AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER by and among CONNECTM TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS, INC., MONTEREY CAPITAL ACQUISITION CORPORATION and CHRONOS MERGER SUB, INC. Dated as of December 31, 2022
Exhibit 2.1
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
by and among
CONNECTM TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS, INC.,
MONTEREY CAPITAL ACQUISITION CORPORATION
and
CHRONOS MERGER SUB, INC.
Dated as of December 31, 2022
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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ARTICLE I | THE MERGER | 2 | |
1.1 | The Merger | 2 | |
1.2 | Closing | 3 | |
1.3 | Effective Time | 3 | |
1.4 | The Organizational Documents of the Surviving Company | 3 | |
1.5 | Directors of the Surviving Company | 3 | |
1.6 | Officers of the Surviving Company | 4 | |
ARTICLE II | MERGER CONSIDERATION; EFFECT OF THE MERGER ON SECURITIES | 4 | |
2.1 | Conversion of Securities | 4 | |
2.2 | Exchange Procedures | 6 | |
2.3 | Withholding Rights | 8 | |
2.4 | Payment of Expenses | 8 | |
2.5 | Allocation Statement | 9 | |
2.6 | Appraisal Rights | 10 | |
2.7 | Adjustments to Prevent Dilution | 11 | |
ARTICLE III | REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY | 11 | |
3.1 | Organization, Good Standing and Qualification | 11 | |
3.2 | Capital Structure of the Company | 12 | |
3.3 | Corporate Authority; Approval and Fairness | 13 | |
3.4 | Governmental Filings; No Violations; Certain Contracts, Etc. | 13 | |
3.5 | Financial Statements; Internal Controls | 14 | |
3.6 | Absence of Certain Changes | 15 | |
3.7 | No Undisclosed Liabilities | 15 | |
3.8 | Litigation | 15 | |
3.9 | Compliance with Laws; Permits | 16 | |
3.10 | Employee Benefits | 17 | |
3.11 | Labor Matters | 19 | |
3.12 | Environmental Matters | 20 | |
3.13 | Product Liability | 21 | |
3.14 | Tax Matters | 21 | |
3.15 | Real and Personal Property | 24 | |
3.16 | Intellectual Property; IT Assets; Data Privacy | 25 | |
3.17 | Insurance | 28 | |
3.18 | Company Material Contracts | 28 | |
3.19 | Brokers and Finders | 30 | |
3.20 | Registration Statement | 30 | |
3.21 | No Outside Reliance | 31 | |
3.22 | Trade Compliance | 31 |
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3.23 | Customers and Vendors | 31 | |
3.24 | Accounts and Notes Receivable; Accounts Payable | 32 | |
3.25 | Transactions with Affiliates | 32 | |
3.26 | No Other Representations or Warranties | 32 | |
ARTICLE IV | REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT AND MERGER SUB | 33 | |
4.1 | Organization, Good Standing and Qualification | 33 | |
4.2 | Capital Structure of Parent | 34 | |
4.3 | Corporate Authority; Approval | 36 | |
4.4 | Governmental Filings; No Violations; Certain Contracts | 37 | |
4.5 | Parent Reports; Internal Controls | 37 | |
4.6 | Absence of Certain Changes | 39 | |
4.7 | Business Activities; Liabilities | 39 | |
4.8 | Litigation and Proceedings | 40 | |
4.9 | Compliance with Laws | 41 | |
4.10 | Investment Company Act; JOBS Act | 41 | |
4.11 | Parent Trust Account | 42 | |
4.12 | Valid Issuance | 42 | |
4.13 | Takeover Statutes and Charter Provisions | 42 | |
4.14 | NASDAQ Stock Market Quotation | 42 | |
4.15 | Brokers and Finders | 43 | |
4.16 | Registration Statement and Proxy Statement | 43 | |
4.17 | Taxes | 43 | |
4.18 | Title to Property | 45 | |
4.19 | No Outside Reliance | 45 | |
4.20 | No Undisclosed Liabilities | 46 | |
4.21 | No Other Representations or Warranties | 46 | |
ARTICLE V | COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY | 46 | |
5.1 | Interim Operations | 46 | |
5.2 | Inspection | 49 | |
5.3 | No Claim Against the Parent Trust Account | 50 | |
5.4 | Exclusivity | 50 | |
5.5 | Prospectus/Proxy Filing; Information Supplied | 51 | |
5.6 | FIRPTA Certificates | 52 | |
5.7 | Amendments to Third Party Contracts | 52 | |
5.8 | 280G | 52 | |
5.9 | Extension | 53 | |
ARTICLE VI | COVENANTS OF PARENT | 53 | |
6.1 | Conduct of Parent | 53 | |
6.2 | Parent Trust Account Matters | 55 | |
6.3 | Indemnification; Directors’ and Officers’ Insurance | 56 | |
6.4 | Approval of Sole Stockholder of Merger Sub | 58 | |
6.5 | Inspections | 58 | |
6.6 | Parent NASDAQ Listing | 58 |
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6.7 | Parent Public Filings | 58 | |
6.8 | Director and Officer Appointments | 59 | |
6.9 | Exclusivity | 59 | |
6.10 | Governing Documents | 60 | |
6.11 | Stockholder Litigation | 60 | |
6.12 | Registration Rights Agreement | 60 | |
ARTICLE VII | JOINT COVENANTS | 61 | |
7.1 | Preparation of Registration Statement | 61 | |
7.2 | Parent Special Meeting | 63 | |
7.3 | Company Stockholder Approval | 64 | |
7.4 | Forward Stock Purchase Agreement | 64 | |
7.5 | Cooperation; Efforts to Consummate | 65 | |
7.6 | Status; Notifications | 66 | |
7.7 | Publicity | 66 | |
7.8 | Section 16 Matters | 66 | |
7.9 | Tax Matters | 67 | |
7.10 | Parent Incentive Plan | 68 | |
ARTICLE VIII | CONDITIONS | 68 | |
8.1 | Mutual Conditions to Obligation of Each Party | 68 | |
8.2 | Conditions to Obligation of Parent and Merger Sub | 69 | |
8.3 | Conditions to Obligation of the Company | 70 | |
ARTICLE IX | TERMINATION; SURVIVAL | 71 | |
9.1 | Termination by Mutual Written Consent | 71 | |
9.2 | Termination by Either Parent or the Company | 71 | |
9.3 | Termination by Parent | 71 | |
9.4 | Termination by the Company | 72 | |
9.5 | Effect of Termination | 72 | |
ARTICLE X | NO SURVIVAL | 72 | |
ARTICLE XI | MISCELLANEOUS | 73 | |
11.1 | Amendment; Waiver | 73 | |
11.2 | Counterparts | 73 | |
11.3 | Governing Law | 73 | |
11.4 | Forum; Waiver of Jury Trial | 73 | |
11.5 | Equitable Remedies | 74 | |
11.6 | Notices | 75 | |
11.7 | Entire Agreement | 76 | |
11.8 | Successors and Assigns | 76 | |
11.9 | Third Party Beneficiaries | 76 | |
11.10 | Non-Recourse | 77 | |
11.11 | Severability | 78 | |
11.12 | Interpretation and Construction | 78 | |
11.13 | Definitions | 79 |
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EXHIBITS
Exhibit A | Certain Definitions |
Exhibit B | Form of Sponsor Support Agreement |
Exhibit C | Form of Lock-Up Agreement |
Exhibit D | Form of Company Stockholder Support Agreement |
Exhibit E | Form of Parent Restated Bylaws |
Exhibit F | Form of Parent Restated Charter |
Exhibit G | Form of Parent Incentive Plan |
Exhibit H | Form of Surviving Company Certificate of Incorporation |
Exhibit I | Form of Surviving Company Bylaws |
Exhibit J | Form of Registration Rights Agreement |
Exhibit K | Form of Forward Stock Purchase Agreement |
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AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
This AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER (including the exhibits and schedules hereto, this “Agreement”), dated as of December 31, 2022 (the “Execution Date”), is entered into by and among ConnectM Technology Solutions, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), Monterey Capital Acquisition Corporation, a Delaware corporation (“Parent”), and Chronos Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned Subsidiary of Parent (“Merger Sub”, and together with the Company and Parent, the “Parties” and each, a “Party”). Except as otherwise indicated, capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in Exhibit A of this Agreement.
RECITALS
WHEREAS, Parent is a special purpose acquisition company formed to acquire one or more operating businesses through a Business Combination.
WHEREAS, Merger Sub is a newly formed, wholly-owned, direct Subsidiary of Parent, and was formed for the sole purpose of the Merger.
WHEREAS, the Parties intend that, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, Merger Sub shall merge with and into the Company (the “Merger”), with the Company surviving as the Surviving Company pursuant to the provisions of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”).
WHEREAS, the respective boards of directors or similar governing bodies of each of Parent, Merger Sub and the Company have each approved and declared advisable the Transactions upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement and in accordance with the DGCL.
WHEREAS, contemporaneously with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, in connection with the Transactions, (a) the Sponsor has entered into that certain Sponsor Support Agreement, dated as of the Execution Date (the “Sponsor Support Agreement”), with Parent and the Company, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B, pursuant to which, among other things, the Sponsor has agreed to waive, subject to, conditioned upon and effective as of immediately prior to, the Effective Time, the adjustment to the conversion ratio set forth in the Governing Documents of Parent with respect to the Parent Class B Common Stock owned by it and to vote in favor of this Agreement, the Merger and the Transactions and (b) the Sponsor has entered into that certain Lock-Up Agreement, dated as of the Execution Date (the “Sponsor Lock-Up Agreement”), with Parent and the Company, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B pursuant to which, among other things, the Sponsor has agreed to certain transfer restrictions on certain shares of Parent Common Stock following the Effective Time.
WHEREAS, contemporaneously with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, in connection with the Transactions, (a) certain of the Company Stockholders have entered into that certain Company Stockholder Support Agreement, dated as of the Execution Date (the “Company Stockholder Support Agreement”), with Parent and the Company, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C, pursuant to which, among other things, the Company Stockholders have agreed to vote in favor of this Agreement, the Merger and the Transactions and (b) certain of the Company Stockholders have entered into that certain Company Stockholder Lock-Up Agreement, dated as of the Execution Date (the “Company Stockholder Lock-Up Agreement”), with Parent and the Company, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B pursuant to which, among other things, such Company Stockholders have agreed to certain transfer restrictions on certain shares of Parent Common Stock following the Effective Time.
WHEREAS, contemporaneously with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, in connection with the Transactions, Parent and certain investors (the “FSPA Investors”) have entered into that certain Share Forward Transaction, dated as of the Execution Date (the “Forward Stock Purchase Agreement”), substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit K.
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Parent Organizational Documents, Parent shall provide an opportunity to its stockholders to have their Parent Common Stock redeemed for the consideration, and on the terms and subject to the conditions and limitations, set forth in this Agreement, the Parent Organizational Documents, the Parent Trust Agreement, and the Proxy Statement in conjunction with, inter alia, obtaining approval from the stockholders of Parent for the Business Combination (the “Redemption Offer”).
WHEREAS, at the Effective Time, Parent shall adopt the Parent Restated Bylaws, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit E (the “Parent Restated Bylaws”).
WHEREAS, at the Effective Time, Parent shall, subject to obtaining the Parent Stockholder Approval, adopt the Parent Restated Charter substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit F (the “Parent Restated Charter”).
WHEREAS, at the Effective Time, Parent shall, subject to obtaining the Parent Stockholder Approval, adopt an equity incentive plan, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit G and with any changes or modifications thereto as the Company and Parent may mutually agree (the “Parent Incentive Plan”), as provided herein.
WHEREAS, each of the Parties intends that, for U.S. federal income tax purposes (and for purposes of any applicable state or local income tax law that follows U.S. federal income tax treatment), (i) this Agreement shall constitute a “plan of reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the “Code”) and the Treasury Regulations Sections 1.368-2(g) and 1.368-3(a) and (ii) the Merger shall constitute a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code to which Parent and the Company are to be parties under Section 368(b) of the Code.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing premises and the representations, warranties, covenants and agreements set forth in this Agreement, the Parties agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
THE MERGER
1.1 The Merger. On the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, at the Effective Time, (a) Merger Sub shall be merged with and into the Company in accordance with the DGCL, and the separate corporate existence of Merger Sub shall thereupon cease, (b) the Company shall be the surviving corporation in the Merger (sometimes hereinafter referred to as the “Surviving Company”) and become a wholly owned Subsidiary of Parent, and the separate corporate existence of the Company with all of its rights, privileges, immunities, powers and franchises shall continue unaffected by the Merger as provided in the DGCL, and (c) the Merger shall have such other effects as provided in the DGCL and in this Agreement.
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1.2 Closing. The closing of the Merger (the “Closing”) shall take place remotely, via electronic exchange of documents, at 11:00 a.m. (New York Time) on the third (3rd) Business Day following the day on which the last of the conditions set forth in ARTICLE VIII are satisfied or waived (other than those conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at the Closing, but subject to the satisfaction or waiver of those conditions) in accordance with this Agreement, or at such other date, time or place as the Company and Parent may mutually agree in writing (the date on which the Closing actually occurs, the “Closing Date”).
1.3 Effective Time. As soon as practicable following the Closing but on the Closing Date, the Company and Parent will cause a certificate of merger relating to the Merger (the “Certificate of Merger”) to be executed, acknowledged and filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware as provided in Section 251 of the DGCL. The Merger shall become effective at the time when the Certificate of Xxxxxx has been duly filed with and accepted by the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware or at such later date and time as may be agreed by the Parties in writing and specified in the Certificate of Merger (such date and time, the “Effective Time”).
1.4 The Organizational Documents of the Surviving Company.
(a) At the Effective Time, the certificate of incorporation of the Company, as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time, shall be amended and restated in its entirety, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit H, and as so amended, shall be the certificate of incorporation of the Surviving Company, until thereafter supplemented or amended in accordance with its terms and the DGCL (the “Surviving Company Certificate of Incorporation”).
(b) At the Effective Time, the bylaws of the Company, as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time, shall be amended and restated in its entirety, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit I, and as so amended, shall be the bylaws of the Surviving Company, until thereafter supplemented or amended in accordance with its terms, the Surviving Company Certificate of Incorporation and applicable Law (the “Surviving Company Bylaws”).
(c) At the Effective Time, the Governing Documents of Parent shall be amended to change the name of Parent to “ConnectM Technology Solutions, Inc.”. At (or immediately prior to) the Effective Time, the Governing Documents of the Company shall be amended to change the name of the Surviving Company to “ConnectM Operations, Inc.”.
1.5 Directors of the Surviving Company. The Parties shall take all necessary action prior to the Effective Time such that (a) each director of the Company in office immediately prior to the Effective Time shall cease to be a director immediately following the Effective Time (including by causing each such director to tender an irrevocable resignation as a director effective as of the Effective Time) and (b) each person determined in accordance with Section 6.8 shall be appointed to the board of directors of the Surviving Company, effective as of immediately following the Effective Time, and as of such time, shall be the only directors of the Surviving Company (including by causing the Company Board to adopt resolutions prior to the Effective Time that expand or decrease the size of the Company Board, as necessary, and appoint such persons to the vacancies resulting from the incumbent directors’ respective resignations, or if applicable, the newly created directorships upon any expansion of the size of the Company Board). Each person appointed as a director of the Surviving Company pursuant to the preceding sentence shall remain in office as a director of the Surviving Company until his or her successor is elected or appointed and qualified or until his or her earlier death, resignation or removal in accordance with the Surviving Company Certificate of Incorporation and the Surviving Company Bylaws.
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1.6 Officers of the Surviving Company. The Parties shall take all necessary actions so that the individuals designated by the Company in accordance with Section 6.8, shall, from and after the Effective Time, be the officers of the Surviving Company until their successors have been duly elected or appointed and qualified or until their earlier death, resignation or removal in accordance with the Surviving Company Certificate of Incorporation and the Surviving Company Bylaws.
ARTICLE II
MERGER CONSIDERATION; EFFECT OF THE MERGER ON SECURITIES
2.1 Conversion of Securities.
(a) Treatment of Company Stock. At the Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of any holder thereof:
(i) Company Stock. Each share of Company Stock that is issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time, other than the Treasury Shares or the Company Dissenting Shares, shall thereupon be converted into the right to receive, and the holder of such share of Company Stock shall be entitled to receive, a number of shares of Parent Common Stock equal to the Exchange Ratio, subject to rounding pursuant to Section 2.2(f) (the “Per Share Merger Consideration”);
(ii) Company Treasury Stock. Each share of Company Stock held in the treasury of the Company (“Treasury Shares”) immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be cancelled without any conversion thereof and no payment or distribution shall be made with respect thereto; and
(iii) Company Dissenting Share. Each of the Company Dissenting Shares issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be cancelled and cease to exist in accordance with Section 2.6(a) and shall thereafter represent only the right to receive the applicable payments set forth in Section 2.6(a).
(b) Treatment of Company Options and Company Warrants.
(i) Company Options. At the Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and without any action of any Party or any other Person (but subject to Section 2.1(b)(ii)), Parent shall assume the Stock Plan (the “Assumed Plan”). At the Effective Time, each outstanding option to purchase shares of Company Common Stock under the Stock Plan (a “Company Option”), whether vested or unvested, shall, automatically and without any required action on the part of the holder thereof, cease to represent an option to purchase shares of Company Common Stock and shall be converted into an option to purchase such number of shares of Parent Common Stock determined in accordance with this Section 2.1(b) (each, an “Assumed Option”). Each Assumed Option shall represent an option to purchase a number of shares of Parent Common Stock at such exercise price, in each case, determined as follows and as set forth in the Allocation Statement:
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(A) The number of shares of Parent Common Stock eligible for purchase under the Assumed Option shall be equal to (rounded down to the nearest whole number): (I) the number of shares of Company Common Stock subject to such Company Option immediately prior to the Effective Time, multiplied by (II) the Exchange Ratio.
(B) The exercise price shall be equal to (rounded up to the nearest whole cent): (I) the exercise price per share of Company Common Stock of such Company Option immediately prior to the Effective Time, divided by (II) the Exchange Ratio.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in all cases, the exercise price and the number of shares of Parent Common Stock purchasable pursuant to the Assumed Options shall be determined in a manner intended to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code. Additionally, in the case of any Company Option to which Section 422 of the Code applies, the exercise price and the number of shares of Parent Common Stock purchasable pursuant to such option shall be determined in accordance with the foregoing, subject to such adjustments as are necessary in order to satisfy the requirements of Section 424(a) of the Code. Except as expressly provided above, following the Effective Time, each Company Option shall continue to be governed by the same terms and conditions (including vesting and exercisability terms) as were applicable to such Company Option immediately prior to the Effective Time.
(ii) Company and Parent Actions. Prior to the Closing, the Company and Parent shall take, or cause to be taken, all necessary or appropriate actions under or in connection with the Stock Plan (and the underlying grant, award or similar agreements), including to reserve for issuance a sufficient number of Parent Common Stock for delivery upon exercise of the Assumed Options under the Assumed Plan, or otherwise to give effect to the provisions of this Section 2.1; no less than five (5) business days prior to Closing, the Company and Parent shall each provide to the other copies of all such necessary or appropriate actions and a meaningful opportunity to provide comments, which comments will be adopted in good faith.
(iii) Company Warrants. At the Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and without any action of any Party or any other Person, Parent shall assume each outstanding warrant to purchase Company Common Stock (a “Company Warrant”). At the Effective Time, each Company Warrant shall, automatically and without any required action on the part of the holder thereof, cease to represent a warrant to purchase shares of Company Common Stock and shall be converted into a warrant to purchase such number of shares of Parent Common Stock determined in accordance with this Section 2.1(b) (each, an “Assumed Warrant”). Each Assumed Warrant shall represent a warrant to purchase a number of shares of Parent Common Stock at such exercise price, in each case, determined as follows and as set forth in the Allocation Statement:
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(A) The number of shares of Parent Common Stock eligible for purchase under the Assumed Warrant shall be equal to (rounded down to the nearest whole number): (I) the number of shares of Company Common Stock subject to such Company Warrant immediately prior to the Effective Time, multiplied by (II) the Exchange Ratio.
(B) The exercise price shall be equal to (rounded up to the nearest whole cent): (I) the exercise price per share of Company Common Stock of such Company Warrant immediately prior to the Effective Time, divided by (II) the Exchange Ratio.
Except as expressly provided above, following the Effective Time, each Company Warrant shall continue to be governed by the same terms and conditions (including exercisability terms) as were applicable to such Company Warrant immediately prior to the Effective Time.
(c) Merger Sub Stock. Each share of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of Merger Sub issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall no longer be outstanding and shall thereupon be converted into and become one validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable share of common stock, par value $0.0001, of the Surviving Company, and all such shares shall constitute the only outstanding shares of capital stock of the Surviving Company as of immediately following the Effective Time.
For the avoidance of doubt, but subject to Section 2.7 the number of shares of Parent Common Stock issued or issuable in accordance with this Section 2.1 shall not exceed the Merger Consideration.
2.2 Exchange Procedures.
(a) Exchange Agent. Prior to the Effective Time, Parent shall deposit or cause to be deposited with a bank or trust company selected by Parent, and consented to by the Company (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), to serve as the exchange agent (the “Exchange Agent”), for the benefit of the holders of Company Stock, an aggregate number of shares of Parent Common Stock to be issued in non-certificated book-entry form comprising the amounts required to be delivered in respect of the Merger Consideration pursuant to Section 2.1. In addition, Parent shall deposit or cause to be deposited with the Exchange Agent, as necessary from time to time after the Effective Time, any dividends or other distributions, if any, to which the holders of Company Stock may be entitled pursuant to Section 2.2(e) with both a record and payment date after the Effective Time and prior to the surrender of such Company Stock. Such shares of Parent Common Stock and the amount of any dividends or other distributions deposited with the Exchange Agent pursuant to this Section 2.2 (hereinafter, the “Exchange Fund”) shall not be used for any purpose other than a purpose expressly provided for in this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, references to “Company Stock” in this Section 2.2(a) shall exclude Company Dissenting Shares.
(b) Procedures for Surrender. Prior to the Effective Time, Parent shall cause the Exchange Agent to mail to each holder of Company Stock evidenced by electronic certificates (the “Certificates”) entitled to receive the applicable Per Share Merger Consideration pursuant to Section 2.1 a letter of transmittal, which shall be in a form reasonably acceptable to Parent and the Company (the “Letter of Transmittal”) and shall specify (i) that delivery shall be effected, and risk of loss and title to the Certificates shall pass, only upon proper delivery of the Letter of Transmittal to the Exchange Agent, and (ii) instructions for use in effecting the surrender of the Certificates pursuant to the Letter of Transmittal. Within two (2) Business Days (but in no event prior to the Effective Time) after the surrender to the Exchange Agent of a Letter of Transmittal with respect to all Certificates held by such holder for cancellation, duly completed and validly executed in accordance with the instructions thereto and such other documents as may be required pursuant to such instructions (the “Transmittal Documents”), the holder of such Certificates shall be entitled to receive in exchange therefor and Parent shall cause the Exchange Agent to deliver, the applicable Per Share Merger Consideration in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.1 and as set forth in the Allocation Statement, and the Certificates so surrendered shall forthwith be cancelled. Until surrendered as contemplated by this Section 2.2(b), each Certificate entitled to receive the applicable Per Share Merger Consideration in accordance with Section 2.1 shall be deemed at all times after the Effective Time to represent only the right to receive upon such surrender the applicable Per Share Merger Consideration that such holder is entitled to receive in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.1.
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(c) Delivery of Consideration to Other Persons. If any Per Share Merger Consideration is to be delivered or issued to a Person other than the Person in whose name the surrendered Certificate is registered immediately prior to the Effective Time, it shall be a condition to such delivery that (i) the transfer of such Company Stock shall have been permitted in accordance with the terms of the Organizational Documents of the Company as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time, (ii) such Certificate shall be properly endorsed or shall otherwise be in proper form for transfer, (iii) the recipient of such Per Share Merger Consideration, or the Person in whose name such Per Share Merger Consideration is delivered or issued, shall have already executed and delivered such other Transmittal Documents as are reasonably deemed necessary by the Exchange Agent or Parent and (iv) the Person requesting such delivery shall pay to the Exchange Agent any transfer or other similar Taxes required as a result of such delivery to a Person other than the registered holder of such Certificate or establish to the satisfaction of the Exchange Agent that such Tax has been paid or is not payable.
(d) Stop Transfer. After the Effective Time, there shall be no further registration of transfers of Company Stock. If, after the Effective Time, Certificates are presented to the Surviving Company, Parent or the Exchange Agent, they shall be canceled and exchanged for the Per Share Merger Consideration in accordance with, the procedures set forth in this Section 2.2.
(e) Distributions with Respect to Un-surrendered Certificates. All shares of Parent Common Stock to be issued pursuant to the Merger shall be deemed issued and outstanding as of the Effective Time and whenever a dividend or other distribution is declared by Parent in respect of the Parent Common Stock, the record date for which is at or after the Effective Time, that declaration shall include dividends or other distributions in respect of all shares issuable pursuant to this Agreement. No dividends or other distributions in respect of shares of Parent Common Stock shall be paid to any holder of any un-surrendered Certificate until the Certificate is surrendered for exchange in accordance with this ARTICLE II. Subject to applicable Law, following such surrender, there shall be issued or paid to the holder of record of the whole shares of Parent Common Stock issued in exchange for Company Stock (other than Company Dissenting Shares) in accordance with this ARTICLE II, (i) at the time of such surrender, the dividends or other distributions with a record date after the Effective Time theretofore payable with respect to such whole shares of Parent Common Stock and not paid and (ii) at the appropriate payment date, the dividends or other distributions payable with respect to such whole shares of Parent Common Stock with a record date after the Effective Time and prior to surrender, but with a payment date subsequent to surrender.
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(f) Fractional Shares. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, no fraction of a share of Parent Common Stock will be issued by virtue of the Merger or the other Transactions, and each Person who would otherwise be entitled to a fraction of a share of Parent Common Stock (after aggregating all fractional shares of Parent Common Stock that otherwise would be received by such holder) shall instead have the number of shares of Parent Common Stock issued to such Person rounded down in the aggregate to the nearest whole share of Parent Common Stock.
(g) No Interest. No interest will be paid or accrued on any amount payable for shares of Parent Common Stock pursuant to this ARTICLE II.
(h) Termination of Exchange Fund. Any portion of the Exchange Fund (including the proceeds of any deposit of the Exchange Fund and any shares of Parent Common Stock) that remains unclaimed by the 180th day after the Effective Time shall be delivered to Parent. Any holder of Company Stock (other than Company Dissenting Shares) who has not theretofore complied with this ARTICLE II shall thereafter look only to Parent for delivery of the Merger Consideration and any unpaid non-stock dividends and any other dividends or other distributions, in each case, that such holder has the right to receive pursuant to this ARTICLE II.
2.3 Withholding Rights. Each of Parent and the Surviving Company shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from the consideration otherwise payable pursuant to this Agreement to any recipient such amounts as it is required to deduct and withhold with respect to the making of such payment under the Code or any other applicable state, local or xxx-X.X.Xxx Law. Except when such withholding would result from a failure by the Company to deliver the FIRPTA Certificates pursuant to Section 5.6, Parent shall use commercially reasonable efforts to provide the Company with at least three (3) days prior written notice of any amounts that Parent (or any of Parent’s Representatives) intends to withhold from consideration payable to the holders of Company Common Stock hereunder and shall cooperate with the reasonable requests of the Company to reduce or eliminate any such withholding. To the extent that amounts are so withheld by Parent or the Surviving Company, as applicable, consistent with the terms of this Section 2.3, such withheld amounts (a) shall be timely remitted by Parent or the Surviving Company, as applicable, to the applicable Governmental Entity, and (b) shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid to the Person in respect of which such deduction and withholding was made by Parent or the Surviving Company, as applicable.
2.4 Payment of Expenses.
(a) Except as otherwise set forth in this Agreement, all fees and expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement, the Transaction Documents and the Transactions, including the fees and disbursements of counsel, financial advisors and accountants, shall be paid by the Party incurring such fees or expenses. If this Agreement is terminated in accordance with its terms, the Company shall pay, or cause to be paid, all Outstanding Company Expenses and Parent shall pay, or cause to be paid, all Outstanding Parent Expenses. If the Closing occurs, then, notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the Surviving Company shall pay, or cause to be paid, all Outstanding Company Expenses and all Outstanding Parent Expenses by wire transfer of immediately available funds.
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(b) Notwithstanding Section 2.4(a), in the event that there is a valid termination of this Agreement (x) by the Company pursuant to Section 9.4(a) or Section 9.4(b), (y) by Parent or the Company pursuant to Section 9.2(a), Section 9.2(b) or Section 9.2(c), or (z) by Parent pursuant to Section 9.3(b) if at the time of such termination the Company could have terminated this Agreement pursuant to Section 9.4(a) or Section 9.4(b), then, Parent shall reimburse (the “Company Expense Reimbursement”) the Company for the Company’s and its Affiliates’ reasonable and documented out-of-pocket fees, costs and expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, prior to the date of such termination, up to a maximum amount of $1,200,000 (the “Reimbursable Expenses”). The Company Expense Reimbursement, if payable pursuant to this Section 2.4(b), shall be paid, by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account designated in writing by the Company, within ten (10) Business Days after Parent receives evidence of the Reimbursable Expenses.
2.5 Allocation Statement.
(a) No later than the third (3rd) Business Day preceding the anticipated Closing Date, Parent shall provide to the Company a good faith estimate of the Outstanding Parent Expenses as of the Closing Date, and the Company shall prepare and deliver to Parent a statement containing the following information (the “Allocation Statement”):
(i) the Merger Consideration;
(ii) the number of shares of Company Common Stock held by each Company Stockholder;
(iii) with respect to each holder of Company Options, the number of shares of Company Common Stock subject to each Company Option and the exercise price thereof;
(iv) with respect to each holder of Company Warrants, the number of shares of Company Common Stock subject to each Company Warrant and the exercise price thereof;
(v) the allocation of the Merger Consideration payable to the holders of Company Common Stock and the portion of the Merger Consideration receivable by such holder of Company Common Stock pursuant to the terms of this Agreement;
(vi) with respect to each holder of Company Options, the number of shares of Parent Common Stock to be subject to the Assumed Option to be allocated to such holder and the exercise price thereof (after giving effect to Merger), in each case, pursuant to the terms of this Agreement;
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(vii) with respect to each holder of Company Warrants, the number of shares of Parent Common Stock to be subject to the Assumed Warrant to be allocated to such holder and the exercise price thereof (after giving effect to Merger), in each case, pursuant to the terms of this Agreement; and
(viii) a certification, duly executed by an authorized officer of the Company, solely in his or her capacity as an authorized officer of the Company, that, to his or her knowledge, the information and calculations delivered pursuant to clauses (ii) through (vii) are, and will be as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, (a) true and correct in all respects and (b) in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Agreement, the Organizational Documents of the Company, the Company Stockholders Agreements, and applicable Laws.
The Company will consider in good faith any reasonable comments proposed by Parent to the Allocation Statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything to the contrary herein, in no event shall the Allocation Statement (or the calculations or determinations therein) breach, as applicable, any applicable Law, the Organizational Documents of the Company, the Company Stockholders Agreements or any other Contract to which the Company is a party or bound.
(b) Xxxxxx and Merger Sub shall be entitled to rely on the information in the Allocation Statement in issuing the Per Share Merger Consideration, except to the extent any such information is clearly erroneous on its face without reference to any other document or further inquiry.
2.6 Appraisal Rights.
(a) Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary and to the extent available under the DGCL, shares of Company Stock that are outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time and that are held by Company Stockholders who shall have not voted in favor of the Merger, consented thereto in writing or waived their respective appraisal or dissenters’ rights under the Company Stockholders Agreements or otherwise, and who shall have demanded properly in writing appraisal or dissenters’ rights for such Company Stock in accordance with Section 262 of the DGCL, and otherwise complied with all of the provisions of the DGCL relevant to the exercise and perfection of appraisal rights, shall not be converted into, and such Company Stockholders shall have no right to receive, the applicable Per Share Merger Consideration, unless and until such stockholder fails to perfect, withdraws or otherwise loses his, her or its right to appraisal and payment under the DGCL. Any Company Stockholder who fails to perfect, effectively withdraws or otherwise loses his, her or its rights to appraisal with respect to such shares of Company Stock under Section 262 of the DGCL shall thereupon be deemed to have been converted into, and to have become exchangeable, as of the Effective Time, for the right to receive the applicable Per Share Merger Consideration, without any interest thereon, upon surrender, if applicable, in the manner provided in Section 2.2(b), of the Certificate or Certificates that formerly evidenced such shares of Company Stock, and such shares of Company Stock shall cease to be “Company Dissenting Shares” for purposes of this Agreement.
(b) Prior to the Closing, the Company shall give Parent prompt notice (and in any event within two (2) Business Days) of any demands received by the Company for appraisal of shares of Company Stock, attempted withdrawals of such demands and any other instruments served pursuant to the DGCL and received by the Company relating to rights to be paid the fair value of Company Dissenting Shares, and Parent shall have the right to participate in, at its sole cost and expense, but not control, all negotiations and proceedings with respect to such demands; provided, however, unless the Company, in its sole discretion, agrees otherwise, any such costs and expenses of Parent shall remain the sole responsibility of the Company even if the Closing occurs and notwithstanding the provisions of Section 2.4. Prior to the Effective Time, the Company shall not, except with the prior written consent of Parent (which shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), make any payment with respect to, or settle or compromise or offer to settle or compromise, any such demands or waive any failure to timely deliver a written demand for appraisal or otherwise comply with the provisions under Section 262 of the DGCL, or agree or commit to do any of the foregoing.
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2.7 Adjustments to Prevent Dilution. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, if, from the Execution Date to the earlier of the Effective Time and termination in accordance with ARTICLE IX, the issued and outstanding shares of Company Common Stock or the issued and outstanding shares of Parent Common Stock shall have been changed into a different number of shares or securities or a different class by reason of any reclassification, stock split (including a reverse stock split), stock dividend or distribution, recapitalization, merger, issuer tender or exchange offer, or other similar transaction, or a stock dividend with a record date within such period shall have been declared, then the Per Share Merger Consideration shall be equitably adjusted to provide the holders of shares of Company Common Stock and Parent the same economic effect as contemplated by this Agreement prior to such event, and such items so adjusted shall, from and after the date of such event, be the Per Share Merger Consideration. Nothing in this Section 2.7 shall be construed to permit the Parties to take any action except to the extent consistent with, and not otherwise prohibited by, the terms of this Agreement.
ARTICLE III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY
Except as set forth in the corresponding sections or subsections of the disclosure letter delivered to Parent by the Company concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Agreement (the “Company Disclosure Letter”) (it being agreed that for purposes of the representations and warranties set forth in this ARTICLE III, (a) disclosure of any item in any section or subsection of the Company Disclosure Letter shall be deemed disclosure with respect to the corresponding section of this Agreement notwithstanding the omission of a reference to such section of the Company Disclosure Letter in such section of this Agreement and (b) disclosure of any item in any section or subsection of the Company Disclosure Letter shall be deemed disclosure with respect to any other section or subsection to which the relevance of such item is reasonably apparent on its face), the Company hereby represents and warrants to Parent and Merger Sub as follows:
3.1 Organization, Good Standing and Qualification. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries is a legal entity duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of its respective jurisdiction of organization, except in the case of the Company’s Subsidiaries, as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries has all requisite corporate or similar power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and assets and to carry on its business as presently conducted and is qualified to do business and is in good standing as a foreign corporation or other legal entity in each jurisdiction where the ownership, leasing or operation of its assets or properties or conduct of its business requires such qualification, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company has made available to Parent complete and correct copies of the Company’s Organizational Documents, each as amended prior to the execution of this Agreement, and complete and correct copies of its Subsidiaries’ Organizational Documents, each as amended prior to the execution of this Agreement, and each as made available to Parent is in full force and effect. Section 3.1 of the Company Disclosure Letter contains a true and correct list as of the Execution Date of each jurisdiction in which the Company and its Subsidiaries are organized and qualified to do business.
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3.2 Capital Structure of the Company.
(a) Company Stock. Section 3.2(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth, as of the Execution Date, the following true and correct information with respect to the shares of Company Stock: (i) the authorized, issued and outstanding shares of each class and series of Company Stock and (ii) the holders of the shares of each class and series of Company Stock. All of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company (A) have been duly authorized and are validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, (B) were offered, sold and issued in compliance in all material respects with applicable securities Laws, and (C) were not issued in breach or violation of the Company’s Organizational Documents or any preemptive rights, purchase option, call option, right of first refusal or offer, subscription right or any similar right issued by the Company.
(b) No Other Securities or Rights. Except as set forth in Section 3.2(b) of the Company Disclosure Letter, there are no (i) shares of any class or series of capital stock of the Company authorized, issued, outstanding or reserved for issuance, (ii) options, warrants, convertible securities, subscription rights or other similar instruments or rights entitling its holder to receive or acquire shares of capital stock or other securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or (iii) equity appreciation rights, restricted stock units, phantom stock or other securities, instruments or awards issued or granted as compensatory equity or pursuant any equity incentive arrangements of the Company. Except as set forth in the Company’s Organizational Documents, none of the Company’s shares of capital stock or other securities are subject to any preemptive rights, redemption rights, repurchase rights, rights of refusal or offer, tag-along rights, drag-along rights or other similar rights issued by the Company. The Company does not have outstanding any bonds, debentures, notes or other debt securities the holders of which have the right to vote (or convertible into or exercisable for securities having the right to vote) with the stockholders of the Company on any matter. Except for the Organizational Documents of the Company and the Company Stockholders Agreements, as of the Execution Date, there are no stockholders agreements, investor rights agreements, voting agreements or trusts, proxies, or other agreements with respect to the voting or disposition of the Company Stock or any capital stock or equity securities of its Subsidiaries to which the Company is a party.
(c) Subsidiaries. Section 3.2(c) of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth (i) each of the Company’s Subsidiaries and the ownership interest of the Company (or another of its Subsidiaries) in each such Subsidiary and (ii) the Company’s or its Subsidiaries’ capital stock, other equity interest, or other direct or indirect ownership interest in any other Person. Each of the outstanding shares of capital stock or other securities of each of the Company’s Subsidiaries is duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, and owned by the Company or by a direct or indirect wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company, free and clear of any Encumbrance (other than such Encumbrances as created by such Subsidiary’s Organizational Documents or applicable securities Laws). Except as set forth in Section 3.2(c) of the Company Disclosure Letter, the Company has no other Subsidiaries and does not directly or indirectly own or hold any (i) equity securities, including any partnership, limited liability company or joint venture interests, in any other Person, (ii) securities convertible into or exchangeable for equity securities of any other Person or (iii) options or other rights to acquire equity securities of any other Person, in each case, other than securities in a publicly traded entity held for investment by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and consisting of less than 1% of the outstanding capital stock of such entity. The Company is not party to any Contract that obligates the Company to invest money in, loan money to or make any capital contribution to any other Person.
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3.3 Corporate Authority; Approval and Fairness.
(a) The Company has all requisite corporate power and authority and has taken all corporate action necessary in order to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Agreement and each Transaction Document to which it is a party and to consummate the Transactions, subject only to adoption of this Agreement by a majority of the outstanding number of shares of Company Stock as of immediately prior to the Effective Time (voting together as a single class on an as-converted to Company Common Stock basis) in favor of this Agreement and the Transactions, including the Merger, in accordance with the Company Stockholder Support Agreement (the “Company Stockholder Approval”). This Agreement has been, and each Transaction Document will be, duly executed and delivered by the Company, and assuming due authorization and execution by each other party hereto and thereto, constitutes, or will constitute, as applicable, a valid and binding agreement of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar Laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles (the “Bankruptcy and Equity Exception”). The Company Stockholder Approval is the only vote of the holders of any class or series of capital stock of the Company required to approve and adopt this Agreement and approve the Transactions.
(b) The Company Board has (i) determined that the Merger is fair to, and in the best interests of, the Company and the Company Stockholders, approved and declared advisable this Agreement, the Merger and the other Transactions, and resolved to recommend adoption of this Agreement to the holders of shares of Company Stock and (ii) directed that this Agreement be submitted to the Company Stockholders for their adoption.
3.4 Governmental Filings; No Violations; Certain Contracts, Etc.
(a) Other than the filings, notices, reports, consents, registrations, approvals, permits, clearances, expirations or terminations of waiting periods or authorizations (i) pursuant to the DGCL, (ii) under the HSR Act, the Exchange Act and the Securities Act, and (iii) under state securities, takeover and “blue sky” Laws, no filings, notices, reports, consents, registrations, approvals, permits, clearances, expirations or terminations of waiting periods or authorizations are required to be made by the Company with, or obtained by the Company from, any Governmental Entity in connection with the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Company and the consummation of the Transactions, or in connection with the continuing operation of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries following the Effective Time, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or prevent, materially delay or materially impair the ability of the Company to consummate the Transactions.
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(b) Except as set forth on Section 3.4(b) of the Company Disclosure Letter, the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the Transaction Documents by the Company do not, and the consummation of the Transactions by the Company will not, constitute or result in (i) a breach or violation of, or a default under, the Organizational Documents of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (ii) with or without notice, lapse of time or both, a breach or violation of, a termination (or right of termination) of or default under, the creation or acceleration of any obligations under or the creation of an Encumbrance on any of the material assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to any Company Material Contract binding upon the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or assuming (solely with respect to performance of this Agreement and consummation of the Transactions) compliance with the matters referred to in Section 3.4(a), under any Law to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is subject or (iii) any change in the rights or obligations of any party under any Company Material Contract binding upon the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, except, in the case of clause (ii) or (iii) above, as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or prevent, materially delay or materially impair the ability of the Company to consummate the Transactions.
3.5 Financial Statements; Internal Controls.
(a) Section 3.5 of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth (i) the audited consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2021 and the audited consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive loss, statement of convertible preferred stock and stockholders’ deficit and statement of cash flows of the Company and its Subsidiaries for the same period, together with the auditor’s report thereon, and (ii) the unaudited balance sheet of the Company as of September 30, 2022 (“Latest Balance Sheet”) and consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive loss, statement of convertible preferred stock and stockholders’ deficit and statement of cash flows of the Company and its Subsidiaries for the same period (the “Financial Statements”). The Financial Statements (including any related notes and schedules thereto) present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position, results of operations, income (loss), changes in equity and cash flows of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of the dates and for the periods indicated in such Financial Statements (subject, in the case of unaudited Financial Statements, to customary year-end audit adjustments), in each case, in conformity with GAAP (except that the unaudited Financial Statements may not contain all footnotes required by GAAP), consistently applied during the periods involved, and were derived from, and accurately reflect in all material respects, the books and records of the Company and its Subsidiaries.
(b) The Company maintains a system of internal accounting controls designed to provide reasonable assurance that: (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain asset accountability; (iii) access to property is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences.
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(c) Except as set forth in Section 3.5(c) of the Company Disclosure Letter, since the incorporation of the Company, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has received any written complaint, allegation, assertion or claim that there is (i) “significant deficiency” in the internal controls over financial reporting of the Company or such Subsidiary, (ii) a “material weakness” in the internal controls over financial reporting of the Company or such Subsidiary, or (iii) fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees of the Company or its Subsidiaries who have a significant role in the internal controls over financial reporting of the Company or such Subsidiary.
3.6 Absence of Certain Changes. Between December 31, 2021, and the Execution Date:
(a) there has not occurred any effect, event, development, change, state of facts, condition, circumstance or occurrence that, individually or in the aggregate with others, resulted in or would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; and
(b) the Company and its Subsidiaries have, in all material respects, operated in the ordinary course of business; and
(c) except as expressly contemplated by this Agreement, any Transaction Document or in connection with the Transactions, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has taken any action that would require the consent of Parent if taken during the period from the Execution Date until the Closing pursuant to Section 5.1(b).
3.7 No Undisclosed Liabilities. As of the Execution Date, there are no liabilities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that would be required to be set forth or reserved for on a balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries (and the notes thereto) prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied and in accordance with past practice, except for liabilities (a) reflected or reserved against in the Financial Statements or disclosed in the notes thereto, (b) incurred in the ordinary course of business between December 31, 2021 and the Execution Date, (c) incurred in connection with this Agreement, (d) disclosed in the Company Disclosure Letter, (e) incurred pursuant to Contracts or Permits binding on the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and entered into or obtained by the Company in the ordinary course of business (other than those resulting from any breach of or default under such Contract or Permit) or (f) that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to be material to the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
3.8 Litigation.
(a) As of the Execution Date, there are no Proceedings pending, or to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or prevent, materially delay or materially impair the ability of the Company to consummate the Transactions.
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(b) As of the Execution Date, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to or subject to the provisions of any Governmental Order that restricts the manner in which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries conducts its business, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or prevent, materially delay or materially impair the ability of the Company to consummate the Transactions.
3.9 Compliance with Laws; Permits.
(a) Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries are, and since the Look-Back Date have been, in compliance with all applicable Laws, except where the failure to be, or to have been, in compliance with such Laws would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to be material to the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole or prevent, materially delay or materially impair the ability of the Company to consummate the Transactions. As of the Execution Date, the Company has not received any written notice of any noncompliance with any such Laws that has not been cured as of the Execution Date, except for any noncompliance that would not, individually or in the aggregate with other instances of noncompliance, reasonably be expected to be material to the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
(b) As of the Execution Date, no material investigation or review by any Governmental Entity with respect to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is pending, or to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened.
(c) The Company and each of its Subsidiaries has obtained and is in compliance in all material respects with all Permits necessary for them to own, lease or operate their properties and assets and to conduct their respective businesses and operations as presently conducted. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is in material default or violation (and no event has occurred which, with notice or the lapse of time or both, would constitute a material default or violation) of any term, condition or provision of Permit to which it is a party, nor, as of the Execution Date, are there any pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened material modifications, amendments, cancellations, suspensions, limitations, non-renewals or revocations of any such Permit by any Governmental Entity. No Permits shall cease to be effective as a result of the consummation of the Transactions, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to be material to the Company and its Subsidiaries.
(d) The Company, its Subsidiaries, and to the Knowledge of the Company, their respective Representatives are in compliance with, and since the Look-Back Date have complied in all material respects with, (i) the FCPA, and (ii) the provisions of all anti-bribery, anti-corruption and anti-money laundering Laws of each jurisdiction in which the Company and its Subsidiaries operate or have operated and in which any agent thereof is conducting or has conducted business involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. None of the Company, any of its Subsidiaries, or to the Knowledge of the Company, any of their respective Representatives have paid, offered or promised to pay, or authorized or ratified the payment, directly or indirectly, of any unlawful bribes, kickbacks or other similar unlawful payments, to any national, provincial, municipal or other Government Official or any political party or candidate for political office for the purpose of influencing any act or decision of such official or of any Governmental Entity to obtain or retain business, or direct business to any person or to secure any other improper benefit or advantage, in each case, in violation in any material respect of the FCPA and any Laws described in clause (ii). The Company and each of its Subsidiaries is, and since the Look-Back Date have been, in compliance with relevant Sanctions and export control Laws and regulations in jurisdictions in which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries do business or are otherwise subject to jurisdiction.
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3.10 Employee Benefits.
(a) Section 3.10(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth an accurate and complete list of each Company Benefit Plan.
With respect to each Company Benefit Plan, the Company has made available to Parent, as applicable, accurate and complete copies of (i) the Company Benefit Plan document, including any amendments thereto, and all related trust documents, vendor contracts, insurance contracts or other funding vehicles, (ii) a written description of such Company Benefit Plan if such plan is not set forth in a written document, (iii) the most recent summary plan description together with any summaries of all material modifications thereto, (iv) the most recent IRS determination or opinion letter, (v) the three (3) most recent annual reports (Form 5500 series and all schedules and financial statements attached thereto), (vi) the most recently prepared actuarial report, (vii) all material and non-routine correspondence to or from any Governmental Entity received in the last three years with respect to any Company Benefit Plan, (viii) filings, disclosures, policies and procedures, including 1094 and 1095 forms for the most recent three years, with respect to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, as amended, and any guidance issued thereunder (the “Affordable Care Act”), and (ix) the results of the non-discrimination testing for the most recent three years, and evidence of correction of any testing failures.
(b) (i) Each Company Benefit Plan (including any related trusts), other than any “multiemployer plans” within the meaning of Section 3(37) of ERISA (each, a “Multiemployer Plan”), has been established, operated and administered in material compliance with its terms and applicable Law, including ERISA and the Code, (ii) all contributions or other amounts payable by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries with respect to each Company Benefit Plan in respect of current or prior plan years have been timely paid or accrued in accordance with GAAP in all material respects and (iii) there are no Proceedings (other than routine claims for benefits) pending, or to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened, whether by a Governmental Entity or any other Person, on behalf of or against any Company Benefit Plan or any trust related thereto or against the Company with respect to any Company Benefit Plan.
(c) Each ERISA Plan (and any prototype or volume submitter form for such Plan) that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code has been determined by the IRS to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code (or time is remaining to apply for such determination), and to the Knowledge of the Company nothing has occurred that would adversely affect the qualification or tax exemption of any such Company Benefit Plan. All amendments and actions required to bring the Company Benefit Plans into conformity in all material respects with all of the applicable provisions of the Code, ERISA and other applicable Laws have been made or taken, except to the extent that such amendments or actions are not required by Law to be made or taken until a date after the Closing. With respect to any ERISA Plan, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries nor, to the Knowledge of the Company, any other Person has engaged in a transaction in connection with which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries reasonably could be subject to either a civil penalty assessed pursuant to Section 409 or 502(i) of ERISA or a tax imposed pursuant to Section 4975 or 4976 of the Code, in either case, that could reasonably be expected to result in any material liability to the Company. None of the assets of any Company Benefit Plan are invested in employer securities or employer real property. Each Company Benefit Plan may, under its terms, be amended or terminated at any time without liability to the Company or any Subsidiary (other than reasonable and customary termination fees). All material reports, returns, and similar documents required to be filed with any Governmental Entity or distributed to any Company Benefit Plan participant have been timely filed or distributed in all material respects with respect to each Company Benefit Plan. No Company Benefit Plan is, or within the last six (6) years has been, the subject of an examination, investigation, or audit by a Governmental Entity, or the subject of an application or filing under, or a participant in, a government-sponsored amnesty, voluntary compliance, self-correction, or similar program.
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No Company Benefit Plan is, and neither the Company nor any Company ERISA Affiliate sponsors, maintains, contributes to (or is required to contribute to) or has any liability or obligation with respect to or under: (i) a Multiemployer Plan; (ii) a “defined benefit plan” (as defined in Section 3(35) of ERISA, whether or not subject to ERISA) or a plan that is or was subject to Title IV of ERISA, Section 302 of ERISA, or Section 412 of the Code; (iii) a “multiple employer plan” within the meaning of Section of 413(c) of the Code or Section 210 of ERISA; (iv) a “multiple employer welfare arrangement” as defined in Section 3(40) of ERISA; or a (v) “voluntary employees’ beneficiary association” (within the meaning of Section 501(c)(9) of the Code). Neither the Company nor any of the Company ERISA Affiliates has ever completely or partially withdrawn from any Multiemployer Plan and no termination liability to the United States Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or withdrawal liability to any Multiemployer Plan has been or is reasonably expected to be incurred with respect to any Multiemployer Plan by the Company or any of the Company ERISA Affiliates.
(d) Except as required by under Part 6 of Subtitle B of Title I of ERISA, Section 4980B of the Code (“COBRA”) or any similar state Law and at the sole expense of the participant or the participant’s beneficiary, no Company Benefit Plan provides retiree or post-employment medical, disability, life insurance or other welfare benefits coverage to any Person, and none of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has any obligation to provide such benefits. The Company has satisfied all material obligations applicable to the Company or any Company ERISA Affiliate under COBRA and each applicable state Law relating to continuation of health or other coverage to any employee of Company or any Company ERISA Affiliate (or any dependent or former dependent of such employee) with respect to any qualifying event that has occurred on or before the Closing.
(e) Each Company Benefit Plan that constitutes in any part a “nonqualified deferred compensation plan” (as defined under Section 409A(d)(1) of the Code) subject to Section 409A of the Code has been operated and administered in all material respects in operational compliance with, and is in all material respects in documentary compliance with, Section 409A of the Code and its purpose.
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(f) Except as set forth on Section 3.10(f) of the Company Disclosure Letter, neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement nor the consummation of the Transactions could, either alone or in combination with another event, (i) entitle any Company Employee to severance pay or any increase in severance pay, or (ii) accelerate the time of payment or vesting, or increase the amount of compensation due to any such Company Employee, or (iii) result in the payment of any amount that could individually or in combination with any other such payment, constitute an “excess parachute payment” as defined in Section 280G(b)(1) of the Code.
(g) Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has any obligation to provide, and no Company Benefit Plan or other agreement provides, any individual with the right to, a gross up, indemnification, reimbursement or other payment for any excise or additional taxes, interest or penalties incurred pursuant to Section 409A or Section 4999 of the Code.
(h) Each Company Benefit Plan established under the Affordable Care Act has been maintained and administered in material compliance with the requirements of the Affordable Care Act. Neither the Company nor any Company Benefit Plan has incurred, or is reasonably expected to incur or be subject to, any material Tax, assessment or other penalty under the Affordable Care Act or Section 4980B, 4980D, or 4980H of the Code (including the requirement to provide employee statements and file Affordable Care Act information returns with the IRS under Section 6056 of the Code or 6055 as applicable). No 226-J letter has been issued with respect to the Company, any Subsidiary, or any Company Benefit Plan. Except as set forth on Section 3.10(h) of the Company Disclosure Letter, no Company Benefit Plan that is a “health and welfare” plan within the meaning of Section 3(1) of ERISA is funded through self-insurance.
(i) Each individual who is classified by the Company or a Subsidiary as an independent contractor has been properly classified for purposes of participation and benefit accrual under each Company Benefit Plan.
(j) No Company Benefit Plan is subject to the laws of any jurisdiction outside the United States.
3.11 Labor Matters.
(a) Section 3.11 of the Company Disclosure Letter contains a complete and accurate list of all employees of the Company as of the Execution Date, setting forth for each employee: (i) the employee’s position or title; (ii) the entity that employs the individual; (iii) whether classified as exempt or non-exempt for wage and hour purposes; (iv) whether paid on a salary, hourly or commission basis; (v) the employee’s actual annual base salary (if paid on a salary basis), hourly rate (if paid on an hourly basis), or commission rate (if paid on a purely commission basis), as applicable; (vi) bonus and commission potential; (vii) for any part-time employee, average scheduled hours per week; (viii) date of hire; (ix) business location (including if such employee works remotely); (x) status (i.e., active or inactive and if inactive, the type of leave and estimated duration); and (xi) any visa or work permit status and the date of expiration, if applicable.
(b) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to any collective bargaining agreement or other agreement with a labor union or like organization, and to the Knowledge of the Company, there are no activities or Proceedings by any individual or group of individuals, including representatives of any labor organizations or labor unions, to organize any employees of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
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(c) As of the Execution Date and since the Look-Back Date there is no, and has not been any, strike, lockout, slowdown, work stoppage, unfair labor practice or other material labor dispute, or material arbitration or grievance pending, or to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened in writing that may interfere in any material respect with the respective business activities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or prevent, materially delay or materially impair the ability of the Company to consummate the Transactions. As of the Execution Date, there are no Proceedings by or on behalf of any Company Employee against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries pending, or to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened in writing, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to be material to the Company and its Subsidiaries.
(d) Except as would not reasonably be expected to result in, individually or in the aggregate, a material Liability to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and as listed on Section 3.11 of the Company Disclosure Letter, each of the Company and its Subsidiaries is, and since Look-Back Date has been in compliance in all material respects with all applicable Laws regarding labor, employment and employment practices, including all Laws respecting terms and conditions of employment, health and safety, employee classification (including the classification of independent contractors and exempt and non-exempt employees), discrimination, harassment or retaliation, whistleblowing, immigration (including the completion of Forms I-9 for all U.S. employees and the proper confirmation of employee visas), disability rights or benefits, equal opportunity, plant closures and layoffs (including the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act or any similar state or local Law), COVID-19, affirmative action, workers’ compensation, labor relations, employee leave issues, employee trainings and notices, and unemployment insurance.
(e) As of the Execution Date, no employee of any of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries who will qualify as an “executive officer” (as defined in Rule 3b-7 of the Exchange Act) following the Closing, has given written or, to the Knowledge of the Company, oral notice to the Company or any of such Subsidiary of his or her intent to terminate his or her employment with the Company or any of such Subsidiary prior to the one-year anniversary of the Closing.
3.12 Environmental Matters. Except as set forth on Section 3.12(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter,
(a) The Company and its Subsidiaries have, since their respective dates of inception, complied in all material respects with all applicable Environmental Laws; (b) no property currently or, to the Knowledge of the Company, formerly owned or operated by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (including soils, groundwater, surface water, buildings and surface and subsurface structures) is contaminated with any Hazardous Substance; (c) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is subject to material liability for any Hazardous Substance disposal or contamination on any third party property; (d) as of the Execution Date, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any written notice, demand letter, claim or request for information alleging that the Company or any of its Subsidiaries may be in violation of or subject to liability under any Environmental Law; (e) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is subject to any current Governmental Order relating to any non-compliance with any Environmental Law by the Company or its Subsidiaries; and (f) to the Knowledge of the Company, there are no other circumstances or conditions involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that could reasonably be expected to result in any material claim, liability, investigation, cost or restriction on the ownership, use, or transfer of any property pursuant to any Environmental Law.
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(b) The Company has made available to Parent copies of all material environmental, health and safety reports that were prepared for the Company by third parties and are in the Company’s possession relating to the operations, properties or facilities of the Company since the Look-Back Date.
3.13 Product Liability.
(a) Since the Look-Back Date (a) there have been no recalls, seizures or withdrawals from any market of products sold, licensed or delivered by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
(b) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has any material liability arising as a result of, or relating to, or has received any written notice of any threatened legal claim (and to the Company’s Knowledge there is no reasonable basis for), any action, suit, charge, proceeding, audit or investigation, or any threat of the foregoing relating to (i) material bodily injury, death or disability arising as a result of the ownership, possession or use of any product developed or sold by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or any services rendered by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or (ii) false advertising or deceptive trade practices.
(c) Except for those warranties that are (a) expressly set forth in any Company Material Contracts, (b) made in the ordinary course of business, or (c) required by applicable Law, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has since the Look-Back Date made any express or implied warranties covering products manufactured or sold or services rendered by the Company and its Subsidiaries that have not expired.
(d) Except as set forth on Section 3.13(d) of the Company Disclosure Letter, all products developed or sold by the Company and its and all services rendered by the Company and its Subsidiaries have been in conformity in all material respects with all applicable contractual commitments and all express and implied warranties, and neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has any existing liability (and, to the Knowledge of the Company, there is no reasonable basis for any present or future action, suit, charge, proceeding, audit or investigation against it giving rise to any such liability) for replacement or repair thereof or other damages in connection therewith in excess of any warranty reserve specifically established with respect thereto and included in the Financial Statements.
3.14 Tax Matters. Except as set forth on Section 3.14 of the Company Disclosure Letter,
(a) The Company and each of its Subsidiaries (i) have prepared and filed all income Tax Returns and other material Tax Returns required to be filed by any of them with the appropriate Taxing authority, and all such filed Tax Returns are true and complete in all material respects with applicable Laws; and (ii) have paid all material Taxes that are required to be paid by them (whether or not shown on any Tax Returns). The unpaid Taxes of the Company and each of its Subsidiaries (i) for all periods ending on or before the date of the Latest Balance Sheet do not, in the aggregate, materially exceed the reserve for Tax liability (rather than any reserve for deferred Taxes established to reflect timing differences between book and Tax income) set forth on the Financial Statements and (ii) will not, in the aggregate, materially exceed that reserve as adjusted for operations and transactions through the Closing Date that occur in the ordinary course of business.
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(b) No written claims have been received by the Company or any Subsidiary thereof in the last six (6) years by any Governmental Entity in a jurisdiction where the Company or any of its Subsidiaries does not file Tax Returns asserting that such entity is or may be subject to taxation or to a Tax Return filing requirement by that jurisdiction, and which have not been resolved or withdrawn.
(c) No deficiency with respect to material Taxes has been proposed, asserted or assessed in writing against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, except for deficiencies which have been fully satisfied by payment, settled, withdrawn or otherwise resolved. There are no Proceedings pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened in writing regarding any material Taxes of the Company and its Subsidiaries.
(d) There are no Encumbrances for Taxes (except for statutory Encumbrances with respect to Taxes not yet due and payable) on any of the assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
(e) Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries has timely collected, withheld and paid to the appropriate Governmental Entity all material amounts required to have been collected, withheld and paid in connection with amounts paid or owing to or from any employee, individual independent contractor, other service providers, equity interest holder or other third party.
(f) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has consented to extend or waive the time in which any material Tax may be assessed or collected by any Governmental Entity, other than any such extensions or waivers that are no longer in effect or that were extensions of time to file Tax Returns obtained in the ordinary course of business.
(g) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to or is bound by any Tax sharing, allocation or indemnification agreement or arrangement (other than such an agreement or arrangement exclusively between or among the Company and its Subsidiaries, and other than any commercial contract entered into in the ordinary course of business by the Company or its Subsidiaries to which the primary subject is not Taxes).
(h) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries (i) has been a member of an affiliated group filing a consolidated federal income Tax Return (other than a group the common parent of which is or was the Company or any of its Subsidiaries) or (ii) has any material liability for the Taxes of any person (other than the Company or any of its Subsidiaries) under Treasury Regulations Section 1.1502-6 (or any similar provision of Law), as a transferee or successor or by contract (other than liabilities pursuant to a commercial contract entered into in the ordinary course of business by the Company or its Subsidiaries the primary subject of which is not Taxes).
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(i) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has been, within the past two (2) years, a “distributing corporation” or a “controlled corporation” (within the meaning of Section 355(a)(1)(A) of the Code) in a distribution of stock intended to qualify for tax-free treatment under Section 355 of the Code.
(j) Neither Parent nor any Affiliate thereof (including after the Closing, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries) will be required to include any material item of income in, or exclude any material item of deduction from, taxable income for any Tax period (or portion thereof) commencing after the Closing as a result of: (i) any change in method of accounting for a taxable period (or portion thereof) ending on or prior to the Closing Date; (ii) a use of an improper method of accounting for any period (or portion thereof) ending on or before the Closing Date; (iii) any “closing agreement” as described in Section 7121 of the Code (or any corresponding or similar provision of state, provincial, municipal, local or non-U.S. income Tax Law) executed on or prior to the Closing Date; (iv) any deferred intercompany gain or excess loss account described in Treasury Regulations under Section 1502 of the Code (or any corresponding or similar provision of state, provincial, municipal, local or non-U.S. income Tax Law) arising from transactions occurring on or prior to the Closing Date; (v) any installment sale or open transaction disposition made on or prior to the Closing Date; (vi) any prepaid or deferred amount received on or prior to the Closing Date; or (vii) any election under Section 965(h) of the Code or any corresponding or similar provision of state, provincial, municipal, local or non-U.S. income Tax law.
(k) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has participated in a “listed transaction” within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 1.6011-4(b)(2) (or any corresponding or similar provision of state, local or non-U.S. income Tax Law).
(l) No “closing agreement” as described in Section 7121 of the Code (or any corresponding or similar provision of state, local or non-U.S. income Tax Law), private letter rulings, technical advice memoranda or similar agreements or rulings have been entered into or issued by any Tax authority with respect to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries which agreement or ruling would be effective after the Closing Date.
(m) The Company has not been a United States real property holding corporation within the meaning of Section 897(c)(2) of the Code at any time during the applicable period specified in Section 897(c)(1)(A)(ii) of the Code.
(n) No Subsidiary of the Company that was organized outside of the United States (i) would be required to take into account a material amount of income pursuant to Section 951 or Section 951A of the Code if the taxable year of such Subsidiary ended on the Closing Date (ii) is a resident of any jurisdiction other than that of its incorporation, or (iii) is engaged in a U.S. trade or business.
(o) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has (i) deferred the employer’s share of any “applicable employment taxes” under Section 2302 of the CARES Act, (ii) received or claimed any Tax credits under Section 7001 through 7005 of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act or Section 2301 of the CARES Act, or (iii) deferred any payroll tax obligations (including those imposed by Sections 3101(a) and 3201 of the Code) pursuant to or in connection with the Payroll Tax Executive Order.
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(p) Section 3.14(p) of the Company Disclosure Letter lists the entity classification for U.S. federal income tax purposes for the Company and each of its Subsidiaries (e.g., as a partnership, trust, association taxable as C corporation, disregarded entity) for the last three taxable years.
(q) To the Knowledge of the Company, there are no facts, circumstances or plans that, either alone or in combination, could reasonably be expected to prevent the Transaction from qualifying for the Intended Tax Treatment.
3.15 Real and Personal Property.
(a) Section 3.15(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth a correct and complete list of all real property owned by the Company or any Company Subsidiary (collectively, the “Owned Real Property”), and identifies for each the address and current use thereof. Except as set forth in Section 3.15(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter, the Company or applicable Company Subsidiary has good and marketable title to all Owned Real Property owned by the Company or such Company Subsidiary free and clear of all Encumbrances (other than Permitted Encumbrances). Except as set forth in Section 3.15(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter, all improvements on Owned Real Property and the operations therein conducted conform in all respects to health, fire, safety, zoning, building and other applicable Laws or judgment, order or decree. All of the Owned Real Property and buildings, improvements, structures and fixtures thereon (i) are in good operating condition and repair, normal wear and tear excepted, (ii) are fit for the uses to which they are being put, (iii) do not encroach on any real property not owned or leased by the Company or a Company Subsidiary (iv) and its current use, occupancy and operation by the Company or a Company Subsidiary and the buildings, improvements and structures located thereon do not (a) constitute a nonconforming use or structure under any applicable building, zoning, subdivision or other land use or similar requirements of Laws, or (b) otherwise materially violate or conflict with any covenants, conditions, restrictions or contractual obligations, including the requirements of any applicable Encumbrances thereto. Except as set forth in Section 3.15(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter, none of the Owned Real Property is subject to any lease, option to purchase, right of first refusal, purchase agreement, or, except for the Permitted Encumbrances, the grant to any Person of any right relating to the use, occupancy or enjoyment of such property or any portion thereof; and, any use restrictions, exceptions, reservations or limitations encumbering the Owned Real Property have not in any material respect impaired the Company’s or the applicable Company Subsidiary’s current use of such Owned Real Property.
(b) Section 3.15(b) of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth, as of the Execution Date, a true and correct list of each real property lease or sublease entered into by the Company or any Subsidiary (each such lease or sublease, together with any amendments and modifications thereto, the “Leases” and the real property subject to such Leases is sometimes referred to herein as the “Leased Real Property”). The Company or one of its Subsidiaries holds a legal, valid, binding, and enforceable leasehold interest under such Leases, free and clear of all Encumbrances other than Permitted Encumbrances. Each Lease is a valid and binding obligation on the Company or its Subsidiary, and to the Knowledge of the Company, the other parties thereto, has not expired and is enforceable and in full force and effect in accordance with its terms, subject to the Bankruptcy and Equity Exception. Neither the Company nor its Subsidiaries has delivered or received any notice of any default or breach of any Lease which has not been cured and the Company or the applicable Subsidiary is not currently in holdover under any of the Leases. The Company has made available to Parent true and correct copies of the Leases.
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(c) Except as set forth in Section 3.15(b) of the Company Disclosure Letter, (i) neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary is a party to or obligated under or is aware of any option, right of first refusal or other contractual right to sell, dispose of or lease, sublease or license any property subject to a Lease or any interest therein (other than pursuant to this Agreement), (ii) neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary is a party to or is aware of any agreement or option to purchase any real property, improvements thereon, or interest therein except as set forth in any Lease and (iii) except for the Company or the applicable Company Subsidiary, any landlord under the applicable Lease and any Permitted Encumbrances, no Person has any right to use, occupy, possess or lease, or is using, occupying, possessing subleasing or leasing, all or any portion of the Leased Real Property.
(d) Neither the Company nor any of the Company Subsidiaries have any knowledge of pending or threatened zoning application or Litigation or condemnation, eminent domain, or taking Litigation with respect to any Owned Real Property or Leased Real Property or any building or improvement thereon, and neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary has received any written notice or other communication, of any violation of applicable Laws or such pending or threatened Litigation.
(e) Except for assets sold, consumed or disposed of in the ordinary course of business since December 31, 2021 and as listed on Section 3.15(e) of the Company Disclosure Letter, the Company and its Subsidiary own good title to, or hold a valid leasehold interest in or license to, all of their material tangible personal property shown to be owned or leased by it on the Financial Statements for the fiscal year ended on December 31, 2021 or acquired after the date thereof, free and clear of all Encumbrances, other than Permitted Encumbrances.
3.16 Intellectual Property; IT Assets; Data Privacy.
(a) Section 3.16(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth a true and complete list as of the Execution Date of all Company Intellectual Property that is Registered (collectively, the “Registered Intellectual Property”). The Registered Intellectual Property is subsisting, and each of the issued and granted items included in the Registered Intellectual Property is, to the Knowledge of the Company, valid and enforceable. There are no inventorship challenges, opposition or nullity proceedings or interferences with respect to any patents or patent applications included in the Registered Intellectual Property, or to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened in writing. There has been no claim, action, suit or proceeding pending, or to the Company’s Knowledge, threatened in writing since the Look-Back Date, against the Company or its Subsidiaries concerning the ownership, validity, registrability or enforceability of any Company Intellectual Property.
(b) Except as would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, the Company and its Subsidiaries own or have the sufficient right to use, pursuant to a written license, all Intellectual Property Rights used in or necessary for the conduct of their respective businesses as currently conducted. To the Knowledge of the Company, the Company Intellectual Property is not subject to any outstanding Governmental Order adversely affecting the Company’s or its Subsidiaries’ rights to or use of such Intellectual Property Rights.
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(c) With the exception of any material Intellectual Property set forth at Section 3.16(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter, the Company and its Subsidiaries solely and exclusively own all material Company Intellectual Property, free and clear of all Encumbrances, other than Permitted Encumbrances.
(d) To the Knowledge of the Company, none of the products or services distributed, sold, or offered by the Company and its Subsidiaries nor the conduct of the respective businesses of the Company and its Subsidiaries infringe, misappropriate or otherwise violate, or have infringed, misappropriated or otherwise violated since the Look-Back Date, any Intellectual Property Rights of any Person, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. As of the Execution Date, there has been no claim or action, suit or other Proceeding pending or threatened in writing against the Company or its Subsidiaries since the Look-Back Date alleging the foregoing.
(e) To the Knowledge of the Company, no Person is infringing, misappropriating or otherwise violating, or has infringed, misappropriated or otherwise violated since the Look-Back Date any Company Intellectual Property. Since the Look-Back Date, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has asserted in writing, or to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened a claim, action, suit or proceeding against any third party alleging the foregoing.
(f) The Company and its Subsidiaries have taken commercially reasonable measures to protect the confidentiality and value of all trade secrets and other material confidential information that are owned, used or held by the Company or its Subsidiaries, and to the Knowledge of the Company, such trade secrets and confidential information have not been disclosed by the Company or its Subsidiaries to any Person, except pursuant to written non-disclosure and/or license agreements which, to the Knowledge of the Company, have not been breached.
(g) The Company and each of its Subsidiaries have obtained from all Persons (including current or former employees, officers, directors, consultants and contractors) who have created or developed any material Intellectual Property Rights for or on behalf of the Company or its Subsidiaries written, present assignments of all right, title and interest in and to such Intellectual Property Rights to the Company or its applicable Subsidiary.
(h) No Software included in the Company Intellectual Property is subject to any “open source” or “copyleft” obligations that conditions the distribution of any such Software on (i) the disclosure, licensing or distribution of any source code for such Software; (ii) the grant to licensees of the right to make derivative works or other modifications to such Software; (iii) the licensing under terms that allow such Software to be reverse engineered; or (iv) redistribution or public disclosure of such Software at no license fee, in each case of (i)-(iv) except as would not be expected to be material to the Company..
