BUSINESS COMBINATION AGREEMENT by and among GORES GUGGENHEIM, INC., POLESTAR AUTOMOTIVE HOLDING LIMITED, POLESTAR AUTOMOTIVE (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD., POLESTAR HOLDING AB, POLESTAR AUTOMOTIVE HOLDING UK LIMITED and PAH UK MERGER SUB INC., dated as of...
Exhibit 2.1
BUSINESS COMBINATION AGREEMENT
by and among
POLESTAR AUTOMOTIVE HOLDING LIMITED,
POLESTAR AUTOMOTIVE (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.,
POLESTAR HOLDING AB,
POLESTAR AUTOMOTIVE HOLDING UK LIMITED
and
PAH UK MERGER SUB INC.,
dated as of
September 27, 2021
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page | ||||||
ARTICLE I |
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CERTAIN DEFINITIONS |
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Section 1.01 |
Definitions |
4 | ||||
Section 1.02 |
Construction |
26 | ||||
Section 1.03 |
Knowledge |
26 | ||||
Section 1.04 |
Equitable Adjustments |
27 | ||||
ARTICLE II |
| |||||
THE MERGER AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS; CLOSING |
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Section 2.01 |
The Transactions |
27 | ||||
Section 2.02 |
Closing |
29 | ||||
Section 2.03 |
Exchange Agent |
29 | ||||
Section 2.04 |
Establishment of ADR Facility; Distribution of ListCo Class A ADSs and ListCo Class C-1 ADSs or ListCo Class C-2 ADSs or ListCo AD Warrants, as applicable |
30 | ||||
Section 2.05 |
Surviving SPAC Shares |
32 | ||||
Section 2.06 |
Earn Out |
32 | ||||
Section 2.07 |
Withholding Rights |
34 | ||||
ARTICLE III |
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REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES RELATING TO THE COMPANY |
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Section 3.01 |
Corporate Organization; Due Authorization |
35 | ||||
Section 3.02 |
Governing Documents and Subsidiaries |
36 | ||||
Section 3.03 |
Consents |
36 | ||||
Section 3.04 |
Capitalization. |
36 | ||||
Section 3.05 |
Capitalization of Subsidiaries |
37 | ||||
Section 3.06 |
Financial Statements |
38 | ||||
Section 3.07 |
Undisclosed Liabilities |
39 | ||||
Section 3.08 |
Litigation |
39 | ||||
Section 3.09 |
Compliance with Laws |
40 | ||||
Section 3.10 |
Material Contracts |
41 | ||||
Section 3.11 |
Company Benefit Plans |
45 | ||||
Section 3.12 |
Labor Matters |
46 | ||||
Section 3.13 |
Taxes |
47 | ||||
Section 3.14 |
Insurance |
48 | ||||
Section 3.15 |
Permits |
49 | ||||
Section 3.16 |
Property |
49 | ||||
Section 3.17 |
Intellectual Property; IT Security; Data Privacy. |
50 | ||||
Section 3.18 |
Environmental Matters |
55 | ||||
Section 3.19 |
Absence of Changes |
55 | ||||
Section 3.20 |
Transactions with Affiliates |
56 | ||||
Section 3.21 |
Brokers |
56 |
i
ARTICLE IV |
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REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES RELATING TO PARENT, LISTCO AND MERGER SUB |
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Section 4.01 |
Corporate Organization |
56 | ||||
Section 4.02 |
Due Authorization |
57 | ||||
Section 4.03 |
Consents and Requisite Governmental Approvals; No Violations |
57 | ||||
Section 4.04 |
Capitalization |
58 | ||||
Section 4.05 |
Business Activities |
59 | ||||
Section 4.06 |
Taxes |
59 | ||||
Section 4.07 |
Investment Company Act |
60 | ||||
Section 4.08 |
Brokers |
60 | ||||
Section 4.09 |
Information Supplied. |
60 | ||||
Section 4.10 |
UK Takeover Code |
60 | ||||
ARTICLE V |
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REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES RELATING TO GG |
| |||||
Section 5.01 |
Corporate Organization |
61 | ||||
Section 5.02 |
Due Authorization |
61 | ||||
Section 5.03 |
Consents and Requisite Government Approvals; No Violations |
62 | ||||
Section 5.04 |
Capitalization |
62 | ||||
Section 5.05 |
Trust Account |
63 | ||||
Section 5.06 |
SEC Filings |
64 | ||||
Section 5.07 |
Internal Controls; Listing; Financial Statements |
65 | ||||
Section 5.08 |
No Undisclosed Liabilities |
66 | ||||
Section 5.09 |
Litigation |
66 | ||||
Section 5.10 |
Compliance with Laws |
66 | ||||
Section 5.11 |
Business Activities |
66 | ||||
Section 5.12 |
Contracts |
67 | ||||
Section 5.13 |
Employee Benefit Plans |
67 | ||||
Section 5.14 |
Taxes |
67 | ||||
Section 5.15 |
Absence of Changes |
68 | ||||
Section 5.16 |
Transactions with Affiliates |
68 | ||||
Section 5.17 |
Investment Company Act |
68 | ||||
Section 5.18 |
GG Recommendation |
69 | ||||
Section 5.19 |
Brokers |
69 | ||||
Section 5.20 |
Information Supplied |
69 | ||||
ARTICLE VI |
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COVENANTS OF PARENT AND THE COMPANY |
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Section 6.01 |
Conduct of Business of the Company During the Interim Period |
69 | ||||
Section 6.02 |
Trust Account Waiver |
73 | ||||
Section 6.03 |
GG D&O Indemnification and Insurance |
74 | ||||
Section 6.04 |
Company Party D&O Indemnification and Insurance |
75 | ||||
Section 6.05 |
Financial Information |
76 | ||||
Section 6.06 |
Stock Exchange Listing |
76 |
ii
Section 6.07 |
Required Parent Shareholder Approval |
76 | ||||
Section 6.08 |
Pre-Closing Reorganization |
77 | ||||
Section 6.09 |
Employee Matters |
77 | ||||
Section 6.10 |
Termination of Parent Shareholders Agreement |
78 | ||||
Section 6.11 |
Parent Liquidation |
78 | ||||
Section 6.12 |
Conversion to Public Company |
78 | ||||
Section 6.13 |
UK Takeover Code |
78 | ||||
Section 6.14 |
UK Companies Xxx 0000 |
78 | ||||
ARTICLE VII |
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COVENANTS OF GG |
| |||||
Section 7.01 |
Conduct of GG During the Interim Period |
78 | ||||
Section 7.02 |
Shareholder Litigation |
80 | ||||
Section 7.03 |
GG Public Filings |
80 | ||||
Section 7.04 |
Trust Account Proceeds and Redemptions |
80 | ||||
Section 7.05 |
PIPE Subscriptions |
80 | ||||
Section 7.06 |
De-Listing |
81 | ||||
Section 7.07 |
No Change of Recommendation |
81 | ||||
ARTICLE VIII |
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JOINT COVENANTS |
| |||||
Section 8.01 |
Post-Closing ListCo Board |
82 | ||||
Section 8.02 |
Efforts to Consummate |
82 | ||||
Section 8.03 |
Registration Statement/Proxy Statement; GG Special Meeting |
84 | ||||
Section 8.04 |
Exclusive Dealing |
86 | ||||
Section 8.05 |
Tax Matters |
87 | ||||
Section 8.06 |
Confidentiality; Access to Information; Publicity |
88 | ||||
Section 8.07 |
Post-Closing Cooperation; Further Assurances |
91 | ||||
ARTICLE IX |
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CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATIONS |
| |||||
Section 9.01 |
Conditions to Obligations of the Parties |
91 | ||||
Section 9.02 |
Additional Conditions to the Obligations of Parent, Polestar Singapore, Polestar Sweden, ListCo and Merger Sub |
92 | ||||
Section 9.03 |
Additional Conditions to Obligations of GG |
93 | ||||
Section 9.04 |
Frustration of Conditions |
94 | ||||
ARTICLE X |
| |||||
TERMINATION |
| |||||
Section 10.01 |
Termination |
94 | ||||
Section 10.02 |
Effect of Termination |
95 |
iii
ARTICLE XI |
| |||||
MISCELLANEOUS |
| |||||
Section 11.01 |
Waiver |
95 | ||||
Section 11.02 |
Notices |
96 | ||||
Section 11.03 |
Assignment |
97 | ||||
Section 11.04 |
Rights of Third Parties |
97 | ||||
Section 11.05 |
Expenses |
97 | ||||
Section 11.06 |
Governing Law |
97 | ||||
Section 11.07 |
Captions; Counterparts |
98 | ||||
Section 11.08 |
Exhibits and Schedules |
98 | ||||
Section 11.09 |
Entire Agreement |
98 | ||||
Section 11.10 |
Amendments |
98 | ||||
Section 11.11 |
Severability |
99 | ||||
Section 11.12 |
Jurisdiction |
99 | ||||
Section 11.13 |
Waiver of Jury Trial |
99 | ||||
Section 11.14 |
Enforcement |
99 | ||||
Section 11.15 |
Non-Recourse |
100 | ||||
Section 11.16 |
Nonsurvival of Representations, Warranties and Covenants |
100 | ||||
Section 11.17 |
Acknowledgements |
101 | ||||
Section 11.18 |
Conflicts and Privilege |
102 |
EXHIBITS
Exhibit A | Form of Parent Lock-Up Agreement | |
Exhibit B | Form of Sponsor and Supporting Sponsor Stockholders Lock-Up Agreement | |
Exhibit C | Form of Registration Rights Agreement | |
Exhibit D | Form of Parent Shareholders Acknowledgement | |
Exhibit E | Pre-Closing Reorganization | |
Exhibit F | Form of ListCo New Articles of Association | |
Exhibit G | Form of ListCo Incentive Equity Plan | |
Exhibit H | Form of ListCo Equity Purchase Plan | |
Exhibit I | Form of ListCo Warrant Agreement | |
Exhibit J | Terms of ListCo Class C-1 Shares and ListCo Class C-2 Shares |
iv
BUSINESS COMBINATION AGREEMENT
THIS BUSINESS COMBINATION AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of September 27, 2021, by and among Gores Guggenheim, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“GG”), Polestar Automotive Holding Limited, a Hong Kong incorporated company (“Parent”), Polestar Automotive (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., a private company limited by shares in Singapore (“Polestar Singapore”), Polestar Holding AB, a private limited liability company incorporated under the laws of Sweden (“Polestar Sweden”), Polestar Automotive Holding UK Limited, a limited company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales and a direct wholly owned subsidiary of Parent (“ListCo”), and PAH UK Merger Sub Inc., a Delaware corporation and a direct wholly owned subsidiary of ListCo (“Merger Sub”). GG, Parent, the Company, ListCo and Merger Sub are collectively referred to herein as the “Parties” and each individually as a “Party.”
RECITALS
WHEREAS, (a) GG is a blank check company incorporated as a Delaware corporation for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses, (b) ListCo is a newly incorporated, direct wholly owned Subsidiary of Parent that was incorporated for purposes of consummating the Transactions and (c) Merger Sub is a newly incorporated, direct wholly owned Subsidiary of ListCo that was incorporated for purposes of consummating the Transactions.
WHEREAS, pursuant to GG’s Governing Documents, GG is required to provide an opportunity for its stockholders to have their outstanding GG Class A Shares redeemed on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein in connection with obtaining the Required GG Stockholder Approval at the Special Meeting;
WHEREAS, concurrently with the execution of this Agreement, each of the Parent Shareholders are entering into lock-up agreements (each, a “Parent Lock-Up Agreement”), substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A, pursuant to which, among other things, Parent and each Parent Shareholder are agreeing not to effect any sale or distribution of any Equity Securities of ListCo issued to them pursuant to this Agreement or the other Transaction Documents during the lock-up period described in such Parent Lock-Up Agreement, in each case, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in such Parent Lock-Up Agreement;
WHEREAS, concurrently with the execution of this Agreement, Gores Guggenheim Sponsor LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Sponsor”), each independent director of GG (collectively, the “Supporting Sponsor Stockholders”), GG, Parent and ListCo are entering into the lock-up agreement substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B (the “Sponsor and Supporting Sponsor Stockholders Lock-Up Agreement”), pursuant to which, among other things, each of Sponsor and the Supporting Sponsor Stockholders is agreeing to (a) support and vote in favor of all of the Transaction Proposals, (b) waive all adjustments to the conversion ratio set forth in GG’s Governing Documents with respect to its GG Class F Shares, (c) be bound by certain transfer restrictions with respect to their GG Shares and GG Warrants, as applicable, prior to Closing, (d) be bound by certain lock-up provisions during the lock-up period described in the Sponsor and Supporting Sponsor Stockholders Lock-Up Agreement with respect to the ListCo Class A ADSs issued pursuant to this Agreement, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Sponsor and Supporting Stockholders Lock-Up Agreement and (e) with respect to Sponsor only, the forfeiture of up to 1,501,651 GG Class F Shares under the circumstances specified therein;
1
WHEREAS, concurrently with the execution of this Agreement, Sponsor and certain of its Affiliates (collectively with Sponsor, the “Sponsor Insiders”), GG and ListCo are entering into a subscription agreement (the “Sponsor Subscription Agreement”) pursuant to which, among other things, the Sponsor Insiders are agreeing to subscribe for and accept, and ListCo is agreeing to issue to the Sponsor Insiders, on the Closing Date, ListCo Class A ADSs in exchange for a subscription price of $9.09 per ListCo Class A ADS (the “Sponsor Investment”), on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Sponsor Subscription Agreement (the aggregate dollar amount of such investment, the “Sponsor Investment Amount”);
WHEREAS, concurrently with the execution of this Agreement, Xxxxx Holding B.V., a private limited company organized under the laws of the Netherlands (“Xxxxx”) and a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of Volvo Car Corporation, a corporation organized under the laws of Sweden (“VCC”, which shall be understood to refer to Xxxxx as the context may suggest), GG and ListCo are entering into a subscription agreement (the “VCC PIPE Subscription Agreement”) pursuant to which, among other things, VCC is agreeing to subscribe for and accept, and ListCo is agreeing to issue to VCC, on the Closing Date, ListCo Class A ADSs in exchange for a subscription price of $10.00 per ListCo Class A ADS (the “VCC PIPE Investment”), on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the VCC PIPE Subscription Agreement (the aggregate dollar amount of such investment, the “VCC PIPE Investment Amount”);
WHEREAS, concurrently with the execution of this Agreement, certain investors (for the avoidance of doubt, not including the Sponsor Insiders or VCC) (collectively, the “PIPE Investors”), GG and ListCo are entering into subscription agreements (each, a “PIPE Subscription Agreement”, and together with the Sponsor Subscription Agreement and the VCC PIPE Subscription Agreement, the “Subscription Agreements”) pursuant to which, among other things, the PIPE Investors are agreeing to subscribe for and accept on the Closing Date, and ListCo is agreeing to issue to each such PIPE Investor on the Closing Date, the number of ListCo Class A ADSs set forth in the applicable PIPE Subscription Agreement in exchange for a subscription price of $9.09 per ListCo Class A ADS, in each case, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the applicable PIPE Subscription Agreement (such investment in the aggregate, the “PIPE Investment”);
WHEREAS, concurrently with the execution of this Agreement, Xxxxx and ListCo are entering into the VCC Preference Subscription Agreement (the “VCC Preference Subscription Agreement”) pursuant to which, among other things, VCC is agreeing to subscribe for and accept, and ListCo is agreeing to issue to VCC, on the Closing Date, the VCC Preference Shares, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the VCC Preference Subscription Agreement;
WHEREAS, prior to the Closing, ListCo intends to adopt the Incentive Equity Plan and the Equity Purchase Plan;
2
WHEREAS, prior to the Closing Date, and in connection with the Merger, Parent intends to effect the Pre-Closing Reorganization, pursuant to which, among other things, Polestar Singapore, Polestar Sweden and their respective Subsidiaries shall become, directly or indirectly, wholly owned Subsidiaries of ListCo and, in consideration thereof, ListCo shall deliver the Parent Consideration to Parent;
WHEREAS, on the Closing Date, (a) Merger Sub shall merge with and into GG, with GG surviving the Merger as the Surviving SPAC and a wholly owned Subsidiary of ListCo, (b) by virtue of the Merger, each share of capital stock of Merger Sub shall be automatically cancelled and extinguished and converted into one Surviving SPAC Share, (c) by virtue of the Merger (i) each GG Unit shall be automatically separated, and the holder thereof shall be deemed to hold one GG Class A Share and one-fifth (1/5) of a Public Warrant in accordance with the terms of the applicable GG Unit, and (ii) each GG Share (other than those described in Section 2.01(b)(vi)(5)) shall be automatically cancelled and extinguished and converted into the right to receive the Per Share GG Consideration, and (d) at the Effective Time, (i) each Public Warrant shall be automatically cancelled and extinguished and converted into the right to receive either one ListCo AD Warrant or, in the event the Requisite GG Warrantholder Approval is obtained prior to the Effective Time, one Listco Class C-1 ADS, and (ii) each Private Placement Warrant shall be automatically cancelled and extinguished and converted into the right to receive either one ListCo AD Warrant or, in the event the Requisite GG Warrantholder Approval is obtained prior to the Effective Time, one ListCo Class C-2 ADS, in each case, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement;
WHEREAS, concurrently with the execution of this Agreement, ListCo, Sponsor, Parent, the Parent Shareholders and certain other Persons are entering into a registration rights agreement (the “Registration Rights Agreement”), attached hereto as Exhibit C, pursuant to which, among other things, Sponsor, the Supporting Sponsor Stockholders, Parent, each Parent Shareholder and certain other Persons shall be granted certain registration rights with respect to their respective ListCo Class A ADSs, ListCo Class A Shares, ListCo AD Warrants or ListCo Class C-2 ADSs issued to them pursuant to this Agreement or the other Transaction Documents, in each case, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement;
WHEREAS, concurrently with the execution of this Agreement, Parent and the Parent Shareholders are entering into a shareholders acknowledgement, attached hereto as Exhibit D, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein;
WHEREAS, the board of directors of GG (the “GG Board”) has (a) approved this Agreement, the other Transaction Documents to which GG is or will be a party and the Transactions (including the Merger) and (b) recommended, among other things, the adoption and approval of this Agreement, the Transaction Documents to which GG is or will be a party, and the Transactions, including the Merger, by the holders of GG Shares entitled to vote thereon (the “GG Recommendation”);
WHEREAS, the board of directors of Parent (the “Parent Board”) has approved this Agreement, the other Transaction Documents and the Transactions (including the Merger);
3
WHEREAS, promptly following the execution and delivery of this Agreement, and in any event within 24 hours thereof, each Parent Shareholder will irrevocably approve this Agreement, the other Transaction Documents to which it is a party and the Transactions (including the Merger) to which Parent is or will be a party (the “Required Parent Shareholder Approval”), in each case, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein, pursuant to written resolutions (the “Parent Shareholder Written Consent”);
WHEREAS, the board of directors of ListCo (the “ListCo Board”), the board of directors of Merger Sub, the board of directors of Polestar Sweden and the board of directors of Polestar Singapore have each approved this Agreement, the other Transaction Documents to which ListCo, Merger Sub, Polestar Sweden or Polestar Singapore, respectively, is or will be a party and the Transactions (including the Merger);
WHEREAS, ListCo, as the sole shareholder of Merger Sub, has approved this Agreement, the other Transaction Documents to which Merger Sub is a party and the Transactions (including the Merger);
WHEREAS, Parent, as the sole member of Polestar Singapore, has approved this Agreement, the other Transaction Documents to which Polestar Singapore is or will be a party and the Transactions (including the Merger);
WHEREAS, each of the Parties intends for U.S. federal (and applicable state and local) income Tax purposes that the Merger, together with the Pre-Closing Consolidation, Sponsor Investment, VCC PIPE Investment, PIPE Investment and the issuance of the VCC Preference Shares be treated as an exchange described in Section 351 of the Code, and that the conditions described in clauses (i), (ii) and (iv) of Treasury Regulations Section 1.367(a)-3(c)(1) will be met with respect to the Merger (collectively, the “U.S. Intended Tax Treatment”); and
WHEREAS, prior to the execution of this Agreement, certain investors and Parent entered into the Note Purchase Agreements, pursuant to which Parent issued to such investors convertible notes in the aggregate principal amount of $35,231,200 (the “Convertible Notes”, in each case, as amended and otherwise modified prior to the date hereof), and pursuant to the terms and conditions thereof, any Convertible Notes that are outstanding as of immediately prior to the Closing shall convert into the Note Conversion Shares at the Closing.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the respective representations, warranties, covenants and agreements set forth in this Agreement, and intending to be legally bound, the Parties hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
CERTAIN DEFINITIONS
Section 1.01 Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement, the following capitalized terms have the following meanings:
“Abbreviated Trading Day” means (a) any day on which ListCo Class A ADSs are scheduled to trade on the Stock Exchange for less than 4.5 hours or (b) any day that ListCo Class A ADSs are suspended from trading during the final hour of trading on the Stock Exchange.
4
“Actual Fraud” means actual and intentional fraud with respect to the making of the representations set forth in Article III, Article IV or Article V, as applicable, that involves a misrepresentation (by Parent, with respect to Article III or Article IV, and by GG, with respect to Article V), with the actual knowledge that the applicable representation and warranty was actually breached when made, with the specific intent that (a) in the case of fraud by GG, Parent rely thereon and (b) in the case of fraud by Parent, GG rely thereon, and for the avoidance of doubt, does not include constructive fraud or other claims based on constructive, imputed or implied knowledge, negligent misrepresentation, recklessness or similar theories; provided that the Person claiming fraud shall comply with any other requirements pursuant to applicable Law for asserting a claim of fraud (including pleading with particularity).
“Additional GG SEC Reports” has the meaning specified in Section 5.06.
“ADR” has the meaning specified in Section 2.04(a).
