or provision of this Agreement or invalidate or render unenforceable such term or provision in any other jurisdiction. Upon such determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the parties as closely as possible in a mutually acceptable manner in order that the transactions contemplated hereby be consummated as originally contemplated to the greatest extent possible.
Section 7.06 Entire Agreement. This Agreement contains the sole and entire agreement of the parties to this Agreement with respect to the subject matter contained herein and therein, and supersede all prior and contemporaneous understandings and agreements, both written and oral, with respect to such subject matter. In the event of any inconsistency between the statements in the body of this Agreement, the Company Disclosure Schedules and any Exhibits (other than an exception expressly set forth as such in the Company Disclosure Schedules), the statements in the body of this Agreement will control.
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Section 7.07 Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns. Neither party may assign its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the other party, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed. No assignment shall relieve the assigning party of any of its obligations hereunder.
Section 7.08 No Third-party Beneficiaries. Except as provided in Section 5.03, this Agreement is for the sole benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns and nothing herein, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any other Person or entity any legal or equitable right, benefit or remedy of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement.
Section 7.09 Amendment and Modification; Waiver. No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement shall be valid unless it is in writing and signed, in the case of an amendment, by each of the parties hereto, or in the case of a waiver, by the party against whom the waiver is to be effective. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein: (a) the failure of any party at any time to require performance by the other of any provision of this Agreement will not affect such party’s right thereafter to enforce the same, (b) no waiver by any party of any default by any other party will be valid unless in writing and acknowledged by an authorized representative of the non-defaulting party, and no such waiver will be taken or held to be a waiver by such party of any other preceding or subsequent default and (c) no extension of time granted by any party for the performance of any obligation or act by any other party will be deemed to be an extension of time for the performance of any other obligation or act hereunder.
Section 7.10 Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial.
(a) This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Delaware without giving effect to any choice or conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the State of Delaware or any other jurisdiction).
(b) ANY LEGAL SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR BASED UPON THIS AGREEMENT, OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY MAY BE INSTITUTED IN THE FEDERAL COURTS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA OR THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK IN EACH CASE LOCATED IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK AND COUNTY OF NEW YORK, AND EACH PARTY IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF SUCH COURTS IN ANY SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING. SERVICE OF PROCESS, SUMMONS, NOTICE OR OTHER DOCUMENT BY MAIL TO SUCH PARTY’S ADDRESS SET FORTH HEREIN SHALL BE EFFECTIVE SERVICE OF PROCESS FOR ANY SUIT, ACTION OR OTHER PROCEEDING BROUGHT IN ANY SUCH COURT. THE PARTIES IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVE ANY OBJECTION TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY SUIT, ACTION OR ANY PROCEEDING IN SUCH COURTS AND IRREVOCABLY WAIVE AND AGREE NOT TO PLEAD OR CLAIM IN ANY SUCH COURT THAT ANY SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING BROUGHT IN ANY SUCH COURT HAS BEEN BROUGHT IN AN INCONVENIENT FORUM.
(c) EACH PARTY ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY ARISE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT ISSUES AND, THEREFORE, EACH SUCH PARTY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LEGAL ACTION ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY. EACH PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT CERTIFIES AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT (A) NO REPRESENTATIVE OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER IN THE EVENT OF A LEGAL ACTION, (B) SUCH PARTY HAS CONSIDERED THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS WAIVER, (C) SUCH PARTY MAKES THIS WAIVER VOLUNTARILY, AND (D) SUCH PARTY HAS BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 7.10(c).
Section 7.11 Specific Performance. The parties agree that irreparable damage would occur if any provision of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with the terms hereof and that the parties shall be entitled to specific performance of the terms hereof, in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at law or in equity.
Section 7.12 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall be deemed to be one and the same agreement. A signed copy of this Agreement delivered by e-mail or other means of electronic transmission shall be deemed to have the same legal effect as delivery of an original signed copy of this Agreement.
[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written.
Parent: Freedom Holding Corp. | ||
By: | /s/ Xxxx Xxxx | |
Name: | Xxxx Xxxx | |
Title: | Corporate Secretary | |
Buyer: Freedom U.S. Markets, LLC | ||
By: | /s/ Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx | |
Name: | Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx | |
Title: | Chief Executive Officer | |
SRAX: | ||
By: | /s/ Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx | |
Name: | Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx | |
Title: | Chief Executive Officer | |
The Company: LD Micro, Inc. | ||
By: | /s/ Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx | |
Name: | Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx | |
Title: | President | |
Merger Sub: LDM Merger Sub, Inc. | ||
By: | /s/ Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx | |
Name: | Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx | |
Title: | Chief Executive Officer |
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