(i) No Person other than the Company and its Affiliates and employees and contractors of the Company and its Affiliates has been provided by the Company, or by a third party who received the source code from the Company, the source code, or has a right to be provided with the source code (including any such right that may arise after the occurrence of any specified event or circumstance), for any material Software included in the Company Intellectual Property.
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(j) To the Knowledge of the Company, the IT Assets owned, controlled or otherwise used by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (i) are sufficient in all material respects for the current needs of the businesses of the Company and its Subsidiaries as currently conducted, (ii) operate and perform in all material respects as required by each of the Company and its Subsidiaries in connection with their respective businesses as currently conducted, and (iii) have not materially failed since the Look-Back Date. No Person has gained unauthorized access to such IT Assets since the Look-Back Date. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries have implemented commercially reasonable backup and disaster recovery technology processes. To the Knowledge of the Company, the IT Assets do not contain any material security vulnerabilities.
(k) Except as listed on Schedule 3.16(k) of the Company Disclosure Letter, the Company and its Subsidiaries have established and implemented written policies and organizational, physical, administrative, and technical policies regarding privacy and cybersecurity that are, in all material respects, commercially reasonable and consistent with applicable data privacy and security contractual obligations, of the Company and its Subsidiaries, and applicable Law, except where the failure to do wo would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect. With the exception of any exceptions set forth at Section 3.16(k) of the Company Disclosure Letter, the Company and its Subsidiaries’ privacy policies are posted and accessible on the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ websites and on any other mechanism through which the Company or its Subsidiaries collects, uses, stores, processes, transmits, transfers or discloses Personal Information, in each case, as required under applicable Law, except where the failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect. With the exception of any exceptions set forth at Section 3.16(k) of the Company Disclosure Letter, the Company and each of its Subsidiaries have materially complied with all of such policies, and with all applicable Laws and applicable rules or self-regulatory organizations, including the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard, in each case, regarding Personal Information, including with respect to the collection, use, storage, processing, transmission, transfer (including cross-border transfers), disclosure and protection of Personal Information, including all Laws implementing, supplementing, amending, replacing or superseding the foregoing, except where the failure to comply would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.
(l) Except as would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, and to the extent required under applicable Laws, the Company and each of its Subsidiaries have written agreements in place with all Persons who collect, use, store, process, transmit, transfer, or disclose Personal Information by or on behalf of the Company or its Subsidiaries, which agreements require such Persons to safeguard such Personal Information in a manner consistent with commitments of the Company and its Subsidiaries and in compliance with all applicable Laws. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries have taken commercially reasonable steps designed to ensure that Personal Information that is collected, used, stored, processed, transmitted, transferred, or disclosed by the Company or its Subsidiaries is protected against loss and against unauthorized access, use, disclosure or processing. To the Knowledge of the Company, except as would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, there have not been any data breaches or other incidents of unauthorized access to, or unauthorized disclosure, use or processing of, such Personal Information since the Look-Back Date. Since the Look-Back Date, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any written claim, inquiry, notice, audit or request to audit, or complaint alleging or related to (i) a material violation of any Person’s rights or reasonable expectations of privacy or confidentiality; or (ii) violation of any Law relating to privacy or data protection.
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3.17 Insurance. All fire and casualty, general liability, business interruption, product liability, sprinkler and water damage, workers’ compensation and employer liability, directors, officers and fiduciaries policies and other liability insurance policies (“Insurance Policies”) maintained by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries are with reputable insurance carriers and are in full force and effect. All premiums due with respect to all Insurance Policies have been paid. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has taken any action or failed to take any action that (including with respect to the Transactions), with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute a material breach or default, or permit a termination of any of the Insurance Policies, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company has made available to Parent true and correct copies in all material respects of the Insurance Policies.
3.18 Company Material Contracts.
(a) Section 3.18(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth, as of the Execution Date, a list of the following Contracts to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party (any Contract listed or required to be listed on Section 3.18(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter or Section 3.25 of the Company Disclosure Letter, the “Company Material Contracts”):
(i) any Contract with third party manufacturers and suppliers for the manufacture and supply of products providing for minimum order quantities, minimum purchase requirements or exclusive supply, manufacturing or purchase requirements;
(ii) any Contract that is reasonably likely to require, during the remaining term of such Contract, annual payments to or from the Company and its Subsidiaries of more than $100,000;
(iii) any Contract that cannot be terminated by the Company or its Subsidiaries on less than ninety (90) days’ notice (without a monetary penalty) and is reasonably likely to require, during the remaining term of such Contract, annual payments to or from the Company and its Subsidiaries of more than $100,000;
(iv) any Contract that obligates the Company to make any loans, advances or capital contributions to, or investments in, any Person (other than advances to employees for business expenses in the ordinary course of business);
(v) any Contract (other than those made in the ordinary course of business): (A) providing for the grant to a third party of any rights to purchase or lease any material asset (other than any services or products) of the Company and its Subsidiaries; or (B) providing for any exclusive right to sell or distribute any Company Product of the Company and its Subsidiaries;
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(vi) any obligation to register any Company Common Stock, Company Preferred Stock or other securities of the Company with any Governmental Entity;
(vii) any partnership, joint venture, strategic alliance or other similar agreement or arrangement relating to the formation, creation, operation, management or control of any partnership, joint venture or strategic alliance that is material to the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole;
(viii) any Contract entered into in connection with an acquisition or disposition by the Company or its Subsidiaries since the Look-Back Date involving consideration in excess of $100,000 of any Person or other business organization, division or business of any Person (whether by merger or consolidation, by the purchase of a controlling equity interest in or substantially all of the assets of such Person or by any other manner);
(ix) any Contract with outstanding obligations for the sale or purchase of personal property or fixed assets having a value individually, with respect to all sales or purchases thereunder, in excess of $100,000, other than sales or purchases in the ordinary course of business and sales of obsolete equipment;
(x) any Contract (other than solely among direct or indirect wholly owned Subsidiaries of the Company) relating to Indebtedness for borrowed money in excess of $100,000;
(xi) any Contract that contain provisions that (A) expressly limit in any material respect either the type of business in which the Company or its Subsidiaries (or after the Effective Time, Parent or its Subsidiaries) may engage in or the manner or locations in which any of them may so engage in, (B) grants “most favored nation” status that, following the Merger, would apply to Parent and its Subsidiaries, including the Surviving Company and its Subsidiaries or (C) expressly prohibits or limits the rights of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to make, sell, manufacture, develop, commercialize, test or research the Company Products, directly or indirectly through third parties, in any material respect or that would so limit or purports to limit, in any material respect, Parent or any of its Affiliates after the Closing;
(xii) any Contract pursuant to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries grants or receives any license, covenant not to sue, or other right to or from a third party under any material Company Intellectual Property or Intellectual Property Rights material to the businesses of the Company and its Subsidiaries (other than confidentiality agreements, agreements with employees, non-exclusive licenses granted to the Company’s or its Subsidiaries’ customers, and non-exclusive licenses to commercially available, off-the-shelf Software that have been granted on standardized, generally available terms);
(xiii) any Contract with any Person (A) pursuant to which the Company (or Parent or any of its Affiliates after the Closing) may be required to pay milestones, royalties or other contingent payments based on any research, testing, development, regulatory filings or approval, sale, distribution, commercial manufacture or other similar occurrences, developments, activities or events, in each case, relating to Company Products, or (B) under which the Company grants to any Person any right of first refusal, right of first negotiation, option to purchase, option to license or any other similar rights with respect to any Company Product or any Company Intellectual Property; and
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(xiv) any Contracts with any employee, officer, director or other individual service provider that (A) provide for annual compensation in excess of $100,000 or (B) are not terminable by the Company on no more than thirty (30) days’ notice and without liability or financial obligation to the Company.
(b) A true and correct copy of each Company Material Contract has been made available to Parent to the extent reduced to writing. Section 3.18(b) of the Company Disclosure Letter describes the material terms of any Company Material Contract that has not been reduced to writing. Except for any Company Material Contract that has terminated or will terminate upon the expiration of the stated term thereof prior to the Closing Date, each Company Material Contract is valid and binding on the Company or its Subsidiaries, as applicable, and to the Knowledge of the Company, each other party thereto, and is in full force and effect, subject to the Bankruptcy and Equity Exception and except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. There is no default under any such Contracts by the Company or its Subsidiaries, or to the Knowledge of the Company as of the Execution Date, any other party thereto, and no event has occurred that with the lapse of time or the giving of notice or both would constitute a default thereunder by the Company or its Subsidiaries, or to the Knowledge of the Company, any other party thereto, in each case, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
3.19 Brokers and Finders. Neither the Company nor any of its directors, officers or employees has employed any broker or finder or incurred any liability for any brokerage fees, commissions or finders’ fees on behalf of the Company in connection with the Transactions.
3.20 Registration Statement. None of the information relating to the Company or its Subsidiaries supplied by the Company, or by any other Person acting on behalf of the Company at the request of the Company, in writing specifically for inclusion in or incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement will, as of the time the Registration Statement becomes effective under the Securities Act, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 3.20, no representation or warranty is made by the Company with respect to information or statements made in or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement that were not supplied by or on behalf of the Company for use therein.
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3.21 No Outside Reliance. Notwithstanding anything contained in this ARTICLE III or any other provision hereof, each of the Company and its Representatives acknowledge and agree that the Company has made its own investigation of Parent and Merger Sub and that none of Parent, Merger Sub or any other Person is making, nor is the Company relying on, any representation or warranty whatsoever, express or implied, relating to Parent, Merger Sub or any of their Affiliates or any of their respective businesses, operations, assets, liabilities, conditions (financial or otherwise) or prospects, except for those representations and warranties made by Parent and Merger Sub that are expressly set forth in ARTICLE IV or in the Parent Closing Certificate. Without limiting the foregoing, the Company understands and agrees that any financial projections, predictions, forecasts, estimates, budgets or prospective information relating to Parent or Merger Sub, any of their Affiliates or any of their respective businesses that may be contained or referred to in the Parent Disclosure Letter or elsewhere, as well as any information, documents or other materials (including any such materials contained in any “data room” made available to the Company or its Representatives (whether or not actually accessed by the Company or its Representatives) or reviewed by the Company pursuant to the Confidentiality Agreement) or management presentations that have been or shall hereafter be provided to the Company or any of its Affiliates, or any of their Representatives, are not and will not be deemed to be representations or warranties of Parent or Merger Sub, and no representation or warranty is made as to, and neither the Company nor any of its Representatives have relied on, the accuracy or completeness of any of the foregoing. Except as otherwise expressly provided in the representations and warranties made by Parexx xxx Merger Sub that are expressly set forth in ARTICLE IV, the Company understands and agrees that any assets, properties and business of Parent and Merger Sub are furnished “as is”, “where is” and subject to, with all faults and without any other representation or warranty of any nature whatsoever.
3.22 Trade Compliance.
(a) Neither the Company, nor to the Company’s Knowledge, any of its directors, officers, employees or, to the Knowledge of the Company, agents, is a person that is, or is owned or controlled by, a person that is (i) the subject of any Sanctions; nor (ii) located, organized, incorporated or resident in a country or territory that is the subject of comprehensive Sanctions (including Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, and Crimea region and Donetsk People’s Republic and Luhansk People’s Republic territories in Ukraine). For the past five (5) years, to the Company’s Knowledge, the Company has not engaged in, and is not now engaged in, any dealings or transactions with any person, or in any country or territory, that at the time of such dealing or transaction is or was, or whose government is or was, the subject of comprehensive Sanctions.
(b) The Company, and to the Company’s knowledge, its Representatives in their capacity as such with respect to the Company, have during the five (5) years preceding the Execution Date been in compliance with, in all material respects, all applicable Export Laws, and the Company has not (i) received written notice of, any actual, alleged or potential violation of any Export Law or (ii) been a party to or the subject of any pending (or to the knowledge of the Company, threatened) Action by or before any Governmental Entity (including receipt of any subpoena) related to any actual, alleged or potential violation of any Export Law.
3.23 Customers and Vendors.
(a) Section 3.23(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth, as of the Execution Date, (i) the top twenty (20) customers and (ii) the top fifteen (15) vendors, each based on the aggregate dollar value of the Company’s transaction volume with such counterparty during the trailing twelve months for the period ending September 30, 2021 (each group of persons, respectively, the “Top Customers” and “Top Vendors”).
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(b) Except as set forth on Section 3.23(b) of the Company Disclosure Letter, none of the Top Customers or Top Vendors has, as of the Execution Date, informed the Company in writing that it will, or, to the Knowledge of the Company, has threatened to, terminate, cancel, or materially limit or materially and adversely modify any of its existing business with the Company (other than due to the expiration of an existing contractual arrangement), and to the Knowledge of the Company, none of the Top Customers or Top Vendors is, as of the Execution Date, otherwise involved in or threatening a material dispute against the Company. Except as set forth on Section 3.23(b) of the Company Disclosure Letter, all of the Top Customers and Top Vendors have executed Contracts with the Company.
3.24 Accounts and Notes Receivable; Accounts Payable. All accounts and notes, and other receivables of the Company, are reflected on their books and records, and are receivables arising 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. The accounts payable and accruals of the Company have arisen in bona fide arm’s-length transactions in the ordinary course of business, and the Company has been paying its accounts payable as and when due in all material respects.
3.25 Transactions with Affiliates. Section 3.25 of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth all Contracts between (a) the Company, on the one hand, and (b) any officer, director, employee, equityholder or Affiliate of the Company, or any family member or Affiliate of the foregoing Persons, on the other hand (each Person identified in this clause (b), a “Company Related Party”) (for clarity, excluding any portfolio company of a venture capital, private equity, angel investor or other outside investor in the Company), other than Contracts with respect to a Company Related Party’s employment with or service as a director to (including benefit plans and other ordinary course compensation from) the Company entered into in the ordinary course of business. Except in connection with the Contracts and Company Related Party Transactions set forth on Section 3.25 of the Company Disclosure Letter, no Company Related Party (A) owns any interest in any material asset used in the Company’s business, (B) possesses, directly or indirectly, any material financial interest in, or is a director or executive officer of, any Person which is a supplier, lender, lessor, lessee or other material business relation of the Company (except that, for purposes of this clause (B), the ownership of less than one percent (1%) of any class of securities listed on a national securities exchange of any such suppliers, lenders, lessors, lessees or other material business relation of the Company shall not constitute a material financial interest) or (C) owes any material amount to, or is owed any material amount by, the Company (other than ordinary course accrued compensation, employee benefits, employee or director expense reimbursement or other transactions entered into after the Execution Date that are either permitted pursuant to Section 5.1(b) or entered into in accordance with Section 5.1(b)). All Contracts, arrangements, understandings, interests and other matters that are required to be disclosed pursuant to this Section 3.25 are referred to herein as “Company Related Party Transactions”.
3.26 No Other Representations or Warranties. Except for the representations and warranties made by the Company that are expressly set forth in this ARTICLE III (as modified by the Company Disclosure Letter) or in the Company Closing Certificate, neither the Company nor any other Person makes any express or implied representation or warranty relating to Company or any of its Affiliates or any of their respective businesses, operations, assets, liabilities, conditions (financial or otherwise) or prospects, and the Company expressly disclaims any such other representations or warranties. In particular, without limiting the foregoing, neither the Company nor any other Person makes or has made any representation or warranty to Parent, Merger Sub or any of their respective Affiliates or Representatives with respect to (a) any projections, predictions, forecast, estimate, budget or prospective information relating to the Company, any of its Affiliates or any of their respective businesses or (b) any oral, or except for the representations and warranties made by the Company that are expressly set forth in this ARTICLE III or in the Company Closing Certificate, written information made available to Parent, Merger Sub or any of their Affiliates or Representatives in the course of their evaluation of the Company, the negotiation of this Agreement or in the course of the Transactions.
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ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT AND MERGER SUB
Except as set forth in the Parent Reports filed with or furnished to the SEC prior to the Execution Date (excluding (a) any disclosures set forth or referenced in any risk factor section or in any other section to the extent they are reasonably apparent on their face to be forward-looking statements or cautionary, predictive or forward-looking in nature or do not otherwise constitute statements of fact and (b) any exhibits or other documents appended thereto) (it being agreed that nothing disclosed in such Parent Reports will be deemed to modify or qualify the representations and warranties set forth in Section 4.1, Section 4.2, Section 4.3, Section 4.11 and Section 4.17) (such Parent Reports, taking into account such exclusions, the “Parent Disclosure Reports”) or in the corresponding sections or subsections of the disclosure letter delivered to the Company by Parent concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Agreement (the “Parent Disclosure Letter”) (it being agreed that for purposes of the representations and warranties set forth in this ARTICLE IV, (i) disclosure of any item in any section or subsection of the Parent Disclosure Letter shall be deemed disclosure with respect to the corresponding section of this Agreement notwithstanding the omission of a reference to such section of the Parent Disclosure Letter in such section of this Agreement and (ii) disclosure of any item in any section or subsection of the Parent Disclosure Letter shall be deemed disclosure with respect to any other section or subsection to which the relevance of such item is reasonably apparent on its face), Parent and Merger Sub each hereby represents and warrants to the Company as follows:
4.1 Organization, Good Standing and Qualification. Each of Parent and Merger Sub (a) is a legal entity duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of its respective jurisdiction of organization, (b) has all requisite corporate or similar power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and assets and to carry on its business as presently conducted and (c) is qualified to do business, and to the extent such concept is applicable, is in good standing as a foreign corporation or other legal entity in each jurisdiction where the ownership, leasing or operation of its assets or properties or conduct of its business requires such qualification, except in the case of clauses (b) or (c), where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing or to have such power or authority would not reasonably be expected to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect on Parent or prevent, materially delay or materially impair the ability of Parent or Merger Sub to consummate the Transactions. Parent has made available to the Company complete and correct copies of Parent’s Organizational Documents, each as amended prior to the execution of this Agreement, and complete and correct copies of Merger Sub’s Organizational Documents, each as amended prior to the execution of this Agreement, and each as made available to the Company is in full force and effect. Merger Sub has no assets or operations other than those required to effect the Transactions.
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4.2 Capital Structure of Parent.
(a) Parent Stock. As of the Execution Date , the authorized capital stock of Parent consists of 100,000,000 shares of Parent Class A Common Stock, of which 9,338,000 shares were issued and outstanding as of the Execution Date, 10,000,000 shares of Parent Class B Common Stock, of which 2,300,000 shares were outstanding as of the close of business on the Execution Date, and 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock par value $0.0001 per share (“Parent Preferred Stock”), of which no shares were outstanding as of the Execution Date. All of the issued and outstanding shares of Parent Class A Common Stock and Parent Class B Common Stock (i) have been duly authorized and are validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable (ii) were offered, sold and issued in compliance in all material respects with applicable securities Laws, and (iii) were not issued in breach or violation of (1) Parent’s Organizational Documents or (2) any preemptive rights, purchase option, call option, right of first refusal or offer, subscription right or any similar right. Parent has no shares of Parent Class A Common Stock, Parent Class B Common Stock or Parent Preferred Stock reserved for issuance, except that, as of the Execution Date, there were 12,240,000 shares of Parent Class A Common Stock reserved for issuance upon the exercise of any outstanding Parent Warrants, 920,000 shares of Parent Class A Common Stock reserved for issuance upon the conversion of Parent Rights and 2,300,000 shares of Parent Class A Common Stock subject to issuance upon conversion of shares of Parent Class B Common Stock.
(b) Parent Warrants. As of the Execution Date, Parent has issued and outstanding 9,200,000 public warrants (the “Parent Public Warrants”) and 3,040,000 private placement warrants (the “Parent Private Placement Warrants”, and together with the Parent Public Warrants, the “Parent Warrants”) entitling the holder thereof to purchase one share of Parent Class A Common Stock at an exercise price of $11.50 per share of Parent Common Stock pursuant to, and subject to adjustments as provided by, the terms of the Parent Warrant Agreement. Subject to the terms of conditions of the Parent Warrant Agreement, the Parent Warrants will be exercisable after giving effect to the Merger for one share of Parent Common Stock at an exercise price of $11.50 per share. The Parent Warrants are not exercisable until the later of (x) 12 months from the closing of Parent’s Initial Public Offering and (y) the Closing. Parent has made available to the Company true and correct copies of the Parent Warrants and Parent Warrant Agreement. All outstanding Parent Warrants (A) have been duly authorized and validly issued and constitute valid and binding obligations of Parent, enforceable against Parent in accordance with their terms, subject to the Bankruptcy and Equity Exception, (B) were issued in compliance in all material respects with applicable securities Laws and (C) were not issued in material breach or violation of Parent’s Organizational Documents or any preemptive rights, purchase option, call option, right of first refusal or offer, subscription right or any similar right. All shares of Parent subject to issuance pursuant to any Parent Warrant, upon issuance on the terms and conditions specified therein, will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
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(c) Parent Rights. As of the Execution Date, Parent has issued and outstanding 9,200,000 rights (the “Parent Rights”) entitling the holder thereof to receive one-tenth of one share of Parent Class A Common Stock pursuant to, and subject to adjustments as provided by, the terms of the Parent Rights Agreement. Subject to the terms of conditions of the Parent Rights Agreement, the Parent Rights will be exchanged after giving effect to the Merger for one share of Parent Common Stock. Parent has made available to the Company true and correct copies of the Parent Rights and Parent Rights Agreement. All outstanding Parent Rights (A) have been duly authorized and validly issued and constitute valid and binding obligations of Parent, enforceable against Parent in accordance with their terms, subject to the Bankruptcy and Equity Exception, (B) were issued in compliance in all material respects with applicable securities Laws and (C) were not issued in material breach or violation of Parent’s Organizational Documents or any preemptive rights, purchase option, call option, right of first refusal or offer, subscription right or any similar right. All shares of Parent subject to issuance pursuant to any Parent Right, upon issuance on the terms and conditions specified therein, will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
(d) No Other Securities or Rights. Except as set forth in Section 4.2(a), (b) and (c) above or this Agreement, or Section 4.2(d) of the Parent Disclosure Letter, there are no (i) shares of any class or series of capital stock of Parent authorized, issued, outstanding or reserved for issuance, (ii) options, warrants, convertible securities, subscription rights or other similar instruments or rights entitling its holder to receive or acquire shares of capital stock or other securities of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries or (iii) equity appreciation rights, restricted stock units, phantom stock or other securities, instruments or awards issued or granted as compensatory equity or pursuant any equity incentive arrangements of Parent. Except as set forth in Parent’s Organizational Documents or this Agreement, or Section 4.2(d) of the Parent Disclosure Letter, none of Parent’s shares of capital stock or other securities are subject to any preemptive rights, redemption rights, repurchase rights, rights of refusal or offer, tag-along rights, drag-along rights or other similar rights. Parent does not have outstanding any bonds, debentures, notes or other debt securities the holders of which have the right to vote (or convertible into or exercisable for securities having the right to vote) with the stockholders of Parent on any matter. Except for the Organizational Documents of Parent, or Section 4.2(d) of the Parent Disclosure Letter, as of the Execution Date, there are no stockholders agreements, investor rights agreements, voting agreements or trusts, proxies, or other agreements with respect to the voting or disposition of the Parent Stock or any capital stock or other securities of its Subsidiaries.
(e) Merger Sub Stock. The authorized capital stock of Merger Sub consists of 5,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, 1000 shares of which are validly issued and outstanding, fully paid and non-assessable and not subject to any preemptive rights. All of the issued and outstanding capital stock of Merger Sub is, and at the Effective Time will be, owned by Parent, free and clear of all Encumbrances (other than such Encumbrances as created by Merger Sub’s Organizational Documents or applicable securities Laws). There are (i) no other shares of capital stock or voting securities of Merger Sub, (ii) no securities of Merger Sub convertible into or exchangeable for shares of capital stock or voting securities of Merger Sub and (iii) no options or other rights to acquire from Merger Sub, and no obligations of Merger Sub to issue, any capital stock, voting securities or securities convertible into or exchangeable for capital stock or voting securities of Merger Sub. Merger Sub has not conducted any business prior to the Execution Date and has no, and prior to the Effective Time will have no, assets, liabilities or obligations of any nature other than those incident to its formation and pursuant to this Agreement and the Transactions.
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(f) Subsidiaries. Other than Merger Sub, Parent has no Subsidiaries and does not directly or indirectly own or hold any (i) equity interests, including any partnership, limited liability company or joint venture interests, in any other Person, (ii) securities convertible into or exchangeable for equity interests of any other Person or (iii) options or other rights to acquire equity interests of any other Person. Parent is not party to any Contract that obligates Parent to invest money in, loan money to or make any capital contribution to any other Person.
4.3 Corporate Authority; Approval.
(a) Each of Parent and Merger Sub has all requisite corporate power and authority and has taken all corporate action necessary in order to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Agreement and each Transaction Document to which it is a party and to consummate the Transactions, subject only to the Parent Stockholder Approval. This Agreement has been, and each Transaction Document will be, duly and validly executed and delivered by each of Parent and Xxxxxx Sub, and assuming due authorization and execution by each other party hereto and thereto, constitutes, or will constitute, a valid and binding agreement of each of Parent and Merger Sub, enforceable against each of Parent and Merger Sub in accordance with its terms, subject to the Bankruptcy and Equity Exception. This Agreement has been, and each Transaction Document will be, duly authorized and approved by Parent as the sole stockholder of Merger Sub.
(b) The affirmative vote of (i) a majority of the votes cast by the stockholders of Parent present in person or represented by proxy at the Special Meeting and entitled to vote thereon at the Special Meeting shall be required to approve the Transaction Proposal, the NASDAQ Proposal, and the Parent Incentive Plan Proposal, and (ii) a majority of the issued and outstanding shares of each of the Parent Class A Common Stock and Parent Class B Common Stock, voting separately, shall be required to approve the Amendment Proposal (the approval by Parent Stockholders of all of the foregoing, collectively, the “Parent Stockholder Approval”). The Parent Stockholder Approval is the only vote of the holders of any class or series of capital stock of Parent required to approve and adopt this Agreement and approve the Transactions, and no other vote of any Parent’s capital stock shall be required to approve the Proposals in connection with the entry into this Agreement by Parent, and the consummation of the Transactions, including the Closing.
(c) At a meeting duly called and held, the Parent Board has: (i) determined that this Agreement and the Transactions are fair to, advisable and in the best interests of Parent and its stockholders; (ii) determined that the fair market value of the Company is equal to at least 80% of the amount held in the Parent Trust Account (excluding any deferred underwriting commissions and taxes payable on interest earned) as of the Execution Date; (iii) approved the Transactions as a Business Combination; (iv) resolved to recommend to the stockholders of Parent approval of each of the matters requiring Parent Stockholder Approval.
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4.4 Governmental Filings; No Violations; Certain Contracts.
(a) Other than the filings, notices, reports, consents, registrations, approvals, permits, clearances, expirations or terminations of waiting periods or authorizations (i) pursuant to the DGCL, (ii) under the HSR Act, the Exchange Act and the Securities Act, (iii) required to be made with NASDAQ, and (iv) state securities, takeover and “blue sky” Laws, no filings, notices, reports, consents, registrations, approvals, permits, clearances, expirations or terminations of waiting periods or authorizations are required to be made by Parent or Merger Sub with, or obtained by Parent or Merger Sub from, any Governmental Entity in connection with the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by Parent and Merger Sub and the consummation of the Transactions, or in connection with the continuing operation of the business of Parent and its Subsidiaries immediately following the Effective Time, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect on Parent or prevent, materially delay or materially impair the ability of Parent or Merger Sub to consummate the Transactions.
(b) The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by Parent and Merger Sub do not, and the consummation of the Transactions will not, constitute or result in (i) a breach or violation of, or a default under, the Organizational Documents of Parent, Merger Sub or any of Parent’s other Subsidiaries, (ii) with or without notice, lapse of time or both, a breach or violation of, a termination (or right of termination) of or default under, the creation or acceleration of any obligations under or the creation of an Encumbrance on any of the assets of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to, any Contract binding upon Parent or any of its Subsidiaries, or assuming (solely with respect to performance of this Agreement and consummation of the Transactions) compliance with the matters referred to in Section 4.4(a), under any Law to which Parent or any of its Subsidiaries is subject or (iii) any change in the rights or obligations of any party under any Contract binding upon Parent or any of its Subsidiaries, except, in the case of clause (ii) or (iii) above, as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect on Parent or prevent, materially delay or materially impair the ability of Parent to consummate the Transactions.
4.5 Parent Reports; Internal Controls.
(a) Parent has filed or furnished, as applicable, on a timely basis, all forms, statements, certifications, reports and documents required to be filed or furnished by it with the SEC pursuant to the Exchange Act or the Securities Act since May 10, 2022, the date that the Parent’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (the “IPO S-1”) was declared effective by the SEC (the “S-1 Effectiveness Date”) (the forms, statements, reports and documents filed or furnished to the SEC since May 10, 2022, and those filed or furnished to the SEC subsequent to the Execution Date, including any amendments thereto, the “Parent Reports”). Each of the Parent Reports, at the time of its filing or being furnished (or if amended, as of the date of such amendment) complied, or if not yet filed or furnished, will comply, in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act, any other federal or state securities laws applicable to the Parent and any rules and regulations promulgated thereunder applicable to the Parent Reports. As of their respective dates (or if amended, as of the date of such amendment), the Parent Reports did not, and any Parent Reports filed with or furnished to the SEC subsequent to the Execution Date will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements made therein, in light of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading; provided, that any representation and warranty in respect of any Parent Reports filed with or furnished to the SEC subsequent to the Execution Date is made assuming that the representations and warranties contained in Section 3.20 are true and correct in all respects.
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(b) Except as is not required in reliance on exemptions from various reporting requirements by virtue of Parent’s status as an “emerging growth company” within the meaning of the Securities Act, as modified by the JOBS Act, or “smaller reporting company” within the meaning of the Exchange Act, since the S-1 Effectiveness Date, (i) Parent has established and maintained a system of internal controls over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15 and Rule 15d-15 under the Exchange Act) sufficient to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of Parent’s financial reporting and the preparation of Parent’s financial statements for external purposes in accordance with GAAP and (ii) Parent has established and maintained disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15 and Rule 15d-15 under the Exchange Act) designed to ensure that material information relating to Parent is made known to Parent’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer by others within Parent.
(c) Parent has established and maintains systems of internal accounting controls that are designed to provide, in all material respects, reasonable assurance that (i) all transactions are executed in accordance with management’s authorization and (ii) all transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of proper and accurate financial statements in accordance with GAAP and to maintain accountability for Parent’s and its Subsidiaries’ assets. Parent maintains and, for all periods covered by the Parent Financial Statements, has maintained books and records of Parent in the ordinary course of business that are accurate and complete in all material respects and reflect the revenues, expenses, assets and liabilities of Parent.
(d) There are no outstanding loans or other extensions of credit made by Parent to any executive officer (as defined in Rule 3b-7 under the Exchange Act) or director of Parent. Parent has not taken any action prohibited by Section 402 of the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act.
(e) Since its incorporation, Parent (including to Parent’s Knowledge any employee thereof) has not, nor have Parent’s independent auditors, identified, been made aware of or received any complaint, allegation, assertion or claim that there is (i) a “significant deficiency” in the internal controls over financial reporting of Parent, (ii) a “material weakness” in the internal controls over financial reporting of Parent or (iii) fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees of Parent who have a significant role in the internal controls over financial reporting of Parent.
(f) To the Knowledge of Parent, as of the Execution Date, there are no outstanding comments from the SEC with respect to the Parent Reports. To the Knowledge of Parent, none of the Parent Reports filed on or prior to the Execution Date is subject to ongoing SEC review or investigation as of the Execution Date.
(g) To the Knowledge of Parent, each director and executive officer of Parent has filed with the SEC on a timely basis all statements required by Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. Parent has not taken any action prohibited by Section 402 of the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act.
(h) Since the S-1 Effectiveness Date, Parent has complied in all material respects with the applicable listing and corporate governance rules and regulations of NASDAQ. The Parent Class A Common Stock is registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and is listed for trading on NASDAQ. There is no Proceeding pending, or to the Knowledge of Parent, threatened against Parent by NASDAQ or the SEC with respect to any intention by such entity to deregister the Parent Class A Common Stock or prohibit or terminate the listing of Parent Class A Common Stock on NASDAQ.
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(i) The Parent Reports contain true and complete copies of the audited balance sheet as of December 31, 2021, and statement of operations, cash flow and stockholders’ equity of Parent for the period from September 23, 2021 (inception) through December 31, 2021 and for each of the quarterly periods from December 31, 2021 through September 30, 2022, together with the auditor’s reports thereon (the “Parent Financial Statements”). Except as disclosed in the Parent Reports, the Parent Financial Statements and notes contained or incorporated by reference in the Parent Financial Statements Reports (i) fairly present in all material respects the financial position of Parent, as at the respective dates thereof, and the results of operations, income and consolidated cash flows for the respective periods then ended, (ii) were prepared in conformity with GAAP applied on a consistent basis during the periods involved (except as may be indicated therein or in the notes thereto), and (iii) comply in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements and with the rules and regulations of the SEC, the Exchange Act and the Securities Act in effect as of the respective dates thereof. The Parent does not have any material off-balance sheet arrangements that are not disclosed in the Parent Reports. The books and records of Parent have been, and are being, maintained in all material respects in accordance with GAAP and any other applicable legal and accounting requirements.
4.6 Absence of Certain Changes. Since the date of Parent’s incorporation:
(a) There has not been any effect, event, development, change, state of facts, condition, circumstance or occurrence in the financial condition, properties, assets, liabilities, business or results of operations of Parent which has had, or would, individually or in the aggregate with others, reasonably be expected to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect on Parent or prevent, materially delay or materially impair the ability of Parent or Merger Sub to consummate the Transactions.
(b) Except as set forth in Section 4.6 of the Parent Disclosure Letter, Parent has, in all material respects, conducted its business and operated its properties in the ordinary course of business.
4.7 Business Activities; Liabilities.
(a) Since its respective date of incorporation, neither Parent nor Merger Sub has carried on any business or conducted any operations other than: (i) directed towards the accomplishment of a Business Combination and (ii) the execution of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents to which it is a party, the performance of its obligations hereunder and thereunder and matters ancillary thereto. Except as set forth in Section 4.7 of the Parent Disclosure Letter and other than under the Transaction Documents or pursuant to the performance of its obligations thereunder, neither Parent nor Merger Sub has any liabilities.
(b) Each of Parent and Merger Sub was formed solely for the purpose of effecting the Transactions and has not engaged in any business activities or conducted any operations other than in connection with the Transactions and has no, and at all times prior to the Effective Time, except as expressly contemplated by this Agreement, the Transaction Documents and the other documents and transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, will have no, assets, liabilities or obligations of any kind or nature whatsoever other than those incident to its formation.
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(c) Except as set forth in Parent’s Organizational Documents or as otherwise contemplated by this Agreement or the Transaction Documents and the Transactions, there is no Contract, commitment, or Governmental Order binding upon Parent or Merger Sub or to which Parent or Merger Sub is a party which has or would reasonably be expected to have the effect of prohibiting or impairing the Transactions, any business practice of Parent or Merger Sub, any acquisition of property by Parent or Merger Sub or the conduct of business by Parent or Merger Sub as currently conducted or as contemplated to be conducted as of the Closing, other than such effects, individually or in the aggregate, which have not been and would not reasonably be expected to be material to Parent or Merger Sub.
(d) Except for this Agreement and the Transaction Documents and the Transactions, Parent has no material interests, rights, obligations or liabilities with respect to, and is not party to, bound by or has its assets or property subject to, in each case whether directly or indirectly, any Contract or transaction which is, or would reasonably be interpreted as constituting, a Business Combination. Except for the Transactions and the Transaction Documents, Merger Sub does not own or have a right to acquire, directly or indirectly, any interest or investment (whether equity or debt) in any corporation, partnership, joint venture, business, trust or other entity.
(e) Except for this Agreement and the agreements expressly contemplated hereby or with respect to advisors and consultants in connection with the Transactions (including any agreements permitted by Section 6.1) or Parent’s Initial Public Offering and contemporaneous private placement, neither Parent nor Merger Sub is and at no time has been, party to any Contract with any Person that would require payments by Parent or Merger Sub in excess of $250,000 in the aggregate with respect to any individual Contract or more than $1,000,000 in the aggregate when taken together with all other Contracts (other than this Agreement and the agreements expressly contemplated hereby (including any agreements permitted by Section 6.1)).
4.8 Litigation and Proceedings.
(a) There are no Proceedings pending, or to the Knowledge of Parent, threatened in writing against Parent or any of its Subsidiaries except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect on Parent or prevent, materially delay or materially impair the ability of Parent to consummate the Transactions.
(b) Neither Parent nor Merger Sub is a party to or subject to the provisions of any Governmental Order that restricts the manner in which Parent or Merger Sub conducts its business, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect on Parent or prevent, materially delay or materially impair the ability of Parent or Merger Sub to consummate the Transactions.
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4.9 Compliance with Laws.
(a) Each of Parent and Merger Sub are, and have been since their respective incorporations, in compliance with all applicable Laws, except where the failure to be, or to have been, in compliance with such Laws has not or would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to be material to Parent and Merger Sub, taken as a whole, or prevent, materially delay or materially impair the ability of Parent or Merger Sub to consummate the Transactions. Neither Parent nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any written notice of any noncompliance with any Laws that has not been cured as of the Execution Date, except for any noncompliance that would not, individually or in the aggregate with other instances of noncompliance, reasonably be expected to be material to Parent and Merger Sub, taken as a whole.
(b) No investigation or review by any Governmental Entity with respect to Parent or Merger Sub is pending, or to the Knowledge of Parent, threatened in writing, except with respect to regulatory matters covered by Section 7.4 or as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect on Parent or prevent, materially delay or materially impair the ability of Parent or Merger Sub to consummate the Transactions.
(c) Parent, Merger Sub, and to the Knowledge of Parent, their respective Representatives are in compliance with, and since the date of Parent’s incorporation have complied with, (i) the FCPA, and (ii) the provisions of all anti-bribery, anti-corruption and anti-money laundering Laws of each jurisdiction in which Parent and Merger Sub operate or have operated and in which any agent thereof is conducting or has conducted business involving Parent or Merger Sub, except, in each case of clauses (i) and (ii), for any noncompliance as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect on Parent. None of Parent, Merger Sub, or to the Knowledge of Parent, any of their respective Representatives have paid, offered or promised to pay, or authorized or ratified the payment, directly or indirectly, of any unlawful bribes, kickbacks or other similar unlawful payments, to any national, provincial, municipal or other Government Official or any political party or candidate for political office for the purpose of influencing any act or decision of such official or of any Governmental Entity to obtain or retain business, or direct business to any person or to secure any other improper benefit or advantage, in each case, in violation in any material respect of the FCPA and any Laws described in clause (ii). Parent and Merger Sub are, and have been since their respective dates of incorporation, in compliance with relevant Sanctions and export control Laws and regulations in jurisdictions in which Parent or Merger Sub do business or are otherwise subject to jurisdiction.
4.10 Investment Company Act; JOBS Act. Parent is not an “investment company” or a Person directly or indirectly “controlled” by or acting on behalf of an “investment company”, in each case within the meaning of the Investment Company Act. Parent constitutes an “emerging growth company” within the meaning of the JOBS Act.
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4.11 Parent Trust Account. As of the Execution Date, Parent has approximately $93,424,196 in the account established by Parent for the benefit of its stockholders at Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx (the “Parent Trust Account”), such monies being invested in U.S. government securities within the meaning of Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment Company Act, having a maturity of 185 days or less, or in money market funds meeting the conditions of paragraphs (d)(2), (d)(3), (d)(4) and (d)(5) of Rule 2a-7 promulgated under the Investment Company Act, and held in trust pursuant to that certain Investment Management Trust Agreement, dated as of May 10, 2022, between Parent and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as trustee (the “Parent Trust Agreement”). The Parent Trust Agreement is valid and in full force and effect and enforceable in accordance with its terms (subject to the Bankruptcy and Equity Exception) and has not been amended or modified. There are no separate Contracts, side letters or other arrangements or understandings (whether written or unwritten, express or implied) that would cause the description of the Parent Trust Agreement in the Parent Reports to be inaccurate or that would entitle any Person (other than any Parent Stockholder who is a Redeeming Stockholder) to any portion of the proceeds in the Parent Trust Account. Prior to the Closing, none of the funds held in the Parent Trust Account may be released other than to pay Taxes and payments with respect to the redemption of any shares of Parent Common Stock required by the Redemption Offer. There are no Proceedings pending, or to the Knowledge of Parent, threatened with respect to the Parent Trust Account. Parent has performed all material obligations required to be performed by it to date under, and is not in default, breach or delinquent in performance or any other respect (claimed or actual) in connection with, the Parent Trust Agreement, and no event has occurred which, with due notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute such a default or breach thereunder. As of the Effective Time, the obligations of Parent to dissolve or liquidate pursuant to Parent’s Organizational Documents shall terminate, and as of the Effective Time, Parent shall have no obligation whatsoever pursuant to Parent’s Organizational Documents to dissolve and liquidate the assets of Parent by reason of the consummation of the Transactions. To the Knowledge of Parent, as of the Execution Date, following the Effective Time, no Parent Stockholder shall be entitled to receive any amount from the Parent Trust Account, except to the extent such Parent Stockholder validly elects to redeem their shares of Parent Common Stock in connection with the Redemption Offer. As of the Execution Date, assuming the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Company contained herein and the compliance by the Company with its obligations hereunder, neither Parent or Merger Sub have any reason to believe that any of the conditions to the use of funds in the Parent Trust Account will not be satisfied or funds available in the Parent Trust Account will not be available to Parent and Merger Sub on the Closing Date.
4.12 Valid Issuance. The shares of Parent Common Stock issuable as Merger Consideration, when issued, sold and delivered in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, will be duly authorized and validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and will be issued free and clear of any Encumbrances (other than such Encumbrances as created by Parent’s Organizational Documents, applicable securities Laws) or any preemptive rights.
4.13 Takeover Statutes and Charter Provisions. Each of the board of directors of Parent and Merger Sub has taken all action necessary so that the restrictions on a “business combination” (as such term is used in Section 203 of the DGCL) contained in Section 203 of the DGCL or any similar restrictions under any applicable foreign Laws will be inapplicable to this Agreement and the Merger. As of the Execution Date, no “fair price,” “moratorium,” “control share acquisition” or other applicable antitakeover Law or similar domestic or foreign Law applies with respect to Parent or Merger Sub in connection with this Agreement or the Merger. As of the Execution Date, there is no stockholder rights plan, “poison pill” or similar antitakeover agreement or plan in effect to which Parent or Merger Sub is subject, party or otherwise bound.
4.14 NASDAQ Stock Market Quotation. The issued and outstanding shares of Parent Common Stock are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and are listed for trading on NASDAQ under the symbol “MCAC”. The Parent Warrants are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and are listed for trading on NASDAQ under the symbol “MCACW”. Parent is in compliance in all material respects with the rules of NASDAQ, and there is no action or proceeding pending, or to the Knowledge of Parent, threatened against Parent by NASDAQ, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority or the SEC with respect to any intention by such entity to deregister the Parent Class A Common Stock or terminate the listing of Parent Common Stock on NASDAQ. None of Parent or its Affiliates has taken any action in an attempt to terminate the registration of the Parent Class A Common Stock or Parent Warrants under the Exchange Act except as contemplated by this Agreement.
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4.15 Brokers and Finders. Except as set forth in Section 4.15 of the Parent Disclosure Letter, neither Parent nor Merger Sub, nor any of their respective directors or employees (including any officers), as applicable, has employed any investment banker, broker or finder or has incurred or will incur any obligation or liability for any brokerage fees, commissions or finders fees or other similar payments in connection with the Transactions.
4.16 Registration Statement and Proxy Statement. On the effective date of the Registration Statement, the Registration Statement, and when first filed in accordance with Rule 424(b) and/or filed pursuant to Section 14A, the Proxy Statement (or any amendment or supplement thereto), shall comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act. On the date of any filing pursuant to Rule 424(b) and/or Section 14A, the date the Proxy Statement, as applicable, is first mailed to the Parent Stockholders, and at the time of the Special Meeting, the Proxy Statement, as applicable (together with any amendments or supplements thereto) will not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, that Parent makes no representations or warranties as to the information contained in or omitted from the Registration Statement or the Proxy Statement in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to Parent by or on behalf of the Company specifically for inclusion in the Registration Statement or the Proxy Statement.
4.17 Taxes.
(a) Parent and Merger Sub (i) have prepared and filed all income Tax Returns and other material Tax Returns required to be filed by any of them with the appropriate Taxing authority, and all such filed Tax Returns are true and complete in all material respects with applicable Laws; and (ii) have paid all material Taxes that are required to be paid by them (whether or not shown on any Tax Returns). The unpaid Taxes of Parent (i) for all periods ending on or before the date of the Latest Balance Sheet do not, in the aggregate, materially exceed the reserve for Tax liability (rather than any reserve for deferred Taxes established to reflect timing differences between book and Tax income) set forth on the Parent Financial Statements and (ii) will not, in the aggregate, materially exceed that reserve as adjusted for operations and transactions through the Closing Date that occur in the ordinary course of business.
(b) No written claims have been received by Parent by any Governmental Entity in a jurisdiction where Parent or Merger Sub does not file Tax Returns asserting that such entity is or may be subject to taxation or to a Tax Return filing requirement by that jurisdiction, and which have not been resolved or withdrawn.
(c) No deficiency with respect to material Taxes has been proposed, asserted or assessed in writing against Parent or Merger Sub, except for deficiencies which have been fully satisfied by payment, settled, withdrawn or otherwise resolved. There are no Proceedings pending or, to the Knowledge of the Parent, threatened regarding any material Taxes of Parent or Merger Sub.
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(d) There are no Encumbrances for Taxes (except for statutory Encumbrances for Taxes not yet due and payable) on any of the assets of Parent or Merger Sub.
(e) Parent and Merger Sub have timely collected, withheld and paid to the appropriate Governmental Entity all amounts required to have been collected, withheld and paid in connection with amounts paid or owing to or from any employee, individual independent contractor, other service providers, equity interest holder or other third party.
(f) Neither Parent nor Merger Sub has consented to extend or waive the time in which any Tax may be assessed or collected by any Governmental Entity, other than any such extensions or waivers that are no longer in effect or that were extensions of time to file Tax Returns obtained in the ordinary course of business.
(g) Neither Parent nor Merger Sub is a party to or is bound by any Tax sharing, allocation or indemnification agreement or arrangement (other than such an agreement or arrangement exclusively between or among Parent and its Subsidiaries, and other than any commercial contract entered into in the ordinary course of business by Parent or Merger Sub, the primary subject of which is not Taxes).
(h) Neither Parent nor Merger Sub (i) has been a member of an affiliated group filing a consolidated federal income Tax Return (other than a group the common parent of which is Parent) or (ii) has any material liability for the Taxes of any person under Treasury Regulations Section 1.1502-6 (or any similar provision of applicable Law), as a transferee or successor or by contract (other than liabilities pursuant to a commercial contract entered into in the ordinary course of business by Parent the primary subject of which is not Taxes).
(i) Neither Parent nor Merger Sub has been, within the past two years, a “distributing corporation” or a “controlled corporation” (within the meaning of Section 355(a)(1)(A) of the Code) in a distribution of stock intended to qualify for tax-free treatment under Section 355 of the Code.
(j) Neither Parent nor Merger Sub has participated in a “listed transaction” within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 1.6011-4(b)(2) (or any corresponding or similar provision of state, local or non-U.S. income Tax Law).
(k) Merger Sub was formed solely for the purpose of effectuating the Transaction and has not undertaken any business activities other than matters incidental to such purpose.
(l) No “closing agreement” as described in Section 7121 of the Code (or any corresponding or similar provision of state, local or non-U.S. income Tax Law), private letter rulings, technical advice memoranda or similar agreements or rulings have been entered into or issued by any Tax authority with respect to Parent which agreement or ruling would be effective after the Closing Date.
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(m) Parent has not been a United States real property holding corporation within the meaning of Section 897(c)(2) of the Code at any time during the applicable period specified in Section 897(c)(1)(A)(ii) of the Code.
(n) No Subsidiary of the Company that was organized outside of the United States (i) would be required to take into account a material amount of income pursuant to Section 951 or Section 951A of the Code if the taxable year of such Subsidiary ended on the Closing Date (ii) is a resident of any jurisdiction other than that of its incorporation, or (iii) is engaged in a U.S. trade or business.
(o) Neither Parent nor any of its Subsidiaries has (i) deferred the employer’s share of any “applicable employment taxes” under Section 2302 of the CARES Act, (ii) received or claimed any Tax credits under Section 7001 through 7005 of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act or Section 2301 of the CARES Act, or (iii) deferred any payroll tax obligations (including those imposed by Sections 3101(a) and 3201 of the Code) pursuant to or in connection with the Payroll Tax Executive Order.
(p) To the Knowledge of Parent, there are no facts, circumstances or plans that, either alone or in combination, could reasonably be expected to prevent the Transactions from qualifying for the Intended Tax Treatment.
4.18 Title to Property. Neither Parent nor Merger Sub (a) owns or leases any real or material tangible personal property or (b) is a party to any Contract or option to purchase any real property, material tangible personal property or other material interest therein.
4.19 No Outside Reliance. Notwithstanding anything contained in this ARTICLE IV or any other provision hereof, each of Parent, Merger Sub and their respective Representatives acknowledge and agree that Parent has made its own investigation of the Company and that none of the Company or any other Person is making, nor is Parent or Merger Sub relying on, any representation or warranty whatsoever, express or implied, relating to Company or any of its Affiliates or any of their respective businesses, operations, assets, liabilities, conditions (financial or otherwise) or prospects, except for those representations and warranties made by the Company that are expressly set forth in ARTICLE III or in the Company Closing Certificate. Without limiting the foregoing, Parent and Merger Sub understand and agree that any financial projections, predictions, forecasts, estimates, budgets or prospective information relating to the Company, any of its Affiliates or any of their respective businesses that may be contained or referred to in the Company Disclosure Letter or elsewhere, as well as any information, documents or other materials (including any such materials contained in any “data room” (whether or not accessed by Parent or its representatives) or reviewed by Parent pursuant to the Confidentiality Agreement) or management presentations that have been or shall hereafter be provided to Parent or any of its Affiliates, or any of their Representatives are not and will not be deemed to be representations or warranties of the Company, and no representation or warranty is made as to the accuracy or completeness of any of the foregoing. Except as otherwise expressly provided in the representations and warranties made by the Company that are expressly set forth in ARTICLE III, Parent and Merger Sub understand and agree that any assets, properties and business of the Company and its Subsidiaries are furnished “as is”, “where is” and subject to, with all faults and without any other representation or warranty of any nature whatsoever.
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4.20 No Undisclosed Liabilities. Except as set forth in the consolidated balance sheet of Parent included in its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended September 30, 2022, neither the Parent nor the Merger Sub has any material liabilities or obligations of the type required to be disclosed in a consolidated balance sheet of such Party in accordance with GAAP, except for liabilities and obligations (a) incurred since September 30, 2022 in the ordinary course of business, (b) incurred since September 30, 2022 pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, (c) disclosed in this Agreement (including the Parent Disclosure Letter), or (d) which would not reasonably be expected to be material to such Party.
4.21 No Other Representations or Warranties. Except for the representations and warranties made by Parent that are expressly set forth in this ARTICLE IV (as modified by the Parent Disclosure Letter and the Parent Disclosure Reports) or in the Parent Closing Certificate, none of Parent, Merger Sub or any other Person makes any express or implied representation or warranty relating to Parent or any of its Affiliates or any of their respective businesses, operations, assets, liabilities, conditions (financial or otherwise) or prospects, and Parent and Merger Sub expressly disclaim any such other representations or warranties. In particular, without limiting the foregoing, none of Parent, Merger Sub or any other Person makes or has made any representation or warranty to the Company or any of it respective Affiliates or Representatives with respect to (a) any projections, predictions, forecast, estimate, budget or prospective information relating to Parent, any of its Affiliates or any of their respective businesses or (b) any oral, or except for the representations and warranties made by Parent that are expressly set forth in this ARTICLE IV (as modified by the Parent Disclosure Letter and the Parent Disclosure Reports) or in the Parent Closing Certificate, written information made available to the Company or any of their Affiliates or Representatives in the course of their evaluation of Parent and Merger Sub, the negotiation of this Agreement or in the course of the Transactions.
ARTICLE V
COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY
5.1 Interim Operations.
(a) Except (i) as described in Section 5.1(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter, (ii) as otherwise expressly required by this Agreement or any other Transaction Document, (iii) as required by applicable Law or COVID-19 Measures or (iv) as Parent shall otherwise consent to in writing (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned, delayed, or denied), the Company covenants and agrees as to itself and its Subsidiaries that, during the period from the Execution Date until the Closing, or the earlier termination of this Agreement in accordance with its terms, the Company shall (A) operate its business in the ordinary course of business substantially consistent with past practice and (B) use commercially reasonable efforts to maintain and preserve intact its business organization, assets, properties and material business relations.
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(b) Without limiting the generality of, and in furtherance of, the foregoing, from the Execution Date until the Closing or the earlier termination of this Agreement in accordance with its terms, except (v) as described in the corresponding subsection of Section 5.1(b) of the Company Disclosure Letter, (w) as otherwise expressly required by this Agreement or any Transaction Document, (x) as required by applicable Law or COVID-19 Measures or (y) as Parent shall otherwise consent to in writing (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned, delayed or denied), the Company will not and will not permit its Subsidiaries to:
(i) adopt or propose any change in its or its Subsidiaries’ Organizational Documents;
(ii) (A) merge or consolidate itself or any of its Subsidiaries with any other Person, except for transactions among its wholly owned Subsidiaries or (B) adopt or enter into a plan of complete or partial liquidation, dissolution, merger, consolidation, restructuring, recapitalization or other reorganization of the Company or its Subsidiaries;
(iii) Except as set forth on Section 5.1(b)(iii) of the Company Disclosure Letter, acquire assets outside of the ordinary course of business from any other Person with a value or purchase price in the aggregate in excess of $100,000, or acquire any business or entity (whether by merger or consolidation, by purchase of substantially all assets or equity interests or by any other manner), in each case, in any transaction or series of related transactions, other than acquisitions or other transactions;
(iv) sell, lease, license or otherwise dispose of any of its material assets or properties (other than Intellectual Property), except (A) for sales, leases, licenses or other dispositions in the ordinary course of business and (B) for sales, leases, licenses or other dispositions of assets and properties with a fair market value not in excess of $100,000 in the aggregate;
(v) issue, sell, grant or authorize the issuance, sale or grant of any shares of capital stock or other securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (other than issuances by a wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company to the Company or another wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company), or any options, warrants, convertible securities, subscription rights or other similar rights entitling its holder to receive or acquire any shares of such capital stock or other securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries other than grants to employees, directors and consultants of the Company in the ordinary course of business of Company Options collectively having an aggregate number of underlying shares of Company Common Stock not to exceed 400,000 shares of Company Common Stock;
(vi) reclassify, split, combine, subdivide, redeem or repurchase, any capital stock of the Company or options, warrants or securities convertible or exchangeable into or exercisable for any shares of its capital stock;
(vii) declare, set aside, make or pay any dividend or distribution, payable in cash, stock, property or otherwise, with respect to any of its capital stock or enter into any agreement with respect to the voting of its capital stock;
(viii) make any loans, advances, guarantees or capital contributions to or investments in any Person (other than the Company or any direct or indirect wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company), other than in the ordinary course of business;
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(ix) incur any Indebtedness for borrowed money or guarantee any such Indebtedness of another Person, or issue or sell any debt securities or warrants or other rights to acquire any debt security of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, except for Indebtedness for borrowed money incurred in the ordinary course of business not to exceed $100,000 in the aggregate;
(x) make or commit to make capital expenditures other than in an amount not in excess of $100,000, in the aggregate;
(xi) enter into any Contract that would have been a Company Material Contract had it been entered into prior to the Execution Date, other than in the ordinary course of business;
(xii) amend or modify in any material respect or terminate any Company Material Contract, or waive or release any material rights, claims or benefits under any Company Material Contract, in each case, other than in the ordinary course of business;
(xiii) make any material changes with respect to its accounting policies or procedures, except as required by changes in Law or GAAP;
(xiv) settle any Proceeding, except in the ordinary course of business or where such settlement is covered by insurance or involves only the payment of monetary damages in an amount not more than $250,000 in the aggregate;
(xv) except in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, file any material amended Tax Return, make, revoke or change any material Tax election in a manner inconsistent with past practice, adopt or change any material Tax accounting method or period, enter into any agreement with a Governmental Entity with respect to material Taxes, settle or compromise any examination, audit or other action with a Governmental Entity of or relating to any material Taxes or settle or compromise any claim or assessment by a Governmental Entity in respect of material Taxes, or enter into any Tax sharing or similar agreement (excluding any commercial contract not primarily related to Taxes), in each case, to the extent such action could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Parent;
(xvi) except in the ordinary course of business or pursuant to the terms of any Company Benefit Plan in effect as of the Execution Date or as required by Law, (A) increase the annual salary or consulting fees or target annual cash bonus opportunity, of any Company Employee with an annual salary or consulting fees and target annual cash bonus opportunity in excess of $100,000 as of the Execution Date, (B) become a party to, establish, adopt, amend, or terminate any material Company Benefit Plan or any arrangement that would have been a material Company Benefit Plan had it been entered into prior to this Agreement, (C) take any action to accelerate the vesting or lapsing of restrictions or payment, or fund or in any other way secure the payment, of compensation or benefits under any Company Benefit Plan, (D) forgive any loans or issue any loans (other than routine travel advances issued in the ordinary course of business) to any Company Employee, (E) hire any employee or engage any independent contractor (who is a natural person) with annual salary or consulting fees and target annual cash bonus opportunity in excess of $100,000 or (F) terminate the employment of any employee of the Company who would be an “executive officer” (as defined in Rule 3b-7 of the Exchange Act) other than for cause;
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(xvii) sell, assign, lease, exclusively license, pledge, encumber, divest, abandon, or allow to lapse any material Company Intellectual Property, other than grants of non-exclusive licenses in the ordinary course of business to customers for use of the products or services of the Company or otherwise in the ordinary course of business;
(xviii) become a party to, establish, adopt, amend, commence participation in or enter into any collective bargaining or other labor union Contract;
(xix) fail to use commercially reasonable efforts to keep current and in full force and effect, or to comply with the requirements of, or to apply for or renew, any permit, approval, authorization, consent, license, registration or certificate issued by any Governmental Entity that is material to the conduct of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole;
(xx) file any prospectus supplement or registration statement or consummate any offering of securities that requires registration under the Securities Act or that includes any actual or contingent commitment to register such securities under the Securities Act in the future;
(xxi) fail to maintain, cancel or materially change coverage under, in a manner materially detrimental to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, any insurance policy maintained with respect to the Company and its Subsidiaries and their assets and properties;
(xxii) enter into any material new line of business outside of the business currently conducted by the Company and its Subsidiaries as of the Execution Date;
(xxiii) enter into any Contract that would have been a Company Related Party Transaction had it been entered into prior to the Execution Date; or
(xxiv) enter into any Contract, or otherwise become obligated, to do, or authorize, any of the foregoing.
5.2 Inspection. Subject to confidentiality obligations and similar restrictions that may be applicable to information furnished to the Company or its Subsidiaries by third parties, the Company shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to, afford to Parent and its Representatives reasonable access from and after the Execution Date until the Effective Time, during normal business hours and with reasonable advance notice, in such manner as to not unreasonably interfere with the normal operation of the Company and its Subsidiaries, to all of their respective properties, books, projections, plans, systems, Contracts, commitments, Tax Returns, records, commitments, analyses and appropriate officers and employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries, and shall furnish such Representatives with all financial and operating data and other information concerning the affairs of the Company and its Subsidiaries that are in the possession of the Company or its Subsidiaries as such Representatives may reasonably request; provided, that such access shall not include any unreasonably invasive or intrusive investigations or other testing, sampling or analysis of any properties, facilities or equipment of the Company or its Subsidiaries without the prior written consent of the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company and its Subsidiaries shall not be required to furnish such information or afford such access described in this Section 5.2 to the extent (a) relating to interactions with prospective buyers of the Company, prospective SPAC business combination partners of the Company or the negotiation of this Agreement and the Transactions, (b) it would result, in the judgment of legal counsel of the Company, in the loss of attorney-client privilege or other privilege from disclosure or would conflict with any applicable Law or confidentiality obligations to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is bound or (c) prohibited by applicable Law. The Parties shall use commercially reasonable efforts to make alternative arrangements for such disclosure where the restrictions in the preceding sentence apply, including the use of commercially reasonable efforts to (x) provide such access as can be provided (or otherwise convey such information regarding the applicable matter as can be conveyed) without violating such privilege, obligation, Law and (y) provide such information in a manner without violating such privilege, obligation, or Law. All information obtained by Parent and its Representatives under this Agreement shall be subject to the Confidentiality Agreement prior to the Effective Time.
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5.3 No Claim Against the Parent Trust Account. The Company acknowledges that Parent has established the Parent Trust Account for the benefit of Parent’s public stockholders and that disbursements from the Parent Trust Account are available only in the limited circumstances set forth in the Parent Reports, Parent’s Organizational Documents, and the Parent Trust Agreement. The Company further acknowledges that Parent’s sole assets consist of the cash proceeds of Parent’s initial public offering and private placements of its securities, and that substantially all of these proceeds have been deposited in the Parent Trust Account for the benefit of its public stockholders. The Company further acknowledges that, if the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, or in the event of termination of this Agreement, another Business Combination, are or is not consummated by May 15, 2023 or such later date as a result of any Extension or as approved by the stockholders of Parent to complete a Business Combination, Parent will be obligated to return to its stockholders the amounts being held in the Parent Trust Account. Accordingly, the Company (on behalf of itself and its Affiliates) hereby waives any past, present or future claim of any kind against, and any right to access, the Parent Trust Account, any trustee of the Parent Trust Account and Parent to collect from the Parent Trust Account any monies that may be owed to them by Parent or any of its Affiliates for any reason whatsoever, and will not seek recourse against the Parent Trust Account at any time for any reason whatsoever, including, without limitation, for any Willful Breach of this Agreement. This Section 5.3 shall survive the termination of this Agreement for any reason.
5.4 Exclusivity.
(a) From the Execution Date until the earlier of the Closing and the termination of this Agreement in accordance with its terms, the Company shall not, and shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause its Representatives not to, directly or indirectly: (i) solicit, initiate, knowingly encourage (including by means of furnishing or disclosing information), knowingly facilitate, discuss (with a third party) or negotiate, directly or indirectly, any inquiry, proposal or offer (written or oral) with respect to a Company Acquisition Proposal, other than to respond to a Company Acquisition Proposal that the Company is unable, due to the terms of this Agreement, to engage in discussions with respect to that Company Acquisition Proposal; (ii) furnish or disclose any non-public information to any Person (other than to the Parties and their respective Representatives) in connection with, or that would reasonably be expected to lead to, a Company Acquisition Proposal; (iii) enter into any Contract regarding a Company Acquisition Proposal; (iv) prepare or take any steps in connection with a public offering of any equity securities of the Company (or any Affiliate or successor of the Company); or (v) otherwise knowingly facilitate or knowingly encourage any effort or attempt by any Person to do or seek to do any of the foregoing.
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(b) The Company shall (i) notify Parent promptly upon receipt of any Company Acquisition Proposal, describing the terms and conditions of any such Company Acquisition Proposal in reasonable detail (including the identity of the Persons making such Company Acquisition Proposal, unless the Company is bound by any confidentiality obligation prohibiting the disclosure of such identity) and (ii) keep Parent reasonably informed on a reasonably current basis of any material modifications to such offer or information. The Company shall, and shall cause its Affiliates to, and shall authorize and instruct its Representatives to, immediately cease any and all existing discussions or negotiations with any Person conducted prior to the Execution Date with respect to, or which is reasonably likely to give rise to or result in, a Company Acquisition Proposal.
5.5 Prospectus/Proxy Filing; Information Supplied.
(a) The Company shall provide to Parent financial statements, including consolidated balance sheets, statements of operations, statements of cash flows, and statements of stockholders equity of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of and for the years ended December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021 audited in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (“PCAOB”) and accompanied by the report thereon of the Company’s independent auditors as soon as reasonably practicable (except that the report thereon of the Company’s independent auditors (which report shall be unqualified) may not be delivered prior to the date of filing of the Registration Statement). Without limiting the foregoing, (i) the Company shall reasonably cooperate with Parent in connection with Parent’s preparation for inclusion in the Registration Statement of pro forma financial statements that comply with the requirements of Regulation S-X under the rules and regulations of the SEC (as interpreted by the staff of the SEC) to the extent such pro forma financial statements are required for the Registration Statement and (ii) the Company shall provide, as soon as reasonably practicable, any other audited or reviewed and unaudited financial statements, including consolidated balance sheets, statements of operations, statements of cash flows, and statements of stockholders equity of the Company and its Subsidiaries required to be included in the Registration Statement, together with the notes and schedules thereto, in each case, prepared in accordance with GAAP and Regulation S-X and audited or reviewed, as applicable, in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to make its officers and employees and Representatives available to Parent and its counsel, in each case, during normal business hours and upon reasonable advanced notice by Parent, in connection with (i) the drafting of the Registration Statement and (ii) responding in a timely manner to comments on the Registration Statement from the SEC.
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(b) From and after the date on which the Registration Statement becomes effective under the Securities Act, the Company will give Parent prompt written notice of any action taken or not taken by the Company or its Subsidiaries or of any development regarding the Company or its Subsidiaries, in any such case which is known by the Company, that would cause the Registration Statement to contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, that, if any such action shall be taken or fail to be taken or such development shall otherwise occur, Parent and the Company shall cooperate fully to cause an amendment or supplement to be made promptly to the Registration Statement, such that the Registration Statement no longer contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, further, however, that no information received by Parent pursuant to this Section 5.5 shall operate as a waiver of or otherwise affect any representation, warranty or agreement given or made by the party who disclosed such information as of the date that such representation, warranty or agreement was given or made, and no such information shall be deemed to change, supplement or amend the Company Disclosure Letter as of the date of the Company Disclosure Letter.
5.6 FIRPTA Certificates. At or prior to the Closing, the Company shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, to Parent the following certificates and forms (collectively, the “FIRPTA Certificates”) a certificate, duly executed by the Company, complying with Treasury Regulations Section 1.1445-2(c)(3), together with evidence that the Company has provided notice to the Internal Revenue Service in accordance with the provisions of Treasury Regulations Section 1.897-2(h)(2), in each case, in a form and substance reasonably acceptable to Parent.
5.7 Amendments to Third Party Contracts. Prior to the Closing Date, the Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to enter into an amendment with respect to each of the third-party Contracts set forth in Section 5.7 of the Company Disclosure Letter, each in a form and substance reasonably acceptable to Parent.
5.8 280G. Prior to the Closing, the Company shall use reasonable best efforts to (a) obtain an executed waiver from each Person who is a “disqualified individual” (as defined in Section 280G of the Code) of that portion of any payments or economic benefits received or payable to such Person that could, individually or in the aggregate, constitute “parachute payments” (as defined in Section 280G(b) of the Code) (the “Waived 280G Benefits”) and (b) solicit the approval of its equityholders of any Waived 280G Benefits, in a manner that complies with Sections 280G(b)(5)(A)(ii) and 280G(b)(5)(B) of the Code and the Treasury Regulations thereunder. The Company shall forward to Parent at least three (3) days prior to distribution to the intended recipients, copies of all documents prepared by the Company in connection with this Section 5.8 (including supporting analysis and calculations, form of waiver agreement, equityholder consent and disclosure statement) for Parent’s review and comment, and the Company shall incorporate all reasonable comments received from Parent on such documents prior to the distribution to the intended recipients. Prior to the Closing, the Company shall deliver to Parent evidence of the results of such vote. Such equityholder approval, if obtained, shall establish the disqualified individual’s right to receive or retain the Waived 280G Benefits, such that if such equityholder approval is not obtained, no portion of the Waived 280G Benefits shall be paid, payable, received or retained. For the avoidance of doubt, with respect to any Parent Arrangement (defined as any arrangement agreed upon or entered into by, or at the direction of, Parent and/or its Affiliates, on the one hand, and a “disqualified individual,” on the other hand, on or prior to the Closing Date) of which the Company is aware prior to the Closing Date, the Company shall cooperate with Parent in good faith to calculate or determine the value (for purposes of Section 280G of the Code) of any payments or benefits granted or contemplated therein that could reasonably be expected to constitute a “parachute payment” under Section 280G of the Code, and incorporate such Parent Arrangements (defined as any arrangement agreed upon or entered into by, or at the direction of, Parent and/or its Affiliates, on the one hand, and a “disqualified individual,” on the other hand, on or prior to the Closing Date) into its calculations and 280G equityholder approval process described above.
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5.9 Extension. Subject to the Company’s compliance with the immediately following sentence, Parent shall extend the Deadline Date (as defined in Section 9.1(b) of the Parent Certificate of Incorporation) by an additional three (3) months and, thereafter, a subsequent three (3) months (up to an aggregate of eighteen (18) months from the closing of the Initial Public Offering) by exercising the “extension option” as defined in the prospectus forming a part of the IPO S-1 to the extent necessary to consummate the Closing at any time prior to the Outside Date, as it may be amended from time to time (each, an “Extension”). Within five (5) Business Days of receipt of a written request from Parent (which Parent may request for each such Extension), the Company shall transfer to Parent funds (not to exceed $1,840,000 in the aggregate for all Extensions) (the “Extension Amount”) necessary to effect such Extension in accordance with the Parent Organizational Documents and as described in the prospectus forming a part of the IPO S-1. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in no event shall Parent, Sponsor or any of their respective Affiliates or Representatives be required at any time to repay the Extension Amount to the Company or any of its Affiliates; provided, however, that if at the time of the valid termination of this Agreement in accordance with ARTICLE IX, (a) all of the conditions to Closing set forth in ARTICLE VIII are satisfied or waived by the applicable party hereto (other than those conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at the Closing, but such conditions would reasonably be expected to be satisfied if the Closing were to occur on the date of such termination) and (b) the reason that the Closing has not occurred is that Parent has breached its obligations hereunder to consummate the Closing in accordance herewith, Parent shall be required to repay that portion of the Extension Amount that has actually been paid by the Company to Parent.