“ADR Facility” has the meaning specified in Section 2.04(a).
“Affiliate” means, with respect to any specified Person, any Person that, directly or indirectly, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such specified Person, through one or more intermediaries or otherwise. The term “control” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise, and the terms “controlled” and “controlling” have meanings correlative thereto.
“Aggregate Cash Amount” means an amount equal to the sum of (a) the Available Closing GG Cash, (b) the Sponsor Investment Amount, (c) the VCC PIPE Investment Amount and (d) the PIPE Investment Amount.
“Agreement” has the meaning specified in the preamble hereto.
“Alternative Advisor” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.05(c).
“Anti-Corruption Laws” means any applicable Laws relating to anti-bribery or anti-corruption (governmental or commercial), including, as applicable, the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, the U.K. Bribery Act of 2010 and all applicable national and international Laws enacted to implement the OECD Convention on Combatting Bribery of Foreign Officials in International Business Transactions.
“Available Closing GG Cash” means, as of the Measurement Time, all amounts in the Trust Account (after reduction for the aggregate amount of payments required to be made in connection with the GG Stockholder Redemptions).
“Benefit Plan” means an “employee benefit plan” as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA or any other plan, policy, program or agreement (including any employment, bonus, incentive or deferred compensation, employee loan, note or pledge agreement, equity, cash or equity-based compensation, severance, retention, supplemental retirement, transaction, change in control, individual consulting or similar plan, policy, program or agreement) providing compensation or other benefits to any current or former director, officer, employee or other service provider, in each case, whether or not (a) subject to the Laws of the United States, (b) in writing or (c) funded, but excluding in each case any Multiemployer Plan or any statutory plan, program or arrangement that is maintained by a Governmental Authority and required by applicable Law (“Statutory Plans”).
5
“Book-Entry Share” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(b).
“Book-Entry Warrant” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(c).
“Business Combination Proposal” has the meaning specified in Section 8.03(b).
“Business Day” means a day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in (a) New York, New York, (b) Singapore, (c) Stockholm, Sweden or (d) London, England are authorized or required by Law to close.
“Certificate of Merger” has the meaning specified in Section 2.01(b)(ii).
“Certificates” means any and all certificates representing GG Shares.
“Change of Control” means any transaction or series of related transactions (a) under which any Person(s), directly or indirectly, acquires or otherwise purchases fifty percent (50%) or more of the assets, businesses or Equity Securities of ListCo or (b) that results, directly or indirectly, in the shareholders of ListCo as of immediately prior to such transaction holding, in the aggregate, less than fifty percent (50%) of the voting shares of ListCo (or any successor or parent company of ListCo) immediately after the consummation thereof (in the case of each of clauses (a) and (b), whether by merger, consolidation, tender offer, 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 other Transaction Documents or the Transactions shall constitute a Change of Control.
“Closing” has the meaning specified in Section 2.02.
“Closing Company Financial Statements” has the meaning specified in Section 3.06(b).
“Closing Date” has the meaning specified in Section 2.02.
“Closing Filing” has the meaning specified in Section 8.06(e).
“Closing Press Release” has the meaning specified in Section 8.06(e).
“Code” means the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
“Company” means, prior to the Pre-Closing Sweden/Singapore Share Transfer, Polestar Singapore, and from and after the Pre-Closing Sweden/Singapore Share Transfer, Polestar Sweden; provided, that if at any time (a) Polestar Sweden is not a wholly-owned Subsidiary of Polestar Singapore and (b) Polestar Singapore is not a wholly-owned Subsidiary of Polestar Sweden, then during such time, “Company” shall be deemed to refer to both Polestar Singapore and Polestar Sweden.
6
“Company Alternate Transaction” means any transaction or series of related transactions under which any Person(s) (other than Parent, ListCo, the Company or any of their respective Subsidiaries; provided, that, solely with respect to Parent, any such transaction or series of related transactions does not adversely impact the expected benefits to GG of the Transactions, including the Pre-Closing Reorganization), directly or indirectly, acquires or otherwise purchases all or a material portion of the assets, Equity Securities or businesses of Parent or any of its controlled Affiliates (whether by merger, consolidation, liquidation, recapitalization, purchase, exchange or issuance of Equity Securities, lease or purchase of assets, tender offer or otherwise). Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything to the contrary herein, none of this Agreement, the other Transaction Documents or the Transactions shall constitute a Company Alternate Transaction.
“Company Benefit Plan” means a Benefit Plan that is sponsored, maintained or contributed to, or is required to be contributed to, by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or with respect to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has any Liability.
“Company Material Adverse Effect” means any change, event, effect, state of facts or occurrence that, individually or in the aggregate with any other change, event, effect, state of facts or occurrence, has had or would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the business, results of operations or financial condition of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole; provided, however, that none of the following shall be taken into account in determining whether a Company Material Adverse Effect has occurred or would reasonably be expected to occur: any change, event, effect, state of facts or occurrence arising from or related to (a) general business or economic conditions in or affecting Singapore, China, Sweden, the United Kingdom or the United States, or any other country, or changes therein, or the global economy generally, (b) any national or international political or social conditions in Singapore, China, Sweden, the United Kingdom or the United States, or any other country, including the engagement by Singapore, China, Sweden, the United Kingdom or the United States or any other country in hostilities, whether or not pursuant to the declaration of a national emergency or war, or the occurrence in any place of any military or terrorist attack, sabotage or cyberterrorism, (c) changes in conditions of the financial, banking, capital or securities markets generally in Singapore, China, Sweden, the United Kingdom or the United States, or any other country, or changes therein, including changes in interest rates in Singapore, China, Sweden, the United Kingdom or the United States or any other country and changes in exchange rates for the currencies of any countries, (d) changes or proposed changes in any applicable Laws (including COVID-19 Measures) or changes or proposed changes in IFRS, or any other applicable accounting standards or any authoritative interpretations thereof, in each case, after the date of this Agreement, (e) the execution or public announcement of this Agreement or the pendency or consummation of the Transactions (provided that the exception in this clause (e) shall not apply to the representations and warranties contained in Section 3.03 or the condition set forth in Section 9.03(a) to the extent it relates to such representations and warranties), (f) any failure in and of itself by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to meet any internal or published budgets, projections, forecasts, estimates or predictions (although the underlying facts and circumstances resulting in such failure may be taken into account to the extent not otherwise excluded from this definition), (g) any hurricane, tornado, flood, earthquake, tsunami, natural disaster, epidemic, pandemic (including COVID-19) or quarantine, act of God or other comparable event in Singapore, China, Sweden, the United Kingdom or the United States or any other country, or any escalation of the foregoing, (h) changes
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generally applicable to the industries or markets in which the Company and its Subsidiaries operate or (i) any action taken at the express written request, or with the express written consent, of GG after the date of this Agreement; provided, further, that any change, event, effect, state of facts or occurrence resulting from a matter described in any of the foregoing clauses (a) through (d), (g) or (h) may be taken into account in determining whether a Company Material Adverse Effect has occurred or would reasonably be expected to occur to the extent such change, event, effect, state of facts or occurrence has had or would reasonably be expected to have a disproportionate adverse effect on the business, results of operations or financial condition of Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, relative to other similarly situated participants operating in the industries in which the Company or its Subsidiaries operate (including, for the avoidance of doubt, those set forth on Section 1.01(a) of the Parent Disclosure Schedules).
“Company Party” means ListCo, Polestar Sweden and Polestar Singapore and each of their respective Subsidiaries.
“Company Party D&O Persons” has the meaning specified in Section 6.04(a).
“Company Party D&O Tail Policy” has the meaning specified in Section 6.04(c).
“Company Related Party” has the meaning specified in Section 3.10(a)(xvi).
“Company Related Party Contract” has the meaning specified in Section 3.20.
“Company Transaction Expenses” means, as of any determination time, the aggregate amount of fees, expenses, commissions or other amounts incurred by or on behalf of, and that are due and payable (and not otherwise expressly allocated to GG pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or any other Transaction Document) by, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, Parent, ListCo or Merger Sub or their respective Subsidiaries in connection with the negotiation, preparation or execution of this Agreement or any other Transaction Document, the performance of their covenants or agreements in this Agreement or any other Transaction Document or the consummation of the Transactions, including (a) the fees and expenses of outside legal counsel, accountants, advisors, brokers, investment bankers, consultants, placement agents or other agents or service providers of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, Parent, ListCo or Merger Sub or their respective Subsidiaries, (b) any reasonable, out of pocket fees, expenses, commissions or other amounts incurred by or on behalf of GG in connection with obtaining the Requisite GG Warrantholder Approval and, if the Requisite GG Warrantholder Approval is not obtained prior to the Effective Time, any United Kingdom corporation tax (including any related interest, penalties, surcharges and fines) payable by ListCo in connection with the issuance of ListCo Warrants in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, (c) any UK stamp duty and/or stamp duty reserve tax (including any related interest, penalties, surcharges, fines) or amounts in respect of such tax (whether pursuant to a Law, contract or otherwise) imposed or arising in connection with (i) the issuance or delivery of securities to holders of GG Shares or GG Warrants or (ii) the transfer, conversion or exercise of rights under such securities pursuant to, or contemplated by, or required to give effect to this Agreement (including the issuance of ListCo Class A Shares, ListCo Class C-1 Shares, ListCo Class C-2 Shares, ListCo Class A ADSs, ListCo Class C-1 ADSs, ListCo Class C-2 ADSs, ListCo Warrants or ListCo AD Warrants), (d) any filing fees related to the Registration Statement/Proxy Statement and (e) any other fees, expenses, commissions or other amounts that are expressly allocated to the Company or its Subsidiaries, Parent, ListCo or Merger Sub or their respective Subsidiaries pursuant to this Agreement or any other Transaction Document. Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything to the contrary herein, Company Transaction Expenses shall not include any GG Transaction Expenses.
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“Confidentiality Agreement” has the meaning specified in Section 11.09.
“Contaminant” means any “back door,” “drop dead device,” “time bomb,” “Trojan horse,” “virus” or “worm” (as such terms are commonly understood in the software industry) or any other code designed or intended to have, or capable of performing or that without user intent will cause, any of the following functions: (a) disrupting, disabling, harming or otherwise impeding in any manner the operation of, or providing unauthorized access to, any Software, hardware or device (including any computer, tablet computer, handheld device, disk or storage device); (b) damaging or destroying any data or file without the user’s consent; or (c) sending information to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or any other Person, without the user’s consent.
“Contracts” means any oral or written agreement, contract, license, lease, obligation, undertaking or other commitment or arrangement that is legally binding upon a Person or any of his, her or its properties or assets.
“Convertible Notes” has the meaning specified in the Recitals.
“COVID-19” means SARS-CoV-2 or COVID-19 and any evolutions thereof.
“COVID-19 Measures” means any quarantine, “shelter in place,” “stay at home,” workforce reduction, social distancing, shut down, closure or sequester order, guideline, recommendation or Law or any other applicable Laws, guidelines or recommendations, in each case, by any Governmental Authority and in response to COVID-19.
“Deposit Agreement” has the meaning specified in Section 2.04(a).
“Depositary Bank” has the meaning specified in Section 2.04(a).
“DTC” means The Depository Trust Company, a New York corporation.
“Earn Out Affiliate” means (a) with respect to any Earn Out Holder that is an individual, such Person’s spouse, parents, children or siblings (whether natural, step or by adoption), grandchildren (whether natural, step or by adoption) or a trust, partnership, corporation, limited liability company or other estate planning vehicles controlled by such Earn Out Holder and established solely for the benefit of such Earn Out Holder or for legitimate estate planning purposes, and which are subject to applicable vesting, transfer and forfeiture restrictions, (b) with respect to any Earn Out Holder that is a trust, all of the beneficiaries of such trust or the grantor of the trust and (c) with respect to any Earn Out Holder that is an entity, any Affiliate of such Earn Out Holder.
“Earn Out Allocation Schedule” means a schedule setting forth the number, rounded down to the nearest whole number with respect to each recipient, of Earn Out Class A Shares and Earn Out Class B Shares that each Parent Shareholder is entitled to in the event of an Earn Out Triggering Event.
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“Earn Out Class A Shares” means a number of ListCo Class A Shares equal to the Parent Ordinary Portion multiplied by the Earn Out Share Number, rounded down to the nearest whole number with respect to each recipient.
“Earn Out Class B Shares” means a number of ListCo Class B Shares equal to the Parent Preference Portion multiplied by the Earn Out Share Number, rounded down to the nearest whole number with respect to each recipient.
“Earn Out Holders” has the meaning specified in Section 2.06(a).
“Earn Out Period” has the meaning specified in Section 2.06(a).
“Earn Out Share Number” means a number equal to 0.075 multiplied by the number of issued and outstanding ListCo Shares as of immediately after the Effective Time (including, for the avoidance of doubt, ListCo Shares issued pursuant to the Subscription Agreements), rounded down to the nearest whole number.
“Earn Out Shares” means the Earn Out Class A Shares and the Earn Out Class B Shares.
“Earn Out Triggering Event” has the meaning specified in Section 2.06(a).
“Effective Time” has the meaning specified in Section 2.01(b)(ii).
“Enforceability Exceptions” has the meaning specified in Section 3.10(b).
“Environmental Laws” means any and all Laws, as enacted and in effect on the Closing Date, relating to pollution or protection of the environment (including natural resources), including the use, storage, emission, disposal or release of, or exposure to, Hazardous Materials.
“Equity Purchase Plan” has the meaning specified in Section 6.09(b).
“Equity Securities” means, with respect to any Person, (a) any capital stock/shares, partnership or membership interest, unit of participation or other similar interest (however designated) in such Person and (b) any option, warrant, purchase right, conversion right, exchange right or other contractual obligation which would entitle any other Person to acquire any such interest in such Person or otherwise entitle any other Person to share in the equity, profits, earnings, losses or gains of such Person (including any interest the value of which is in any way based on, linked to or derived from any interest described in clause (a), including stock/share appreciation rights, restricted stock units, performance stock units, phantom shares/stock, profit participation or other similar rights).
“Equity Value” means $20,003,000,000.
“ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.
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“ERISA Affiliate” means any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) which together with the Company would be treated as a “single employer” under Section 414(b), (c), (m), or (o) of the Code.
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
“Exchange Agent” means has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(a).
“Exercising Class C-1 Shareholder” has the meaning specified in Section 2.04(c).
“Exercising Class C-2 Shareholder” has the meaning specified in Section 2.04(c).
“Federal Securities Laws” means the Exchange Act, the Securities Act and the other U.S. federal securities laws and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.
“Financial Statements” has the meaning specified in Section 3.06(a).
“Former Parent” has the meaning specified in Section 3.06(a).
“Fully Diluted Parent Capitalization” means, without duplication, the aggregate number of Parent Shares outstanding as of immediately prior to the Pre-Closing Reorganization.
“GAAP” means United States generally accepted accounting principles, consistently applied.
“GG” has the meaning specified in the preamble hereto.
“GG Alternate Transaction” means any transaction or series of related transactions under which (a) GG or any of its controlled Affiliates, directly or indirectly, (i) acquires or otherwise purchases any other Person(s), (ii) engages in a business combination with any other Person(s) or (iii) acquires or otherwise purchases all or a material portion of the assets, Equity Securities or businesses of any other Person(s) (in the case of each of clauses (i), (ii) and (iii), whether by merger, consolidation, liquidation, recapitalization, purchase, exchange or issuance of Equity Securities, purchase of assets, tender offer or otherwise) or (b) (i) GG or any of its controlled Affiliates issues any Equity Securities to, or negotiates a similar investment with, any one or more Persons or (ii) any one or more Persons acquire or otherwise purchase all or a material portion of the assets or businesses of GG. Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything to the contrary herein, none of this Agreement, the other Transaction Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall constitute a GG Alternate Transaction.
“GG Benefit Plan” has the meaning specified in Section 5.13.
“GG Board” has the meaning specified in the Recitals.
“GG Change of Recommendation” has the meaning specified in Section 7.07(a)(ii).
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“GG Class A Shares” means shares of Class A common stock, par value of $0.0001 per share, of GG.
“GG Class F Shares” means shares of Class F common stock, par value of $0.0001 per share, of GG.
“GG D&O Persons” has the meaning specified in Section 6.03(a).
“GG D&O Tail Policy” has the meaning specified in Section 6.03(c).
“GG Disclosure Schedules” means the disclosure schedules to this Agreement delivered to Parent by GG on the date of this Agreement contemporaneously with the execution of this Agreement.
“GG Financial Statements” has the meaning specified in Section 5.07(d).
“GG Fundamental Representations” means the representations and warranties specified in Section 5.01 (Corporate Organization), Section 5.02 (Due Authorization), Section 5.04 (Capitalization) (other than the first sentence of Section 5.04(a)) and Section 5.19 (Brokers).
“GG Group” has the meaning specified in Section 11.18(a).
“GG Intervening Event” means any material change, event, circumstance, occurrence, effect, development or state of facts (a) that was not known by, or the consequences of which were not reasonably foreseeable to, the GG Board as of the date of this Agreement and that becomes known to, or the consequences of which become reasonably foreseeable to, the GG Board after the date of this Agreement and prior to the receipt of the Required GG Stockholder Approval and (b) that does not relate to a GG Alternate Transaction; provided, however, that any change, event, effect, state of facts or occurrence arising from or related to (i) conditions of the financial, banking, capital or securities markets generally in any country, including changes in interest rates in any country and changes in exchange rates for the currencies of any countries or (ii) the price or trading volume of GG Units, GG Class A Shares or GG Warrants shall in each case of clauses (a) and (b) of this definition be excluded for purposes of determining whether a GG Intervening Event has occurred (although, the underlying facts and circumstances may be taken into account).
“GG Intervening Event Notice” has the meaning specified in Section 7.07(b).
“GG Intervening Event Notice Period” has the meaning specified in Section 7.07(b).
“GG Material Adverse Effect” has the meaning specified in Section 5.15.
“GG Material Contracts” has the meaning specified in Section 5.12.
“GG Preferred Shares” has the meaning specified in Section 5.04(a).
“GG Recommendation” has the meaning specified in the Recitals.
“GG Related Party” has the meaning specified in Section 5.16.
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“GG SEC Reports” has the meaning specified in Section 5.06.
“GG Share Consideration” has the meaning specified in Section 2.01(b)(vi)(2).
“GG Shares” means, collectively, the GG Class A Shares and the GG Class F Shares.
“GG Stockholder Redemptions” means the right of the holders of GG Class A Shares to redeem all or a portion of their GG Class A Shares in connection with the Transactions as set forth in GG’s Governing Documents.
“GG Transaction Expenses” means, as of any determination time, the aggregate amount of fees, expenses, commissions or other amounts incurred by or on behalf of, and that are due and payable (and not otherwise expressly allocated to Parent, ListCo, Merger Sub, the Company or their respective Subsidiaries pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or any other Transaction Document) by, GG and/or Sponsor in connection with the negotiation, preparation or execution of this Agreement or any other Transaction Document, the performance of its covenants or agreements in this Agreement or any other Transaction Document or the consummation of the Transactions, including (a) the fees and expenses of outside legal counsel, accountants, advisors, brokers, investment bankers, consultants, placement agents or other agents or service providers of GG and/or Sponsor and (b) any other fees, expenses, commissions or other amounts that are expressly allocated to GG pursuant to this Agreement or any other Transaction Document. Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything to the contrary herein, GG Transaction Expenses shall not include any Company Transaction Expenses.
“GG Transaction Expenses Cap” means $60,000,000.
“GG Units” means the units issued in the IPO consisting of one GG Class A Share and one-fifth (1/5) of a Public Warrant.
“GG Warrant Agreement” means that certain Warrant Agreement, dated as of March 22, 2021, by and between GG and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., as the warrant agent.
“GG Warrants” means, collectively, the Private Placement Warrants and the Public Warrants.
“Governing Documents” means the legal document(s) by which any Person (other than an individual) establishes its legal existence or which govern its internal affairs. For example, the “Governing Documents” of a U.S. corporation are its certificate or articles of incorporation and by-laws, the “Governing Documents” of a U.S. limited partnership are its limited partnership agreement and certificate of limited partnership, the “Governing Documents” of a U.S. limited liability company are its operating or limited liability company agreement and certificate of formation, the “Governing Documents” of a Hong Kong incorporated company are its certificate of incorporation and articles of association, the “Governing Documents” of a Swedish limited company are its articles of association, the “Governing Documents” of a Singapore company are its constitution and certificate of incorporation issued by the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority of Singapore, the “Governing Documents” of a PRC company are its business license and articles of association, and the “Governing Documents” of a limited company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales are its memorandum of association and articles of association.
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“Governmental Authority” means any (a) federal, state, national, provincial, local, municipal, foreign, domestic or other government, (b) governmental or quasi-governmental entity of any nature (including any governmental agency, branch, department, official, or entity and any court or other tribunal) or (c) body exercising or entitled to exercise any administrative, executive, judicial, legislative, police, regulatory, stock exchange or taxing authority or power of any nature, including any arbitral tribunal (public or private).
“Governmental Order” means any writ, order, judgment, injunction, decision, determination, award, ruling, subpoena, verdict or decree or other similar determination or finding entered, issued or rendered by any Governmental Authority.
“Hazardous Material” means any material, substance or waste that is listed, regulated, classified or defined as “hazardous,” “toxic,” or “radioactive,” or as a “pollutant” or “contaminant” under applicable Environmental Laws due to its dangerous or deleterious properties or characteristics, including petroleum, petroleum by-products, asbestos, per- or polyfluoroalkyl substances or polychlorinated biphenyls.
“HSR Act” means the Xxxx-Xxxxx-Xxxxxx Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
“IFRS” means international financial reporting standards, consistently applied.
“Incentive Equity Plan” has the meaning specified in Section 6.09(a).