ARTICLE VI
COVENANTS OF PARENT
6.1 Conduct of Parent. From the Execution Date until the Closing, Parent shall, and shall cause Merger Sub to, except as expressly required by this Agreement or any Transaction Document, as required by applicable Law or COVID-19 Measures or as consented to by the Company in writing (which consent shall not be unreasonably conditioned, withheld, delayed or denied), operate its business in the ordinary course and consistent with past practice. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, except (w) as described in the corresponding subsection of Section 6.1 of the Parent Disclosure Letter, (x) as otherwise expressly required by this Agreement or any Transaction Document, (y) as required by applicable Law or COVID-19 Measures or (z) as the Company shall otherwise consent to in writing (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned, delayed or denied), Parent will not and will not permit its Subsidiaries to:
(a) change, modify or amend, or seek any approval from the Parent Stockholders to change, modify or amend, the Parent Trust Agreement, the Parent Organizational Documents or the organizational documents of Merger Sub, other than to effectuate the Parent Restated Charter and the Parent Restated Bylaws;
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(b) (i) make, declare, set aside or pay any dividends on, or make any other distribution (whether in cash, stock or property) in respect of any of its outstanding capital stock or other equity interests; (ii) split, combine, reclassify or otherwise change any of its capital stock or other equity interests; or (iii) other than the redemption of any shares of Parent Common Stock required by the Redemption Offer or as otherwise required by Parent’s Organizational Documents in order to consummate the Transactions, repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire, or offer to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire, any capital stock of, or other equity interests in, Parent;
(c) enter into, or permit any of the assets owned or used by it to become bound by, any Contract, other than as expressly required in connection with the Transactions;
(d) other than as expressly required by the Sponsor Support Agreement, enter into, renew or amend in any material respect, any transaction or Contract with an Affiliate of Parent or Merger Sub (including, for the avoidance of doubt, (x) the Sponsor and (y) any Person in which the Sponsor has a direct or indirect legal, contractual or beneficial ownership interest of 5% or greater);
(e) incur or assume any Indebtedness or guarantee any Indebtedness of another Person, issue or sell any debt securities or warrants or other rights to acquire any debt securities of the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries or guaranty any debt securities of another Person, other than any (x) Indebtedness for borrowed money or guarantee incurred between Parent and Merger Sub and (y) Indebtedness for borrowed money not to exceed an aggregate of $1,500,000 between Parent and Sponsor;
(f) incur, guarantee or otherwise become liable for (whether directly, contingently or otherwise) any Indebtedness or otherwise knowingly and purposefully incur, guarantee or otherwise become liable for (whether directly, contingently or otherwise) any other material liabilities, debts or obligations, other than the Parent Expenses;
(g) make any loans, advances, guarantees or capital contributions to or investments in any Person (other than Merger Sub);
(h) make any changes with respect to its accounting policies or procedures, except as required by changes in Law or GAAP;
(i) (i) issue, sell, grant or authorize the issuance, sale or grant of any shares of capital stock or other securities of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries or any options, warrants, convertible securities, subscription rights or other similar rights entitling its holder to receive or acquire any shares of capital stock or other securities of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries, other than (A) in connection with the exercise of any Parent Warrants outstanding on the Execution Date, (B) any Working Capital Warrants (as defined in the Parent Warrant Agreement) or (C) the Transactions or (ii) amend, modify or waive any of the terms or rights set forth in any Parent Warrant, the Parent Warrant Agreement, any Parent Right or the Parent Rights Agreement, including any amendment, modification or reduction of the warrant price set forth therein, other than pursuant to the Sponsor Support Agreement;
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(j) except as contemplated by the Parent Incentive Plan, (i) adopt or amend any Parent Benefit Plan, or enter into any employment contract or collective bargaining agreement or (ii) hire any employee or any other individual to provide services to Parent or its Subsidiaries following Closing;
(k) except in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, file any material amended Tax Return, make, revoke or change any material Tax election, adopt or change any material Tax accounting method or period, enter into any agreement with a Governmental Entity with respect to material Taxes, settle or compromise any examination, audit or other action with a Governmental Entity of or relating to any material Taxes or settle or compromise any claim or assessment by a Governmental Entity in respect of material Taxes, or enter into any Tax sharing or similar agreement (excluding any commercial contract not primarily related to Taxes);
(l) (i) fail to maintain its existence or merge or consolidate with, or purchase any assets or equity securities of, any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, association, joint venture or other entity or organization or any division thereof; or (ii) adopt or enter into a plan of complete or partial liquidation, dissolution, merger, consolidation, restructuring, recapitalization or other reorganization of Parent or its Subsidiaries;
(m) make any capital expenditures;
(n) make any loans, advances or capital contributions to, or investments in, any other Person (including to any of its officers, directors, agents or consultants), make any change in its existing borrowing or lending arrangements for or on behalf of such Persons, or enter into any “keep well” or similar agreement to maintain the financial condition of any other Person;
(o) enter into any new line of business outside of the business currently conducted by Parent and its Subsidiaries as of the Execution Date;
(p) fail to maintain, cancel or materially change coverage under, in a manner materially detrimental to Parent or Merger Sub, any insurance policy maintained with respect to Parent or Merger Sub and their assets and properties;
(q) settle any Proceeding, except claims not involving Parent Stockholder Litigation (which shall be subject to Section 6.12), in the ordinary course of business or where such settlement is covered by insurance or involves only the payment of monetary damages in an amount not more than $250,000 in the aggregate; or
(r) enter into any Contract, or otherwise become obligated, to do, or authorize any of the foregoing.
6.2 Parent Trust Account Matters.
(a) Trust Account. Prior to the Closing, none of the funds held in the Parent Trust Account may be used or released except (i) for the withdrawal of interest to pay any tax obligations owed by Parent as a result of assets owned by Parent, including franchise taxes, and (ii) to effectuate the Redemption Offer. Following the Closing, and upon notice to the trustee of the Parent Trust Account (the “Parent Trustee”) and the satisfaction of the requirements for release set forth in the Parent Trust Agreement, the Parent Trustee shall be obligated to release any and all amounts still due to holders of shares of Parent Common Stock who have exercised their redemption rights with respect to shares of Parent Common Stock, and thereafter, release the remaining funds in the Parent Trust Account to Parent to be reflected on Parent’s consolidated balance sheet and the Parent Trust Account shall thereafter be terminated.
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(b) Redemption Offer. At the Closing, Parent shall cause the Parent Trustee to pay as and when due all amounts payable to Parent Stockholders holding shares of the Parent Common Stock sold in Parent’s initial public offering who shall have validly elected to redeem their shares of Parent Common Stock (and who have not rescinded such election) pursuant to Parent’s Organizational Documents and shall cause the Parent Trustee to pay, as and when due, the Deferred Discount (as defined in the Parent Trust Agreement) pursuant to the terms of the Parent Trust Agreement.
6.3 Indemnification; Directors’ and Officers’ Insurance.
(a) From and after the Effective Time, Parent and the Surviving Company agree that they will indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent Parent, Merger Sub or the Company would be permitted to do so under applicable Law and their respective Organizational Documents in effect as of the Execution Date, each present and former (determined as of the Effective Time) director and officer of Parent, Merger Sub and the Company and each of their respective Subsidiaries, in each case, when acting in such capacity (collectively, the “Indemnified Parties”), against any costs or expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines, losses, claims, damages or liabilities (collectively, “Costs”) incurred in connection with, arising out of or otherwise related to any Proceeding, in connection with, arising out of or otherwise related to matters existing or occurring at or prior to the Effective Time, whether asserted or claimed prior to, at or after the Effective Time, including in connection with (i) the Transactions, and (ii) actions to enforce this provision or any other indemnification or advancement right of any Indemnified Party, and Parent or the Surviving Company shall also advance expenses as incurred to the fullest extent that the Company, Parent or Merger Sub, as applicable, would have been permitted to do so under applicable Law and its respective Organizational Documents in effect as of the Execution Date; provided that any Person to whom expenses are advanced provides an undertaking to repay such advances if it is ultimately determined by final adjudication that such Person is not entitled to indemnification (including, but not limited to, any such Costs incurred due to the negligence, recklessness or willful misconduct of such Person).
(b) Parent shall cause the Surviving Company as of the Effective Time to obtain and fully pay the premium for “tail” insurance policies for the extension of (i) the directors’ and officers’ liability coverage of the Company’s existing directors’ and officers’ insurance policies, and (ii) the Company’s existing fiduciary liability insurance policies, in each case, for a claims reporting or discovery period of six (6) years from and after the Effective Time (the “Tail Period”) from one or more insurance carriers with the same or better credit rating as the Company’s insurance carrier as of the Execution Date with respect to directors’ and officers’ liability insurance and fiduciary liability insurance (collectively, “D&O Insurance”) with terms, conditions, retentions and limits of liability that are at least as favorable to the insureds as the Company’s existing policies with respect to matters existing or occurring at or prior to the Effective Time (including in connection with this Agreement or the Transactions).
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(c) Parent shall, as of the Effective Time, obtain and fully pay the premium for “tail” insurance policies for the extension of Parent’s existing D&O Insurance, in each case, for the Tail Period, with terms, conditions, retentions and limits of liability that are at least as favorable to the insureds as Parent’s existing policies with respect to matters existing or occurring at or prior to the Effective Time (including in connection with this Agreement or the Transactions). In lieu of a separate “tail” insurance policy, the tail liability may be covered in the go-forward policy obtained by Parent so long as such coverage is for the entire Tail Period and with terms, conditions, retentions and limits of liability that are at least as favorable to the insureds as Parent’s existing policies with respect to matters existing or occurring at or prior to the Effective Time (including in connection with this Agreement or the Transactions).
(d) If Parent or the Surviving Company or any of their respective successors or assigns (i) shall consolidate with or merge into any other Person and shall not be the continuing or surviving Person of such consolidation or merger or (ii) shall transfer all or substantially all of its properties and assets to any Person, then, and in each such case, proper provisions shall be made so that the successors and assigns of Parent or the Surviving Company shall assume all of the obligations set forth in this Section 6.3.
(e) Prior to the Closing, Company shall obtain D&O Insurance reasonably satisfactory to the Parent and that shall be effective as of Closing and will cover those Persons who will be the directors and officers of Parent and its Subsidiaries (including the directors and officers of the Surviving Company and its Subsidiaries) at and after the Closing on terms not less favorable than the better of (a) the terms of the current directors’ and officers’ liability insurance in place for the Parent’s directors and officers and (b) the terms of a typical directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policy for a company whose equity is listed on NASDAQ which policy has a scope and amount of coverage that is reasonably appropriate for a company of similar characteristics (including the line of business and revenues) as Parent and its Subsidiaries (including the Company and its Subsidiaries).
(f) The rights of the Indemnified Parties under this Section 6.3 are in addition to any rights such Indemnified Parties may have under the Organizational Documents of Parent, Merger Sub, the Company or any of their respective Subsidiaries, or under any applicable Contracts or Laws, and nothing in this Agreement is intended to, shall be construed or shall release, waiver or impair any rights to directors’ and officers’ insurance claims under any policy that is or has been in existence with respect to Parent, Merger Sub, the Company or any of their respective Subsidiaries for any of their respective directors, officers or other employees (it being understood that the indemnification provided for in this Section 6.3 is not prior to or in substitution of any such claims under such policies).
(g) This Section 6.3 is intended to be for the benefit of, and from and after the Effective Time shall be enforceable by, each of the Indemnified Parties, who shall be third party beneficiaries of this Section 6.3. The obligations of Parent, the Surviving Company, and their respective successors and assigns under this Section 6.3 shall not be terminated, amended, or otherwise modified in such a manner as to adversely affect any Indemnified Party (or his or her heirs, personal representatives, successors, or assigns) without the prior written consent of such Indemnified Party (or his or her heirs, personal representatives, successors, or assigns, as applicable).
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6.4 Approval of Sole Stockholder of Merger Sub. Immediately following the execution of this Agreement, Parent shall execute and deliver, in accordance with applicable Law and its Organizational Documents, in its capacity as sole stockholder of Merger Sub, a written stockholder consent adopting the plan of merger contained in this Agreement.
6.5 Inspections. Subject to confidentiality obligations and similar restrictions that may be applicable to information furnished to Parent or its Subsidiaries by third parties, Parent shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to, afford to the Company and its Representatives reasonable access from and after the Execution Date until the Effective Time, during normal business hours and with reasonable advance notice, in such manner as to not interfere with the normal operation of Parent and its Subsidiaries, to all of their respective properties, books, projections, plans, systems, Contracts, commitments, Tax Returns, records, commitments, analyses and appropriate officers, employees and other personnel of Parent and its Subsidiaries, and shall furnish such Representatives with all financial and operating data and other information concerning the affairs of Parent and its Subsidiaries that are in the possession of Parent or its Subsidiaries as such Representatives may reasonably request. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Parent and its Subsidiaries shall not be required to furnish such information or afford such access described in this Section 6.5 to the extent (a) relating to interactions with prospective Business Combination partners or target companies of Parent or the negotiation of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, (b) it would result, in the judgment of legal counsel of Parent, in the loss of attorney-client privilege or other privilege from disclosure or would conflict with any applicable Law or confidentiality obligations to which Parent or any of its Subsidiaries is bound or (c) as prohibited by applicable Law. The Parties shall use commercially reasonable efforts to make alternative arrangements for such disclosure where the restrictions in the preceding sentence apply including the use of commercially reasonable efforts to (x) provide such access as can be provided (or otherwise convey such information regarding the applicable matter as can be conveyed) without violating such privilege, obligation, or Law and (y) provide such information in a manner without violating such privilege, obligation, or Law. All information obtained by Company and its Representatives under this Agreement shall be subject to the Confidentiality Agreement prior to the Effective Time.
6.6 Parent NASDAQ Listing.
(a) From the Execution Date through the Closing, Parent shall use best efforts to ensure that Parent remains listed as a public company on, and for shares of Parent Common Stock to be listed on, the NASDAQ.
(b) Parent shall cause the Parent Common Stock to be issued in connection with the Transactions to be approved for listing on the NASDAQ (and the Company shall reasonably cooperate in connection therewith), subject to official notice of issuance, prior to the Closing Date.
6.7 Parent Public Filings. From the Execution Date through the Closing, Parent will keep current and timely file all reports required to be filed or furnished with the SEC and otherwise comply in all material respects with its reporting obligations under applicable securities Laws.
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6.8 Director and Officer Appointments.
(a) Except as otherwise agreed in writing by the Company and Parent prior to the Closing, and conditioned upon the occurrence of the Closing, subject to any limitation imposed under applicable Laws and NASDAQ listing requirements, Parent shall take all such action as may be necessary or appropriate such that effective immediately after the Effective Time (i) the Parent Board shall initially consist of five (5) directors and shall be divided into three (3) classes of directors with staggered terms with the members of each class determined by the Company, (ii) the members of the Parent Board are the individuals determined in accordance with this Section 6.8, (iii) the members of the compensation committee, audit committee and nominating committee of the Parent Board are the individuals determined are the individuals determined in accordance with this Section 6.8, and (iv) the officers of Parent are the individuals determined in accordance with Section 6.8. In furtherance of the foregoing, the Parties shall take all necessary action to remove (or cause the resignation of) the directors serving on the Parent Board as of immediately prior to the Closing who are not determined in accordance with the foregoing to serve as members of the Parent Board as of immediately after the Closing.
(b) The Chief Executive Officer of Parent shall serve on the Parent Board immediately after the Effective Time.
(c) The Chief Executive Officer of the Surviving Company shall serve on the Parent Board immediately after the Effective Time.
(d) Three individuals designated jointly by Parent and the Company (each of whom shall be an “independent director” under applicable Nasdaq listing standards) shall serve on the Parent Board immediately after the Effective Time
(e) The individuals designated by the Company shall be the officers of the Parent immediately after the Effective Time.
On the Closing Date, Parent shall enter into customary indemnification agreements (each, an “Indemnification Agreement”), in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Company, with the individuals who will serve as directors of the Parent Board or officers of Parent as described in this Section 6.9, which Indemnification Agreements shall continue to be effective following the Closing.
6.9 Exclusivity. From the Execution Date until the earlier of the Closing and the termination of this Agreement in accordance with its terms, Parent and Merger Sub shall not, and shall use their reasonable best efforts to cause their Representatives not to, directly or indirectly: (i) solicit, initiate, knowingly encourage (including by means of furnishing or disclosing information), knowingly facilitate, discuss (with a third party) or negotiate, directly or indirectly, any inquiry, proposal or offer (written or oral) with respect to a Parent Acquisition Proposal; (ii) furnish or disclose any non-public information to any Person in connection with, or that would reasonably be expected to lead to, a Parent Acquisition Proposal; (iii) enter into any Contract regarding a Parent Acquisition Proposal; (iv) prepare or take any steps in connection with an offering of any securities of either Parent of the Merger Sub (or any Affiliate or successor of either Parent of the Merger Sub), other than the issuance of shares of Parent Common Stock as Merger Consideration; or (v) knowingly facilitate or knowingly encourage any effort or attempt by any Person to do or seek to do any of the foregoing. Parent shall (A) notify the Company promptly upon receipt of any Parent Acquisition Proposal by Parent or Merger Sub, and to describe the terms and conditions of any such Parent Acquisition Proposal in reasonable detail (including the identity of any Person making such Parent Acquisition Proposal) and (B) keep the Company reasonably informed on a reasonably current basis of any modifications to such offer or information. Parent shall, and shall cause its Affiliates to, and shall authorize and instruct its Representatives to, immediately cease any and all existing discussions or negotiations with any Person conducted prior to the Execution Date with respect to, or which is reasonably likely to give rise to or result in, a Parent Acquisition Proposal.
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6.10 Governing Documents. In connection with the consummation of the Transactions, Parent shall adopt the Parent Restated Bylaws and shall file the Parent Restated Charter which shall become effective at the Effective Time.
6.11 Stockholder Litigation. In the event that any Proceeding related to this Agreement, any Transaction Document or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby is brought, or to the Knowledge of Parent, threatened, against Parent or the Board of Directors of Parent by any of Parent’s stockholders prior to the Closing (“Parent Stockholder Litigation”), Parent shall promptly notify the Company of any such Proceeding and keep the Company reasonably informed with respect to the status thereof. Parent shall provide the Company the opportunity to participate in (subject to a customary joint defense agreement), but not control, the defense of any Parent Stockholder Litigation, and shall give due consideration to the Company’s advice with respect to such litigation. Prior to the Effective Time, Parent shall not, except with the prior written consent of the Company (which shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), make any payment with respect to, or settle or compromise or offer to settle or compromise, any Parent Stockholder Litigation, or agree or commit to do any of the foregoing.
6.12 Registration Rights Agreement. Prior to the Closing, Parent shall request that each holder of Parent Class B Common Stock execute the Registration Rights Agreement prior to and in connection with the Closing. Subject to applicable Law, Parent will provide such background and information reasonably requested by such holder in connection with the Registration Rights Agreement, and recommend to such holder to execute the Registration Rights Agreement. Pursuant to the Sponsor Support Agreement, in the event less than all of the holders of Parent Class B Common Stock enter into the Registration Rights Agreement such that the Registration Rights Agreement shall not be effective, the Sponsor and the Class B Stockholders (as defined in the Sponsor Support Agreement) agree to waive their rights under the cutback provisions of the Sponsor Registration Rights Agreement in Sections 2.1.4 and 2.2.2 thereof to the extent application of such provisions would result in the Sponsor and Class B Stockholders being treated more favorably with respect to any registration statement than any stockholders of the Company (as of immediately prior to the Effective Time) having a right to include Parent securities in such registration statement.
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ARTICLE VII
JOINT COVENANTS
7.1 Preparation of Registration Statement.
(a) As promptly as reasonably practicable following the execution and delivery of this Agreement, Parent shall prepare, with the assistance of the Company, and cause to be filed with the SEC, a registration statement on Form S-4 (as amended or supplemented from time to time, and including the Proxy Statement contained therein, the “Registration Statement”) in connection with the registration under the Securities Act of the Parent Common Stock to be issued under this Agreement, which Registration Statement will also contain the Proxy Statement. Each of Parent and the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to cooperate in the preparation of the Registration Statement and the Proxy Statement and any other documents and to cause the Registration Statement and the Proxy Statement to comply with the rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC, to have the Registration Statement declared effective under the Securities Act as promptly as practicable after such filing and to keep the Registration Statement effective as long as is necessary to consummate the Merger. In addition to Section 5.5(b), each of Parent and the Company shall furnish all information concerning it as may reasonably be requested by the other Party in connection with such actions and the preparation of the Registration Statement and the Proxy Statement. Promptly after the Registration Statement is declared effective under the Securities Act, Parent will cause the Proxy Statement to be mailed to stockholders of Parent.
(b) Each of Parent and the Company shall cooperate and mutually agree upon (such agreement not to be unreasonably conditioned, withheld or delayed) the substance of the Registration Statement, the Proxy Statement and any other documents to be filed with the SEC, both preliminary and final, and the schedule for filing thereof. Parent shall provide the Company with copies of any written comments or notices and shall inform the Company of any oral comments or notices that Parent receives from the SEC or its staff with respect to the Registration Statement promptly after the receipt of such comments or notices and shall give the Company a reasonable opportunity to review and comment on any proposed written or oral responses to such comments prior to responding to the SEC or its staff. Each of Parent and the Company shall cooperate and mutually agree upon (such agreement not to be unreasonably conditioned, withheld or delayed) any response to such comments with respect to the Registration Statement and any amendment to the Registration Statement filed in response thereto. Each of Parent and the Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to ensure that none of the information related to it or any of its Affiliates, supplied by or on its behalf for inclusion or incorporation by reference in (A) the Registration Statement will, at the time the Registration Statement is filed with the SEC, at each time at which it is amended and at the time it becomes effective under the Securities Act, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, not misleading or (B) the Proxy Statement will, at the date it is first mailed to the Parent Stockholders and at the time of the Special Meeting, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading.
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(c) If Parent or the Company becomes aware that any information contained in the Registration Statement shall have become false or misleading in any material respect or that the Registration Statement is required to be amended in order to comply with applicable Law, then (i) such Party shall promptly inform the other Parties and (ii) Parent, on the one hand, and the Company, on the other hand, and shall cooperate and mutually agree upon (such agreement not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) an amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement. Parent and the Company shall use reasonable best efforts to cause the Registration Statement, as so amended or supplemented, to be filed with the SEC and to be mailed to the holders of shares of Parent Common Stock, as applicable, in each case, pursuant to applicable Law and subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the Parent Organizational Documents.
(d) Each of Parent and the Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to promptly furnish to the other Party all information concerning itself, its Subsidiaries, officers, directors, managers, members and stockholders, as applicable, and such other matters, in each case, as may be reasonably necessary in connection with and for inclusion in the Proxy Statement, the Registration Statement or any other statement, filing, notice or application made by or on behalf of Parent or the Company or their respective Subsidiaries, as applicable, to the SEC or NASDAQ in connection with the Transactions (including any amendment or supplement to the Proxy Statement or the Registration Statement). To the extent not prohibited by Law, Parent will advise the Company, reasonably promptly after Parent receives notice thereof, of the time when the Registration Statement has become effective or any supplement or amendment has been filed, of the issuance of any stop order or the suspension of the qualification of the Parent Common Stock for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, of the initiation or threat of any proceeding for any such purpose, or of any request by the SEC for the amendment or supplement of the Proxy Statement, the Registration Statement or other document filed with the SEC in connection with the Transactions for additional information.
(e) Parent agrees to include provisions in the Proxy Statement and to take reasonable action related thereto, with respect to (i) approval of the Business Combination (as defined in the Parent Certificate of Incorporation), including the Merger, and the adoption and approval of this Agreement in accordance with applicable Law and exchange rules and regulations (the “Transaction Proposal”), (ii) approval of the Parent Restated Charter (the “Amendment Proposal”) and each change to the Parent Restated Charter that is required to be separately approved, (iii) to the extent required by the NASDAQ listing rules, approval of the issuance of the Merger Consideration together with the Parent Common Stock (the “NASDAQ Proposal”), (iv) approval and adoption of the Parent Incentive Plan (the “Parent Incentive Plan Proposal”), (v) adjournment of the Special Meeting, if necessary, to permit further solicitation of proxies because there are not sufficient votes to approve and adopt any of the foregoing proposals and (vi) approval of any other proposals reasonably agreed by Parent and the Company to be necessary or appropriate in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby (the “Additional Proposal” and together with the Transaction Proposal, the Amendment Proposal, the NASDAQ Proposal and Parent Incentive Plan Proposal, the “Proposals”). Without the prior written consent of the Company, the Proposals shall be the only matters (other than procedural matters) which Parent shall propose to be acted on by Parent’s stockholders at the Special Meeting.
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7.2 Parent Special Meeting.
(a) Parent shall, as promptly as reasonably practicable, (i) establish the record date, or duly call, give notice of, and convene and hold the Special Meeting in accordance with the DGCL, (ii) after the Registration Statement has been declared effective under the Securities Act, cause the Proxy Statement to be disseminated to Parent’s stockholders in compliance with applicable Law and (iii) after the Registration Statement has been declared effective under the Securities Act, solicit proxies from the holders of Parent Common Stock to vote in accordance with the recommendation of the Parent Board with respect to each of the Proposals.
(b) Parent shall, through the Parent Board, recommend to its stockholders that they approve the Proposals (the “Parent Board Recommendation”) and shall include the Parent Board Recommendation in the Proxy Statement. Except as required by applicable Law solely in response to a Parent Intervening Event, the Parent Board shall not (and no committee or subgroup thereof shall) change, withdraw, withhold, qualify or modify, or publicly propose to change, withdraw, withhold, qualify or modify, the Parent Board Recommendation (a “Modification in Recommendation”); provided, however, that the Parent Board (and any committee or subgroup thereof) shall not be entitled to make, or agree or resolve to make, a Modification in Recommendation until (i) Parent delivers to the Company a written notice (a “Parent Intervening Event Notice”) advising the Company that the Parent Board proposes to take such action and containing, in detail, the material facts underlying the Parent Board’s determination that a Parent Intervening Event has occurred, (ii) until 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the fifth Business Day immediately following the day on which Parent delivers the Parent Intervening Event Notice (such period from the time the Parent Intervening Event Notice is provided until 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the fifth Business Day immediately following the day on which Parent delivers the Parent Intervening Event Notice (it being understood that any material development with respect to an Parent Intervening Event shall require a new notice but with an additional three-Business Day notice period (instead of five-Business Day) period from the date of such notice), the “Parent Intervening Event Notice Period”), Parent and its Representatives shall negotiate in good faith with the Company and its Representatives regarding any revisions or adjustments proposed by the Company to the terms and conditions of this Agreement as will enable Parent to proceed with its recommendation of this Agreement and the Transactions and not make such Modification in Recommendation and (iii) if the Company requests negotiations in accordance with clause (ii), Parent may make a Modification in Recommendation only if the Parent Board, after considering in good faith any revisions or adjustments to the terms and conditions of this Agreement that the Company shall, prior to the expiration of the five-Business Day period, offer in writing in a manner that would form a binding Contract if accepted by Parent (and the other applicable parties hereto), reaffirms in good faith (after consultation with its outside legal counsel) that the failure to make a Modification in Recommendation would violate applicable Law. For the avoidance of doubt, a Modification in Recommendation will not affect Parent’s obligations pursuant to this Section 7.2 (other than as set forth in the immediately preceding sentence) or elsewhere in this Agreement.
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(c) To the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, (x) Parent’s obligations to establish a record date, or duly call, give notice of, convene and hold the Special Meeting shall not be affected by any Modification in Recommendation, and (y) Parent agrees that if the Parent Stockholder Approval shall not have been obtained at any such Parent Stockholders’ Meeting, then Parent shall promptly continue to take all such commercially reasonable actions, including the actions required by this Section 7.2, and hold such additional Special Meetings in order to obtain the Parent Stockholder Approval. Parent may only (and upon written request from the Company shall) adjourn the Special Meeting (i) to solicit additional proxies for the purpose of obtaining the Parent Stockholder Approval, (ii) due to the absence of a quorum, or (iii) to allow reasonable additional time for the filing or mailing of any supplemental or amended disclosure that Parent has determined in good faith after consultation with outside legal counsel is required under applicable Law and for such supplemental or amended disclosure to be disseminated and reviewed by Parent Stockholders prior to the Special Meeting; provided, that, without the consent of the Company, the Special Meeting (x) may not be adjourned to a date that is more than fifteen (15) Business Days after the date for which the Special Meeting was originally scheduled (excluding any adjournments required by applicable Law) and (y) shall not be held later than three (3) Business Days prior to the Outside Date. Parent shall keep the Company informed regarding all matters relating to the Proposals and the Special Meeting, including by promptly furnishing any voting or proxy solicitation reports received by Parent and similar updates regarding any redemptions.
7.3 Company Stockholder Approval. Upon the terms set forth in this Agreement and the Company Stockholder Support Agreement, the Company shall obtain promptly after the time the Registration Statement is declared effective under the Securities Act, and in any event no later than 11:59 pm Eastern Time on the second Business Day next succeeding such date (the “Written Consent Deadline”), a written consent from the Requisite Company Stockholders, pursuant to which such Requisite Company Stockholders will approve and adopt the matters required for the Company Stockholder Approval (the “Written Consent”). The Written Consent shall be irrevocable with respect to all shares of Company Stock owned beneficially or of record by the Requisite Company Stockholders or as to which such Requisite Company Stockholders have, directly or indirectly, the right to vote or direct the voting thereof. “Requisite Company Stockholders” means the Company Stockholders holding shares sufficient to effect the Company Stockholder Approval, each of which or whom is an “accredited investor” as defined in Rule 501 of Regulation D under the Securities Act. The Company Board has recommend to the Company Stockholders the approval and adoption of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (including the Merger).
7.4 Forward Stock Purchase Agreement. Parent has delivered to the Company a true, accurate and complete copy of the Forward Stock Purchase Agreement. As of the Execution Date, with respect to each FSPA Investor, the Forward Stock Purchase Agreement has not been withdrawn or terminated, or otherwise amended or modified, in any respect. The Forward Stock Purchase Agreement is (a) a legal, valid and binding obligation of Parent and, to the Knowledge of Parent, each FSPA Investor and (b) enforceable against Parent and, to the Knowledge of the Parent, each FSPA Investor.
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7.5 Cooperation; Efforts to Consummate.
(a) On the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, the Company and Parent shall cooperate with each other and use (and shall cause their respective Subsidiaries and Affiliates to use) their respective reasonable best efforts to take or cause to be taken all actions, and do or cause to be done all things, reasonably necessary, proper or advisable on its part under this Agreement and applicable Law to consummate and make effective the Transactions as soon as reasonably practicable, including preparing and filing as promptly as reasonably practicable all documentation to effect all necessary notices, reports and other filings (including by filing no later than ten (10) Business Days after the Execution Date any notification and report form required under the HSR Act) and to obtain as promptly as reasonably practicable all consents, registrations, approvals, clearances, Permits and authorizations necessary, proper or advisable to be obtained from any third party or any Governmental Entity in order to consummate the Transactions. If applicable, the Company and Parent (A) shall each request early termination of all applicable waiting periods under the HSR Act with respect to the Transactions (it being understood that any decision as to whether to grant early termination is in the sole discretion of the FTC), and (B) shall not, and shall cause their Subsidiaries and Affiliates not to, extend any waiting period, review period or comparable period under the HSR Act or any other Antitrust Law or enter into any agreement with any Governmental Entity to delay or not to consummate the Transactions, except with the prior written consent of the other Party (not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned, delayed, or denied). Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything to the contrary in this Agreement, but subject to Parent’s obligations pursuant to Section 7.5(c), in no event shall either the Company or Parent or any of their respective Affiliates be required to pay any consideration to any third parties or give anything of value to obtain any such Person’s authorization, approval, consent or waiver to effectuate the Transactions, other than filing, recordation or similar fees. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, no action taken by the Company or Parent under this Section 7.5 will constitute a breach of Section 5.1 or Section 6.1, respectively.
(b) Parent and the Company shall each have the right to review in advance, and to the extent reasonably practicable, each will consult with the other on and consider in good faith the views of the other in connection with, all of the information relating to Parent or the Company, as applicable, and any of their respective Subsidiaries, that appears in any filing made with, or written materials submitted to, any third party or any Governmental Entity (including, but not limited to, the FTC, the SEC and NASDAQ) in connection with the Transactions (including the Registration Statement). Neither the Company nor Parent shall permit any of its officers or other Representatives to participate in any meeting or discussion with any Governmental Entity in respect of any filings, investigation or other inquiry relating to the Transactions unless, to the extent practicable, it consults with the other Party in advance, and to the extent permitted by such Governmental Entity, gives the other Party the opportunity to attend and participate thereat. In exercising the foregoing rights, each of the Company and Parent shall act reasonably and as promptly as reasonably practicable. The Parent shall be responsible for the payment of all filing fees pursuant to the HSR Act and any other Antitrust Laws, if applicable, in connection with the Transactions.
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(c) For the avoidance of doubt and notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, and without limiting the foregoing, Parent shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries and Affiliates to, take any and all steps necessary that are within its control to eliminate each and every impediment under the HSR Act or any other Antitrust Law, if applicable, that is asserted by any Governmental Entity or any other Person so as to enable the Parties to consummate the Transactions as soon as possible, and in any event prior to the Outside Date, including, but not limited to, (i) commencing or threatening to commence, and vigorously contesting, resisting and defending against, any Proceeding, whether judicial or administrative, by or before any Governmental Entity or other Person, (ii) seeking to have vacated, lifted, reversed or overturned any stay or Governmental Order, whether temporary, preliminary or permanent, that is in effect and that prevents restricts, interferes with or delays the consummation of the Transactions, (iii) proposing, negotiating, committing to and effecting by consent decree, hold separate order or otherwise, the sale, divestiture, licensing or disposition of any assets or businesses of the Company or Parent or any of their respective Subsidiaries or Affiliates, (iv) taking or committing to take actions that limit the freedom of action of any of the Company or Parent or any of their respective Subsidiaries or Affiliates with respect to, or the ability to retain, control or operate, or to exert full rights of ownership in respect of, any of the businesses, product lines or assets of the Company or Parent or any of their respective Subsidiaries or Affiliates, (v) granting any financial, legal or other accommodation to any Person and (vi) proposing, negotiating, committing to and effecting any other condition, commitment or remedy of any kind; provided, however, that Parent shall not, and shall cause its Subsidiaries and Affiliates not to, take any action described in subsections (iii), (iv), (v) or (vi) of this Section 7.5(c) that relates to, or involves, impacts, burdens or restricts, the Company or its Subsidiaries or Affiliates, or any of their respective assets, businesses or product lines, without the Company’s prior written consent (not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed). Parent and Merger Sub shall not take any action, including agreeing to or consummating any merger, acquisition or other transaction, that would reasonably be expected to prevent, restrict or delay (A) the receipt of any consent, registration, approval, clearance, permit or authorization from any Governmental Entity or any other Person in connection with the Transactions or (B) the consummation of the Transactions.
7.6 Status; Notifications. Subject to applicable Law and as otherwise required by any Governmental Entity, the Company and Parent each shall keep the other apprised of the status of matters relating to the consummation of the Transactions, including promptly furnishing the other with copies of notices or other communications received by Parent or the Company, as applicable, or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates, from any third party or any Governmental Entity with respect to the Transactions.
7.7 Publicity. The initial press release with respect to the Transactions shall be a joint press release. Thereafter, the Company and Parent shall consult with each other, and provide meaningful opportunity for review and give due consideration to reasonable comment by the other Party, prior to issuing any press releases or otherwise making planned public statements with respect to the Transactions and prior to making any filings with any third party or any Governmental Entity (including any national securities exchange) with respect thereto, except (i) as may be required by applicable Law or by obligations pursuant to any listing agreement with or rules of any national securities exchange or NASDAQ or (ii) any consultation that would not be reasonably practicable as a result of requirements of applicable Law. Each of the Company and Parent may make any public statements in response to questions by the press, analysts, investors or those attending industry conferences or analyst or investor conference calls, so long as such statements(i) are not inconsistent with previous statements made jointly by the Company and Parent and (ii) do not violate the public disclosure rules or regulations of the SEC, NASDAQ or any other Governmental Entity.
7.8 Section 16 Matters. Prior to the Closing, each of Parent, Merger Sub and the Company shall take all steps as may be required, to the extent permitted under applicable Law, to cause any dispositions of the shares of Company Stock or acquisitions of Parent Common Stock (including, in each case, securities deliverable upon exercise, vesting or settlement of any derivative securities) resulting from the Transactions by each individual who may become subject to the reporting requirements of Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act in connection with the Transactions to be exempt under SEC Rule 16b-3(d) promulgated under the Exchange Act.
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7.9 Tax Matters.
(a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Surviving Company shall pay any Transfer Taxes in connection with the Transactions. The Surviving Company shall file all necessary Tax Returns with respect to all such Transfer Taxes, and at least thirty (30) days prior to filing such Tax Returns, the Surviving Company shall provide a copy of any Tax Returns to Parent for its review and give due consideration to comment provided by Parent with respect to such Tax Returns, and if required by applicable Law, Parent will join in the execution of any such Tax Returns. The Surviving Company and Parent agree to reasonably cooperate to reduce or eliminate the amount of any such Transfer Taxes.
(b) Parent, Merger Sub and the Company intend that, for U.S. federal income tax purposes (and for purposes of any applicable state or local income tax Law that follows U.S. federal income tax treatment), (i) the Merger will qualify as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code to which Parent and the Company are to be parties under Section 368(b) of the Code; and (ii) this Agreement be, and hereby is, adopted as a “plan of reorganization” within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 1.368-2(g) and 1.368-3(a) (clauses (i) and (ii) together, the “Intended Tax Treatment”).
(c) None of the Parties shall (and each Party shall cause its Subsidiaries and Affiliates not to) take or cause to be taken, or knowingly fail to take or knowingly cause to be failed to be taken, any action that would reasonably be expected to prevent the Merger from qualifying for the Intended Tax Treatment. Both prior to and following the Effective Time, each of the Parties shall, and shall cause their respective Subsidiaries and Affiliates to, use their reasonable best efforts to cause the Merger and the to qualify for the Intended Tax Treatment.
(d) The Parties shall, and shall cause their respective Affiliates to, unless otherwise required by a final determination within the meaning of Section 1313(a) of the Code, file all income Tax Returns to be filed on a basis consistent with the Intended Tax Treatment. Each of the Parties agrees to use reasonable best efforts to promptly notify all other Parties of any challenge to the Intended Tax Treatment by any Governmental Entity. The Parties will cooperate with each other and their respective counsel to document and support the Intended Tax Treatment, including by providing factual support letters. The Parties shall cooperate fully, to the extent reasonably requested by the other Party, in connection with the filing of any Tax Returns of a Party. Such cooperation shall include the retention (in the case of the Parent and the Merger Sub, for any records and information that do not become property of the Company in the ordinary course in connection with the Closing, for a period of seven (7) years from the Closing, or for any longer periods as may be required by any Governmental Entity or ongoing litigation), and, upon the other Party’s request, the provision of records and information (including, but not limited to, previously filed Tax Returns) which are reasonably relevant to any such Tax Return filing and in the possession of the other Party or Affiliate thereof.
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7.10 Parent Incentive Plan. Prior to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, the Parent Board shall approve and adopt, and reserve shares of Parent Common Stock with respect to, the Parent Incentive Plan to be effective in connection with the Closing. The Parent Incentive Plan shall provide for an initial aggregate share reserve thereunder equal to the sum of (a) 10% of the number of shares of Parent Common Stock outstanding immediately following the Closing after giving effect to the transactions contemplated hereby, minus (b) the number of shares of Parent Common Stock subject to awards under the Stock Plan, as it may be amended from time to time, granted subsequent to the Execution Date and prior to the Effective Time multiplied by the Exchange Ratio plus (c) an annual increase on the first day of each calendar year beginning on the first January 1 following the Closing and ending on and including January 1 of the tenth calendar year thereafter, equal to the lesser of (i) 4% of the aggregate number of shares of Parent Common Stock outstanding on the final day of the immediately preceding calendar year and (ii) such smaller number of shares as is determined by the administrator of the Parent Incentive Plan.
ARTICLE VIII
CONDITIONS
8.1 Mutual Conditions to Obligation of Each Party. The respective obligation of each Party to consummate the Merger is subject to the satisfaction or waiver at or prior to the Effective Time of each of the following conditions:
(a) Stockholder Approval. (i) The Parent Stockholder Approval shall have been obtained, and (ii) the Company Stockholder Approval shall have been obtained.
(b) Regulatory Approvals. All waiting periods (and any extensions thereof) applicable to the consummation of the Transactions under the HSR Act shall have expired or been earlier terminated.
(c) No Laws or Governmental Orders. No Governmental Entity of competent jurisdiction shall have enacted, issued, promulgated, enforced or entered any Law or Governmental Order (whether temporary, preliminary or permanent) that is in effect and restrains, enjoins, makes illegal or otherwise prohibits the consummation of the Transactions.
(d) Registration Statement. The Registration Statement shall have become effective in accordance with the provisions of the Securities Act. No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall have been issued and remain in effect, and no Proceedings for that purpose shall have commenced or been threatened by the SEC.
(e) Net Tangible Assets. Parent shall have at least $5,000,001 of net tangible assets (as determined in accordance with Rule 3a51-1(g)(1) of the Exchange Act).
(f) Nasdaq Listing. Parent Common Stock to be issued pursuant to this Agreement shall be listed or have been approved for listing on NASDAQ, subject only to official notice of issuance thereof.
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8.2 Conditions to Obligation of Parent and Merger Sub. The respective obligation of Parent and Merger Sub to consummate the Merger is also subject to the satisfaction or waiver by Parent at or prior to the Effective Time of the following conditions:
(a) Representations and Warranties.
(i) The representations and warranties made by the Company that are expressly set forth in the first sentence of Section 3.1 (Organization, Good Standing and Qualification), Section 3.3 (Corporate Authority; Approval and Fairness), Section 3.6(a) (Absence of Certain Changes), and Section 3.19 (Brokers and Finders) shall be true and correct in all material respects as of the Closing Date (except to the extent that any such representation and warranty expressly speaks as of a particular date or period of time, in which case such representation and warranty shall be so true and correct in all respects or all material respects, as applicable, as of such particular date or period of time).
(ii) The representations and warranties made by the Company that are expressly set forth in the first sentence of each of Section 3.2(a) through Section 3.2(d) (Capital Structure of the Company) shall be true and correct in all respects (except for de minimis inaccuracies) as of the Closing Date (except to the extent that any such representation and warranty expressly speaks as of a particular date or period of time, in which case such representation and warranty shall be so true and correct in all respects (except for de minimis inaccuracies) as of such particular date or period of time).
(iii) The other representations and warranties made by the Company that are expressly set forth in ARTICLE III shall be true and correct as of the Closing Date (except to the extent that any such representation and warranty expressly speaks as of a particular date or period of time, in which case such representation and warranty shall be so true and correct as of such particular date or period of time), except for any failure of any such representation and warranty to be so true and correct (without giving effect to any materiality, Material Adverse Effect or other similar qualifier contained therein) that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(b) Performance of Obligations of the Company. The Company shall have performed or complied in all material respects with each of its obligations required to be performed or complied with by it under this Agreement at or prior to the Closing Date.
(c) Material Adverse Effect. Since the Execution Date, no Material Adverse Effect on the Company has occurred that is continuing.
(d) Company Closing Certificate. Parent and Merger Sub shall have received a certificate signed on behalf of the Company by an executive officer of the Company certifying that the conditions set forth in Section 8.2(a), Section 8.2(b) and Section 8.2(c) have been satisfied (the “Company Closing Certificate”).
(e) Transaction Documents. The Company shall have delivered to Parent each of the Transaction Documents to which the Company is a party, duly executed by the Company.
(f) Termination of Contracts. The Company shall have terminated each of the Contracts identified on Section 8.2(f) of the Company Disclosure Letter.
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8.3 Conditions to Obligation of the Company. The obligation of the Company to consummate the Merger is also subject to the satisfaction or waiver by the Company at or prior to the Effective Time of the following conditions:
(a) Representations and Warranties.
(i) The representations and warranties made by Parent and Merger Sub that are expressly set forth in the first sentence of Section 4.1 (Organization, Good Standing and Qualification), the first sentence of each of Sections 4.2(a) through 4.2(d) (Capital Structure of Parent), Section 4.3 (Corporate Authority; Approval) and Section 4.15 (Brokers and Finders) shall be true and correct in all material respects as of the Closing Date (except to the extent that any such representation and warranty expressly speaks as of a particular date or period of time, in which case, such representation and warranty shall be so true and correct in all respects or all material respects, as applicable, as of such particular date or period of time).
(ii) The other representations and warranties made by Parent and Merger Sub that are expressly set forth in ARTICLE IV shall be true and correct as of the Closing Date (except to the extent that any such representation and warranty expressly speaks as of a particular date or period of time, in which case such representation and warranty shall be so true and correct as of such particular date or period of time), except for any failure of any such representation and warranty to be so true and correct (without giving effect to any materiality, materiality adverse effect or other similar qualifier contained therein) that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect on Parent or prevent, materially delay or materially impair the ability of Parent or Merger Sub to consummate the Transactions.
(b) Performance of Obligations of Parent and Merger Sub. Each of Parent and Merger Sub shall have performed or complied in all material respects with each of its obligations required to be performed or complied with by it under this Agreement at or prior to the Closing Date.
(c) Parent Material Adverse Effect. Since the Execution Date, no Parent Material Adverse Effect on Parent has occurred that is continuing.
(d) Parent and Merger Sub Closing Certificate. The Company shall have received a certificate signed on behalf of Parent and Merger Sub by an executive officer of Parent certifying that the conditions set forth in Section 8.3(a), Section 8.3(b) and Section 8.3(c) have been satisfied (the “Parent Closing Certificate”).
(e) D&O Resignations. The directors and executive officers of Parent listed in Section 8.3(e) of the Parent Disclosure Letter shall have been removed from their respective positions or tendered their irrevocable resignations, in each case effective as of the Effective Time.
(f) Transaction Documents. The Parent shall have delivered to the Company each of the Transaction Documents to which the Parent is a party, duly executed by the Parent.
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ARTICLE IX
TERMINATION; SURVIVAL
9.1 Termination by Mutual Written Consent. This Agreement may be terminated and the Merger may be abandoned at any time prior to the Effective Time by mutual written consent of the Company and Parent.
9.2 Termination by Either Parent or the Company. This Agreement may be terminated and the Merger may be abandoned at any time prior to the Effective Time by written notice of either the Company or Parent to the other if:
(a) The Merger shall not have been consummated by 5:00 p.m. (New York Time) on or prior to November 13, 2023 (the “Outside Date”); provided, that the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 9.2(a) shall not be available to any Party that has breached in any material respect its obligations set forth in this Agreement in any manner that shall have proximately contributed to the occurrence of the failure of a condition to the consummation of the Merger (subject to the applicable notice and cure provisions set forth in this ARTICLE IX); or
(b) Any Law or final, non-appealable Governmental Order shall have been enacted, issued, promulgated, enforced or entered that permanently restrains, enjoins or otherwise prohibits consummation of the Merger; provided that the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 9.2(b) shall not be available to any Party that has breached in any material respect its obligations set forth in this Agreement in any manner that shall have proximately contributed to the enactment, issuance, promulgation, enforcement or entry of such Law or Governmental Order; provided, further that the Governmental Entity issuing such Governmental Order has jurisdiction over the parties hereto with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby.
(c) The Parent Stockholder Approval shall not have been obtained by reason of the failure to obtain the required vote upon a vote held at a Special Meeting or any adjournment.
9.3 Termination by Parent. This Agreement may be terminated and the Merger may be abandoned by Parent by providing written notice to the Company if:
(a) At any time prior to the Effective Time, there has been a breach by the Company of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement set forth in this Agreement such that the conditions in Section 8.2(a) or Section 8.2(b) would not be satisfied (and such breach is not curable prior to the Outside Date, or if curable prior to the Outside Date, has not been cured within the earlier of (i) 30 days after the giving of written notice thereof by Parent to the Company or (ii) three (3) Business Days prior to the Outside Date); provided, however, that the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 9.3(a) shall not be available to Parent if it has breached in any material respect its obligations set forth in this Agreement in any manner that shall have proximately contributed to the occurrence of the failure of a condition to the consummation of the Merger (subject to the applicable notice and cure provisions set forth in this ARTICLE IX); or
(b) The Company Stockholder Approval shall not have been obtained by reason of the failure to obtain the required vote prior to the Written Consent Deadline set forth in Section 7.3.
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9.4 Termination by the Company. This Agreement may be terminated and the Merger may be abandoned by the Company by providing written notice to Parent if:
(a) at any time prior to the Effective Time, there has been a breach by Parent or Merger Sub of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement set forth in this Agreement such that the conditions in Section 8.3(a) or Section 8.3(b) would not be satisfied (and such breach is not curable prior to the Outside Date, or if curable prior to the Outside Date, has not been cured within the earlier of (i) 30 days after the giving of written notice thereof by the Company to Parent or (ii) three (3) Business Days prior to the Outside Date); provided, however, that the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 9.4(a) shall not be available to the Company if it has breached in any material respect its obligations set forth in this Agreement in any manner that shall have proximately contributed to the occurrence of the failure of a condition to the consummation of the Merger (subject to the applicable notice and cure provisions set forth in this ARTICLE IX); or
(b) it provides such notice within fifteen (15) Business Days after the Parent Board shall have (or any committee or subgroup thereof shall have) made a Modification in Recommendation.
9.5 Effect of Termination. In the event of termination of this Agreement and the abandonment of the Merger pursuant to this ARTICLE IX, this Agreement and every other agreement, certificate, instrument or other document delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall become null and void and of no further force and effect, without any duties, obligations or liabilities on the part of any Party (or any of their Representatives or Affiliates). Notwithstanding the foregoing, (a) no such termination shall relieve any Party of any liability or damages to any other Party resulting from any fraud (with scienter) or Willful Breach of this Agreement prior to such termination; and (b) the following shall survive such termination: (i) Section 2.4 (Payment of Expenses), Section 3.21 (No Outside Reliance), Section 3.26 (No Other Representations or Warranties), Section 4.19 (No Outside Reliance), Section 4.20 (No Other Representations or Warranties), Section 5.3 (No Claims Against the Parent Trust Account), this Section 9.5 (Effect of Termination and Abandonment), and ARTICLE XI; (ii) the Confidentiality Agreement; and (iii) the definitions of any related defined terms used in the provisions or agreements described in the foregoing clauses (i) through (ii).
ARTICLE X
NO SURVIVAL
After the Effective Time, no representations, warranties, covenants or agreements contained in this Agreement or in any agreement, certificate, instrument or other document delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall survive, except for: (i) ARTICLE I, Section 3.21 (No Outside Reliance), Section 3.26 (No Other Representations or Warranties), Section 4.19 (No Outside Reliance), Section 4.20 (No Other Representations or Warranties), Section 6.3 (Indemnification; Directors’ and Officers’ Insurance), Section 7.7 (Tax Matters), this ARTICLE X and ARTICLE XI; (ii) the Confidentiality Agreement; (iii) those covenants and agreements that by their terms are to be performed or complied with, in whole or in part, after the Effective Time; and (iv) the definitions of any related defined terms used in the provisions or agreements described in the foregoing clauses (i) through (iii).
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ARTICLE XI
MISCELLANEOUS
11.1 Amendment; Waiver.
(a) Subject to the provisions of applicable Law and the provisions of Section 6.3 (Indemnification; Directors’ and Officers’ Insurance), at any time prior to the Effective Time, this Agreement may be amended, modified or waived if such amendment, modification or waiver is in writing and signed, in the case of an amendment or modification, by Parent, Merger Sub and the Company, or in the case of a waiver, by the Party against whom the waiver is to be effective. The conditions to each of the Parties’ respective obligations to consummate the Transactions are for the sole benefit of such Party and may be waived by such Party in whole or in part to the extent permitted by applicable Law; provided, however, that any such waiver shall only be effective if made in writing and executed by the Party against whom the waiver is to be effective.
(b) No failure or delay by any Party in exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder or under applicable Law shall operate as a waiver of such rights, and except as otherwise expressly provided herein, no single or partial exercise thereof shall preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege. The rights and remedies herein provided shall be cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies provided by Law.
11.2 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each such counterpart being deemed to be an original instrument, and all such counterparts shall together constitute the same agreement. The exchange of copies of this Agreement and signature pages by email in .pdf or .tif format (and including, without limitation, any electronic signature complying with the U.S. ESIGN Act of 2000, e.g., xxx.xxxxxxxx.xxx), or by any other electronic means intended to preserve the original graphic and pictorial appearance of a document, or by combination of such means, shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Agreement as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original Agreement for all purposes. Such execution and delivery shall be considered valid, binding and effective for all purposes.
11.3 Governing Law. This Agreement, and any claims or Proceedings arising out of this Agreement or the subject matter hereof (whether at law or equity, in contract or in tort or otherwise), shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware without regard to the conflict of law principles thereof (or any other jurisdiction) to the extent that such principles would direct a matter to another jurisdiction.
11.4 Forum; Waiver of Jury Trial.
(a) Each of the Parties agrees that: (i) it shall bring any Proceeding in connection with, arising out of or otherwise relating to this Agreement, any agreement, certificate, instrument or other document delivered pursuant to this Agreement or the Transactions exclusively in the courts of the State of Delaware in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware, or (and only if) such court finds it lacks subject matter jurisdiction, the Superior Court of the State of Delaware (Complex Commercial Division); provided that if subject matter jurisdiction over the Proceeding is vested exclusively in the United States federal courts, then such Proceeding shall be heard in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware (the “Chosen Courts”); and (ii) solely in connection with such Proceedings, (A) it irrevocably and unconditionally submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Chosen Courts, (B) it waives any objection to the laying of venue in any Proceeding in the Chosen Courts, (C) it waives any objection that the Chosen Courts are an inconvenient forum or do not have jurisdiction over any Party, (D) mailing of process or other papers in connection with any such Proceeding in the manner provided in Section 11.6 or in such other manner as may be permitted by applicable Law shall be valid and sufficient service thereof and (E) it shall not assert as a defense, any matter or claim waived by the foregoing clauses (A) through (D) of this Section 11.4 or that any Governmental Order issued by the Chosen Courts may not be enforced in or by the Chosen Courts.
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(b) EACH PARTY ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY BE IN CONNECTION WITH, ARISE OUT OF OR OTHERWISE RELATE TO THIS AGREEMENT, ANY INSTRUMENT OR OTHER DOCUMENT DELIVERED PURSUANT TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS, IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT ISSUES, AND THEREFORE EACH PARTY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY WITH RESPECT TO ANY PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN CONNECTION WITH, ARISING OUT OF OR OTHERWISE RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, ANY INSTRUMENT OR OTHER DOCUMENT DELIVERED PURSUANT TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS. EACH PARTY HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGES AND CERTIFIES (i) THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE OF THE OTHER PARTIES HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTIES WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER, (ii) IT UNDERSTANDS AND HAS CONSIDERED THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS WAIVER, (iii) IT MAKES THIS WAIVER VOLUNTARILY AND (iv) IT HAS BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE TRANSACTIONS, BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS, ACKNOWLEDGMENTS AND CERTIFICATIONS CONTAINED IN THIS SECTION 11.4(b).
11.5 Equitable Remedies. Each of the Parties acknowledges and agrees that the rights of each Party to consummate the Transactions are special, unique and of extraordinary character and that if for any reason any of the provisions of this Agreement are not performed or complied with in accordance with their terms or are otherwise breached, immediate and irreparable harm or damage would be caused for which money damages would not be an adequate remedy. Accordingly, each Party agrees that, in addition to any other available remedies a Party may have in equity or at law, each Party shall be entitled to equitable remedies against another Party for its breach or threatened breach of this Agreement, including to enforce specifically the terms and provisions of this Agreement or to obtain an injunction restraining any such breach or threatened breach of the provisions of this Agreement in the Chosen Courts, in each case, (i) without necessity of posting a bond or other form of security and (ii) without proving the inadequacy of money damages or another any remedy at law. In the event that a Party seeks equitable remedies in any Proceeding (including to enforce the provisions of this Agreement or prevent breaches or threatened breaches of this Agreement), no Party shall raise any defense or objection, and each Party hereby waives any and all defenses and objections, to such equitable remedies on grounds that (x) money damages would be adequate or there is another adequate remedy at law or (y) the Party seeking equitable remedies must either post a bond or other form of security and prove the inadequacy of money damages or another any remedy at law.
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11.6 Notices. All notices, requests, instructions, consents, claims, demands, waivers, approvals and other communications to be given or made hereunder by one or more Parties to one or more of the other Parties shall, unless otherwise specified herein, be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given or made on the date of receipt by the recipient thereof if received prior to 5:00 p.m. in the place of receipt and such day is a Business Day (or otherwise on the next succeeding Business Day) if (a) served by personal delivery or by a nationally recognized overnight courier service upon the Party or Parties for whom it is intended, (b) delivered by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, or (c) sent by email. Such communications shall be sent to the respective Parties at the following street addresses or email addresses or at such other street address or email address for a Party as shall be specified for such purpose in a notice given in accordance with this Section 11.6:
If to the Company:
ConnectM Technology Solutions, Inc.
0 Xx. Xxxxx Xxx., Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Email: Xxxxxxx@xxxxxxxx.xxx
with a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):
Xxxxx & Xxxxxxxx LLP
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Esq.
Email: xxxxxxx@xxxxxxxx.xxx
If to Parent or Merger Sub:
Monterey Capital Acquisition Corporation
000 Xxxxxxx Xx.
Xxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxx Xxxxxxxxxx, Chief Executive Officer
Email: xxxx@xxxxxxxxxx.xxx
with a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):
Xxxxx, Xxxxx, Xxxx, Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxx and Xxxxx, P.C.
Xxx Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx XXX; Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Email: xxxxxxxx@xxxxx.xxx; xxxxxxxx@xxxxx.xxx
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11.7 Entire Agreement.
(a) This Agreement (including the exhibits, schedules and annexes), the Company Disclosure Letter, the Parent Disclosure Letter, and the Transaction Documents and the Confidentiality Agreement constitute the entire agreement among the Parties and their Affiliates with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof and supersede all prior and contemporaneous agreements, negotiations, understandings, and representations and warranties, whether oral or written, with respect to such matters.
(b) Without limiting Section 3.21 (No Outside Reliance), Section 3.26 (No Other Representations or Warranties), Section 4.19 (No Outside Reliance), and Section 4.20 (No Other Representations or Warranties), each Party acknowledges and agrees that, except for the representations and warranties expressly set forth in ARTICLE III and ARTICLE IV, in the Transaction Documents or in any agreement, certificate, instrument or other document delivered pursuant to this Agreement or the Transaction Documents, (i) no Party has made or is making any representations, warranties or inducements, (ii) no Party has relied on or is relying on any representations, warranties, inducements, statements, materials or information (including as to the accuracy or completeness of any statements, materials or information) and (iii) each Party hereby disclaims reliance on any representations, warranties, inducements, statements, materials or information (whether oral or written, express or implied, or otherwise) or on the accuracy or completeness of any statements, materials or information, in each case of clauses (i) through (iii), relating to or in connection with the negotiation, execution or delivery of this Agreement or any Transaction Documents, the agreements, certificates, instruments or other documents delivered pursuant to this Agreement or the Transaction Documents, or the Transactions. Each Party hereby releases, discharges, ceases and waives any and all claims, demands, liabilities, obligations, debts, damages, losses, expenses, costs and Proceedings (whether in contract or in tort, in law or in equity, or granted by statute) relating to the making (or alleged making) of any representations, warranties or inducements, the disclosure or making available of any statements, materials or information (or the accuracy or completeness thereof), or the reliance on (or alleged reliance on) any representations, warranties, inducements, statements, materials or information (including the accuracy or completeness of any statements, materials or information), except for such claims, demands, liabilities, obligations, debts, damages, losses, expenses, costs and Proceedings arising from fraud (with scienter) with respect to the representations and warranties expressly set forth in ARTICLE III and ARTICLE IV, in the Transaction Documents or in any agreement, certificate, instrument or other document delivered pursuant to this Agreement or the Transaction Documents.
11.8 Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Parties (and any of their respective successors and permitted assigns). No Party shall be permitted to assign any of its rights or delegate any of its obligations under this Agreement, in whole or in part, by operation of Law or otherwise, without the prior written consent of the other Parties, and any attempted or purported assignment or delegation in violation of this Section 11.8 shall be null and void.
11.9 Third Party Beneficiaries. Except for the Indemnified Parties with respect to the provisions of Section 6.3 (Indemnification; Directors’ and Officers’ Insurance), the Parties hereby agree that their respective representations, warranties, covenants and agreements set forth in this Agreement are solely for the benefit of the other Parties on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement and are not for the benefit of any other Person who is not a party to this Agreement. Other than the Parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns, this Agreement is not intended to, and does not, confer upon any Person any rights or remedies, express or implied, hereunder, including the right to rely upon the representations and warranties set forth in this Agreement. The representations and warranties in this Agreement are the product of negotiations among the Parties. Any inaccuracies in such representations and warranties are subject to waiver by the Parties in accordance with Section 11.1 without notice or liability to any other Person. In some instances, the representations and warranties in this Agreement may represent an allocation among the Parties of risks associated with particular matters regardless of the knowledge of any of the Parties. Consequently, Persons other than the Parties may not rely upon the representations and warranties in this Agreement as characterizations of actual facts or circumstances as of the Execution Date or as of any other date.
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11.10 Non-Recourse. Any and all claims, demands, liabilities, obligations, debts, damages, losses, expenses, costs or Proceedings (whether in contract or in tort, in law or in equity, or granted by statute) that may be based upon, in respect of, arise under, out or by reason of, be connected with, or relate in any manner to this Agreement or the subject matter hereof (including the Transactions), any agreement, certificate, instrument or other document delivered pursuant to this Agreement or the subject matter thereof, or any negotiation, execution, or performance of any of the foregoing, shall be brought, raised or claimed only against the Persons that are expressly identified as “Parties” in the preamble to this Agreement (the “Contracting Parties”). No Nonparty Person shall have any responsibility, obligation or liability for any claims, demands, liabilities, obligations, debts, damages, losses, expenses, costs or Proceedings (whether in contract or in tort, in law or in equity, or granted by statute) arising under, out of, in connection with, or related in any manner to this Agreement or based on, in respect of, or by reason of this Agreement (including the Transactions) or its negotiation, execution, performance, or breach and, to the maximum extent permitted by Laws, each Contracting Party hereby irrevocably, unconditionally, completely and forever releases, discharges, ceases and waives all such claims, demands, liabilities, obligations, debts, damages, losses, expenses, costs or Proceedings (whether in contract or in tort, in law or in equity, or granted by statute) against any such Nonparty Persons. Without limiting the foregoing, to the maximum extent permitted by Laws, (a) each Contracting Party hereby irrevocably, unconditionally, completely and forever releases, discharges, ceases and waives any and all claims, demands, liabilities, obligations, debts, damages, losses, expenses, costs or Proceedings (whether in contract or in tort, in law or in equity, or granted by statute) that may otherwise be available at law or in equity, or granted by statute, to avoid or disregard the entity form of a Contracting Party or otherwise impose liability of a Contracting Party on any Nonparty Person, whether granted by statute or based on theories of equity, agency, control, instrumentality, alter ego, domination, sham, single business enterprise, piercing the veil, unfairness, undercapitalization, or otherwise; and (b) each Contracting Party disclaims any reliance upon any Nonparty Person with respect to the performance of this Agreement or any representation or warranty made in, in connection with, or as an inducement to this Agreement. The “Nonparty Persons” means the Persons who are not Contracting Parties, and the term “Nonparty Persons” shall include, but not be limited to, all past, present or future stockholders, members, partners, other securityholders, controlling Persons, directors, managers, officers, employees, incorporator, Affiliates, agents, attorneys, advisors, other Representatives, lenders, capital providers, successors or permitted assigns of all Contracting Parties, all Affiliates of any Contracting Party or of all past, present or future stockholders, members, partners, other securityholders, controlling Persons, directors, managers, officers, employees, incorporator, Affiliates, agents, attorneys, advisors, other Representatives, lenders, capital providers, successors or permitted assigns of all of the foregoing.
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11.11 Severability. The provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed severable and the illegality, invalidity or unenforceability of any provision shall not affect the legality, validity or enforceability of the other provisions of this Agreement. If any provision of this Agreement, or the application of such provision to any Person or any circumstance, is illegal, invalid or unenforceable, (a) a suitable and equitable provision to be negotiated by the Parties, each acting reasonably and in good faith shall be substituted therefor in order to carry out, so far as may be legal, valid and enforceable, the intent and purpose of such legal, invalid or unenforceable provision, and (b) the remainder of this Agreement and the application of such provision to other Persons or circumstances shall not be affected by such illegality, invalidity or unenforceability, nor shall such illegality, invalidity or unenforceability affect the legality, validity or enforceability of such provision, or the application of such provision, in any other jurisdiction.
11.12 Interpretation and Construction.
(a) The table of contents and headings herein are for convenience of reference only, do not constitute part of this Agreement and shall not be deemed to limit or otherwise affect any of the provisions hereof.
(b) The Preamble, and all Recital, Article, Section, Subsection, Schedule and Exhibit references used in this Agreement are to the recitals, articles, sections, subsections, schedules and exhibits to this Agreement unless otherwise specified herein.
(c) Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, for purposes of this Agreement: (i) the terms defined in the singular have a comparable meaning when used in the plural and vice versa; (ii) words importing the masculine gender shall include the feminine and neutral genders and vice versa; (iii) whenever the words “includes” or “including” are used, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words “including without limitation”; (iv) the word “or” is not exclusive; (v) the words “hereto,” “hereof,” “hereby,” “herein,” “hereunder” and similar terms in this Agreement shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not any particular provision of this Agreement; and (vi) the word “extent” in the phrase “to the extent” shall mean the degree to which a subject or other thing extends and such phrase shall not mean simply “if”.
(d) Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, the term “dollars” and the symbol “$” mean United States Dollars.
(e) References to “securities” shall mean “securities” within the meaning of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, and the applicable rules, regulations and other Laws promulgated thereunder or interpreting or supplementing the Securities Act and the Exchange Act.
(f) When calculating the period of time within which, or following which, any act is to be done or step taken pursuant to this Agreement, the date that is the reference day in calculating such period shall be excluded and if the last day of the period is a non-Business Day, the period in question shall end on the next Business Day or if any action must be taken hereunder on or by a day that is not a Business Day, then such action may be validly taken on or by the next day that is a Business Day. References to a number of days, shall refer to calendar days unless Business Days are specified.
(g) All references in this Agreement to any statute or other Law include the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder by a Governmental Entity, in each case, as amended, re-enacted, consolidated or replaced from time to time. In the case of any such amendment, re-enactment, consolidation or replacement, reference herein to a particular provision shall be read as referring to such amended, re-enacted, consolidated or replaced provision and shall also include, unless the context otherwise requires, all applicable guidelines, bulletins or policies made in connection therewith, solely to the extent that such guidelines, bulletins or policies may carry the force of law.
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(h) The Company Disclosure Letter and Parent Disclosure Letter may include items and information the disclosure of which is not required either in response to an express disclosure requirement contained in a provision of this Agreement or as an exception to one or more representations or warranties contained in ARTICLE III or ARTICLE IV, as applicable, or to one or more covenants contained in this Agreement. Inclusion of any items or information in the Company Disclosure Letter or Parent Disclosure Letter, as applicable, shall not be deemed to be an acknowledgement or agreement that any such item or information (or any non-disclosed item or information of comparable or greater significance) is “material” or that, individually or in the aggregate, has had or would reasonably be expected to have either a Material Adverse Effect or Parent Material Adverse Effect, as applicable, or to affect the interpretation of such term for purposes of this Agreement.
(i) The Parties have participated jointly in negotiating and drafting this Agreement. In the event that an ambiguity or a question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement shall be construed as if drafted jointly by the Parties, and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring any Party by virtue of the authorship of any provision of this Agreement.
11.13 Definitions. The terms contained in Exhibit A to this Agreement shall have the meaning ascribed to such term as set forth in Exhibit A.
[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank; Signature Pages Follow.]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement and Plan of Merger has been duly executed and delivered by the Parties as of the date first written above.
COMPANY:
CONNECTM TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS, INC.
By: | /s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx | |
Name: | Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx | |
Title: | Chairman and CEO |
Signature
Page to
Agreement and Plan of Merger
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement and Plan of Merger has been duly executed and delivered by the Parties as of the date first written above.
PARENT:
MONTEREY CAPITAL ACQUISITION CORPORATION
By: | /s/ Xxxx Xxxxxxxxxx | |
Name: | Xxxx Xxxxxxxxxx | |
Title: | Chairman and CEO |
MERGER SUB:
CHRONOS MERGER SUB, INC.
By: | /s/ Xxxx Xxxxxxxxxx | |
Name: | Xxxx Xxxxxxxxxx | |
Title: | President |
Signature
Page to
Agreement and Plan of Merger
EXHIBIT A
CERTAIN DEFINITIONS
“Additional Proposal” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.1(c).
“Affiliate” or “Affiliates” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with such Person as of the date on which, or at any time during the period for which, the determination of affiliation is being made. For purposes of this definition, the term “control” including the correlative meanings of the terms “controlled by” and “under common control with”, as used with respect to any Person, means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by Contract or otherwise.
“Affordable Care Act” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.10(a).
“Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.
“Allocation Statement” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.5(a).
“Amendment Proposal” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.1(c).
“Antitrust Law” means the Xxxxxxx Antitrust Act of 1890, the Xxxxxxx Act of 1914, the HSR Act and all other United States or non-United States antitrust, competition, merger control or other Laws that are designed or intended to prohibit, restrict or regulate actions having the purpose or effect of monopolization or restraint of trade or lessening of competition through merger or acquisition.
“Assumed Option” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(b)(i).
“Assumed Plan” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(b)(i).
“Assumed Warrant” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(b)(iii).
“Bankruptcy and Equity Exception” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.3(a).
“Business Combination” has the meaning ascribed to such term in the Parent Certificate of Incorporation.
“Business Day” means any day, other than a Saturday or Sunday or a day on which banks in the City of New York, or solely with respect to the Closing Date, the Department of State of the State of Delaware is required or authorized by Law to close.
“CARES Act” means the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act.
“Certificate of Merger” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.3.
“Certificates” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(b).
Exhibit A - Page 1
“Chosen Courts” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.4(a).
“Closing” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.2.
“Closing Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.2.
“COBRA” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.10(d).
“Code” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
“Company” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.
“Company Acquisition Proposal” means (a) any transaction or series of related transactions under which any Person(s), directly or indirectly, (i) acquires or otherwise purchases the Company or (ii) all or a material portion of assets or business of the Company (in the case of each of clause (i) and (ii), whether by merger, consolidation, recapitalization, purchase or issuance of equity securities, tender offer or otherwise), or (b) any equity or similar investment in the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything to the contrary herein, none of this Agreement, the Transaction Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall constitute a Company Acquisition Proposal.
“Company Benefit Plan” means any benefit or compensation plan, program, policy, practice, agreement, Contract, arrangement or other obligation, whether or not in writing and whether or not funded, in each case, which is sponsored or maintained by, or required to be contributed to, or with respect to which any potential liability is borne by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries including, but not limited to, “employee benefit plans” within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA (“ERISA Plans”), employment, retirement, retention, severance, termination or change-in-control agreements, deferred compensation, equity-based, incentive, bonus, supplemental retirement, profit sharing, insurance, medical, welfare, fringe or other benefits or remuneration of any kind.
“Company Board” means the board of directors of the Company.
“Company Closing Certificate” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.2(d).
“Company Common Stock” means the shares of the Company’s Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share.
“Company Disclosure Letter” has the meaning set forth in ARTICLE III.
“Company Dissenting Shares” means shares of Company Common Stock that are held by Dissenting Stockholders.
“Company Employee” means any current or former employee, director or independent contractor (who is a natural person) of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
Exhibit A - Page 2
“Company Expenses” means, as of any determination time, the aggregate amount of fees, expense, commissions or other amounts incurred by or on behalf of, or otherwise payable by, whether or not due, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with the negotiation, preparation or execution of this Agreement or any Transaction Document, the performance of its covenants or agreements in this Agreement or any Transaction Document or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, including (a) the fees and expenses of outside legal counsel, accountants, advisors, brokers, investment bankers, consultants, or other agents or service providers of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, and (b) any other fees, expenses, commissions or other amounts that are expressly allocated to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to this Agreement or any Transaction Document., Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything to the contrary herein, Company Expenses shall not include any Parent Expenses.
“Company Expense Reimbursement” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(b).
“Company ERISA Affiliate” means all employers (whether or not incorporated) that would be treated together with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries as a “single employer” within the meaning of Section 414 of the Code.
“Company Fully Diluted Capital Stock” means, without duplication, a number of shares of Company Stock equal to (a) the aggregate number of shares of Company Stock that are issued and outstanding as of immediately prior to the Effective Time; plus (b) the aggregate number of shares of Company Stock subject to outstanding Company Warrants as of immediately prior to the Effective Time; minus (b) the Treasury Shares outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time.
“Company Intellectual Property” means all Intellectual Property Rights that are owned or purported to be owned by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
“Company Material Contracts” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.18(a).
“Company Option” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(c)(i).
“Company Preferred Stock” means collectively, the Company Series Seed-1 Preferred Stock, the Company Series A-1 Preferred Stock, the Company Series B-1 Preferred Stock and the Company Series B-2 Preferred Stock.
“Company Product” means each product candidate that is being researched, tested, developed or manufactured by or on behalf of the Company and its Subsidiaries.
“Company Related Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.25.
“Company Related Party Transactions” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.25.
“Company Series Seed-1 Preferred Stock” means the Company’s Series Seed-1 Preferred Stock, par value $0.0001, per share.
“Company Series A-1 Preferred Stock” means the Company’s Series A-1 Preferred Stock, par value $0.0001, per share.
Exhibit A - Page 3
“Company Series B-1 Preferred Stock” means the Company’s Series B-1 Preferred Stock, par value $0.0001, per share.
“Company Series B-2 Preferred Stock” means the Company’s Series B-2 Preferred Stock, par value $0.0001, per share.
“Company Stock” means, collectively, the Company Common Stock and the Company Preferred Stock.
“Company Stockholder” means the holder of a share of Company Common Stock.
“Company Stockholder Approval” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.3(a).
“Company Stockholder Support Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
“Company Stockholder Lock-Up Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
“Confidentiality Agreement” means the confidentiality agreement, entered into between the Company and Parent, dated May 28, 2022.
“Contract” means any legally binding contract, agreement, lease, license, note, mortgage, indenture, arrangement or other obligation.
“Contracting Parties” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.10.
“Costs” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.3(a).
“COVID-19” means SARS-CoV-2 or COVID-19, and any evolutions or mutations thereof or related or associated epidemics, pandemics or disease outbreaks.
“COVID-19 Measures” means any quarantine, “shelter in place,” “stay at home,” workforce reduction, social distancing, shut down, closure, sequester, safety or similar Law, directive, guidelines or recommendations promulgated by any Governmental Entity, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization, in each case, in connection with or in response to COVID-19, including the CARES Act and Families First Act.
“Company Warrant” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(b)(iii).
“D&O Insurance” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.3(b).
“DGCL” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
“Dissenting Stockholders” means any Person who has perfected a demand for appraisal rights pursuant to Section 262 of the DGCL.
“Effective Time” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.3.
“Encumbrance” any pledge, lien, charge, option, hypothecation, mortgage, security interest, adverse right, prior assignment, license, sublicense or any other encumbrance of any kind or nature whatsoever, whether contingent or absolute, or any agreement, option, right or privilege (whether by Law, contract or otherwise) capable of becoming any of the foregoing. The term “Encumber” shall have the correlative meaning.
Exhibit A - Page 4
“Environmental Law” means any Law relating to: (a) the protection, investigation, remediation or restoration of the environment, health, safety or natural resources; (b) the handling, labeling, management, recycling, generation, use, storage, treatment, transportation, presence, disposal, release or threatened release of any Hazardous Substance; or (c) any noise, odor, or indoor air, employee exposure, wetlands, pollution, contamination or any injury or threat of injury to persons or property relating to any Hazardous Substance.
“equity securities” means any share, share capital, capital stock, partnership, membership, unit, joint venture or similar interest in any Person (including any stock appreciation, phantom stock, profit participation or similar rights), and any option, warrant, right or security (including debt securities) convertible, exchangeable or exercisable therefor.
“ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.
“ERISA Plans” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Company Benefit Plan.”
“Execution Date” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
“Exchange Agent” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(a).
“Exchange Fund” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(a).
“Exchange Ratio” means the quotient of (a) the Merger Consideration, divided by (b) the number of shares of Company Fully Diluted Capital Stock.
“Export Laws” means (a) all laws imposing trade sanctions on any person, including, all laws administered by the U.S. Department of the Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control, all sanctions laws or embargos imposed or administered by the U.S. Department of State, the United Nations Security Council, all anti-boycott Laws administered by the U.S. Department of State or the Department of Treasury, and any other trade sanctions imposed by any governmental authority with jurisdiction over the Company or its products, and (b) all laws relating to the import, export, re-export, or transfer of information, data, goods, and technology, including the Export Administration Regulations administered by the U.S. Department of Commerce, the International Traffic in Arms Regulations administered by the U.S. Department of State, and any other export control restrictions imposed by any governmental authority with jurisdiction over the Company or its products.
“FCPA” means the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977.
“Financial Statements” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.5(a).
“Forward Stock Purchase Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
Exhibit A - Page 5
“FSPA Investors” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
“FTC” means the Federal Trade Commission.
“GAAP” means United States generally accepted accounting principles, consistently applied.
“Government Official” means any official, officer, employee, or representative of, or any Person acting in an official capacity for or on behalf of, any Governmental Entity, and includes any official or employee of any entity directly or indirectly owned or controlled by any Governmental Entity, and any officer or employee of a public international organization, as well as any Person acting in an official capacity for or on behalf of any such Governmental Entity, or for or on behalf of any such public international organization.
“Governmental Entity” means any United States federal, state or local, non-United States, supranational or transnational governmental (including public international organizations), quasi-governmental, regulatory or self-regulatory authority, agency, commission, body, department or instrumentality or any court, tribunal or arbitrator or other entity or subdivision thereof or other legislative, executive or judicial entity or subdivision thereof, in each case, of competent jurisdiction.
“Governmental Order” means any order, writ, judgment, temporary, preliminary or permanent injunction, decree, ruling, stipulation, determination, or award entered by or with any Governmental Entity.
“Hazardous Substance” means any: (a) substance that is listed, designated, classified or regulated pursuant to any Environmental Law; (b) any substance that is a petroleum product or by-product, asbestos-containing material, lead-containing paint or plumbing, polychlorinated biphenyls, mold, radioactive material or radon; and (c) other substance that poses a risk of harm or may be the subject of regulation or liability in connection with any Environmental Law (in each case, excluding any office or cleaning supplies that are safely stored and maintained).
“HSR Act” means the Xxxx-Xxxxx-Xxxxxx Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976.
“Indebtedness” means, with respect to any Person, without duplication, any obligations (whether or not contingent) consisting of (a) indebtedness for borrowed money and (b) payment obligations evidenced by any promissory note, bond, debenture, mortgage or other debt instrument or debt security, (c) amounts owing as deferred purchase price for property or services, including “earnout” payments (but excluding any trade payables arising in the ordinary course of business), (d) contingent reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit, bankers’ acceptance or similar facilities (in each case to the extent drawn), (e) payment obligations of a third party guaranteed by such Person or secured by (or for which the holder of such payment obligations has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any Encumbrance, other than a Permitted Encumbrance, on assets or properties of such Person, whether or not the obligations secured thereby have been assumed, (f) obligations under capitalized leases, (g) any unfunded or underfunded liabilities pursuant to any pension or nonqualified deferred compensation plan or arrangement and any earned but unpaid compensation (including salary, bonuses and paid time off) for any period prior to the Closing Date and (h) with respect to each of the foregoing, any unpaid interest and any breakage costs, prepayment or redemption penalties or premiums, or other unpaid fees or obligations (including unreimbursed expenses or indemnification obligations for which a claim has been made) (in each case, to the extent actually triggered); provided, however, that Indebtedness shall not include between two or more wholly-owned Subsidiaries of such Person or accounts payable to trade creditors that are not past due and accrued expenses arising in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice.
Exhibit A - Page 6
“Indemnification Agreement” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.9.
“Indemnified Parties” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.3(a).
“Initial Public Offering” means the initial public offering of the Parent’s securities pursuant to the Parent’s Registration Statement on Form S-1, registration number 333-264460, declared effective by the SEC on the S-1 Effectiveness Date.
“Insurance Policies” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.17.
“Intellectual Property Rights” means all rights anywhere in the world in or to: (i) trademarks, service marks, brand names, certification marks, collective marks, logos, symbols, trade dress, trade names, and other indicia of origin, all applications and registrations for the foregoing, and all goodwill associated therewith and symbolized thereby, including all renewals of the same; (ii) patents, patent applications, registrations, and invention disclosures, including divisional, revisions, supplementary protection certificates, continuations, continuations-in-part, renewals, extensions, substitutes, re-issues and re-examinations; (iii) confidential or proprietary trade secrets, inventions, discoveries, ideas, improvements, information, know-how, data and databases, including proprietary or confidential processes, schematics, business methods, formulae, drawings, specifications, prototypes, models, designs, customer lists and supplier lists; (iv) published and unpublished works of authorship, whether copyrightable or not (including Software, website and mobile content, data, databases and other compilations of information), copyrights therein and thereto, and registrations and applications thereof, or and all renewals, extensions, restorations and reversions thereof; (v) Internet domain names and URLs; and (vi) all other intellectual property rights recognized under applicable Law.
“Intended Tax Treatment” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.7(b).
“Investment Company Act” means the Investment Company Act of 1940.
“IPO S-1” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.5(a).
“IRS” means the United States Internal Revenue Service.
“IT Assets” means information technology devices, computers, Software, firmware, middleware, servers, networks, workstations, routers, hubs, circuits, switches, data communications lines, and all other information technology equipment, and all associated documentation.
“JOBS Act” means the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012.
Exhibit A - Page 7
“Knowledge” when used in this Agreement (a) with respect to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries means the actual knowledge of Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx and Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx and (b) with respect to Parent means the actual knowledge of, Xxxx Xxxxxxxxxx and Xxxxxx Xxxxx, in each case after due inquiry for the matter in question.
“Latest Balance Sheet” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.5(a).
“Law” or “Laws” means any federal, state, local, foreign, international or transnational law, statute, ordinance, controlling common law, rule, regulation, judgment, determination, order, writ, injunction, decree, arbitration award, treaty, authorization, license or permit of any Governmental Entity.
“Leases” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.15(b).
“Leased Real Property” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.15(b).
“Letter of Transmittal” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(b).
“Look-Back Date” means the date that is three (3) years prior to the Execution Date.
“Material Adverse Effect” means any effect, event, development, change, state of facts, condition, circumstance or occurrence that, individually or in the aggregate with others, is or would reasonably be expected to be materially adverse to (a) the business, assets, results of operations and condition (financial or otherwise) of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or (b) the ability of the Company to consummate the Merger in accordance with the terms of this Agreement (other than, with respect to Section 8.2(c), any Proceeding related to the Transaction Documents or the Transactions); provided, however, that in the case of clause (a) no effect, event, development, change, state of facts, condition, circumstance or occurrence constituting, resulting or arising from any of the following, alone or in combination, shall be deemed to constitute, or be taken into account in determining whether a Material Adverse Effect has occurred or would reasonably be expected to occur: (A) any change in interest rates or conditions or factors generally affecting the economy, credit, capital, securities or financial markets or any political, regulatory or business conditions in any jurisdiction; (B) any conditions or factors generally affecting the industry, markets or geographical areas in which the Company and its Subsidiaries operate; (C) changes or modifications in GAAP or in any applicable Law or in the interpretation or enforcement thereof, after the Execution Date; (D) any failure by the Company to meet any internal or public projections or forecasts or estimates of revenues or earnings for any period (except that the underlying causes of such failure may be taken into account for purposes of determining whether a Material Adverse Effect has occurred or would reasonably be expected to occur to the extent not excludable pursuant to clauses (A) through (F)); or (E) acts of war (whether or not declared), civil disobedience, hostilities, sabotage, terrorism, military actions or the escalation of any of the foregoing, any hurricane, flood, tornado, earthquake or other weather or natural disaster, or any pandemic (including the COVID-19 pandemic, or any COVID-19 Measures or any change in such COVID-19 Measures or interpretations following the Execution Date), outbreak of illness or other public health event or any other force majeure event; (F) the announcement of this Agreement, the pendency of the Transactions or the performance of this Agreement, including the impact thereof on relationships, contractual or otherwise, with suppliers, licensors, distributors, service providers and employees (provided that the exception in this clause (F) shall not apply to the representations and warranties set forth in Section 3.4 to the extent that their purpose is to address the consequences resulting from the public announcement or pendency or consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the condition set forth in Section 8.2(a) to the extent it relates to such representations and warranties); provided, further that effects, events, developments, changes, state of facts, conditions, circumstances or occurrences constituting, resulting or arising from the matters described in clauses (A), (B), (C) and (E) may be taken into account in determining whether a “Material Adverse Effect” has occurred to the extent it has a materially disproportionate and adverse effect on the business, assets, results of operations and condition (financial or otherwise) of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, relative to similarly situated companies in the industry in which the Company and its Subsidiaries conduct their respective operations.
Exhibit A - Page 8
“Merger” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
“Merger Consideration” means a number of shares of Parent Common Stock equal to the quotient of (i) the sum of (x) $145,000,000 plus (y) the Parent Expenses Adjustment Amount, divided by (ii) $10.00.
“Merger Sub” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.
“Modification in Recommendation” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.2(b).
“Multiemployer Plan” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.10(c).
“NASDAQ” means the NASDAQ Stock Market.
“NASDAQ Proposal” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.1(c).
“Nonparty Persons” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.10.
“ordinary course of business” or any similar phrase means the ordinary course of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries, after taking into account any effects, adjustments or changes in connection with COVID-19 Measures.
“Organizational Documents” means (i) with respect to any Person that is a corporation, its articles or certificate of incorporation, memorandum and articles of association, as applicable, bylaws, stockholders agreements, voting rights agreements or comparable documents, (ii) with respect to any Person that is a partnership, its certificate of formation or partnership, partnership agreement, or comparable documents, (iii) with respect to any Person that is a limited liability company, its certificate of formation, limited liability company agreement, operating agreement, members agreement or comparable documents, (iv) with respect to any Person that is a trust, its declaration or agreement of trust or other constituent document or comparable documents, (v) with respect to any other Person that is an entity, its comparable constituent, organizational or securityholder documents and (vi) with respect to any of the foregoing Persons, the term “Organizational Documents” shall include any other agreements among such Person and its stockholders, partners, members, beneficiaries or securityholders, as applicable, concerning the voting or disposition of securities of or interests in such Person.
Exhibit A - Page 9
“Outside Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.2(a).
“Outstanding Company Expenses” means, as of any determination time, the aggregate amount of Company Expenses then unpaid.
“Outstanding Parent Expenses” means, as of any determination time, the aggregate amount of Parent Expenses then unpaid.
“Owned Real Property” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.15.
“Parent” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.
“Parent Acquisition Proposal” means any transaction or series of related transactions under which Parent or any of its controlled Affiliates, directly or indirectly, (i) acquires or otherwise purchases any other Person(s), (ii) is acquired by or otherwise purchased by any other Person(s), (iii) engages in a business combination with any other Person(s), (iv) acquires or otherwise purchases any material portion of equity securities of any Person or all or a material portion of the assets or businesses of any other Persons(s) or (v) sells or otherwise disposes of any material portion of its equity securities or all or a material portion of the its assets or businesses (in the case of each of clauses (i), (ii), (iii) (iv) or (v), whether by merger, consolidation, recapitalization, purchase or issuance of equity securities, tender offer or otherwise). Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything to the contrary herein, none of this Agreement, the Transaction Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall constitute a Parent Acquisition Proposal.
“Parent Benefit Plan” means any benefit or compensation plan, program, policy, practice, agreement, Contract, arrangement or other obligation, whether or not in writing and whether or not funded, in each case, which is sponsored or maintained by, or required to be contributed to, or with respect to which any potential liability is borne by Parent or any of its Subsidiaries including, but not limited to, ERISA Plans, employment, consulting, retirement, retention, severance, termination or change-in-control agreements, deferred compensation, equity-based, incentive, bonus, supplemental retirement, profit sharing, insurance, medical, welfare, fringe or other benefits or remuneration of any kind.
“Parent Board” means the board of directors of Parent.
“Parent Board Recommendation” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.2(b).
“Parent Certificate of Incorporation” means the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Parent, filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on May 10, 2022.
“Parent Class A Common Stock” means Parent’s Class A Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share.
“Parent Class B Common Stock” means Parent’s Class B Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share.
“Parent Closing Certificate” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.3(d).
Exhibit A - Page 10
“Parent Common Stock” means, prior to the Effective Time, Parent Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock and, from and after the Effective Time, Parent’s common stock, par value $0.0001 per share.
“Parent Disclosure Letter” has the meaning set forth in ARTICLE IV.
“Parent Disclosure Reports” has the meaning set forth in ARTICLE IV.
“Parent Expenses” means, as of any determination time, the aggregate amount of fees, expense, commissions or other amounts incurred by or on behalf of, or otherwise payable by, whether or not due, Parent or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with the negotiation, preparation or execution of this Agreement or any Transaction Documents, the performance of its covenants or agreements in this Agreement or any Transaction Document or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, including (a) the fees and expenses of outside legal counsel, accountants, advisors, brokers, placement agents, investment bankers, consultants, or other agents or service providers of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries, (b) amounts due to the underwriters of Parent’s initial public offering for their deferred underwriting commissions and (c) any other fees, expenses, commissions or other amounts that are expressly allocated to Parent or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to this Agreement or any Transaction Document, including the HSR Act filing fee, if any. Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything to the contrary herein, Parent Expenses shall not include any Company Expenses.
“Parent Expenses Adjustment Amount” means the excess, if any, of (i) the sum of (x) the Outstanding Parent Expenses as of the Closing Date minus (ii) $8,000,000.
“Parent Financial Statements” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.5(i).
“Parent Incentive Plan” has the meaning specified in the Recitals.
“Parent Incentive Plan Proposal” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.1(c).
“Parent Intervening Event” means any material change, event, circumstance, occurrence, effect, development or state of facts (a) that was not known or reasonably foreseeable to the Parent Board as of the Execution Date and that becomes known to the Parent Board after the Execution Date and (b) that does not relate to (x) any Parent Acquisition Proposal; (y) any change in the price or trading volume of Parent Common Stock; or (z) any change, event, circumstance, occurrence, effect, development or state of facts that is not taken into account in determining whether a Parent Material Adverse Effect has occurred or would reasonably be expected to occur pursuant to clauses (A) through (E) and (F)(ii) of the definition thereof (other than as expressly contemplated by the final proviso to the definition of Parent Material Adverse Effect).
“Parent Intervening Event Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.2(b).
“Parent Intervening Event Notice Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.2(b).
Exhibit A - Page 11
“Parent Material Adverse Effect” means any effect, event, development, change, state of facts, condition, circumstance or occurrence that, individually or in the aggregate with others, is or would reasonably be expected to be materially adverse to (a) the business, assets, results of operations and condition (financial or otherwise) of the Parent and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or (b) the ability of the Parent and its Subsidiaries to consummate the Merger in accordance with the terms of this Agreement (other than, with respect to Section 8.3(c), any Proceeding related to the Transaction Documents or the Transactions); provided, however, that in the case of clause (a) no effect, event, development, change, state of facts, condition, circumstance or occurrence constituting, resulting or arising from any of the following, alone or in combination, shall be deemed to constitute, or be taken into account in determining whether a Parent Material Adverse Effect has occurred or would reasonably be expected to occur: (A) any change in interest rates or conditions or factors generally affecting the economy, credit, capital, securities or financial markets or any political, regulatory or business conditions in any jurisdiction; (B) any conditions or factors generally affecting the industry, markets or geographical areas in which the Parent and its Subsidiaries operate; (C) changes or modifications in GAAP or in any applicable Law or in the interpretation or enforcement thereof, after the Execution Date; (D) any failure by the Parent to meet any internal or public projections or forecasts or estimates of revenues or earnings for any period (except that the underlying causes of such failure may be taken into account for purposes of determining whether a Parent Material Adverse Effect has occurred or would reasonably be expected to occur to the extent not excludable pursuant to clauses (A) through (F)); or (E) acts of war (whether or not declared), civil disobedience, hostilities, sabotage, terrorism, military actions or the escalation of any of the foregoing, any hurricane, flood, tornado, earthquake or other weather or natural disaster, or any pandemic (including the COVID-19 pandemic, or any COVID-19 Measures or any change in such COVID-19 Measures or interpretations following the Execution Date), outbreak of illness or other public health event or any other force majeure event; (F) the announcement of this Agreement, the pendency of the Transactions or the performance of this Agreement, including the impact thereof on relationships, contractual or otherwise, with suppliers, licensors, distributors, service providers and employees (provided that the exception in this clause (F) shall not apply to the representations and warranties set forth in Section 4.4 to the extent that their purpose is to address the consequences resulting from the public announcement or pendency or consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the condition set forth in Section 8.3(a) to the extent it relates to such representations and warranties); provided, further that effects, events, developments, changes, state of facts, conditions, circumstances or occurrences constituting, resulting or arising from the matters described in clauses (A), (B), (C) and (E) may be taken into account in determining whether a “Parent Material Adverse Effect” has occurred to the extent it has a materially disproportionate and adverse effect on the business, assets, results of operations and condition (financial or otherwise) of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, relative to similarly situated companies in the industry in which the Company and its Subsidiaries conduct their respective operations.
“Parent Organizational Documents” means the Parent Certificate of Incorporation and Parent’s bylaws, in each case as may be amended from time to time in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
“Parent Preferred Stock” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.2(a).
“Parent Private Placement Warrants” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.2(b).
“Parent Public Warrants” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.2(b).
Exhibit A - Page 12
“Parent Reports” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.5(a).
“Parent Restated Bylaws” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
“Parent Restated Charter” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
“Parent Rights” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.2(c).
“Parent Rights Agreement” means that certain Rights Agreement, dated as of May 10, 2022, between Parent and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as rights agent.
“Parent Stock” means Parent Common Stock or Parent Preferred Stock.
“Parent Stockholder” means a holder of shares of Parent Stock.
“Parent Stockholder Approval” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.3(b).
“Parent Stockholder Litigation” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.12.
“Parent Trust Account” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.11.
“Parent Trust Agreement” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.11.
“Parent Trustee” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.2(a).
“Parent Warrant Agreement” means that certain Amended and Restated Warrant Agreement, dated as of June 24, 2022, between Parent and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as warrant agent.
“Parent Warrants” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.2(b).
“Party” or “Parties” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.
“Payroll Tax Executive Order” means any U.S. presidential memorandum, executive order or similar publication or document permitting or requiring the deferral of any payroll Taxes (including those imposed by Sections 3101(a) and 3201 of the Code).
“PCAOB” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.5(a).
“Per Share Merger Consideration” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(a)(i).
“Permit” or “Permits” means any permits, licenses, certifications, approvals, registrations, consents, clearances, authorizations, franchises, variances, exemptions and orders issued or granted by a Governmental Entity.
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“Permitted Encumbrance” means the following Encumbrances: (a) Encumbrances for current Taxes, assessments or other governmental charges not yet delinquent, or which may be hereafter paid without penalty or that the taxpayer is contesting in good faith through appropriate proceedings for which adequate reserves have been established in accordance with GAAP; (b) mechanics’, materialmen’s, carriers’, workmen’s, warehousemen’s, repairmen’s or other like common law, statutory or consensual Encumbrances arising or incurred in the ordinary course of business and which do not materially impair the present use and operation of, or materially and adversely affect the value of, the assets to which they relate, or deposits to obtain the release of such Encumbrances; (c) with respect to leasehold interests, Encumbrances incurred, created, assumed or permitted to exist and arising by, through or under a landlord or owner of any real property subject to a Lease; (d) zoning, building, subdivision, entitlement, conservation restriction and other land use and environmental regulations, easements, covenants, rights of way or other similar requirements or restrictions, none of which (i) materially and adversely interfere with the present uses of the real property or (ii) materially and adversely affect the value of the specific parcel of real property to which they relate; (e) zoning promulgated by Governmental Entities; (f) non-exclusive licenses or sublicenses under Intellectual Property Rights owned by or licensed to the Company or its Subsidiaries granted to any licensee in the ordinary course of business; (g) Encumbrances identified in the Financial Statements; (h) Encumbrances arising pursuant to applicable securities Laws or Organizational Documents (other than as a result of a breach or violation thereof); and (i) other Encumbrances that do not, individually or in the aggregate, materially impair the present use and operation of, or materially and adversely affect the value of, the assets to which they relate.
“Person” means any individual, corporation (including not-for-profit), general or limited partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, estate, trust, association, organization, Governmental Entity or other entity of any kind or nature.
“Personal Information” means any information that (a) alone or in combination with other information held by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries can be used to identify an individual person, household, device or browser, and (b) is otherwise protected under applicable Laws relating to data privacy and security of personal information.
“Proceeding” means any cause of action, litigation, suit, hearing, arbitration or other similar proceeding of any nature, civil, criminal, regulatory, administrative or otherwise, whether in equity or at law, in contract, in tort or otherwise, by or before a Governmental Entity.
“Proposals” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.1(c).
“Proxy Statement” means the proxy statement relating to Parent’s Special Meeting.
“Redeeming Stockholder” means a Parent Stockholder who demands that Parent redeem its Parent Common Stock for cash in connection with the Transactions and in accordance with the Parent Organizational Documents.
“Redemption Offer” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
“Reimbursable Expenses” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(b).
“Registered” means issued by, registered with, renewed by or the subject of a pending application before any Governmental Entity.
“Registered Intellectual Property” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.16(a).
Exhibit A - Page 14
“Registration Rights Agreement” means that certain mutually agreeable Registration Rights Agreement by and among (i) Parent, (ii) the Company, (iii) the Sponsor and (iv) the Holders (all as defined therein), to the extent such Holders receive Parent Common Stock at or in connection with Closing pursuant to ARTICLE II, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit I and which amends and restates the Sponsor Registration Rights Agreement.
“Registration Statement” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.1(a).
“Representative” means, with respect to any Person, any direct, or officer, principal, partner, manager, member (if such Person is a member-managed limited liability company or similar entity), employee, consultant, investment banker, financial advisor, or legal counsel, attorneys-in-fact, accountant or other advisor, agent or other representative of such Person, in each case, acting in their capacity as such.
“Requisite Company Stockholders” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.3.
“Sanctions” means any economic sanctions administered or enforced by the U.S. government, including, but not limited to, the U.S. Department of the Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control; the United Nations Security Council; or other relevant governmental authority with jurisdiction over the Company or its products.
“Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act” means the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act of 2002.
“SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933.
“Software” means any and all computer programs and other software, including software implementations of algorithms, models, application programing interfaces, and methodologies, whether in source code, object code or other form, including libraries, subroutines and other components thereof.
“SPAC” means special purpose acquisition company.
“Special Meeting” means a meeting of the holders of Parent Common Stock to be held for the purpose of approving the Proposals.
“Sponsor” means Monterrey Acquisition Sponsor, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.
“Sponsor Lock-Up Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
“Sponsor Registration Rights Agreement” means the Registration Rights Agreement dated May 10, 2023 between the Parent and the Sponsor.
“Sponsor Support Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
“Stock Plan” means the Company’s 2019 Equity Incentive Plan.
Exhibit A - Page 15
“Subsidiary” or “Subsidiaries” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person of which at least a majority of the securities or ownership interests having by their terms ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors or other persons performing similar functions is directly or indirectly owned or controlled by such Person or by one or more of its Subsidiaries.
“Surviving Company” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.1.
“Surviving Company Bylaws” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.4(a).
“Surviving Company Certificate of Incorporation” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.4(a).
“Tail Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.3(b).
“Tax” means any federal, state, local or non-United States income, gross receipts, franchise, estimated, alternative minimum, sales, use, transfer, value added, excise, stamp, customs, duties, ad valorem, real property, personal property (tangible and intangible), capital stock, social security, unemployment, payroll, wage, employment, severance, occupation, registration, environmental, communication, mortgage, profits, license, lease, service, goods and services, withholding, premium, unclaimed property, escheat, turnover, windfall profits or other taxes of any kind whatever, whether computed on a separate or combined, unitary or consolidated basis or in any other manner, together with any interest, deficiencies, penalties, additions to tax, or additional amounts imposed by any Governmental Entity with respect thereto, whether disputed or not, and including any secondary liability for any of the aforementioned.
“Tax Return” means all returns and reports (including elections, declarations, disclosures, schedules, estimates and information returns) relating to Taxes, including any schedule or attachment thereto, and including any amendment thereof, required to be filed or supplied to Governmental Entity.
“Top Customer” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.23(a).
“Top Vendor” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.23(a).
“Transaction Documents” means, collectively, the Sponsor Support Agreement, the Sponsor Lock-Up Agreement, Company Stockholder Support Agreement, Company Stockholder Lock-Up Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement, the Indemnification Agreements, the Letter of Transmittal, the Forward Stock Purchase Agreement and each other agreement, document, instrument and/or certificate contemplated by this Agreement executed or to be executed in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby.
“Transaction Proposal” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.1(c).
“Transactions” means the transactions contemplated by this Agreement to occur at or immediately prior to the Closing, including the Merger.
Exhibit A - Page 16
“Transfer Taxes” means all transfer, documentary, sales, use, stamp, recording, value added, registration and other such similar Taxes and all conveyance fees, recording fees and other similar charges.
“Transmittal Document” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(b).
“Treasury Shares” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(a)(ii).
“Waived 280G Benefits” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.8.
“Willful Breach” means an intentional and willful material breach, or an intentional and willful material failure to perform, in each case, that is the consequence of an act or omission by a Party with the actual knowledge that the taking of such act or failure to take such act would cause a breach of this Agreement.
“Written Consent” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.3.
“Written Consent Deadline” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.3.
Exhibit A - Page 17
EXHIBIT B
FORM OF SPONSOR SUPPORT AGREEMENT
Exhibit B - Page 1
Date: December 31, 2022
ConnectM Technology Solutions, Inc.
0 Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx, CEO
Monterey Capital Acquisition Corporation
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxx Xxxxxxxxxx, CEO
Re: Sponsor Support Agreement
Ladies and Gentlemen:
This letter (this “Support Agreement”) is being delivered by Monterrey Acquisition Sponsor, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Sponsor”) and certain other holders of Parent Class B Common Stock identified on the signature page hereto (the “Class B Stockholders”), to Monterey Capital Acquisition Corporation, a Delaware corporation (“Parent”) and ConnectM Technology Solutions, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in accordance with that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”), dated as of the date hereof, by and among Parent, the Company, and Chronos Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent (“Merger Sub”). The Sponsor, Parent, and the Company shall be referred to herein from time to time collectively as the “Parties”. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings ascribed to such terms in the Merger Agreement. As used herein, the term “Section” shall, unless otherwise specified, refer to the specified Section of this Support Agreement.
The Sponsor and the Class B Stockholders are currently the record owners and Beneficial Owners of an aggregate of 1,700,000 shares (the “Sponsor Shares”) of Parent Class B Common Stock to be converted into the right to receive that number of shares of Parent Class A Common Stock by virtue of the Merger.
In order to induce the Company to enter into the Merger Agreement and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Sponsor and the Class B Stockholders hereby agree with Parent as follows:
1. | Voting Agreements. For so long as this Support Agreement is in effect, the Sponsor and the Class B Stockholders, in their capacity as stockholders of Parent, covenant and agree that, at any meeting of Parent’s stockholders related to the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement (the “Transactions”), whether annual or special and whether or not an adjourned or postponed meeting, and however called, and in connection with any action by written consent of Parent’s stockholders related to the Transactions (all such meetings or consents collectively referred to herein as the “Meeting”), the Sponsor and the Class B Stockholders shall, subject to and in accordance with Section 7.2 (Parent Stockholder Meeting) of the Merger Agreement: |
a. | when the Meeting is held, appear at the Meeting or otherwise cause the Sponsor Shares to be counted as present thereat for the purpose of establishing a quorum; |
b. | vote (or execute and return an action by written consent), or cause to be voted at the Meeting (or validly execute and return and cause such consent to be granted with respect to), all of the Sponsor Shares in favor of each of the proposals relating to the Transactions and any other matters necessary or reasonably requested by Parent for consummation of the Merger and the Transactions; and |
Exhibit B - Page 2
c. | vote (or execute and return an action by written consent), or cause to be voted at the Meeting (or validly execute and return and cause such consent to be granted with respect to), all of the Sponsor Shares against any action that would reasonably be expected to (x) impede, interfere with, delay, postpone or adversely affect the Merger or any of the Transactions, (y) result in a breach of any covenant, representation or warranty or other obligation or agreement of Parent or Merger Sub under the Merger Agreement, or (z) result in a breach of any covenant, representation or warranty or other obligation or agreement of the Sponsor contained in this Support Agreement; and |
d. | not commit or agree to take any action inconsistent with the foregoing. |
2. | Stop Transfers; Certificates. The Sponsor and the Class B Stockholders agree that, except for Transfers of Sponsor Shares permitted by this Support Agreement, they shall not request that Parent register the Transfer (book entry or otherwise) of any Sponsor Shares. |
3. | Registration Rights Agreement. At the Closing, the Sponsor and Holders (as defined therein) shall deliver to the Company a duly executed copy of the Registration Rights Agreement in substantially the form attached as Exhibit I to the Merger Agreement. In the event less than all of the holders of Parent Class B Common Stock enter into the Registration Rights Agreement such that the Registration Rights Agreement shall not be effective, the Sponsor and the Class B Stockholders agree to waive their rights under the cutback provisions of the Original RRA (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) in Sections 2.1.4 and 2.2.2 thereof to the extent application of such provisions would result in the Sponsor and Class B Stockholders being treated more favorably with respect to any registration statement than any stockholders of the Company (as of immediately prior to the Effective Time) having a right to include Parent securities in such registration statement. |
4. | Remedies. The Sponsor and the Class B Stockholders hereby agree and acknowledge that (a) Parent and the Company would be irreparably injured in the event of a breach by the Sponsor or any of the Stockholders of their respective obligations under this Support Agreement, (b) monetary damages would not be an adequate remedy for such breach, and (c) the non-breaching party shall be entitled to injunctive relief, in addition to any other remedy that such Party may have in law or in equity, in the event of such breach or threatened breach, without the need to post a bond or other collateral security. |
5. | Transfer Restrictions. In addition to and without limiting the Sponsor Lock-Up Agreement, the Sponsor and each Class B Stockholder agrees that it shall not sell, assign or otherwise Transfer any Sponsor Shares; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not apply to any Transfer to any members or partners of the Sponsor or its Affiliates, any Affiliates of the Sponsor, or any employees of such affiliates; provided, that any transferee of any such Transfer must enter into a written agreement agreeing to be bound by this Support Agreement prior to the occurrence of such Transfer. |
6. | Anti-Dilution Waiver: Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any other agreement or contract to which a Sponsor is bound, the Sponsor (for itself and for its successors, heirs and assigns) and the Class B Stockholders, collectively holding at least a majority of the Parent Class B Common Stock, hereby (but subject to the consummation of the Merger) irrevocably and unconditionally waive, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws and Parent’s Governing Documents (including Section 4.3(b) of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Parent), and agree not to exercise, assert or perfect, any rights to adjustment or other anti-dilution protections with respect to the rate at which shares of Parent Class B Common Stock convert into shares of Parent Class A Common Stock in connection with the Transactions. |
7. | Additional Shares. During the period commencing on the date hereof and ending on the earlier to occur of (a) the Effective Time; and (b) the termination of the Merger Agreement in accordance with its terms, in the event that, (i) any shares of Parent Common Stock, Parent Public Warrant or other equity securities of Parent (such Parent Common Stock, Parent Warrants or other equity securities of Parent, collectively the “New Securities”) are issued to the Sponsor or a Class B Stockholder pursuant to any stock split, stock dividend, combination or reclassification, or through merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization or business combination, or by any other means, (ii) the Sponsor or a Class B Stockholder purchases or otherwise acquires Beneficial Ownership of New Securities, or (iii) the Sponsor or a Class B Stockholders acquires the right to vote or share in the voting of any New Securities, then such New Securities acquired or purchased by the Sponsor or the Class B Stockholder, as applicable, shall be subject to the terms of Sections 1, 2 and 4 to the same extent as if they constituted Sponsor Shares as of the date hereof. |
Exhibit B - Page 3
8. | Entire Agreement; Amendment. This Support Agreement, the Merger Agreement and the other agreements referenced herein constitute the entire agreement and understanding of the Parties hereto in respect of the subject matter hereof and supersede all prior understandings, agreements or representations by or among the Parties hereto, written or oral, to the extent they relate in any way to the subject matter hereof or the transactions contemplated hereby. This Support Agreement may not be changed, amended, modified or waived (other than to correct a typographical error) as to any particular provision, except by a written instrument executed by all Parties hereto. |
9. | Assignment. No Party hereto may, except as set forth herein, assign either this Support Agreement or any of its rights, interests, or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the other Parties. Any purported assignment in violation of this paragraph shall be void and ineffectual and shall not operate to transfer or assign any interest or title to the purported assignee. This Support Agreement shall be binding on the Sponsor and its successors, heirs, personal representatives and assigns and permitted transferees. |
10. | Incorporation by Reference. Article X (No Survival) and Sections 11.2 (Counterparts), 11.3 (Governing Law), 11.4 (Forum; Waiver of Jury Trial), 11.6 (Notice), 11.11 (Severability) and 11.12 (Interpretation and Construction), of the Merger Agreement are incorporated herein by reference and shall apply to this Agreement, mutatis mutandis. |
11. | Termination. This Support Agreement shall automatically terminate, without any notice or other action by any Party, upon the earlier of (a) the Effective Time; and (b) the termination of the Merger Agreement prior to the Effective Time in accordance with its terms. Upon termination of this Support Agreement as provided in the immediately preceding sentence, none of the Parties shall have any further obligations or liability under, or with respect to, this Support Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything to the contrary in this Support Agreement, the termination of this Support Agreement pursuant to Section 13(b) shall not affect any liability on the part of any Party for a Willful Breach of any covenant or agreement set forth in this Support Agreement prior to such termination or fraud. |
12. | Sponsor Representations: The Sponsor and each of the Class B Stockholders, jointly and severally, represents and warrants to Parent, as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date, that: |
a. | it has full right and power, without violating any agreement to which it is bound, to enter into this Support Agreement; |
b. | in the case of the Sponsor, it is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction in which it is organized, and the execution, delivery and performance of this Support Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby are within the Sponsor’s limited liability company powers and have been duly authorized by all necessary limited liability company actions on the part of the Sponsor; |
c. | this Support Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Sponsor or the Class B Stockholder, as applicable, and, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by the other Parties to this Support Agreement, this Support Agreement constitutes a legally valid and binding obligation of the Sponsor or the Class B Stockholder, as applicable, enforceable against the Sponsor in accordance with the terms hereof (except for the Bankruptcy and Equity Exception); |
d. | the execution and delivery of this Support Agreement by the Sponsor and the Class B Stockholders does not, and the performance by the Sponsor and the Class B Stockholders of their obligations hereunder will not, (i) conflict with or result in a violation of the organizational documents of the Sponsor, (ii) require any consent or approval from any third party that has not been given or other action that has not been taken by any third party, in each case, to the extent such consent, approval or other action would prevent, enjoin or materially delay the performance by the Sponsor or the Class B Stockholders of its obligations under this Support Agreement or (iii) violate any Law applicable to the Sponsor or the Class B Stockholders; |
Exhibit B - Page 4
e. | the Sponsor and the Class B Stockholders have not entered into, and shall not enter into, any agreement that would prevent the Sponsor and the Class B Stockholders from performing any of its, his or her obligations hereunder; |
f. | there are no Proceedings pending against the Sponsor or the Class B Stockholders or, to the knowledge of the Sponsor or the Class B Stockholders, threatened against the Sponsor or the Class B Stockholders, before any arbitrator or any Governmental Entity, which in any manner challenges or seeks to prevent, or enjoin the performance by the Sponsor or the Class B Stockholders of its, his or her obligations under this Support Agreement; |
g. | the Sponsor and the Class B Stockholders have good title to the Sponsor Shares, free and clear of any Liens, and the Sponsor and the Class B Stockholders have the sole power to vote or cause to be voted such Sponsor Shares; and |
h. | the Sponsor Shares identified in Paragraph 2 of this Support Agreement are the only voting securities of the Parent Beneficially Owned by the Sponsor and the Class B Stockholders as of the date hereof, and none of such Sponsor Shares are subject to any proxy, voting trust or other agreement or arrangement with respect to the voting of such Sponsor Shares that is inconsistent with the Sponsor’s and the Class B Stockholders’ obligations pursuant to this Support Agreement. |
13. | Adjustment for Stock Split. If, and as often as, there are any changes in the Parent Common Stock or the Sponsor Shares by way of stock split, stock dividend, combination or reclassification, or through merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization or business combination, or by any other means, equitable adjustment shall be made to the provisions of this Support Agreement as may be required so that the rights, privileges, duties and obligations hereunder shall continue with respect to the Sponsor, the Class B Stockholders, the Parent, and the Sponsor Shares as so changed. |
14. | No Recourse. Each Party agrees that (a) this Support Agreement may only be enforced against, and any action for breach of this Support Agreement may only be made against, the Parties and any transferee of Sponsor Shares (any such transferee, a “Sponsor Transferee”), and no claims of any nature whatsoever (whether in tort, contract or otherwise) arising under or relating to this Support Agreement, the negotiation hereof or its subject matter, or the transactions contemplated hereby shall be asserted against any non-party Affiliate of the Sponsor or of any Sponsor Transferee, and (b) none of the Sponsor’s non-party Affiliates (unless such Affiliate is a Sponsor Transferee) shall have any liability arising out of or relating to this Support Agreement, the negotiation hereof or its subject matter, or the transactions contemplated hereby, including with respect to any claim (whether in tort, contract or otherwise) for breach of this Support Agreement or in respect of any written or oral representations made or alleged to be made in connection herewith, as expressly provided herein, or for any actual or alleged inaccuracies, misstatements or omissions with respect to any information or materials of any kind furnished in connection with this Support Agreement, the negotiation hereof or the transactions contemplated hereby. |
15. | No Third Party Beneficiaries. This Support Agreement shall be for the sole benefit of the Parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns and is not intended, nor shall be construed, to give any Person, other than the Parties and their respective successors and assigns, any legal or equitable right, benefit or remedy of any nature whatsoever in connection with the matters governed by this Support Agreement. Nothing in this Support Agreement, expressed or implied, is intended to or shall constitute the Parties, partners or participants in a joint venture. |
16. | Further Actions. Each of the Parties hereto agrees to execute and deliver hereafter any further document, agreement or instrument of assignment, transfer or conveyance as may be necessary or desirable to effectuate the purposes hereof and as may be reasonably requested in writing by another Party hereto. |
17. | Definitions. As used herein, (i) “Beneficially Own” shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, (ii) “Transfer shall mean the (a) sale of, offer to sell, contract or agreement to sell, hypothecate, pledge, grant of any option to purchase or otherwise dispose of or agreement to dispose of, directly or indirectly, or establishment or increase of a put equivalent position or liquidation with respect to or decrease of a call equivalent position within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder with respect to, any security, (b) entry into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of any security, whether any such transaction is to be settled by delivery of such securities, in cash or otherwise, or (c) public announcement of any intention to effect any transaction specified in clause (a) or (b), other than a Registration Statement filed pursuant to the Merger Agreement. |
[remainder of page intentionally left blank]
Exhibit B - Page 5
If the above correctly reflects our understanding and agreement with respect to the foregoing matters, please so confirm by signing in the space below and returning this letter agreement to us.
Sincerely,
SPONSOR:
MONTERREY ACQUISITION SPONSOR, LLC
By: | ||
Name: Xxxx Xxxxxxxxxx | ||
Title: Chief Executive Officer |
Notice Address:
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxx Xxxxxxxxxx
E-mail: xxxx@xxxxxxxxxx.xxx
CLASS B STOCKHOLDERS:
Xxxxx Xxxx |
Notice Address:
0000 Xxxxxxxx Xxx, #000
Xxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Email: xxxxxxxxx@xxxxx.xxx
Xxxxx Xxxxxxx |
Notice Address:
243 Caterina Heights
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
Email: xxxxx.xxxxxxx@xxxxx.xxx
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx |
Notice Address:
000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Email: xxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxx.xxx
Signature Page to
Sponsor Support Agreement
Exhibit B - Page 6
Accepted and Agreed:
CONNECTM TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS, INC.
By: | ||
Name: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx | ||
Title: Chief Executive Officer |
MONTEREY CAPITAL ACQUISITION CORPORATION
By: | ||
Name: Xxxx Xxxxxxxxxx | ||
Title: Chief Executive Officer |
Signature Page to
Sponsor Support Agreement
Exhibit B - Page 7
EXHIBIT C
FORM OF LOCK-UP AGREEMENT
Exhibit C - Page 1
FORM OF LOCK-UP AGREEMENT
December 31, 2022 |
Monterey Capital Acquisition Corporation
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxx Xxxxxxxxxx, CEO
ConnectM Technology Solutions, Inc.
0 Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx, CEO
RE: Lock-up Agreement (this “Agreement”)
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Reference is made to that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”), dated as of December 31, 2022, by and among Monterey Capital Acquisition Corporation, a Delaware corporation, which will be known after the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement as ConnectM Technology Solutions, Inc. (“Parent”), Chronos Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Merger Sub”) and a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, and ConnectM Technology Solutions, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), pursuant to which holders of Company capital stock will receive shares of common stock, $0.0001 par value per share (“Common Stock”), of Parent, upon and subject to the closing (the “Closing”) of the transactions contemplated thereby (the “Merger”). Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings set forth in the Merger Agreement.
In connection with the Merger, and for other good and valuable consideration receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the undersigned hereby agrees that, without the prior written consent of the Company and Parent, the undersigned will not, for the period beginning on the date of this Agreement and ending on the earlier of:
(A) | 180 days after the Closing; and |
(B) | subsequent to the Closing, (x) if the last reported sale price of the Common Stock equals or exceeds $16.50 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any twenty (20) trading days within any thirty (30) consecutive trading days following the one hundred fiftieth (150th) day commencing after the Closing or (y) the date on which Parent completes a Change of Control. |
For purposes of this Agreement, “Change of Control” means any transaction or series of transactions following the Closing the result of which is: (i) the acquisition by any Person or group (as defined under Section 13 of the Exchange Act) of Persons of direct or indirect beneficial ownership of securities representing 50% or more of the combined voting power of the then outstanding securities of Parent; (ii) a merger, consolidation, business combination, recapitalization, reorganization, or other similar transaction, however effected, resulting in any Person or group (as defined under Section 13 of the Exchange Act) acquiring 50% or more of the combined voting power of the then outstanding securities of Parent or the surviving or successor entity immediately after such combination; (iii) a sale of all or substantially all of the assets of Parent and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole; provided, however, that any securities of Parent issued in a bona fide financing transaction or series of bona fide financing transactions shall be excluded from the definition of “Change of Control”.
Exhibit C - Page 2
(the “Lock-up Period”), (1) offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge, grant any option to purchase, make any short sale or otherwise dispose of or distribute any shares of Common Stock or any securities convertible into, exercisable for, exchangeable for or that represent the right to receive shares of Common Stock, whether now owned or hereinafter acquired, (including, without limitation, shares of Company capital stock) that are owned directly by the undersigned (including securities held as a custodian) or with respect to which the undersigned has beneficial ownership within the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (such securities, the “Restricted Securities”), or (2) engage in any hedging or other transaction with respect to Restricted Securities which is designed to or which reasonably could be expected to lead to or result in a sale or disposition of the Restricted Securities even if such Restricted Securities would be disposed of by someone other than the undersigned. Such prohibited hedging or other transactions include any short sale or any purchase, sale or grant of any right (including any put or call option) with respect to any of the Restricted Securities of the undersigned, or with respect to any security that includes, relates to, or derives any significant part of its value from such Restricted Securities.
The foregoing shall not apply to:
(A) transfers of shares of Common Stock as a bona fide gift or gifts or to a trust, foundation or family partnership for the direct or indirect benefit of the undersigned, its members or equity holders or members of their respective immediate family, or by will or intestate succession upon the death of the undersigned or for bona fide estate planning purposes;
(B) if the undersigned is a corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other business entity, distributions of shares of Common Stock to members, partners, managers or stockholders of the undersigned or to an affiliated investment fund or other affiliated entity controlled or managed by the undersigned;
(C) if the undersigned is a corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other business entity, any transfer made by the undersigned to another corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other business entity so long as the transferee controls, is controlled by or is under common control with the undersigned and such transfer is not for value;
(D) transactions relating to Common Stock or other securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock acquired by the undersigned in open market transactions after completion of the Business Combination;
(E) any transfers made by the undersigned by operation of law, such as pursuant to a qualified domestic order or in connection with a divorce settlement;
(F) transfers made pursuant to an order or decree of a Governmental Entity;
(G) any transfers to a charitable foundation controlled by the undersigned, its members or stockholders or any of their respective immediate family;
(H) any transfers to a charitable organization;
(I) in the case of an individual, transfers made pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order;
(J) transfer to a nominee or custodian of a Person to whom a disposition or transfer would be permissible under clauses (A), (D), (E), (F),(G) or (H) above.
(K) entering into a trading plan providing for the sale of the Restricted Securities by the undersigned, which trading plan meets the requirements of Rule 10b5-1(c) under the Exchange Act, as long as (i) such plan does not provide for, or permit, the sale of any Restricted Securities during the Restricted Period and (ii) no filing under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act or other public announcement is voluntarily made or required regarding such plan during the Lock-up Period; and
(L) the conversion of Parent Class B Common Stock into Common Stock pursuant to the Merger, it being understood that any such shares of Common Stock received by the undersigned upon such conversion shall be subject to the restrictions on transfer set forth in this Agreement.
Exhibit C - Page 3
provided, that, in the case of any transfer or distribution pursuant to clause (A), (B), (C),(E), (F), (G), (H) or (I) each donee, distributee or transferee, as applicable, shall execute and deliver to Parent and the Company a lock-up letter in the form of this Agreement; and provided, further, that in the case of any transfer or distribution pursuant to clause (A), (B), (C), (D), (E), (F) (G), (I) or (J) (i) no filing by any party (donor, donee, transferor or transferee) under the Exchange Act or (ii) other public announcement reporting a reduction in beneficial ownership shall be required or shall be made voluntarily in connection with such transfer or distribution (other than a filing on a Form 5, Schedule 13G (or Schedule 13G/A) or Schedule 13F made after the expiration of the Lock-up Period referred to above). For purposes of this Agreement, “immediate family” means any relationship by blood, marriage or adoption, not more remote than first cousin.
In furtherance of the foregoing, Parent and any duly appointed transfer agent for the registration or transfer of the securities described herein are hereby authorized to decline to make any transfer of securities if such transfer would constitute a violation or breach of this Agreement.
The undersigned hereby represents and warrants that the undersigned has full power and authority to enter into this Agreement. All authority herein conferred or agreed to be conferred and any obligations of the undersigned shall be binding upon the successors, assigns, heirs or personal representatives of the undersigned.
The undersigned hereby represents and warrants that it now has and, except as contemplated by this Agreement, will have good and marketable title to its Restricted Securities, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, and claims that could impact the ability of the undersigned to comply with the foregoing restrictions. The undersigned agrees and consents to the entry of stop transfer instructions with Xxxxxx’s transfer agent and registrar against the transfer of any Restricted Securities during the Lock-up Period.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if the Merger Agreement (other than the provisions thereof which survive termination) shall terminate or be terminated prior to the Closing, the undersigned shall be released from all obligations under this Agreement. The undersigned understands that Parent and the Company are proceeding with the Merger in reliance upon this Agreement. Except as otherwise provided herein, this Agreement shall terminate upon the expiration of the Lock-up Period.
This Agreement and any claim, controversy or dispute arising under or related to this Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to the conflict of laws principles thereof. All notices, requests, instructions, claims, consents and other communications made in connection with this Agreement, shall be provided in accordance with Section 11.16 of the Merger Agreement, mutatis mutandis, with respect to the undersigned, to the address or email address set forth on the signature page hereto.
The provisions of this Agreement may be amended, modified or waived only with the prior written consent of the Company and the holders of the Restricted Securities (each, a “Holder” and collectively the “Holders”) representing a majority of the Restricted Securities; provided that (i) no such amendment, modification or waiver that would adversely affect a Holder in a manner that is different from any other Holder shall be effective against such Holder without the prior written consent of such Holder and (ii) if any amendment, modification, waiver or release of this Agreement provides any Holder with rights superior to the rights provided to other Holders, such amendment, modification or waiver shall provide such rights to all Holders. The failure or delay of any Person to enforce any of the provisions of this Agreement shall in no way be construed as a waiver of such provisions and shall not affect the right of such Person thereafter to enforce each and every provision of this Agreement in accordance with its terms. A waiver or consent to or of any breach or default by any Person in the performance by that Person of his, her or its obligations under this Agreement shall not be deemed to be a consent or waiver to or of any other breach or default in the performance by that Person of the same or any other obligations of that Person under this Agreement.
The undersigned acknowledges that its obligations under this Agreement are unique, recognizes and affirms that in the event of its breach of this Agreement, money damages would be inadequate and Parent will have no adequate remedy at law, and agrees that irreparable damage might occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed by the undersigned in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached. Accordingly, Parent shall be entitled to an injunction or restraining order to prevent breaches of this Agreement by the undersigned and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions hereof, without the requirement to post any bond or other security or to prove that money damages would be inadequate, this being in addition to any other right or remedy to which such party may be entitled under this Agreement, at law or in equity.
Exhibit C - Page 4
Article X (No Survival) and Sections 11.2 (Counterparts), 11.3 (Governing Law), 11.4 (Forum; Waiver of Jury Trial), 11.6 (Notice), 11.11 (Severability) and 11.12 (Interpretation and Construction), of the Merger Agreement are incorporated herein by reference and shall apply to this Agreement, mutatis mutandis.
Exhibit C - Page 5
Very truly yours,
If an individual, please sign here:
Signature: | |||
Print Name: |
If a corporation, limited liability company, limited partnership or other legal entity, please sign here: | ||||
Legal Name: | ||||
By: | ||||
Name: | ||||
Title: |
[Signature Page to Lock-up Agreement]
Exhibit C - Page 6
EXHIBIT D
FORM OF COMPANY STOCKHOLDER SUPPORT AGREEMENT
Exhibit D - Page 1
FORM OF COMPANY STOCKHOLDER SUPPORT AGREEMENT
This COMPANY STOCKHOLDER SUPPORT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is entered into as of December 31, 2022, by and among Monterey Capital Acquisition Corporation, a Delaware corporation (“Parent”), ConnectM Technology Solutions, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) and the Persons set forth on Schedule I hereto (each, a “Company Stockholder” and, collectively, the “Company Stockholders”). Each of Parent, the Company and each of the Company Stockholders are sometimes referred to herein individually as a “Party” and collectively as the “Parties”. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Merger Agreement (defined below).
RECITALS
WHEREAS, on December 31, 2022, Parent, Chronos Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Merger Sub”), and the Company, entered into that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with its terms, the “Merger Agreement”) pursuant to which, among other things, Merger Sub will merge with and into the Company, with the Company as the surviving company in the merger and, after giving effect to such merger, becoming a wholly-owned Subsidiary of Parent, in each case, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement;
WHEREAS, each Company Stockholder is the record and beneficial owner of the number of shares of Company Stock set forth opposite such Company Stockholder’s name on Schedule I hereto (together with any other equity securities of the Company that such Company Stockholder has or acquires record or beneficial ownership on or after the date hereof, collectively, the “Subject Company Shares”);
WHEREAS, in consideration for the benefits to be received by the Company Stockholders under the terms of the Merger Agreement and as a material inducement to Parent agreeing to enter into and consummate the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, the Company Stockholders agree to enter into this Agreement and to be bound by the agreements, covenants and obligations contained in this Agreement; and
WHEREAS, the Parties acknowledge and agree that Parent would not have entered into and agreed to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement without the Company Stockholders entering into this Agreement and agreeing to be bound by the agreements, covenants and obligations contained in this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual promises set forth herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties, each intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:
Exhibit D - Page 2
AGREEMENT
1. Company Stockholder Written Consent and Related Matters.
(a) As promptly as reasonably practicable (and in any event within two (2) Business Days) following the time at which the Registration Statement / Proxy Statement is declared effective under the Securities Act, the Stockholders shall duly execute and deliver to the Company and Parent the Written Consent, under which they shall irrevocably and unconditionally consent to, authorize and approve the Merger Agreement and the Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated thereby, including the Merger. Without limiting the generality of the first sentence of this Section 1(a), prior to the Closing, the Company Stockholders shall vote (or cause to be voted) the Subject Company Shares against and withhold consent with respect to (A) any Company Acquisition Proposal or (B) any other matter, action or proposal that would reasonably be expected to (x) impede, frustrate, prevent or nullify any provision of this Agreement, the Merger Agreement, any Transaction Document or the transactions contemplated thereby, (y) result in a breach of any of the Company’s covenants, agreements or obligations under the Merger Agreement, or (z) any of the conditions to the Closing set forth in Sections 8.1 or 8.2 of the Merger Agreement not being satisfied.
(b) Without limiting any other rights or remedies of Parent, each Company Stockholder hereby irrevocably appoints Parent or any individual reasonably designated by Parent as such Company Stockholder’s agent, attorney-in-fact and proxy (with full power of substitution and resubstituting), for and in the name, place and stead of such Company Stockholder, to attend on behalf of such Company Stockholder any meeting of the Company Stockholders with respect to the matters described in Section 1(a), to include such Company Stockholder’s Subject Company Shares in any computation for purposes of establishing a quorum at any such meeting of the Company Stockholders, to vote (or cause to be voted) such Stockholder’s Subject Company Shares or consent (or withhold consent) with respect to any of the matters described in Section 1(a) in connection with any meeting of the Company Stockholders or any action by written consent by the Company Stockholders (including the Company Stockholder Written Consent), in each case, in the event that such Company Stockholder fails to perform or otherwise comply with the covenants, agreements or obligations set forth in Section 1(a).
(c) The proxy granted by each Company Stockholder pursuant to Section 1(b) is coupled with an interest sufficient at law to support an irrevocable proxy and is granted in consideration for Parent entering into the Merger Agreement and agreeing to consummate the transactions contemplated thereby. The proxy granted by each Company Stockholder pursuant to Section 1(b) is also a durable proxy and shall survive the bankruptcy, dissolution, death, incapacity or other inability to act by such Company Stockholder and shall revoke any and all prior proxies granted by such Company Stockholder with respect to its Subject Company Shares. The vote or consent of the proxyholder in accordance with Section 1(b) and with respect to the matters in Section 1(a) shall control in the event of any conflict between such vote or consent by the proxyholder of the Subject Company Shares and a vote or consent by a Company Stockholder of the Subject Company Shares (or any other Person with the power to vote the Subject Company Shares) with respect to the matters in Section 1(a). The proxyholder may not exercise the proxy granted pursuant to Section 1(b) on any matter except those provided in Section 1(a). For the avoidance of doubt, the Company Stockholder may vote the Subject Company Shares on all other matters, subject to, for the avoidance of doubt, the other applicable covenants, agreements and obligations set forth in this Agreement.
2. Other Covenants and Agreements.
(a) Each Company Stockholder shall be bound by and subject to the Confidentiality Agreement and Section 7.7 (Publicity) of the Merger Agreement to the same extent as such provisions apply to the parties to the Merger Agreement, as if such Company Stockholder were directly party thereto, and each Company Stockholder shall be bound by and subject to Section 5.3 (No Claim Against the Parent Trust Account) and Section 5.4(a) (Exclusivity) of the Merger Agreement to the same extent as such provisions apply to the Company, as if such Company Stockholder were directly party thereto.
(b) Each Company Stockholder acknowledges and agrees that Parent is entering into the Merger Agreement in reliance upon such Company Stockholder entering into this Agreement and agreeing to be bound by, and perform, or otherwise comply with, as applicable, the agreements, covenants and obligations contained in this Agreement and but for such Company Stockholder entering into this Agreement and agreeing to be bound by, and perform, or otherwise comply with, as applicable, the agreements, covenants and obligations contained in this Agreement, Parent would not have entered into or agreed to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement.
Exhibit D - Page 3
3. Stockholder Representations and Warranties. Each of the Company Stockholders represents and warrants to Parent, severally but not jointly, on behalf of itself, as follows:
(a) If such Company Stockholder is a corporation, limited liability company, trust or other applicable entity duly organized or formed, as applicable, validly existing and, , except where the failure to so qualify would not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company Stockholder’s ability to perform its obligations under this Agreement, in good standing (or the equivalent thereof, if applicable, in each case, with respect to the jurisdictions that recognize the concept of good standing or any equivalent thereof), in each case, under the Laws of its jurisdiction of formation or organization (as applicable).
(b) Each Company Stockholder has full legal capacity, right and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by such Company Stockholder and, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by the other parties to this Agreement, this Agreement constitutes a legally valid and binding obligation of such Company Stockholder, enforceable against such Company Stockholder in accordance with the terms hereof (except as enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy Laws, other similar Laws affecting creditors’ rights and general principles of equity affecting the availability of specific performance and other equitable remedies). If this Agreement is being executed in a representative or fiduciary capacity, the Person signing this Agreement has full power and authority to enter into this Agreement on behalf of the applicable Company Stockholder.
(c) No consent, approval or authorization of, or designation, declaration or filing with, any Governmental Entity is required on the part of such Company Stockholder with respect to such Company Stockholder’s execution, delivery or performance of its covenants, agreements or obligations under this Agreement (including, for the avoidance of doubt, those covenants, agreements and obligations under this Agreement that relate to the provisions of the Merger Agreement) or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, except for any consents, approvals, authorizations, designations, declarations, waivers or filings, the absence of which would not adversely affect the ability of such Company Stockholder to perform, or otherwise comply with, any of its covenants, agreements or obligations hereunder in any material respect.
(d) None of the execution or delivery of this Agreement by such Company Stockholder, the performance by such Company Stockholder of any of its covenants, agreements or obligations under this Agreement (including, for the avoidance of doubt, those covenants, agreements and obligations under this Agreement that relate to the provisions of the Merger Agreement) or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will, directly or indirectly (with or without due notice or lapse of time or both), (i) result in any breach of any provision of such Company Stockholder’s Governing Documents, (ii) result in a violation or breach of, or constitute a default or give rise to any right of termination, Consent, cancellation, amendment, modification, suspension, revocation or acceleration under, any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any Contract to which such Company Stockholder is a party, (iii) violate, or constitute a breach under, any Order or applicable Law to which such Company Stockholder or any of its respective properties or assets is bound or (iv) result in the creation of any Lien upon the Subject Company Shares, except, in the case of any of clauses (ii) and (iii) above, as would not adversely affect the ability of such Company Stockholder to perform, or otherwise comply with, any of its covenants, agreements or obligations hereunder.
(e) Such Company Stockholder is the record and beneficial owner of its Subject Company Shares, free and clear of all Liens (other than transfer restrictions under applicable Securities Law or under the Company Stockholders Agreements). Except for the Company Stock set forth on Schedule I hereto with respect to such Company Stockholder, together with any other equity securities of the Company that such Company Stockholder acquires record or beneficial ownership of after the date hereof that is either permitted pursuant to, or acquired in accordance with, Section 5.1(b)(v) of the Merger Agreement, such Company Stockholder does not own, beneficially or of record, any equity securities of the Company or its Subsidiaries. Except as otherwise expressly contemplated by the Company Stockholders Agreements and any agreement existing on the date hereof and made available to Parent or that is entered into in accordance with the Merger Agreement, such Company Stockholder has no right to acquire any equity securities of the Company or its Subsidiaries. Such Company Stockholder has the sole right to vote (and provide consent in respect of, as applicable) the Subject Company Shares and, except for this Agreement, the Merger Agreement, the Company Stockholders Agreements and any Contract with respect to a Permitted Transfer, such Company Stockholder is not party to or bound by (i) any option, warrant, purchase right, or other Contract that would (either alone or in connection with one or more events, developments or events (including the satisfaction or waiver of any conditions precedent)) require such Company Stockholder to Transfer any of its Subject Company Shares or (ii) any voting trust, proxy or other Contract with respect to the voting or Transfer of any of its Subject Company Shares.
Exhibit D - Page 4
(f) There is no Proceeding pending or, to such Company Stockholder’s knowledge, threatened against such Company Stockholder that, if adversely decided or resolved, would reasonably be expected to adversely affect the ability of such Company Stockholder to perform, or otherwise comply with, any of its covenants, agreements or obligations under this Agreement in any material respect.
(g) Such Company Stockholder is a sophisticated stockholder, and on its own behalf and on behalf of its Representatives, acknowledges, represents, warrants and agrees that it has been furnished with or given access to such documents and information about Parent and its respective businesses and operations as it and its Representatives have deemed necessary to enable it to make an informed decision with respect to the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, the other Transaction Documents to which it is or will be a party and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.
(h) In entering into this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents to which it is or will be a party, such Company Stockholder has relied solely on its own investigation and analysis and on the Parent’s representations and warranties expressly set forth in the Transaction Documents to which it is or will be a party and no other representations or warranties of Parent any Parent non-Party Affiliate or any other Person, either express or implied, and such Company Stockholder, on its own behalf and on behalf of its Representatives, acknowledges, represents, warrants and agrees that, except for the representations and warranties expressly set forth in the Transaction Documents to which it is or will be a party, none of Parent, any Parent non-Party Affiliate or any other Person makes or has made any representation or warranty, either express or implied, in connection with or related to this Agreement, the Transaction Documents to which it is or will be a party or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby.
(i) Such Company Stockholder has not employed any broker, finder, investment banker or other Person that is entitled to any brokerage fee, finders’ fee or other commission in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement based upon arrangements made by such Company Stockholder, for which the Company or any of its Affiliates may become liable.
4. Transfer of Subject Company Shares. In addition to and without limiting the restrictions set forth in any Company Stockholder Lock-Up Agreement to which any Company Stockholder is a party, except as expressly contemplated by the Merger Agreement, with the prior written consent of Parent (such consent to be given or withheld in its sole discretion) or to a Permitted Transferee (as defined below), from and after the date hereof, each Company Stockholder agrees not to (a) Transfer any of its Subject Company Shares, (b) enter into (i) any option, warrant, purchase right, or other Contract that would (either alone or in connection with one or more events, developments or circumstances (including the satisfaction or waiver of any conditions precedent)) require such Company Stockholder to Transfer its Subject Company Shares or (ii) any voting trust, proxy or other Contract with respect to the voting or Transfer of its Subject Company Shares, or (c) take any actions in furtherance of any of the matters described in the foregoing clauses (a) or (b). For purposes of this Agreement, “Transfer” means any, direct or indirect, sale, transfer, assignment, pledge, mortgage, exchange, hypothecation, grant of a security interest in or disposition or encumbrance of an interest (whether with or without consideration, whether voluntarily or involuntarily or by operation of law or otherwise) and “Permitted Transferee” means any (x) Person that controls, is controlled by or is under common control with a Stockholder or (y) outright or in trust to or for the benefit of (A) a family member of such Stockholder, or (B) any personal representative, estate or executor under any will of such Stockholder or pursuant to the laws of intestate succession, so long as the final recipient from any personal representative, estate or executor under any will or pursuant to the laws of intestate succession provided that, such transferee stated in the aforesaid (x) or (y) agrees in writing to be bound by all the obligations of the applicable Stockholder hereunder with respect to its Subject Company Shares upon a Transfer of such Subject Company Shares to such Person and provides a copy and notice of such agreement to Parent.
5. Termination. This Agreement shall automatically terminate, without any notice or other action by any Party, upon the earlier of (a) the Effective Time and (b) the termination of the Merger Agreement in accordance with its terms. Upon termination of this Agreement as provided in the immediately preceding sentence, none of the Parties shall have any further obligations or Liabilities under, or with respect to, this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything to the contrary in this Agreement, (i) the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 5(b) shall not affect any Liability on the part of any Party for fraud or a Willful Breach of any covenant or agreement set forth in this Agreement prior to such termination, (ii) the first sentence of Section 2(a) (solely to the extent that it relates to the Confidentiality Agreement) and the representations and warranties set forth in Sections 3(g) through (i) shall each survive any termination of this Agreement, (iii) the first sentence of Section 2(a) (solely to the extent that it relates to Section 7.7 (Publicity) of the Merger Agreement) shall survive the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 5(a) and (iv) the first sentence of Section 2(a) (solely to the extent that it relates to Section 5.3 (No Claim Against the Parent Trust Account) of the Merger Agreement) shall survive the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 5(b).
Exhibit D - Page 5
6. Fiduciary Duties. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, (a) no Company Stockholder makes any agreement or understanding herein in any capacity other than in such Company Stockholder’s capacity as a record holder and beneficial owner of its Subject Company Shares and (b) nothing herein will be construed to limit or affect any action or inaction by such Company Stockholder or by any representative or Affiliate of such Company Stockholder serving as a member of the board of directors of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or as an officer, employee or fiduciary of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, in each case, acting in such person’s capacity as a director, officer, employee or fiduciary of the Company or such Subsidiary.
7. No Recourse. Except for claims pursuant to the Merger Agreement or any other Transaction Document by any party(ies) thereto against any other party(ies) thereto, each Party agrees that (a) this Agreement may be enforced only against, and any action for breach of this Agreement may be made only against, the Parties, and no claims of any nature whatsoever (whether in tort, contract or otherwise) arising under or relating to this Agreement, the negotiation hereof or its subject matter, or the transactions contemplated hereby shall be asserted against the Company or any Company non-Party Affiliate (other than any Company Stockholder named as a party hereto, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein) or any Parent non-Party Affiliate, and (b) none of the Company, its Subsidiaries, any Company non-Party Affiliates (other than any Stockholder named as a party hereto, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein) or any Parent non-Party Affiliate shall have any Liability arising out of or relating to this Agreement, the negotiation hereof or its subject matter, or the transactions contemplated hereby, including with respect to any claim (whether in tort, contract or otherwise) for breach of this Agreement or in respect of any written or oral representations made or alleged to be made in connection herewith, as expressly provided herein, or for any actual or alleged inaccuracies, misstatements or omissions with respect to any information or materials of any kind furnished in connection with this Agreement, the negotiation hereof or the transactions contemplated hereby.
8. Notices. All notices, requests, claims, demands and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be given (and shall be deemed to have been duly given) by delivery in person, by e-mail (having obtained electronic delivery confirmation thereof (i.e., an electronic record of the sender that the email was sent to the intended recipient thereof without an “error” or similar message that such email was not received by such intended recipient)), or by registered or certified mail (postage prepaid, return receipt requested) (upon receipt thereof) to the other Parties as follows:
If to Parent, to:
c/o Monterey Capital Acquisition Corporation
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxx Xxxxxxxxxx
E-mail: xxxx@xxxxxxxxxx.xxx
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Xxxxx, Xxxxx, Xxxx, Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxx and Xxxxx, P.C.
Xxx Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxx Xxxxxx; Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
E-mail: XXXxxxxx@xxxxx.xxx; XXxxxxxx@xxxxx.xxx
If to the Company, to:
c/o ConnectM Technology Solutions, Inc.
0 Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Email: Xxxxxxx@xxxxxxxx.xxx
Exhibit D - Page 6
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Xxxxx & Xxxxxxxx LLP
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
E-mail: xxxxxxx@xxxxxxxx.xxx
and, if to any Stockholder, to the notice address provided opposite their name on Schedule I attached hereto, or to such other address as the Party to whom notice is given may have previously furnished to the others in writing in the manner set forth above.
9. Entire Agreement. This Agreement, the Merger Agreement and documents referred to herein and therein constitute the entire agreement of the Parties with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement, and supersede all prior agreements and undertakings, both written and oral, among the Parties with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement, except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement.
10. Amendments and Waivers; Assignment. Any provision of this Agreement may be amended or waived if, and only if, such amendment or waiver is in writing and signed by the Company, the Company Stockholders and Parent. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no failure or delay by any Party in exercising any right hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise of any other right hereunder. Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or obligations hereunder shall be assignable by any Company Stockholder, other than to a Permitted Transferee, without Parent’s prior written consent (to be withheld or given in its sole discretion).
11. Fees and Expenses. Except as otherwise expressly set forth in the Merger Agreement, all fees and expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the fees and disbursements of counsel, financial advisors and accountants, shall be paid by the Party incurring such fees or expenses.
12. Remedies. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, any and all remedies provided herein will be deemed cumulative with and not exclusive of any other remedy conferred hereby upon, or available at law or in equity to, such Party, and the exercise by a Party of any one remedy will not preclude the exercise of any other remedy. The Parties agree that irreparable damage for which monetary damages, even if available, would not be an adequate remedy and would occur in the event that any Party does not perform its respective obligations under the provisions of this Agreement in accordance with their specific terms or otherwise breaches such provisions. It is accordingly agreed that each Party shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions, specific performance and other equitable relief to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions of this Agreement, in each case, without posting a bond or undertaking and without proof of damages and this being in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at law or in equity. Each Party agrees that it will not oppose the granting of an injunction, specific performance and other equitable relief when expressly available pursuant to the terms of this Agreement on the basis that the other parties have an adequate remedy at law or an award of specific performance is not an appropriate remedy for any reason at law or equity.
13. No Third Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement shall be for the sole benefit of the Parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns and is not intended, nor shall be construed, to give any Person, other than the Parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns, any legal or equitable right, benefit or remedy of any nature whatsoever by reason this Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, is intended to or shall constitute the Parties as partners or participants in a joint venture.