“Indebtedness” means, with respect to any Person as of any time, without duplication, any obligations (whether or not contingent) consisting of (a) the outstanding principal amount of, and other payment obligations for, borrowed money of such Person or indebtedness issued by such Person in substitution or exchange for borrowed money or payment obligations issued or incurred (in each case, other than indebtedness solely between or among such Person and its Subsidiaries), (b) amounts owing as deferred purchase price for property or services, including “earnout” payments, (c) payment obligations evidenced by any promissory note, bond, debenture, mortgage or other debt instrument or debt security, in each case, of such Person, (d) all obligations of such Person as lessee that are required to be capitalized in accordance with GAAP or IFRS, as applicable, (e) contingent reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit, bankers’ acceptance or similar facilities (in each case to the extent drawn), (f) payment obligations of a third party secured by (or for which the holder of such payment obligations has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any Lien, other than a Permitted Lien, on assets or properties of such Person, whether or not the obligations secured thereby have been assumed, (g) guarantees, make whole agreements, hold harmless agreements or similar arrangement with respect to any amounts of all obligations of the type referred to in clauses (a) through (f) of this definition of any other Person, the payment of which such first Person is responsible or liable, directly or indirectly, as obligor, guarantor, surety or otherwise, including any guarantee of such obligations and (h) with respect to each of the foregoing, any accrued and unpaid interest, 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); provided, however, that Indebtedness shall not include (i) accounts payable to trade creditors that are not past due and accrued expense arising in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice and (ii) Company Transaction Expenses or GG Transaction Expenses.
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“Intellectual Property” means all rights, title and interest in or relating to any intellectual property, whether protected, created or arising under the Laws of any jurisdiction throughout the world, including all: (a) patents and patent applications, including provisional patent applications and similar filings, and all substitutions, divisions, continuations, continuations-in-part, reissues, renewals, extensions, reexaminations, patents of addition, supplementary protection certificates, utility models, inventors’ certificates, or the like and all foreign equivalents of any of the foregoing (including certificates of invention and any applications therefor) (collectively, “Patents”), (b) trademarks, service marks, logos, trade dress, trade names and corporate names, and other source or business identifiers and general intangibles of a like nature, together with the goodwill associated with any of the foregoing, and all applications, registrations, renewals and extensions of any of the foregoing (collectively, “Trademarks”), (c) copyrights, works of authorship and copyrightable works (including copyrights in Software), in each case, whether or not registered or published, all applications, registrations, reversions, extensions and renewals of any of the foregoing, and all moral rights, however denominated, (d) trade secrets and confidential information, rights to inventions (whether patentable or not), rights in Software, know-how, technology, data, databases and documentation thereof, and (e) Internet domain names.
“Interim Period” has the meaning specified in Section 6.01(a).
“IPO” means the initial public offering of GG Units pursuant to the IPO Prospectus.
“IPO Prospectus” means the final prospectus of GG, dated as of March 22, 2021, and filed with the SEC on March 24, 2021 (File No. 333-253338).
“IT Systems” means all computers, computer systems, servers, networks, network equipment, firmware, Software, hardware, information technology systems or infrastructure, electronic data processing systems, communication networks, interfaces, platforms, peripherals and data or information contained therein or transmitted thereby, and other information technology equipment, in each case, whether owned, used, held for use, outsourced, leased or licensed by or on behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
“JOBS Act” means the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012.
“Xxxxxxxx” has the meaning specified in Section 11.18(b).
“Xxxxxxxx Privileged Communications” has the meaning specified in Section 11.18(b).
“Labor Agreement” has the meaning specified in Section 3.10(a)(xiv).
“Law” means any statute, law (including common law), act, code, ordinance, rule, regulation or Governmental Order, in each case, of any Governmental Authority.
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“Leased Real Property” means all real property leased, subleased, licensed or similarly used or occupied by the Company or its Subsidiaries.
“Leases” has the meaning specified in Section 3.16(b).
“Liability” or “liability” means any and all debts, liabilities and obligations, whether accrued or fixed, absolute or contingent, known or unknown, matured or unmatured or determined or determinable, including those arising under any Law, Proceeding or Governmental Order and those arising under any Contract.
“Licensed IP” means all Intellectual Property (other than Owned IP) that is used, practiced or held for use or practice by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
“Lien” means any mortgage, deed of trust, pledge, hypothecation, easement, right of way, purchase option, right of first refusal, restriction, security interest, license, covenant not to assert, restriction on transfer, title defect, encroachment or other survey defect, pre-emption, redemption, or any other similar lien or encumbrance.
“ListCo” has the meaning specified in the preamble hereto.
“ListCo AD Recipients” has the meaning specified in Section 2.04(b).
“ListCo AD Warrant” means an American depository warrant of ListCo duly and validly issued against the deposit of an underlying ListCo Warrant deposited with the Depositary Bank in accordance with the Deposit Agreement and representing the right to acquire one ListCo Class A ADS (or one ListCo Class A Share if at the time of exercise ListCo no longer uses the ADR Facility) at an exercise price of $11.50 per ListCo Class A ADS, subject to adjustment, terms and limitations as described in the ListCo Warrant Agreement.
“ListCo ADS Agent” has the meaning specified in Section 2.04(b).
“ListCo Board” has the meaning specified in the Recitals.
“ListCo Class A ADS” means a American depository share of ListCo duly and validly issued against the deposit of an underlying ListCo Class A Share deposited with the Depositary Bank in accordance with the Deposit Agreement.
“ListCo Class A ADS Recipients” has the meaning specified in Section 2.04(b).
“ListCo Class A Share” means a class A ordinary share in the share capital of ListCo.
“ListCo Class B Share” means a class B ordinary share in the share capital of ListCo.
“ListCo Class C-1 ADS” means an American depository share of ListCo duly and validly issued against the deposit of an underlying ListCo Class C-1 Share deposited with the Depositary Bank in accordance with the Deposit Agreement.
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“ListCo Class C-2 ADS” means an American depository share of ListCo duly and validly issued against the deposit of an underlying ListCo Class C-2 Share deposited with the Depositary Bank in accordance with the Deposit Agreement.
“ListCo Class C-1 ADS Recipients” has the meaning specified in Section 2.04(b).
“ListCo Class C-2 ADS Recipients” has the meaning specified in Section 2.04(b).
“ListCo Class C-1 Share” means a class C-1 ordinary share in the share capital of ListCo.
“ListCo Class C-2 Share” means a class C-2 ordinary share in the share capital of ListCo.
“ListCo New Articles of Association” has the meaning specified in Section 6.08.
“ListCo Shares” means, collectively, the ListCo Class A Shares and ListCo Class B Shares.
“ListCo Warrant” means a warrant representing the right to acquire one ListCo Class A Share in the same form and on the same terms and conditions (including the same exercise price of $11.50 per ListCo Class A Share) as the applicable GG Warrant cancelled and converted into such warrant at the Effective Time pursuant to the ListCo Warrant Agreement and Section 2.01(b)(vi)(3).
“ListCo Warrant Agreement” means that certain Warrant Assignment, Assumption and Amendment Agreement, to be dated as of the Closing Date, by and between GG, ListCo and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., as the warrant agent, with respect to the ListCo Warrants, in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit I.
“Lock-up Period” means the period from and after the Closing Date until the end of the 180th day after the Closing Date.
“Material Contracts” has the meaning specified in Section 3.10(a).
“Material Permits” has the meaning specified in Section 3.15.
“Measurement Time” means 12:01 a.m., New York time, on the Closing Date.
“Merger” has the meaning specified in Section 2.01(b)(i).
“Merger Sub” has the meaning specified in the preamble hereto.
“Merger Sub Shares” has the meaning specified in Section 2.01(b)(iv).
“Money Laundering Laws” has the meaning specified in Section 3.09(g).
“Most Recent Balance Sheet” means the unaudited consolidated balance sheet of the Company as of December 31, 2020.
“Multiemployer Plan” means any “multiemployer plan” (as defined in Section 3(37) of ERISA).
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“Necessary Related Party Contracts” has the meaning specified in Section 3.10(a)(xvi).
“Non-U.S. Benefit Plan” has the meaning specified in Section 3.11(i).
“Note Conversion Shares” means an aggregate number, rounded down to the nearest whole number with respect to each recipient, of ListCo Class A Shares equal to (a) the outstanding principal amount due in respect of the Convertible Notes, divided by (b) the applicable Conversion Price as defined in the applicable Convertible Note.
“Note Purchase Agreements” means, collectively, the agreements set forth on Section 1.01(b) of the Parent Disclosure Schedules.
“Open Source Software” means any Software that is subject to or licensed, provided or distributed under any license meeting the Open Source Definition (as promulgated by the Open Source Initiative as of the date of this Agreement) or the Free Software Definition (as promulgated by the Free Software Foundation as of the date of this Agreement) or any similar license for “free,” “publicly available” or “open source” Software, including the GNU General Public License, the Lesser GNU General Public License, the Apache License, the BSD License, Mozilla Public License (MPL), and the MIT License.
“Owned Company Software” means all Software owned or purported to be owned by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
“Owned IP” means all Intellectual Property that is owned or purported to be owned by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, including all Registered Intellectual Property.
“Owned Real Property” means all real property owned by the Company or its Subsidiaries.
“Parent” has the meaning specified in the preamble hereto.
“Parent and Company Fundamental Representations” means the representations and warranties specified in Section 3.01 (Corporate Organization; Due Authorization), Section 3.04(a) (Capitalization) (other than the first sentence of Section 3.04(a)), Section 3.21 (Brokers), Section 4.01 (Corporate Organization), Section 4.02 (Due Authorization), Section 4.04 (Capitalization) (other than Section 4.04(a)) and Section 4.08 (Brokers).
“Parent Board” has the meaning specified in the Recitals.
“Parent Consideration” means the Parent Preference Consideration and the Parent Ordinary Consideration.
“Parent Consideration Share Number” means (a) the Equity Value divided by $10.00, minus (b) the Note Conversion Shares, minus (c) the VCC Preference Shares.
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“Parent Disclosure Schedules” means the disclosure schedules to this Agreement delivered to GG by Parent on the date of this Agreement contemporaneously with the execution of this Agreement.
“Parent Group” has the meaning specified in Section 11.18(b).
“Parent Lock-Up Agreement” has the meaning specified in the Recitals.
“Parent Ordinary Consideration” means a number of ListCo Class A Shares equal to (a) the Parent Ordinary Portion multiplied by the Parent Consideration Share Number, minus (b) the number of ListCo Class A Shares issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Pre-Closing Reorganization, rounded down to the nearest whole number with respect to each recipient.
“Parent Ordinary Portion” means (a) the number of Parent Ordinary Shares issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Pre-Closing Reorganization, divided by (b) the Fully Diluted Parent Capitalization.
“Parent Ordinary Share” means a class B ordinary share in the share capital of Parent.
“Parent Preference Consideration” means a number of ListCo Class B Shares equal to (a) the Parent Preference Portion multiplied by the Parent Consideration Share Number, minus (b) the number of ListCo Class B Shares issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Pre-Closing Reorganization, rounded down to the nearest whole number with respect to each recipient.
“Parent Preference Portion” means the number of Parent Preference Shares issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Pre-Closing Reorganization divided by the Fully Diluted Parent Capitalization.
“Parent Preference Share” means a class A ordinary share in the share capital of Parent.
“Parent Shareholder Written Consent” has the meaning specified in the Recitals.
“Parent Shareholders” means, collectively, the holders of Parent Shares.
“Parent Shareholders Agreement” means the Shareholders Agreement, dated as of January 20, 2021, by and among Parent, Volvo Car Corporation, Xxxxx, Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co., Ltd., PSD Investment Limited, PSINV AB, Beijing E-Town International Investment & Development Co., Ltd. and the co-investors signatory thereto, as amended by that certain First Supplemental Agreement to the Shareholders Agreement, dated as of June 8, 2021.
“Parent Shares” means the Parent Preference Shares and Parent Ordinary Shares.
“Parties” has the meaning specified in the preamble hereto.
“Party” has the meaning specified in the preamble hereto.
“Patents” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Intellectual Property”.
“PCAOB” has the meaning specified in Section 3.06(b).
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“Per Share GG Consideration” has the meaning specified in Section 2.01(b)(vi)(2).
“Permits” has the meaning specified in Section 3.09(f).
“Permitted Liens” means (a) statutory or common law Liens of mechanics, materialmen, warehousemen, landlords, carriers, repairmen, construction contractors and other similar Liens arising or incurred in the ordinary course of business, and (i) that relate to amounts not yet due and payable or (ii) that are being contested in good faith through appropriate Proceedings and for which appropriate reserves for the amount being contested have been established in accordance with IFRS, (b) Liens arising or incurred under original purchase price conditional sales contracts and equipment leases with third parties entered into in the ordinary course of business, (c) Liens for Taxes not yet due and payable or which are being contested in good faith through appropriate Proceedings and for which appropriate reserves for the amount being contested have been established in accordance with IFRS, (d) Liens of record affecting title to real property (including easements, covenants, rights of way, zoning ordinances, survey defects and other title defects or encumbrances) that do not and would not reasonably be expected to, individually or in the aggregate, prohibit or materially interfere with the use or occupancy of such real property or the business of the Company or its Subsidiaries, (e) Liens in respect of any obligations as lessee under capitalized leases, (f) rights, interests, Liens or titles of, or through, a licensor, sublicensor, licensee, sublicensee, lessor or sublessor under any license, lease or other similar agreement or in the property being leased or licensed that do not and would not reasonably be expected to, individually or in the aggregate, prohibit or materially interfere with the use or occupancy of such real property or the business of the Company or its Subsidiaries, (g) non-exclusive licenses of Intellectual Property entered into in the ordinary course of business and (h) transfer restrictions under the Governing Documents of Parent and each of its direct and indirect Subsidiaries, in each case, entered into in the ordinary course of business.
“Permitted Transfer” has the meaning specified in Section 2.06(e).
“Permitted Transferee” has the meaning specified in Section 2.06(e).
“Person” means any individual, firm, corporation, exempted company, partnership, exempted limited partnership, limited liability company, incorporated or unincorporated association, joint venture, joint stock company, governmental agency or instrumentality or other entity of any kind.
“Personal Information” means any information relating to an identified or identifiable natural person, including personal data and personally identifiable information (each as defined in any Privacy Laws) that identifies, can be used to identify or is otherwise associated with an individual person or device, whether or not such information is associated with an identified individual, including (a) names, addresses, telephone numbers, email address, financial information, financial account number, personal health information, drivers’ license numbers and government-issued identification numbers and (b) Internet Protocol addresses, device identifiers or other persistent identifiers.
“PIPE Investment” has the meaning specified in the Recitals.
“PIPE Investment Amount” has the meaning specified in Section 4.04(e).
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“PIPE Investors” has the meaning specified in the Recitals.
“PIPE Subscription Agreement” has the meaning specified in the Recitals.
“Polestar Singapore” has the meaning specified in the preamble hereto.
“Polestar Sweden” has the meaning specified in the preamble hereto.
“PRC” means the People’s Republic of China (for the purpose of this Agreement and other Transaction Documents, excluding Hong Kong, Macau Special Administrative Region and Taiwan).
“PRC Cybersecurity Laws” has the meaning specified in Section 3.09(h).
“Pre-Closing Consolidation” has the meaning specified in Exhibit E.
“Pre-Closing GG Holders” means the holders of GG Shares as of any specified time prior to the Effective Time.
“Pre-Closing Reorganization” has the meaning specified in Section 6.08.
“Pre-Closing Sweden/Singapore Share Transfer” has the meaning specified in Exhibit E.
“Privacy Laws” means any and all applicable Laws, legal requirements and self-regulatory guidelines relating to the receipt, collection, compilation, use, storage (including storage location), processing, protection, privacy, sharing, safeguarding, disposal, destruction, disclosure, transfer (including cross-border) or security (both technical and physical) of Personal Information, including the Federal Trade Commission Act, Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard, California Consumer Privacy Act, General Data Protection Regulation, Regulation 2016/679/EU, Personal Data Protection Xxx 0000 (No. 26 Of 2012), including any predecessor, successor or implementing legislation in respect of the foregoing, any amendments or re-enactments of the foregoing, and any and all applicable Laws in connection with Personal Information relating to (a) breach notification or marketing, (b) the use of biometric identifiers or (c) the internet of things.
“Private Placement Warrants” means the Private Placement Warrants as defined in the GG Warrant Agreement.
“Proceeding” means any lawsuit, litigation, action, audit, examination or investigation, inquiry, claim, complaint, charge, proceeding, suit or arbitration (in each case, whether civil, criminal or administrative and whether public or private) pending by or before any Governmental Authority.
“Public Warrants” means the Public Warrants as defined in the GG Warrant Agreement.
“Redeeming Stockholder” means a holder of GG Shares who demands that GG redeem its GG Class A Shares for cash in connection with the Transactions and in accordance with the GG Governing Documents.
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“Registered Intellectual Property” has the meaning specified in Section 3.17(a).
“Registration Rights Agreement” has the meaning specified in the Recitals hereto.
“Registration Statement/Proxy Statement” means a registration statement on Form F-4 relating to the Transactions and containing a proxy statement of GG.
“Representative” means, as to any Person, any of the officers, directors, managers, employees, counsel, accountants, financial advisors and consultants of such Person.
“Required GG Stockholder Approval” means the approval, at the Special Meeting where a quorum is present, of the Business Combination Proposal, by the vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding GG Shares entitled to vote thereon.
“Required Parent Shareholder Approval” has the meaning specified in the Recitals.
“Requisite GG Warrantholder Approval” means the vote or written consent of the registered holders of at least fifty percent (50%) of the then outstanding Public Warrants to amend the GG Warrant Agreement to permit the conversion or exchange of Public Warrants for ListCo Class C-1 ADSs and the Private Placement Warrants for ListCo Class C-2 ADSs at the Effective Time.
“Rollover Change of Control” has the meaning specified in Section 2.06(d).
“Sanctions and Trade Control Laws” means to the extent applicable to the Company and its Subsidiaries (a) export controls, including the U.S. Export Administration Regulations, (b) economic sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the U.S. Department of State, the European Union, any European Union Member State, the United Nations and Her Majesty’s Treasury of the United Kingdom, (c) customs and import Laws and regulations, including Title 19 of the Code of Federal Regulations and the associated statutes or (d) the anti-boycott Laws administered by the U.S. Department of Commerce and the Department of Treasury.
“Schedules” means the disclosure schedules of Parent, ListCo, and the Company and/or the disclosure schedules of GG, as the context requires.
“SEC” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933 and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
“Securities Laws” means Federal Securities Laws and other applicable foreign and domestic securities or similar Laws and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
“Signing Filing” has the meaning specified in Section 8.06(e).
“Signing Press Release” has the meaning specified in Section 8.06(e).
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“Software” means any and all (a) computer programs, including any and all software implementation of algorithms, models and methodologies, whether in source code, object code, human readable form or other form, (b) databases and compilations, including any and all data and collections of data, whether machine readable or otherwise, (c) screens, user interfaces, report formats, firmware, development tools, templates, menus, buttons and icons and (d) documentation including user manuals and other training documentation relating to any of the foregoing.
“Special Meeting” has the meaning specified in Section 8.03(b).
“Sponsor” has the meaning specified in the Recitals hereto.
“Sponsor Insiders” has the meaning specified in the Recitals hereto.
“Sponsor Investment” has the meaning specified in the Recitals hereto.
“Sponsor Investment Amount” has the meaning specified in the preamble hereto.
“Sponsor and Supporting Sponsor Stockholders Lock-Up Agreement” has the meaning specified in the Recitals hereto.
“Sponsor Subscription Agreement” has the meaning specified in the Recitals hereto.
“Statutory Plans” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Benefit Plan”.
“Stock Exchange” means the Nasdaq Stock Market or any other national securities exchange on which the ListCo Class A ADSs, ListCo AD Warrants or ListCo Class C-1 ADSs or ListCo Class C-2 ADSs are listed for trading as displayed on Bloomberg (or any successor service).
“Subscription Agreement” has the meaning specified in the Recitals hereto.
“Subsidiary” means, with respect to a Person, any corporation, exempted company or other organization (including a limited liability company, an exempted limited partnership or a partnership or any PRC company’s branch office), whether incorporated or unincorporated, of which such Person directly or indirectly owns or controls a majority of the securities or other interests, having by their terms ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors, or board of managers (as the case may be) or others performing similar functions with respect to such corporation, exempted company or other organization or any organization of which such Person or any of its Subsidiaries is, directly or indirectly, a general partner or managing member.
“Supporting Sponsor Stockholders” has the meaning specified in the Recitals hereto.
“Surviving SPAC” has the meaning specified in Section 2.01(b)(i).
“Surviving SPAC Share” means a share of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Surviving SPAC.
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“Tax” means any U.S. federal, state, provincial, territorial, local, non-U.S. and other net income tax, alternative or add-on minimum tax, base erosion minimum tax, franchise tax, gross income, or gross receipts tax, employment related tax (including employee withholding, employer payroll tax or social security contributions or social security contributions), ad valorem, transfer, franchise, license, excise, severance, stamp, occupation, premium, personal property, real property, capital stock, profits, disability, registration, value added, estimated, customs duties and sales or use tax or other tax or like assessment, together with any interest, penalty, addition to tax or additional amount imposed with respect thereto by a Governmental Authority.
“Tax Return” means any return, report, statement, refund, claim, declaration, information return, statement, election, estimate or other document filed with a Governmental Authority in respect of Taxes, including any schedule or attachment thereto and including any amendments thereof.
“Termination Date” has the meaning specified in Section 10.01(d).
“Tier 1 Earn Out Shares” has the meaning specified in Section 2.06(a)(i).
“Tier 2 Earn Out Shares” has the meaning specified in Section 2.06(a)(ii).
“Tier 3 Earn Out Shares” has the meaning specified in Section 2.06(a)(iii).
“Tier 4 Earn Out Shares” has the meaning specified in Section 2.06(a)(iv).
“Trademarks” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Intellectual Property”.