14. Miscellaneous. Article X (No Survival) and Sections 11.2 (Counterparts), 11.3 (Governing Law), 11.4 (Forum; Waiver of Jury Trial), 11.11 (Severability) and 11.12 (Interpretation and Construction), of the Merger Agreement are incorporated herein by reference and shall apply to this Agreement, mutatis mutandis.
[Signature page follows]
Exhibit D - Page 7
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Company Stockholder Support Agreement as of the date first above written.
MONTEREY CAPITAL ACQUISITION CORPORATION | ||
By: | ||
Name: Xxxx Xxxxxxxxxx | ||
Title: Chief Executive Officer |
[Signature Page to Company Stockholder Support Agreement]
Exhibit D - Page 8
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Company Stockholder Support Agreement as of the date first above written.
CONNECTM TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS, INC. | ||
By: | ||
Name: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx | ||
Title: Chairman & CEO |
Exhibit D - Page 9
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Company Stockholder Support Agreement as of the date first above written.
COMPANY STOCKHOLDERS: | ||
Avanti Holdings LLC | ||
By: | ||
Name: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx | ||
Title: Managing Member |
Exhibit D - Page 10
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Company Stockholder Support Agreement as of the date first above written.
COMPANY STOCKHOLDERS: | ||
NXT Ventures Fund III, LLC | ||
By: | ||
Name: Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx | ||
Title: Managing Director |
Exhibit D - Page 11
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Company Stockholder Support Agreement as of the date first above written.
COMPANY STOCKHOLDERS: | ||
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx Trust | ||
By: | ||
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx | ||
Title: Trustee |
Exhibit D - Page 12
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Company Stockholder Support Agreement as of the date first above written.
COMPANY STOCKHOLDERS: | ||
The Xxxxxxxxxxxx Kota IRRV Trust | ||
By: | ||
Name: Xxxxxxxxxxxx Xxxx | ||
Title: Trustee |
Exhibit D - Page 13
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Company Stockholder Support Agreement as of the date first above written.
COMPANY STOCKHOLDERS: | ||
Win-Light Capital, Co. | ||
By: | ||
Name: XxxXxx Xxx | ||
Title: Director |
Exhibit D - Page 14
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Company Stockholder Support Agreement as of the date first above written.
COMPANY STOCKHOLDERS: | |
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx |
Exhibit D - Page 15
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Company Stockholder Support Agreement as of the date first above written.
COMPANY STOCKHOLDERS: | |
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx |
Exhibit D - Page 16
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Company Stockholder Support Agreement as of the date first above written.
COMPANY STOCKHOLDERS: | |
Xxxxxx Y |
Exhibit D - Page 17
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Company Stockholder Support Agreement as of the date first above written.
COMPANY STOCKHOLDERS: | |
Xxxxx Xxxx |
Exhibit D - Page 18
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed and delivered this Company Stockholder Support Agreement as of the date first above written.
COMPANY STOCKHOLDERS: | |
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx |
Exhibit D - Page 19
SCHEDULE I
Exhibit D - Page 20
EXHIBIT E
FORM OF PARENT RESTATED BYLAWS
Exhibit E - Page 1
AMENDED AND RESTATED BY LAWS
OF
CONNECTM TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS, INC.
(THE “CORPORATION”)
ARTICLE I
OFFICES
Section 1.1. Registered Office. The registered office of the Corporation within the State of Delaware shall be located at either (a) the principal place of business of the Corporation in the State of Delaware or (b) the office of the corporation or individual acting as the Corporation’s registered agent in Delaware.
Section 1.2. Additional Offices. The Corporation may, in addition to its registered office in the State of Delaware, have such other offices and places of business, both within and outside the State of Delaware, as the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “Board”) may from time to time determine or as the business and affairs of the Corporation may require.
ARTICLE II
STOCKHOLDERS MEETINGS
Section 2.1. Annual Meetings. The annual meeting of stockholders shall be held at such place, either within or without the State of Delaware, and time and on such date as shall be determined by the Board and stated in the notice of the meeting, provided that the Board may in its sole discretion determine that the meeting shall not be held at any place, but may instead be held solely by means of remote communication pursuant to Section 9.5(a). At each annual meeting, the stockholders entitled to vote on such matters shall elect those directors of the Corporation to fill any term of a directorship that expires on the date of such annual meeting and may transact any other business as may properly be brought before the meeting. If no annual meeting has been held for a period of thirteen (13) months after the Corporation’s last annual meeting, a special meeting in lieu thereof may be held, and such special meeting shall have, for the purposes of these By Laws or otherwise, all the force and effect of an annual meeting. Any and all references hereafter in these By Laws to an annual meeting or annual meetings also shall be deemed to refer to any special meeting(s) in lieu thereof.
Section 2.2. Special Meetings. Subject to the rights of the holders of any outstanding series of the preferred stock of the Corporation (“Preferred Stock”), and to the requirements of applicable law, special meetings of stockholders, for any purpose or purposes, may be called only by the Board pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the Board, and may not be called by any other person. Special meetings of stockholders shall be held at such place, either within or without the State of Delaware, and at such time and on such date as shall be determined by the Board and stated in the Corporation’s notice of the meeting, provided that the Board may in its sole discretion determine that the meeting shall not be held at any place, but may instead be held solely by means of remote communication pursuant to Section 9.5(a). The Board may, in its sole discretion, postpone or reschedule any previously scheduled special meeting of stockholders. Nominations of persons for election to the Board and stockholder proposals of other business shall not be brought before a special meeting of stockholders to be considered by the stockholders unless such special meeting is held in lieu of an annual meeting of stockholders in accordance with Section 2.1 of these By Laws, in which case such special meeting in lieu thereof shall be deemed an annual meeting for purposes of these By Laws.
Section 2.3. Notices. Written notice of each stockholders meeting stating the place, if any, date, and time of the meeting, and the means of remote communication, if any, by which stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such meeting and the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, if such date is different from the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting, shall be given in the manner permitted by Section 9.3 to each stockholder entitled to vote thereat as of the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting, by the Corporation not less than 10 nor more than 60 days before the date of the meeting unless otherwise required by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”). If said notice is for a stockholders meeting other than an annual meeting, it shall in addition state the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called, and the business transacted at such meeting shall be limited to the matters so stated in the Corporation’s notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto). Any meeting of stockholders as to which notice has been given may be postponed, and any meeting of stockholders as to which notice has been given may be cancelled, by the Board upon public announcement (as defined in Section 2.7(c)) given before the date previously scheduled for such meeting.
Exhibit E - Page 2
Section 2.4. Quorum. Except as otherwise provided by applicable law, the Corporation’s Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as the same may be amended or restated from time to time (the “Certificate of Incorporation”) or these Amended and Restated By Laws (these “By Laws”), the presence, in person or by proxy, at a stockholders meeting of the holders of shares of outstanding capital stock of the Corporation representing one-third (33 and 1/3%) of the voting power of all outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote at such meeting shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at such meeting, except that when specified business is to be voted on by a class or series of stock voting as a class, the holders of shares representing a majority of the voting power of the outstanding shares of such class or series shall constitute a quorum of such class or series for the transaction of such business. If a quorum shall not be present or represented by proxy at any meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation, the chairman of the meeting may adjourn the meeting from time to time in the manner provided in Section 2.6 until a quorum shall attend. The stockholders present at a duly convened meeting may continue to transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough stockholders to leave less than a quorum. Shares of its own stock belonging to the Corporation or to another corporation, if a majority of the voting power of the shares entitled to vote in the election of directors of such other corporation is held, directly or indirectly, by the Corporation, shall neither be entitled to vote nor be counted for quorum purposes; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not limit the right of the Corporation or any such other corporation to vote shares held by it in a fiduciary capacity.
Section 2.5. Voting of Shares.
(a) Voting Lists. The Secretary of the Corporation (the “Secretary”) shall prepare, or shall cause the officer or agent who has charge of the stock ledger of the Corporation to prepare and make, at least 10 days before every meeting of stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders of record entitled to vote at such meeting; provided, however, that if the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote is less than 10 days before the meeting date, the list shall reflect the stockholders entitled to vote as of the tenth day before the meeting date, arranged in alphabetical order and showing the address and the number and class of shares registered in the name of each stockholder. Nothing contained in this Section 2.5(a) shall require the Corporation to include electronic mail addresses or other electronic contact information on such list. Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting, during ordinary business hours for a period of at least 10 days prior to the meeting: (i) on a reasonably accessible electronic network, provided that the information required to gain access to such list is provided with the notice of the meeting, or (ii) during ordinary business hours, at the principal place of business of the Corporation. In the event that the Corporation determines to make the list available on an electronic network, the Corporation may take reasonable steps to ensure that such information is available only to stockholders of the Corporation. If the meeting is to be held at a place, then the list shall be produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time thereof, and may be inspected by any stockholder who is present. If a meeting of stockholders is to be held solely by means of remote communication as permitted by Section 9.5(a), the list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder during the whole time of the meeting on a reasonably accessible electronic network, and the information required to access such list shall be provided with the notice of meeting. The stock ledger shall be the only evidence as to who are the stockholders entitled to examine the list required by this Section 2.5(a) or to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of stockholders.
(b) Manner of Voting. At any stockholders meeting, every stockholder entitled to vote may vote in person or by proxy. If authorized by the Board, the voting by stockholders or proxy holders at any meeting conducted by remote communication may be effected by a ballot submitted by electronic transmission (as defined in Section 9.3), provided that any such electronic transmission must either set forth or be submitted with information from which the Corporation can determine that the electronic transmission was authorized by the stockholder or proxy holder. The Board, in its discretion, or the chairman of the meeting of stockholders, in such person’s discretion, may require that any votes cast at such meeting shall be cast by written ballot.
Exhibit E - Page 3
(c) Proxies. Each stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders or to express consent or dissent to corporate action in writing without a meeting may authorize another person or persons to act for such stockholder by proxy, but no such proxy shall be voted or acted upon after three years from its date, unless the proxy provides for a longer period. Proxies need not be filed with the Secretary until the meeting is called to order, but shall be filed with the Secretary before being voted. Without limiting the manner in which a stockholder may authorize another person or persons to act for such stockholder as proxy, either of the following shall constitute a valid means by which a stockholder may grant such authority. No stockholder shall have cumulative voting rights.
(i) A stockholder may execute a writing authorizing another person or persons to act for such stockholder as proxy. Execution may be accomplished by the stockholder or such stockholder’s authorized officer, director, employee or agent signing such writing or causing such person’s signature to be affixed to such writing by any reasonable means, including, but not limited to, by facsimile signature.
(ii) A stockholder may authorize another person or persons to act for such stockholder as proxy by transmitting or authorizing the transmission of an electronic transmission to the person who will be the holder of the proxy or to a proxy solicitation firm, proxy support service organization or like agent duly authorized by the person who will be the holder of the proxy to receive such transmission, provided that any such electronic transmission must either set forth or be submitted with information from which it can be determined that the electronic transmission was authorized by the stockholder. Any copy, facsimile telecommunication or other reliable reproduction of the writing or transmission authorizing another person or persons to act as proxy for a stockholder may be substituted or used in lieu of the original writing or transmission for any and all purposes for which the original writing or transmission could be used; provided that such copy, facsimile telecommunication or other reproduction shall be a complete reproduction of the entire original writing or transmission.
(d) Required Vote. Subject to the rights of the holders of one or more series of Preferred Stock, voting separately by class or series, to elect directors pursuant to the terms of one or more series of Preferred Stock, at all meetings of stockholders at which a quorum is present, the election of directors shall be determined by a plurality of the votes cast by the stockholders present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote thereon. All other matters presented to the stockholders at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be determined by the vote of a majority of the votes cast by the stockholders present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote thereon, unless the matter is one upon which, by applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation, these By Laws or applicable stock exchange rules, a different vote is required, in which case such provision shall govern and control the decision of such matter.
(e) Inspectors of Election. The Board may, and shall if required by law, in advance of any meeting of stockholders, appoint one or more persons as inspectors of election, who may be employees of the Corporation or otherwise serve the Corporation in other capacities, to act at such meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof and to make a written report thereof. The Board may appoint one or more persons as alternate inspectors to replace any inspector who fails to act. If no inspectors of election or alternates are appointed by the Board, the chairman of the meeting shall appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting. Each inspector, before discharging his or her duties, shall take and sign an oath faithfully to execute the duties of inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of his or her ability. The inspectors shall ascertain and report the number of outstanding shares and the voting power of each; determine the number of shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and the validity of proxies and ballots; count all votes and ballots and report the results; determine and retain for a reasonable period a record of the disposition of any challenges made to any determination by the inspectors; and certify their determination of the number of shares represented at the meeting and their count of all votes and ballots. No person who is a candidate for an office at an election may serve as an inspector at such election. Each report of an inspector shall be in writing and signed by the inspector or by a majority of them if there is more than one inspector acting at such meeting. If there is more than one inspector, the report of a majority shall be the report of the inspectors.
Section 2.6. Adjournments. Any meeting of stockholders, annual or special, may be adjourned by the chairman of the meeting, from time to time, whether or not there is a quorum, to reconvene at the same or some other place. Notice need not be given of any such adjourned meeting if the date, time, and place, if any, thereof, and the means of remote communication, if any, by which stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such adjourned meeting are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken. At the adjourned meeting the stockholders, or the holders of any class or series of stock entitled to vote separately as a class, as the case may be, may transact any business that might have been transacted at the original meeting. If the adjournment is for more than 30 days, notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting. If after the adjournment a new record date for stockholders entitled to vote is fixed for the adjourned meeting, the Board shall fix a new record date for notice of such adjourned meeting in accordance with Section 9.2, and shall give notice of the adjourned meeting to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at such adjourned meeting as of the record date fixed for notice of such adjourned meeting.
Exhibit E - Page 4
Section 2.7. Advance Notice for Business.
(a) Annual Meetings of Stockholders. No business may be transacted at an annual meeting of stockholders, other than business that is either (i) specified in the Corporation’s notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto) given by or at the direction of the Board, (ii) otherwise properly brought before the annual meeting by or at the direction of the Board or (iii) otherwise properly brought before the annual meeting by any stockholder of the Corporation (x) who is a stockholder of record entitled to vote at such annual meeting on the date of the giving of the notice provided for in this Section 2.7(a) and on the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to vote at such annual meeting and (y) who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 2.7(a). Notwithstanding anything in this Section 2.7(a) to the contrary, only persons nominated for election as a director to fill any term of a directorship that expires on the date of the annual meeting pursuant to Section 3.2 will be considered for election at such meeting.
(i) In addition to any other applicable requirements, for business (other than nominations) to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder, such stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in proper written form to the Secretary and such business must otherwise be a proper matter for stockholder action. Subject to Section 2.7(a)(iii), a stockholder’s notice to the Secretary with respect to such business, to be timely, must be received by the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the 90th day nor earlier than the opening of business on the 120th day before the anniversary date of the immediately preceding annual meeting of stockholders; provided, however, that in the event that the annual meeting is more than 30 days before or more than 60 days after such anniversary date (or if there has been no prior annual meeting), notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so delivered not earlier than the close of business on the 120th day before the meeting and not later than the later of (x) the close of business on the 90th day before the meeting or (y) the close of business on the 10th day following the day on which public announcement of the date of the annual meeting is first made by the Corporation. The public announcement of an adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting shall not commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described in this Section 2.7(a).
(ii) To be in proper written form, a stockholder’s notice to the Secretary with respect to any business (other than nominations) must set forth as to each such matter such stockholder proposes to bring before the annual meeting (A) a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the annual meeting, the text of the proposal or business (including the text of any resolutions proposed for consideration and in the event such business includes a proposal to amend these By Laws, the language of the proposed amendment) and the reasons for conducting such business at the annual meeting, (B) the name and record address of such stockholder and the name and address of the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made, (C) the class or series and number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation that are owned beneficially and of record by such stockholder and by the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made, (D) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding (including, regardless of the form of settlement, any derivative, long or short positions, profit interests, forwards, futures, swaps, options, warrants, convertible securities, stock appreciation or similar rights, hedging transactions and borrowed or loaned shares) that has been entered into by or on behalf of, or any other agreement, arrangement or understanding that has been made, the effect or intent of which is to create or mitigate loss to, manage risk or benefit of share price changes for, or increase or decrease the voting power of, such stockholder or any such beneficial owner with respect to the Corporation’s securities, (E) a description of all arrangements or understandings between such stockholder and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made and any other person or persons (including their names) in connection with the proposal of such business by such stockholder, (F) any material interest of such stockholder and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made in such business, (G) a representation that such stockholder is a stockholder of record and that such stockholder (or a qualified representative of such stockholder) intends to appear in person or by proxy at the annual meeting to bring such business before the meeting, and (H) a representation as to whether such stockholder or any such beneficial owner intends or is part of a group that intends to (1) deliver a proxy statement and/or form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the voting power of the Corporation’s outstanding capital stock required to approve or adopt the proposal and/or (2) otherwise to solicit proxies from stockholders in support of such proposal.
Exhibit E - Page 5
(iii) The foregoing notice requirements of this Section 2.7(a) shall be deemed satisfied by a stockholder as to any proposal (other than nominations) if the stockholder has notified the Corporation of such stockholder’s intention to present such proposal at an annual meeting in compliance with Rule 14a-8 (or any successor thereof) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and such stockholder has complied with the requirements of such Rule for inclusion of such proposal in a proxy statement prepared by the Corporation to solicit proxies for such annual meeting. Except as otherwise required by law, nothing in this Section 2.7 shall obligate the Corporation to include information with respect to such proposal in any proxy statement. No business shall be conducted at the annual meeting of stockholders except business brought before the annual meeting in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 2.7(a), provided, however, that once business has been properly brought before the annual meeting in accordance with such procedures, nothing in this Section 2.7(a) shall be deemed to preclude discussion by any stockholder of any such business. If the Board or the chairman of the annual meeting determines that any stockholder proposal was not made in accordance with the provisions of this Section 2.7(a) or that the information provided in a stockholder’s notice does not satisfy the information requirements of this Section 2.7(a), such proposal shall not be presented for action at the annual meeting. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.7(a), if the stockholder (or a qualified representative of the stockholder) does not appear at the annual meeting of stockholders of the Corporation to present the proposed business, such proposed business shall not be transacted, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such matter may have been received by the Corporation.
(iv) In addition to the provisions of this Section 2.7(a), a stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to the matters set forth herein. Nothing in this Section 2.7(a) shall be deemed to affect any rights of stockholders to request inclusion of proposals in the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act.
(b) Special Meetings of Stockholders. Only such business shall be conducted at a special meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting. Nominations of persons for election to the Board may be made at a special meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting only pursuant to Section 3.2.
(c) Public Announcement. For purposes of these By Laws, “public announcement” shall mean disclosure in a press release reported by the Dow Xxxxx News Service, Associated Press or comparable national news service or in a document publicly filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Sections 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (or any successor thereto).
Section 2.8. Conduct of Meetings. The chairman of each annual and special meeting of stockholders shall be the Chairman of the Board or, in the absence (or inability or refusal to act) of the Chairman of the Board, any Chief Executive Officer (if he or she shall be a director) or, in the absence (or inability or refusal to act of a Chief Executive Officer or if a Chief Executive Officer is not a director, the President (if he or she shall be a director) or, in the absence (or inability or refusal to act) of the President or if the President is not a director, such other person as shall be appointed by the Board. The date and time of the opening and the closing of the polls for each matter upon which the stockholders will vote at a meeting shall be announced at the meeting by the chairman of the meeting. The Board may adopt such rules and regulations for the conduct of the meeting of stockholders as it shall deem appropriate. Except to the extent inconsistent with these By Laws or such rules and regulations as adopted by the Board, the chairman of any meeting of stockholders shall have the right and authority to convene and to adjourn the meeting, to prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures and to do all such acts as, in the judgment of such chairman, are appropriate for the proper conduct of the meeting. Such rules, regulations or procedures, whether adopted by the Board or prescribed by the chairman of the meeting, may include, without limitation, the following: (a) the establishment of an agenda or order of business for the meeting; (b) rules and procedures for maintaining order at the meeting and the safety of those present; (c) limitations on attendance at or participation in the meeting to stockholders of record of the Corporation, their duly authorized and constituted proxies or such other persons as the chairman of the meeting shall determine; (d) restrictions on entry to the meeting after the time fixed for the commencement thereof; and (e) limitations on the time allotted to questions or comments by participants. Unless and to the extent determined by the Board or the chairman of the meeting, meetings of stockholders shall not be required to be held in accordance with the rules of parliamentary procedure. The secretary of each annual and special meeting of stockholders shall be the Secretary or, in the absence (or inability or refusal to act) of the Secretary, an Assistant Secretary so appointed to act by the chairman of the meeting. In the absence (or inability or refusal to act) of the Secretary and all Assistant Secretaries, the chairman of the meeting may appoint any person to act as secretary of the meeting.
Exhibit E - Page 6
Section 2.9. No Consents in Lieu of Meeting. Any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation and may not be effected by written consent of such stockholders; provided, however, that any action required or permitted to be taken by the holders of preferred stock, voting separately as a series or separately as a class with one or more other such series, may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, to the extent expressly so provided by the applicable certificate of designation relating to such series of preferred stock.
ARTICLE III
DIRECTORS
Section 3.1. Powers; Number. The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board, which may exercise all such powers of the Corporation and do all such lawful acts and things as are not by statute or by the Certificate of Incorporation or by these By Laws required to be exercised or done by the stockholders. Directors need not be stockholders or residents of the State of Delaware. Subject to the Certificate of Incorporation, the number of directors shall be fixed exclusively by the Board pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the Board.
Section 3.2. Advance Notice for Nomination of Directors.
(a) Only persons who are nominated in accordance with the following procedures shall be eligible for election as directors of the Corporation, except as may be otherwise provided by the terms of one or more series of Preferred Stock with respect to the rights of holders of one or more series of Preferred Stock to elect directors. Nominations of persons for election to the Board at any annual meeting of stockholders, or at any special meeting of stockholders called for the purpose of electing directors as set forth in the Corporation’s notice of such special meeting, may be made (i) by or at the direction of the Board or (ii) by any stockholder of the Corporation (x) who is a stockholder of record entitled to vote in the election of directors on the date of the giving of the notice provided for in this Section 3.2 and on the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting and (y) who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 3.2.
(b) In addition to any other applicable requirements, for a nomination to be made by a stockholder, such stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in proper written form to the Secretary. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice to the Secretary must be received by the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation (i) in the case of an annual meeting, not later than the close of business on the 90th day nor earlier than the close of business on the 120th day before the anniversary date of the immediately preceding annual meeting of stockholders; provided, however, that in the event that the annual meeting is more than 30 days before or more than 60 days after such anniversary date (or if there has been no prior annual meeting), notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so received not earlier than the close of business on the 120th day before the meeting and not later than the later of (x) the close of business on the 90th day before the meeting or (y) the close of business on the 10th day following the day on which public announcement of the date of the annual meeting was first made by the Corporation; and (ii) in the case of a special meeting of stockholders called for the purpose of electing directors, not later than the close of business on the 10th day following the day on which public announcement of the date of the special meeting is first made by the Corporation. In no event shall the public announcement of an adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting or special meeting commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described in this Section 3.2.
Exhibit E - Page 7
(c) Notwithstanding anything in paragraph (b) to the contrary, in the event that the number of directors to be elected to the Board at an annual meeting is greater than the number of directors whose terms expire on the date of the annual meeting and there is no public announcement by the Corporation naming all of the nominees for the additional directors to be elected or specifying the size of the increased Board before the close of business on the 90th day prior to the anniversary date of the immediately preceding annual meeting of stockholders, a stockholder’s notice required by this Section 3.2 shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for the additional directorships created by such increase that are to be filled by election at such annual meeting, if it shall be received by the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the 10th day following the date on which such public announcement was first made by the Corporation.
(d) To be in proper written form, a stockholder’s notice to the Secretary must (i) set forth as to each person whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election as a director (A) the name, age, business address and residence address of the person, (B) the principal occupation or employment of the person, (C) the class or series and number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation that are owned beneficially or of record by the person, (D) a reasonably detailed description of any compensatory, indemnification, reimbursement, payment or other financial agreement, arrangement or understanding that the person has with any other person or entity other than the Corporation including the amount of any payment or payments received or receivable thereunder, in each case in connection with candidacy or service as a director of the Corporation (a “Third-Party Compensation Arrangement”), and (Eany other information relating to the person that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for election of directors pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder; (ii) set forth, as to the stockholder giving the notice (A) the name and record address of such stockholder as they appear on the Corporation’s books and the name and address of the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination is made, (B) the class or series and number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation that are owned beneficially and of record by such stockholder by the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination is made, (C) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding (including, regardless of the form of settlement, any derivative, long or short positions, profit interests, forwards, futures, swaps, options, warrants, convertible securities, stock appreciation or similar rights, hedging transactions and borrowed or loaned shares) that has been entered into by or on behalf of, or any other agreement, arrangement or understanding that has been made, the effect or intent of which is to create or mitigate loss to, manage risk or benefit of share price changes for, or increase or decrease the voting power of, such stockholder or any such beneficial owner with respect to the Corporation’s securities, (D) a description of all arrangements or understandings relating to the nomination to be made by such stockholder among such stockholder, the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination is made, each proposed nominee and any other person or persons (including their names), (E) a representation that such stockholder is a stockholder of record and that such stockholder (or a qualified representative of such stockholder) intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to nominate the persons named in its notice, (F) a representation as to whether such stockholder or any such beneficial owner intends or is part of a group that intends to (1) deliver a proxy statement and/or form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the voting power of the Corporation’s outstanding capital stock required to elect each such nominee and/or (2) otherwise to solicit proxies from stockholders in support of such nomination, and (G) any other information relating to such stockholder and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination is made that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for election of directors pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. Such notice must be accompanied by a written consent of each proposed nominee to being named as a nominee and to serve as a director if elected.
(e) A stockholder providing timely notice of a nomination to be made at any annual meeting of stockholders shall further update and supplement such notice, if necessary, so that the information provided or required to be provided in such notice pursuant to these By Laws shall be true and correct as of the record date for the annual meeting and as of the date that is 10 business days prior to such annual meeting, and such update and supplement shall be received by the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the fifth business day after the record date for the annual meeting (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of the record date), and not later than the close of business on the eighth business day prior to the date of the annual meeting (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of 10 business days prior to the annual meeting).
Exhibit E - Page 8
(f) To be eligible to be a stockholder’s nominee for election as a director, the proposed nominee must provide to the Secretary of the Corporation in accordance with the applicable time periods prescribed for delivery of notice under this Section 3.2: (i) a completed directors’ and officers’ questionnaire (in the form provided by the Secretary of the Corporation at the request of the nominating stockholder) containing information regarding the nominee’s background and qualifications and such other information as may reasonably be required by the Corporation to determine the eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve as a director of the Corporation or to serve as an independent director of the Corporation, (ii) a written representation that, unless previously disclosed to the Corporation, the nominee is not and will not become a party to any voting agreement, arrangement or understanding with any person or entity as to how such nominee, if elected as a director, will vote on any issue or that could interfere with such person’s ability to comply, if elected as a director, with his/her fiduciary duties under applicable law, (iii) a written representation and agreement that, unless previously disclosed to the Corporation in the nominating stockholder’s notice under this Section 3.2, the nominee is not and will not become a party to any Third-Party Compensation Arrangement and (iv) a written representation that, if elected as a director, such nominee would be in compliance and will continue to comply with the Corporation’s corporate governance guidelines as disclosed on the Corporation’s website, as amended from time to time. At the request of the Board, any person nominated by the Board for election as a director shall furnish to the Secretary of the Corporation the information that is required to be set forth in a stockholder’s notice of nomination that pertains to the nominee.
(g) If the Board or the chairman of the meeting of stockholders determines that any nomination was not made in accordance with the provisions of this Section 3.2, or that the information provided in a stockholder’s notice does not satisfy the information requirements of this Section 3.2, then such nomination shall not be considered at the meeting in question. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 3.2, if the stockholder (or a qualified representative of the stockholder) does not appear at the meeting of stockholders of the Corporation to present the nomination, such nomination shall be disregarded, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such nomination may have been received by the Corporation.
(h) In addition to the provisions of this Section 3.2, a stockholder shall also comply with all of the applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to the matters set forth herein. Nothing in this Section 3.2 shall be deemed to affect any rights of the holders of Preferred Stock to elect directors pursuant to the Certificate of Incorporation.
Section 3.3. Compensation. Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation or these By Laws, the Board shall have the authority to fix the compensation of directors, including for service on a committee of the Board, and may be paid either a fixed sum for attendance at each meeting of the Board or other compensation as director. The directors may be reimbursed their expenses, if any, of attendance at each meeting of the Board. No such payment shall preclude any director from serving the Corporation in any other capacity and receiving compensation therefor. Members of committees of the Board may be allowed like compensation and reimbursement of expenses for service on the committee.
ARTICLE IV
BOARD MEETINGS
Section 4.1. Annual Meetings. The Board shall meet as soon as practicable after the adjournment of each annual stockholders meeting at the place of the annual stockholders meeting unless the Board shall fix another time and place and give notice thereof in the manner required herein for special meetings of the Board. No notice to the directors shall be necessary to legally convene this meeting, except as provided in this Section 4.1.
Section 4.2. Regular Meetings. Regularly scheduled, periodic meetings of the Board may be held without notice at such times, dates and places (within or without the State of Delaware) as shall from time to time be determined by the Board.
Exhibit E - Page 9
Section 4.3. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board (a) may be called by the Chairman of the Board or President and (b) shall be called by the Chairman of the Board, President or Secretary on the written request of at least a majority of directors then in office, or the sole director, as the case may be, and shall be held at such time, date and place (within or without the State of Delaware) as may be determined by the person calling the meeting or, if called upon the request of directors or the sole director, as specified in such written request. Notice of each special meeting of the Board shall be given, as provided in Section 9.3, to each director (i) at least 24 hours before the meeting if such notice is oral notice given personally or by telephone or written notice given by hand delivery or by means of a form of electronic transmission and delivery; (ii) at least two days before the meeting if such notice is sent by a nationally recognized overnight delivery service; and (iii) at least five days before the meeting if such notice is sent through the United States mail. If the Secretary shall fail or refuse to give such notice, then the notice may be given by the officer who called the meeting or the directors who requested the meeting. Any and all business that may be transacted at a regular meeting of the Board may be transacted at a special meeting. Except as may be otherwise expressly provided by applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation, or these By Laws, neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any special meeting need be specified in the notice or waiver of notice of such meeting. A special meeting may be held at any time without notice if all the directors are present or if those not present waive notice of the meeting in accordance with Section 9.4.
Section 4.4. Quorum; Required Vote. A majority of the Board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of the Board, and the act of a majority of the directors present at any meeting at which there is a quorum shall be the act of the Board, except as may be otherwise specifically provided by applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these By Laws. If a quorum shall not be present at any meeting, a majority of the directors present may adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum is present.
Section 4.5. Consent In Lieu of Meeting. Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation or these By Laws, any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board or any committee thereof may be taken without a meeting if all members of the Board or committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing or by electronic transmission, and the writing or writings or electronic transmission or transmissions (or paper reproductions thereof) are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board or committee. Such filing shall be in paper form if the minutes are maintained in paper form and shall be in electronic form if the minutes are maintained in electronic form.
Section 4.6. Organization. The chairman of each meeting of the Board shall be the Chairman of the Board or, in the absence (or inability or refusal to act) of the Chairman of the Board, any Chief Executive Officer (if he or she shall be a director) or, in the absence (or inability or refusal to act) of a Chief Executive Officer or if a Chief Executive Officer is not a director, the President (if he or she shall be a director) or in the absence (or inability or refusal to act) of the President or if the President is not a director, a chairman elected from the directors present. The Secretary shall act as secretary of all meetings of the Board. In the absence (or inability or refusal to act) of the Secretary, an Assistant Secretary shall perform the duties of the Secretary at such meeting. In the absence (or inability or refusal to act) of the Secretary and all Assistant Secretaries, the chairman of the meeting may appoint any person to act as secretary of the meeting.
ARTICLE V
COMMITTEES OF DIRECTORS
Section 5.1. Establishment. The Board may by resolution of the Board designate one or more committees, each committee to consist of one or more of the directors of the Corporation. Each committee shall keep regular minutes of its meetings and report the same to the Board when required by the resolution designating such committee. The Board shall have the power at any time to fill vacancies in, to change the membership of, or to dissolve any such committee.
Section 5.2. Available Powers. Any committee established pursuant to Section 5.1 hereof, to the extent permitted by applicable law and by resolution of the Board, shall have and may exercise all of the powers and authority of the Board in the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation, and may authorize the seal of the Corporation to be affixed to all papers that may require it.
Exhibit E - Page 10
Section 5.3. Alternate Members. The Board may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of such committee. In the absence or disqualification of a member of the committee, the member or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not he, she or they constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board to act at the meeting in place of any such absent or disqualified member.
Section 5.4. Procedures. Unless the Board otherwise provides, the time, date, place, if any, and notice of meetings of a committee shall be determined by such committee. At meetings of a committee, a majority of the number of members of the committee (but not including any alternate member, unless such alternate member has replaced any absent or disqualified member at the time of, or in connection with, such meeting) shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. The act of a majority of the members present at any meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the committee, except as otherwise specifically provided by applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation, these By Laws or the Board. If a quorum is not present at a meeting of a committee, the members present may adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than an announcement at the meeting, until a quorum is present. Unless the Board otherwise provides and except as provided in these By Laws, each committee designated by the Board may make, alter, amend and repeal rules for the conduct of its business. In the absence of such rules each committee shall conduct its business in the same manner as the Board is authorized to conduct its business pursuant to Article III and Article IV of these By Laws.
ARTICLE VI
OFFICERS
Section 6.1. Officers. The officers of the Corporation elected by the Board shall be one or more Chief Executive Officers, a Chief Financial Officer, a Secretary and such other officers (including without limitation, a Chairman of the Board, Presidents, Vice Presidents, Assistant Secretaries and a Treasurer) as the Board from time to time may determine. Officers elected by the Board shall each have such powers and duties as generally pertain to their respective offices, subject to the specific provisions of this Article VI. Such officers shall also have such powers and duties as from time to time may be conferred by the Board. Any Chief Executive Officer or President may also appoint such other officers (including without limitation one or more Vice Presidents and Controllers) as may be necessary or desirable for the conduct of the business of the Corporation. Such other officers shall have such powers and duties and shall hold their offices for such terms as may be provided in these By Laws or as may be prescribed by the Board or, if such officer has been appointed by any Chief Executive Officer or President, as may be prescribed by the appointing officer.
(a) Chairman of the Board. The Chairman of the Board shall preside when present at all meetings of the stockholders and the Board. The Chairman of the Board shall have general supervision and control of the acquisition activities of the Corporation subject to the ultimate authority of the Board, and shall be responsible for the execution of the policies of the Board with respect to such matters. In the absence (or inability or refusal to act) of the Chairman of the Board, any Chief Executive Officer (if he or she shall be a director) shall preside when present at all meetings of the stockholders and the Board. The powers and duties of the Chairman of the Board shall not include supervision or control of the preparation of the financial statements of the Corporation (other than through participation as a member of the Board). The position of Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer may be held by the same person and may be held by more than one person.
(b) Chief Executive Officer. One or more Chief Executive Officers shall be the chief executive officer(s) of the Corporation, shall have general supervision of the affairs of the Corporation and general control of all of its business subject to the ultimate authority of the Board, and shall be responsible for the execution of the policies of the Board with respect to such matters, except to the extent any such powers and duties have been prescribed to the Chairman of the Board pursuant to Section 6.1(a) above. In the absence (or inability or refusal to act) of the Chairman of the Board, any Chief Executive Officer (if he or she shall be a director) shall preside when present at all meetings of the stockholders and the Board. The position of Chief Executive Officer and President may be held by the same person and may be held by more than one person.
Exhibit E - Page 11
(c) President. The President shall make recommendations to any Chief Executive Officer on all operational matters that would normally be reserved for the final executive responsibility of any Chief Executive Officer. In the absence (or inability or refusal to act) of the Chairman of the Board and a Chief Executive Officer, the President (if he or she shall be a director) shall preside when present at all meetings of the stockholders and the Board. The President shall also perform such duties and have such powers as shall be designated by the Board. The position of President and Chief Executive Officer may be held by the same person.
(d) Vice Presidents. In the absence (or inability or refusal to act) of the President, the Vice President (or in the event there be more than one Vice President, the Vice Presidents in the order designated by the Board) shall perform the duties and have the powers of the President. Any one or more of the Vice Presidents may be given an additional designation of rank or function.
(e) Secretary.
(i) The Secretary shall attend all meetings of the stockholders, the Board and (as required) committees of the Board and shall record the proceedings of such meetings in books to be kept for that purpose. The Secretary shall give, or cause to be given, notice of all meetings of the stockholders and special meetings of the Board and shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board, the Chairman of the Board, any Chief Executive Officer or President. The Secretary shall have custody of the corporate seal of the Corporation and the Secretary, or any Assistant Secretary, shall have authority to affix the same to any instrument requiring it, and when so affixed, it may be attested by his or her signature or by the signature of such Assistant Secretary. The Board may give general authority to any other officer to affix the seal of the Corporation and to attest the affixing thereof by his or her signature.
(ii) The Secretary shall keep, or cause to be kept, at the principal executive office of the Corporation or at the office of the Corporation’s transfer agent or registrar, if one has been appointed, a stock ledger, or duplicate stock ledger, showing the names of the stockholders and their addresses, the number and classes of shares held by each and, with respect to certificated shares, the number and date of certificates issued for the same and the number and date of certificates cancelled.
(f) Assistant Secretaries. The Assistant Secretary or, if there be more than one, the Assistant Secretaries in the order determined by the Board shall, in the absence (or inability or refusal to act) of the Secretary, perform the duties and have the powers of the Secretary.
(g) Chief Financial Officer. The Chief Financial Officer shall perform all duties commonly incident to that office (including, without limitation, the care and custody of the funds and securities of the Corporation, which from time to time may come into the Chief Financial Officer’s hands and the deposit of the funds of the Corporation in such banks or trust companies as the Board, any Chief Executive Officer or the President may authorize).
(h) Treasurer. The Treasurer shall, in the absence (or inability or refusal to act) of the Chief Financial Officer, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Chief Financial Officer.
Section 6.2. Term of Office; Removal; Vacancies. The elected officers of the Corporation shall be appointed by the Board and shall hold office until their successors are duly elected and qualified by the Board or until their earlier death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, or removal from office. Any officer may be removed, with or without cause, at any time by the Board. Any officer appointed by any Chief Executive Officer or President may also be removed, with or without cause, by any Chief Executive Officer or President, as the case may be, unless the Board otherwise provides. Any vacancy occurring in any elected office of the Corporation may be filled by the Board. Any vacancy occurring in any office appointed by any Chief Executive Officer or President may be filled by any Chief Executive Officer, or President, as the case may be, unless the Board then determines that such office shall thereupon be elected by the Board, in which case the Board shall elect such officer.
Section 6.3. Other Officers. The Board may delegate the power to appoint such other officers and agents, and may also remove such officers and agents or delegate the power to remove same, as it shall from time to time deem necessary or desirable.
Exhibit E - Page 12
Section 6.4. Multiple Officeholders; Stockholder and Director Officers. Any number of offices may be held by the same person unless the Certificate of Incorporation or these By Laws otherwise provide. Officers need not be stockholders or residents of the State of Delaware.
ARTICLE VII
SHARES
Section 7.1. Certificated and Uncertificated Shares. The shares of the Corporation may be certificated or uncertificated, subject to the sole discretion of the Board and the requirements of the DGCL.
Section 7.2. Multiple Classes of Stock. If the Corporation shall be authorized to issue more than one class of stock or more than one series of any class, the Corporation shall (a) cause the powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights of each class of stock or series thereof and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights to be set forth in full or summarized on the face or back of any certificate that the Corporation issues to represent shares of such class or series of stock or (b) in the case of uncertificated shares, within a reasonable time after the issuance or transfer of such shares, send to the registered owner thereof a written notice containing the information required to be set forth on certificates as specified in clause (a) above; provided, however, that, except as otherwise provided by applicable law, in lieu of the foregoing requirements, there may be set forth on the face or back of such certificate or, in the case of uncertificated shares, on such written notice a statement that the Corporation will furnish without charge to each stockholder who so requests the powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights of each class of stock or series thereof and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such preferences or rights.
Section 7.3. Signatures. Each certificate representing capital stock of the Corporation shall be signed by or in the name of the Corporation by (a) the Chairman of the Board, any Chief Executive Officer, the President or a Vice President and (b) the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Corporation. Any or all the signatures on the certificate may be a facsimile. In case any officer, transfer agent or registrar who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon a certificate shall have ceased to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar before such certificate is issued, such certificate may be issued by the Corporation with the same effect as if such person were such officer, transfer agent or registrar on the date of issue.
Section 7.4. Consideration and Payment for Shares.
(a) Subject to applicable law and the Certificate of Incorporation, shares of stock may be issued for such consideration, having in the case of shares with par value a value not less than the par value thereof, and to such persons, as determined from time to time by the Board. The consideration may consist of any tangible or intangible property or any benefit to the Corporation including cash, promissory notes, services performed, contracts for services to be performed or other securities, or any combination thereof.
(b) Subject to applicable law and the Certificate of Incorporation, shares may not be issued until the full amount of the consideration has been paid, unless upon the face or back of each certificate issued to represent any partly paid shares of capital stock or upon the books and records of the Corporation in the case of partly paid uncertificated shares, there shall have been set forth the total amount of the consideration to be paid therefor and the amount paid thereon up to and including the time said certificate representing certificated shares or said uncertificated shares are issued.
Section 7.5. Lost, Destroyed or Wrongfully Taken Certificates.
(a) If an owner of a certificate representing shares claims that such certificate has been lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken, the Corporation shall issue a new certificate representing such shares or such shares in uncertificated form if the owner: (i) requests such a new certificate before the Corporation has notice that the certificate representing such shares has been acquired by a protected purchaser; (ii) if requested by the Corporation, delivers to the Corporation a bond sufficient to indemnify the Corporation against any claim that may be made against the Corporation on account of the alleged loss, wrongful taking or destruction of such certificate or the issuance of such new certificate or uncertificated shares; and (iii) satisfies other reasonable requirements imposed by the Corporation.
Exhibit E - Page 13
(b) If a certificate representing shares has been lost, apparently destroyed or wrongfully taken, and the owner fails to notify the Corporation of that fact within a reasonable time after the owner has notice of such loss, apparent destruction or wrongful taking and the Corporation registers a transfer of such shares before receiving notification, the owner shall be precluded from asserting against the Corporation any claim for registering such transfer or a claim to a new certificate representing such shares or such shares in uncertificated form.
Section 7.6. Transfer of Stock.
(a) If a certificate representing shares of the Corporation is presented to the Corporation with an endorsement requesting the registration of transfer of such shares or an instruction is presented to the Corporation requesting the registration of transfer of uncertificated shares, the Corporation shall register the transfer as requested if:
(i) in the case of certificated shares, the certificate representing such shares has been surrendered;
(ii) (A) with respect to certificated shares, the endorsement is made by the person specified by the certificate as entitled to such shares; (B) with respect to uncertificated shares, an instruction is made by the registered owner of such uncertificated shares; or (C) with respect to certificated shares or uncertificated shares, the endorsement or instruction is made by any other appropriate person or by an agent who has actual authority to act on behalf of the appropriate person;
(iii) the Corporation has received a guarantee of signature of the person signing such endorsement or instruction or such other reasonable assurance that the endorsement or instruction is genuine and authorized as the Corporation may request;
(iv) the transfer does not violate any restriction on transfer imposed by the Corporation that is enforceable in accordance with Section 7.8(a); and
(v) such other conditions for such transfer as shall be provided for under applicable law have been satisfied.
(b) Whenever any transfer of shares shall be made for collateral security and not absolutely, the Corporation shall so record such fact in the entry of transfer if, when the certificate for such shares is presented to the Corporation for transfer or, if such shares are uncertificated, when the instruction for registration of transfer thereof is presented to the Corporation, both the transferor and transferee request the Corporation to do so.
Section 7.7. Registered Stockholders. Before due presentment for registration of transfer of a certificate representing shares of the Corporation or of an instruction requesting registration of transfer of uncertificated shares, the Corporation may treat the registered owner as the person exclusively entitled to inspect for any proper purpose the stock ledger and the other books and records of the Corporation, vote such shares, receive dividends or notifications with respect to such shares and otherwise exercise all the rights and powers of the owner of such shares, except that a person who is the beneficial owner of such shares (if held in a voting trust or by a nominee on behalf of such person) may, upon providing documentary evidence of beneficial ownership of such shares and satisfying such other conditions as are provided under applicable law, may also so inspect the books and records of the Corporation.
Section 7.8. Effect of the Corporation’s Restriction on Transfer.
(a) A written restriction on the transfer or registration of transfer of shares of the Corporation or on the amount of shares of the Corporation that may be owned by any person or group of persons, if permitted by the DGCL and noted conspicuously on the certificate representing such shares or, in the case of uncertificated shares, contained in a notice, offering circular or prospectus sent by the Corporation to the registered owner of such shares within a reasonable time prior to or after the issuance or transfer of such shares, may be enforced against the holder of such shares or any successor or transferee of the holder including an executor, administrator, trustee, guardian or other fiduciary entrusted with like responsibility for the person or estate of the holder.
Exhibit E - Page 14
(b) A restriction imposed by the Corporation on the transfer or the registration of shares of the Corporation or on the amount of shares of the Corporation that may be owned by any person or group of persons, even if otherwise lawful, is ineffective against a person without actual knowledge of such restriction unless: (i) the shares are certificated and such restriction is noted conspicuously on the certificate; or (ii) the shares are uncertificated and such restriction was contained in a notice, offering circular or prospectus sent by the Corporation to the registered owner of such shares within a reasonable time prior to or after the issuance or transfer of such shares.
Section 7.9. Regulations. The Board shall have power and authority to make such additional rules and regulations, subject to any applicable requirement of law, as the Board may deem necessary and appropriate with respect to the issue, transfer or registration of transfer of shares of stock or certificates representing shares. The Board may appoint one or more transfer agents or registrars and may require for the validity thereof that certificates representing shares bear the signature of any transfer agent or registrar so appointed.
ARTICLE VIII
INDEMNIFICATION
Section 8.1. Right to Indemnification. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended, the Corporation shall indemnify and hold harmless each person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise involved in any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (hereinafter a “proceeding”), by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director or officer of the Corporation or, while a director or officer of the Corporation, is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust, other enterprise or nonprofit entity, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan (hereinafter an “Indemnitee”), whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a director, officer, employee or agent, or in any other capacity while serving as a director, officer, employee or agent, against all liability and loss suffered and expenses (including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, XXXXX excise taxes and penalties and amounts paid in settlement) reasonably incurred by such Indemnitee in connection with such proceeding; provided, however, that, except as provided in Section 8.3 with respect to proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification, the Corporation shall indemnify an Indemnitee in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such Indemnitee only if such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Board.
Section 8.2. Right to Advancement of Expenses. In addition to the right to indemnification conferred in Section 8.1, an Indemnitee shall also have the right to be paid by the Corporation to the fullest extent not prohibited by applicable law the expenses (including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees) incurred in defending or otherwise participating in any such proceeding in advance of its final disposition (hereinafter an “advancement of expenses”); provided, however, that, if the DGCL requires, an advancement of expenses incurred by an Indemnitee in his or her capacity as a director or officer of the Corporation (and not in any other capacity in which service was or is rendered by such Indemnitee, including, without limitation, service to an employee benefit plan) shall be made only upon the Corporation’s receipt of an undertaking (hereinafter an “undertaking”), by or on behalf of such Indemnitee, to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined that such Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified under this Article VIII or otherwise.
Section 8.3. Right of Indemnitee to Bring Suit. If a claim under Section 8.1 or Section 8.2 is not paid in full by the Corporation within 60 days after a written claim therefor has been received by the Corporation, except in the case of a claim for an advancement of expenses, in which case the applicable period shall be 20 days, the Indemnitee may at any time thereafter bring suit against the Corporation to recover the unpaid amount of the claim. If successful in whole or in part in any such suit, or in a suit brought by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the Indemnitee shall also be entitled to be paid the expense of prosecuting or defending such suit. In (a) any suit brought by the Indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification hereunder (but not in a suit brought by an Indemnitee to enforce a right to an advancement of expenses) it shall be a defense that, and (b) in any suit brought by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the Corporation shall be entitled to recover such expenses upon a final judicial decision from which there is no further right to appeal (hereinafter a “final adjudication”) that, the Indemnitee has not met any applicable standard for indemnification set forth in the DGCL. Neither the failure of the Corporation (including its directors who are not parties to such action, a committee of such directors, independent legal counsel, or its stockholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such suit that indemnification of the Indemnitee is proper in the circumstances because the Indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the DGCL, nor an actual determination by the Corporation (including a determination by its directors who are not parties to such action, a committee of such directors, independent legal counsel, or its stockholders) that the Indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall create a presumption that the Indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct or, in the case of such a suit brought by the Indemnitee, shall be a defense to such suit. In any suit brought by the Indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification or to an advancement of expenses hereunder, or by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the burden of proving that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified, or to such advancement of expenses, under this Article VIII or otherwise shall be on the Corporation.
Exhibit E - Page 15
Section 8.4. Non-Exclusivity of Rights. The rights provided to any Indemnitee pursuant to this Article VIII shall not be exclusive of any other right, which such Indemnitee may have or hereafter acquire under applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation, these By Laws, an agreement, a vote of stockholders or disinterested directors, or otherwise.
Section 8.5. Insurance. The Corporation may maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect itself and/or any director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any expense, liability or loss, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such expense, liability or loss under the DGCL.
Section 8.6. Indemnification of Other Persons. This Article VIII shall not limit the right of the Corporation to the extent and in the manner authorized or permitted by law to indemnify and to advance expenses to persons other than Indemnitees. Without limiting the foregoing, the Corporation may, to the extent authorized from time to time by the Board, grant rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses to any employee or agent of the Corporation and to any other person who is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan, to the fullest extent of the provisions of this Article VIII with respect to the indemnification and advancement of expenses of Indemnitees under this Article VIII.
Section 8.7. Amendments. Any repeal or amendment of this Article VIII by the Board or the stockholders of the Corporation or by changes in applicable law, or the adoption of any other provision of these By Laws inconsistent with this Article VIII, will, to the extent permitted by applicable law, be prospective only (except to the extent such amendment or change in applicable law permits the Corporation to provide broader indemnification rights to Indemnitees on a retroactive basis than permitted prior thereto), and will not in any way diminish or adversely affect any right or protection existing hereunder in respect of any act or omission occurring prior to such repeal or amendment or adoption of such inconsistent provision; provided however, that amendments or repeals of this Article VIII shall require the affirmative vote of the stockholders holding at least 66.7% of the voting power of all outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation.
Section 8.8. Certain Definitions. For purposes of this Article VIII, (a) references to “other enterprise” shall include any employee benefit plan; (b) references to “fines” shall include any excise taxes assessed on a person with respect to an employee benefit plan; (c) references to “serving at the request of the Corporation” shall include any service that imposes duties on, or involves services by, a person with respect to any employee benefit plan, its participants, or beneficiaries; and (d) a person who acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan shall be deemed to have acted in a manner “not opposed to the best interest of the Corporation” for purposes of Section 145 of the DGCL.
Section 8.9. Contract Rights. The rights provided to Indemnitees pursuant to this Article VIII shall be contract rights and such rights shall continue as to an Indemnitee who has ceased to be a director, officer, agent or employee and shall inure to the benefit of the Indemnitee’s heirs, executors and administrators.
Exhibit E - Page 16
Section 8.10. Severability. If any provision or provisions of this Article VIII shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever: (a) the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Article VIII shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby; and (b) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Article VIII (including, without limitation, each such portion of this Article VIII containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to give effect to the intent manifested by the provision held invalid, illegal or unenforceable.
ARTICLE IX
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 9.1. Place of Meetings. If the place of any meeting of stockholders, the Board or committee of the Board for which notice is required under these By Laws is not designated in the notice of such meeting, such meeting shall be held at the principal business office of the Corporation; provided, however, if the Board has, in its sole discretion, determined that a meeting shall not be held at any place, but instead shall be held by means of remote communication pursuant to Section 9.5 hereof, then such meeting shall not be held at any place.
Section 9.2. Fixing Record Dates.
(a) In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, the Board may fix a record date, which shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board, and which record date shall not be more than 60 nor less than 10 days before the date of such meeting. If the Board so fixes a date, such date shall also be the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting unless the Board determines, at the time it fixes such record date, that a later date on or before the date of the meeting shall be the date for making such determination. If no record date is fixed by the Board, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be at the close of business on the business day next preceding the day on which notice is given, or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the business day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held. A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided, however, that the Board may fix a new record date for the adjourned meeting, and in such case shall also fix as the record date for stockholders entitled to notice of such adjourned meeting the same or an earlier date as that fixed for determination of stockholders entitled to vote in accordance with the foregoing provisions of this Section 9.2(a) at the adjourned meeting.
(b) In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights or the stockholders entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock, or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted, and which record date shall be not more than 60 days prior to such action. If no record date is fixed, the record date for determining stockholders for any such purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board adopts the resolution relating thereto.
Section 9.3. Means of Giving Notice.
(a) Notice to Directors. Whenever under applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these By Laws notice is required to be given to any director, such notice shall be given either (i) in writing and sent by mail, or by a nationally recognized delivery service, (ii) by means of facsimile telecommunication or other form of electronic transmission, or (iii) by oral notice given personally or by telephone. A notice to a director will be deemed given as follows: (i) if given by hand delivery, orally, or by telephone, when actually received by the director, (ii) if sent through the United States mail, when deposited in the United States mail, with postage and fees thereon prepaid, addressed to the director at the director’s address appearing on the records of the Corporation, (iii) if sent for next day delivery by a nationally recognized overnight delivery service, when deposited with such service, with fees thereon prepaid, addressed to the director at the director’s address appearing on the records of the Corporation, (iv) if sent by facsimile telecommunication, when sent to the facsimile transmission number for such director appearing on the records of the Corporation, (v) if sent by electronic mail, when sent to the electronic mail address for such director appearing on the records of the Corporation, or (vi) if sent by any other form of electronic transmission, when sent to the address, location or number (as applicable) for such director appearing on the records of the Corporation.
Exhibit E - Page 17
(b) Notice to Stockholders. Whenever under applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these By Laws notice is required to be given to any stockholder, such notice may be given (i) in writing and sent either by hand delivery, through the United States mail, or by a nationally recognized overnight delivery service for next day delivery, or (ii) by means of a form of electronic transmission consented to by the stockholder, to the extent permitted by, and subject to the conditions set forth in Section 232 of the DGCL. A notice to a stockholder shall be deemed given as follows: (i) if given by hand delivery, when actually received by the stockholder, (ii) if sent through the United States mail, when deposited in the United States mail, with postage and fees thereon prepaid, addressed to the stockholder at the stockholder’s address appearing on the stock ledger of the Corporation, (iii) if sent for next day delivery by a nationally recognized overnight delivery service, when deposited with such service, with fees thereon prepaid, addressed to the stockholder at the stockholder’s address appearing on the stock ledger of the Corporation, and (iv) if given by a form of electronic transmission consented to by the stockholder to whom the notice is given and otherwise meeting the requirements set forth above, (A) if by facsimile transmission, when directed to a number at which the stockholder has consented to receive notice, (B) if by electronic mail, when directed to an electronic mail address at which the stockholder has consented to receive notice, (C) if by a posting on an electronic network together with separate notice to the stockholder of such specified posting, upon the later of (1) such posting and (2) the giving of such separate notice, and (D) if by any other form of electronic transmission, when directed to the stockholder. A stockholder may revoke such stockholder’s consent to receiving notice by means of electronic communication by giving written notice of such revocation to the Corporation. Any such consent shall be deemed revoked if (1) the Corporation is unable to deliver by electronic transmission two consecutive notices given by the Corporation in accordance with such consent and (2) such inability becomes known to the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary or to the Corporation’s transfer agent, or other person responsible for the giving of notice; provided, however, the inadvertent failure to treat such inability as a revocation shall not invalidate any meeting or other action.
(c) Electronic Transmission. “Electronic transmission” means any form of communication, not directly involving the physical transmission of paper, that creates a record that may be retained, retrieved and reviewed by a recipient thereof, and that may be directly reproduced in paper form by such a recipient through an automated process, including but not limited to transmission by telex, facsimile telecommunication, electronic mail, telegram and cablegram.
(d) Notice to Stockholders Sharing Same Address. Without limiting the manner by which notice otherwise may be given effectively by the Corporation to stockholders, any notice to stockholders given by the Corporation under any provision of the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation or these By Laws shall be effective if given by a single written notice to stockholders who share an address if consented to by the stockholders at that address to whom such notice is given. A stockholder may revoke such stockholder’s consent by delivering written notice of such revocation to the Corporation. Any stockholder who fails to object in writing to the Corporation within 60 days of having been given written notice by the Corporation of its intention to send such a single written notice shall be deemed to have consented to receiving such single written notice.
(e) Exceptions to Notice Requirements. Whenever notice is required to be given, under the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation or these By Laws, to any person with whom communication is unlawful, the giving of such notice to such person shall not be required and there shall be no duty to apply to any governmental authority or agency for a license or permit to give such notice to such person. Any action or meeting that shall be taken or held without notice to any such person with whom communication is unlawful shall have the same force and effect as if such notice had been duly given. In the event that the action taken by the Corporation is such as to require the filing of a certificate with the Secretary of State of Delaware, the certificate shall state, if such is the fact and if notice is required, that notice was given to all persons entitled to receive notice except such persons with whom communication is unlawful.
Whenever notice is required to be given by the Corporation, under any provision of the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation or these By Laws, to any stockholder to whom (1) notice of two consecutive annual meetings of stockholders and all notices of stockholder meetings or of the taking of action by written consent of stockholders without a meeting to such stockholder during the period between such two consecutive annual meetings, or (2) all, and at least two payments (if sent by first-class mail) of dividends or interest on securities during a 12-month period, have been mailed addressed to such stockholder at such stockholder’s address as shown on the records of the Corporation and have been returned undeliverable, the giving of such notice to such stockholder shall not be required. Any action or meeting that shall be taken or held without notice to such stockholder shall have the same force and effect as if such notice had been duly given. If any such stockholder shall deliver to the Corporation a written notice setting forth such stockholder’s then current address, the requirement that notice be given to such stockholder shall be reinstated. In the event that the action taken by the Corporation is such as to require the filing of a certificate with the Secretary of State of Delaware, the certificate need not state that notice was not given to persons to whom notice was not required to be given pursuant to Section 230(b) of the DGCL. The exception in subsection (1) of the first sentence of this paragraph to the requirement that notice be given shall not be applicable to any notice returned as undeliverable if the notice was given by electronic transmission.
Exhibit E - Page 18
Section 9.4. Waiver of Notice. Whenever any notice is required to be given under applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation, or these By Laws, a written waiver of such notice, signed by the person or persons entitled to said notice, or a waiver by electronic transmission by the person entitled to said notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to such required notice. All such waivers shall be kept with the books of the Corporation. Attendance at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except where a person attends for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business on the ground that the meeting was not lawfully called or convened.
Section 9.5. Meeting Attendance via Remote Communication Equipment.
(a) Stockholder Meetings. If authorized by the Board in its sole discretion, and subject to such guidelines and procedures as the Board may adopt, stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting and proxy holders not physically present at a meeting of stockholders may, by means of remote communication:
(i) participate in a meeting of stockholders; and
(ii) be deemed present in person and vote at a meeting of stockholders, whether such meeting is to be held at a designated place or solely by means of remote communication, provided that (A) the Corporation shall implement reasonable measures to verify that each person deemed present and permitted to vote at the meeting by means of remote communication is a stockholder or proxy holder, (B) the Corporation shall implement reasonable measures to provide such stockholders and proxy holders a reasonable opportunity to participate in the meeting and, if entitled to vote, to vote on matters submitted to the applicable stockholders, including an opportunity to read or hear the proceedings of the meeting substantially concurrently with such proceedings, and (C) if any stockholder or proxy holder votes or takes other action at the meeting by means of remote communication, a record of such votes or other action shall be maintained by the Corporation.
(b) Board Meetings. Unless otherwise restricted by applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these By Laws, members of the Board or any committee thereof may participate in a meeting of the Board or any committee thereof by means of conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other. Such participation in a meeting shall constitute presence in person at the meeting, except where a person participates in the meeting for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business on the ground that the meeting was not lawfully called or convened.
Section 9.6. Dividends. The Board may from time to time declare, and the Corporation may pay, dividends (payable in cash, property or shares of the Corporation’s capital stock) on the Corporation’s outstanding shares of capital stock, subject to applicable law and the Certificate of Incorporation.
Section 9.7. Reserves. The Board may set apart out of the funds of the Corporation available for dividends a reserve or reserves for any proper purpose and may abolish any such reserve.
Exhibit E - Page 19
Section 9.8. Contracts and Negotiable Instruments. Except as otherwise provided by applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these By Laws, any contract, bond, deed, lease, mortgage or other instrument may be executed and delivered in the name and on behalf of the Corporation by such officer or officers or other employee or employees of the Corporation as the Board may from time to time authorize. Such authority may be general or confined to specific instances as the Board may determine. The Chairman of the Board, any Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer or any Vice President may execute and deliver any contract, bond, deed, lease, mortgage or other instrument in the name and on behalf of the Corporation. Subject to any restrictions imposed by the Board, the Chairman of the Board , any Chief Executive Officer, President, the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer or any Vice President may delegate powers to execute and deliver any contract, bond, deed, lease, mortgage or other instrument in the name and on behalf of the Corporation to other officers or employees of the Corporation under such person’s supervision and authority, it being understood, however, that any such delegation of power shall not relieve such officer of responsibility with respect to the exercise of such delegated power.
Section 9.9. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be fixed by the Board.
Section 9.10. Seal. The Board may adopt a corporate seal, which shall be in such form as the Board determines. The seal may be used by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed, affixed or otherwise reproduced.
Section 9.11. Books and Records. The books and records of the Corporation may be kept within or outside the State of Delaware at such place or places as may from time to time be designated by the Board.
Section 9.12. Resignation. Any director, committee member or officer may resign by giving notice thereof in writing or by electronic transmission to the Chairman of the Board, any Chief Executive Officer, the President or the Secretary. The resignation shall take effect at the time it is delivered unless the resignation specifies a later effective date or an effective date determined upon the happening of an event or events. Unless otherwise specified therein, the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.
Section 9.13. Surety Bonds. Such officers, employees and agents of the Corporation (if any) as the Chairman of the Board, any Chief Executive Officer, President or the Board may direct, from time to time, shall be bonded for the faithful performance of their duties and for the restoration to the Corporation, in case of their death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal from office, of all books, papers, vouchers, money and other property of whatever kind in their possession or under their control belonging to the Corporation, in such amounts and by such surety companies as the Chairman of the Board, any Chief Executive Officer, President or the Board may determine. The premiums on such bonds shall be paid by the Corporation and the bonds so furnished shall be in the custody of the Secretary.
Section 9.14. Securities of Other Corporations. Powers of attorney, proxies, waivers of notice of meeting, consents in writing and other instruments relating to securities owned by the Corporation may be executed in the name of and on behalf of the Corporation by the Chairman of the Board, any Chief Executive Officer, President, any Vice President or any officers authorized by the Board. Any such officer, may, in the name of and on behalf of the Corporation, take all such action as any such officer may deem advisable to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of security holders of any corporation in which the Corporation may own securities, or to consent in writing, in the name of the Corporation as such holder, to any action by such corporation, and at any such meeting or with respect to any such consent shall possess and may exercise any and all rights and power incident to the ownership of such securities and which, as the owner thereof, the Corporation might have exercised and possessed. The Board may from time to time confer like powers upon any other person or persons.
Section 9.15. Amendments. These By Laws may be amended, altered or repealed, in whole or in part, and new bylaws may be adopted, by the Board or by the stockholders as provided in the Certificate of Incorporation.
Exhibit E - Page 20
EXHIBIT F
FORM OF PARENT RESTATED CHARTER
Exhibit F - Page 1
SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
MONTEREY CAPITAL ACQUISITION CORPORATION
[ ], 2023
Monterey Capital Acquisition Corporation, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “Corporation”), DOES HEREBY CERTIFY AS FOLLOWS:
1. The name of the Corporation is Monterey Capital Acquisition Corporation. The original certificate of incorporation of the Corporation was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on September 23, 2021 (the “Original Certificate”), and an Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on May 10, 2022 (the “First Amended and Restated Certificate”), which amended, restated, integrated and superseded the Original Certificate.
2. This Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the “Second Amended and Restated Certificate”), which both restates and amends the provisions of the First Amended and Restated Certificate, was duly adopted in accordance with Sections 228, 242 and 245 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as amended from time to time (the “DGCL”).
3. This Second Amended and Restated Certificate shall become effective at [·] Eastern time on [·].
4. The text of the First Amended and Restated Certificate is hereby restated and amended in its entirety to read as follows:
ARTICLE I
NAME
The name of the corporation is ConnectM Technology Solutions, Inc.
ARTICLE II
PURPOSE
The purpose of the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the DGCL as it now exists or may hereafter be amended and supplemented. In addition to the powers and privileges conferred upon the Corporation by law and those incidental thereto, the Corporation shall possess and may exercise all the powers and privileges that are necessary or convenient to the conduct, promotion or attainment of the business or purposes of the Corporation.
ARTICLE III
REGISTERED AGENT
The address of the Corporation’s registered office in the State of Delaware is 000 Xxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxx, xx xxx Xxxx xx Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxx of Xxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx xx Xxxxxxxx, 00000, and the name of the Corporation’s registered agent at such address is Corporation Service Company.
ARTICLE IV
CAPITALIZATION
Section 4.1 Authorized Capital Stock. The total number of shares of all classes of capital stock, each with a par value of $0.0001 per share, which the Corporation is authorized to issue is 110,000,000 shares, consisting of (a) 100,000,000 shares of common stock (the “Common Stock”), and (b) 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock (the “Preferred Stock”).
Exhibit F - Page 2
Section 4.2 Preferred Stock. The Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “Board”) is hereby expressly authorized to provide out of the unissued shares of the Preferred Stock for one or more series of Preferred Stock and to establish from time to time the number of shares to be included in each such series and to fix the voting rights, if any, designations, powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional, special and other rights, if any, of each such series and any qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof, including without limitation thereof, dividend rights, conversion rights, redemption privileges and liquidation preferences, and to increase or decrease (but not below the number of shares of such series then outstanding) the number of shares of any series, as shall be stated in the resolution or resolutions adopted by the Board providing for the issuance of such series and included in a certificate of designation (a “Preferred Stock Designation”) filed pursuant to the DGCL, and the Board is hereby expressly vested with the authority to the full extent provided by law, now or hereafter, to adopt any such resolution or resolutions.
Section 4.3 Common Stock.
(a) Reclassification. Effective immediately upon the filing of this Second Amended and Restated Certificate with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware (the “Effective Time”), automatically and without further action on the part of holders of capital stock of the Corporation, (i) each share of Class A Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“Class A Common Stock”) outstanding or held by the Corporation as treasury stock as of immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be reclassified as, and become, one (1) validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable share of Common Stock and (ii) each share of Class B Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“Class B Common Stock” and collectively, with Class A Common Stock, the “Old Common Stock”), outstanding or held by the Corporation as treasury stock as of immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be reclassified as, and become, one (1) validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable share of Common Stock (the reclassifications described in the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii), collectively, the “Reclassification”). The Reclassification shall occur automatically as of the Effective Time without any further action by the Corporation or the holders of the shares affected thereby and whether or not any certificates representing such shares are surrendered to the Corporation. Upon the Effective Time, each certificate that as of immediately prior to the Effective Time represented shares of Old Common Stock shall be deemed to represent an equivalent number of shares of Common Stock. The Reclassification shall also apply to any outstanding securities or rights convertible into, or exchangeable or exercisable for, Old Common Stock of the Corporation and all references to the Old Common Stock in agreements, arrangements, documents and plans relating thereto or any option or right to purchase or acquire shares of Old Common Stock shall be deemed to be references to the Common Stock or options or rights to purchase or acquire shares of Common Stock, as the case may be.
(b) Voting Rights.
(i) Except as otherwise required by law or this Second Amended and Restated Certificate (including any Preferred Stock Designation), the holders of the Common Stock shall exclusively possess all voting power with respect to the Corporation.
(ii) Except as otherwise required by law or this Second Amended and Restated Certificate (including any Preferred Stock Designation), the holders of shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to one vote for each such share on each matter properly submitted to the stockholders of the Corporation on which the holders of the Common Stock are entitled to vote.
(iii) Except as otherwise required by law or this Second Amended and Restated Certificate (including any Preferred Stock Designation), at any annual or special meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation, holders of the Common Stock shall have the exclusive right to vote for the election of directors and on all other matters properly submitted to a vote of the stockholders. Notwithstanding the foregoing, except as otherwise required by law or this Second Amended and Restated Certificate (including any Preferred Stock Designation), holders of shares of any series of Common Stock shall not be entitled to vote on any amendment to this Second Amended and Restated Certificate (including any amendment to any Preferred Stock Designation) that relates solely to the terms of one or more outstanding series of Preferred Stock if the holders of such affected series of Preferred Stock are entitled exclusively, either separately or together with the holders of one or more other such series, to vote thereon pursuant to this Second Amended and Restated Certificate (including any Preferred Stock Designation) or the DGCL.
Exhibit F - Page 3
(c) Dividends. Subject to applicable law and the rights, if any, of the holders of any outstanding series of the Preferred Stock, the holders of shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive such dividends and other distributions (payable in cash, property or capital stock of the Corporation) when, as and if declared thereon by the Board from time to time out of any assets or funds of the Corporation legally available therefor and shall share equally on a per share basis in such dividends and distributions.
(d) Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up of the Corporation. Subject to applicable law and the rights, if any, of the holders of any outstanding series of the Preferred Stock, in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, after payment or provision for payment of the debts and other liabilities of the Corporation, the holders of shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive all the remaining assets of the Corporation available for distribution to its stockholders, ratably in proportion to the number of shares of Common Stock held by them.
Section 4.4 Rights and Options. The Corporation has the authority to create and issue rights, warrants and options entitling the holders thereof to acquire from the Corporation any shares of its capital stock of any class or classes, with such rights, warrants and options to be evidenced by or in instrument(s) approved by the Board. The Board is empowered to set the exercise price, duration, times for exercise and other terms and conditions of such rights, warrants or options; provided, however, that the consideration to be received for any shares of capital stock issuable upon exercise thereof may not be less than the par value thereof.
Section 4.5 No Class Vote on Changes in Authorized Number of Shares of Stock. The number of authorized shares of any series, class or classes of capital stock may be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares of such series, class or classes thereof then outstanding) by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of the capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, irrespective of the provisions of Section 242(b)(2) of the DGCL (or any successor provision thereto), voting together as a single class, without a separate vote of the holders of the series, class or classes the number of authorized shares of which are being increased or decreased, unless a vote by any holders of one or more series of Preferred Stock is required by the express terms of any Preferred Stock Designation.
ARTICLE V
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Section 5.1 Board Powers. The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by, or under the direction of, the Board. In addition to the powers and authority expressly conferred upon the Board by statute, this Second Amended and Restated Certificate or the By Laws of the Corporation (“By Laws”), the Board is hereby empowered to exercise all such powers and do all such acts and things as may be exercised or done by the Corporation, subject, nevertheless, to the provisions of the DGCL, this Second Amended and Restated Certificate, and any By Laws adopted by the stockholders of the Corporation; provided, however, that no By Laws hereafter adopted by the stockholders of the Corporation shall invalidate any prior act of the Board that would have been valid if such By Laws had not been adopted.
Section 5.2 Number, Election and Term.
(a) The number of directors of the Corporation, other than those who may be elected by the holders of one or more series of the Preferred Stock voting separately by class or series, shall be fixed from time to time exclusively by the Board pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the Board.