“Trading Day” means any day on which ListCo Class A ADS are traded on the Stock Exchange, provided that “Trading Day” shall not include any Abbreviated Trading Day.
“Transaction Conditions” means the conditions specified in Article IX of this Agreement.
“Transaction Documents” means this Agreement, the Certificate of Merger, the Parent Lock-Up Agreements, the Sponsor and Supporting Sponsor Stockholders Lock-Up Agreement, the Sponsor Subscription Agreement, the VCC PIPE Subscription Agreement, the VCC Preference Subscription Agreement, the PIPE Subscription Agreements, the Registration Rights Agreement, the Deposit Agreement, the ListCo New Articles of Association, the Incentive Equity Plan and the Equity Purchase Plan and all the agreements, documents, instruments and certificates entered into in connection herewith or therewith and any and all exhibits and schedules thereto.
“Transaction Proposals” has the meaning specified in Section 8.03(b).
“Transactions” means the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents, including the Merger and the Pre-Closing Reorganization.
“Transfer” means offer for sale, sell (including short sales), transfer, tender, pledge, convert, encumber, assign or otherwise dispose of (including by gift, merger, demerger, tendering into any tender offer, distribution, redemption, repurchase or exchange offer or otherwise).
“Treasury Regulations” means the regulations promulgated under the Code.
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“Trust Account” has the meaning specified in Section 5.05.
“Trust Agreement” has the meaning specified in Section 5.05.
“Trustee” has the meaning specified in Section 5.05.
“U.S. Intended Tax Treatment” has the meaning specified in the Recitals.
“Unvested Shares” means any Earn Out Shares that have not vested in accordance with this Agreement.
“VAT” means (a) any indirect Tax imposed in compliance with the Council Directive of November 28, 2006 on the common system of value-added Tax (EC Directive 2006/112) or (b) any indirect Tax of a similar nature, whether imposed in a member state of the European Union in substitution for, or levied in addition to, such Tax referred to in clause (a) above, or imposed elsewhere, including any interest, penalty or addition thereto.
“VCC” has the meaning specified in the Recitals hereto.
“VCC PIPE Investment” has the meaning specified in the Recitals hereto.
“VCC PIPE Investment Amount” has the meaning specified in the recitals hereto.
“VCC PIPE Subscription Agreement” has the meaning specified in the recitals hereto.
“VCC Preference Shares” means the aggregate number of convertible preference shares of ListCo, issued pursuant to the VCC Preference Subscription Agreement, outstanding as of the Closing.
“VCC Preference Subscription Agreement” means that certain VCC Preference Subscription Agreement, dated as of September 27, 2021 by and among ListCo and Xxxxx.
“Volume Weighted Average ADS Price” means, on any Trading Day, the volume weighted average share price of the ListCo Class A ADSs on the Stock Exchange in respect of the period from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. New York time, on such Trading Day.
“WARN” has the meaning specified in Section 3.12(b).
“Weil” has the meaning specified in Section 8.05(c).
“Weil Privileged Communications” has the meaning specified in Section 11.18(a).
“Willful Breach” means a Party’s knowing and intentional material breach of any of its representations or warranties set forth in this Agreement, or such Party’s material breach of any of its covenants or other agreements set forth in this Agreement, which material breach constitutes, or is a consequence of, a purposeful act or failure to act by such party with the knowledge that the taking of such act or failure to take such act would cause a material breach of this Agreement.
“Withholding Party” has the meaning specified in Section 2.07.
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Section 1.02 Construction.
(a) Unless the context of this Agreement otherwise requires, (i) words of any gender include each other gender, (ii) words using the singular or plural number also include the plural or singular number, respectively, (iii) the terms “hereof,” “herein,” “hereby,” “hereto” and derivative or similar words refer to this entire Agreement, (iv) the terms “Article,” “Section,” “Schedule,” “Exhibit” and “Annex” refer to the specified Article, Section, Schedule, Exhibit or Annex of or to this Agreement unless otherwise specified, (v) the word “including” shall mean “including without limitation,” (vi) the word “or” shall be disjunctive but not exclusive and (vii) the phrase “to the extent” means the degree to which a thing extends (rather than if).
(b) When used herein, “ordinary course of business” means an action taken, or omitted to be taken, in the ordinary and usual course of the referenced business.
(c) Unless the context of this Agreement otherwise requires, references to agreements and other documents shall be deemed to include all subsequent amendments and other modifications thereto.
(d) Unless the context of this Agreement otherwise requires, references to statutes shall include all regulations promulgated thereunder and references to statutes or regulations shall be construed as including all statutory and regulatory provisions consolidating, amending or replacing the statute or regulation.
(e) The language used in this Agreement shall be deemed to be the language chosen by the Parties to express their mutual intent and no rule of strict construction shall be applied against any Party.
(f) Whenever this Agreement refers to a number of days, such number shall refer to calendar days unless Business Days are specified. If any action is to be taken or given on or by a particular calendar day, and such calendar day is not a Business Day, then such action may be deferred until the next Business Day.
(g) References to “$” or “dollar” or “US$” shall be references to United States dollars.
(h) All accounting terms used herein and not expressly defined herein shall have the meanings given to them under IFRS.
(i) The phrases “provided to,” “furnished to,” “made available to” and phrases of similar import when used herein, unless the context otherwise requires, mean that a copy of the information or material referred to has been provided no later than 5:00 p.m., New York Time, two (2) Business Days prior to the date of this Agreement to the Party to which such information or material is to be provided or furnished (i) in the virtual “data room” set up by Parent or an Affiliate thereof in connection with this Agreement or (ii) by delivery to such Party and its legal counsel via electronic mail.
Section 1.03 Knowledge. As used herein, the phrase “knowledge” means the actual knowledge, after due inquiry, of (a) in the case of Parent, the Company, Merger Sub or ListCo, Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx, Xxxx Xxxxx and Xxxx Rudensjö and (b) in the case of GG, Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx and Xxxxxx XxXxxxx.
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Section 1.04 Equitable Adjustments. If, between the date of this Agreement and the Closing, the outstanding GG Shares or shares of ListCo shall have been changed into a different number of shares or a different class by reason of any stock dividend, subdivision, reclassification, reorganization, recapitalization, split, combination or exchange of shares or any similar event shall have occurred (other than any event expressly contemplated by this Agreement), or if there shall have been any breach of this Agreement by GG with respect to its GG Shares or rights to issue GG Shares, or by Parent or any Company Party with respect to shares of ListCo or rights to issue such shares, then any number, value (including dollar value) or amount contained herein which is based upon the number of GG Shares or shares of ListCo (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the Parent Consideration and the GG Share Consideration) shall be equitably adjusted to provide Parent and the holders of GG Shares the same economic effect as contemplated by this Agreement prior to such event; provided, however, that this Section 1.04 shall not be construed to permit any Party to take any action with respect to their respective securities or otherwise that is prohibited by the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
ARTICLE II
THE MERGER AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS; CLOSING
Section 2.01 The Transactions.
(a) Parent Consideration. Prior to the Closing, ListCo shall issue to Parent the Parent Consideration in accordance with, and as consideration for, the Pre-Closing Reorganization.
(b) Merger.
(i) Merger. On the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement and in accordance with the DGCL, at the Effective Time, Merger Sub shall merge with and into GG (the “Merger”) and the separate corporate existence of Merger Sub shall thereupon cease. GG shall survive the Merger (the “Surviving SPAC”) as a wholly owned Subsidiary of ListCo.
(ii) Effective Time. At the Closing, the Parties shall cause a certificate of merger, in a form reasonably satisfactory to Parent and GG (the “Certificate of Merger”), to be executed and filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware. The Merger shall become effective on the date and time at which the Certificate of Merger is accepted for filing by the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware or at such later date and/or time as is agreed by GG and Parent and specified in the Certificate of Merger (the time the Merger becomes effective, the “Effective Time”).
(iii) Effect of the Merger. The Merger shall have the effects set forth in Section 251 of the DGCL. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, and subject thereto, at the Effective Time, all of the assets, properties, rights, privileges, powers and franchises of GG and Merger Sub shall vest in the Surviving SPAC and all debts, liabilities, obligations and duties of GG and Merger Sub shall become the debts, liabilities, obligations and duties of the Surviving SPAC, in each case, in accordance with the DGCL.
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(iv) Merger Sub Shares. At the Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of any Party or any other Person, each share of capital stock of Merger Sub (collectively, the “Merger Sub Shares”) issued and outstanding as of immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be automatically cancelled and extinguished and converted into one Surviving SPAC Share.
(v) Surviving SPAC Governance. At the Effective Time, the Governing Documents of Merger Sub shall be the Governing Documents of the Surviving SPAC, in each case, until thereafter changed or amended as provided therein or by applicable Law. At the Effective Time, the directors and officers of Merger Sub immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the initial directors and officers of the Surviving SPAC, each to hold office in accordance with the Governing Documents of the Surviving SPAC until such director’s or officer’s successor is duly elected or appointed and qualified, or until the earlier of their death, resignation or removal.
(vi) Effect of the Merger on Securities of GG.
(1) GG Units. At the Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of any Party or any other Person, each issued and outstanding GG Unit shall be automatically separated and the holder thereof shall be deemed to hold one GG Class A Share and one-fifth (1/5) of a Public Warrant in accordance with the terms of the applicable GG Unit, which underlying securities shall be converted in accordance with the applicable terms of Section 2.01(b)(vi)(2) and Section 2.01(b)(vi)(3), respectively.
(2) GG Shares. At the Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of any Party or any other Person, each GG Share issued and outstanding as of immediately prior to the Effective Time (other than those described in Section 2.01(b)(vi)(4)) shall be automatically cancelled and extinguished and converted into the right to receive one ListCo Class A ADS (the “Per Share GG Consideration,” and all Per Share GG Consideration issued to holders of GG Shares in connection with the Merger, collectively, the “GG Share Consideration”). From and after the Effective Time, the holder(s) of Certificates, if any, evidencing ownership of GG Shares or GG Shares held in book-entry form issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall cease to have any rights with respect to such shares except as otherwise provided for herein or under applicable Law.
(3) GG Warrants (With Receipt of Requisite GG Warrantholder Approval). In the event that the Requisite GG Warrantholder Approval is obtained prior to the Effective Time, at the Effective Time, without any action on the part of any Party or any other Person, (A) each Public Warrant that is outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be automatically cancelled and extinguished and converted into the right to receive one ListCo Class C-1 ADS and (B) each Private Placement Warrant that is outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be automatically cancelled and extinguished and converted into the right to receive one ListCo Class C-2 ADS. From and after the Effective Time, the holders of GG Warrants prior to the Effective Time shall cease to have any rights with respect to such warrants except as otherwise provided for herein or under applicable Law.
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(4) GG Warrants (Without Receipt of Requisite GG Warrantholder Approval). In the event that the Requisite GG Warrantholder Approval is not obtained prior to the Effective Time, at the Effective Time, without any action on the part of any Party or any other Person, each GG Warrant that is outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be automatically cancelled and extinguished and converted into the right to receive one ListCo AD Warrant. From and after the Effective Time, the holders of GG Warrants prior to the Effective Time shall cease to have any rights with respect to such warrants except as otherwise provided for herein or under applicable Law.
(5) Cancellation of Treasury Shares. At the Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of any Party or any other Person, each GG Share held immediately prior to the Effective Time by GG in treasury shall be automatically canceled and extinguished, and no consideration shall be paid with respect thereto.
(6) Stock Transfer Books. At the Effective Time, the stock transfer books of GG shall be closed and no Transfer of GG Units, GG Shares or GG Warrants shall be made thereafter.
Section 2.02 Closing. On the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, the closing of the Transactions (the “Closing”) shall take place electronically by the mutual exchange of electronic signatures (including portable document format (.PDF)) (a) as promptly as practicable (and in any event no later than 9:00 a.m., New York time, on the third Business Day) following the satisfaction or (to the extent permitted by applicable Law) waiver of the Transaction Conditions (other than any Transaction Conditions that by their terms or nature are to be satisfied at the Closing, but subject to the satisfaction or (to the extent permitted by applicable Law) waiver of such Transaction Conditions at the Closing) or (b) at such other place, time or date as the Parties may agree in writing. The date on which the Closing actually occurs is referred to in this Agreement as the “Closing Date.”
Section 2.03 Exchange Agent.
(a) Prior to the Closing Date, ListCo shall appoint a Person authorized to act as exchange agent in connection with the Transactions, which Person shall be reasonably acceptable to GG (the “Exchange Agent”), and enter into an exchange agent agreement with the Exchange Agent reasonably acceptable to GG for the purpose of exchanging GG Shares for ListCo Class A ADSs pursuant to Section 2.01(b)(vi)(2) and GG Warrants for ListCo Class C-1 ADSs or ListCo Class C-2 ADSs pursuant to Section 2.01(b)(vi)(3) or ListCo AD Warrants pursuant to Section 2.01(b)(vi)(4), as applicable. As of the Effective Time, ListCo shall deposit (or cause to be deposited) with the Exchange Agent, for exchange in accordance with this Section 2.03 through the Exchange Agent, ListCo Class A ADSs issued pursuant to Section 2.01(b)(vi)(2) and either ListCo Class C-1 ADSs and ListCo Class C-2 ADSs issued pursuant to Section 2.01(b)(vi)(3) or ListCo AD Warrants pursuant to Section 2.01(b)(vi)(4), as applicable.
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(b) Each holder of record of a book-entry share (“Book-Entry Share”), which immediately prior to the Effective Time represented outstanding GG Shares that were converted pursuant to Section 2.01(b)(vi)(2) into the right to receive the Per Share GG Consideration shall, upon receipt by the Exchange Agent of an “agent’s message” in customary form (or such other evidence, if any, as the Exchange Agent may reasonably request), be entitled to receive in exchange therefor, the Per Share GG Consideration for each GG Share formerly represented by such Book-Entry Share, and such Book-Entry Share will be canceled. Payment of the Per Share GG Consideration with respect to Book-Entry Shares shall only be made to the Person in whose name such Book-Entry Shares are registered. Until such “agent’s message” (or such other evidence) is received, each Book-Entry Share will be deemed at any time after the Effective Time to represent only the right to receive the Per Share GG Consideration and will not evidence any interest in, or any right to exercise the rights of a stockholder or other equity holder of, GG or the Surviving Corporation.
(c) Each holder of record of a book-entry warrant (“Book-Entry Warrant”), which immediately prior to the Effective Time represented outstanding GG Warrants that were converted into the right to receive either ListCo Class C-1 ADSs or ListCo Class C-2 ADSs pursuant to Section 2.01(b)(vi)(3) or ListCo AD Warrants pursuant to Section 2.01(b)(vi)(4), as applicable, shall, upon receipt by the Exchange Agent of an “agent’s message” in customary form (or such other evidence, if any, as the Exchange Agent may reasonably request), be entitled to receive in exchange therefor, one ListCo Class C-1 ADS, ListCo Class C-2 ADS or ListCo AD Warrant, as applicable, for each GG Warrant formerly represented by such Book-Entry Warrant, and such Book-Entry Warrant will be canceled. Payment of the ListCo Class C-1 ADSs or ListCo Class C-2 ADSs or ListCo AD Warrants, as applicable, with respect to Book-Entry Warrants shall only be made to the Person in whose name such Book-Entry Warrants are registered. Until such “agent’s message” (or such other evidence) is received, each Book-Entry Warrant will be deemed at any time after the Effective Time to represent only the right to receive the applicable number of ListCo Class C-1 ADSs or ListCo Class C-2 ADSs or ListCo AD Warrants, as applicable, and will not evidence any interest in, or any right to exercise the rights of a stockholder or other equity holder of, GG or the Surviving Corporation.
Section 2.04 Establishment of ADR Facility; Distribution of ListCo Class A ADSs and ListCo Class C-1 ADSs or ListCo Class C-2 ADSs or ListCo AD Warrants, as applicable.
(a) Prior to the Closing, ListCo shall cause sponsored American depositary receipt (“ADR”) facilities (each, an “ADR Facility”) to be established with a reputable bank reasonably acceptable to GG (such bank or any successor depositary bank, the “Depositary Bank”) for the purpose of issuing the ListCo Class A ADSs, ListCo Class C-1 ADSs, ListCo Class C-2 ADSs or ListCo AD Warrants, as applicable, including entering into one or more customary deposit agreements with the Depositary Bank (collectively, the “Deposit Agreement”), in form and substance reasonably acceptable to GG, establishing each ADR Facility, to be effective as of the Effective Time, and filing with the SEC one or more registration statements on Form F-6 relating to the registration under the Securities Act for the issuance of the ListCo Class A ADSs, ListCo Class C-1 ADSs, ListCo Class C-2 ADSs or ListCo AD Warrants, as applicable. ListCo shall prepare such Form F-6 and use reasonable best efforts to cause the Depositary Bank to file such Form F-6 with the SEC prior to the declaration of the effectiveness of the Registration Statement/Proxy Statement by the SEC.
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(b) Prior to the Effective Time, ListCo shall designate a U.S. bank or trust company reasonably acceptable to GG to act as agent of ListCo for the purposes of distributing the ListCo Class A ADSs, ListCo Class C-1 ADSs, ListCo Class C-2 ADSs or ListCo AD Warrants, as applicable (the “ListCo ADS Agent”). At or substantially concurrently with the Effective Time, ListCo shall (i) in consideration for the allotment and issuance of Surviving SPAC Shares to ListCo in accordance with Section 2.05 and the cancellation of Merger Sub Shares, allot and issue, or cause to be allotted and issued, to the Depositary Bank credited as fully paid and free of all Liens (other than, solely with respect to securities issued in respect of the GG Class F Shares and Private Placement Warrants, transfer restrictions under applicable Securities Law, the Governing Documents of ListCo or any Transaction Document) (A) a number of the ListCo Class A Shares equal to the aggregate number of ListCo Class A ADSs to be issued to the holders of GG Shares pursuant to this Article II (the “ListCo Class A ADS Recipients”) and (B) (1) in the event the GG Warrantholder Approval is obtained prior to the Effective Time, a number of the ListCo Class C-1 Shares equal to the aggregate number of ListCo Class C-1 ADSs to be issued to the holders of Public Warrants pursuant to this Article II (the “ListCo C-1 ADS Recipients”) and a number of the ListCo Class C-2 Shares equal to the aggregate number of ListCo Class C-2 ADSs to be issued to holders of Private Placement Warrants pursuant to this Article II (“ListCo Class C-2 ADS Recipients”) or, (2) in the event the GG Warrantholder Approval is not obtained prior to the Effective Time, a number of ListCo Warrants equal to the aggregate number of ListCo AD Warrants to be issued to the holders of GG Warrants pursuant to Article II (the “ListCo AD Recipients”), (ii) deposit or cause to be deposited with the ListCo ADS Agent the uncertificated book-entries of ListCo Class A Shares representing the aggregate number of such ListCo Class A ADSs for the benefit of the ListCo Class A ADS Recipients, for exchange in accordance with this Article II, and the Depositary Bank shall be authorized to issue the ListCo Class A ADSs representing such ListCo Class A Shares in accordance with this Agreement and (iii) (A) in the event the GG Warrantholder Approval is obtained prior to the Effective Time, deposit or cause to be deposited with the ListCo ADS Agent the uncertificated book-entries of ListCo Class C-1 Shares and ListCo Class C-2 Shares representing the aggregate number of such ListCo Class C-1 ADSs for the benefit of the ListCo Class C-1 ADS Recipients and the ListCo Class C-2 ADS for the benefit of the ListCo Class C-2 ADS Recipients, for exchange in accordance with this Article II, and the Depositary Bank shall be authorized to issue the ListCo Class C-1 ADSs and ListCo Class C-2 ADSs representing such ListCo Class C-1 Shares and ListCo Class C-2 Shares in accordance with this Agreement or, (B) in the event the GG Warrantholder Approval is not obtained prior to the Effective Time, deposit or cause to be deposited with the ListCo ADS Agent the uncertificated book-entries of ListCo Warrants representing the aggregate number of such ListCo Warrants for the benefit of the ListCo AD Warrant Recipients, for exchange in accordance with this Article II, and the Depositary Bank shall be authorized to issue the ListCo AD Warrants representing such ListCo Warrants in accordance with this Agreement. The ListCo ADS Agent shall distribute the ListCo Class A ADSs to the ListCo Class A ADS Recipients and the ListCo Class C-1 ADSs and ListCo Class C-2 ADSs to the ListCo Class C-1 ADS Recipients and the ListCo Class C-2 ADS Recipients, respectively, or the ListCo AD Warrant to the ListCo AD Warrant Recipients, as applicable, in accordance with this Section 2.04 and the Deposit Agreement.
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(c) In the event the GG Warrantholder Approval is obtained prior to the Effective Time, after the Effective Time, upon any exercise of the right set forth in the ListCo New Articles of Association to convert ListCo Class C-1 ADSs and ListCo Class C-2 ADSs into ListCo Class A Shares by the holders thereof (the “Exercising Class C-1 Shareholders” and “Exercising Class C-2 Shareholders”, respectively), ListCo shall promptly convert the relevant ListCo Class C-1 ADSs and ListCo Class C-2 ADSs (as the case may be) to ListCo Class A Shares and shall update the share register to reflect such conversion and the ListCo ADS Agent shall distribute to the holder of such exercised ListCo Class C-1 ADSs or ListCo Class C-2 ADSs a number of ListCo Class A ADSs equal to such ListCo Class A Shares underlying such exercised ListCo Class C-1 ADSs or ListCo Class C-2 ADSs. The ListCo Class A ADSs shall be accepted into the DTC, and each Exercising Class C-1 Shareholder or Exercising Class C-2 Shareholder shall be entitled to receive a book-entry authorization representing the number of ListCo Class A ADSs that such holder has the right to receive pursuant to this Section 2.04(c), unless physical ListCo Class A ADSs are required by applicable Law, in which case the ListCo ADS Agent shall promptly send such physical ListCo Class A ADSs to such Exercising Class C-1 Shareholder or Exercising Class C-2 Shareholder in accordance with the ListCo New Articles of Association. In the event the GG Warrantholder Approval is not obtained prior to the Effective Time, after the Effective Time, upon any exercise of the ListCo AD Warrants by the holders thereof (the “Exercising Warrantholders”), ListCo shall promptly allot and issue, or cause to be allotted and issued, to the Depositary Bank a number of ListCo Class A Shares underlying such exercised ListCo AD Warrants, at which time the ListCo ADS Agent shall distribute to the holder of such exercised ListCo AD Warrants a number of ListCo Class A ADSs equal to such ListCo Class A Shares underlying such exercised ListCo AD Warrants. The ListCo Class A ADSs shall be accepted into the DTC, and each Exercising Warrantholder shall be entitled to receive a book-entry authorization representing the number of ListCo Class A ADSs that such holder has the right to receive pursuant to this Section 2.04(c), unless physical ListCo Class A ADSs are required by applicable Law, in which case the ListCo ADS Agent shall promptly send such physical ListCo Class A ADSs to such Exercising Warrantholder in accordance with the ListCo Warrant Agreement.
(d) The ListCo ADS Agent shall not be entitled to vote or exercise any rights of ownership with respect to ListCo Class A Shares, ListCo Class C-1 Shares, ListCo Class C-2 Shares or ListCo Warrants, as applicable, held by it from time to time hereunder, except that, with respect to ListCo Class A Shares, it shall receive and hold all dividends or other distributions paid or distributed with respect thereto for the account of ListCo Class A ADS holders entitled thereto.
Section 2.05 Surviving SPAC Shares. At or substantially concurrently with the Effective Time, the Surviving SPAC shall, as consideration for the allotment and issuance by ListCo of (a) the ListCo Class A Shares and (b) the ListCo Class C-1 Shares, ListCo Class C-2 Shares or ListCo Warrants, as applicable, in accordance with Section 2.04(b), issue, or cause to be issued, to ListCo a total of 99 Surviving SPAC Shares (unless ListCo and Surviving SPAC agree to a different number of Surviving SPAC Shares, in which case Surviving SPAC shall issue, or cause to be issued, such other number of Surviving SPAC Shares as may be agreed).
Section 2.06 Earn Out.
(a) Earn Out Triggering Events. As additional consideration for the Pre-Closing Consolidation, after the Lock-up Period until the fifth anniversary of the expiration of the Lock-up Period (the “Earn Out Period”), ListCo shall cause the following number of Earn Out Shares to be issued to Parent or in the event that Parent has been dissolved or liquidated, the Parent Shareholders as of immediately prior to the Closing in accordance with the Earn Out Allocation
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Schedule delivered by Parent to ListCo at least three (3) Business Days prior to Closing, or the Earn Out Affiliates of the Parent Shareholders pursuant to Section 2.06(e) (such Persons to receive Earn Out Shares, the “Earn Out Holders”) in accordance with this Section 2.06, promptly upon, but no earlier than the second Business Day after, the occurrence of any of the following (each, an “Earn Out Triggering Event”) or, if such Earn Out Holder notifies ListCo no later than one Business Day after an Earn Out Triggering Event that it may only acquire the Earn Out Shares after complying with the notification requirements of the HSR Act, then promptly after such Earn Out Holder notifies ListCo that the applicable waiting periods under the HSR Act have been terminated or expired:
(i) if the Volume Weighted Average ADS Price equals or exceeds $13.00 per share for twenty (20) of any thirty (30) consecutive Trading Days during the Earn Out Period, twenty percent (20%) of the Earn Out Class A Shares and twenty percent (20%) of the Earn Out Class B Shares (the “Tier 1 Earn Out Shares”);
(ii) if the Volume Weighted Average ADS Price equals or exceeds $15.50 per share for twenty (20) of any thirty (30) consecutive Trading Days during the Earn Out Period, twenty percent (20%) of the Earn Out Class A Shares and twenty percent (20%) of the Earn Out Class B Shares (the “Tier 2 Earn Out Shares”), plus the Tier 1 Earn Out Shares, if not previously issued;
(iii) if the Volume Weighted Average ADS Price equals or exceeds $18.00 per share for twenty (20) of any thirty (30) consecutive Trading Days during the Earn Out Period, twenty percent (20%) of the Earn Out Class A Shares and twenty percent (20%) of the Earn Out Class B Shares (the “Tier 3 Earn Out Shares”), plus the Tier 1 Earn Out Shares and Tier 2 Earn Out Shares, if not previously issued;
(iv) if the Volume Weighted Average ADS Price equals or exceeds $20.50 per share for twenty (20) of any thirty (30) consecutive Trading Days during the Earn Out Period, twenty percent (20%) of the Earn Out Class A Shares and twenty percent (20%) of the Earn Out Class B Shares (the “Tier 4 Earn Out Shares”), plus the Tier 1 Earn Out Shares, Tier 2 Earn Out Shares and Tier 3 Earn Out Shares, if not previously issued; and
(v) if the Volume Weighted Average ADS Price equals or exceeds $23.00 per share for twenty (20) of any thirty (30) consecutive Trading Days during the Earn Out Period, twenty percent (20%) of the Earn Out Class A Shares and twenty percent (20%) of the Earn Out Class B Shares, plus the Tier 1 Earn Out Shares, Tier 2 Earn Out Shares, Tier 3 Earn Out Shares and Tier 4 Earn Out Shares, if not previously issued.
(b) Authority to Allot Earn Out Shares and Disapplication of Pre-Emption Rights. At or prior to the Effective Time, ListCo shall take all corporate actions necessary to authorize the ListCo Board to allot and issue and shall disapply any pre-emption rights under the UK Companies Xxx 0000, and shall maintain such authority and disapplication for so long as any rights to receive Earn Out Shares pursuant to this Section 2.06 remain outstanding, a sufficient number of ListCo Shares to satisfy its obligations pursuant to this Section 2.06.
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(c) Equitable Adjustments. In the event of any stock dividend, subdivision, reclassification, reorganization, recapitalization, split, combination or exchange of shares or any similar event (other than, for the avoidance of doubt, the Transactions) affecting the ListCo Shares or Earn Out Shares after the date of this Agreement, the Volume Weighted Average ADS Price targets set forth in Section 2.06(a) and the number of Earn Out Shares to be issued by ListCo pursuant to Section 2.06(a) shall be equitably adjusted to provide Parent (or in the event that Parent has been dissolved, the Parent Shareholders or their Permitted Transferees (as defined below)) the same economic effect as contemplated by this Agreement prior to such event.
(d) Acceleration Event. If, during the Earn Out Period, there occurs any Change of Control in which the ListCo Class A Shares are valued at or above the price thresholds specified in Section 2.06(a)(i) through (v) (based on the value of the cash, securities or in-kind consideration being delivered in respect of such ListCo Class A Shares and after giving effect to the issuance of any Earn Out Shares pursuant to this Section 2.06 in connection with and as part of such Change of Control transaction), then (i) the Earn Out Shares subject to the applicable price thresholds achieved or exceeded in connection with such Change of Control shall immediately vest and each Earn Out Holder shall receive the same per share consideration (whether stock, cash or other property) in respect of such Earn Out Shares as the holders of ListCo Class A Shares participating in such Change of Control and (ii) in the case of any Change of Control other than a Rollover Change of Control (as defined below), ListCo shall be permitted, in its sole discretion, to negotiate and agree in good faith with the acquirer in such Change of Control an equitable treatment of any Unvested Shares that will not vest in connection with such Change of Control and shall keep each such Earn Out Holder reasonably informed of the status of such negotiations. For the avoidance of doubt, in the event of a Change of Control following which a Person or “group” (within the meaning of Section 13d of the Exchange Act) of Persons (other than ListCo or any of its Subsidiaries), has direct or indirect beneficial ownership of securities (or rights convertible or exchangeable into securities) representing fifty percent (50%) or more of the voting power of, or economic rights or interests in, ListCo or any of its Subsidiaries but less than one hundred percent (100%) (a “Rollover Change of Control”), then any Unvested Shares that will not vest in connection with such transaction shall continue as Unvested Shares on and subject to the terms of this Agreement and shall not be forfeited or cancelled.
(e) Transfer. No Earn Out Holder may Transfer its right to receive Earn Out Shares pursuant to this Section 2.06; provided, however, that nothing herein shall prohibit a Transfer of the right to receive Earn Out Shares to any Earn Out Affiliate (a “Permitted Transfer”); provided, further, that any Permitted Transfer shall be permitted only if, as a precondition to such Transfer, the transferee (assuming satisfaction of the conditions in this Section 2.06(e), a “Permitted Transferee”) agrees in writing, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to ListCo, to be bound by the Transfer restrictions in this Section 2.06(e). Any Transfer of the right to receive Earn Out Shares in violation of this Section 2.06(e) shall be null and void.
Section 2.07 Withholding Rights. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, GG, Merger Sub, Parent, Polestar Singapore, Polestar Sweden, ListCo, the Surviving SPAC and their respective Affiliates, and any applicable withholding agent (each, a “Withholding Party”) shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from amounts otherwise payable pursuant to this Agreement, any amount required to be deducted and withheld with respect to the making of such payment under applicable Law; provided that, if any Withholding Party determines that any
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amounts payable pursuant to this Agreement is subject to deduction and/or withholding (other than any withholding required in respect of compensatory amounts or amounts paid to a public shareholder of any of the Parties), then such Withholding Party shall (a) provide notice to such Person as soon as reasonably practicable after such determination and (b) cooperate with such Person to reduce or eliminate any such deduction or withholding to the extent permitted by applicable Law. To the extent that amounts are so withheld and paid over to the appropriate Governmental Authority, such withheld amounts shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid to the Person in respect of which such deduction and withholding was made. Any amounts so withheld shall be timely remitted to the applicable Governmental Authority.
ARTICLE III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES RELATING TO THE COMPANY
Except as set forth in the Parent Disclosure Schedules (but subject to the terms of Section 11.08), each of Parent and the Company hereby, jointly and severally, represents and warrants to GG as follows:
Section 3.01 Corporate Organization; Due Authorization.
(a) Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries is a corporation, exempted company, limited liability company or other applicable business entity duly organized, incorporated or formed, as applicable, validly existing and 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) under the Laws of its jurisdiction of formation, incorporation or organization (as applicable). Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries has the requisite corporate or other entity power and authority to own, operate and lease its properties, rights and assets and to conduct its business as presently conducted, except where the failure to have such power or authority would not reasonably be expected to be, individually or in the aggregate, material to the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole. Each of the Company and its Subsidiary is duly licensed or qualified as a foreign corporation or other entity in each jurisdiction in which its ownership of property or the character of its activities is such as to require it to be so licensed or qualified, except where the failure to be so licensed or qualified would not reasonably be expected to be, individually or in the aggregate, material to the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
(b) Each of Polestar Singapore and Polestar Sweden has the requisite corporate, limited liability company or other similar power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and each other Transaction Document to which it is a party or will be a party and, upon receipt of the Required Parent Shareholder Approval, to perform its obligations hereunder and thereunder and to consummate the Transactions. Subject to (i) the receipt of the Required Parent Shareholder Approval and (ii) the filing and effectiveness of the Certificate of Merger with the Secretary of State of Delaware in accordance with the DGCL, the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents and the consummation of the Transactions have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate (or other similar) action on the part of each of Polestar Singapore and Polestar Sweden and no other Proceeding on the part of either of Polestar Singapore or Polestar Sweden is necessary to authorize this Agreement or such
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other Transaction Documents or performance by Polestar Singapore or Polestar Sweden hereunder or thereunder. This Agreement has been, and each other Transaction Document to which either of Polestar Singapore or Polestar Sweden will be party, shall be, duly and validly executed and delivered by Polestar Singapore or Polestar Sweden, respectively, and, assuming due authorization and execution by each other Party hereto and thereto, this Agreement constitutes, and each such other Transaction Document to which Polestar Singapore or Polestar Sweden, as applicable, will be party, shall constitute a legal, valid and binding obligation of Polestar Singapore or Polestar Sweden, as applicable, enforceable against Polestar Singapore or Polestar Sweden, as applicable, in accordance with its terms, subject to the Enforceability Exceptions.
Section 3.02 Governing Documents and Subsidiaries. The copies of the Governing Documents of the Company and each of its Subsidiaries as in effect on the date of this Agreement have been previously made available by Parent to GG, are true, correct and complete, are in full force and effect and have not been amended through the date of this Agreement. The Subsidiaries of the Company as of the date of this Agreement are set forth on Section 3.02 of the Parent Disclosure Schedules.
Section 3.03 Consents. Neither the execution nor delivery of this Agreement or any other Transaction Document to which Polestar Singapore or Polestar Sweden is or will be a party, the performance by Polestar Singapore or Polestar Sweden of its obligations hereunder or thereunder or the consummation of the Transactions shall, directly or indirectly (with or without due notice or lapse of time or both), (a) result in a violation or breach of any provision of the Governing Documents of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (b) assuming compliance with the matters referred to in Section 4.03(a), 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 (i) any Material Contract to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party; (ii) any Material Permits set forth on Section 3.15 of the Parent Disclosure Schedules (or required to be set forth on Section 3.15 of the Parent Disclosure Schedules); or (iii) any Leases that the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which any of them or any of their respective assets or properties may be bound or affected, (c) result in the creation of any Lien upon any of the properties, equity interests or assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (other than any Permitted Lien) or (d) violate, or constitute a breach under, any Governmental Order or applicable Law to which the Company or its Subsidiaries and any of their respective properties or assets are subject or bound, except, in the case of any of clauses (b), (c) and (d) above, as would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect.
Section 3.04 Capitalization.
(a) Section 3.04(a) of the Parent Disclosure Schedules sets forth a true and complete statement of (a) the number and class or series (as applicable) of all of the Equity Securities of the Company issued and outstanding and (b) the identity of the Persons that are the legal, record and beneficial owners thereof, in each case, as of the date of this Agreement. As of the date of this Agreement, Parent has good and valid title to all of the issued and outstanding Equity Securities of the Company. As of the Closing, ListCo shall have good and valid title to all of the issued and outstanding Equity Securities of the Company. All of the issued and outstanding Equity Securities of the Company (i) have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully
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paid and nonassessable, (ii) were not issued in violation of the Governing Documents of the Company or any Contract to which the Company is party or bound, (iii) were not issued in violation of any preemptive rights, call option, right of first refusal or first offer, subscription rights, transfer restrictions or similar rights of any Person, (iv) have been offered, sold and issued in compliance with applicable Law, including Securities Laws and (v) are free and clear of all Liens (other than transfer restrictions under applicable Securities Law). There are no outstanding (A) equity appreciation, phantom equity or profit participation rights or (B) options, restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance stock units, phantom stock, warrants, purchase rights, subscription rights, conversion rights, exchange rights, calls, puts, rights of first refusal or first offer or other Contracts that could require the Company to issue, sell or otherwise cause to become outstanding or to acquire, repurchase or redeem any Equity Securities or securities convertible into or exchangeable for Equity Securities of the Company, other than as contemplated by the Transaction Documents and the Transactions. There are no voting trusts, proxies or other Contracts with respect to the voting or Transfer of the Company’s Equity Securities to which the Company is party or by which it is bound, other than as contemplated by the Transaction Documents and the Transactions.
(b) Other than the Convertible Notes, there are no outstanding bonds, debentures, notes or other Indebtedness of the Company having the right to vote (or convertible into, or exchangeable for, securities having the right to vote) on any matter for which the holders of the Company’s Equity Securities may vote. Section 3.04(b) of the Parent Disclosure Schedules sets forth a list of all Indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries for borrowed money in excess of $5,000,000 as of August 31, 2021, including, as applicable, the principal amount of such Indebtedness, the outstanding balance as of August 31, 2021, and the debtor and the creditor thereof, as applicable.
Section 3.05 Capitalization of Subsidiaries.
(a) Section 3.05(a) of the Parent Disclosure Schedules sets forth a true and complete statement of (i) the number and class or series (as applicable) of all of the Equity Securities of each Subsidiary of the Company issued and outstanding and (ii) the identity of the Persons that are the legal, record and beneficial owners thereof, in each case, as of the date of this Agreement. All of the Equity Securities of each Subsidiary of the Company (A) have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable, (B) were not issued in violation of the Governing Documents of such Subsidiary or any other Contract to which such Subsidiary is party or bound, (C) were not issued in violation of any preemptive rights, call option, right of first refusal or first offer, subscription rights, transfer restrictions or similar rights of any Person, (D) have been offered, sold and issued in compliance with applicable Law, including Securities Laws and (E) are free and clear of all Liens (other than transfer restrictions under applicable Securities Law). There are no outstanding (x) equity appreciation, phantom equity or profit participation rights or (y) options, restricted stock/shares, restricted stock units, performance stock units, phantom stock/shares, warrants, purchase rights, subscription rights, conversion rights, exchange rights, calls, puts, rights of first refusal or first offer or other Contracts that could require any Subsidiary of the Company to issue, sell or otherwise cause to become outstanding or to acquire, repurchase or redeem any Equity Securities or securities convertible into or exchangeable for Equity Securities of the Subsidiaries of the Company, other than as contemplated by the Transaction Documents and the Transactions. There are no voting trusts, proxies or other Contracts with respect to the voting or Transfer of any Equity Securities of any Subsidiary of the Company to which the Company is party or by which it is bound, other than as contemplated by the Transaction Documents and the Transactions.
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(b) Except for the Equity Securities of the Subsidiaries set forth on Section 3.05(a) of the Parent Disclosure Schedules (and any changes to such Equity Securities expressly contemplated by the Pre-Closing Reorganization), neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries (i) owns, directly or indirectly, any ownership, equity, profits or voting interest in any Person, (ii) has any agreement or commitment to purchase any such interest (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, in connection with the Transaction Documents and the Transactions, including the Pre-Closing Reorganization) or (iii) has agreed nor is obligated to make nor is bound by any written, oral or other Contract, binding understanding, option, warranty or undertaking of any nature, as of the date hereof, any future investment in or capital contribution to any other entity.
Section 3.06 Financial Statements.
(a) Parent made available to GG true, correct and complete copies of the unaudited consolidated balance sheets of Parent as of December 31, 2020 and Polestar Automotive (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., a company incorporated in China and a direct wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company (“Former Parent”), as of December 31, 2019, in each case, and the related unaudited consolidated statements of comprehensive income and cash flows of Parent and Former Parent, as applicable, for the years then ended, and the related notes and schedules thereto (collectively, the “Financial Statements,” each of which are attached as Section 3.06 of the Parent Disclosure Schedules). Each of the Financial Statements (including the notes thereto) (i) was prepared in accordance with IFRS applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods indicated (except as may be indicated in the notes thereto) and (ii) fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial position, results of operations and cash flows of Parent or Former Parent and their respective Subsidiaries, as applicable, as at the date thereof and for the period indicated therein, except as otherwise specifically noted therein.
(b) Each of the financial statements or similar reports of Parent and Former Parent required to be included in the Registration Statement/Proxy Statement or any other filings to be made by ListCo with the SEC in connection with the Transactions (the financial statements described in this sentence, which the Parties acknowledge shall, with respect to historical financial statements, solely consist of (i) the audited financial statements of Parent and its Subsidiaries as of and for the year ended December 31, 2020, (ii) the audited financial statements of Former Parent and its Subsidiaries as of and for the year ended December 31, 2019 and (iii) the unaudited financial statements of Parent and its Subsidiaries as of and for the six (6) months ended June 30, 2021 (“Closing Company Financial Statements”), when delivered following the date of this Agreement in accordance with Section 6.05, (A) shall be prepared in accordance with IFRS applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods indicated (except, in the case of any audited financial statements, as may be specifically indicated in the notes thereto and subject to, in the case of any unaudited financial statements, normal year-end audit adjustments (none of which is expected to be, individually or in the aggregate, material) and the absence of notes thereto), (B) shall fairly present, in all material respects, the financial position, results of operations, stockholders’ deficit and cash flows of the Parent and its Subsidiaries or Former Parent and its Subsidiaries, as applicable, as at the date thereof and for the period indicated therein (subject to, in the case of any unaudited financial statements, normal year-end audit adjustments (none of
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which is expected to be, individually or in the aggregate, material)), (C) in the case of any audited financial statements, shall be audited in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (the “PCAOB”) and shall contain an unqualified report of the Company’s auditors and (D) shall 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 applicable date of such delivery (including Regulation S-X or Regulation S-K, as applicable).
(c) The Company maintains a system of internal accounting controls sufficient 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 IFRS and to maintain asset accountability, (iii) access to assets 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.
(d) Since January 1, 2018, neither Parent nor the Parent Board has been made aware in writing of (i) any “significant deficiency” in the internal controls over financial reporting of the Company, (ii) any “material weakness” in the internal controls over financial reporting of the Company, (iii) any fraud that involves the Company’s management or other employees who have a role in the preparation of financial statements or the internal controls utilized by the Company or (iv) any allegation, assertion or claim that the Company has engaged in any material questionable accounting or auditing practices which violate applicable Law.
Section 3.07 Undisclosed Liabilities. Except for Liabilities (a) reflected or reserved for on the Most Recent Balance Sheet, (b) incurred in the ordinary course of business since the date of the Most Recent Balance Sheet (none of which is a Liability for breach of contract, breach of warranty, tort, infringement or violation of Law other than, for the avoidance of doubt, any such Liabilities that would be covered by clause (d) of this Section 3.07), (c) incurred in connection with the negotiation, preparation or execution of this Agreement, any other Transaction Document, the performance of their respective covenants or agreements in this Agreement or any other Transaction Document or the consummation of the Transactions) or (d) that would not reasonably be expected to be, individually or in the aggregate, material to the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, the Company and its Subsidiaries do not have any Liabilities that are required by IFRS to be set forth on a consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries, whether or not accrued, contingent or otherwise.