(b) Subject to Section 5.5 hereof, the Board shall be divided into three classes, as nearly equal in number as possible and designated Class I, Class II and Class III. The Board is authorized to assign members of the Board already in office as of the effectiveness of this Second Amended and Restated Certificate to Class I, Class II or Class III. The term of the initial Class I Directors shall expire at the first annual meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation following the effectiveness of this Second Amended and Restated Certificate, the term of the initial Class II Directors shall expire at the second annual meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation following the effectiveness of this Second Amended and Restated Certificate, and the term of the initial Class III Directors shall expire at the third annual meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation following the effectiveness of this Second Amended and Restated Certificate. At each succeeding annual meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation, beginning with the first annual meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation following the effectiveness of this Second Amended and Restated Certificate, each of the successors elected to replace the class of directors whose term expires at that annual meeting shall be elected for a three-year term or until the election and qualification of their respective successors in office, subject to their earlier death, resignation or removal. Subject to Section 5.5 hereof, if the number of directors that constitute the Board is changed, any increase or decrease shall be apportioned by the Board among the classes so as to maintain the number of directors in each class as nearly equal as possible, but in no case shall a decrease in the number of directors constituting the Board shorten the term of any incumbent director. Subject to the rights of the holders of one or more series of Preferred Stock, voting separately by class or series, to elect directors pursuant to the terms of one or more series of Preferred Stock, the election of directors shall be determined by a plurality of the votes cast by the stockholders present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote thereon. The Board is hereby expressly authorized, by resolution or resolutions thereof, to assign members of the Board already in office to the aforesaid classes at the time this Second Amended and Restated Certificate (and therefore such classification) becomes effective in accordance with the DGCL.
Exhibit F - Page 4
(c) Subject to Section 5.5 hereof, a director shall hold office until the annual meeting for the year in which his or her term expires and until his or her successor has been elected and qualified, subject, however, to such director’s earlier death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal.
(d) Unless and except to the extent that the By Laws shall so require, the election of directors need not be by written ballot. The holders of shares of Common Stock shall not have cumulative voting rights with regard to election of directors.
Section 5.3 Newly Created Directorships and Vacancies. Subject to Section 5.5 hereof, newly created directorships resulting from an increase in the number of directors and any vacancies on the Board resulting from death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, removal or other cause may be filled solely and exclusively by a majority vote of the remaining directors then in office, even if less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director (and not by stockholders), and any director so chosen shall hold office for the remainder of the full term of the class of directors to which the new directorship was added or in which the vacancy occurred and until his or her successor has been elected and qualified, subject, however, to such director’s earlier death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal.
Section 5.4 Removal. Subject to Section 5.5 hereof, any or all of the directors may be removed from office at any time, but only for cause and only by the affirmative vote of holders of at least two-thirds (66 and 2/3%) of the voting power of all then outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class.
Section 5.5 Preferred Stock - Directors. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article V, and except as otherwise required by law, whenever the holders of one or more series of the Preferred Stock shall have the right, voting separately by class or series, to elect one or more directors, the term of office, the filling of vacancies, the removal from office and other features of such directorships shall be governed by the terms of such series of the Preferred Stock as set forth in this Second Amended and Restated Certificate (including any Preferred Stock Designation) and such directors shall not be included in any of the classes created pursuant to this Article V unless expressly provided by such terms.
ARTICLE VI
BYLAWS
In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred upon it by law, the Board shall have the power and is expressly authorized to adopt, amend, alter or repeal the By Laws. The affirmative vote of a majority of the Board shall be required to adopt, amend, alter or repeal the By Laws. The By Laws also may be adopted, amended, altered or repealed by the stockholders; provided, however, that in addition to any vote of the holders of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation required by law or by this Second Amended and Restated Certificate (including any Preferred Stock Designation), the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds (66 and 2/3%) of the voting power of all then outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the annual election of directors, voting together as a single class, shall be required for the stockholders to adopt, amend, alter or repeal the By Laws; and provided further, however, that no By Laws hereafter adopted by the stockholders shall invalidate any prior act of the Board that would have been valid if such By Laws had not been adopted.
Exhibit F - Page 5
ARTICLE VII
SPECIAL MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS; ACTION BY WRITTEN CONSENT
Section 7.1 Special Meetings. Subject to the rights, if any, of the holders of any outstanding series of the Preferred Stock, and to the requirements of applicable law, special meetings of stockholders of the Corporation may be called only by the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation, or the Board pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the Board, and the ability of the stockholders of the Corporation to call a special meeting is hereby specifically denied. Except as provided in the foregoing sentence, special meetings of stockholders of the Corporation may not be called by another person or persons.
Section 7.2 Advance Notice. Advance notice of stockholder nominations for the election of directors and of business to be brought by stockholders before any meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation shall be given in the manner provided in the By Laws.
Section 7.3 Action by Written Consent. Except as may be otherwise provided for or fixed pursuant to any Preferred Stock Designation permitting the holders of any outstanding series of Preferred Stock to act by written consent, any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation must be effected by a duly called annual or special meeting of such stockholders and may not be effected by written consent of the stockholders.
ARTICLE VIII
LIMITED LIABILITY; INDEMNIFICATION
Section 8.1 Limitation of Liability. To the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, no director or officer of the Corporation shall be personally liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director or officer.. Any amendment, alteration or repeal of this Section 8.1 that adversely affects any right of a director or officer shall be prospective only and shall not limit or eliminate any such right with respect to any proceeding involving any occurrence or alleged occurrence of any action or omission to act that took place prior to such amendment, alteration or repeal. If the DGCL is amended to permit further elimination or limitation of the personal liability of directors, then the liability of a director of the Corporation shall be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL as so amended.
Section 8.2 Indemnification and Advancement of Expenses.
(a) To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended, the Corporation shall indemnify and hold harmless each person who is or was made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise involved in any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (a “proceeding”) by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director or officer of the Corporation or, while a director or officer of the Corporation, is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust, other enterprise or nonprofit entity, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan (an “indemnitee”), whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a director, officer, employee or agent, or in any other capacity while serving as a director, officer, employee or agent, against all liability and loss suffered and expenses (including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, XXXXX excise taxes and penalties and amounts paid in settlement) reasonably incurred by such indemnitee in connection with such proceeding. The Corporation shall to the fullest extent not prohibited by applicable law pay the expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by an indemnitee in defending or otherwise participating in any proceeding in advance of its final disposition; provided, however, that, to the extent required by applicable law, such payment of expenses in advance of the final disposition of the proceeding shall be made only upon receipt of an undertaking, by or on behalf of the indemnitee, to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined that the indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified under this Section 8.2 or otherwise. The rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses conferred by this Section 8.2 shall be contract rights and such rights shall continue as to an indemnitee who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of his or her heirs, executors and administrators. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 8.2(a), except for proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses, the Corporation shall indemnify and advance expenses to an indemnitee in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such indemnitee only if such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Board.
Exhibit F - Page 6
(b) The rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses conferred on any indemnitee by this Section 8.2 shall not be exclusive of any other rights that any indemnitee may have or hereafter acquire under law, this Second Amended and Restated Certificate, the By Laws, an agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors, or otherwise.
(c) Any repeal or amendment of this Section 8.2 by the stockholders of the Corporation or by changes in law, or the adoption of any other provision of this Second Amended and Restated Certificate inconsistent with this Section 8.2, shall, unless otherwise required by law, be prospective only (except to the extent such amendment or change in law permits the Corporation to provide broader indemnification rights on a retroactive basis than permitted prior thereto), and shall not in any way diminish or adversely affect any right or protection existing at the time of such repeal or amendment or adoption of such inconsistent provision in respect of any proceeding (regardless of when such proceeding is first threatened, commenced or completed) arising out of, or related to, any act or omission occurring prior to such repeal or amendment or adoption of such inconsistent provision.
(d) This Section 8.2 shall not limit the right of the Corporation, to the extent and in the manner authorized or permitted by law, to indemnify and to advance expenses to persons other than indemnitees.
ARTICLE IX
CORPORATE OPPORTUNITY
To the extent allowed by law, the doctrine of corporate opportunity, or any other analogous doctrine, shall not apply with respect to the Corporation or any of its officers or directors, or any of their respective affiliates, in circumstances where the application of any such doctrine would conflict with any fiduciary duties or contractual obligations they may have as of the date of this Second Amended and Restated Certificate or in the future, and the Corporation renounces any expectancy that any of the directors or officers of the Corporation will offer any such corporate opportunity of which he or she may become aware to the Corporation, except, the doctrine of corporate opportunity shall apply with respect to any of the directors or officers of the Corporation with respect to a corporate opportunity that was offered to such person solely in his or her capacity as a director or officer of the Corporation and (i) such opportunity is one the Corporation is legally and contractually permitted to undertake and would otherwise be reasonable for the Corporation to pursue and (ii) the director or officer is permitted to refer that opportunity to the Corporation without violating any legal obligation.
ARTICLE X
AMENDMENT OF SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
The Corporation reserves the right at any time and from time to time to amend, alter, change or repeal any provision contained in this Second Amended and Restated Certificate (including any Preferred Stock Designation), and other provisions authorized by the laws of the State of Delaware at the time in force that may be added or inserted, in the manner now or hereafter prescribed by this Second Amended and Restated Certificate and the DGCL; and, except as set forth in Article VIII, all rights, preferences and privileges of whatever nature herein conferred upon stockholders, directors or any other persons by and pursuant to this Second Amended and Restated Certificate in its present form or as hereafter amended are granted subject to the right reserved in this Article X.
Exhibit F - Page 7
ARTICLE XI
EXCLUSIVE FORUM FOR CERTAIN LAWSUITS; CONSENT TO JURISDICTION
Section 11.1 Forum. Subject to the last sentence in this Section 11.1, and unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, to the fullest extent permitted by the applicable law, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware shall be the sole and exclusive forum for any stockholder (including a beneficial owner) to bring (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer or other employee of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporation’s stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation, its directors, officers or employees arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL or this Second Amended and Restated Certificate or the By Laws, or (iv) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation, its directors, officers or employees governed by the internal affairs doctrine and, if brought outside of Delaware, the stockholder bringing the suit will be deemed to have consented to service of process on such stockholder’s counsel except any action (A) as to which the Court of Chancery in the State of Delaware determines that there is an indispensable party not subject to the jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery (and the indispensable party does not consent to the personal jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery within ten days following such determination), (B) which is vested in the exclusive jurisdiction of a court or forum other than the Court of Chancery, or (C) for which the Court of Chancery does not have subject matter jurisdiction. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) the provisions of this Section 11.1 will not apply to suits brought to enforce any liability or duty created by the Exchange Act or any other claim for which the federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction and (ii) unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the federal district courts of the United States of America shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be the exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
Section 11.2 Consent to Jurisdiction. If any action the subject matter of which is within the scope of Section 11.1 immediately above is filed in a court other than a court located within the State of Delaware (a “Foreign Action”) in the name of any stockholder, such stockholder shall be deemed to have consented to (i) the personal jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located within the State of Delaware in connection with any action brought in any such court to enforce Section 11.1 immediately above (an “FSC Enforcement Action”) and (ii) having service of process made upon such stockholder in any such FSC Enforcement Action by service upon such stockholder’s counsel in the Foreign Action as agent for such stockholder.
Section 11.3 Severability. If any provision or provisions of this Article XI shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable as applied to any person or entity or circumstance for any reason whatsoever, then, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the validity, legality and enforceability of such provisions in any other circumstance and of the remaining provisions of this Article XI (including, without limitation, each portion of any sentence of this Article XI containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) and the application of such provision to other persons or entities and circumstances shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
Section 11.4 Deemed Notice. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring or holding any interest in any security of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to this Article XI.
ARTICLE XII
APPLICATION OF DGCL SECTION 203
Section 12.1 Section 203 of the DGCL. The Corporation hereby expressly elects not to be governed by Section 203 of the DGCL as now in effect or hereafter amended, or any successor statute thereto, and the restrictions contained in Section 203 of the DGCL shall not apply to the Corporation.
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Exhibit F - Page 8
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused this Second Amended and Restated Certificate to be duly executed and acknowledged in its name and on its behalf by an authorized officer as of the date first set forth above.
Monterey Capital Acquisition Corporation | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
[Signature Page to Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation]
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EXHIBIT G
FORM OF PARENT INCENTIVE PLAN
Exhibit G - Page 1
CONNECTM TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS, INC. 2023 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
1. Purpose; Eligibility.
1.1 General Purpose. The name of this plan is the ConnectM Technology Solutions, Inc. 2023 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”). The purposes of the Plan are to (a) enable ConnectM Technology Solutions, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and any Affiliate to attract and retain the types of Employees, Consultants and Directors who will contribute to the Company’s long range success; (b) provide incentives that align the interests of Employees, Consultants and Directors with those of the shareholders of the Company; and (c) promote the success of the Company’s business.
1.2 Eligible Award Recipients. The persons eligible to receive Awards are the Employees, Consultants and Directors of the Company and its Affiliates and such other individuals designated by the Committee who are reasonably expected to become Employees, Consultants and Directors after the receipt of Awards.
1.3 Available Awards. Awards that may be granted under the Plan include: (a) Incentive Stock Options, (b) Non-qualified Stock Options, (c) Stock Appreciation Rights, (d) Restricted Awards, (e) Performance Share Awards, (f) Cash Awards, and (g) Other Equity-Based Awards.
2. Definitions.
“Affiliate” means a corporation or other entity that, directly or through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by or is under common control with, the Company.
“Applicable Laws” means the requirements related to or implicated by the administration of the Plan under applicable state corporate law, United States federal and state securities laws, the Code, any stock exchange or quotation system on which the shares of Common Stock are listed or quoted, and the applicable laws of any foreign country or jurisdiction where Awards are granted under the Plan.
“Award” means any right granted under the Plan, including an Incentive Stock Option, a Non-qualified Stock Option, a Stock Appreciation Right, a Restricted Award, a Performance Share Award, a Cash Award, or an Other Equity-Based Award.
“Award Agreement” means a written agreement, contract, certificate or other instrument or document evidencing the terms and conditions of an individual Award granted under the Plan which may, in the discretion of the Company, be transmitted electronically to any Participant. Each Award Agreement shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan.
“Beneficial Owner” has the meaning assigned to such term in Rule 13d-3 and Rule 13d-5 under the Exchange Act, except that in calculating the beneficial ownership of any particular Person, such Person shall be deemed to have beneficial ownership of all securities that such Person has the right to acquire by conversion or exercise of other securities, whether such right is currently exercisable or is exercisable only after the passage of time. The terms “Beneficially Owns” and “Beneficially Owned” have a corresponding meaning.
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“Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company, as constituted at any time.
“Cash Award” means an Award denominated in cash that is granted under Section 10 of the Plan.
“Cause” means:
With respect to any Employee or Consultant, unless the applicable Award Agreement states otherwise:
(a) If the Employee or Consultant is a party to an employment or service agreement with the Company or its Affiliates and such agreement provides for a definition of Cause, the definition contained therein; or
(b) If no such agreement exists, or if such agreement does not define Cause: (i) the commission of, or plea of guilty or no contest to, a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude or the commission of any other act involving willful malfeasance or material fiduciary breach with respect to the Company or an Affiliate; (ii) conduct that brings or is reasonably likely to bring the Company or an Affiliate negative publicity or into public disgrace, embarrassment, or disrepute; (iii) gross negligence or willful misconduct with respect to the Company or an Affiliate; (iv) material violation of state or federal securities laws; or (v) material violation of the Company’s written policies or codes of conduct, including written policies related to discrimination, harassment, performance of illegal or unethical activities, and ethical misconduct; or (vi) any breach of any non-competition, non-solicitation, no-hire, or confidentiality covenant between the Participant and the Company or an Affiliate;.
With respect to any Director, unless the applicable Award Agreement states otherwise, a determination by a majority of the disinterested Board members that the Director has engaged in any of the following:
(a) malfeasance in office;
(b) gross misconduct or neglect;
(c) false or fraudulent misrepresentation inducing the director’s appointment;
(d) willful conversion of corporate funds; or
(e) repeated failure to participate in Board meetings on a regular basis despite having received proper notice of the meetings in advance.
The Committee, in its absolute discretion, shall determine the effect of all matters and questions relating to whether a Participant has been discharged for Cause.
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“Change in Control” means:
(a) The direct or indirect sale, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of merger or consolidation), in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any Person that is not a subsidiary of the Company;
(b) The Incumbent Directors cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board;
(c) The date which is 10 business days prior to the consummation of a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company;
(d) The acquisition by any Person of Beneficial Ownership of 50% or more (on a fully diluted basis) of either (i) the then outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company, taking into account as outstanding for this purpose such Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of options or warrants, the conversion of convertible stock or debt, and the exercise of any similar right to acquire such Common Stock (the “Outstanding Company Common Stock”) or (ii) the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the “Outstanding Company Voting Securities”); provided, however, that for purposes of this Plan, the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change in Control: (A) any acquisition by the Company or any Affiliate, (B) any acquisition by any employee benefit plan sponsored or maintained by the Company or any subsidiary, (C) any acquisition which complies with clauses, (i), (ii) and (iii) of subsection (e) of this definition or (D) in respect of an Award held by a particular Participant, any acquisition by the Participant or any group of persons including the Participant (or any entity controlled by the Participant or any group of persons including the Participant); or
(e) The consummation of a reorganization, merger, consolidation, statutory share exchange or similar form of corporate transaction involving the Company that requires the approval of the Company’s shareholders, whether for such transaction or the issuance of securities in the transaction (a “Business Combination”), unless immediately following such Business Combination: (i) more than 50% of the total voting power of (A) the entity resulting from such Business Combination (the “Surviving Company”), or (B) if applicable, the ultimate parent entity that directly or indirectly has beneficial ownership of sufficient voting securities eligible to elect a majority of the members of the board of directors (or the analogous governing body) of the Surviving Company (the “Parent Company”), is represented by the Outstanding Company Voting Securities that were outstanding immediately prior to such Business Combination (or, if applicable, is represented by shares into which the Outstanding Company Voting Securities were converted pursuant to such Business Combination), and such voting power among the holders thereof is in substantially the same proportion as the voting power of the Outstanding Company Voting Securities among the holders thereof immediately prior to the Business Combination; or (ii) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors (or the analogous governing body) of the Parent Company (or, if there is no Parent Company, the Surviving Company) following the consummation of the Business Combination were Board members at the time of the Board’s approval of the execution of the initial agreement providing for such Business Combination.
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Provided, that if any payment or benefit payable hereunder upon or following a Change in Control would be required to comply with the limitations of Section 409A(a)(2)(A)(v) of the Code in order to avoid an additional tax under Section 409A of the Code, such payment or benefit shall be made only if such Change in Control constitutes a change in ownership or control of the Company, or a change in ownership of the Company’s assets in accordance with Section 409A of the Code.
“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as it may be amended from time to time. Any reference to a section of the Code shall be deemed to include a reference to any regulations promulgated thereunder.
“Committee” means a committee of one or more members of the Board appointed by the Board to administer the Plan in accordance with Section 3.3 and Section 3.4.
“Common Stock” means the common stock, $0.0001 par value per share, of the Company, or such other securities of the Company as may be designated by the Committee from time to time in substitution thereof.
“Company” means ConnectM Technology Solutions, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and any successor thereto.
“Consultant” means any individual or entity which performs bona fide services to the Company or an Affiliate, other than as an Employee or Director, and who may be offered securities registerable pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-8 under the Securities Act.
“Continuous Service” means that the Participant’s service with the Company or an Affiliate, whether as an Employee, Consultant or Director, is not interrupted or terminated. The Participant’s Continuous Service shall not be deemed to have terminated merely because of a change in the capacity in which the Participant renders service to the Company or an Affiliate as an Employee, Consultant or Director or a change in the entity for which the Participant renders such service, provided that there is no interruption or termination of the Participant’s Continuous Service; provided further that if any Award is subject to Section 409A of the Code or Section 422 of the Code, this sentence shall only be given effect to the extent consistent with Section 409A of the Code or Section 422 of the Code, as applicable. For example, a change in status from an Employee of the Company to a Director of an Affiliate will not constitute an interruption of Continuous Service. The Committee, in its sole discretion, may determine whether Continuous Service shall be considered interrupted in the case of any leave of absence approved by that party, including sick leave, military leave or any other personal or family leave of absence. The Committee, in its sole discretion, may determine whether a Company transaction, such as a sale or spin-off of a division or subsidiary that employs a Participant, shall be deemed to result in a termination of Continuous Service for purposes of affected Awards, and such decision shall be final, conclusive and binding.
“Deferred Stock Units (DSUs)” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.1(b) hereof.
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“Director” means a member of the Board.
“Disability” means, unless the applicable Award Agreement says otherwise, that the Participant is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment; provided, however, for purposes of determining the term of an Incentive Stock Option pursuant to Section 6.10 hereof, the term Disability shall have the meaning ascribed to it under Section 22(e)(3) of the Code. The determination of whether an individual has a Disability shall be determined under procedures established by the Committee. Except in situations where the Committee is determining Disability for purposes of the term of an Incentive Stock Option pursuant to Section 6.10 hereof within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code, the Committee may rely on any determination that a Participant is disabled for purposes of benefits under any long-term disability plan maintained by the Company or any Affiliate in which a Participant participates.
“Disqualifying Disposition” has the meaning set forth in Section 17.12.
“Effective Date” shall mean the date of the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement.
“Employee” means any person, including an Officer or Director, employed by the Company or an Affiliate; provided, that, for purposes of determining eligibility to receive Incentive Stock Options, an Employee shall mean an employee of the Company or a parent or subsidiary corporation within the meaning of Section 424 of the Code; and provided further, that, any such individual must be an “employee” of the Company or any of its parents or subsidiaries within the meaning of General Instruction A.1(a) to Form S-8 if such individual is granted an Award that may be settled in Common Stock. Mere service as a Director or payment of a director’s fee by the Company or an Affiliate shall not be sufficient to constitute “employment” by the Company or an Affiliate.
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
“Fair Market Value” means, as of any date, the value of the Common Stock as determined below. If the Common Stock is listed on any established stock exchange or a national market system, including without limitation, the New York Stock Exchange or the Nasdaq Stock Market, the Fair Market Value shall be the closing price of a share of Common Stock (or if no sales were reported the closing price on the date immediately preceding such date) as quoted on such exchange or system on the day of determination, as reported in the Wall Street Journal. In the absence of an established market for the Common Stock, the Fair Market Value shall be determined in good faith by the Committee and such determination shall be conclusive and binding on all persons.
“Fiscal Year” means the Company’s fiscal year.
“Free Standing Rights” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.
“Good Reason” has the meaning assigned to such term in the applicable Award Agreement or in any individual employment, service or severance agreement with the Participant; provided, that if no such agreement exists or if such agreement does not define “Good Reason,” Good Reason and any provision of the Plan that refers to Good Reason shall not be applicable to such Participant.
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“Grant Date” means the date on which the Committee adopts a resolution, or takes other appropriate action, expressly granting an Award to a Participant that specifies the key terms and conditions of the Award or, if a later date is set forth in such resolution, then such date as is set forth in such resolution.
“Incentive Stock Option” means an Option that is designated by the Committee as an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code and that meets the requirements set out in the Plan.
“Incumbent Directors” means individuals who, on the Effective Date, constitute the Board, provided that any individual becoming a Director subsequent to the Effective Date whose election or nomination for election to the Board was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the Incumbent Directors then on the Board (either by a specific vote or by approval of the proxy statement of the Company in which such person is named as a nominee for Director without objection to such nomination) shall be an Incumbent Director. No individual initially elected or nominated as a director of the Company as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to Directors or as a result of any other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies by or on behalf of any person other than the Board shall be an Incumbent Director.
“Merger Agreement” means that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of December 31, 2022, by and among the Company (fka Monterey Capital Acquisition Corporation), ConnectM Operations, Inc. (fka ConnectM Technology Solutions, Inc.), Chronos Merger Sub, Inc. and such other parties to the agreement as set forth therein and as subject to the approval by the Company’s stockholders.
“Non-Employee Director” means a Director who is a “non-employee director” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3.
“Non-qualified Stock Option” means an Option that by its terms does not qualify or is not intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option.
“Officer” means a person who is an officer of the Company within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
“Option” means an Incentive Stock Option or a Non-qualified Stock Option granted pursuant to the Plan.
“Optionholder” means a person to whom an Option is granted pursuant to the Plan or, if applicable, such other person who holds an outstanding Option.
“Option Exercise Price” means the price at which a share of Common Stock may be purchased upon the exercise of an Option.
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“Other Equity-Based Award” means an Award that is not an Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Unit, or Performance Share Award that is granted under Section 10 and is payable by delivery of Common Stock and/or which is measured by reference to the value of Common Stock.
“Participant” means an eligible person to whom an Award is granted pursuant to the Plan or, if applicable, such other person who holds an outstanding Award.
“Performance Goals” means, for a Performance Period, the one or more goals established by the Committee for the Performance Period based upon business criteria or other performance measures determined by the Committee in its discretion.
“Performance Period” means the one or more periods of time, as the Committee may select, over which the attainment of one or more Performance Goals will be measured for the purpose of determining a Participant’s right to and the payment of a Performance Share Award or a Cash Award.
“Performance Share Award” means any Award granted pursuant to Section 9 hereof.
“Performance Share” means the grant of a right to receive a number of actual shares of Common Stock or share units based upon the performance of the Company during a Performance Period, as determined by the Committee.
“Permitted Transferee” means: (a) a member of the Optionholder’s immediate family (child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, spouse, former spouse, sibling, niece, nephew, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, or sister-in-law, including adoptive relationships), any person sharing the Optionholder’s household (other than a tenant or employee), a trust in which these persons have more than 50% of the beneficial interest, a foundation in which these persons (or the Optionholder) control the management of assets, and any other entity in which these persons (or the Optionholder) own more than 50% of the voting interests; and (b) such other transferees as may be permitted by the Committee in its sole discretion.
“Person” means a person as defined in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act.
“Plan” means this ConnectM Technology Solutions, Inc. 2023 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended and/or amended and restated from time to time.
“Related Rights” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.
“Restricted Award” means any Award granted pursuant to Section 8.
“Restricted Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.
“Rule 16b-3” means Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act or any successor to Rule 16b-3, as in effect from time to time.
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“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
“Stock Appreciation Right” means the right pursuant to an Award granted under Section 7 to receive, upon exercise, an amount payable in cash or shares equal to the number of shares subject to the Stock Appreciation Right that is being exercised multiplied by the excess of (a) the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the date the Award is exercised, over (b) the exercise price specified in the Stock Appreciation Right Award Agreement.
“Stock for Stock Exchange” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.4.
“Substitute Award” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.6.
“Ten Percent Shareholder” means a person who owns (or is deemed to own pursuant to Section 424(d) of the Code) stock possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or of any of its Affiliates.
“Total Share Reserve” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.1.
3. Administration.
3.1 Authority of Committee. The Plan shall be administered by the Committee or, in the Board’s sole discretion, by the Board. Subject to the terms of the Plan, the Committee’s charter and Applicable Laws, and in addition to other express powers and authorization conferred by the Plan, the Committee shall have the authority:
(a) to construe and interpret the Plan and apply its provisions;
(b) to promulgate, amend, and rescind rules and regulations relating to the administration of the Plan;
(c) to authorize any person to execute, on behalf of the Company, any instrument required to carry out the purposes of the Plan;
(d) to delegate its authority to one or more Officers of the Company with respect to Awards that do not involve “insiders” within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act;
(e) to determine when Awards are to be granted under the Plan and the applicable Grant Date;
(f) from time to time to select, subject to the limitations set forth in this Plan, those eligible Award recipients to whom Awards shall be granted;
(g) to determine the number of shares of Common Stock to be made subject to each Award; provided, however, that in no event shall the aggregate grant date fair value (determined in accordance with ASC 718) of Awards to be granted and any other cash compensation paid to any non-employee director in any calendar year, exceed $750,000, increased to $1,000,000 in the year in which such non-employee director initially joins the Board.
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(h) to determine whether each Option is to be an Incentive Stock Option or a Non-qualified Stock Option;
(i) to prescribe the terms and conditions of each Award, including, without limitation, the exercise price and medium of payment and vesting provisions, and to specify the provisions of the Award Agreement relating to such grant;
(j) to determine the target number of Performance Shares to be granted pursuant to a Performance Share Award, the performance measures that will be used to establish the Performance Goals, the Performance Period(s) and the number of Performance Shares earned by a Participant;
(k) to amend any outstanding Awards, including for the purpose of modifying the time or manner of vesting, or the term of any outstanding Award; provided, however, that if any such amendment impairs a Participant’s rights or increases a Participant’s obligations under his or her Award , such amendment shall also be subject to the Participant’s consent;
(l) to determine the duration and purpose of leaves of absences which may be granted to a Participant without constituting termination of their employment for purposes of the Plan, which periods shall be no shorter than the periods generally applicable to Employees under the Company’s employment policies;
(m) to make decisions with respect to outstanding Awards that may become necessary upon a change in corporate control or an event that triggers anti-dilution adjustments;
(n) to interpret, administer, reconcile any inconsistency in, correct any defect in and/or supply any omission in the Plan and any instrument or agreement relating to, or Award granted under, the Plan; and
(o) to exercise discretion to make any and all other determinations which it determines to be necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan.
Except to the extent (i) approved in advance by holders of a majority of the shares of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, or (ii) as a result of any Change of Control or any adjustment as provided in Section 14 or Section 15, the Committee shall not have the power or authority to take any action that would be considered a “repricing” of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right under the applicable listing standards of the national exchange on which the Common Stock is isted (if any).
3.2 Committee Decisions Final. All decisions made by the Committee pursuant to the provisions of the Plan shall be final and binding on the Company and the Participants, unless such decisions are determined by a court having jurisdiction to be arbitrary and capricious.
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3.3 Delegation. The Board may delegate administration of the Plan to a committee or committees of one or more members of the Board, and the term “Committee” shall apply to any person or persons to whom such authority has been delegated. The Committee shall have the power to delegate to a subcommittee any of the administrative powers the Committee is authorized to exercise (and references in this Plan to the Board or the Committee shall thereafter be to the committee or subcommittee), subject, however, to such resolutions, not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan, as may be adopted from time to time by the Board. The Board may abolish the Committee at any time and revest in the Board the administration of the Plan. The members of the Committee shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the Board. From time to time, the Board may increase or decrease the size of the Committee, add additional members to, remove members (with or without cause) from, appoint new members in substitution therefor, and fill vacancies, however caused, in the Committee. The Committee shall act pursuant to a vote of the majority of its members or, in the case of a Committee comprised of only two members, the unanimous consent of its members, whether present or not, or by the written consent of the majority of its members and minutes shall be kept of all of its meetings and copies thereof shall be provided to the Board. Subject to the limitations prescribed by the Plan and the Board, the Committee may establish and follow such rules and regulations for the conduct of its business as it may determine to be advisable.
3.4 Committee Composition. Except as otherwise determined by the Board, the Committee shall consist solely of two or more Non-Employee Directors. The Board shall have discretion to determine whether or not it intends to comply with the exemption requirements of Rule 16b-3. However, if the Board intends to satisfy such exemption requirements, with respect to any insider subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, the Committee shall be a compensation committee of the Board that at all times consists solely of two or more Non-Employee Directors. Within the scope of such authority, the Board or the Committee may delegate to a committee of one or more members of the Board who are not Non-Employee Directors the authority to grant Awards to eligible persons who are not then subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act. Nothing herein shall create an inference that an Award is not validly granted under the Plan in the event Awards are granted under the Plan by a compensation committee of the Board that does not at all times consist solely of two or more Non-Employee Directors.
3.5 Indemnification. In addition to such other rights of indemnification as they may have as Directors or members of the Committee, and to the extent allowed by Applicable Laws, the Committee shall be indemnified by the Company against the reasonable expenses, including attorney’s fees, actually incurred in connection with any action, suit or proceeding or in connection with any appeal therein, to which the Committee may be party by reason of any action taken or failure to act under or in connection with the Plan or any Award granted under the Plan, and against all amounts paid by the Committee in settlement thereof (provided, however, that the settlement has been approved by the Company, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld) or paid by the Committee in satisfaction of a judgment in any such action, suit or proceeding, except in relation to matters as to which it shall be adjudged in such action, suit or proceeding that such Committee did not act in good faith and in a manner which such person reasonably believed to be in the best interests of the Company, or in the case of a criminal proceeding, had no reason to believe that the conduct complained of was unlawful; provided, however, that within 60 days after the institution of any such action, suit or proceeding, such Committee shall, in writing, offer the Company the opportunity at its own expense to handle and defend such action, suit or proceeding.
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4. Shares Subject to the Plan.
4.1 Subject to adjustment in accordance with Section 14 and this Section 4.1, the number of shares of Common Stock that shall be available for the grant of Awards under the Plan shall be equal to (i) 10% of the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock immediately after the Effective Time less (ii) the number of shares of common stock subject to awards under the ConnectM Technology Solutions Inc. 2019 Equity Incentive Plan, as it may be amended from time to time, granted subsequent to the date of the Merger Agreement and prior to the Effective Time multiplied by the Exchange Ratio (as defined in the Merger Agreement) (the “Total Share Reserve”). The number of shares of Common Stock that constitute the Total Share Reserve shall be subject to an annual increase on January 1 of each calendar year during the term of the Plan, equal to the lesser of (a) 4% of the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock outstanding on the final day of the immediately preceding calendar year and (b) such smaller number of Shares as is determined by the Board. During the terms of the Awards, the Company shall keep available at all times the number of shares of Common Stock required to satisfy such Awards.
4.2 Shares of Common Stock available for distribution under the Plan may consist, in whole or in part, of authorized and unissued shares, treasury shares or shares reacquired by the Company in any manner.
4.3 Subject to adjustment in accordance with Section 14, the maximum number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued in the aggregate pursuant to the exercise of Incentive Stock Options shall be 100,000,000 (the “ISO Limit”).
4.4 Any shares of Common Stock subject to an Award that expires or is canceled, forfeited, or terminated without issuance of the full number of shares of Common Stock to which the Award related will again be available for issuance under the Plan. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein: shares subject to an Award under the Plan shall not again be made available for issuance or delivery under the Plan if such shares are (a) shares tendered in payment of an Option, (b) shares delivered or withheld by the Company to satisfy any tax withholding obligation, or (c) shares covered by a stock-settled Stock Appreciation Right or other Awards that were not issued upon the settlement of the Award.
4.5 Awards may, in the sole discretion of the Committee, be granted under the Plan in assumption of, or in substitution for, outstanding awards previously granted by an entity acquired by the Company or with which the Company combines (“Substitute Awards”). Substitute Awards shall not be counted against the Total Share Reserve; provided, that, Substitute Awards issued in connection with the assumption of, or in substitution for, outstanding options intended to qualify as Incentive Stock Options shall be counted against the ISO limit. Subject to applicable stock exchange requirements, available shares under a shareholder-approved plan of an entity directly or indirectly acquired by the Company or with which the Company combines (as appropriately adjusted to reflect such acquisition or transaction) may be used for Awards under the Plan and shall not count toward the Total Share Limit.
Exhibit G - Page 12
5. Eligibility.
5.1 Eligibility for Specific Awards. Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to Employees. Awards other than Incentive Stock Options may be granted to Employees, Consultants and Directors and those individuals whom the Committee determines are reasonably expected to become Employees, Consultants and Directors following the Grant Date.
5.2 Ten Percent Shareholders. A Ten Percent Shareholder shall not be granted an Incentive Stock Option unless the Option Exercise Price is at least 110% of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the Grant Date and the Option is not exercisable after the expiration of five years from the Grant Date.
6. Option Provisions. Each Option granted under the Plan shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement. Each Option so granted shall be subject to the conditions set forth in this Section 6, and to such other conditions not inconsistent with the Plan as may be reflected in the applicable Award Agreement. All Options shall be separately designated Incentive Stock Options or Non-qualified Stock Options at the time of grant, and, if certificates are issued, a separate certificate or certificates will be issued for shares of Common Stock purchased on exercise of each type of Option. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall have no liability to any Participant or any other person if an Option designated as an Incentive Stock Option fails to qualify as such at any time or if an Option is determined to constitute “nonqualified deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code and the terms of such Option do not satisfy the requirements of Section 409A of the Code. The provisions of separate Options need not be identical, but each Option shall include (through incorporation of provisions hereof by reference in the Option or otherwise) the substance of each of the following provisions:
6.1 Term. Subject to the provisions of Section 5.2 regarding Ten Percent Shareholders, no Incentive Stock Option shall be exercisable after the expiration of 10 years from the Grant Date. The term of a Non-qualified Stock Option granted under the Plan shall be determined by the Committee; provided, however, no Non-qualified Stock Option shall be exercisable after the expiration of 10 years from the Grant Date.
6.2 Exercise Price of an Incentive Stock Option. Subject to the provisions of Section 5.2 regarding Ten Percent Shareholders, the Option Exercise Price of each Incentive Stock Option shall be not less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock subject to the Option on the Grant Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Incentive Stock Option may be granted with an Option Exercise Price lower than that set forth in the preceding sentence if such Option is granted pursuant to an assumption or substitution for another option in a manner satisfying the provisions of Section 424(a) of the Code.
Exhibit G - Page 13
6.3 Exercise Price of a Non-qualified Stock Option. The Option Exercise Price of each Non-qualified Stock Option shall be not less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock subject to the Option on the Grant Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Non-qualified Stock Option may be granted with an Option Exercise Price lower than that set forth in the preceding sentence if such Option is granted pursuant to an assumption or substitution for another option in a manner satisfying the provisions of Section 409A of the Code.
6.4 Consideration. The Option Exercise Price of Common Stock acquired pursuant to an Option shall be paid, to the extent permitted by applicable statutes and regulations, either (a) in cash or by certified or bank check at the time the Option is exercised or (b) in the discretion of the Committee, upon such terms as the Committee shall approve, the Option Exercise Price may be paid: (i) by delivery to the Company of other Common Stock, duly endorsed for transfer to the Company, with a Fair Market Value on the date of delivery equal to the Option Exercise Price (or portion thereof) due for the number of shares being acquired, or by means of attestation whereby the Participant identifies for delivery specific shares of Common Stock that have an aggregate Fair Market Value on the date of attestation equal to the Option Exercise Price (or portion thereof) and receives a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the difference between the number of shares thereby purchased and the number of identified attestation shares of Common Stock (a “Stock for Stock Exchange”); (ii) a “cashless” exercise program established with a broker; (iii) by reduction in the number of shares of Common Stock otherwise deliverable upon exercise of such Option with a Fair Market Value equal to the aggregate Option Exercise Price at the time of exercise; (iv) by any combination of the foregoing methods; or (v) in any other form of legal consideration that may be acceptable to the Committee. Unless otherwise specifically provided in the Option, the exercise price of Common Stock acquired pursuant to an Option that is paid by delivery (or attestation) to the Company of other Common Stock acquired, directly or indirectly from the Company, shall be paid only by shares of the Common Stock of the Company that have been held for more than six months (or such longer or shorter period of time required to avoid a charge to earnings for financial accounting purposes). Notwithstanding the foregoing, during any period for which the Common Stock is publicly traded (i.e., the Common Stock is listed on any established stock exchange or a national market system) an exercise by a Director or Officer that involves or may involve a direct or indirect extension of credit or arrangement of an extension of credit by the Company, directly or indirectly, in violation of Section 402(a) of the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act of 2002 shall be prohibited with respect to any Award under this Plan.
6.5 Transferability of an Incentive Stock Option. An Incentive Stock Option shall not be transferable except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution and shall be exercisable during the lifetime of the Optionholder only by the Optionholder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Optionholder may, by delivering written notice to the Company, in a form satisfactory to the Company, designate a third party who, in the event of the death of the Optionholder, shall thereafter be entitled to exercise the Option.
6.6 Transferability of a Non-qualified Stock Option. A Non-qualified Stock Option may, in the sole discretion of the Committee, be transferable to a Permitted Transferee, upon written approval by the Committee to the extent provided in the Award Agreement. If the Non-qualified Stock Option does not provide for transferability, then the Non-qualified Stock Option shall not be transferable except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution and shall be exercisable during the lifetime of the Optionholder only by the Optionholder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Optionholder may, by delivering written notice to the Company, in a form satisfactory to the Company, designate a third party who, in the event of the death of the Optionholder, shall thereafter be entitled to exercise the Option.
Exhibit G - Page 14
6.7 Vesting of Options. Subject to Section 13.6, each Option shall vest, and therefore become exercisable, in periodic installments that may, but need not, be equal. The Option may be subject to such other terms and conditions on the time or times when it may be exercised (which may be based on performance or other criteria) as the Committee may deem appropriate. The vesting provisions of individual Options may vary. No Option may be exercised for a fraction of a share of Common Stock.
6.8 Termination of Continuous Service. Unless otherwise provided in an Award Agreement or in an employment agreement the terms of which have been approved by the Committee, in the event an Optionholder’s Continuous Service terminates (other than upon the Optionholder’s death or Disability), the Optionholder may exercise his or her Option (to the extent that the Optionholder was entitled to exercise such Option as of the date of termination) but only within such period of time ending on the earlier of (a) the date three months following the termination of the Optionholder’s Continuous Service or (b) the expiration of the term of the Option as set forth in the Award Agreement; provided that, if the termination of Continuous Service is by the Company for Cause, all outstanding Options (whether or not vested) shall immediately terminate and cease to be exercisable. If, after termination, the Optionholder does not exercise his or her Option within the time specified in the Award Agreement, the Option shall terminate.
6.9 Extension of Termination Date. An Optionholder’s Award Agreement may also provide that if the exercise of the Option following the termination of the Optionholder’s Continuous Service for any reason would be prohibited at any time because the issuance of shares of Common Stock would violate the registration requirements under the Securities Act or any other state or federal securities law or the rules of any securities exchange or interdealer quotation system, then the Option shall terminate on the earlier of (a) the expiration of the term of the Option in accordance with Section 6.1 or (b) the expiration of a period after termination of the Participant’s Continuous Service that is three months after the end of the period during which the exercise of the Option would be in violation of such registration or other securities law requirements.
Exhibit G - Page 15
6.10 Disability of Optionholder. Unless otherwise provided in an Award Agreement, in the event that an Optionholder’s Continuous Service terminates as a result of the Optionholder’s Disability, the Optionholder may exercise his or her Option (to the extent that the Optionholder was entitled to exercise such Option as of the date of termination), but only within such period of time ending on the earlier of (a) the date 12 months following such termination or (b) the expiration of the term of the Option as set forth in the Award Agreement. If, after termination, the Optionholder does not exercise his or her Option within the time specified herein or in the Award Agreement, the Option shall terminate.
6.11 Death of Optionholder. Unless otherwise provided in an Award Agreement, in the event an Optionholder’s Continuous Service terminates as a result of the Optionholder’s death, then the Option may be exercised (to the extent the Optionholder was entitled to exercise such Option as of the date of death) by the Optionholder’s estate, by a person who acquired the right to exercise the Option by bequest or inheritance or by a person designated to exercise the Option upon the Optionholder’s death, but only within the period ending on the earlier of (a) the date 12 months following the date of death or (b) the expiration of the term of such Option as set forth in the Award Agreement. If, after the Optionholder’s death, the Option is not exercised within the time specified herein or in the Award Agreement, the Option shall terminate.
6.12 Incentive Stock Option $100,000 Limitation. To the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined at the time of grant) of Common Stock with respect to which Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by any Optionholder during any calendar year (under all plans of the Company and its Affiliates) exceeds $100,000, the Options or portions thereof which exceed such limit (according to the order in which they were granted) shall be treated as Non-qualified Stock Options.
7. Stock Appreciation Rights. Each Stock Appreciation Right granted under the Plan shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement. Each Stock Appreciation Right so granted shall be subject to the conditions set forth in this Section 7, and to such other conditions not inconsistent with the Plan as may be reflected in the applicable Award Agreement. Stock Appreciation Rights may be granted alone (“Free Standing Rights”) or in tandem with an Option granted under the Plan (“Related Rights”).
7.1 Grant Requirements for Related Rights. Any Related Right that relates to a Non-qualified Stock Option may be granted at the same time the Option is granted or at any time thereafter but before the exercise or expiration of the Option. Any Related Right that relates to an Incentive Stock Option must be granted at the same time the Incentive Stock Option is granted.
7.2 Term The term of a Stock Appreciation Right granted under the Plan shall be determined by the Committee; provided, however, no Stock Appreciation Right shall be exercisable later than the tenth anniversary of the Grant Date.
7.3 Vesting Subject to Section 13.6, each Stock Appreciation Right shall vest and therefore become exercisable in periodic installments that may, but need not, be equal. The Stock Appreciation Right may be subject to such other terms and conditions on the time or times when it may be exercised as the Committee may deem appropriate. The vesting provisions of individual Stock Appreciation Rights may vary. No Stock Appreciation Right may be exercised for a fraction of a share of Common Stock.
Exhibit G - Page 16
7.4 Exercise and Payment Upon exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right, the holder shall be entitled to receive from the Company an amount equal to the number of shares of Common Stock subject to the Stock Appreciation Right that is being exercised multiplied by the excess of (i) the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the date the Award is exercised, over (ii) the exercise price specified in the Stock Appreciation Right or related Option. Payment with respect to the exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right shall be made on the date of exercise. Payment shall be made in the form of shares of Common Stock (with or without restrictions as to substantial risk of forfeiture and transferability, as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion), cash or a combination thereof, as determined by the Committee.
7.5 Exercise Price The exercise price of a Free Standing Right shall be determined by the Committee, but shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of one share of Common Stock on the Grant Date of such Stock Appreciation Right. A Related Right granted simultaneously with or subsequent to the grant of an Option and in conjunction therewith or in the alternative thereto shall have the same exercise price as the related Option, shall be transferable only upon the same terms and conditions as the related Option, and shall be exercisable only to the same extent as the related Option; provided, however, that a Stock Appreciation Right, by its terms, shall be exercisable only when the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock subject to the Stock Appreciation Right and related Option exceeds the exercise price per share thereof and no Stock Appreciation Rights may be granted in tandem with an Option unless the Committee determines that the requirements of Section 7.1 are satisfied.
7.6 Reduction in the Underlying Option Shares Upon any exercise of a Related Right, the number of shares of Common Stock for which any related Option shall be exercisable shall be reduced by the number of shares for which the Stock Appreciation Right has been exercised. The number of shares of Common Stock for which a Related Right shall be exercisable shall be reduced upon any exercise of any related Option by the number of shares of Common Stock for which such Option has been exercised.
8. Restricted Awards A Restricted Award is an Award of actual shares of Common Stock (“Restricted Stock”) or hypothetical Common Stock units (“Restricted Stock Units”) having a value equal to the Fair Market Value of an identical number of shares of Common Stock, which may, but need not, provide that such Restricted Award may not be sold, assigned, transferred or otherwise disposed of, pledged or hypothecated as collateral for a loan or as security for the performance of any obligation or for any other purpose for such period (the “Restricted Period”) as the Committee shall determine. Each Restricted Award granted under the Plan shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement. Each Restricted Award so granted shall be subject to the conditions set forth in this Section 8, and to such other conditions not inconsistent with the Plan as may be reflected in the applicable Award Agreement.
Exhibit G - Page 17
8.1 Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units
(a) Each Participant granted Restricted Stock shall execute and deliver to the Company an Award Agreement with respect to the Restricted Stock setting forth the restrictions and other terms and conditions applicable to such Restricted Stock. If the Committee determines that the Restricted Stock shall be held by the Company or in escrow rather than delivered to the Participant pending the release of the applicable restrictions, the Committee may require the Participant to additionally execute and deliver to the Company (A) an escrow agreement satisfactory to the Committee, if applicable and (B) the appropriate blank stock power with respect to the Restricted Stock covered by such agreement. If a Participant fails to execute an agreement evidencing an Award of Restricted Stock and, if applicable, an escrow agreement and stock power, the Award shall be null and void. Subject to the restrictions set forth in the Award, the Participant generally shall have the rights and privileges of a shareholder as to such Restricted Stock, including the right to vote such Restricted Stock, provided that the Participant shall not have the right to receive dividends on any unvested shares of Restricted Stock.
(b) The terms and conditions of a grant of Restricted Stock Units shall be reflected in an Award Agreement. No shares of Common Stock shall be issued at the time a Restricted Stock Unit is granted, and the Company will not be required to set aside funds for the payment of any such Award. A Participant shall have no voting rights or rights to receive dividends with respect to any Restricted Stock Units granted hereunder. The Committee may also grant Restricted Stock Units with a deferral feature, whereby settlement is deferred beyond the vesting date until the occurrence of a future payment date or event set forth in an Award Agreement (“Deferred Stock Units”).
8.2 Restrictions
(a) Restricted Stock awarded to a Participant shall be subject to the following restrictions until the expiration of the Restricted Period, and to such other terms and conditions as may be set forth in the applicable Award Agreement: (A) if an escrow arrangement is used, the Participant shall not be entitled to delivery of the stock certificate; (B) the shares shall be subject to the restrictions on transferability set forth in the Award Agreement; (C) the shares shall be subject to forfeiture to the extent provided in the applicable Award Agreement; and (D) to the extent such shares are forfeited, the stock certificates shall be returned to the Company, and all rights of the Participant to such shares and as a shareholder with respect to such shares shall terminate without further obligation on the part of the Company.
(b) Restricted Stock Units and Deferred Stock Units awarded to any Participant shall be subject to (A) forfeiture until the expiration of the Restricted Period, and satisfaction of any applicable Performance Goals during such period, to the extent provided in the applicable Award Agreement, and to the extent such Restricted Stock Units or Deferred Stock Units are forfeited, all rights of the Participant to such Restricted Stock Units or Deferred Stock Units shall terminate without further obligation on the part of the Company and (B) such other terms and conditions as may be set forth in the applicable Award Agreement.
Exhibit G - Page 18
(c) The Committee shall have the authority to remove any or all of the restrictions on the Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units and Deferred Stock Units whenever it may determine that, by reason of changes in Applicable Laws or other changes in circumstances arising after the date the Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units or Deferred Stock Units are granted, such action is appropriate.
8.3 Restricted Period With respect to Restricted Awards, and subject to Section 13.6, the Restricted Period shall commence on the Grant Date and end at the time or times set forth on a schedule established by the Committee in the applicable Award Agreement. No Restricted Award may be granted or settled for a fraction of a share of Common Stock. The Committee may, but shall not be required to, provide for an acceleration of vesting in the terms of any Award Agreement upon the occurrence of a specified event.
8.4 Delivery of Restricted Stock and Settlement of Restricted Stock Units Upon the expiration of the Restricted Period with respect to any shares of Restricted Stock, the restrictions set forth in Section 8.2 and the applicable Award Agreement shall be of no further force or effect with respect to such shares, except as set forth in the applicable Award Agreement. If an escrow arrangement is used, upon such expiration, the Company shall deliver to the Participant, or his or her beneficiary, without charge, the stock certificate evidencing the shares of Restricted Stock which have not then been forfeited and with respect to which the Restricted Period has expired (to the nearest full share). Upon the expiration of the Restricted Period with respect to any outstanding Restricted Stock Units, or at the expiration of the deferral period with respect to any outstanding Deferred Stock Units, the Company shall deliver to the Participant, or his or her beneficiary, without charge, one share of Common Stock for each such outstanding vested Restricted Stock Unit or Deferred Stock Unit (“Vested Unit”); provided, however, that, if explicitly provided in the applicable Award Agreement, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, elect to pay cash or part cash and part Common Stock in lieu of delivering only shares of Common Stock for Vested Units. If a cash payment is made in lieu of delivering shares of Common Stock, the amount of such payment shall be equal to the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock as of the date on which the Restricted Period lapsed in the case of Restricted Stock Units, or the delivery date in the case of Deferred Stock Units, with respect to each Vested Unit.
8.5 Stock Restrictions Each certificate representing Restricted Stock awarded under the Plan shall bear a legend in such form as the Company deems appropriate.
9. Performance Share Awards Each Performance Share Award granted under the Plan shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement. Each Performance Share Award so granted shall be subject to the conditions set forth in this Section 9, and to such other conditions not inconsistent with the Plan as may be reflected in the applicable Award Agreement. The Committee shall have the discretion to determine: (i) the number of shares of Common Stock or stock-denominated units subject to a Performance Share Award granted to any Participant; (ii) the Performance Period applicable to any Award; (iii) the conditions that must be satisfied for a Participant to earn an Award; and (iv) the other terms, conditions and restrictions of the Award.
Exhibit G - Page 19
9.1 Earning Performance Share Awards The number of Performance Shares earned by a Participant will depend on the extent to which the performance goals established by the Committee are attained within the applicable Performance Period, as determined by the Committee.
10. Other Equity-Based Awards and Cash Awards The Committee may grant Other Equity-Based Awards, either alone or in tandem with other Awards, in such amounts and subject to such conditions as the Committee shall determine in its sole discretion. Each Equity-Based Award shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement and shall be subject to such conditions, not inconsistent with the Plan, as may be reflected in the applicable Award Agreement. The Committee may grant Cash Awards in such amounts and subject to such Performance Goals, other vesting conditions, and such other terms as the Committee determines in its discretion. Cash Awards shall be evidenced in such form as the Committee may determine.
11. Securities Law Compliance. Each Award Agreement shall provide that no shares of Common Stock shall be purchased or sold thereunder unless and until (a) any then applicable requirements of state or federal laws and regulatory agencies have been fully complied with to the satisfaction of the Company and its counsel and (b) if required to do so by the Company, the Participant has executed and delivered to the Company a letter of investment intent in such form and containing such provisions as the Committee may require. The Company shall use reasonable efforts to seek to obtain from each regulatory commission or agency having jurisdiction over the Plan such authority as may be required to grant Awards and to issue and sell shares of Common Stock upon exercise of the Awards; provided, however, that this undertaking shall not require the Company to register under the Securities Act the Plan, any Award or any Common Stock issued or issuable pursuant to any such Award. If, after reasonable efforts, the Company is unable to obtain from any such regulatory commission or agency the authority which counsel for the Company deems necessary for the lawful issuance and sale of Common Stock under the Plan, the Company shall be relieved from any liability for failure to issue and sell Common Stock upon exercise of such Awards unless and until such authority is obtained.
12. Use of Proceeds from Stock. Proceeds from the sale of Common Stock pursuant to Awards, or upon exercise thereof, shall constitute general funds of the Company.
13. Miscellaneous.
13.1 Acceleration of Exercisability and Vesting. The Committee shall have the power to accelerate the time at which an Award may first be exercised or the time during which an Award or any part thereof will vest in accordance with the Plan, notwithstanding the provisions in the Award stating the time at which it may first be exercised or the time during which it will vest.
13.2 Shareholder Rights. Except as provided in the Plan or an Award Agreement, no Participant shall be deemed to be the holder of, or to have any of the rights of a holder with respect to, any shares of Common Stock subject to such Award unless and until such Participant has satisfied all requirements for exercise of the Award pursuant to its terms and no adjustment shall be made for dividends (ordinary or extraordinary, whether in cash, securities or other property) or distributions of other rights for which the record date is prior to the date such Common Stock certificate is issued, except as provided in Section 14 hereof.
Exhibit G - Page 20
13.3 No Employment or Other Service Rights. Nothing in the Plan or any instrument executed or Award granted pursuant thereto shall confer upon any Participant any right to continue to serve the Company or an Affiliate in the capacity in effect at the time the Award was granted or shall affect the right of the Company or an Affiliate to terminate (a) the employment of an Employee with or without notice and with or without Cause or (b) the service of a Director pursuant to the By-laws of the Company or an Affiliate, and any applicable provisions of the corporate law of the state in which the Company or the Affiliate is incorporated, as the case may be.
13.4 Transfer; Approved Leave of Absence. For purposes of the Plan, no termination of employment by an Employee shall be deemed to result from either (a) a transfer of employment to the Company from an Affiliate or from the Company to an Affiliate, or from one Affiliate to another, or (b) an approved leave of absence for military service or sickness, or for any other purpose approved by the Company, if the Employee’s right to reemployment is guaranteed either by a statute or by contract or under the policy pursuant to which the leave of absence was granted or if the Committee otherwise so provides in writing, in either case, except to the extent inconsistent with Section 409A of the Code if the applicable Award is subject thereto.
13.5 Withholding Obligations. To the extent provided by the terms of an Award Agreement and subject to the discretion of the Committee, the Participant may satisfy any federal, state or local tax withholding obligation relating to the exercise or acquisition of Common Stock under an Award by any of the following means (in addition to the Company’s right to withhold from any compensation paid to the Participant by the Company) or by a combination of such means: (a) tendering a cash payment; (b) authorizing the Company to withhold shares of Common Stock from the shares of Common Stock otherwise issuable to the Participant as a result of the exercise or acquisition of Common Stock under the Award, provided, however, that no shares of Common Stock are withheld with a value exceeding the maximum amount of tax required to be withheld by law; or (c) delivering to the Company previously owned and unencumbered shares of Common Stock of the Company.
13.6 Minimum Vesting. No Award shall be granted with terms providing for any right of exercise or lapse of any vesting obligations earlier than a date that is at least one year following the date of grant. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may grant up to a maximum of five percent (5%) of the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock available for issuance under this Plan (subject to adjustment under Section 14), without regard for any limitations or other requirements for exercise or vesting as set forth in this Section 13.6, and the minimum vesting requirement does not apply to (A) any Substitute Awards, (B) shares of Common Stock delivered in lieu of fully vested Cash Awards, (C) Awards to Directors that vest on the earlier of the one year anniversary of the date of grant or the next annual meeting of stockholders which is at least 50 weeks after the immediately preceding year’s annual meeting, and (D) the Committee’s discretion to provide for accelerated exercisability or vesting of any Award, including in cases of retirement, death, disability or a Change in Control, in the terms of the Award or otherwise.
Exhibit G - Page 21
14. Adjustments Upon Changes in Stock. In the event of changes in the outstanding Common Stock or in the capital structure of the Company by reason of any stock or extraordinary cash dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, an extraordinary corporate transaction such as any recapitalization, reorganization, merger, consolidation, combination, exchange, or other relevant change in capitalization occurring after the Grant Date of any Award, Awards granted under the Plan and any Award Agreements, the exercise price of Options and Stock Appreciation Rights, the Performance Goals to which Performance Share Awards and Cash Awards are subject, the maximum number of shares of Common Stock subject to all Awards stated in Section 4 will be equitably adjusted or substituted, as to the number, price or kind of a share of Common Stock or other consideration subject to such Awards to the extent necessary to preserve the economic intent of such Award, and as otherwise determined by the Committee or the Board. In the case of adjustments made pursuant to this Section 14, unless the Committee specifically determines that such adjustment is in the best interests of the Company or its Affiliates, the Committee shall, in the case of Incentive Stock Options, ensure that any adjustments under this Section 14 will not constitute a modification, extension or renewal of the Incentive Stock Options within the meaning of Section 424(h)(3) of the Code and in the case of Non-qualified Stock Options, ensure that any adjustments under this Section 14 will not constitute a modification of such Non-qualified Stock Options within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code. Any adjustments made under this Section 14 shall be made in a manner which does not adversely affect the exemption provided pursuant to Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act. The Company shall give each Participant notice of an adjustment hereunder and, upon notice, such adjustment shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes.
15. Effect of Change in Control.
15.1 The Committee may, in its sole discretion, at the time an Award is made or at any time prior to, coincident with or after the time of a Change of Control, cause any Award either (i) to be canceled in consideration of a payment in cash or other consideration in amount per share equal to the excess, if any, of the price or implied price per share of Common Stock in the Change of Control over the per share exercise, base or purchase price of such Award, which may be paid immediately or over the vesting schedule of the Award; (ii) to be assumed, or new rights substituted therefore, by the surviving corporation or a parent or subsidiary of such surviving corporation following such Change of Control; (iii) accelerate any time periods, or waive any other conditions, relating to the vesting, exercise, payment or distribution of an Award so that any Award to a Participant whose employment has been terminated as a result of a Change of Control may be vested, exercised, paid or distributed in full on or before a date fixed by the Committee; (iv) to be purchased from a Participant whose employment has been terminated as a result of a Change of Control, for an amount of cash equal to the amount that could have been obtained upon the exercise, payment or distribution of such rights had such Award been currently exercisable or payable; or (v) terminate any then outstanding Award or make any other adjustment to the Awards then outstanding as the Committee deems necessary or appropriate to reflect such transaction or change. The number of shares of Common Stock subject to any Award shall be rounded to the nearest whole number.
Exhibit G - Page 22
15.2 The obligations of the Company under the Plan shall be binding upon any successor corporation or organization resulting from the merger, consolidation or other reorganization of the Company, or upon any successor corporation or organization succeeding to all or substantially all of the assets and business of the Company and its Affiliates, taken as a whole.
16. Amendment of the Plan and Awards.
16.1 Amendment of Plan. The Board at any time, and from time to time, may amend or terminate the Plan. However, except as provided in Section 14 relating to adjustments upon changes in Common Stock and Section 16.3, no amendment shall be effective unless approved by the shareholders of the Company to the extent shareholder approval is necessary to satisfy any Applicable Laws. At the time of such amendment, the Board shall determine, upon advice from counsel, whether such amendment will be contingent on shareholder approval.
16.2 Shareholder Approval. The Board may, in its sole discretion, submit any other amendment to the Plan for shareholder approval.
16.3 Contemplated Amendments. It is expressly contemplated that the Board may amend the Plan in any respect the Board deems necessary or advisable to provide eligible Employees, Consultants and Directors with the maximum benefits provided or to be provided under the provisions of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder relating to Incentive Stock Options or to the nonqualified deferred compensation provisions of Section 409A of the Code and/or to bring the Plan and/or Awards granted under it into compliance therewith.
16.4 No Impairment of Rights. Rights under any Award granted before amendment of the Plan shall not be impaired by any amendment of the Plan unless (a) the Company requests the consent of the Participant and (b) the Participant consents in writing.
16.5 Amendment of Awards. The Committee at any time, and from time to time, may amend the terms of any one or more Awards; provided, however, that the Committee may not affect any amendment which would otherwise constitute an impairment of the rights under any Award unless (a) the Company requests the consent of the Participant and (b) the Participant consents in writing.
17. General Provisions.
17.1 Forfeiture Events. The Committee may specify in an Award Agreement that the Participant’s rights, payments and benefits with respect to an Award shall be subject to reduction, cancellation, forfeiture or recoupment upon the occurrence of certain events, in addition to applicable vesting conditions of an Award. Such events may include, without limitation, breach of non-competition, non-solicitation, confidentiality, or other restrictive covenants that are contained in the Award Agreement or otherwise applicable to the Participant, a termination of the Participant’s Continuous Service for Cause, or other conduct by the Participant that is detrimental to the business or reputation of the Company and/or its Affiliates.
Exhibit G - Page 23
17.2 Clawback. Awards under the Plan shall be subject to the Company’s clawback policy, as in effect from time to time.
17.3 Other Compensation Arrangements. Nothing contained in this Plan shall prevent the Board from adopting other or additional compensation arrangements, subject to shareholder approval if such approval is required; and such arrangements may be either generally applicable or applicable only in specific cases.
17.4 Sub-Plans. The Committee may from time to time establish sub-plans under the Plan for purposes of satisfying securities, tax or other laws of various jurisdictions in which the Company intends to grant Awards. Any sub-plans shall contain such limitations and other terms and conditions as the Committee determines are necessary or desirable. All sub-plans shall be deemed a part of the Plan, but each sub-plan shall apply only to the Participants in the jurisdiction for which the sub-plan was designed.
17.5 Deferral of Awards. The Committee may establish one or more programs under the Plan to permit selected Participants the opportunity to elect to defer receipt of consideration upon exercise of an Award, satisfaction of performance criteria, or other event that absent the election would entitle the Participant to payment or receipt of shares of Common Stock or other consideration under an Award. The Committee may establish the election procedures, the timing of such elections, the mechanisms for payments of, and accrual of interest or other earnings, if any, on amounts, shares or other consideration so deferred, and such other terms, conditions, rules and procedures that the Committee deems advisable for the administration of any such deferral program.
17.6 Unfunded Plan. The Company’s obligations under the Plan shall be unfunded. Neither the Company, the Board nor the Committee shall be required to establish any special or separate fund or to segregate any assets to assure the performance of its obligations under the Plan.
17.7 Recapitalizations. Each Award Agreement shall contain provisions required to reflect the provisions of Section 14.
17.8 Delivery. Upon exercise of a right granted under this Plan, the Company shall issue Common Stock or pay any amounts due within a reasonable period of time thereafter. Subject to any statutory or regulatory obligations the Company may otherwise have, for purposes of this Plan, 30 days shall be considered a reasonable period of time.
17.9 No Fractional Shares. No fractional shares of Common Stock shall be issued or delivered pursuant to the Plan. The Committee shall determine whether cash, additional Awards or other securities or property shall be issued or paid in lieu of fractional shares of Common Stock or whether any fractional shares should be rounded, forfeited or otherwise eliminated.
Exhibit G - Page 24
17.10 Other Provisions. The Award Agreements authorized under the Plan may contain such other provisions not inconsistent with this Plan, including, without limitation, restrictions upon the exercise of Awards, as the Committee may deem advisable.
17.11 Section 409A. The Plan is intended to comply with Section 409A of the Code to the extent subject thereto, and, accordingly, to the maximum extent permitted, the Plan shall be interpreted and administered to be in compliance therewith. Any payments described in the Plan that are due within the “short-term deferral period” as defined in Section 409A of the Code shall not be treated as deferred compensation unless Applicable Laws require otherwise. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan, to the extent required to avoid accelerated taxation and tax penalties under Section 409A of the Code, amounts that would otherwise be payable and benefits that would otherwise be provided pursuant to the Plan during the six (6) month period immediately following the Participant’s termination of Continuous Service shall instead be paid on the first payroll date after the six-month anniversary of the Participant’s separation from service (or the Participant’s death, if earlier). Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither the Company nor the Board or the Committee shall have any obligation to take any action to prevent the assessment of any additional tax or penalty on any Participant under Section 409A of the Code and neither the Company nor the Board or the Committee will have any liability to any Participant for such tax or penalty.
17.12 Disqualifying Dispositions. Any Participant who shall make a “disposition” (as defined in Section 424 of the Code) of all or any portion of shares of Common Stock acquired upon exercise of an Incentive Stock Option within two years from the Grant Date of such Incentive Stock Option or within one year after the issuance of the shares of Common Stock acquired upon exercise of such Incentive Stock Option (a “Disqualifying Disposition”) shall be required to immediately advise the Company in writing as to the occurrence of the sale and the price realized upon the sale of such shares of Common Stock.
17.13 Section 16. It is the intent of the Company that the Plan satisfy, and be interpreted in a manner that satisfies, the applicable requirements of Rule 16b-3 as promulgated under Section 16 of the Exchange Act so that Participants will be entitled to the benefit of Rule 16b-3, or any other rule promulgated under Section 16 of the Exchange Act, and will not be subject to short-swing liability under Section 16 of the Exchange Act. Accordingly, if the operation of any provision of the Plan would conflict with the intent expressed in this Section 17.13, such provision to the extent possible shall be interpreted and/or deemed amended so as to avoid such conflict.
17.14 Beneficiary Designation. Each Participant under the Plan may from time to time name any beneficiary or beneficiaries by whom any right under the Plan is to be exercised in case of such Participant’s death. Each designation will revoke all prior designations by the same Participant, shall be in a form reasonably prescribed by the Committee and shall be effective only when filed by the Participant in writing with the Company during the Participant’s lifetime.
17.15 Expenses. The costs of administering the Plan shall be paid by the Company.
Exhibit G - Page 25
17.16 Severability. If any of the provisions of the Plan or any Award Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, whether in whole or in part, such provision shall be deemed modified to the extent, but only to the extent, of such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability and the remaining provisions shall not be affected thereby.
17.17 Plan Headings. The headings in the Plan are for purposes of convenience only and are not intended to define or limit the construction of the provisions hereof.
17.18 Non-Uniform Treatment. The Committee’s determinations under the Plan need not be uniform and may be made by it selectively among persons who are eligible to receive, or actually receive, Awards. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Committee shall be entitled to make non-uniform and selective determinations, amendments and adjustments, and to enter into non-uniform and selective Award Agreements.
17.19 Waiver of Jury Trial. By accepting or being deemed to have accepted an award un-der the Plan, each Participant waives (or will be deemed to have waived), to the maximum extent permitted under applicable law, any right to a trial by jury in any action, proceeding or counterclaim concerning any rights under the Plan or any award, or under any amendment, waiver, consent, instrument, document or other agreement delivered or which in the future may be delivered in connection therewith, and agrees (or will be deemed to have agreed) that any such action, proceedings or counterclaim will be tried before a court and not before a jury. By accepting or being deemed to have accepted an award under the Plan, each Participant certifies that no officer, representative, or attorney of the Company has represented, expressly or otherwise, that the Company would not, in the event of any action, proceeding or counterclaim, seek to enforce the foregoing waivers. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan, nothing herein is to be construed as limiting the ability of the Company and a Participant to agree to submit any dispute arising under the terms of the Plan or any xxxx to binding arbitration or as limiting the ability of the Company to require any individual to agree to submit such disputes to binding arbitration as a condition of receiving an award hereunder.
18. Effective Date of Plan. The Plan shall become effective as of the Effective Date.
19. Termination or Suspension of the Plan. The Plan shall terminate automatically on [_________], 2033. No Award shall be granted pursuant to the Plan after such date, but Awards theretofore granted may extend beyond that date. The Board may suspend or terminate the Plan at any earlier date pursuant to Section 16.1 hereof. No Awards may be granted under the Plan while the Plan is suspended or after it is terminated.
20. Choice of Law. The law of the State of Delaware shall govern all questions concerning the construction, validity and interpretation of this Plan, without regard to such state’s conflict of law rules.
As adopted by the Board of Directors of ConnectM Technology Solutions, Inc. on [_______], 2023.
Exhibit G - Page 26
As approved by the shareholders of ConnectM Technology Solutions, Inc. on [_______], 2023.
Exhibit G - Page 27
EXHIBIT H
FORM OF SURVIVING COMPANY CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
Exhibit H - Page 1
AMENDED AND RESTATED
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
CONNECTM TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS INC.
[ ], 2023
ConnectM Technology Solutions Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “Corporation”), DOES HEREBY CERTIFY AS FOLLOWS:
1. The name of the Corporation is “ConnectM Technology Solutions Inc.” The original certificate of incorporation of the Corporation was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on March 22, 2019 (the “Certificate”).
2. This Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the “Amended and Restated Certificate”), which both restates and amends the provisions of the Certificate, was duly adopted in accordance with Sections 228, 242 and 245 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as amended from time to time (the “DGCL”).
3. This Amended and Restated Certificate shall become effective on the date of filing with Secretary of State of Delaware.
4. The text of the Certificate is hereby restated and amended in its entirety to read as follows:
ARTICLE I
NAME
The name of the corporation is ConnectM Operations, Inc.
ARTICLE II
PURPOSE
The purpose of the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the DGCL as it now exists or may hereafter be amended and supplemented. In addition to the powers and privileges conferred upon the Corporation by law and those incidental thereto, the Corporation shall possess and may exercise all the powers and privileges that are necessary or convenient to the conduct, promotion or attainment of the business or purposes of the Corporation.
ARTICLE III
REGISTERED AGENT
The address of the Corporation’s registered office in the State of Delaware is 000 Xxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxx, xx xxx Xxxx xx Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxx of Xxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx xx Xxxxxxxx, 00000, and the name of the Corporation’s registered agent at such address is Corporation Service Company.
Exhibit H - Page 2
ARTICLE IV
CAPITALIZATION
Section 4.1 Authorized Capital Stock. The total number of shares of capital stock that the Corporation is authorized to issue is 5,000 shares. All shares shall be common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“Common Stock”), and are to be of one class.
Section 4.2 Common Stock.
(a) Voting Rights.
(i) The holders of the Common Stock shall exclusively possess all voting power with respect to the Corporation.
(ii) Except as otherwise required by law, the holders of shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to one vote for each such share on each matter properly submitted to the stockholders of the Corporation on which the holders of the Common Stock are entitled to vote.