Section 3.08 Litigation. Since January 1, 2018 through the date of this Agreement, there has been no Proceeding pending or, to Parent’s knowledge, threatened in writing against or involving (a) the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (b) any of the Company’s or its Subsidiaries’ material assets or properties or (c) any of the Company’s or its Subsidiaries’ managers, officers or directors or, to Parent’s knowledge, any of the Company’s or its Subsidiaries’ employees (in each case, in their capacities as such) (in the case of each of clauses (a) through (c), seeking material non-monetary relief or involving an amount in controversy that would reasonably be expected to be, individually or in the aggregate, material to the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole) or (d) any of the foregoing in such capacity in a criminal Proceeding. Neither the Company or any of its Subsidiaries nor any of their properties, assets or businesses are subject to any Governmental
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Order, or, to Parent’s knowledge, any continuing investigation by, any Governmental Authority, in each case that would reasonably be expected to be, individually or in the aggregate, material to the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole. Since January 1, 2018 through the date of this Agreement, there have been no material Proceedings by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries pending against any other Person.
Section 3.09 Compliance with Laws.
(a) Since January 1, 2018 or such earlier date of formation of the Company or applicable Subsidiary, the Company and each of its Subsidiaries (i) has conducted its business in accordance with all Laws and Governmental Orders applicable to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, as applicable, and has not been in violation of any such Law or Governmental Order and (ii) has not received any unresolved written communications or, to Parent’s knowledge, any other communications from a Governmental Authority that alleges that the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is not in compliance with any such Law or Governmental Order, except, in each case of clauses (i) and (ii), as would not reasonably be expected to be, individually or in the aggregate, material to the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
(b) To Parent’s knowledge, the Company and each of its Subsidiaries (i) have accurately classified in accordance with applicable Sanctions and Trade Control Laws all items, products, technology, or Software shipped, imported, released, transmitted, or transferred by the Company or its relevant Subsidiary from one country to another country and (ii) have accurately classified in accordance with applicable Sanctions and Trade Control Laws all items and products imported by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries into any jurisdiction where the Company or any of its Subsidiaries acts as the importer of record.
(c) Since January 1, 2018, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries, nor, any of their respective directors, officers, employees or, to Parent’s knowledge, agents or other Persons acting on their behalf, has taken, directly or knowingly indirectly, any act in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to offer or to pay, authorization, ratification, solicitation, receipt or acceptance of the payment, directly or indirectly, of any gift, money, payment, loan, reward, contribution or any other thing of value to or from any Person to influence any act or decision of such Person, to secure any other improper advantage or to obtain or retain business, or that would otherwise cause the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to be in material violation of Anti-Corruption Laws.
(d) None of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or any director, officer or employee of any of the foregoing, or, to Parent’s knowledge, any Representative, agent or any other Person authorized to act for or on behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is or at any time since January 1, 2018 has been (i) a Person named on any Sanctions and Trade Control Laws-related list of designated Persons maintained by a relevant Governmental Authority (including the Specially Designated Nationals List maintained by the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control), (ii) located, organized or resident in a country or territory (or government thereof) which is itself the subject of or target of comprehensive Sanctions and Trade Control Laws (at the time of this Agreement, the Crimea region of Ukraine, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Venezuela and Syria) or (iii) an entity controlled or 50% or greater owned, directly or indirectly, by one or more Persons described in clause (i) or (ii).
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(e) Since January 1, 2018, none of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or any director, officer or employee of any of the foregoing, or, to Parent’s knowledge, any Representative, agent or any other Person authorized to act for or on behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has (i) engaged in, and is not now engaging in, directly or knowingly indirectly, any dealings or transactions with any Person referenced in any of clause (i) through (iii) of the preceding Section 3.09(d), or with any other Person who is the subject or target of Sanctions and Trade Control Laws in violation of applicable Sanctions and Trade Control Laws or (ii) otherwise been in material violation of any applicable Sanctions and Trade Control Laws.
(f) Since January 1, 2018, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries (i) has been subjected to any action, Proceedings, investigation, written request for information or other inquiry by a Governmental Authority regarding any alleged noncompliance with Anti-Corruption Laws, (ii) has made a voluntary, directed or involuntary disclosure to any Governmental Authority regarding any alleged noncompliance with any Anti-Corruption Laws or Sanctions and Trade Control Laws or (iii) has received any written notice of any violations of applicable Anti-Corruption Laws or Sanctions and Trade Control Laws or Governmental Orders or licenses, approvals, consents, registrations, franchises or permits (the “Permits”) issued or required thereunder held by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
(g) The operations of the Company and each of its Subsidiaries have been since January 1, 2018 conducted at all times in compliance in all material respects with the requirements of applicable anti-money laundering Laws, including the Bank Secrecy Act of 1970, as amended by the USA Patriot Act of 2001, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and the anti-money laundering Laws of the various jurisdictions in which the Company and each of its Subsidiaries conducts business (collectively, the “Money Laundering Laws”). As of the date of this Agreement, no Proceeding involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to Parent’s knowledge, threatened.
(h) The operations of the Company and each of its Subsidiaries have been since September 1, 2017 conducted in compliance in all material respects with the requirements of applicable PRC laws with respect to cybersecurity, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (collectively, the “PRC Cybersecurity Laws”). As of the date of this Agreement, no Proceeding involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries with respect to the PRC Cybersecurity Laws is pending or, to Parent’s knowledge, threatened.
Section 3.10 Material Contracts.
(a) Section 3.10(a) of the Parent Disclosure Schedules sets forth a list of the following Contracts to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is, as of the date of this Agreement, a party (each Contract required to be set forth on Section 3.10(a) of the Parent Disclosure Schedules, together with each Contract entered into after the date of this Agreement that would be required to be set forth on Section 3.10(a) of the Parent Disclosure Schedules if entered into prior to the date of this Agreement, collectively, the “Material Contracts”). True, complete and correct copies of the following Material Contracts in effect as of the date hereof have been made available to GG:
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(i) each of the 15 largest Contracts (determined based on aggregate consideration received by the Company and its Subsidiaries thereunder) of the Company and its Subsidiaries for the calendar years ended December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2020;
(ii) any Contract relating to Indebtedness for borrowed money of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in excess of $25,000,000 or to the placing of a Lien (other than a Permitted Lien) on any material assets or properties valued in excess of $25,000,000 of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;
(iii) any Contract for the disposition of any portion of the assets or business of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or for the acquisition by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of the assets or business of any other Person (including through merger or consolidation or the purchase of a controlling equity interest in or substantially all of the assets of such Person or by any other manner) in each case (A) for an aggregate purchase price in excess of $25,000,000 and executed since January 1, 2019 or (B) under which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has any continuing obligation (contingent or otherwise) with respect to an “earn out,” contingent purchase price, indemnification, backend payment or other contingent or deferred payment obligation;
(iv) any Contract under which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a lessee of or holds or operates, in each case, any tangible property (other than real property), owned by any other Person, except for any lease or agreement under which the aggregate annual rental payments do not exceed $10,000,000;
(v) any Contract under which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a lessor of or permits any third party to hold or operate, in each case, any tangible property (other than real property), owned or controlled by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, except for any lease or agreement under which the aggregate annual rental payments do not exceed $10,000,000;
(vi) any Contract with outstanding obligations for the sale or purchase of personal property, fixed assets or real estate having a value in excess of $10,000,000, other than sales or purchases in the ordinary course of business and sales of obsolete equipment;
(vii) any Contract requiring any future capital expenditure (or series of capital expenditures) by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in an amount in excess of (A) $25,000,000 annually or (B) $50,000,000 over the term of the agreement;
(viii) any Contract that (A) limits or purports to limit, in any material respect, the freedom of the Company or its Subsidiaries to engage or compete in any line of business or with any Person or in any area, (B) contains any exclusivity, “most favored nation” or similar provisions, obligations or restrictions, (C) contains “take or pay,” “requirements” or other similar provisions obligating the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to provide the quantity of goods or services required by another Person or (D) contains any other provisions materially restricting or purporting to restrict the ability of
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the Company or its Subsidiaries to sell, manufacture, develop, commercialize, directly or indirectly through third parties, or to solicit any potential employee or customer, in the case of each of the foregoing clauses (A), (B), (C) and (D), that would so limit or purports to limit, in any material respect, ListCo or any of its Affiliates after the Closing;
(ix) any Contract (A) pursuant to which (1) any third party grants the Company or any of its Subsidiaries a license, right, permission, consent, non-assertion or release with respect to any Intellectual Property material to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or (2) the Company or any of its Subsidiaries grants a license, right, permission, consent, non-assertion or release with respect to any Owned IP material to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (B) that relates to the ownership, development or use of any Intellectual Property material to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or (C) that affects the Company’s or any Subsidiaries’ ability to use, enforce or disclose any Intellectual Property material to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with the resolution of any claim or dispute related to any Intellectual Property, excluding in the case of either (A) or (B), (x) non-exclusive end-user licenses granted to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries for unmodified, commercially available, off-the-shelf Software with aggregate fees of less than $200,000 and (y) non-exclusive licenses granted by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to its customers in the ordinary course of business;
(x) any Contract requiring the Company or its Subsidiaries to guarantee the Liabilities of any Person (other than the Company or any of its Subsidiaries) or pursuant to which any Person (other than the Company or a Subsidiary) has guaranteed the Liabilities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, in each case in excess of $10,000,000;
(xi) any Contract under which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has, directly or indirectly, made or agreed to make any loan, advance, or assignment of payment to any Person (other than the Company or any of its Subsidiaries), individually or in the aggregate, in an amount in excess of $25,000,000 or made any capital contribution to, or other investment in, any Person (other than the Company or any of its Subsidiaries);
(xii) any Lease involving annual lease payments in excess of $10,000,000;
(xiii) any material advertising, agency, original equipment manufacturer, dealer, distributors, joint marketing, any other Contract the performance of which requires either (A) annual payments to or from the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in excess of $20,000,000 or (B) aggregate payments to or from the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in excess of $40,000,000 over the term of the agreement and, in each case, that is not terminable by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries without penalty upon less than sixty (60) days’ prior written notice;
(xiv) any collective bargaining agreement or other Contract with any labor union, works council or labor organization (each, a “Labor Agreement”);
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(xv) any Contract with a third party establishing any joint venture, partnership, strategic alliance or other collaboration that is material to the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole;
(xvi) any Contract between (A) the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and any (B) present or former officer, director, employee, partner, member, manager, beneficial owner (within the meaning of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act) of five percent (5%) or more of the capital stock or equity interests of any of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries, or other Affiliate of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any immediate family member of the foregoing Persons, on the other hand (in each case, other than ListCo, Parent, the Company or any of their respective Subsidiaries) (each Person identified in this clause (B), a “Company Related Party”), in each case, that is material to the operation of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries (the “Necessary Related Party Contracts”);
(xvii) any Contract with a Governmental Authority involving annual payments in excess of $10,000,000; and
(xviii) any settlement, conciliation or similar Contract (A) the performance of which would be reasonably expected to involve any payments in excess of $10,000,000 after the date of this Agreement, (B) with a Governmental Authority or (C) that imposes or is reasonably expected to impose, at any time in the future, any material non-monetary obligations on the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (or ListCo or any of its Affiliates after the Closing).
(b) Except, in each case, as would not reasonably be expected to be, individually or in the aggregate, material to the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, each Material Contract is, as of the date of this Agreement, (i) in full force and effect and (ii) a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries party thereto, enforceable in accordance with its terms against the Company or its Subsidiaries party thereto and, to Parent’s knowledge, the other parties thereto, in each case, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and similar Laws affecting or relating to creditors’ rights generally and subject, as to enforceability, to general principles of equity, whether such enforceability is considered in a Proceeding in equity or at Law (the “Enforceability Exceptions”). As of the date of this Agreement, except, in each case, as would not reasonably be expected to be, individually or in the aggregate, material to the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, there is no breach or default by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or, to Parent’s knowledge, any third party under any Material Contract, and, to Parent’s knowledge, (A) no event has occurred which (with or without notice or lapse of time or both) would constitute a breach or default or would permit termination of, or a modification or acceleration thereof by any party to, such Material Contract and (B) no party to a Material Contract has claimed a force majeure (or similar excuse in performance due to COVID-19) with respect thereto. Except, in each case, as would not reasonably be expected to be, individually or in the aggregate, material to the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to Parent’s knowledge, within the past twelve (12) months, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries have received notice of (i) material breach or material default under any Material Contract or (ii) the intention of any third party under any Material Contract to cancel, terminate or materially modify the terms of any such Material Contract or accelerate the obligations of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries thereunder in any material respect.
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Section 3.11 Company Benefit Plans.
(a) Section 3.11 of the Parent Disclosure Schedules sets forth a true, correct and complete list, as of the date of this Agreement, of each material Company Benefit Plan.
(b) (i) Each Company Benefit Plan has been operated and administered in compliance with its terms and all applicable Laws, in each case, in all material respects, (ii) each Company Benefit Plan which is intended to be qualified within the meaning of Section 401(a) of the Code has received a favorable determination letter from the IRS as to its qualification or may rely upon an opinion letter for a preapproved plan and, to Parent’s knowledge, no fact or event has occurred that would reasonably be expected to adversely affect the qualified status of any such Company Benefit Plan or would result in material Liability to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and (iii) the Company and its Subsidiaries are in compliance in all material respects with their obligations under the Statutory Plans.
(c) Except as set forth on Section 3.11(c) of the Parent Disclosure Schedules, neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company nor the consummation of the Transactions could (whether alone or in connection with any subsequent event) (i) result in the acceleration or creation of any rights of any Person to payments or benefits or increases in any payments or benefits under any Company Benefit Plan or otherwise, (ii) result in the acceleration of the time of payment, funding or vesting, or forfeiture, of any compensation or benefits to any Person under any Company Benefit Plan or otherwise or (iii) result in severance pay or any increase in severance pay upon any termination of employment.
(d) The Company has made available to GG copies of the following, as applicable, with respect to the material Company Benefit Plans: (i) current plan documents and all amendments thereto, (ii) the most recent summary plan description, (iii) the most recent determination or opinion letter received from the Internal Revenue Service, (iv) the most recent annual report (Form 5500) and accompanying schedules and (v) any non-routine material correspondence to or from any Governmental Authority dated within the past three (3) years.
(e) No Company Benefit Plan (i) is subject to Title IV of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code, (ii) is a Multiemployer Plan, or (iii) provides for post-employment or retiree health, life or welfare benefits to any current or former employee other than as required by Section 4980B of the Code or similar state Law for which the covered Person pays the full cost of coverage for such Person and his or her beneficiaries or dependents. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has or would reasonably be expected to have any actual or contingent material Liability with respect to any plan described in (i) through (iii) above, including on account of any ERISA Affiliate.
(f) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries maintains any obligations to gross-up or reimburse any individual for any tax or related interest or penalties incurred by such individual, including under Sections 409A or 4999 of the Code or otherwise.
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(g) Each Company Benefit Plan that is a “nonqualified deferred compensation plan” subject to Section 409A of the Code has been established, documented, operated and maintained in material compliance with Section 409A of the Code, and all applicable regulations and notices issued thereunder.
(h) No payment, amount or benefit that could be, or has been, received by or provided to (whether in cash or property or the vesting of cash or property or the cancellation of Indebtedness) any current or former employee, officer, shareholder, director or other individual independent contractor of the Company or its Subsidiaries or any of their Affiliates as a result of, or in connection with, the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the consummation of the Transactions (whether alone or in connection with any subsequent event) could be an “excess parachute payment” (as defined in Section 280G(b)(1) of the Code).
(i) (i) Each Company Benefit Plan that is subject to Laws outside the United States (each, a “Non-U.S. Benefit Plan”) has been established, maintained and administered in all material respects in accordance with its terms and applicable Laws, and if intended to qualify for special tax treatment, meets all the requirements for such treatment, in each case, in all material respects; (ii) all material employer and employee contributions to each Non-U.S. Benefit Plan required by its terms or by applicable Law have been made or, if applicable, accrued in accordance with generally accepted accounting practices in the applicable jurisdiction; and (iii) each Non-U.S. Benefit Plan required to be registered has been registered and has been maintained in good standing with applicable regulatory authorities, in all material respects.
Section 3.12 Labor Matters.
(a) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to or bound by any collective bargaining agreement or other labor agreement with any labor union, works council or labor organization. To Parent’s knowledge, none of the Company’s or any of its Subsidiaries’ employees are represented by any labor union, works council or labor organization with respect to their employment with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. To Parent’s knowledge, there are no pending or threatened activities or Proceedings by any labor union, works council, or other labor organization to organize any of the Company’s or any of its Subsidiaries’ employees. There is no pending material labor grievance, material labor arbitration, strike or other material labor dispute against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
(b) The Company and its Subsidiaries are, and since January 1, 2018 have been, in compliance in all material respects with all applicable Laws governing employment or labor, including all such Laws relating to employment contracts, wages, hours, worker classification (including but not limited to exempt/non-exempt, independent contractor/employee and dispatched employee/full-time), the provision and administration of meal and rest periods/breaks, immigration, collective bargaining, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, civil rights, background checks and screenings, privacy and biometric screening Laws, paid sick days/leave entitlements, compensation for work-made-for-hire and benefits (including but not limited to the social insurance contributions and housing fund provident in the PRC, the federal Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act and any applicable state or local Laws concerning COVID-19-related paid sick leave or other benefits), family and medical leave and other leaves of absence (including but not limited to the federal Emergency Family and Medical Leave Expansion Act), safety and health (including but not limited to the federal Occupational Safety and Health Act and any applicable state or local Laws concerning COVID-19-related health and safety issues), the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act of 1988 (“WARN”) or any similar state, local or foreign Laws, and workers’ compensation.
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(c) Except as would not reasonably be expected to be, individually or in the aggregate, material to the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, since January 1, 2018, neither the Company nor its Subsidiaries have incurred, or would reasonably be expected to incur, any liability arising from (i) the failure to pay wages (including overtime wages), (ii) the misclassification of employees as independent contractors, (iii) the misclassification of employees as exempt from the requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act or similar state or foreign Laws, (iv) the failure to pay any social security contribution or housing fund provident in full for any employee in the PRC, and/or (v) the failure to pay any statutory or contractual compensation for any work-made-for-hire of any employee in the PRC.
(d) Except as would not reasonably be expected to be, individually or in the aggregate, material to the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, since January 1, 2018, the Company and its Subsidiaries have promptly, thoroughly and impartially investigated (to the extent reasonable) all employment discrimination and/or sexual harassment allegations of, or against, any supervisory employee of the Company or its Subsidiaries. The Company and its Subsidiaries have taken prompt corrective action that is reasonably calculated to prevent further discrimination and harassment with respect to each such allegation with potential merit. Neither the Company nor its Subsidiaries have incurred, or would reasonably be expected to incur, any material Liability arising from such allegations.
Section 3.13 Taxes.
(a) All material Tax Returns required by Law to be filed by the Company or its Subsidiaries have been timely filed (after giving effect to any valid extensions of time in which to make such filings), and all such Tax Returns are true, correct and complete in all material respects.
(b) All material amounts of Taxes due and owing by the Company and its Subsidiaries have been paid, other than Taxes which are not yet due and payable or are being contested in good faith by appropriate Proceedings and for which reserves have been established in accordance with IFRS.
(c) Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries has (i) withheld all material amounts of Taxes required to have been withheld by it in connection with amounts paid or owed to any employee, independent contractor, creditor, shareholder or any other third party, (ii) remitted, or will remit on a timely basis, such amounts to the appropriate Governmental Authority and (iii) complied in all material respects with applicable Law with respect to Tax withholding, including all reporting and record keeping requirements.
(d) No written claim has been made by any Governmental Authority in a jurisdiction where either the Company or any of its Subsidiaries does not file Tax Returns that the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is or may be subject to taxation by, or required to file Tax Returns in, such jurisdiction which claim has not been withdrawn or otherwise resolved.
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(e) Neither the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party to, or bound by, any Tax allocation, Tax sharing, Tax indemnification or similar agreement that will remain in effect after the Closing Date (other than (i) any agreement among the Company and any of its Subsidiaries or (ii) customary provisions in agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business the primary purpose of which does not relate to Taxes).
(f) Except as set forth on Section 3.13(d) of the Parent Disclosure Schedules, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is engaged in any material audit, administrative Proceeding or judicial Proceeding with respect to a material amount of Taxes. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any written notice from a Governmental Authority of a dispute or claim with respect to a material amount of Taxes, other than disputes or claims that have since been resolved.
(g) There are no Liens with respect to material Taxes on any of the assets of the Company or its Subsidiaries, other than Permitted Liens.
(h) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has any material liability for the Taxes of any Person (other than the Company or its Subsidiaries or any other member of a consolidated group of which the Company and its Subsidiaries are members) (i) under Treasury Regulation Section 1.1502-6 (or any similar provision of state, local or foreign Law), (ii) as a transferee or successor or (iii) by Contract (except, in each case of clause (i), (ii) and (iii), for liabilities pursuant to commercial Contracts not primarily relating to Taxes) or customary financing arrangements.
(i) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has taken any action (or permitted any action to be taken) or failed to take any action, nor is the Company or any Subsidiary aware of any fact, plan or circumstance, which action, failure to act, fact, plan or circumstance would reasonably be expected to prevent the Merger and the Pre-Closing Consolidation, Sponsor Investment, VCC PIPE Investment, PIPE Investment and the issuance of VCC Preference Shares from qualifying for the U.S. Intended Tax Treatment, in each case other than as contemplated by this Agreement or any other Transaction Document.