(iii) Except as otherwise required by law, at any annual or special meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation, holders of the Common Stock shall have the exclusive right to vote for the election of directors and on all other matters properly submitted to a vote of the stockholders.
(b) Dividends. Subject to applicable law, the holders of shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive such dividends and other distributions (payable in cash, property or capital stock of the Corporation) when, as and if declared thereon by the Board from time to time out of any assets or funds of the Corporation legally available therefor and shall share equally on a per share basis in such dividends and distributions.
(c) Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up of the Corporation. Subject to applicable law, in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, after payment or provision for payment of the debts and other liabilities of the Corporation, the holders of shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive all the remaining assets of the Corporation available for distribution to its stockholders, ratably in proportion to the number of shares of Common Stock held by them.
ARTICLE V
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Section 5.1 Board Powers. The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by, or under the direction of, the Board. In addition to the powers and authority expressly conferred upon the Board by statute, this Amended and Restated Certificate or the By-Laws of the Corporation (“By-Laws”), the Board is hereby empowered to exercise all such powers and do all such acts and things as may be exercised or done by the Corporation, subject, nevertheless, to the provisions of the DGCL, this Amended and Restated Certificate, and any By-Laws adopted by the stockholders of the Corporation; provided, however, that no By-Laws hereafter adopted by the stockholders of the Corporation shall invalidate any prior act of the Board that would have been valid if such By-Laws had not been adopted.
Section 5.2 Number, Election and Term.
(a) The number of directors of the Corporation shall be fixed from time to time by either (i) the Board pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the Board or (ii) the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the voting power of all then outstanding shares of Common Stock.
(b) A director shall hold office until the annual meeting for the year in which his or her term expires and until his or her successor has been elected and qualified, subject, however, to such director’s earlier death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal.
(d) Unless and except to the extent that the By-Laws shall so require, the election of directors need not be by written ballot. The holders of shares of Common Stock shall not have cumulative voting rights with regard to election of directors.
Section 5.3 Newly Created Directorships and Vacancies. Xxxxx created directorships resulting from an increase in the number of directors and any vacancies on the Board resulting from death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, removal or other cause may be filled solely and exclusively by a majority vote of the remaining directors then in office, even if less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director (and not by stockholders), and any director so chosen shall hold office for the remainder of the full term of the class of directors to which the new directorship was added or in which the vacancy occurred and until his or her successor has been elected and qualified, subject, however, to such director’s earlier death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal.
Exhibit H - Page 3
Section 5.4 Removal. Any or all of the directors may be removed from office at any time, with or without cause, by the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the voting power of all then outstanding shares of Common Stock.
ARTICLE VI
BYLAWS
In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred upon it by law, the Board shall have the power and is expressly authorized to adopt, amend, alter or repeal the By-Laws. The affirmative vote of a majority of the Board shall be required to adopt, amend, alter or repeal the By-Laws. The By-Laws also may be adopted, amended, altered or repealed by the stockholders; provided, however, that the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of all then outstanding shares of Common Stock shall be required for the stockholders to adopt, amend, alter or repeal the By-Laws; and provided further, however, that no By-Laws hereafter adopted by the stockholders shall invalidate any prior act of the Board that would have been valid if such By-Laws had not been adopted.
ARTICLE VII
LIMITED LIABILITY; INDEMNIFICATION
Section 7.1 Limitation of Director Liability. A director of the Corporation shall not be personally liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except to the extent such exemption from liability or limitation thereof is not permitted under the DGCL as the same exists or may hereafter be amended unless they violated their duty of loyalty to the Corporation or its stockholders, acted in bad faith, knowingly or intentionally violated the law, authorized unlawful payments of dividends, unlawful stock purchases or unlawful redemptions, or derived improper personal benefit from their actions as directors. Any amendment, modification or repeal of the foregoing sentence shall not adversely affect any right or protection of a director of the Corporation hereunder in respect of any act or omission occurring prior to the time of such amendment, modification or repeal.
Section 7.2 Indemnification and Advancement of Expenses.
(a) To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended, the Corporation shall indemnify and hold harmless each person who is or was made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise involved in any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (a “proceeding”) by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director or officer of the Corporation or, while a director or officer of the Corporation, is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust, other enterprise or nonprofit entity, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan (an “indemnitee”), whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a director, officer, employee or agent, or in any other capacity while serving as a director, officer, employee or agent, against all liability and loss suffered and expenses (including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, XXXXX excise taxes and penalties and amounts paid in settlement) reasonably incurred by such indemnitee in connection with such proceeding. The Corporation shall to the fullest extent not prohibited by applicable law pay the expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by an indemnitee in defending or otherwise participating in any proceeding in advance of its final disposition; provided, however, that, to the extent required by applicable law, such payment of expenses in advance of the final disposition of the proceeding shall be made only upon receipt of an undertaking, by or on behalf of the indemnitee, to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined that the indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified under this Section 7.2 or otherwise. The rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses conferred by this Section 7.2 shall be contract rights and such rights shall continue as to an indemnitee who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of his or her heirs, executors and administrators. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 7.2(a), except for proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses, the Corporation shall indemnify and advance expenses to an indemnitee in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such indemnitee only if such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Board.
Exhibit H - Page 4
(b) The rights to indemnification and advancement of expenses conferred on any indemnitee by this Section 7.2 shall not be exclusive of any other rights that any indemnitee may have or hereafter acquire under law, this Amended and Restated Certificate, the By-Laws, an agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors, or otherwise.
(c) Any repeal or amendment of this Section 7.2 by the stockholders of the Corporation or by changes in law, or the adoption of any other provision of this Amended and Restated Certificate inconsistent with this Section 7.2, shall, unless otherwise required by law, be prospective only (except to the extent such amendment or change in law permits the Corporation to provide broader indemnification rights on a retroactive basis than permitted prior thereto), and shall not in any way diminish or adversely affect any right or protection existing at the time of such repeal or amendment or adoption of such inconsistent provision in respect of any proceeding (regardless of when such proceeding is first threatened, commenced or completed) arising out of, or related to, any act or omission occurring prior to such repeal or amendment or adoption of such inconsistent provision.
(d) This Section 7.2 shall not limit the right of the Corporation, to the extent and in the manner authorized or permitted by law, to indemnify and to advance expenses to persons other than indemnitees.
ARTICLE VIII
AMENDMENT OF AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
The Corporation reserves the right at any time and from time to time to amend, alter, change or repeal any provision contained in this Amended and Restated Certificate, and other provisions authorized by the laws of the State of Delaware at the time in force that may be added or inserted, in the manner now or hereafter prescribed by this Amended and Restated Certificate and the DGCL; and, except as set forth in Article VII, all rights, preferences and privileges of whatever nature herein conferred upon stockholders, directors or any other persons by and pursuant to this Amended and Restated Certificate in its present form or as hereafter amended are granted subject to the right reserved in this Article VIII.
ARTICLE IX
EXCLUSIVE FORUM FOR CERTAIN LAWSUITS; CONSENT TO JURISDICTION
Section 9.1 Forum. Subject to the last sentence in this Section 9.1, and unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, to the fullest extent permitted by the applicable law, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware shall be the sole and exclusive forum for any stockholder (including a beneficial owner) to bring (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer or other employee of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporation’s stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation, its directors, officers or employees arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL or this Amended and Restated Certificate or the By-Laws, or (iv) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation, its directors, officers or employees governed by the internal affairs doctrine and, if brought outside of Delaware, the stockholder bringing the suit will be deemed to have consented to service of process on such stockholder’s counsel except any action (A) as to which the Court of Chancery in the State of Delaware determines that there is an indispensable party not subject to the jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery (and the indispensable party does not consent to the personal jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery within ten days following such determination), (B) which is vested in the exclusive jurisdiction of a court or forum other than the Court of Chancery, or (C) for which the Court of Chancery does not have subject matter jurisdiction. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) the provisions of this Section 9.1 will not apply to suits brought to enforce any liability or duty created by the Exchange Act or any other claim for which the federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction and (ii) unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the federal district courts of the United States of America shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be the exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
Exhibit H - Page 5
Section 9.2 Consent to Jurisdiction. If any action the subject matter of which is within the scope of Section 9.1 immediately above is filed in a court other than a court located within the State of Delaware (a “Foreign Action”) in the name of any stockholder, such stockholder shall be deemed to have consented to (i) the personal jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located within the State of Delaware in connection with any action brought in any such court to enforce Section 9.1 immediately above (an “FSC Enforcement Action”) and (ii) having service of process made upon such stockholder in any such FSC Enforcement Action by service upon such stockholder’s counsel in the Foreign Action as agent for such stockholder.
Section 9.3 Severability. If any provision or provisions of this Article IX shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable as applied to any person or entity or circumstance for any reason whatsoever, then, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the validity, legality and enforceability of such provisions in any other circumstance and of the remaining provisions of this Article IX (including, without limitation, each portion of any sentence of this Article IX containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) and the application of such provision to other persons or entities and circumstances shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
Section 9.4 Deemed Notice. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring or holding any interest in any security of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to this Article IX.
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Exhibit H - Page 6
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused this Amended and Restated Certificate to be duly executed and acknowledged in its name and on its behalf by an authorized officer as of the date first set forth above.
CONNECTM TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS, INC. | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation]
Exhibit H - Page 7
EXHIBIT I
FORM OF SURVIVING COMPANY BYLAWS
Exhibit I - Page 1
AMENDED AND RESTATED BY LAWS
OF CONNECTM OPERATIONS, INC.
Effective as of [_______], 2023
ARTICLE I
OFFICES
Section 1.01 Offices. The address of the registered office of ConnectM Operations, Inc. (hereinafter called the “Corporation”) in the State of Delaware shall be at 000 Xxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000. The Corporation may have other offices, both within and without the State of Delaware, as the board of directors of the Corporation (the “Board of Directors”) from time to time shall determine or the business of the Corporation may require.
Section 1.02 Books and Records. Any records maintained by the Corporation in the regular course of its business, including its stock ledger, books of account and minute books, may be maintained on any information storage device or method; provided that the records so kept can be converted into clearly legible paper form within a reasonable time. The Corporation shall so convert any records so kept upon the request of any person entitled to inspect such records pursuant to applicable law.
ARTICLE II
MEETINGS OF THE STOCKHOLDERS
Section 2.01 Place of Meetings. All meetings of the stockholders shall be held at such place, if any, either within or without the State of Delaware, as shall be designated from time to time by resolution of the Board of Directors and stated in the notice of meeting.
Section 2.02 Annual Meeting. The annual meeting of the stockholders for the election of directors and for the transaction of such other business as may properly come before the meeting shall be held at such date, time and place, if any, as shall be determined by the Board of Directors and stated in the notice of the meeting.
Section 2.03 Special Meetings. Special meetings of stockholders for any purpose or purposes shall be called pursuant to a resolution approved by the Board of Directors and may not be called by any other person or persons. The only business which may be conducted at a special meeting shall be the matter or matters set forth in the notice of such meeting.
Section 2.04 Adjournments. Any meeting of the stockholders, annual or special, may be adjourned from time to time to reconvene at the same or some other place, if any, and notice need not be given of any such adjourned meeting if the time, place, if any, thereof and the means of remote communication, if any, are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken. At the adjourned meeting, the Corporation may transact any business which might have been transacted at the original meeting. If the adjournment is for more than 30 days, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting. If after the adjournment a new record date is fixed for stockholders entitled to vote at the adjourned meeting, the Board of Directors shall fix a new record date for notice of the adjourned meeting and shall give notice of the adjourned meeting to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the adjourned meeting as of the record date fixed for notice of the adjourned meeting.
Exhibit I - Page 2
Section 2.05 Notice of Meetings. Notice of the place, if any, date, hour, the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting (if such date is different from the record date for stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting) and means of remote communication, if any, of every meeting of stockholders shall be given by the Corporation not less than ten days nor more than 60 days before the meeting (unless a different time is specified by law) to every stockholder entitled to vote at the meeting as of the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting. Notices of special meetings shall also specify the purpose or purposes for which the meeting has been called. Except as otherwise provided herein or permitted by applicable law, notice to stockholders shall be in writing and delivered personally or mailed to the stockholders at their address appearing on the books of the Corporation. Without limiting the manner by which notice otherwise may be given effectively to stockholders, notice of meetings may be given to stockholders by means of electronic transmission in accordance with applicable law. Notice of any meeting need not be given to any stockholder who shall, either before or after the meeting, submit a waiver of notice or who shall attend such meeting, except when the stockholder attends for the express purpose of objecting, at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened. Any stockholder so waiving notice of the meeting shall be bound by the proceedings of the meeting in all respects as if due notice thereof had been given.
Section 2.06 List of Stockholders. The officer of the Corporation who has charge of the stock ledger shall prepare a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders (provided, however, if the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote is less than ten days before the date of the meeting, the list shall reflect the stockholders entitled to vote as of the tenth day before the meeting date), arranged in alphabetical order, and showing the address of each stockholder and the number of shares of each class of capital stock of the Corporation registered in the name of each stockholder at least ten days before any meeting of the stockholders. Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting, on a reasonably accessible electronic network if the information required to gain access to such list was provided with the notice of the meeting or during ordinary business hours, at the principal place of business of the Corporation for a period of at least ten days before the meeting. If the meeting is to be held at a place, the list shall also be produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting the whole time thereof and may be inspected by any stockholder who is present. If the meeting is held solely by means of remote communication, the list shall also be open for inspection by any stockholder during the whole time of the meeting as provided by applicable law. Except as provided by applicable law, the stock ledger of the Corporation shall be the only evidence as to who are the stockholders entitled to examine the stock ledger and the list of stockholders or to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of stockholders.
Exhibit I - Page 3
Section 2.07 Quorum. Unless otherwise required by law, the Corporation’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the “Certificate of Incorporation”) or these by-laws, at each meeting of the stockholders, a majority in voting power of the shares of the Corporation entitled to vote at the meeting, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum. If, however, such quorum shall not be present or represented at any meeting of the stockholders, the stockholders entitled to vote thereat, present in person or represented by proxy, shall have power, by the affirmative vote of a majority in voting power thereof, to adjourn the meeting from time to time, in the manner provided in Section 2.04, until a quorum shall be present or represented. A quorum, once established, shall not be broken by the subsequent withdrawal of enough votes to leave less than a quorum. At any such adjourned meeting at which there is a quorum, any business may be transacted that might have been transacted at the meeting originally called.
Section 2.08 Conduct of Meetings. The Board of Directors may adopt by resolution such rules and regulations for the conduct of the meeting of the stockholders as it shall deem appropriate. At every meeting of the stockholders, the President, or in his or her absence or inability to act, the Chief Executive Officer, or, in his or her absence or inability to act, the person whom the President shall appoint, shall act as chairman of, and preside at, the meeting. The secretary or, in his or her absence or inability to act, the person whom the chairman of the meeting shall appoint secretary of the meeting, shall act as secretary of the meeting and keep the minutes thereof. Except to the extent inconsistent with such rules and regulations as adopted by the Board of Directors, the chairman of any meeting of the stockholders shall have the right and authority to prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures and to do all such acts as, in the judgment of such chairman, are appropriate for the proper conduct of the meeting. Such rules, regulations or procedures, whether adopted by the Board of Directors or prescribed by the chairman of the meeting, may include, without limitation, the following: (a) the establishment of an agenda or order of business for the meeting; (b) the determination of when the polls shall open and close for any given matter to be voted on at the meeting; (c) rules and procedures for maintaining order at the meeting and the safety of those present; (d) limitations on attendance at or participation in the meeting to stockholders of record of the corporation, their duly authorized and constituted proxies or such other persons as the chairman of the meeting shall determine; (e) restrictions on entry to the meeting after the time fixed for the commencement thereof; and (f) limitations on the time allotted to questions or comments by participants.
Section 2.09 Voting; Proxies. Unless otherwise required by law or the Certificate of Incorporation the election of directors shall be decided by a plurality of the votes cast at a meeting of the stockholders by the holders of stock entitled to vote in the election. Unless otherwise required by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these by-laws, any matter, other than the election of directors, brought before any meeting of stockholders shall be decided by the affirmative vote of the majority of shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the matter. Each stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders or to express consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting may authorize another person or persons to act for such stockholder by proxy, but no such proxy shall be voted or acted upon after three years from its date, unless the proxy provides for a longer period. A proxy shall be irrevocable if it states that it is irrevocable and if, and only as long as, it is coupled with an interest sufficient in law to support an irrevocable power. A stockholder may revoke any proxy which is not irrevocable by attending the meeting and voting in person or by delivering to the secretary of the Corporation a revocation of the proxy or a new proxy bearing a later date. Voting at meetings of stockholders need not be by written ballot.
Exhibit I - Page 4
Section 2.10 Inspectors at Meetings of Stockholders. The Board of Directors, in advance of any meeting of stockholders, may, and shall if required by law, appoint one or more inspectors, who may be employees of the Corporation, to act at the meeting or any adjournment thereof and make a written report thereof. The Board of Directors may designate one or more persons as alternate inspectors to replace any inspector who fails to act. If no inspector or alternate is able to act at a meeting, the person presiding at the meeting shall appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting. Each inspector, before entering upon the discharge of his or her duties, shall take and sign an oath faithfully to execute the duties of inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of his or her ability. The inspectors shall (a) ascertain the number of shares outstanding and the voting power of each, (b) determine the shares represented at the meeting, the existence of a quorum and the validity of proxies and ballots, (c) count all votes and ballots, (d) determine and retain for a reasonable period a record of the disposition of any challenges made to any determination by the inspectors and (e) certify their determination of the number of shares represented at the meeting and their count of all votes and ballots. The inspectors may appoint or retain other persons or entities to assist the inspectors in the performance of their duties. Unless otherwise provided by the Board of Directors, the date and time of the opening and the closing of the polls for each matter upon which the stockholders will vote at a meeting shall be announced at the meeting. No ballot, proxies, votes or any revocation thereof or change thereto, shall be accepted by the inspectors after the closing of the polls unless the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware upon application by a stockholder shall determine otherwise. In determining the validity and counting of proxies and ballots cast at any meeting of stockholders, the inspectors may consider such information as is permitted by applicable law. No person who is a candidate for office at an election may serve as an inspector at such election.
Section 2.11 Written Consent of Stockholders Without a Meeting. Any action to be taken at any annual or special meeting of stockholders may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, if a consent or consents in writing, setting forth the action to be so taken, shall be signed by the holders of outstanding stock having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote thereon were present and voted and shall be delivered (by hand or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested) to the Corporation by delivery to its registered office in the State of Delaware, its principal place of business or an officer or agent of the Corporation having custody of the book in which proceedings of meetings of stockholders are recorded. Every written consent shall bear the date of signature of each stockholder who signs the consent, and no written consent shall be effective to take the corporate action referred to therein unless, within 60 days of the earliest dated consent delivered in the manner required by this Section 2.11, written consents signed by a sufficient number of holders to take action are delivered to the Corporation as aforesaid. Prompt notice of the taking of the corporate action without a meeting by less than unanimous written consent shall, to the extent required by applicable law, be given to those stockholders who have not consented in writing, and who, if the action had been taken at a meeting, would have been entitled to notice of the meeting if the record date for notice of such meeting had been the date that written consents signed by a sufficient number of holders to take the action were delivered to the Corporation.
Exhibit I - Page 5
Section 2.12 Fixing the Record Date.
(a) In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors, and which record date shall not be more than 60 nor less than ten days before the date of such meeting. If the Board of Directors so fixes a date, such date shall also be the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting unless the Board of Directors determines, at the time it fixes such record date, that a later date on or before the date of the meeting shall be the date for making such determination. If no record date is fixed by the Board of Directors, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice is given, or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held. A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided, however, that the Board of Directors may fix a new record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to vote at the adjourned meeting and in such case shall also fix as the record date for stockholders entitled to notice of such adjourned meeting the same or an earlier date as that fixed for the determination of stockholders entitled to vote therewith at the adjourned meeting.
(b) In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights or the stockholders entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock, or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted, and which record date shall be not more than 60 days prior to such action. If no record date is fixed, the record date for determining stockholders for any such purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution relating thereto.
ARTICLE III
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Section 3.01 General Powers. The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may adopt such rules and procedures, not inconsistent with the Certificate of Incorporation, these by-laws or applicable law, as it may deem proper for the conduct of its meetings and the management of the Corporation.
Section 3.02 Number; Term of Office. The Board of Directors shall consist of one member and may be amended as determined by resolution of the Board of Directors or by the stockholders at the annual meeting or at any special meeting of stockholders. Each director shall hold office until a successor is duly elected and qualified or until the director’s earlier death, resignation, disqualification or removal.
Exhibit I - Page 6
Section 3.03 Newly Created Directorships and Vacancies. Any newly created directorships resulting from an increase in the authorized number of directors and any vacancies occurring in the Board of Directors, shall be filled solely by the affirmative votes of a majority of the remaining members of the Board of Directors, although less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director. A director so elected shall be elected to hold office until the earlier of the expiration of the term of office of the director whom he or she has replaced, a successor is duly elected and qualified or the earlier of such director’s death, resignation or removal.
Section 3.04 Resignation. Any director may resign at any time by notice given in writing or by electronic transmission to the Corporation. Such resignation shall take effect at the date of receipt of such notice by the Corporation or at such later time as is therein specified.
Section 3.05 Removal. Except as prohibited by applicable law or the Certificate of Incorporation, the stockholders entitled to vote in an election of directors may remove any director from office at any time, with or without cause, by the affirmative vote of a majority in voting power thereof.
Section 3.06 Fees and Expenses. Directors shall receive such fees and expenses as the Board of Directors shall from time to time prescribe.
Section 3.07 Regular Meetings. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors may be held without notice at such times and at such places as may be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors or its chairman.
Section 3.08 Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be held at such times and at such places as may be determined by the chairman or the President on at least 24 hours’ notice to each director given by one of the means specified in Section 3.11 hereof other than by mail or on at least three days’ notice if given by mail. Special meetings shall be called by the chairman or the President in like manner and on like notice on the written request of any director.
Section 3.09 Telephone Meetings. Board of Directors or Board of Directors committee meetings may be held by means of telephone conference or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other and be heard. Participation by a director in a meeting pursuant to this Section 3.09 shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.
Section 3.10 Adjourned Meetings. A majority of the directors present at any meeting of the Board of Directors, including an adjourned meeting, whether or not a quorum is present, may adjourn and reconvene such meeting to another time and place. At least 24 hours’ notice of any adjourned meeting of the Board of Directors shall be given to each director whether or not present at the time of the adjournment, if such notice shall be given by one of the means specified in Section 3.11 hereof other than by mail, or at least three days’ notice if by mail. Any business may be transacted at an adjourned meeting that might have been transacted at the meeting as originally called.
Exhibit I - Page 7
Section 3.11 Notices. Subject to Section 3.08, Section 3.10 and Section 3.12 hereof, whenever notice is required to be given to any director by applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these by-laws, such notice shall be deemed given effectively if given in person or by telephone, mail addressed to such director at such director’s address as it appears on the records of the Corporation, facsimile, e-mail or by other means of electronic transmission.
Section 3.12 Waiver of Notice. Whenever notice to directors is required by applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these by-laws, a waiver thereof, in writing signed by, or by electronic transmission by, the director entitled to the notice, whether before or after such notice is required, shall be deemed equivalent to notice. Attendance by a director at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting except when the director attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting, at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business on the ground that the meeting was not lawfully called or convened. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any regular or special Board of Directors or committee meeting need be specified in any waiver of notice.
Section 3.13 Organization. At each meeting of the Board of Directors, the chairman or, in his or her absence, another director selected by the Board of Directors shall preside. The secretary shall act as secretary at each meeting of the Board of Directors. If the secretary is absent from any meeting of the Board of Directors, an assistant secretary shall perform the duties of secretary at such meeting; and in the absence from any such meeting of the secretary and all assistant secretaries, the person presiding at the meeting may appoint any person to act as secretary of the meeting.
Section 3.14 Quorum of Directors. The presence of a majority of the Board of Directors shall be necessary and sufficient to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of the Board of Directors.
Section 3.15 Action by Majority Vote. Except as otherwise expressly required by these by-laws, the Certificate of Incorporation or by applicable law, the vote of a majority of the directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board of Directors.
Section 3.16 Action Without Meeting. Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation or these by-laws, any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors or of any committee thereof may be taken without a meeting if all directors or members of such committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing or by electronic transmission, and the writings or electronic transmissions are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board of Directors or committee in accordance with applicable law.
Exhibit I - Page 8
Section 3.17 Committees of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may designate one or more committees, each committee to consist of one or more of the directors of the Corporation. The Board of Directors may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee. If a member of a committee shall be absent from any meeting, or disqualified from voting thereat, the remaining member or members present at the meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not such member or members constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in the place of any such absent or disqualified member. Any such committee, to the extent permitted by applicable law, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board of Directors in the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation and may authorize the seal of the Corporation to be affixed to all papers that may require it to the extent so authorized by the Board of Directors. Unless the Board of Directors provides otherwise, at all meetings of such committee, a majority of the then authorized members of the committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, and the vote of a majority of the members of the committee present at any meeting at which there is a quorum shall be the act of the committee. Each committee shall keep regular minutes of its meetings. Unless the Board of Directors provides otherwise, each committee designated by the Board of Directors may make, alter and repeal rules and procedures for the conduct of its business. In the absence of such rules and procedures each committee shall conduct its business in the same manner as the Board of Directors conducts its business pursuant to this Article III.
ARTICLE IV
OFFICERS
Section 4.01 Positions and Election. The officers of the Corporation shall be elected by the Board of Directors and shall include a president, a treasurer and a secretary. The Board of Directors, in its discretion, may also elect a chairman (who must be a director), one or more vice chairmen (who must be directors) and one or more vice presidents, assistant treasurers, assistant secretaries and other officers. Any two or more offices may be held by the same person.
Section 4.02 Term. Each officer of the Corporation shall hold office until such officer’s successor is elected and qualified or until such officer’s earlier death, resignation or removal. Any officer elected or appointed by the Board of Directors may be removed by the Board of Directors at any time with or without cause by the majority vote of the members of the Board of Directors then in office. The removal of an officer shall be without prejudice to his or her contract rights, if any. The election or appointment of an officer shall not of itself create contract rights. Any officer of the Corporation may resign at any time by giving written notice of his or her resignation to the president or the secretary. Any such resignation shall take effect at the time specified therein or, if the time when it shall become effective shall not be specified therein, immediately upon its receipt. Unless otherwise specified therein, the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective. Should any vacancy occur among the officers, the position shall be filled for the unexpired portion of the term by appointment made by the Board of Directors.
Section 4.03 The President. The president shall have general supervision over the business of the Corporation and other duties incident to the office of president, and any other duties as may be from time to time assigned to the president by the Board of Directors and subject to the control of the Board of Directors in each case.
Section 4.04 Vice Presidents. Each vice president shall have such powers and perform such duties as may be assigned to him or her from time to time by the chairman of the Board of Directors or the president.
Exhibit I - Page 9
Section 4.05 The Secretary. The secretary shall attend all sessions of the Board of Directors and all meetings of the stockholders and record all votes and the minutes of all proceedings in a book to be kept for that purpose, and shall perform like duties for committees when required. He or she shall give, or cause to be given, notice of all meetings of the stockholders and meetings of the Board of Directors, and shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors or the president. The secretary shall keep in safe custody the seal of the Corporation and have authority to affix the seal to all documents requiring it and attest to the same.
Section 4.06 The Treasurer. The treasurer shall have the custody of the corporate funds and securities, except as otherwise provided by the Board of Directors, and shall keep full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the Corporation and shall deposit all moneys and other valuable effects in the name and to the credit of the Corporation in such depositories as may be designated by the Board of Directors. The treasurer shall disburse the funds of the Corporation as may be ordered by the Board of Directors, taking proper vouchers for such disbursements, and shall render to the president and the directors, at the regular meetings of the Board of Directors, or whenever they may require it, an account of all his or her transactions as treasurer and of the financial condition of the Corporation.
Section 4.07 Duties of Officers May Be Delegated. In case any officer is absent, or for any other reason that the Board of Directors may deem sufficient, the president or the Board of Directors may delegate for the time being the powers or duties of such officer to any other officer or to any director.
ARTICLE V
STOCK CERTIFICATES AND THEIR TRANSFER
Section 5.01 Certificates Representing Shares. The shares of stock of the Corporation shall be represented by certificates; provided that the Board of Directors may provide by resolution or resolutions that some or all of any class or series shall be uncertificated shares that may be evidenced by a book-entry system maintained by the registrar of such stock. If shares are represented by certificates, such certificates shall be in the form, other than bearer form, approved by the Board of Directors. The certificates representing shares of stock of each class shall be signed by, or in the name of, the Corporation by the chairman, any vice chairman, the president or any vice president, and by the secretary, any assistant secretary, the treasurer or any assistant treasurer. Any or all such signatures may be facsimiles. Although any officer, transfer agent or registrar whose manual or facsimile signature is affixed to such a certificate ceases to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar before such certificate has been issued, it may nevertheless be issued by the Corporation with the same effect as if such officer, transfer agent or registrar were still such at the date of its issue.
Section 5.02 Transfers of Stock. Stock of the Corporation shall be transferable in the manner prescribed by law and in these by-laws. Transfers of stock shall be made on the books of the Corporation only by the holder of record thereof, by such person’s attorney lawfully constituted in writing and, in the case of certificated shares, upon the surrender of the certificate thereof, which shall be cancelled before a new certificate or uncertificated shares shall be issued. No transfer of stock shall be valid as against the Corporation for any purpose until it shall have been entered in the stock records of the Corporation by an entry showing from and to whom transferred. To the extent designated by the president or any vice president or the treasurer of the Corporation, the Corporation may recognize the transfer of fractional uncertificated shares, but shall not otherwise be required to recognize the transfer of fractional shares.
Exhibit I - Page 10
Section 5.03 Transfer Agents and Registrars. The Board of Directors may appoint, or authorize any officer or officers to appoint, one or more transfer agents and one or more registrars.
Section 5.04 Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates. The Board of Directors may direct a new certificate or uncertificated shares to be issued in place of any certificate theretofore issued by the Corporation alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the owner of the allegedly lost, stolen or destroyed certificate. When authorizing such issue of a new certificate or uncertificated shares, the Board of Directors may, in its discretion and as a condition precedent to the issuance thereof, require the owner of the lost, stolen or destroyed certificate, or the owner’s legal representative to give the Corporation a bond sufficient to indemnify it against any claim that may be made against the Corporation with respect to the certificate alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed or the issuance of such new certificate or uncertificated shares.
ARTICLE VI
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section 6.01 Seal. The seal of the Corporation shall be in such form as shall be approved by the Board of Directors. The seal may be used by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed or affixed or reproduced or otherwise, as may be prescribed by law or custom or by the Board of Directors.
Section 6.02 Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Corporation shall begin on January 1 and end on December 31 of each year.
Section 6.03 Checks, Notes, Drafts, Etc. All checks, notes, drafts or other orders for the payment of money of the Corporation shall be signed, endorsed or accepted in the name of the Corporation by such officer, officers, person or persons as from time to time may be designated by the Board of Directors or by an officer or officers authorized by the Board of Directors to make such designation.
Section 6.04 Dividends. Subject to applicable law and the Certificate of Incorporation, dividends upon the shares of capital stock of the Corporation may be declared by the Board of Directors at any regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors. Dividends may be paid in cash, in property or in shares of the Corporation’s capital stock, unless otherwise provided by applicable law or the Certificate of Incorporation.
Section 6.05 Conflict with Applicable Law or Certificate of Incorporation. These by-laws are adopted subject to any applicable law and the Certificate of Incorporation. Whenever these by-laws may conflict with any applicable law or the Certificate of Incorporation, such conflict shall be resolved in favor of such law or the Certificate of Incorporation.
Exhibit I - Page 11
ARTICLE VII
AMENDMENTS
These by-laws may be amended, altered, changed, adopted and repealed or new by-laws adopted by the Board of Directors. The stockholders may make additional by-laws and may alter and repeal any by-laws whether such by-laws were originally adopted by them or otherwise.
Exhibit I - Page 12
EXHIBIT J
FORM OF REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Exhibit J - Page 1
FORM OF
AMENDED AND RESTATED REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of [●], 2023, is made and entered into by and among Monterey Capital Acquisition Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), Monterrey Acquisition Sponsor, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Sponsor”), certain equityholders of ConnectM Technology Solutions, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“ConnectM”), set forth on Schedule A (such equityholders, the “ConnectM Holders”), and certain equityholders of the Company set forth on Schedule B (such equityholders, including the Sponsor, the “Sponsor Holders” and, collectively with the ConnectM Holders, and any person or entity who hereafter becomes a party to this Agreement pursuant to Section 5.2 of this Agreement are each referred to herein as a “Holder” and collectively as the “Holders”).
RECITALS
WHEREAS, the Company and the Sponsor Holders are party to that certain Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of May 10, 2022 (the “Original RRA”);
WHEREAS, the Company has entered into that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of December 31, 2022 (as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, the “Merger Agreement”), by and among Company, ConnectM, and Chronos Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company;
WHEREAS, pursuant to the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement and subject to the terms and conditions set forth therein, the ConnectM Holders will receive an aggregate of [●] shares (the “ConnectM Shares”) of the Company’s common stock, $0.0001 par value per share (the “Common Stock”) upon the Closing (as defined in the Merger Agreement);
WHEREAS, as of the date hereof, the Sponsor Holders beneficially hold (i) 1,700,000 shares of Common Stock issued upon the automatic conversion of the Company’s Class B common stock, $0.0001 par value per share in connection with the Closing (the “Founder Shares”), (ii) 3,040,000 shares of Common Stock (the “Placement Warrant Shares”) underlying Private Placement Warrants (as defined in the Warrant Agreement, the “Placement Warrants”) and (iii) [●] shares of Common Stock (the “Working Capital Warrant Shares”) underlying Working Capital Warrants (as defined in the Warrant Agreement, “Working Capital Warrants”);
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 5.5 of the Original RRA, the provisions, covenants and conditions set forth therein may be amended or modified upon the written consent of the Company and the Holders (as defined in the Original RRA) of at least a majority-in-interest of the Registrable Securities (as defined in the Original RRA) at the time in question; and
WHEREAS, the Company and the Sponsor Holders desire to amend and restate the Original RRA in its entirety in order to provide the Holders certain registration rights with respect to certain securities of the Company, as set forth in this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the representations, covenants and agreements contained herein, and certain other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:
Exhibit J - Page 2
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
1.1 Definitions. The terms defined in this Article I shall, for all purposes of this Agreement, have the respective meanings set forth below:
“Adverse Disclosure” shall mean any public disclosure of material non-public information, which disclosure, in the good faith judgment of the Board or the Chairman, Chief Executive Officer or principal financial officer of the Company, after consultation with counsel to the Company (i) would be required to be made in any Registration Statement or Prospectus in order for the applicable Registration Statement or Prospectus not to contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements contained therein (in the case of any Prospectus and any preliminary Prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, (ii) would not be required to be made at such time if the Registration Statement were not being filed, declared effective or used, as the case may be, and (iii) the Company has a bona fide business purpose for not making such information public.
“Agreement” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble.
“Block Trade” shall have the meaning given in Section 2.3.1.
“Board” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.
“Bylaws” shall mean the bylaws of the Company in effect immediately following the Closing.
“Closing” shall have the meaning given in the Merger Agreement.
“Closing Date” shall have the meaning given in the Merger Agreement.
“Commission” shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Common Stock” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto. For the sake of clarity, the Common Stock had been designated as “Class A Common Stock” prior to the Closing.
“Company” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble hereto and includes the Company’s successors by recapitalization, merger, consolidation, spin-off, reorganization or similar transaction.
“Company Lock-up Agreement” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Merger Agreement.
“Demanding ConnectM Holder” shall have the meaning given in Section 2.1.4.
“Demanding Sponsor Holders” shall have the meaning given in Section 2.1.4.
“Demanding Holder” shall have the meaning given in Section 2.1.4.
“ConnectM” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble hereto.
“ConnectM Holders” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble hereto.
Exhibit J - Page 3
“Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as it may be amended from time to time.
“Founder Shares” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto and shall be deemed to include the shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion thereof.
“Form S-1” shall have the meaning given in Section 2.1.1.
“Form S-3” shall have the meaning given in Section 2.1.1.
“Holder Information” shall have the meaning given in Section 4.1.2.
“Holders” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble hereto, for so long as such person or entity holds any Registrable Securities.
“Joinder” shall have the meaning given in Section 5.10.
“majority-in-interest” shall mean, as applicable, the Holders of a majority-in-interest of the then outstanding number of Registrable Securities held by the applicable Holders.
“Maximum Number of Securities” shall have the meaning given in Section 2.1.5.
“Merger Agreement” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
“Misstatement” shall mean an untrue statement of a material fact or an omission to state a material fact required to be stated in a Registration Statement or Prospectus, or necessary to make the statements in a Registration Statement or Prospectus (in the case of the Prospectus, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading.
“Original RRA” shall have the meaning given in the Recitals hereto.
“Permitted Transferees” shall mean (a) with respect to the Sponsor Holders and their respective Permitted Transferees, the “Permitted Transferees” as defined in the Sponsor Lock-Up Agreement; and (b) with respect to the ConnectM Holders and their respective Permitted Transferees, the “Permitted Transferees” as defined in the Company Lock-up Agreement.
“Piggy-back Registration” shall have the meaning given in Section 2.2.1.
“Prospectus” shall mean the prospectus included in any Registration Statement, as supplemented by any and all prospectus supplements and as amended by any and all post-effective amendments and including all material incorporated by reference in such prospectus.
Exhibit J - Page 4
“Registrable Security” shall mean (a) any outstanding shares of Common Stock or any other equity security (including warrants to purchase shares of Common Stock and shares of Common Stock issued or issuable upon the exercise of any other equity security) of the Company held by a Holder immediately following the Closing (including the Founder Shares, the Placement Shares, the Placement Warrants, the Placement Warrant Shares, the Working Capital Warrants, the Working Capital Warrant Shares and the ConnectM Shares); and (b) any other equity security of the Company issued or issuable with respect to any securities referenced in clause (a) above by way of a stock dividend or stock split or in connection with a combination of shares, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, spin-off, reorganization or similar transaction; provided, however, that, as to any particular Registrable Security, such securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities upon the earliest to occur of: (A) a Registration Statement with respect to the sale of such securities shall have become effective under the Securities Act and such securities shall have been sold, transferred, disposed of or exchanged in accordance with such Registration Statement by the applicable Holder; (B) such securities shall have been otherwise transferred, new certificates for such securities not bearing (or book entry positions not subject to) a legend restricting further transfer shall have been delivered by the Company and subsequent public distribution of such securities shall not require registration under the Securities Act; (C) such securities shall have ceased to be outstanding; (D) such securities may be sold without registration pursuant to Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act (or any successor rule promulgated thereafter by the Commission) (but with no volume, current public information or other requirements, restrictions or limitations); or (E) such securities have been sold to, or through, a broker, dealer or underwriter in a public distribution or other public securities transaction.
“Registration” shall mean a registration, including any related Shelf Takedown, effected by preparing and filing a registration statement, Prospectus or similar document in compliance with the requirements of the Securities Act, and the applicable rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and such registration statement becoming effective.
“Registration Expenses” shall mean the documented, out-of-pocket expenses of a Registration, including, without limitation, the following:
(A) all registration and filing fees (including fees with respect to filings required to be made with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.) and any national securities exchange on which the Common Stock is then listed;
(B) fees and expenses of compliance with securities or blue sky laws (including reasonable fees and disbursements of outside counsel for the Underwriters in connection with blue sky qualifications of Registrable Securities);
(C) printing, messenger, telephone and delivery expenses;
(D) reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company;
(E) reasonable fees and disbursements of all independent registered public accountants of the Company incurred specifically in connection with such Registration; and
(F) reasonable fees and expenses of one (1) legal counsel selected by the majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders initiating a Demand Registration to be registered for offer and sale in the applicable Registration.
“Registration Statement” shall mean any registration statement that covers the Registrable Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, including the Prospectus included in such registration statement, amendments (including post-effective amendments) and supplements to such registration statement, and all exhibits to and all materials incorporated by reference in such registration statement.
“Requesting Holders” shall have the meaning given in Section 2.1.5.
“Securities Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time.
“Shelf” shall mean the Form S-1, the Form S-3 or any Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement, as the case may be.
Exhibit J - Page 5
“Shelf Registration” shall mean a registration of securities pursuant to a registration statement filed with the Commission in accordance with and pursuant to Rule 415 promulgated under the Securities Act (or any successor rule then in effect).
“Shelf Takedown” shall mean an Underwritten Shelf Takedown or any proposed transfer or sale using a Registration Statement, including a Piggy-back Registration.
“Sponsor” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble.
“Sponsor Holders” shall have the meaning given in the Preamble.
“Sponsor Lock-Up Agreement” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Merger Agreement.
“Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement” shall have the meaning given in Section 2.1.2.
“Underwriter” shall mean a securities dealer who purchases any Registrable Securities as principal or as broker, placement agent or sales agent pursuant to a Registration and not as part of such dealer’s market-making activities.
“Underwritten Offering” shall mean a Registration in which securities of the Company are sold to an Underwriter in a firm commitment underwriting for distribution to the public.
“Underwritten Shelf Takedown” shall have the meaning given in Section 2.1.4.
“Warrant Agreement” shall mean that certain Warrant Agreement, dated May 10, 2022, by and between the Company and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time.
“Withdrawal Notice” shall have the meaning given in Section 2.1.6.
ARTICLE
II
REGISTRATIONS AND OFFERINGS
2.1 Shelf Registration.
2.1.1 Filing. The Company agrees that it will file with the Commission (at the Company’s sole cost and expense) a Registration Statement for a Shelf Registration on Form S-1 (the “Form S-1”) or a Registration Statement for a Shelf Registration on a delayed or continuous basis no later than thirty (30) business days after the Closing Date, and the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to have the Registration Statement declared effective as soon as practicable after the filing thereof, but no later than the earlier of (i) sixty (60) calendar days after the filing thereof (or, in the event the Commission reviews and has written comments to the Registration Statement, the ninetieth (90th) calendar day following the filing thereof) and (ii) the third (3rd) business day after the date the Company is notified (orally or in writing, whichever is earlier) by the Commission that the Registration Statement will not be “reviewed” or will not be subject to further review ((i) and (ii) collectively, the “Effectiveness Deadline”); provided, that if such day falls on a Saturday, Sunday or other day that the Commission is closed for business, the Effectiveness Deadline shall be extended to the next Business Day on which the Commission is open for business. The Company will use its reasonable best efforts to provide a draft of the Registration Statement to the undersigned for review at least two (2) business days in advance of filing the Registration Statement; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, in no event shall the Company be required to delay or postpone the filing of such Registration Statement as a result of or in connection with a Holder’s review. Such Shelf shall provide for the resale of the Registrable Securities included therein pursuant to any method or combination of methods legally available to, and requested by, any Holder named therein, including but not limited to, distributions by a Holder to members or limited partners of such Holder, and, provided that such Shelf shall have been declared effective by the Commission and except as otherwise provided pursuant to the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, such members or limited partners shall receive such Registrable Securities free of any restrictive legends. The Company shall maintain a Shelf in accordance with the terms hereof, and shall prepare and file with the Commission such amendments, including post-effective amendments, and supplements as may be reasonably necessary to keep a Shelf continuously effective, available for use to permit the Holders named therein to sell their Registrable Securities included therein and in compliance with the provisions of the Securities Act until such time as there are no longer any Registrable Securities held by the Holders. In the event the Company files a Form S-1, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to convert the Form S-1 (and any Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement) to a Form S-3 as soon as practicable after the Company is eligible to use Form S-3. The Company’s obligation under this Section 2.1.1, shall, for the avoidance of doubt, be subject to Section 3.4.
Exhibit J - Page 6
2.1.2 Subsequent Shelf Registration. If any Shelf ceases to be effective or if the Prospectus included in such Registration Statement, as then in effect, includes a Misstatement for any reason at any time while Registrable Securities are still outstanding, the Company shall, subject to Section 3.4, use its reasonable best efforts to as promptly as is reasonably practicable cause such Shelf to again become effective under the Securities Act (including using its reasonable best efforts to obtain the prompt withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of such Shelf) and correct any such Misstatement, and shall use its reasonable best efforts to as promptly as is reasonably practicable amend such Shelf in a manner reasonably expected to result in the withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of such Shelf or file an additional registration statement as a Shelf Registration (a “Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement”) registering the resale of all Registrable Securities (determined as of two (2) business days prior to such filing), and pursuant to any method or combination of methods legally available to, and requested by, any Holder named therein. If a Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement is filed, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to (i) cause such Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement to become effective under the Securities Act as promptly as is reasonably practicable after the filing thereof and (ii) keep such Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective, available for use to permit the Holders named therein to sell their Registrable Securities included therein and in compliance with the provisions of the Securities Act until such time as there are no longer any Registrable Securities held by the Holders or their Permitted Transferees. Any such Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement shall be on Form S-3 to the extent that the Company is eligible to use such form. Otherwise, such Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement shall be on another appropriate form, as determined in the sole discretion of the Company. The Company’s obligation under this Section 2.1.2, shall, for the avoidance of doubt, be subject to Section 3.4.
2.1.3 Additional Registrable Securities. Subject to Section 3.4, in the event that any Holder holds Registrable Securities that are not registered for resale on a delayed or continuous basis, the Company, upon written request of a Sponsor Holder or a ConnectM Holder, shall promptly use its reasonable best efforts to cause the resale of such Registrable Securities to be covered by either, at the Company’s sole option, any then available Shelf (including by means of a post-effective amendment) or by filing a Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement and cause the same to become effective as soon as practicable after such filing and such Shelf or Subsequent Shelf Registration Statement shall be subject to the terms hereof; provided that the Holder of such Registrable Securities reasonably expects aggregate proceeds in excess of $5,000,000 from the sale of such Registrable Securities.
Exhibit J - Page 7
2.1.4 Requests for Underwritten Shelf Takedowns. Subject to Section 3.4, at any time and from time to time when an effective Shelf is on file with the Commission, (a) a Sponsor Holder (the “Demanding Sponsor Holder”) or (b) a ConnectM Holder (the “Demanding ConnectM Holder”) (any Demanding Sponsor Holder or Demanding ConnectM Holder being in such case, a “Demanding Holder”) may request to sell all or any portion of its Registrable Securities in an Underwritten Offering or other coordinated offering that is registered pursuant to the Shelf (each, an “Underwritten Shelf Takedown”); provided that the Holder of such Registrable Securities reasonably expects aggregate proceeds in excess of $5,000,000 from such Underwritten Shelf Takedown. All requests for Underwritten Shelf Takedowns shall be made by giving written notice to the Company, which shall specify the approximate number of Registrable Securities proposed to be sold in the Underwritten Shelf Takedown. Subject to Section 2.3.4, the Company shall have the right to select the Underwriters for such offering (which shall consist of one or more reputable nationally recognized investment banks). The Demanding Sponsor Holders and the Demanding ConnectM Holder may each demand not more than four (4) Underwritten Shelf Takedowns pursuant to this Section 2.1.4 in any twelve (12) month period. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Company may effect any Underwritten Offering pursuant to any then effective Registration Statement, including a Form S-3, that is then available for such offering, subject to the provisions of Section 2.2.
2.1.5 Reduction of Underwritten Offering. If the managing Underwriter or Underwriters in an Underwritten Shelf Takedown, in good faith, advises the Company, the Demanding Holders and the Holders requesting piggy-back rights pursuant to this Agreement with respect to such Underwritten Shelf Takedown (the “Requesting Holders”) (if any) in writing that the dollar amount or number of Registrable Securities that the Demanding Holders and the Requesting Holders (if any) desire to sell, taken together with all other shares of Common Stock or other equity securities that the Company desires to sell for its own account and all other shares of Common Stock or other equity securities, if any, that have been requested to be sold in such Underwritten Offering pursuant to separate written contractual piggy-back registration rights held by any other stockholders who desire to sell, exceeds the maximum dollar amount or maximum number of equity securities that can be sold in the Underwritten Offering without adversely affecting the proposed offering price, the timing, the distribution method, or the probability of success of such offering (such maximum dollar amount or maximum number of such securities, as applicable, the “Maximum Number of Securities”), then the Company shall include in such Underwritten Offering, before including any shares of Common Stock or other equity securities proposed to be sold by Company or by other holders of Common Stock or other equity securities, the Registrable Securities of the Demanding Holders and the Requesting Holders (if any) (pro rata based on the respective number of Registrable Securities that each Demanding Holder and Requesting Holder (if any) has requested be included in such Underwritten Shelf Takedown and the aggregate number of Registrable Securities that the Demanding Holders and Requesting Holders have requested be included in such Underwritten Shelf Takedown) that can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities.
2.1.6 Withdrawal. Prior to the filing of the applicable “red xxxxxxx” prospectus or prospectus supplement used for marketing such Underwritten Shelf Takedown, a majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders initiating an Underwritten Shelf Takedown shall have the right to withdraw from such Underwritten Shelf Takedown for any or no reason whatsoever upon written notification (a “Withdrawal Notice”) to the Company and the Underwriter or Underwriters (if any) of their intention to withdraw from such Underwritten Shelf Takedown. If withdrawn, a demand for an Underwritten Shelf Takedown shall constitute a demand for an Underwritten Shelf Takedown by the withdrawing Demanding Holder for purposes of Section 2.1.4, unless such Demanding Holder reimburses the Company for all Registration Expenses with respect to such Underwritten Shelf Takedown (or, if there is more than one Demanding Holder, a pro rata portion of such Registration Expenses based on the respective number of Registrable Securities that each Demanding Holder has requested be included in such Underwritten Shelf Takedown); provided that, if a Sponsor Holder or a ConnectM Holder elects to continue an Underwritten Shelf Takedown pursuant to the proviso in the immediately preceding sentence, such Underwritten Shelf Takedown shall instead count as an Underwritten Shelf Takedown demanded by such Sponsor Holder or such ConnectM Holder, as applicable, for purposes of Section 2.1.4. Following the receipt of any Withdrawal Notice, the Company shall promptly forward such Withdrawal Notice to any other Holders that had elected to participate in such Shelf Takedown. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Company shall be responsible for the Registration Expenses incurred in connection with a Shelf Takedown prior to its withdrawal under this Section 2.1.6, other than if a Demanding Holder elects to pay such Registration Expenses pursuant to the second sentence of this Section 2.1.6.
Exhibit J - Page 8
2.2 Piggy-back Registration.
2.2.1 Piggy-back Rights. Subject to Section 2.3.3, if the Company or any Holder proposes to conduct a registered offering of, or if the Company proposes to file a Registration Statement under the Securities Act with respect to the Registration of, equity securities, or securities or other obligations exercisable or exchangeable for, or convertible into equity securities, for its own account or for the account of stockholders of the Company (or by the Company and by the stockholders of the Company including, without limitation, an Underwritten Shelf Takedown pursuant to Section 2.1), other than a Registration Statement (or any registered offering with respect thereto) (i) filed in connection with any employee stock option or other benefit plan, (ii) for a rights offering or an exchange offer or offering of securities solely to the Company’s existing stockholders, (iii) pursuant to a Registration Statement on Form S-4 (or similar form that relates to a transaction subject to Rule 145 under the Securities Act or any successor rule thereto) (iv) for an offering of debt that is convertible into equity securities of the Company, (v) for a dividend reinvestment plan, or (vi) a Block Trade, then the Company shall give written notice of such proposed offering to all of the Holders of Registrable Securities as soon as practicable but not less than ten (10) days before the anticipated filing date of such Registration Statement or, in the case of an Underwritten Offering pursuant to a Shelf Registration, the applicable “red xxxxxxx” prospectus or prospectus supplement used for marketing such offering, which notice shall (A) describe the amount and type of securities to be included in such offering, the intended method(s) of distribution, and the name of the proposed managing Underwriter or Underwriters, if any, in such offering, and (B) offer to all of the Holders of Registrable Securities the opportunity to include in such registered offering such number of Registrable Securities as such Holders may request in writing within five (5) days after receipt of such written notice (such registered offering, a “Piggy-back Registration”). Subject to Section 2.2.2, the Company shall, in good faith, cause such Registrable Securities to be included in such Piggy-back Registration and, if applicable, shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the managing Underwriter or Underwriters of such Piggy-back Registration to permit the Registrable Securities requested by the Holders pursuant to this Section 2.2.1 to be included therein on the same terms and conditions as any similar securities of the Company included in such registered offering and to permit the sale or other disposition of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended method(s) of distribution thereof. The inclusion of any Holder’s Registrable Securities in a Piggy-back Registration shall be subject to such Holder agreement to enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the Underwriter(s) selected for such Underwritten Offering by the Company. The Company may postpone or withdraw the filing or the effectiveness of a Piggy-back Registration at any time in its sole discretion.
2.2.2 Reduction of Piggy-back Registration. If the managing Underwriter or Underwriters in an Underwritten Offering that is to be a Piggy-back Registration, in good faith, advises the Company and the Holders of Registrable Securities participating in the Piggy-back Registration in writing that the dollar amount or number of shares of Common Stock or other equity securities that the Company desires to sell, taken together with (i) the shares of Common Stock or other equity securities, if any, as to which Registration or a registered offering has been demanded pursuant to separate written contractual arrangements with persons or entities other than the Holders of Registrable Securities hereunder, (ii) the Registrable Securities as to which registration has been requested pursuant to Section 2.2 hereof, and (iii) the shares of Common Stock or other equity securities, if any, as to which Registration or a registered offering has been requested pursuant to separate written contractual piggy-back registration rights of persons or entities other than the Holders of Registrable Securities hereunder, exceeds the Maximum Number of Securities, then:
Exhibit J - Page 9
(a) if the Registration or registered offering is undertaken for the Company’s account, the Company shall include in any such Registration or registered offering (A) first, the shares of Common Stock or other equity securities that the Company desires to sell, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; (B) second, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clause (A), the Registrable Securities of Holders exercising their rights to register their Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 2.2.1, pro rata, based on the respective number of Registrable Securities that each Holder has requested be included in such Underwritten Offering and the aggregate number of Registrable Securities that the Holders have requested to be included in such Underwritten Offering, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; and (C) third, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (A) and (B), the shares of Common Stock or other equity securities, if any, as to which Registration or a registered offering has been requested pursuant to separate written contractual piggy-back registration rights of persons or entities other than the Holders of Registrable Securities hereunder, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities;
(b) if the Registration or registered offering is pursuant to a demand by persons or entities other than the Holders of Registrable Securities, then the Company shall include in any such Registration or registered offering (A) first, the shares of Common Stock or other equity securities, if any, of such requesting persons or entities, other than the Holders of Registrable Securities, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; (B) second, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clause (A), the Registrable Securities of Holders exercising their rights to register their Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 2.2.1, pro rata, based on the respective number of Registrable Securities that each Holder has requested be included in such Underwritten Offering and the aggregate number of Registrable Securities that the Holders have requested to be included in such Underwritten Offering, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; (C) third, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (A) and (B), the shares of Common Stock or other equity securities that the Company desires to sell, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; and (D) fourth, to the extent that the Maximum Number of Securities has not been reached under the foregoing clauses (A), (B) and (C), the shares of Common Stock or other equity securities, if any, as to which Registration or a registered offering has been requested pursuant to separate written contractual piggy-back registration rights of persons or entities other than the Holders of Registrable Securities hereunder, which can be sold without exceeding the Maximum Number of Securities; and
(c) if the Registration or registered offering and Underwritten Shelf Takedown is pursuant to a request by Xxxxxx(s) of Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 2.1 hereof, then the Company shall include in any such Registration or registered offering securities in the priority set forth in Section 2.1.5.
Exhibit J - Page 10
2.2.3 Piggy-back Registration Withdrawal. Any Holder of Registrable Securities (other than a Demanding Holder, whose right to withdraw from an Underwritten Shelf Takedown, and related obligations, shall be governed by Section 2.1.6) shall have the right to withdraw from a Piggy-back Registration for any or no reason whatsoever upon written notification to the Company and the Underwriter or Underwriters (if any) of his, her or its intention to withdraw from such Piggy-back Registration prior to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement filed with the Commission with respect to such Piggy-back Registration or, in the case of a Piggy-back Registration pursuant to a Shelf Registration, the filing of the applicable “red xxxxxxx” prospectus or prospectus supplement with respect to such Piggy-back Registration used for marketing such transaction. The Company (whether on its own good faith determination or as the result of a request for withdrawal by persons or entities pursuant to separate written contractual obligations) may withdraw a Registration Statement filed with the Commission in connection with a Piggy-back Registration (which, in no circumstance, shall include a Shelf) at any time prior to the effectiveness of such Registration Statement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement (other than Section 2.1.6), the Company shall be responsible for the Registration Expenses incurred in connection with the Piggy-back Registration prior to its withdrawal under this Section 2.2.3.
2.2.4 Unlimited Piggy-back Registration Rights. For purposes of clarity, subject to Section 2.1.6, any Piggy-back Registration effected pursuant to Section 2.2 hereof shall not be counted as a demand for an Underwritten Shelf Takedown under Section 2.1.4 hereof.
2.3 Block Trades.
2.3.1 Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article II, but subject to Section 3.4, at any time and from time to time when an effective Shelf is on file with the Commission, if a Demanding Holder wishes to engage in an underwritten or other coordinated registered offering not involving a “roadshow,” an offer commonly known as a “block trade” (a “Block Trade”), with a total offering price reasonably expected to exceed, in the aggregate, either (x) $5,000,000 or (y) all remaining Registrable Securities held by the Demanding Holder, then such Demanding Holder shall notify the Company of the Block Trade at least five (5) business days prior to the day such offering is to commence and the Company shall, as expeditiously as possible, use its reasonable best efforts to facilitate such Block Trade; provided that the Demanding Holders representing a majority of the Registrable Securities wishing to engage in the Block Trade shall use reasonable best efforts to work with the Company and any Underwriters (including by disclosing the maximum number of Registrable Securities proposed to be the subject of such Block Trade) prior to making such request in order to facilitate preparation of the registration statement, prospectus and other offering documentation related to the Block Trade.
2.3.2 Prior to the filing of the applicable “red xxxxxxx” prospectus or prospectus supplement used in connection with a Block Trade, a majority-in-interest of the Demanding Holders initiating such Block Trade shall have the right to submit a Withdrawal Notice to the Company and the Underwriter or Underwriters (if any) of their intention to withdraw from such Block Trade. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Company shall be responsible for the Registration Expenses incurred in connection with a Block Trade prior to its withdrawal under this Section 2.3.2.
2.3.3 Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, Section 2.2 shall not apply to a Block Trade initiated by a Demanding Holder pursuant to this Agreement.
2.3.4 The Demanding Holder in a Block Trade shall have the right to select the Underwriters for such Block Trade (which shall consist of one or more reputable nationally recognized investment banks), subject to the approval of the Company.
2.3.5 A Holder in the aggregate may demand no more than two (2) Block Trades pursuant to this Section 2.3 in any twelve (12) month period. For the avoidance of doubt, any Block Trade effected pursuant to this Section 2.3 shall not be counted as a demand for an Underwritten Shelf Takedown pursuant to Section 2.1.4 hereof.
2.4 Lock-Up Restrictions. The obligations of the Company to file any Registration Statement under Sections 2.1, 2.2 or 2.3 of this Agreement, and the ability of the Holders to register any Registrable Securities under Sections 2.1, 2.2 or 2.3 of this Agreement, shall not limit the obligations of any Holder under the Sponsor Lock-Up Agreement or the Company Stockholder Lock-Up Agreement, as applicable.
Exhibit J - Page 11
ARTICLE III
COMPANY PROCEDURES
3.1 General Procedures. In connection with any Shelf and/or Shelf Takedown, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to effect such Registration to permit the sale of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended plan of distribution thereof, and pursuant thereto the Company shall:
3.1.1 prepare and file with the Commission a Registration Statement with respect to such Registrable Securities and use its reasonable best efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become effective and remain effective until all Registrable Securities have been sold;
3.1.2 prepare and file with the Commission such amendments and post-effective amendments to the Registration Statement, and such supplements to the Prospectus, as may be requested by a Holder or any Underwriter of Registrable Securities or as may be required by the rules, regulations or instructions applicable to the registration form used by the Company or by the Securities Act or rules and regulations thereunder to keep the Registration Statement effective until all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement are sold in accordance with the intended plan of distribution set forth in such Registration Statement or supplement to the Prospectus and either (i) any underwriter overallotment option has terminated by its terms or (ii) the underwriters have advised the Company that they will not exercise such option or any remaining portion thereof;
3.1.3 prior to filing a Registration Statement or Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, furnish without charge to the Underwriters, if any, and the Holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration, and such Holders’ legal counsel, copies of such Registration Statement as proposed to be filed, each amendment and supplement to such Registration Statement (in each case including all exhibits thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein), the Prospectus included in such Registration Statement (including each preliminary Prospectus), and such other documents as the Underwriters and the Holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration or the legal counsel for any such Holders may reasonably request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such Holders;
3.1.4 prior to any public offering of Registrable Securities, use its reasonable best efforts to (i) register or qualify the Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement under such securities or “blue sky” laws of such jurisdictions in the United States as any Holder of Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement (in light of their intended plan of distribution) may reasonably request (or provide evidence satisfactory to such Holders that the Registrable Securities are exempt from such registration or qualification) and (ii) take such action necessary to cause such Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement to be registered with or approved by such other governmental authorities as may be necessary by virtue of the business and operations of the Company and do any and all other acts and things that may be reasonably necessary or advisable to enable the Holders of Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement to consummate the disposition of such Registrable Securities in such jurisdictions; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify or take any action to which it would be subject to general service of process or taxation in any such jurisdiction where it is not then otherwise so subject;
Exhibit J - Page 12
3.1.5 use reasonable best efforts to cause all such Registrable Securities to be listed on each national securities exchange on which similar securities issued by the Company are then listed;
3.1.6 provide a transfer agent or warrant agent, as applicable, and registrar for all such Registrable Securities no later than the effective date of such Registration Statement;
3.1.7 advise each seller of such Registrable Securities, promptly after it shall receive notice or obtain knowledge thereof, of the issuance of any stop order by the Commission suspending the effectiveness of such Registration Statement or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose and promptly use its reasonable best efforts to prevent the issuance of any stop order or to obtain its withdrawal if such stop order should be issued;
3.1.8 at least five (5) days prior to the filing of any Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to such Registration Statement or Prospectus (or such shorter period of time as may be (a) necessary in order to comply with the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations promulgated under the Securities Act or Exchange Act, as applicable or (b) advisable in order to reduce the number of days that sales are suspended pursuant to Section 3.4), furnish a copy thereof to each seller of such Registrable Securities or its counsel (excluding any exhibits thereto and any filing made under the Exchange Act that is to be incorporated by reference therein);
3.1.9 notify the Holders at any time when a Prospectus relating to such Registration Statement is required to be delivered under the Securities Act, of the happening of any event as a result of which the Prospectus included in such Registration Statement, as then in effect, includes a Misstatement, and then to correct such Misstatement as set forth in Section 3.4 hereof;
3.1.10 in the event of an Underwritten Offering, a Block Trade or sale by a broker, placement agent or sales agent pursuant to such Registration, permit a representative of the Holders, the Underwriters or other financial institutions facilitating such Underwritten Offering, Block Trade or other sale pursuant to such Registration, if any, and any attorney, consultant or accountant retained by such Holders or Underwriter to participate, at each such person’s or entity’s own expense, in the preparation of the Registration Statement, and cause the Company’s officers, directors and employees to supply all information reasonably requested by any such representative, Underwriter, financial institution, attorney, consultant or accountant in connection with the Registration; provided, however, that such representatives, Underwriters or financial institutions agree to confidentiality arrangements in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Company, prior to the release or disclosure of any such information; and provided further, that the Company will not include the name of any Holder or any information regarding any Holder not participating in such sale pursuant to such Registration unless required by the Commission or any applicable law, rules or regulations.
3.1.11 obtain a “cold comfort” letter from the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm in the event of an Underwritten Offering, a Block Trade or sale by a broker, placement agent or sales agent pursuant to such Registration (subject to such broker, placement agent or sales agent providing such certification or representation reasonably requested by the Company’s independent registered public accountings and the Company’s counsel) in customary form and covering such matters of the type customarily covered by “cold comfort” letters as the managing Underwriter may reasonably request, and reasonably satisfactory to a majority-in-interest of the participating Holders;
3.1.12 in the event of an Underwritten Offering, a Block Trade or sale by a broker, placement agent or sales agent pursuant to such Registration, on the date the Registrable Securities are delivered for sale pursuant to such Registration, obtain an opinion, dated such date, of counsel representing the Company for the purposes of such Registration, addressed to the participating Holders, the broker, placement agents or sales agent, if any, and the Underwriters, if any, covering such legal matters with respect to the Registration in respect of which such opinion is being given as the participating Holders, broker, placement agent, sales agent, or Underwriter may reasonably request and as are customarily included in such opinions and negative assurance letters;
Exhibit J - Page 13
3.1.13 in the event of any Underwritten Offering, a Block Trade or sale by a broker, placement agent or sales agent pursuant to such Registration, enter into and perform its obligations under an underwriting or other purchase or sales agreement, in usual and customary form, with the managing Underwriter or the broker, placement agent or sales agent of such offering or sale;
3.1.14 otherwise use its reasonable best efforts to comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission, and to make available to its security holders, as soon as reasonably practicable, an earnings statement covering the period of at least twelve (12) months beginning with the first day of the Company’s first full calendar quarter after the effective date of the Registration Statement which satisfies the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 thereunder, and which requirement will be deemed satisfied if the Company timely files (or timely files a notice of late filing) complete and accurate information on Forms 10-Q, 10-K and 8-K under the Exchange Act and otherwise complies with Rule 158 under the Securities Act (or any successor rule promulgated thereafter by the Commission);
3.1.15 with respect to an Underwritten Offering pursuant to Section 2.1.4, use its reasonable best efforts to make available senior executives of the Company to participate in customary “road show” presentations that may be reasonably requested by the Underwriter in such Underwritten Offering; and
3.1.16 otherwise, in good faith, cooperate reasonably with, and take such customary actions as may reasonably be requested by the participating Holders, consistent with the terms of this Agreement, in connection with such Registration.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not be required to provide any documents or information to an Underwriter or other sales agent or placement agent if such Underwriter or other sales agent or placement agent has not then been named with respect to the applicable Underwritten Offering or other offering involving a registration and an Underwriter.
3.2 Registration Expenses. The Registration Expenses of all Registrations shall be borne by the Company. It is acknowledged by the Holders that the Holders shall bear all incremental selling expenses relating to the sale of Registrable Securities, such as Underwriters’ commissions and discounts, brokerage fees, Underwriter marketing costs and, other than as set forth in the definition of “Registration Expenses,” all reasonable fees and expenses of any legal counsel representing the Holders.
3.3 Requirements for Participation in Registration Statement in Offerings. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, if any Holder does not provide the Company with its requested Holder Information, the Company may exclude such Holder’s Registrable Securities from the applicable Registration Statement or Prospectus if the Company determines, based on the advice of counsel, that such information is necessary to effect the registration and such Holder continues thereafter to withhold such information. No person may participate in any Underwritten Offering or other offering involving a Registration and an Underwriter for equity securities of the Company pursuant to a Registration initiated by the Company hereunder unless such person (i) agrees to sell such person’s securities on the basis provided in any arrangements approved by the Company and (ii) completes and executes all customary questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, lock-up agreements, underwriting or other agreements and other customary documents as may be reasonably required under the terms of such arrangements. The exclusion of a Holder’s Registrable Securities as a result of this Section 3.3 shall not affect the registration of the other Registrable Securities to be included in such Registration.
Exhibit J - Page 14
3.4 Suspension of Sales; Adverse Disclosure; Restrictions on Registration Rights.
3.4.1 Upon receipt of written notice from the Company that a Registration Statement or Prospectus contains a Misstatement, or in the opinion of counsel for the Company it is necessary to supplement or amend such Prospectus to comply with law, each of the Holders shall forthwith discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities until it has received copies of a supplemented or amended Prospectus correcting the Misstatement or including the information counsel for the Company believes to be necessary to comply with law (it being understood that the Company hereby covenants to prepare and file such supplement or amendment as soon as practicable after the time of such notice), or until it is advised in writing by the Company that the use of the Prospectus may be resumed.
3.4.2 If the filing, initial effectiveness or continued use of a Registration Statement in respect of any Registration at any time would (a) require the Company to make an Adverse Disclosure, (b) require the inclusion in such Registration Statement of financial statements that are unavailable to the Company for reasons beyond the Company’s control, or (c) in the good faith judgment of the majority of the Board such Registration, be seriously detrimental to the Company and the majority of the Board concludes as a result that it is essential to defer such filing, initial effectiveness or continued use at such time, the Company may, upon giving prompt written notice of such action to the Holders, delay the filing or initial effectiveness of, or suspend use of, such Registration Statement for the shortest period of time, but in no event more than thirty (30) days, determined in good faith by the Company to be necessary for such purpose. In the event the Company exercises its rights under this Section 3.4.2, the Holders agree to suspend, immediately upon their receipt of the notice referred to above, their use of the Prospectus relating to any Registration in connection with any sale or offer to sell Registrable Securities. The Company shall immediately notify the Holders of the expiration of any period during which it exercised its rights under this Section 3.4.
3.4.3 (a) During the period starting with the date sixty (60) days prior to the Company’s good faith estimate of the date of the filing of, and ending on a date one hundred and twenty (120) days after the effective date of, a Company-initiated Registration and provided that the Company continues to actively employ, in good faith, all reasonable efforts to maintain the effectiveness of the applicable Shelf Registration Statement, or (b) if, pursuant to Section 2.1.4, Holders have requested an Underwritten Shelf Takedown and the Company and Holders are unable to obtain the commitment of underwriters to firmly underwrite such offering, the Company may, upon giving prompt written notice of such action to the Holders, delay any other registered offering pursuant to Section 2.1.4 or 2.3.
3.4.4 Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, the Company shall not provide any Holder with any material, nonpublic information regarding the Company other than to the extent that providing notice to such Holder hereunder constitutes material, nonpublic information regarding the Company.
3.5 Reporting Obligations. As long as any Holder shall own Registrable Securities, the Company, at all times while it shall be a reporting company under the Exchange Act, covenants to use reasonable best efforts to file timely (or obtain extensions in respect thereof and file within the applicable grace period) all reports required to be filed by the Company after the date hereof pursuant to Sections 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act and to promptly furnish the Holders with true and complete copies of all such filings; provided that any documents publicly filed or furnished with the Commission pursuant to the Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval System shall be deemed to have been furnished or delivered to the Holders pursuant to this Section 3.5. The Company further covenants that it shall take such further action as any Holder may reasonably request, all to the extent required from time to time to enable such Holder to sell the shares of Common Stock held by such Holder without registration under the Securities Act within the limitation of the exemptions provided by Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act (or any successor rule promulgated thereafter by the Commission). Upon the request of any Holder, the Company shall deliver to such Holder a written certification of a duly authorized officer as to whether it has complied with such requirements.
Exhibit J - Page 15
ARTICLE IV
INDEMNIFICATION AND CONTRIBUTION
4.1 Indemnification.
4.1.1 The Company agrees to indemnify, to the extent permitted by law, each Holder of Registrable Securities, its officers, directors and agents and each person or entity who controls such Holder (within the meaning of the Securities Act), against all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and out-of-pocket expenses (including, reasonable outside attorneys’ fees) resulting from any untrue or alleged untrue statement of material fact contained in any Registration Statement, Prospectus or preliminary Prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, except insofar as the same are caused by or contained in any information so furnished in writing to the Company by such Holder for use therein. The Company shall indemnify the Underwriters, their officers and directors and each person who controls such Underwriters (within the meaning of the Securities Act) to the same extent as provided in the foregoing with respect to the indemnification of the Holder.