Section 3.14 Insurance. Section 3.14 of the Parent Disclosure Schedules sets forth a true, correct and complete list, as of the date of this Agreement, of all material policies or programs of fire, liability, workers’ compensation, property, cyber, casualty and other forms of insurance owned or held by the Company and its Subsidiaries (except Company Benefit Plans). True, correct and complete copies or summaries of such insurance policies have been made available to GG. With respect to each such insurance policy required to be listed on Section 3.14 of the Parent Disclosure Schedules, except as would not reasonably be expected to be, individually or in the aggregate, material to the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, all such insurance policies as of the date of this Agreement are (a) legal, valid, binding, in full force and effect and are enforceable in accordance with its terms, (b) all premiums due and payable thereon as of the date of this Agreement have been paid in full as of the date of this Agreement, (c) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is in material breach or default (including any such breach or default with respect to the payment of premiums or the giving of notice), and, to Parent’s knowledge, no event has occurred which, with notice or the lapse of time or both, would constitute such a material breach or default, or permit termination or modification, under the policy, and to Parent’s knowledge, no such action has been threatened, and (d) to Parent’s knowledge, no written notice of cancellation, termination, non-renewal, disallowance or reduction in coverage has been received other than in connection with ordinary renewals.
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Section 3.15 Permits. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries holds all Permits that are required to own, lease or operate its properties and assets and to conduct its business as currently conducted, except as would not reasonably be expected to be, individually or in the aggregate, material to the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole (the “Material Permits”). Except as would not reasonably be expected to be, individually or in the aggregate, material to the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (a) each Material Permit is in full force and effect in accordance with its terms, (b) no unresolved written notice of any violation, revocation, cancellation or termination of any Material Permit has been received by the Company and its Subsidiaries, (c) to the knowledge of the Parent, none of the Material Permits upon their expiration in the ordinary course of business will not be renewed upon terms and conditions substantially similar to such Material Permit’s existing terms and conditions, (d) there are no pending or, to the knowledge of Parent, threatened, Proceedings that seek the revocation, cancellation, limitation, restriction or termination of any Material Permit and (e) each of the Company and its Subsidiaries is, and since January 1, 2018 has been, in compliance with the terms of all the Material Permits.
Section 3.16 Property.
(a) Section 3.16(a) of the Parent Disclosure Schedules lists, as of the date of this Agreement, the address of each Owned Real Property. The Company or its Subsidiary has good and marketable title to the Owned Real Property, free and clear of all Liens except Permitted Liens. With respect to each Owned Real Property located in the PRC, (i) (A) all land grant premiums required under applicable Law and land grant contracts securing the land use right and (B) all fees and Taxes required under applicable Law relating to such Owned Real Property have been fully paid, (ii) all Material Permits required for the land use, development and construction of such Owned Real Property have been obtained and (iii) no lease or other right to use or occupy such Owned Real Property or any portion thereof has been granted to any Person other than the Company or its Subsidiaries, except, in each case of clauses (i) and (iii), as would not reasonably be expected to be material to the applicable Owned Real Property located in the PRC.
(b) Section 3.16(b) of the Parent Disclosure Schedules lists, as of the date of this Agreement, the address of each Leased Real Property (other than temporary construction site offices relating to individual projects). The Company has made available to GG true, correct and complete copies of the Contracts (including all modifications, amendments, guarantees, supplements, waivers, extensions, renewals, side letters and other agreements with respect thereto) pursuant to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries use or occupy (or have been granted an option to use or occupy) the Leased Real Property or is otherwise a party with respect to the Leased Real Property (the “Leases”). Except as would not reasonably be expected to be, individually or in the aggregate, material to the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, each Lease is in full force and effect and is a valid, legal and binding obligation of the Company or its Subsidiary that is a party thereto, enforceable in accordance with its terms against the Company or its Subsidiary (as applicable), and each other party thereto, subject, in each case, to the Enforceability Exceptions. Except as would not reasonably be expected to be, individually or in the aggregate, material to the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, the Company or one of its
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Subsidiaries has a valid and subsisting leasehold estate in, and enjoys peaceful and materially undisturbed possession of, all Leased Real Property, subject only to Permitted Liens. Except as would not reasonably be expected to be material to each Leased Real Property, or set forth on Section 3.16(b) of the Parent Disclosure Schedules, neither the Company nor its Subsidiaries has a sublease, license or other Contract granting to any Person the right to use or occupy any Leased Real Property or any portion thereof. To Parent’s knowledge, neither the Company or any of its Subsidiaries nor any other party under any Lease is in breach or default under any Lease and no event has occurred or circumstance exists which, with the delivery of notice, the passage of time or both, would constitute a breach or default under any Lease by the Company and its Subsidiaries.
(c) Except as would not reasonably be expected to be, individually or in the aggregate, material to the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, the tangible assets and properties of the Company and its Subsidiaries are in good operating condition in all respects (normal wear and tear excepted) and are fit, in all respects, for use in the ordinary course of business, and no uninsurable damage has, since the Most Recent Balance Sheet, occurred with respect to such assets and properties. Except as would not reasonably be expected to be, individually or in the aggregate, material to the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, immediately after the Effective Time, the assets (which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall include any assets held pursuant to valid leasehold interest, license or other similar interests or right to use any assets) of the Company and its Subsidiaries will, together with the Necessary Related Party Contracts, constitute all of the assets and Contracts necessary to conduct the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries immediately after the Closing in all respects as it is conducted on the date of this Agreement. Except as would not reasonably be expected to be, individually or in the aggregate, material to the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, the Company and each of its Subsidiaries own, lease, license or have the legal right to use or otherwise hold good, valid and enforceable title to all of the properties and assets, tangible or intangible, of the Company and its Subsidiaries, as reflected on the Financial Statements (collectively, the “Company Assets”), except for any Company Assets that have been sold or otherwise disposed of in the ordinary course of business.
Section 3.17 Intellectual Property; IT Security; Data Privacy.
(a) Section 3.17(a) of the Parent Disclosure Schedules lists each patent, patent application, trademark registration, trademark application, service xxxx registration, service xxxx application, copyright registration, application for copyright registration, and Internet domain name owned or purported to be owned by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries as of the date of this Agreement, which applications have been filed or registrations or patents have been obtained as of the date of this Agreement (the Intellectual Property listed or required to be listed on Section 3.17(a) of the Parent Disclosure Schedules, collectively, the “Registered Intellectual Property”). All Registered Intellectual Property is subsisting and, to Parent’s knowledge, valid and enforceable. All renewal, maintenance and other necessary filings and fees due and payable to any relevant Governmental Authority or Internet domain name registrar to maintain all Registered Intellectual Property material to the business of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in full force and effect have been timely submitted or paid in full.
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(b) The Company or one of its Subsidiaries (i) solely and exclusively owns all rights, title and interest in and to all Owned IP, and (ii) except as would not reasonably be expected to be, individually or in the aggregate, material to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, has valid and enforceable rights to use, pursuant to a written license, sublicense, agreement or permission, all Licensed IP, in each case, free and clear of all Liens (other than Permitted Liens) (it being understood that this Section 3.17(b) is not a representation or warranty with respect to non-infringement of third party Intellectual Property). The Owned IP and such Licensed IP collectively constitute all material Intellectual Property used in, and necessary and sufficient for, the conduct and operation of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries, as presently conducted (it being understood that this Section 3.17(b) is not a representation or warranty with respect to non-infringement of third party Intellectual Property).
(c) None of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, the conduct of the business of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any Owned IP (i) is currently infringing upon, misappropriating, diluting or otherwise violating in any material respect (A) to Parent’s knowledge, any Patents or Trademarks of any Person or (B) any other Intellectual Property rights of any Person and (ii) has, in the past six (6) years, infringed upon, misappropriated, diluted or otherwise violated (A) to Parent’s knowledge, any Patents or Trademarks of any Person or (B) in any material respect, any other Intellectual Property rights of any Person. Except as would not reasonably be expected to be, individually or in the aggregate, material to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, in the past six (6) years, none of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (or, to Parent’s knowledge, any member of the Parent Group with respect to the business of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries), has received any written communication, and no action has been instituted, settled or, to Parent’s knowledge, threatened against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (or, to Parent’s knowledge, any member of the Parent Group with respect to the business of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries) that (1) alleges any such infringement, violation, dilution or misappropriation with respect to the business of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (2) invites the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (or, to Parent’s knowledge, any member of the Parent Group with respect to the business of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries) to take a license under any Intellectual Property of any Person in a manner that could reasonably be construed as a notice of infringement or (3) challenges the ownership, use, validity or enforceability of any Owned IP. To Parent’s knowledge, no Person is infringing upon, misappropriating, diluting or otherwise violating any material Owned IP or any material Licensed IP exclusively licensed to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, nor to Parent’s knowledge, has any Person, in the past six (6) years, infringed upon, misappropriated, diluted or otherwise violated any material Owned IP or any material Licensed IP exclusively licensed to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. To Parent’s knowledge, no such claims have been made in writing against any Person by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (or, to Parent’s knowledge, any member of the Parent Group with respect to the business of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries) since January 1, 2018.
(d) The Company and its Subsidiaries have taken steps reasonable and appropriate under the circumstances to maintain and protect all of the material trade secrets, confidential information and other Intellectual Property of the Company and its Subsidiaries and all trade secrets and confidential information of any Person to whom the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has a confidentiality obligation with respect to such trade secrets or confidential information (in each case, including the value and confidentiality thereof). No trade secret or confidential information that is material to the business of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has been authorized by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to be disclosed (or, to Parent’s
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knowledge, has been disclosed) to any Person other than (i) pursuant to a written agreement adequately restricting the disclosure and use of such trade secret or confidential information or (ii) to a Person who otherwise has a duty to protect such trade secret or confidential information. Each current and former employee, consultant and contractor of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has entered into a written agreement with the applicable Company or Subsidiary validly and effectively assigning to the Company or such Subsidiary all Intellectual Property developed or created by such Person within the scope of such Person’s duties to the Company or such Subsidiary (save where such Intellectual Property rights automatically vest in the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (as applicable) under applicable Law) and prohibiting such Person from using or disclosing trade secrets or confidential information of the Company or such Subsidiary, both during and after such Person’s employment or retention by the Company or such Subsidiary. Any statutory or contractual material compensation for any Intellectual Property developed or created by each current and former employee, consultant and contractor of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has been fully paid. To the Parent’s knowledge, no current or former employee, consultant or contractor of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has been or is in breach of any such agreement.
(e) No funding, facilities or personnel of any Governmental Authority or any university, college, research institute or other educational institution has been or is being used to create, in whole or in part, any Owned IP or, to Parent’s knowledge, any Licensed IP exclusively licensed to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
(f) Except as would not reasonably be expected to be, individually or in the aggregate, material to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, each of the Company and its Subsidiaries owns or has a valid right to access and use pursuant to a written agreement all IT Systems in the manner in which they are currently accessed or used in the conduct of the businesses of the Company and such Subsidiary (it being understood that this Section 3.17(f) is not a representation or warranty with respect to non-infringement of third party Intellectual Property). The IT Systems (i) are adequate for and sufficient in all material respects for the operation of the businesses of the Company and each of its Subsidiaries as currently conducted and (ii) to Parent’s knowledge, do not contain any viruses, worms, Trojan horses, bugs, faults or other devices, errors, Contaminants or effects that (A) materially and adversely disrupt the functionality of the material IT Systems, except as disclosed in their documentation or (B) enable or assist any Person to access without authorization any IT Systems. Except as would not reasonably be expected to be, individually or in the aggregate, material to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, the Company and each of its Subsidiaries have taken commercially reasonable steps to maintain and safeguard the performance, confidentiality, security and internal and external integrity of the IT Systems and the data that the IT Systems contain. Since January 1, 2018, there has not been any failure, breakdown, continued substandard performance, data loss, outage, unscheduled downtime or other adverse event affecting any IT Systems (including, to Parent’s knowledge, any security breach or unauthorized access to any IT Systems) that have been or could reasonably be expected to be material to the conduct and operation of the business of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, and there has not been any material disruption to any IT System that has not been remediated. Except as would not reasonably be expected to be, individually or in the aggregate, material to the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, the Company and each of its Subsidiaries has implemented reasonable back-up and disaster recovery arrangements in the event of a failure of the IT Systems.
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(g) Except as would not reasonably be expected to be, individually or in the aggregate, material to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, none of the source code or related source materials for any Owned Company Software has been licensed or provided to, or, to Parent’s knowledge, used or accessed by, any Person (other than employees or contractors of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries who have entered into written agreements restricting the disclosure and use of such source code or related source materials). Except as would not reasonably be expected to be, individually or in the aggregate, material to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, none of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party to any source code escrow Contract or any other Contract (or a party to any Contract obligating the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to enter into a source code escrow Contract or other Contract) requiring the deposit of any source code or related materials for any Owned Company Software. Except as would not reasonably be expected to be, individually or in the aggregate, material to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, no Person other than the Company and its Subsidiaries has any rights to possess, or, to Parent’s knowledge, is in possession of, any source code or related source materials for any Owned Company Software.
(h) Except as would not reasonably be expected to be, individually or in the aggregate, material to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, the Company and its Subsidiaries have complied and do comply with all license terms applicable to any item of Open Source Software that is or has been included, incorporated or embedded in, linked to, combined or distributed with, or used in the delivery or provision of any Owned Company Software. Except as would not reasonably be expected to be, individually or in the aggregate, material to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, no Open Source Software is or has been included, incorporated or embedded in, linked to, combined or distributed with or used in the delivery or provision of any Owned Company Software, in each case, in a manner that requires or obligates the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to (i) disclose, contribute, distribute, license or otherwise make available to any Person (including the open source community) any source code included in the Owned Company Software, (ii) license any Owned Company Software for making modifications or derivative works, (iii) disclose, contribute, distribute, license or otherwise make available to any Person any Owned Company Software for no or nominal charge or (iv) grant a license to, or refrain from asserting or enforcing, any of its Patents.
(i) Except as would not reasonably be expected to be, individually or in the aggregate, material to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (i) the Owned Company Software is free from any defect, virus or programming, design or documentation error or corruptant that would have an adverse effect on the operation or use of the Owned Company Software and (ii) none of the Owned Company Software contains any Contaminants or constitutes a Contaminant. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries implement and maintain in all material respects, and have since January 1, 2018 implemented and maintained in all material respects, industry standard procedures to mitigate against the likelihood that the Owned Company Software contains any Contaminant or other Software routines or hardware components designed to permit unauthorized access to or disable, erase or otherwise harm any Software, hardware or data.
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(j) Except as would not reasonably be expected to be, individually or in the aggregate, material to the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement or any of the other Transaction Agreements nor the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby (either alone or in combination with any other event) will result in (i) the loss or impairment of, or any Lien on, any Owned IP or Licensed IP, (ii) the release, disclosure or delivery of any source code included in any material Owned Company Software to any Person, (iii) the grant, assignment or transfer to any Person of any license or other right or interest under, to or in any Owned IP or Licensed IP, (iv) the payment of any additional consideration to, or the reduction of any payments from, any Person with respect to any Owned IP or Licensed IP or (v) the breach of, or creation on behalf of any Person of the right to terminate or modify, any Contract relating to any Owned IP or Licensed IP.
(k) Except as would not reasonably be expected to be, individually or in the aggregate, material to the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, the Company and its Subsidiaries and, to Parent’s knowledge, any Person acting for or on behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is, and has since January 1, 2018 been, in compliance with all (i) applicable Privacy Laws, (ii) applicable policies and notices regarding Personal Information and (iii) contractual obligations of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries with respect to the receipt, collection, compilation, use, storage, processing, sharing, safeguarding, security (technical, physical and administrative), disposal, destruction, disclosure, or transfer (including cross-border) of Personal Information. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries has implemented and maintained reasonable and appropriate policies, procedures and systems for receiving and appropriately responding to requests from individuals concerning their Personal Information. None of the public-facing privacy policies or notices of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has contained any material omissions or been misleading or deceptive. Since January 1, 2018, none of the Company, or any of its Subsidiaries (or, to Parent’s knowledge, any member of the Parent Group with respect to the business of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries) has received any written notice of any claims (including notice from third parties acting on its behalf) of or investigations or regulatory inquiries related to, or been charged with, the violation by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of any Privacy Laws, applicable privacy policies, or contractual commitments with respect to any Personal Information.
(l) Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries have (i) implemented and since January 1, 2018, maintained reasonable and appropriate technical and organizational safeguards to protect all Personal Information and other confidential data in its possession or under its control against loss, theft, misuse or unauthorized access, use, modification, alteration, destruction, transfer or disclosure and (ii) since January 1, 2018, taken reasonable steps to ensure that all third parties who process any Personal Information for or on behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries have taken reasonable steps to maintain the privacy and confidentiality of Personal Information and to protect and secure Personal Information from loss, theft, misuse or unauthorized access, use, modification, alteration, destruction or disclosure. To the knowledge of Parent, any third party who has provided any Personal Information to the Company has done so in material compliance with applicable Privacy Laws, including providing any notice and obtaining any consent required.
(m) Since January 1, 2018, there have been no material breaches, security incidents, misuse of or unauthorized access to or disclosure of any Personal Information in the possession or control of, or collected, used or processed by or on behalf of, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, and, to Parent’s knowledge, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has provided or been required to provide any notices to any Person in connection with any disclosure of any Personal Information. Except as would not reasonably be expected to be,
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individually or in the aggregate, material to the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, each of the Company and its Subsidiaries has implemented reasonable disaster recovery and business continuity plans, and taken actions consistent with such plans, to the extent required, to safeguard all data and Personal Information in its possession or control. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries has conducted commercially reasonable data security testing or audits at reasonable and appropriate intervals and has resolved or remediated in all material respects any material data security issues or vulnerabilities identified. Neither the Company or any of its Subsidiaries nor, to Parent’s knowledge, any third party acting at the direction or authorization of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has paid a sum of money to (i) any perpetrator of any data breach incident or cyber-attack or (ii) any third party with actual or alleged information about any data breach incident or cyber-attack, in each case, with respect to such incident or cyber-attack.
Section 3.18 Environmental Matters.
(a) The Company and its Subsidiaries are, and since January 1, 2018 have been, in compliance with all applicable Environmental Laws, which compliance includes obtaining, maintaining and complying with all Material Permits that are required under applicable Environmental Laws to own, lease or operate its properties and assets, to conduct its business and to construct any buildings on the Owned Real Property, except for any non-compliance (including any failure to obtain, maintain and comply with Material Permits) that would not reasonably be expected to be, individually or in the aggregate, material to the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
(b) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any unresolved written notice of any violations of, or liabilities arising under, Environmental Laws, or alleging liability from exposure to Hazardous Materials, except for such notices that would not reasonably be expected to be, individually or in the aggregate, material to the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
(c) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has caused or arranged for the release, spill, disposal or discharge of any Hazardous Materials at concentrations in excess of those permitted under any Environmental Laws, except for such release, spill, disposal or discharge that would not reasonably be expected to be, individually or in the aggregate, material to the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
(d) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has been issued any unresolved Governmental Order arising under Environmental Laws or relating to Hazardous Materials, nor, to Parent’s knowledge, are they subject to any pending investigations relating to or in connection with any violation or alleged violation of Environmental Laws, except for any Governmental Order or investigation that would not reasonably be expected to be, individually or in the aggregate, material to the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
Section 3.19 Absence of Changes. (a) Since December 31, 2020, no Company Material Adverse Effect has occurred and (b) since December 31, 2020 and through the date of this Agreement, except as expressly contemplated by this Agreement, any other Transaction Document or in connection with the Transactions, the Company and its Subsidiaries have (i) conducted their respective businesses in the ordinary course in all material respects, other than due to any actions
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taken due to any COVID-19 Measure and (ii) have not taken any action that would require the consent of GG pursuant to Section 6.01(b)(i), Section 6.01(b)(ii), Section 6.01(b)(iii), Section 6.01(b)(iv), Section 6.01(b)(v), Section 6.01(b)(vi), Section 6.01(b)(vii), Section 6.01(b)(xi), Section 6.01(b)(xii), Section 6.01(b)(xiii), Section 6.01(b)(xiv), Section 6.01(b)(xv), Section 6.01(b)(xvi), Section 6.01(b)(xvii) or, solely to the extent related to any of the foregoing, Section 6.01(b)(xviii), in each case, if such action had been taken after the date hereof, other than, in each case, any action taken in connection with any Transaction Document (including the Pre-Closing Reorganization).
Section 3.20 Transactions with Affiliates. Except for the Contracts set forth on Section 3.20 of the Parent Disclosure Schedules, there are no Contracts between (a) the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and any (b) Company Related Party, other than (i) Contracts with respect to a Company Related Party’s employment with (including Company Benefit Plans and other ordinary course compensation from) the Company entered into in the ordinary course of business, (ii) the Parent Shareholders Agreement, or (iii) Contracts entered into after the date of this Agreement that are either permitted pursuant to Section 6.01(b) or entered into in accordance with Section 6.01(b) or (iv) Contracts that are not material to the businesses of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole (all such Contracts, arrangements, understandings, interests and other matters that are required to be disclosed pursuant to this Section 3.20 are referred to herein as “Company Related Party Contracts”).
Section 3.21 Brokers. Other than Citigroup Global Markets Asia Limited and Citigroup Global Markets Inc., no broker, finder, financial advisor, investment banker or other Person is entitled to any brokerage fee, finders’ fee or other commission in connection with the Transactions based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates for which the Company has any obligation.
ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES RELATING TO PARENT, LISTCO AND MERGER SUB
Except as set forth in the Parent Disclosure Schedules (but subject to the terms of Section 11.08), each of Parent, ListCo and Merger Sub hereby, jointly and severally, represents and warrants to GG as follows:
Section 4.01 Corporate Organization. Each of Parent, ListCo and Merger Sub is a corporation, exempted company, limited liability company or other applicable business entity duly organized, incorporated or formed, as applicable, validly existing and 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) under the Laws of its jurisdiction of formation, incorporation or organization (as applicable). The copies of Parent’s Governing Documents and the Parent Shareholders Agreement as in effect on the date of this Agreement have been previously made available by Parent to GG, are true, correct and complete, are in full force and effect and have not been amended.