4.1.2 In connection with any Registration Statement in which a Holder of Registrable Securities is participating, such Holder shall furnish (or cause to be furnished) to the Company in writing such information and affidavits as the Company reasonably requests for use in connection with any such Registration Statement or Prospectus (the “Holder Information”) and, to the extent permitted by law, shall indemnify the Company, its directors, officers and agents and each person who controls the Company (within the meaning of the Securities Act) against all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and out-of-pocket expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable outside attorneys’ fees) resulting from any untrue or alleged untrue statement of material fact contained in the Registration Statement, Prospectus or preliminary Prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, but only to the extent that such untrue statement or omission is contained in (or not contained in, in the case of an omission) any information or affidavit so furnished in writing by or on behalf of such Holder for use therein; provided, however, that the obligation to indemnify shall be several, not joint and several, among such Holders of Registrable Securities, and the liability of each such Holder of Registrable Securities shall be in proportion to and limited to the net proceeds received by such Holder from the sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement. The Holders of Registrable Securities shall indemnify the Underwriters, their officers, directors and each person who controls such Underwriters (within the meaning of the Securities Act) to the same extent as provided in the foregoing with respect to indemnification of the Company.
Exhibit J - Page 16
4.1.3 Any person entitled to indemnification herein shall (i) give prompt written notice to the indemnifying party of any claim with respect to which it seeks indemnification (provided that the failure to give prompt notice shall not impair any person’s right to indemnification hereunder to the extent such failure has not materially prejudiced the indemnifying party) and (ii) unless in such indemnified party’s reasonable judgment a conflict of interest between such indemnified and indemnifying parties may exist with respect to such claim, permit such indemnifying party to assume the defense of such claim with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party. If such defense is assumed, the indemnifying party shall not be subject to any liability for any settlement made by the indemnified party without its consent (but such consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed). An indemnifying party who is not entitled to, or elects not to, assume the defense of a claim shall not be obligated to pay the fees and expenses of more than one counsel (plus local counsel) for all parties indemnified by such indemnifying party with respect to such claim, unless in the reasonable judgment of any indemnified party a conflict of interest may exist between such indemnified party and any other of such indemnified parties with respect to such claim. No indemnifying party shall, without the consent of the indemnified party, consent to the entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement which cannot be settled in all respects by the payment of money (and such money is so paid by the indemnifying party pursuant to the terms of such settlement) or which settlement includes a statement or admission of fault and culpability on the part of such indemnified party or which settlement does not include as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such indemnified party of a release from all liability in respect to such claim or litigation.
4.1.4 The indemnification provided for under this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the indemnified party or any officer, director or controlling person of such indemnified party and shall survive the transfer of securities. The Company and each Holder of Registrable Securities participating in an offering also agrees to make such provisions as are reasonably requested by any indemnified party for contribution to such party in the event the Company’s or such Xxxxxx’s indemnification is unavailable for any reason.
4.1.5 If the indemnification provided under Section 4.1 from the indemnifying party is unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses referred to herein, then the indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying the indemnified party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by the indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party and the indemnified party, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the indemnifying party and indemnified party shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any action in question, including any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact, was made by (or not made by, in the case of an omission), or relates to information supplied by (or not supplied by in the case of an omission), such indemnifying party or indemnified party, and the indemnifying party’s and indemnified party’s relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such action; provided, however, that the liability of any Holder under this Section 4.1.5 (when combined with any indemnification liability under Section 4.1.5) shall be limited to the amount of the net proceeds received by such Holder in such offering giving rise to such liability. The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of the losses or other liabilities referred to above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth in Sections 4.1.1, 4.1.2 and 4.1.3 above, any legal or other fees, charges or out-of-pocket expenses reasonably incurred by such party in connection with any investigation or proceeding. The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 4.1.5 were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation, which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in this Section 4.1.5. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution pursuant to this Section 4.1.5 from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.
Exhibit J - Page 17
ARTICLE V
MISCELLANEOUS
5.1 Notices. Any notice or communication under this Agreement must be in writing and given by (i) deposit in the United States mail, addressed to the party to be notified, postage prepaid and registered or certified with return receipt requested, (ii) delivery in person or by courier service providing evidence of delivery, or (iii) transmission by hand delivery or electronic mail. Each notice or communication that is mailed, delivered, or transmitted in the manner described above shall be deemed sufficiently given, served, sent, and received, in the case of mailed notices, on the third business day following the date on which it is mailed and, in the case of notices delivered by courier service, hand delivery or electronic mail, at such time as it is delivered to the addressee (with the delivery receipt of the indented recipient or the affidavit of messenger) or at such time as delivery is refused by the addressee upon presentation. Any notice or communication under this Agreement must be addressed, to the Company at:
ConnectM Technology Solutions, Inc.
0 Xx. Xxxxx Xxx., Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Email: Xxxxxxx@xxxxxxxx.xxx
with a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):
Xxxxx & Xxxxxxxx LLP
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Esq.
Email: xxxxxxx@xxxxxxxx.xxx
and to the Holders, at such Xxxxxx’s address referenced in Schedule A or Schedule B.
Any party may change its address for notice at any time and from time to time by written notice to the other parties hereto, and such change of address shall become effective ten (10) days after delivery of such notice as provided in this Section 5.1.
5.2 Assignment; No Third Party Beneficiaries.
5.2.1 This Agreement and the rights, duties and obligations of the Company hereunder may not be assigned or delegated by the Company in whole or in part.
Exhibit J - Page 18
5.2.2 Subject to Section 5.2.4 and Section 5.2.5, this Agreement and the rights, duties and obligations of a Holder hereunder may be assigned in whole or in part to such Holder’s Permitted Transferees; provided, that, with respect to the ConnectM Holders and the Sponsor Holders, the rights hereunder that are personal to such Holders may not be assigned or delegated in whole or in part other than to a Permitted Transferee, except that (i) each of the ConnectM Holders that is an entity shall be permitted to transfer its rights hereunder as the ConnectM Holders to one or more affiliates or any direct or indirect partners, members or equity holders of such ConnectM Holder (it being understood that no such transfer shall reduce any rights of such ConnectM Holder or such transferees), (ii) each of the ConnectM Holders that is a natural person shall be permitted to transfer its rights hereunder as the ConnectM Holders for bona fide estate planning purposes, either during his or her lifetime or on death by will or intestacy to his or her spouse, including any life partner or similar statutorily-recognized domestic partner, child (natural or adopted), parent or sibling or any other direct lineal descendant of such ConnectM Holder (or his or her spouse including any life partner or similar statutorily-recognized domestic partner), (iii) each of the Sponsor Holders that is an entity shall be permitted to transfer its rights hereunder as the Sponsor Holders to one or more affiliates or any direct or indirect partners, members or equity holders of such Sponsor Holder (it being understood that no such transfer shall reduce any rights of the Sponsor or such transferees) and (iii) each of the Sponsor Holders that is a natural person shall be permitted to transfer its rights hereunder as the Sponsor Holders for bona fide estate planning purposes, either during his or her lifetime or on death by will or intestacy to his or her spouse, including any life partner or similar statutorily-recognized domestic partner, child (natural or adopted), parent or sibling or any other direct lineal descendant of such Sponsor Holder (or his or her spouse including any life partner or similar statutorily-recognized domestic partner).
5.2.3 This Agreement and the provisions hereof shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of each of the Holders, the permitted assigns and its successors and the permitted assigns of the Holders, which shall include Permitted Transferees.
5.2.4 This Agreement shall not confer any rights or benefits on any persons or entities that are not parties hereto, other than as expressly set forth in this Agreement and Section 5.2 hereto.
5.2.5 No assignment by any party hereto of such party’s rights, duties and obligations hereunder shall be binding upon or obligate the Company unless and until the Company shall have received (i) written notice of such assignment as provided in Section 5.1 hereof and (ii) the written agreement of the assignee, in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Company, to be bound by the terms and provisions of this Agreement (which may be accomplished by an addendum or certificate of joinder to this Agreement). Any transfer or assignment made other than as provided in this Section 5.2 shall be null and void.
5.4 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in multiple counterparts (including facsimile or PDF counterparts), each of which shall be deemed an original, and all of which together shall constitute the same instrument, but only one of which need be produced.
5.5 Governing Law; Venue. NOTWITHSTANDING THE PLACE WHERE THIS AGREEMENT MAY BE EXECUTED BY ANY OF THE PARTIES HERETO, THE PARTIES EXPRESSLY AGREE THAT (I) THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, AS APPLIED TO AGREEMENTS AMONG NEW YORK RESIDENTS ENTERED INTO AND TO BE PERFORMED ENTIRELY WITHIN NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO THE CONFLICT OF LAW PROVISIONS OF SUCH JURISDICTION, AND (II) THE VENUE FOR ANY ACTION TAKEN WITH RESPECT TO THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE ANY STATE OR FEDERAL COURT IN NEW YORK COUNTY IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
5.6 Amendments and Modifications. Upon the written consent of the Company and the Holders of at least a majority in interest of the Registrable Securities at the time in question, compliance with any of the provisions, covenants and conditions set forth in this Agreement may be waived, or any of such provisions, covenants or conditions may be amended or modified; provided, however, that notwithstanding the foregoing, any amendment hereto or waiver hereof that adversely affects one Holder, solely in its capacity as a holder of the shares of capital stock of the Company, in a manner that is materially different from the other Holders (in such capacity) shall require the consent of the Holder so affected. No course of dealing between any Holder or the Company and any other party hereto or any failure or delay on the part of a Holder or the Company in exercising any rights or remedies under this Agreement shall operate as a waiver of any rights or remedies of any Holder or the Company. No single or partial exercise of any rights or remedies under this Agreement by a party shall operate as a waiver or preclude the exercise of any other rights or remedies hereunder or thereunder by such party.
Exhibit J - Page 19
5.7 Other Registration Rights. The Company represents and warrants that no person, other than a Holder of Registrable Securities, has any right to require the Company to register any securities of the Company for sale or to include such securities of the Company in any Registration Statement filed by the Company for the sale of securities for its own account or for the account of any other person. Further, the Company and each of the Holders agree that this Agreement supersedes any other registration rights agreement or agreement with similar terms and conditions among the parties hereto and in the event of a conflict between any such agreement or agreements and this Agreement, the terms of this Agreement shall prevail.
5.8 Termination. This Agreement shall terminate with respect to any particular Holder upon the earlier of (a) the tenth anniversary of the date of this Agreement or (b) the date as of which (i) all of the Registrable Securities held by such Holder have been sold pursuant to a Registration Statement (but in no event prior to the applicable period referred to in Section 4(a)(3) of the Securities Act and Rule 174 thereunder (or any successor rule promulgated thereafter by the Commission)) or (ii) such Holder is permitted to sell all of its Registrable Securities under Rule 144 without registration pursuant to Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act (or any successor rule promulgated thereafter by the Commission) (but with no volume, current public information or other requirements, restrictions or limitations). The provisions of Section 3.5 and Article IV shall survive any termination.
5.9 Holder Information. Each Holder agrees, if requested in writing, to represent to the Company the total number of Registrable Securities held by such Holder to the extent necessary for the Company to make determinations hereunder.
5.10 Joinder. Each person or entity who becomes a Holder pursuant to Section 5.2 hereof must execute a joinder to this Agreement in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto (a “Joinder”).
5.11 Severability. It is the desire and intent of the parties that the provisions of this Agreement be enforced to the fullest extent permissible under the laws and public policies applied in each jurisdiction in which enforcement is sought. Accordingly, if any particular provision of this Agreement shall be adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, prohibited or unenforceable for any reason, such provision, as to such jurisdiction, shall be ineffective, without invalidating the remaining provisions of this Agreement or affecting the validity or enforceability of this Agreement or affecting the validity or enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if such provision could be more narrowly drawn so as not to be invalid, prohibited or unenforceable in such jurisdiction, it shall, as to such jurisdiction, be so narrowly drawn, without invalidating the remaining provisions of this Agreement or affecting the validity or enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction.
5.12 Entire Agreement; Restatement. This Agreement constitutes the full and entire agreement and understanding between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings relating to such subject matter. Upon the Closing, the Original RRA shall no longer be of any force or effect.
5.13 Titles and Headings. Titles and headings of sections of this Agreement are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction of any provision of this Agreement.
[SIGNATURE PAGES FOLLOW]
Exhibit J - Page 20
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above.
COMPANY: | |
MONTEREY CAPITAL ACQUISITION CORPORATION |
By: | ||
Name: Xxxx Xxxxxxxxxx | ||
Title: Chief Executive Officer |
[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement]
Exhibit J - Page 21
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above.
SPONSOR HOLDERS: | |
MONTERREY ACQUISITION SPONSOR, LLC |
By: | ||
Name: Xxxx Xxxxxxxxxx | ||
Title: Managing Member |
Xxxxx Xxxx |
Xxxxx Xxxxxxx |
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx |
[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement]
Exhibit J - Page 22
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above.
HOLDERS: | |
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
[Signature Page to Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement]
Exhibit J - Page 23
Schedule A1
ConnectM Holders
1 To include stockholders of ConnectM expected to be affiliates of the Company immediately following the Closing.
Exhibit J - Page 24
Schedule B2
Sponsor Holders
2 To include all holders of Parent Class B Common Stock
Exhibit J - Page 25
Exhibit A
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT JOINDER
The undersigned is executing and delivering this joinder (this “Joinder”) pursuant to the Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of [●], 2023 (as the same may hereafter be amended, the “Registration Rights Agreement”), among ConnectM Technology Solutions, Inc., a Delaware corporation (formerly known as Monterey Capital Acquisition Corporation, the “Company”), and the other persons or entities named as parties therein. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings provided in the Registration Rights Agreement.
By executing and delivering this Joinder to the Company, and upon acceptance hereof by the Company upon the execution of a counterpart hereof, the undersigned hereby agrees to become a party to, to be bound by, and to comply with the Registration Rights Agreement as a Holder of Registrable Securities in the same manner as if the undersigned were an original signatory to the Registration Rights Agreement, and the undersigned’s shares of Common Stock shall be included as Registrable Securities under the Registration Rights Agreement to the extent provided therein.
Accordingly, the undersigned has executed and delivered this Joinder as of the __________ day of __________, 20__.
Signature of Stockholder |
Print Name of Stockholder | |
Its: |
Address: |
Agreed and Accepted as of
____________, 20__
ConnectM Technology Solutions, Inc.
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Its: |
Exhibit J - Page 26
EXHIBIT K
FORM OF FORWARD STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT
Exhibit K - Page 1
Date: | December 31, 2022 |
To: | Monterey Capital Acquisition Corporation, a Delaware corporation (“Monterey” or “MCAC”) and ConnectM Technology Solutions, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Target”). |
Address: |
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx |
From: | (i) Meteora Special Opportunity Fund I, LP (“MSOF”), (ii) Meteora Capital Partners, LP (“MCP”) and (iii) Meteora Select Trading Opportunities Master, LP (“MSTO”) (with MCP, MSOF, and MSTO collectively as “Seller”) |
Re: | OTC Equity Prepaid Forward Transaction |
The purpose of this agreement (this “Confirmation”) is to confirm the terms and conditions of the transaction (the “Transaction”) entered into between Seller, MCAC and Target on the Trade Date specified below. The term “Counterparty” refers to MCAC until the Business Combination (as defined below), then to ConnectM Technology Solutions, Inc., a Delaware corporation following the Business Combination (the “Combined Company”). Certain terms of the Transaction shall be as set forth in this Confirmation, with additional terms as set forth in a Pricing Date Notice (the “Pricing Date Notice”) in the form of Schedule A hereto. This Confirmation, together with the Pricing Date Notice(s), constitutes a “Confirmation” and the Transaction constitutes a separate “Transaction” as referred to in the ISDA Form (as defined below).
This Confirmation, together with the Pricing Date Notices, evidences a complete binding agreement between Seller, MCAC and Target as to the subject matter and terms of the Transaction to which this Confirmation relates and shall supersede all prior or contemporaneous written or oral communications with respect thereto.
The 2006 ISDA Definitions (the “Swap Definitions”) and the 2002 ISDA Equity Derivatives Definitions (the “Equity Definitions”, and with the Swap Definitions, the “Definitions”), each as published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc., are incorporated into this Confirmation. If there is any inconsistency between the Definitions and this Confirmation, this Confirmation governs. If, in relation to the Transaction to which this Confirmation relates, there is any inconsistency between the ISDA Form, this Confirmation (including the Pricing Date Notice), the Swap Definitions and the Equity Definitions, the following will prevail for purposes of such Transaction in the order of precedence indicated: (i) this Confirmation (including the Pricing Date Notice(s)); (ii) the Equity Definitions; (iii) the Swap Definitions, and (iv) the ISDA Form.
This Confirmation, together with the Pricing Date Notice, shall supplement, form a part of, and be subject to an agreement in the form of the 2002 ISDA Master Agreement (the “ISDA Form”) as if Seller, Target and Counterparty had executed an agreement in such form (but without any Schedule except as set forth herein under “Schedule Provisions”) on the Trade Date of the Transaction.
In connection with MCAC’s initial public offering which was consummated on May 13, 2022, Seller and its affiliates entered into an investment agreement with MCAC and Monterrey Acquisition Sponsor, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, pursuant to which Seller and its affiliates purchased 792,000 units of MCAC at the initial public offering price of $10.00 per unit and 60,000 shares of Class B common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of MCAC (the “Founder Shares”), at a purchase price of approximately $0.009 per Founder Share.
The terms of the particular Transaction to which this Confirmation relates are as follows:
General Terms
Type of Transaction: | Share Forward Transaction |
Trade Date: | December 31, 2022 |
Pricing Date: | As specified in the Pricing Date Notice. |
Effective Date: | One (1) Settlement Cycle following the Pricing Date. |
Exhibit K - Page 2
Valuation Date: | The earliest to occur of (a) the third anniversary of the closing of the transactions between Counterparty and Target pursuant to a Business Combination Agreement, as was entered into on December 31, 2022 (as the same has been or may be amended, modified, supplemented or waived from time to time, the “BCA”), by and among Counterparty, the Target and certain other parties thereto, to be reported on a Form 8-K filed by the Counterparty (the “Form 8-K”) (the “Business Combination”) and (b) the date specified by Seller in a written notice to be delivered to Counterparty at Seller’s discretion (not earlier than the day such notice is effective) after the occurrence of any of a (x) Seller VWAP Trigger Event or (y) a Delisting Event (in each case the “Maturity Date”). |
Seller VWAP Trigger Event | An event that occurs if the VWAP Price is at or below $5.00 per Share for any 20 trading days during a 30 consecutive trading day-period thereafter beginning 30 days following the closing of the Business Combination. |
VWAP Price: | For any scheduled trading day, the volume weighted average price per Share for such day as reported on the relevant Bloomberg Screen “MCAC <Equity> AQR SEC” (or any successor thereto), or if such price is not so reported on such trading day for any reason or is erroneous, the VWAP Price shall be as reasonably determined by the Calculation Agent. |
Dilutive Offering Reset | To the extent the Counterparty, after the date hereof, sells, enters any agreement to sell or grants any right to reprice, or otherwise dispose of or issues (or announce any offer, sale, grant or any option to purchase or other disposition) any Shares or any securities of the Counterparty or any of their respective subsidiaries which would entitle the holder thereof to acquire at any time Shares, including, without limitation, any debt, preferred stock, right, option, warrant or other instrument that is at any time convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for, or otherwise entitles the holder thereof to receive, Shares, at an effective price per share less than the then existing Reset Price then the Reset Price shall be modified to equal such reduced price. |
Reset Price | The Reset Price shall initially be the Initial Price. The Reset Price shall be adjusted on the first scheduled trading day of each week (each a “Reset Date”) commencing with the first week following the thirtieth day after the closing of the Business Combination to be the lowest of (a) the then-current Reset Price, (b) the Initial Price and (c) the VWAP Price of the Shares of the prior week, but not lower than $7.50; provided that the Reset Price may be further reduced pursuant to a Dilutive Offering Reset. |
Seller: | Seller. |
Buyer: | Counterparty. |
Exhibit K - Page 3
Shares: | Prior to the closing of the Business Combination, shares of the Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of Monterey (Ticker: “MCAC”) and, after the closing of the Business Combination, the Class A shares of ConnectM Technology Solutions, Inc. |
Number of Shares: | The number of Recycled Shares as specified in the Pricing Date Notice(s), but in no event more than the Maximum Number of Shares. The Number of Shares is subject to reduction only as described under “Optional Early Termination”. |
Maximum Number of Shares: | 6,600,000 Shares |
Initial Price: | Equals the Per-Share Redemption Price (the “Redemption Price”) as defined in Article IX of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, effective as of May 10, 2022, as amended from time to time (the “Certificate of Incorporation”). |
Recycled Shares: | The number of Shares purchased by Seller from third parties (other than Counterparty) through a broker in the open market or via redemption reversals (other than through Counterparty); provided that Seller shall have irrevocably waived all redemption rights with respect to such Shares as provided below in the section captioned “Transactions by Seller in the Shares.” Seller shall specify the number of Recycled Shares (the “Number of Recycled Shares”) in the initial Pricing Date Notice. |
Prepayment: | Payment of the Prepayment Amount shall be made directly from the Counterparty’s Trust Account maintained by Continental Stock Transfer and Trust Company holding the net proceeds of the sale of the units in Counterparty’s initial public offering and the sale of private placement units (the “Trust Account”) no later than the Prepayment Date. Counterparty shall provide (a) notice to Counterparty’s trustee of the entrance into this Confirmation no later than one (1) Local Business Day following the date hereof, with copy to Seller and Seller’s outside legal counsel, and (b) to Seller and Seller’s outside legal counsel a final draft of the flow of funds from the Trust Account prior to the closing of the Business Combination itemizing the Prepayment Amount due; provided that Seller shall be invited to attend any closing call in connection with the Business Combination. The Prepayment Amount shall be transferred to a new escrow account as further described in “Escrow” below. |
Escrow: |
At the written request of Seller, simultaneously with the closing of the Business Combination, MCAC shall transfer the Prepayment Amount into an escrow account for the benefit of the Seller (the “Escrow Account”) with Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company (the “Escrow Agent”), subject to the terms of a written escrow agreement (the “Escrow Agreement”) to be entered into on or prior to the time reversals of redemptions in connection with the Business Combination are no longer permitted.
Upon receipt by the Escrow Agent and the Company of an OET Notice, resulting in a reduction to the Number of Recycled Shares, the Escrow Agent will release from the Escrow Account (a) to the Counterparty the Early Termination Obligation associated with such Terminated Shares and (b) to the Seller an amount in cash equal to the difference between the Initial Price and 95% of the Reset Price for each Terminated Share. |
Exhibit K - Page 4
On the Valuation Date, the Escrow Agent shall transfer to the Seller an amount in cash equal to the product of (x)(i) the Number of Shares as set forth in the initial Pricing Date Notice less (b) the number of Terminated Shares (the “Matured Shares”) multiplied by (y) the Initial Price. The Seller shall transfer to the Escrow Agent for the benefit of the Counterparty the Matured Shares less the Maturity Shares and the Penalty Shares. | |
Prepayment Amount: | A cash amount equal to the product of (i) the Number of Shares as set forth in the initial Pricing Date Notice and (ii) the Initial Price less (y) the Prepayment Shortfall. |
Prepayment Date: | Subject to Counterparty receiving the initial Pricing Date Notice, the earlier of (a) one (1) Local Business Day after the closing of the Business Combination and (b) the date any assets from the Trust Account are disbursed in connection with the Business Combination. |
Prepayment Shortfall: | An amount in USD equal to 1.0% of the product of the Number of Shares and the Initial Price; provided that Seller shall pay one half (1/2) of the Prepayment Shortfall to Counterparty on the Prepayment Date (which amount shall be netted from the Prepayment Amount) and the other one half (1/2) of the Prepayment Shortfall on the earlier of (a) the date that the SEC declares the Registration Statement effective (the “Registration Statement Effective Date”) and (b) the OET Date. |
Prepayment Shortfall Consideration: | Seller in its sole discretion may sell Recycled Shares at any time and at any sales price, without payment by Seller of any Early Termination Obligation (as defined below) until such time as the proceeds from the such sales equal 100% of the Prepayment Shortfall (as set forth under Shortfall Sales below) (such sales, “Shortfall Sales,” and such Shares, “Shortfall Sale Shares”). A sale of Shares is only (a) a “Shortfall Sale,” subject to the terms and conditions herein applicable to Shortfall Sale Shares, when a Shortfall Sale Notice is delivered hereunder, and (b) an Optional Early Termination, subject to the terms and conditions herein applicable to Terminated Shares, when an OET Notice (as defined below) is delivered hereunder, in each case the delivery of such notice in the sole discretion of the Seller. |
Variable Obligation: | Not applicable. |
Exchanges | The Nasdaq Global Market (Nasdaq). |
Related Exchange(s) | All Exchanges. |
Exhibit K - Page 5
Break-up Fees: | A break-up fee equal to (i) all of Seller’s actual out-of-pocket reasonable and documented fees, costs and expenses relating to the Transaction in an amount not to exceed $75,000 plus (ii) $500,000 (collectively, the “Break-up Fee”) shall be payable, jointly and severally, by the Counterparty and the Target to the Seller in the event this Confirmation or the Transaction is terminated by either the Counterparty or the Target; provided that Counterparty and Target may terminate this Transaction, including the Confirmation, with no liability to Seller, including without limitation the Break-up Fee, upon any Additional Termination Event; provided that notwithstanding any other provision, clause or proviso of this Confirmation, this Transaction, including the Confirmation, may not be terminated by Counterparty or Target after Seller purchases any Recycled Shares after the redemption deadline; provided further that Seller hereby waives any and all right, title and interest, or any claim of any kind they have or may have, in or to any monies held in the Counterparty’s Trust Account and agrees not to seek recourse against the Trust Account, in each case, as a result of, or arising out of, this Transaction; provided, however, that nothing in the foregoing waiver shall (x) serve to limit or prohibit Seller’s right to pursue a claim against the Counterparty for legal relief against assets held outside the Trust Account, for specific performance or other equitable relief, (y) serve to limit or prohibit any claims that the Seller may have in the future against the Counterparty’s assets or funds that are not held in the Trust Account (including any funds that have been released from the Trust Account and any assets that have been purchased or acquired with any such funds), (z) be deemed to limit Seller’s right, title, interest or claim to the Trust Account by virtue of such Seller’s record or beneficial ownership of securities of the Counterparty acquired by any means other than pursuant to this Transaction or (aa) serve to limit Seller’s redemption right with respect to any such securities of the Seller other than during the term of this Confirmation. The Breakup Fee is not intended to constitute a liquidated damages provision, and it will be payable in addition to any other amount due and payable to Seller as a result of the occurrence of an Early Termination Date under the ISDA Master Agreement. |
Payment Dates: | Following the Business Combination the last day of each week or, if such date is not a Local Business Day, the next following Local Business Day, until the Maturity Date. |
Reimbursement of Legal Fees and Other Expenses: | Together with the Prepayment Amount, Counterparty shall pay to Seller an amount equal to the reasonable and documented attorney fees and other reasonable out-of-pocket expenses related thereto actually incurred by Seller or its affiliates in connection with this Transaction not to exceed (a) $75,000, (b) a quarterly fee of $5,000 (initially payable on the Trade Date and upon the first Local Business Day of each quarter and (c) expenses actually incurred in connection with the acquisition of the Shares in an amount not to exceed $0.05 per Share and $0.03 per disposition of each Share. |
Settlement Terms | |
Settlement Method Election: | Not Applicable. |
Settlement Method: | Physical Settlement. |
Settlement Currency: | USD. |
Settlement Date: | Two (2) Local Business Days following the Valuation Date. |
Excess Dividend Amount | Ex Amount. |
Exhibit K - Page 6
Optional Early Termination: | From time to time and on any date following the Business Combination (any such date, an “OET Date”) and subject to the terms and conditions below, Seller may, in its absolute discretion, terminate the Transaction in whole or in part so long as Seller provides written notice to Counterparty (the “OET Notice”), no later than the later of (a) the fifth Local Business Day following the OET Date and (b) the first Payment Date after the OET Date which shall specify the quantity by which the Number of Shares is to be reduced (such quantity, the “Terminated Shares”) provided that “Terminated Shares” includes only such quantity of Shares by which the Number of Shares is to be reduced and included in an OET Notice and does not include any Shortfall Sale Shares or sales of Shares that are designated as Shortfall Sales (which designation can be made only up to the amount of Shortfall Sale Proceeds), any Share Consideration Shares sales or any other Share sales, which Shares will not be included in any OET Notice or included in the definition, or when calculating the number, of Terminated Shares. The effect of an OET Notice given shall be to reduce the Number of Shares by the number of Terminated Shares specified in such OET Notice with effect as of the related OET Date. As of each OET Date, Counterparty shall be entitled to an amount from Seller, or if there is an Escrow Account, the Escrow Agent, and the Seller or Escrow Agent, as applicable, shall pay to Counterparty an amount, equal to the product of (x) the number of Terminated Shares multiplied by (y) 95% of the Reset Price in respect of such OET Date (an “Early Termination Obligation”), except that no such amount will be due to Counterparty upon any Shortfall Sale; provided that Seller or the Escrow Agent, as applicable, shall pay certain of the Early Termination Obligation to the accounts and in the amounts as directed by Counterparty. The remainder of the Transaction, if any, shall continue in accordance with its terms; provided that if the OET Date is also the stated Valuation Date, the remainder of the Transaction shall be settled in accordance with the other provisions of “Settlement Terms.” The Seller or Escrow Agent, as applicable, shall pay to Counterparty any and all unsatisfied Early Termination Obligations, calculated as of the last day of each calendar month, on the first Local Business Day following such day; provided that Seller or Escrow Agent, as applicable, shall be under no obligation to settle an Early Termination Obligation set forth in an OET Notice prior to one (1) Local Business Day following the settlement of the Share sale(s) covered in such OET Notice. |
Shortfall Sales: |
From time to time and on any date following the Business Combination (any such date, a “Shortfall Sale Date”) and subject to the terms and conditions below, Seller may, in its absolute discretion, at any sales price, sell Shortfall Sale Shares, and in connection with such sales, Seller shall provide written notice to Counterparty (the “Shortfall Sale Notice”) no later than the later of (a) the fifth Local Business Day following the Shortfall Sales Date and (b) the first Payment Date after the Shortfall Sales Date, specifying the quantity of the Shortfall Sale Shares and the allocation of the Shortfall Sale Proceeds. Seller shall not have any Early Termination Obligation in connection with any Shortfall Sales. The Counterparty covenants and agrees for a period of at least sixty (60) Local Business Days (commencing on the Prepayment Date or if an earlier Registration Request is submitted by Seller on the Registration Statement Effective Date) not to issue, sell or offer or agree to sell any Shares, or securities or debt that is convertible, exercisable or exchangeable into Shares, including under any existing or future equity line of credit, until the Shortfall Sales equal the Prepayment Shortfall. |
Exhibit K - Page 7
Maturity Consideration: | The “Maturity Consideration” means an amount equal to the product of (1) (a) the Number of Shares as set forth in the initial Pricing Date Notice less (b) the number of Terminated Shares, multiplied by (2) $2.00; and $2.50, solely in the event of a Registration Failure. In the event the Maturity Date is determined by clause (a) or (b) of Valuation Date, on such Maturity Date, Seller shall be entitled to receive the Maturity Consideration in cash or, at the option of Counterparty (other than in the case of a Delisting Event), Shares based on the average daily VWAP Price over 30 scheduled trading days ending on the Maturity Date (such shares to be paid as Maturity Consideration, the “Maturity Shares”); provided that the Maturity Shares used to pay the Maturity Consideration (i) (a) are registered for resale under an effective registration statement pursuant to the Securities Act under which Seller may sell or transfer the Shares or (b) may be transferred by Seller without any restrictions including the requirement for the Counterparty to be in compliance with the current public information required under Rule 144(c)(1) (or Rule 144(i)(2)) or the volume and manner of sale limitations under Rule 144 under the Securities Act and (ii) bear no restrictive legend (collectively, (i) and (ii) above, the “Share Conditions”); provided further that if the Maturity Shares do not satisfy the Share Conditions, Seller shall instead receive such number of Shares equal to the product of (a) three (3) multiplied by (b) the (i) the Number of Shares as set forth in the initial Pricing Date Notice less (ii) the number of Terminated Shares, (the “Penalty Shares”); provided further that if the Penalty Shares satisfy the Share Conditions within 45 days after the Maturity Date, Seller shall return to Counterparty such number of Penalty Shares that are valued in excess of Maturity Consideration based on the 10-day VWAP ending on the date that such Shares satisfied the Share Conditions. Counterparty, at Sellers’s option, will pay the Maturity Consideration on a net basis such that Seller retains a number of shares due to Counterparty upon the Maturity Date equal to the number of Maturity Shares or Penalty Shares payable to Seller, only to the extent the Number of Shares due to Counterparty upon the Maturity Date are equal to or more than the number of Maturity Shares or Penalty Shares payable to Seller, with any Maturity Consideration remaining due to be paid to Seller in newly issued Shares. For the avoidance of doubt, in addition to the Maturity Consideration, at the Maturity Date, Seller will be entitled to an amount in cash from the Escrow Account of the Matured Shares multiplied by the Initial Price. |
Share Consideration: | In addition to the Prepayment Amount, Counterparty shall pay directly from the Trust Account, on the Prepayment Date, an amount equal to the product of (x) 40,000 and (y) the Initial Price. The Shares purchased with the Share Consideration (the “Share Consideration Shares”) shall not be included in the Number of Shares in this Transaction, and the Seller and the Share Consideration Shares shall be free and clear of all obligations with respect to the Seller and such Share Consideration Shares in connection with this Confirmation. |
Cash Consideration | The Counterparty shall pay to Seller in cash an amount equal to the product of (x) the Prepayment Amount, multiplied by (y) 0.75% by no later than the Prepayment Date. The Cash Consideration shall be subject to a floor of $250,000. |
Exhibit K - Page 8
Share Registration | At the written request of Seller and no earlier than the Counterparty’s redemption deadline and no later than the Maturity Date (the “Registration Request”), within forty-five (45) calendar days of the Registration Request, Counterparty shall use its best efforts to file (at Counterparty’s sole cost and expense) with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) a registration statement registering the resale of all shares held by the Seller, including the Recycled Shares and the Share Consideration (the “Registration Statement”), and have the Registration Statement declared effective as soon as practicable after the filing thereof, but no later than the earliest of (i) the 60th calendar day (or 105th calendar day if the Commission notifies the Counterparty that it will “review” the Registration Statement) following the Registration Request and (ii) the 5th Local Business Day after the date the Counterparty is notified (orally or in writing, whichever is earlier) by the Commission that such Registration Statement will not be “reviewed” or will not be subject to further review. Upon notification by the Commission that the Registration Statement has been declared effective by the Commission, within two (2) Local Business Days thereafter, the Counterparty shall file the final prospectus under Rule 424 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended containing a “plan of distribution” reasonably agreeable to Seller. Counterparty shall not identify Seller as a statutory underwriter in the Registration Statement unless requested by the Commission. The Counterparty will use its reasonable best efforts to keep the Registration Statement covering the resale of the shares as described above continuously effective (except for customary blackout periods, up to twice per year and for a total of up to 15 calendar days (and not more than 10 calendar days in an occurrence), if and when the Counterparty is in possession of material non-public information the disclosure of which, in the good faith judgment of the Counterparty's board of directors, would be prejudicial, and the Counterparty agrees to promptly notify Seller of any such blackout determination) until all such shares have been sold or may be transferred without any restrictions including the requirement for the Counterparty to be in compliance with the current public information required under Rule 144(c)(1) (or Rule 144(i)(2) or the volume and manner of sale limitations under Rule 144 under the Securities Act; provided that Counterparty covenants and agrees to make all necessary filings, amendments, supplements and submissions in furtherance of the foregoing, including to register all of Seller’s Shares for resale; provided that it shall be a (“Registration Failure”) if (a) the Registration Statement covering all of the shares described above in this section is not declared effective after the 60th calendar day (or 105th calendar day if the Commission notifies the Counterparty that it will “review” the Registration Statement) after the Registration Request) or (b) the Registration Statement after it is declared effective ceases to be continuously effective (subject to the blackout periods as indicated above) as set forth in the preceding sentence for more than 15 consecutive calendar days. Seller will promptly deliver customary representations and other documentation reasonably acceptable to the Counterparty, its counsel and/or its transfer agent in connection with the Registration Statement, including those related to selling shareholders and to respond to SEC comments. If requested by Seller, the Counterparty shall remove or instruct its transfer agent to remove any restrictive legend with respect to transfers under the Securities Act from any and all Shares held by Seller if (1) the Registration Statement is and continues to be effective under the Securities Act, (2) such Shares are sold or transferred pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act (subject to all applicable requirements of Rule 144 being met), or (3) such Shares are eligible for sale under Rule 144, without the requirement for the Counterparty to be in compliance with the current public information required under Rule 144(c)(1) (or Rule 144(i)(2), if applicable) as to the Shares and without volume or manner-of-sale restrictions; provided that Seller shall have timely provided customary representations and other documentation reasonably acceptable to the Counterparty, its counsel and/or its transfer agent in connection therewith. Any fees (with respect to the transfer agent, Counterparty’s counsel or otherwise) associated with the issuance of any legal opinion required by the Counterparty’s transfer agent or the removal of such legend shall be borne by the Counterparty. If a legend is no longer required pursuant to the foregoing, the Counterparty will, no later than five (5) Local Business Days following the delivery by Seller to the Counterparty or the transfer agent (with notice to the Counterparty) of customary representations and other documentation reasonably acceptable to the Counterparty, its counsel and/or its transfer agent, remove the restrictive legend related to the book entry account holding the Shares and make a new, unlegended book entry for the Shares. |
Exhibit K - Page 9
Share Adjustments: | |
Method of Adjustment: | Calculation Agent Adjustment. |
Extraordinary Events: | |
Consequences of Merger Events involving Counterparty: | |
Share-for-Share: | Calculation Agent Adjustment. |
Share-for-Other: | Cancellation and Payment. |
Share-for-Combined: | Component Adjustment. |
Tender Offer: | Applicable; provided, however, that Section 12.1(d) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by adding “, or of the outstanding Shares,” before “of the Issuer” in the fourth line thereof. Sections 12.1(e) and 12.1(l)(ii) of the Equity Definitions are hereby amended by adding “or Shares, as applicable,” after “voting Shares”. |
Consequences of Tender Offers: | |
Share-for-Share: | Calculation Agent Adjustment. |
Share-for-Other: | Calculation Agent Adjustment. |
Share-for-Combined: | Calculation Agent Adjustment. |
Composition of Combined Consideration: | Not Applicable. |
Nationalization, Insolvency or Delisting: | Cancellation and Payment (Calculation Agent Determination); provided that in addition to the provisions of Section 12.6(a)(iii) of the Equity Definitions, it shall also constitute a Delisting if the Exchange is located in the United States and the Shares are not immediately re-listed, re-traded or re-quoted on any of the New York Stock Exchange, the Nasdaq Global Select Market, Nasdaq Capital Market or the Nasdaq Global Market (or their respective successors) or such other exchange or quotation system which, in the determination of the Calculation Agent, has liquidity comparable to the aforementioned exchanges; if the Shares are immediately re-listed, re-traded or re-quoted on any such exchange or quotation system, such exchange or quotation system shall be deemed to be the Exchange. |
Exhibit K - Page 10
Business Combination Exclusion: | Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other provision herein, the parties agree that the Business Combination shall not constitute a Merger Event, Tender Offer, Delisting or any other Extraordinary Event hereunder. |
Additional Disruption Events: | |
(a) Change in Law: | Applicable; provided that Section 12.9(a)(ii) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by adding the words “(including, for the avoidance of doubt and without limitation, adoption or promulgation of new regulations authorized or mandated by existing statute)” after the word “regulation” in the second line thereof. |
(a) Failure to Deliver: | Not Applicable. |
(b) Insolvency Filing: | Applicable. |
(c) Hedging Disruption: | Not Applicable. |
(d) Increased Cost of Hedging: | Not Applicable. |
(e) Loss of Stock Borrow: | Not Applicable. |
(f) Increased Cost of Stock Borrow: | Not Applicable. |
Determining Party: | For all applicable events, Seller, unless (i) an Event of Default, Potential Event of Default or Termination Event has occurred and is continuing with respect to Seller, or (ii) if Seller fails to perform its obligations as Determining Party, in which case a Third Party Dealer (as defined below) in the relevant market selected by Counterparty will be the Determining Party. |
Additional Provisions: | |
Calculation Agent: | Seller, unless (i) an Event of Default, Potential Event of Default or Termination Event has occurred and is continuing with respect to Seller, or (ii) if Seller fails to perform its obligations as Calculation Agent, in which case an unaffiliated leading dealer in the relevant market selected by Counterparty in its sole discretion will be the Calculation Agent. |
In the event that a party (the “Disputing Party”) does not agree with any determination made (or the failure to make any determination) by the Calculation Agent, the Disputing Party shall have the right to require that the Calculation Agent have such determination reviewed by a disinterested third party that is a dealer in derivatives of the type that is the subject of the dispute and that is not an Affiliate of either party (a “Third Party Dealer”). Such Third Party Dealer shall be jointly selected by the parties within one (1) Local Business Day after the Disputing Party’s exercise of its rights hereunder (once selected, such Third Party Dealer shall be the “Substitute Calculation Agent”). If the parties are unable to agree on a Substitute Calculation Agent within the prescribed time, each of the parties shall elect a Third Party Dealer and such two dealers shall agree on a Third Party Dealer by the end of the subsequent Local Business Day. Such Third Party Dealer shall be deemed to be the Substitute Calculation Agent. Any exercise by the Disputing Party of its rights hereunder must be in writing and shall be delivered to the Calculation Agent not later than the third Local Business Day following the Local Business Day on which the Calculation Agent notifies the Disputing Party of any determination made (or of the failure to make any determination). Any determination by the Substitute Calculation Agent shall be binding in the absence of manifest error and shall be made as soon as possible but no later than the second Local Business Day following the Substitute Calculation Agent’s appointment. The costs of such Substitute Calculation Agent shall be borne by (a) the Disputing Party if the Substitute Calculation Agent substantially agrees with the Calculation Agent or (b) the non-Disputing Party if the Substitute Calculation Agent does not substantially agree with the Calculation Agent. If, after following the procedures and within the specified time frames set forth above, a binding determination is not achieved, the original determination of the Calculation Agent shall apply. |
Exhibit K - Page 11
Non-Reliance: | Applicable. |
Agreements and Acknowledgements Regarding Hedging Activities: | Applicable. |
Additional Acknowledgements: | Applicable. |
Schedule Provisions: | |
Specified Entity: | In relation to both Seller and Counterparty for the purpose of: |
Section 5(a)(v), Not Applicable | |
Section 5(a)(vi), Not Applicable | |
Section 5(a)(vii), Not Applicable | |
Cross-Default | The “Cross-Default” provisions of Section 5(a)(vi) of the ISDA Form will not apply to either party. |
Credit Event Upon Merger | The “Credit Event Upon Merger” provisions of Section 5(b)(v) of the ISDA Form will not apply to either party. |
Automatic Early Termination: | The “Automatic Early Termination” of Section 6(a) of the ISDA Form will not apply to either party. |
Termination Currency: | United States Dollars. |
Additional Termination Events: |
Will apply to Seller and to Counterparty and Target. The occurrence of any of the following events shall constitute an Additional Termination Event in respect of which Seller and Counterparty and Target shall be Affected Parties:
(a) The BCA is terminated pursuant to its terms prior to the closing of the Business Combination.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, Counterparty’s obligations set forth under the captions, “Reimbursement of Legal Fees and Other Expenses,” and “Other Provisions — (d) Indemnification” shall survive any termination due to the occurrence of either of the foregoing Additional Termination Events. |
Governing Law: | New York law (without reference to choice of law doctrine). |
Credit Support Provider: | With respect to Seller and Counterparty, None. |
Exhibit K - Page 12
Local Business Days: | Seller specifies the following places for the purposes of the definition of Local Business Day as it applies to it: New York. Counterparty specifies the following places for the purposes of the definition of Local Business Day as it applies to it: New York. |
Representations, Warranties and Covenants
1. | Each of Counterparty, Target and Seller represents and warrants to, and covenants and agrees with, the other as of the date on which it enters into the Transaction that (in the absence of any written agreement between the parties that expressly imposes affirmative obligations to the contrary for the Transaction): |
(a) | Non-Reliance. It is acting for its own account, and it has made its own independent decisions to enter into the Transaction and as to whether the Transaction is appropriate or proper for it based upon its own judgment and upon advice from such advisers as it has deemed necessary. It is not relying on any communication (written or oral) of the other party as investment advice or as a recommendation to enter into the Transaction, it being understood that information and explanations related to the terms and conditions of the Transaction will not be considered investment advice or a recommendation to enter into the Transaction. No communication (written or oral) received from the other party will be deemed to be an assurance or guarantee as to the expected results of the Transaction. |
(b) | Assessment and Understanding. It is capable of assessing the merits of and understanding (on its own behalf or through independent professional advice), and understands and accepts, the terms, conditions and risks of the Transaction. It is also capable of assuming, and assumes, the risks of the Transaction. |
(c) | Non-Public Information. It is in compliance with Section 10(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). |
(d) | Eligible Contract Participant. It is an “eligible contract participant” under, and as defined in, the Commodity Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. § 1a(18)) and CFTC regulations (17 CFR § 1.3). |
(e) | Tax Characterization. It shall treat the Transaction as a derivative financial contract for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and it shall not take any action or tax return filing position contrary to this characterization. |
(f) | Private Placement. It (i) is an “accredited investor” as such term is defined in Regulation D as promulgated under the Securities Act, (ii) is entering into the Transaction for its own account without a view to the distribution or resale thereof and (iii) understands that the assignment, transfer or other disposition of the Transaction has not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act. |
(g) | Investment Company Act. It is not and, after giving effect to the Transaction, will not be required to register as an “investment company” under, and as such term is defined in, the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. |
(h) | Authorization. The Transaction, including this Confirmation, has been entered into pursuant to authority granted by its board of directors or other governing authority. It has no internal policy, whether written or oral, that would prohibit it from entering into any aspect of the Transaction, including, but not limited to, the purchase of Shares to be made in connection therewith. |
(i) | Affiliate Status. It is the intention of the parties hereto that Seller shall not be an “affiliate” (as such term is defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) of the Counterparty including MCAC or the Combined Company following the closing of the Business Combination, as a result of the transactions contemplated hereunder. |
Exhibit K - Page 13
2. | Counterparty represents and warrants to, and covenants and agrees with Seller as of the date on which it enters into the Transaction that: |
(a) | Total Assets. MCAC has total assets as of the date hereof and expects to have as of the closing of the Business Combination of at least USD $5,000,001. |
(b) | Non-Reliance. Without limiting the generality of Section 13.1 of the Equity Definitions, Counterparty acknowledges that Seller is not making any representations or warranties or taking any position or expressing any view with respect to the treatment of the Transaction under any accounting standards. |
(c) | Solvency. Counterparty is, and shall be as of the date of any payment or delivery by Counterparty under the Transaction, solvent and able to pay its debts as they come due, with assets having a fair value greater than liabilities and with capital sufficient to carry on the businesses in which it engages. Counterparty: (i) has not engaged in and will not engage in any business or transaction after which the property remaining with it will be unreasonably small in relation to its business, (ii) has not incurred and does not intend to incur debts beyond its ability to pay as they mature, and (iii) as a result of entering into and performing its obligations under the Transaction, (a) it has not violated and will not violate any relevant state law provision applicable to the acquisition or redemption by an issuer of its own securities and (b) it would not be nor would it be rendered “insolvent” (as such term is defined under Section 101(32) of the Bankruptcy Code or under any other applicable local insolvency regime). |
(d) | Public Reports. As of the Trade Date, Counterparty is in material compliance with its reporting obligations under the Exchange Act, and all reports and other documents filed by Counterparty with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Exchange Act, when considered as a whole (with the most recent such reports and documents deemed to amend inconsistent statements contained in any earlier such reports and documents), do not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or any omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. |
(e) | No Distribution. Except with respect to any Shares that may be offered and sold pursuant to the Registration Statement, Counterparty is not entering into the Transaction to facilitate a distribution of the Shares (or any security that may be converted into or exercised or exchanged for Shares, or whose value under its terms may in whole or in significant part be determined by the value of the Shares) or in connection with any future issuance of securities. |
(f) | SEC Documents. The Counterparty shall comply with the Securities and Exchange Commission’s guidance, including Compliance and Disclosure Interpretation No. 166.01, for all relevant disclosure in connection with this Confirmation and the Transaction, and will not file with the Securities and Exchange Commission any Form 8-K, Registration Statement on Form S-4 (or Form F-4 (if applicable)) (including any post-effective amendment thereof), proxy statement, or other document that includes any disclosure regarding this Confirmation or the Transaction without consulting with and reasonably considering any comments received from Seller, provided that, no consultation shall be required with respect to any subsequent disclosures that are substantially similar to prior disclosures by Counterparty that were reviewed by Seller. |
(g) | Waiver. The Counterparty shall waive any violation of its “bulldog clause” and any other restrictions that would be caused by Seller entering into this Transaction. |
(h) | Disclosure. The Counterparty agrees to comply with applicable SEC guidance in respect of disclosure and the Counterparty shall preview with Seller all public disclosure relating to the Transaction and shall consult with Seller to ensure that such public disclosure, including the press release, Form 8-K or other filing that announces the Transaction adequately discloses the material terms and conditions of the Transaction in form and substance reasonably acceptable to Seller; provided that the Form 8-K shall be publicly filed on the same date that definitive transaction documents are signed and provided further, that to the extent definitive transaction documents are not signed at least 48 hours prior to the Redemption Deadline, the Counterparty agrees to make all necessary disclosures (if any) at least 24 hours prior to the Redemption Deadline to ensure that Seller is not in possession of material non-public information as a result of the transactions outlined herein. |
Exhibit K - Page 14
(i) | Listing. The Counterparty agrees to use its best efforts to maintain the listing of the Shares on a national securities exchange; provided that if the Shares cease to be listed on a national securities exchange or upon the filing of a Form 25 (each a “Delisting Event”), Seller may accelerate the Maturity Date under this Confirmation by delivering notice to the Counterparty and shall be entitled to the Break-up Fees, which shall be due and payable immediately following the Maturity Date. |
(j) | Regulatory Filings. Counterparty covenants that it will make all regulatory filings that it is required by law or regulation to make with respect to the Transaction. |
(k) | Regulation M and Target Approvals. Counterparty is not on the Trade Date and agrees and covenants that it will not be on any date Seller is purchasing shares that may be included in a Pricing Date Notice, engaged or engaging in a distribution, as such term is used in Regulation M under the Exchange Act, of any securities of Counterparty, other than a distribution meeting the requirements of the exception set forth in Rules 101(b)(10) and 102(b)(7) of Regulation M. Counterparty shall not, until the second scheduled trading day immediately following dates referenced in the preceding sentence, engage in any such distribution. Counterparty, including Target, also agrees and covenants that the BCA shall be executed and all required approvals and consents of the Target security holders in connection with the Business Combination shall be obtained and any subsequent valuation periods as contemplated under Regulation M under the Exchange Act, shall be completed in each case no later than MCAC’s redemption deadline. |
(l) | Other Agreements. Counterparty covenants and agrees that it has not and will not enter into any other OTC Equity Prepaid Forward Transactions or similar transaction(s) or agreement(s) with any other person(s) without the prior written consent of Seller during the term of this Confirmation; provided that if the Confirmation is terminated and Counterparty enters into OTC Equity Prepaid Forward Transaction(s) or similar transaction(s) or agreement(s) with any other person(s) without the prior written consent of Seller during the period from the date this Confirmation is terminated until 90 calendar days following the Business Combination, Counterparty shall promptly pay Seller a fee of $1,000,000. |
(m) | No conflicts. The execution and delivery by the Counterparty and Target of, and the performance by the Counterparty and the Target of its obligations under, the Transaction and the Confirmation and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Confirmation, including the payments and share issuances hereunder, do not and will not result in any breach or violation of or constitute a default under (nor constitute any event which, with notice, lapse of time or both, would result in any breach or violation of or constitute a default under or give the holder of any indebtedness (or a person acting on such holder’s behalf) the right to require the repurchase, redemption or repayment of all or a part of such indebtedness under) (or result in the creation or imposition of a lien, charge or encumbrance on any property or assets of the Counterparty, the Target or any of their respective subsidiaries pursuant to) (i) any provision of applicable law, (ii) the organizational documents of any of the Counterparty, the Target or any of their respective subsidiaries, (iii) any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, bank loan or credit agreement or other evidence of indebtedness, or any license, lease, contract or other agreement or instrument binding upon the Counterparty, the Target or any of their respective subsidiaries, or (iv) any judgment, order or decree of any governmental body, agency or court having jurisdiction over the Counterparty, the Target or any of their respective subsidiaries, and no consent, approval, authorization or order of, or qualification with, any governmental body or agency is required for the performance by the Counterparty or the Target of their respective obligations under the Confirmation, except as have been obtained. In addition, the Counterparty and Target covenant and agree not to enter into any agreement or other arrangement that would prohibit, restrict or otherwise prevent the Counterparty from performing its obligations hereunder, including the making of any payment or Share issuance to the Seller. |
3. | Target and the Combined Company, from and after the Trade Date, each covenants and agrees not to incur in excess of $25.0 million of indebtedness (as a result of incurring additional indebtedness, refinancing of existing indebtedness as of the date hereof, or otherwise) through and including the 90th day following the Prepayment Date without the prior written consent of the Seller. Indebtedness shall not include accounts payable at the closing of the Business Combination or otherwise. |
Exhibit K - Page 15
4. | Seller represents and warrants to, and covenants and agrees with Counterparty as of the date on which it enters into the Transaction and each other date specified that: |
(a) | Regulatory Filings. Seller covenants that it will make all regulatory filings that it is required by law or regulation to make with respect to the Transaction including, without limitation, as may be required by Section 13 or Section 16 (if applicable) under the Exchange Act and, assuming the accuracy of Counterparty’s Repurchase Notices (as described under “Repurchase Notices” below) any sales of the Recycled Shares will be in compliance therewith. |
(b) | Shorting. Seller agrees not to effect any Short Sales in respect of the Shares prior to the earlier of (i) the Maturity Date and (ii) the cancellation of the Transaction. “Short Sales” means all “short sales” as defined in Rule 200 promulgated under Regulation SHO under the Exchange Act. |
Transactions by Seller in the Shares
(a) | Seller hereby waives the redemption rights (“Redemption Rights”) set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation in connection with the Business Combination with respect to the Recycled Shares only during the term of this Confirmation. Seller may sell or otherwise transfer, loan or dispose of any of the Shares or any other shares or securities of the Counterparty in one or more public or private transactions at any time. Any Recycled Shares that are not Shortfall Sale Shares sold by Seller during the term of the Transaction will cease to be included in the Number of Shares. |
(b) | No sale of Shares by Seller shall terminate all or any portion of this Confirmation (unless Seller issues Shortfall Sale Notice or OET Notice within the deadlines contemplated in the sections entitled Shortfall Sales and Optional Early Termination above), and provided that Seller complies with all of its other obligations hereunder nothing contained herein shall limit any of Seller’s purchases and sales of Shares. |
No Arrangements
Seller, Counterparty and Target each acknowledge and agree that: (i) there are no voting, hedging or settlement arrangements between or among Seller, Counterparty and Target with respect to any Shares or the Counterparty or Target, other than those set forth herein; (ii) although Seller may hedge its risk under the Transaction in any way Seller determines, Seller has no obligation to hedge with the purchase, sale or maintenance of any Shares or otherwise; (iii) Counterparty and Target will not be entitled to any voting rights in respect of any of the Shares underlying the Transaction; and (iv) Counterparty and Target will not seek to influence Seller with respect to the voting or disposition of any Shares.
Wall Street Transparency and Accountability Act
In connection with Section 739 of the Wall Street Transparency and Accountability Act of 2010 (“WSTAA”), the parties hereby agree that neither the enactment of WSTAA or any regulation under WSTAA, nor any requirement under WSTAA or an amendment made by WSTAA, nor any similar legal certainty provision in any legislation enacted, or rule or regulation promulgated, on or after the date of this Confirmation, shall limit or otherwise impair either party’s otherwise applicable rights to terminate, renegotiate, modify, amend or supplement this Confirmation or the ISDA Form, as applicable, arising from a termination event, force majeure, illegality, increased costs, regulatory change or similar event under this Confirmation, the Equity Definitions incorporated herein, or the ISDA Form.
Exhibit K - Page 16
Address for Notices
Notice to Seller:
0000 X Xxxxxxx Xxx, Xxx 000
Xxxx Xxxxx, XX 00000
Email: xxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
With a copy to:
DLA Piper LLP (US)
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxx Xxxxxxxxx, XX 00000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Email: xxxxxxx.xxxxxx@xx.xxxxxxxx.xxx
Notice to Counterparty:
Monterey Capital Acquisition Corporation
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx
Attention: Xxxx Xxxxxxxxxx
E-mail: xxxx@xxxxxxxxxx.xxx
With a copy to:
Xxxxx, Xxxxx, Xxxx, Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxx and Xxxxx, P.C.
Xxx Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxx Xxxxxx
Email: xxxxxxxx@xxxxx.xxx
Notice to Target:
ConnectM Technology Solutions, Inc.
0 Xx. Xxxxx Xxx., Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Email: Xxxxxxx@xxxxxxxx.xxx
With a copy to:
Xxxxx & Xxxxxxxx LLP
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Esq.
Email: xxxxxxx@xxxxxxxx.xxx
Other Provisions.
(c) | Rule 10b5-1. |
(i) | Counterparty represents and warrants to Seller that Counterparty is not entering into the Transaction to create actual or apparent trading activity in the Shares (or any security convertible into or exchangeable for the Shares) or to raise or depress or otherwise manipulate the price of the Shares (or any security convertible into or exchangeable for the Shares) for the purpose of inducing the purchase or sale of such securities or otherwise in violation of the Exchange Act, and Counterparty represents and warrants to Seller that Counterparty has not entered into or altered, and agrees that Counterparty will not enter into or alter, any corresponding or hedging transaction or position with respect to the Shares. |
Exhibit K - Page 17
(ii) | Counterparty agrees that it will not seek to control or influence Seller’s decision to make any “purchases or sales” under the Transaction, including, without limitation, Seller’s decision to enter into any hedging transactions. Counterparty represents and warrants that it has consulted with its own advisors as to the legal aspects of its adoption and implementation of this Confirmation and the Transaction under the federal securities laws, including without limitation, the prohibitions on manipulative and deceptive devices under the Exchange Act. |
(iii) | Counterparty acknowledges and agrees that any amendment, modification, waiver or termination of this Confirmation must be effected in accordance with the requirements for the amendment or termination of a written trading plan for trading securities. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Counterparty acknowledges and agrees that any such amendment, modification, waiver or termination shall be made in good faith and not as part of a plan or scheme to evade compliance with the federal securities laws, including without limitation the prohibition on manipulative and deceptive devises under the Exchange Act and no such amendment, modification or waiver shall be made at any time at which Counterparty or any officer, director, manager or similar person of Counterparty is aware of any material non-public information regarding Counterparty or the Shares. |
(d) | Repurchase Notices. Counterparty shall, on any day on which Counterparty effects any repurchase of Shares (other than in connection with a Counterparty equity compensation program (e.g., to fund taxes in connection with vested RSUs), promptly give Seller a written notice of such repurchase (a “Repurchase Notice”), provided that Counterparty agrees that this information does not constitute material non-public information; provided further if this information shall be material non-public information, it shall publicly disclosed immediately. Counterparty agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Seller and its affiliates and their respective officers, directors, employees, affiliates, advisors, agents and controlling persons (each, an “Indemnified Person”) from and against any and all losses (including losses relating to Seller’s hedging activities as a consequence of remaining or becoming a Section 16 “insider” following the closing of the Business Combination, including without limitation, any forbearance from hedging activities or cessation of hedging activities and any losses in connection therewith with respect to the Transaction), claims, damages, judgments, liabilities and expenses (including reasonable attorney’s fees), joint or several, which an Indemnified Person may become subject to, as a result of Counterparty’s failure to provide Seller with a Repurchase Notice on the day and in the manner specified in this paragraph, and to reimburse, within thirty (30) days, upon written request, each of such Indemnified Persons for any reasonable legal or other expenses incurred in connection with investigating, preparing for, providing testimony or other evidence in connection with or defending any of the foregoing; provided, however, for the avoidance of doubt, Counterparty has no indemnification or other obligations with respect to Seller becoming a Section 16 “insider” prior to the closing of the Business Combination. If any suit, action, proceeding (including any governmental or regulatory investigation), claim or demand shall be brought or asserted against the Indemnified Person as a result of Counterparty’s failure to provide Seller with a Repurchase Notice in accordance with this paragraph, such Indemnified Person shall promptly notify Counterparty in writing, and Counterparty, upon request of the Indemnified Person, shall retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person to represent the Indemnified Person and any others Counterparty may designate in such proceeding and shall pay the fees and expenses of such counsel related to such proceeding. Counterparty shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding contemplated by this paragraph that is effected without its written consent, but if settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, Counterparty agrees to indemnify any Indemnified Person from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment. Counterparty shall not, without the prior written consent of the Indemnified Person, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding contemplated by this paragraph that is in respect of which any Indemnified Person is or could have been a party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such Indemnified Person, unless such settlement includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified Person from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such proceeding on terms reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Person. If the indemnification provided for in this paragraph is unavailable to an Indemnified Person or insufficient in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to therein, then Counterparty hereunder, in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Person thereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Person as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities. The remedies provided for in this paragraph are not exclusive and shall not limit any rights or remedies which may otherwise be available to any Indemnified Person at law or in equity. The indemnity and contribution agreements contained in this paragraph shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of the termination of the Transaction. |
Exhibit K - Page 18
(e) | Transfer or Assignment. The Seller may freely transfer or assign the rights and duties under this Confirmation. If at any time following the closing of the Business Combination at which (A) the Section 16 Percentage exceeds 9.9%, or (B) the Share Amount exceeds the Applicable Share Limit (if any applies) (any such condition described in clause (A) or (B), and “Excess Ownership Position”), Seller is unable to effect a transfer or assignment of a portion of the Transaction to a third party on pricing terms reasonably acceptable to Seller and within a time period reasonably acceptable to Seller such that no Excess Ownership Position exists, then Seller may designate any Local Business Day as an Early Termination Date with respect to a portion of the Transaction (the “Terminated Portion”), such that following such partial termination no Excess Ownership Position exists. In the event that Seller so designates an Early Termination Date with respect to a portion of the Transaction, a portion of the Shares with respect to the Transaction shall be delivered to Counterparty as if the Early Termination Date was the Valuation Date in respect of a Transaction having terms identical to the Transaction and a Number of Shares equal to the number of Shares underlying the Terminated Portion. The “Section 16 Percentage” as of any day is the fraction, expressed as a percentage, as determined by Seller, (A) the numerator of which is the number of Shares that Seller and each person subject to aggregation of Shares with Seller under Section 13 or Section 16 of the Exchange Act and rules promulgated thereunder and all persons who may form a “group” (within the meaning of Rule 13d-5(b)(1) of the Exchange Act) with Seller directly or indirectly beneficially own (as defined under Section 13 or Section 16 of the Exchange Act and rules promulgated thereunder) (the “Seller Group” ) and (B) the denominator of which is the number of Shares outstanding. |
The “Share Amount” as of any day is the number of Shares that Seller and any person whose ownership position would be aggregated with that of Seller and any group (however designated) of which Seller is a member (Seller or any such person or group, a “Seller Person”) under any law, rule, regulation, regulatory order or organizational documents or contracts of Counterparty that are, in each case, applicable to ownership of Shares (“Applicable Restrictions”), owns, beneficially owns, constructively owns, controls, holds the power to vote or otherwise meets a relevant definition of ownership under any Applicable Restriction, as determined by Seller in its sole discretion.
The “Applicable Share Limit” means a number of Shares equal to (A) the minimum number of Shares that could give rise to reporting (other than on Schedule 13D or 13G) or registration obligations or other requirements (including obtaining prior approval from any person or entity) of a Seller Person, or could result in an adverse effect on a Seller Person, under any Applicable Restriction, as determined by Seller in its sole discretion, minus (B) 0.1% of the number of Shares outstanding.
(f) | Indemnification. Counterparty agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Seller, its affiliates and its assignees and their respective directors, officers, employees, agents and controlling persons (each such person being an “Indemnified Party”) from and against any and all losses (but not including financial losses to an Indemnified Party relating to the economic terms of the Transaction provided that the Counterparty performs its obligations under this Confirmation in accordance with its terms), claims, damages and liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) expenses, joint or several, incurred by or asserted against such Indemnified Party arising out of, in connection with, or relating to, investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever, whether arising out of any action between any of the Indemnified Parties and the Counterparty or between any of the Indemnified Parties and any third party, or otherwise) to which they or any of them may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or any other statute or at common law or otherwise or under the laws of foreign countries, arising out of or based upon the Transaction, including the execution or delivery of this Confirmation, the performance by Counterparty of its obligations under the Transaction, any breach of any covenant, representation or warranty made by Counterparty in this Confirmation or the ISDA Form, regulatory filings and submissions made by or on behalf of the Counterparty related to the Transaction (other than as relates to any information provided in writing by or on behalf of Seller or its affiliates), or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Registration Statement or any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any registration statement, press release, filings or other document, or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. Counterparty will not be liable under the foregoing indemnification provision to the extent that any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense is related to the manner in which Seller sells, or arising out of any sales by Seller of, any Shares, including the Recycled Shares or found in a nonappealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from Seller’s material breach of any covenant, representation or other obligation in this Confirmation or the ISDA Form or from Seller’s willful misconduct, bad faith or gross negligence in performing the services that are subject of the Transaction. If for any reason the foregoing indemnification is unavailable to any Indemnified Party or insufficient to hold harmless any Indemnified Party, then Counterparty shall contribute, to the maximum extent permitted by law, to the amount paid or payable by the Indemnified Party as a result of such loss, claim, damage or liability. In addition (and in addition to any other Reimbursement of Legal Fees and other Expenses contemplated by this Confirmation), Counterparty will reimburse any Indemnified Party for all reasonable, out-of-pocket, expenses (including reasonable counsel fees and expenses) as they are incurred in connection with the investigation of, preparation for or defense or settlement of any pending or threatened claim or any action, suit or proceeding arising therefrom, whether or not such Indemnified Party is a party thereto and whether or not such claim, action, suit or proceeding is initiated or brought by or on behalf of Counterparty. Counterparty also agrees that no Indemnified Party shall have any liability to Counterparty or any person asserting claims on behalf of or in right of Counterparty in connection with or as a result of any matter referred to in this Confirmation except to the extent that any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses incurred by Counterparty result from such Indemnified Party’s breach of any covenant, representation or other obligation in this Confirmation or the ISDA Form or from the gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith of the Indemnified Party or breach of any U.S. federal or state securities laws or the rules, regulations or applicable interpretations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. The provisions of this paragraph shall survive the completion of the Transaction contemplated by this Confirmation and any assignment and/or delegation of the Transaction made pursuant to the ISDA Form or this Confirmation shall inure to the benefit of any permitted assignee of Seller. |
Exhibit K - Page 19
(g) | Amendments to Equity Definitions. |
(i) | Section 12.6(a)(ii) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by (i) deleting from the fourth line thereof the word “or” after the word “official” and inserting a comma therefor, and (ii) deleting the semi-colon at the end of subsection (B) thereof and inserting the following words therefor “or (C) the occurrence of any of the events specified in Section 5(a)(vii)(1) through (9) of the ISDA Form with respect to that Issuer.”; and |
(ii) | Section 12.6(c)(ii) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by replacing the words “the Transaction will be cancelled,” in the first line with the words “Seller will have the right, which it must exercise or refrain from exercising, as applicable, in good faith acting in a commercially reasonable manner, to cancel the Transaction,”; |
(h) | Waiver of Jury Trial. Each party waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any right it may have to a trial by jury in respect of any suit, action or proceeding relating to the Transaction. Each party (i) certifies that no representative, agent or attorney of either party has represented, expressly or otherwise, that such other party would not, in the event of such a suit, action or proceeding, seek to enforce the foregoing waiver and (ii) acknowledges that it and the other party have been induced to enter into the Transaction, as applicable, by, among other things, the mutual waivers and certifications provided herein. |
(i) | Attorney and Other Fees. Subject to clause (d) Indemnification (above), in the event of any legal action initiated by any party arising under or out of, in connection with or in respect of, this Confirmation or the Transaction, the prevailing party shall be entitled to reasonable attorneys’ fees, costs and expenses incurred in such action, as determined and fixed by the court. |
(j) | Tax Disclosure. Effective from the date of commencement of discussions concerning the Transaction, Counterparty and each of its employees, representatives, or other agents may disclose to any and all persons, without limitation of any kind, the tax treatment and tax structure of the Transaction and all materials of any kind (including opinions or other tax analyses) that are provided to Counterparty relating to such tax treatment and tax structure. |
Exhibit K - Page 20
(k) | Securities Contract; Swap Agreement. The parties hereto intend for (i) the Transaction to be (a) a “securities contract” as defined in the Bankruptcy Code, in which case each payment and delivery made pursuant to the Transaction is a “termination value,” “payment amount” or “other transfer obligation” within the meaning of Section 362 of the Bankruptcy Code and a “settlement payment,” within the meaning of Section 546 of the Bankruptcy Code, and (b) a “swap agreement” as defined in the Bankruptcy Code, with respect to which each payment and delivery hereunder or in connection herewith is a “termination value,” “payment amount” or “other transfer obligation” within the meaning of Section 362 of the Bankruptcy Code and a “transfer,” as such term is defined in Section 101(54) of the Bankruptcy Code and a “payment or other transfer of property” within the meaning of Sections 362 and 546 of the Bankruptcy Code, and the parties hereto to be entitled to the protections afforded by, among other Sections, Sections 362(b)(6), 362(b)(17), 546(e), 546(g), 555 and 560 of the Bankruptcy Code, (ii) a party’s right to liquidate, terminate and accelerate the Transaction and to exercise any other remedies upon the occurrence of any Event of Default under the ISDA Form with respect to the other party to constitute a “contractual right” as described in the Bankruptcy Code, and (iii) each payment and delivery of cash, securities or other property hereunder to otherwise constitute a “margin payment” or “settlement payment” and a “transfer” as defined in the Bankruptcy Code. |
(l) | Process Agent. For the purposes of Section 13(c) of the ISDA Form: |
Seller appoints as its Process Agent: None
Counterparty appoints as its Process Agent: None.
[Signature page follows]
Exhibit K - Page 21
Please confirm that the foregoing correctly sets forth the terms of our agreement by executing a copy of this Confirmation and returning it to us at your earliest convenience.
Very truly yours, | ||
Meteora Special Opportunity Fund I, LP; Meteora Capital Partners, LP; and Meteora Select Trading Opportunities Master, LP | ||
| ||
By: | ||
Name: | Xxxxx Xxxxxx | |
Title: | CIO/Managing Member |
Agreed and accepted by: | ||
Monterey Capital Acquisition Corporation | ||
|
||
By: | ||
Name: | Xxxx Xxxxxxxxxx | |
Title: | Chief Executive Officer and Chairman |
ConnectM Technology Solutions, Inc. | ||
By: |
||
Name: | Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx | |
Title: | Chief Executive Officer and Chairman |
Exhibit K - Page 22
Schedule A
FORM OF PRICING DATE NOTICE
Date: [●], 2023
To: Monterey Capital Acquisition Corporation (“Counterparty”)
Address: 000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx
Phone: (000) 000-0000
From: Meteora Special Opportunity Fund I, LP, Meteora Capital Partners, LP, and Meteora Select Trading Opportunities Master, LP (collectively, “Seller”)
Re: OTC Equity Prepaid Forward Transaction
1. This Pricing Date Notice supplements, forms part of, and is subject to the Confirmation Re: OTC Equity Prepaid Forward Transaction dated as of December [●], 2022 (the “Confirmation”) between Counterparty and Seller, as amended and supplemented from time to time. All provisions contained in the Confirmation govern this Pricing Date Notice except as expressly modified below.
2. The purpose of this Pricing Date Notice is to confirm certain terms and conditions of the Transaction entered into between Seller and Counterparty pursuant to the Confirmation.
Pricing Date: [●], 2023
Number of Recycled Shares: [●]
Exhibit K - Page 23