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Section 4.02 Due Authorization. Each of Parent, ListCo and Merger Sub has the requisite corporate, limited liability company or other similar power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and each other Transaction Document to which it is a party or will be a party and, upon receipt of the Required Parent Shareholder Approval, to perform its obligations hereunder and thereunder and to consummate the Transactions. Subject to (i) the receipt of the Required Parent Shareholder Approval and (ii) the filing and effectiveness of the Certificate of Merger with the Secretary of State of Delaware in accordance with the DGCL, the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents and the consummation of the Transactions have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate (or other similar) action on the part of each of Parent, ListCo and Merger Sub and no other Proceeding on the part of Parent, ListCo or Merger Sub, as the case may be, is necessary to authorize this Agreement or such other Transaction Documents or performance by Parent, ListCo or Merger Sub, as the case may be, hereunder or thereunder. This Agreement has been, and each other Transaction Document to which Parent, ListCo or Merger Sub, as the case may be, will be party, shall be, duly and validly executed and delivered by Parent, ListCo or Merger Sub, as the case may be, and, assuming due authorization and execution by each other Party hereto and thereto, this Agreement constitutes, and each such other Transaction Document to which Parent, ListCo or Merger Sub, as the case may be, will be party, shall constitute a legal, valid and binding obligation of Parent, ListCo or Merger Sub, as the case may be, enforceable against Parent, ListCo or Merger Sub, as the case may be, in accordance with its terms, subject to the Enforceability Exceptions. By virtue of its execution and delivery of this Agreement, each of Parent, in its capacity as the sole shareholder of ListCo, and ListCo, in its capacity as the sole shareholder of Merger Sub, hereby approves and adopts this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby and in the Transaction Documents.
Section 4.03 Consents and Requisite Governmental Approvals; No Violations.
(a) No action by, notice, consent, approval, waiver or authorization of, or designation, declaration or filing with, any Governmental Authority is required on the part of Parent, ListCo or Merger Sub with respect to Parent’s, ListCo’s and Merger Sub’s execution, delivery or performance of its obligations under this Agreement or the other Transaction Documents to which it is or will be party or the consummation of the Transactions, except for (i) compliance with and filings under the HSR Act, (ii) the filing with the SEC of (A) the Registration Statement/Proxy Statement and the declaration of the effectiveness thereof by the SEC and (B) such reports under Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act as may be required in connection with this Agreement, the other Transaction Documents or the Transactions, (iii) such filings with and approvals of the Stock Exchange to permit ListCo Class A ADSs and ListCo Class C-1 ADSs or ListCo AD Warrants, as applicable, to be issued in accordance with this Agreement to be listed on the Stock Exchange, (iv) the filing of the Certificate of Merger with the Secretary of State of Delaware in accordance with the DGCL or (v) any consents, approvals, authorizations, designations, declarations, waivers or filings, the absence of which would not reasonably be expected to prevent, materially delay or materially impair the consummation of the Transactions.
(b) Neither the execution, delivery or performance by Parent, ListCo or Merger Sub of this Agreement nor the other Transaction Documents to which Parent, ListCo or Merger Sub is or will be a party nor the consummation of the Transactions shall, directly or indirectly (with or without due notice or lapse of time or both), (i) result in a violation or breach of any provision of any of Parent’s, ListCo’s or Merger Sub’s Governing Documents, (ii) result in a violation or breach of, or constitute a default or give rise to any right of termination, consent,
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cancellation, amendment, modification, suspension, revocation or acceleration under, any of the terms, conditions or provisions of, any Contract to which Parent, ListCo or Merger Sub is a party, (iii) assuming compliance with the matters referred to in Section 4.03(a), violate, or constitute breach under, any Governmental Order or applicable Law to which Parent, ListCo or Merger Sub or any of their respective properties or assets are subject or bound or (iv) result in the creation of any Lien upon any of the assets or properties of Parent, ListCo or Merger Sub (other than any Permitted Liens), except, in the case of any of clauses (ii) through (iv) above, as would not reasonably be expected to be, individually or in the aggregate, material to Parent, ListCo or Merger Sub, taken as a whole.
Section 4.04 Capitalization.
(a) Section 4.04(a) of the Parent Disclosure Schedules sets forth, as of the date of this Agreement a true and complete statement of (i) the number and class or series (as applicable) of all of the issued Equity Securities of Parent and (ii) the identity of the Persons that are the equityholders thereof.
(b) As of the date of this Agreement, the issued share capital of ListCo consists of 1,000 ListCo Class A Shares. As of immediately prior to the Closing, the issued share capital of ListCo shall consist solely of (i) the ListCo Shares included in the Parent Consideration and (ii) the GBP redeemable preferred shares of ListCo with a nominal value of GBP50,000, which shares shall have been issued wholly for cash at nominal value to Parent. The issued shares of ListCo have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid. The issued shares of ListCo (A) were issued in compliance in all material respects with the Governing Documents of ListCo and applicable Law and (B) were not issued in breach or violation of any preemptive rights or Contract. As of the date of this Agreement, all of the outstanding shares of ListCo are owned directly by Parent, free and clear of all Liens (other than transfer restrictions under applicable Securities Law). As of the date of this Agreement, ListCo has no Subsidiaries other than Merger Sub and does not own, directly or indirectly, any Equity Securities in any Person other than Merger Sub, and after giving effect to the Transactions, ListCo shall have no Subsidiaries other than GG and the Company and its Subsidiaries. The directors of ListCo are duly authorized pursuant to section 551 of the UK Companies Xxx 0000 to allot ListCo Shares pursuant to this Agreement and the Subscription Agreements, and to allot ListCo Class A Shares pursuant to the conversion of ListCo Class C-1 Shares and ListCo Class C-2 Shares, and the pre-emption rights under section 561 of the UK Companies Xxx 0000 have been disapplied pursuant to section 571 of the UK Companies Xxx 0000 in relation to each such allotment. The ListCo Shares, ListCo Class C-1 Shares, ListCo Class C-2 Shares and VCC Preference Shares allotted pursuant to this Agreement will be credited as fully paid and free from all Liens (other than, solely with respect to (1) the VCC Preference Shares, (2) the Parent Consideration, (3) the ListCo Class A Shares issued pursuant to the Subscription Agreements and (4) the securities issued in respect of the GG Class F Shares and Private Placement Warrants, transfer restrictions under applicable Securities Law, the Governing Documents of ListCo or any Transaction Document).
(c) The authorized share capital of Merger Sub consists of 1,000 common shares, par value $0.001 per share, of which 1,000 common shares are issued and outstanding. The issued and outstanding shares of Merger Sub have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable. The issued and outstanding shares of Merger Sub (i) were issued in compliance in all material respects with the Governing Documents of Merger Sub and applicable Law and (ii) were not issued in breach or violation of any preemptive rights or Contract. All of the outstanding shares of Merger Sub are owned directly by ListCo, free and clear of all Liens (other than transfer restrictions under applicable Securities Law).
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(d) There are no (i) subscriptions, calls, options, warrants, rights or other securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for ListCo Shares or any other Contracts to which ListCo is a party or by which ListCo is bound obligating ListCo to issue or sell any shares of capital stock of, other Equity Securities in or debt securities of, ListCo, (ii) equity equivalents, share/stock appreciation rights, phantom stock/share ownership interests or Contracts to which ListCo is a party or by which ListCo is bound obligating ListCo to issue any similar right and (iii) voting trusts, proxies or other Contracts which ListCo is party or by which ListCo is bound with respect to the voting or Transfer of ListCo Shares or other Equity Securities in ListCo, in each case, except as expressly provided for in this Agreement or the Transactions.
(e) As of date of this Agreement, (i) GG and ListCo have entered into PIPE Subscription Agreements with PIPE Investors, pursuant to which, and on the terms and subject to the conditions of which, such PIPE Investors have agreed, in connection with the Transactions, to purchase ListCo Class A ADSs for a PIPE Investment equal to $67,500,000 (such amount, the “PIPE Investment Amount”), (ii) GG, the Sponsor Insiders and ListCo have entered into the Sponsor Subscription Agreement, pursuant to which, and on the terms and subject to the conditions of which, the Sponsor Insiders have agreed, in connection with the Transactions, to purchase ListCo Class A ADSs for a Sponsor Investment equal to the Sponsor Investment Amount, (iii) GG, VCC and ListCo have entered into the VCC PIPE Subscription Agreement, pursuant to which, and on the terms and subject to the conditions of which, VCC has agreed, in connection with the Transactions, to purchase ListCo Class A ADSs for a VCC PIPE Investment equal to the VCC PIPE Investment Amount and (iv) ListCo and Xxxxx have entered into the VCC Preference Subscription Agreement, pursuant to which, on the terms and subject to the condition of which, Xxxxx has agreed, in connection with the Transactions, to subscribe for VCC Preference Shares. The Subscription Agreements and the VCC Preference Subscription Agreement are in full force and effect with respect to, and binding on, ListCo and, to Parent’s knowledge, on each other party thereto, in accordance with their terms.
Section 4.05 Business Activities. Each of ListCo and Merger Sub was organized solely for the purpose of entering into this Agreement, the other Transaction Documents and consummating the Transactions and has not engaged in any activities or business, other than those incident or related to or incurred in connection with its organization or formation, as applicable, or the negotiation, preparation or execution of this Agreement or any other Transaction Document, the performance of its covenants or agreements in this Agreement or any other Transaction Document or the consummation of the Transactions.
Section 4.06 Taxes.
(a) For U.S. federal (and applicable state and local) income Tax purposes, each of ListCo and Merger Sub is, and has been since the date of its formation, treated as an association taxable as a corporation.
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(b) Neither ListCo nor Merger Sub has taken any action (or permitted any action to be taken) or failed to take any action, nor is ListCo or Merger Sub aware of any fact, plan or circumstance, which action, failure to act, fact, plan or circumstance would reasonably be expected to prevent the Merger and the Pre-Closing Consolidation, Sponsor Investment, VCC PIPE Investment, PIPE Investment and the issuance of the VCC Preference Shares from qualifying for the U.S. Intended Tax Treatment, in each case other than as contemplated by this Agreement or any other Transaction Document.
(c) Neither ListCo nor Parent has any plan or intention to cause GG to engage in any transaction or make any election that reasonably would be expected to result in the liquidation of GG for U.S. federal income Tax purposes.
(d) To its knowledge, Parent does not expect ListCo to be a “passive foreign investment company” within the meaning of Section 1297(a) of the Code in the year that includes the Closing.
Section 4.07 Investment Company Act. ListCo is not an “investment company” or a Person directly or indirectly “controlled” by or acting on behalf of a Person subject to registration and regulation as an “investment company,” in each case, within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940.
Section 4.08 Brokers. Other than Citigroup Global Markets Asia Limited and Citigroup Global Markets Inc., no broker, finder, financial advisor, investment banker or other Person is entitled to any brokerage fee, finders’ fee or other commission in connection with the Transactions based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of Parent, ListCo or Merger Sub or any of their Subsidiaries or Affiliates for which Parent, ListCo or Merger Sub have any obligation.
Section 4.09 Information Supplied. None of the information supplied or to be supplied by, or on behalf of, Parent expressly for inclusion or incorporation by reference prior to the Closing in the Registration Statement/Proxy Statement shall, when the Registration Statement/Proxy Statement is declared effective or when the Registration Statement/Proxy Statement is mailed to the Pre-Closing GG Holders or at the time of the Special Meeting, and in the case of any amendment or supplement thereto, at the time of such amendment or supplement, 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; provided, however, that Parent makes no representations or warranties as to the information contained in or omitted from the Registration Statement/Proxy Statement in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to Parent by or on behalf of GG or Sponsor specifically for inclusion in the Registration Statement/Proxy Statement.
Section 4.10 UK Takeover Code. With effect from the Closing, the central management and control of ListCo will not be in the United Kingdom (for the purposes of the UK Takeover Code).
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ARTICLE V
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES RELATING TO GG
Except as set forth in (a) the GG Disclosure Schedules (but subject to the terms of Section 11.08) or (b) GG SEC Reports filed with the SEC on or prior to the date of this Agreement (excluding any disclosures in any GG SEC Reports under the headlines “Risk Factors,” “Forward-Looking Statements” or “Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk” and other disclosures that do not constitute statements of fact or that are generally cautionary, predictive or forward-looking in nature), GG hereby represents and warrants to Parent, the Company, ListCo and Merger Sub as follows:
Section 5.01 Corporate Organization. GG is a corporation duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the State of Delaware. The copies of GG’s Governing Documents as in effect on the date of this Agreement previously made available by GG to Parent are true, correct and complete, are in full force and effect and have not been amended. GG has the requisite corporate or other entity power and authority to own, operate and lease its properties, rights and assets and to conduct its business as presently conducted, except where the failure to have such power or authority would not reasonably be expected to be, individually or in the aggregate, material to GG. GG is duly licensed or qualified in each jurisdiction in which its ownership of property or the character of its activities is such as to require it to be so licensed or qualified, except where the failure to be so licensed or qualified would not reasonably be expected to be, individually or in the aggregate, material to GG.
Section 5.02 Due Authorization.
(a) GG has the requisite corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and each other Transaction Document to which GG is or will be a party and (subject to the approvals described in Section 5.03), upon receipt of the Required GG Stockholder Approval, to perform its obligations hereunder and thereunder and to consummate the Transactions. Subject to obtaining the Required GG Stockholder Approval at the Special Meeting, the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the other Transaction Documents to which GG is or will be a party and the consummation of the Transactions have been (or, in the case of any other Transaction Document entered into after the date of this Agreement, will be upon execution thereof) duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of GG. This Agreement has been, and each other Transaction Document to which GG is or will be a party upon execution thereof, duly and validly executed and delivered by GG and constitutes or shall constitute, upon execution thereof, as applicable, assuming due power and authority of, and due execution and delivery by, Parent, Polestar Singapore, Polestar Sweden, ListCo, Merger Sub and each other party hereto and thereto, a valid, legal and binding agreement of GG (assuming this Agreement has been and the other Transaction Documents to which GG is or will be a party are or will be upon execution thereof, as applicable, duly authorized, executed and delivered by the other Persons party hereto or thereto, as applicable), enforceable against GG in accordance with their terms, subject to the Enforceability Exceptions.
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Section 5.03 Consents and Requisite Government Approvals; No Violations.
(a) No action by, notice, consent, approval, waiver or authorization of, or designation, declaration or filing with, any Governmental Authority is required on the part of GG with respect to GG’s execution, delivery or performance of its obligations under this Agreement or the other Transaction Documents to which it is or will be party or the consummation of the Transactions, except for (i) compliance with and filings under the HSR Act, (ii) the filing with the SEC of (A) the Registration Statement/Proxy Statement and the declaration of the effectiveness thereof by the SEC and (B) such reports under Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act as may be required in connection with this Agreement, the other Transaction Documents or the Transactions, (iii) such filings with and approvals of the Stock Exchange to permit ListCo Class A ADSs and ListCo Class C-1 ADSs or ListCo AD Warrants, as applicable, to be issued in accordance with this Agreement to be listed on the Stock Exchange, (iv) the filing of the Certificate of Merger with the Secretary of State of Delaware in accordance with the DGCL or (v) any consents, approvals, authorizations, designations, declarations, waivers or filings, the absence of which would not reasonably be expected to prevent, materially delay or materially impair the consummation of the Transactions.
(b) Subject to the receipt of the Required GG Stockholder Approval, neither the execution, delivery or performance by GG of this Agreement nor the other Transaction Documents to which GG is or will be a party nor the consummation by GG of the Transactions shall (i) result in any breach of any provision of GG’s Governing Documents, (ii) result in a violation or breach of, or constitute a default or give rise to any right of termination, cancellation, amendment, modification, suspension, revocation or acceleration under, any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any Contract to which GG is a party or by which GG or any of its properties or assets are bound, (iii) assuming compliance with the matters referred to in Section 5.03(a), violate, or constitute a breach under, any Governmental Order or Law applicable to GG or (iv) result in the creation of any Lien upon any of the assets or properties of GG (other than any Permitted Liens) of GG, except in the case of clauses (ii), (iii) and (iv) above, for such violations, conflicts, breaches or defaults which would not, reasonably be expected to be, individually or in the aggregate, material to GG.
Section 5.04 Capitalization.
(a) The authorized capital stock of GG consists of: (i) 1,000,000 shares of GG preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “GG Preferred Shares”), of which no shares are issued and outstanding as of the date of this Agreement; (ii) 440,000,000 shares of common stock, consisting of 400,000,000 shares of GG Class A Shares and 40,000,000 shares of GG Class F Shares, of which (A) 80,000,000 shares of GG Class A Shares are issued and outstanding as of the date of this Agreement and 20,000,000 shares of GG Class F Shares are issued and outstanding as of the date of this Agreement, and (B) 25,000,000 GG Warrants are issued and outstanding as of the date of this Agreement. All outstanding Equity Securities of GG (except to the extent such concepts are not applicable under the applicable Law of GG’s jurisdiction of incorporation or other applicable Law) have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable. Such Equity Securities (i) were issued in compliance in all material respects with applicable Law, (ii) were not issued in violation of the Governing Documents of GG and (iii) were not issued in breach or violation of any purchase option, call option, right of first refusal, preemptive right, subscription right or any similar right under any applicable Law, the GG Governing Documents or any Contract to which GG is a party or is otherwise bound. Except (i)
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for this Agreement, (ii) the other Transaction Documents and the Transactions, (iii) as set forth in GG’s Governing Documents and (iv) the GG Warrants, there are no outstanding (A) equity appreciation, phantom equity, profit participation rights or (B) options, restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance stock units, phantom stock/share, warrants, purchase rights, subscription rights, conversion rights, exchange rights, calls, puts, rights of first refusal or first offer or other Contracts to which GG is a party or by which GG is bound obligating GG to issue, deliver, sell, or cause to be issued, delivered or sold, any shares of capital stock of, other equity interests in or debt securities of, GG.
(b) GG has no Subsidiaries and does not own, directly or indirectly, any Equity Securities in any Person.
(c) As of date of this Agreement, (i) GG and ListCo have entered into PIPE Subscription Agreements with PIPE Investors, pursuant to which, and on the terms and subject to the conditions of which, such PIPE Investors have agreed, in connection with the Transactions, to purchase ListCo Class A ADSs for a PIPE Investment equal to the PIPE Investment Amount, (ii) GG, the Sponsor Insiders and ListCo have entered into a Sponsor Subscription Agreement, pursuant to which, and on the terms and subject to the conditions of which, the Sponsor Insiders have agreed, in connection with the Transactions, to purchase ListCo Class A ADSs for a Sponsor Investment equal to the Sponsor Investment Amount and (iii) GG, VCC and ListCo have entered into a VCC PIPE Subscription Agreement, pursuant to which, and on the terms and subject to the conditions of which, VCC has agreed, in connection with the Transactions, to purchase ListCo Class A ADSs for a VCC PIPE Investment equal to the VCC PIPE Investment Amount. The Subscription Agreements are in full force and effect with respect to, and binding on, GG and, to the knowledge of GG, on each PIPE Investor party thereto, in accordance with their terms.
Section 5.05 Trust Account. As of the date of the Agreement, GG has an amount in cash equal to at least $800,000,000 in a trust account (the “Trust Account”) for the benefit of GG’s public stockholders, maintained by Computershare Trust Company, N.A., acting as trustee (the “Trustee”), pursuant to the Investment Management Trust Agreement, dated March 25, 2021, between GG and the Trustee (the “Trust Agreement”). The Trust Agreement is in full force and effect and is a legal, valid and binding obligation of GG and, to the knowledge of GG, the Trustee, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to Enforceability Exceptions. The Trust Agreement has not been terminated, repudiated, rescinded, amended or supplemented or modified, in any respect, and, to the knowledge of GG, no such termination, repudiation, rescission, amendment, supplement or modification is contemplated. There are no side letters and there are no agreements, Contracts, arrangements or understandings, whether written or oral, with the Trustee or any other Person that would cause the description of the Trust Agreement in the GG SEC Reports to be inaccurate in any material respect and/or that would entitle any Person to any portion of the proceeds in the Trust Account, the GG SEC Reports to be inaccurate in any material respect or, to GG’s knowledge, that would entitle any Person to any portion of the funds in the Trust Account (other than (i) in respect of deferred underwriting commissions, permitted regulatory withdrawals or Taxes, (ii) the Pre-Closing GG Holders who shall have elected to redeem their pre-Closing GG Class A Shares pursuant to the Governing Documents of GG or (iii) if GG fails to complete a business combination within the allotted time period set forth in the Governing Documents of GG and liquidates the Trust Account, subject to the terms of the Trust Agreement, GG (in limited amounts to permit GG to pay the expenses of the Trust Account’s liquidation,
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dissolution and winding up of GG) and then the Pre-Closing GG Holders). Prior to the Closing, none of the funds held in the Trust Account may be released except in accordance with the Trust Agreement, the GG Governing Documents and GG’s final prospectus dated March 22, 2021. Amounts in the Trust Account are invested in United States Government securities or in money market funds meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 promulgated under the Investment Company Act of 1940. GG has performed all material obligations required to be performed by it to-date under, and complied in all material respects with the terms of, the Trust Agreement, and is not in default, breach or delinquent in performance in any material respect under the Trust Agreement, and, to the knowledge of GG, no event has occurred which, with due notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute such a default or breach thereunder. There are no Proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of GG, threatened with respect to the Trust Account. Since March 25, 2021, GG has not released any money from the Trust Account (other than interest income earned on the principal held in the Trust Account as permitted by the Trust Agreement). As of the Effective Time, the obligations of GG to dissolve or liquidate pursuant to the GG Governing Documents shall terminate, and, as of the Effective Time, GG shall have no obligation whatsoever pursuant to the GG Governing Documents to dissolve and liquidate the assets of GG by reason of the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby. Following the Effective Time, no holder of GG Shares shall be entitled to receive any amount from the Trust Account except to the extent such holder is a Redeeming Stockholder.
Section 5.06 SEC Filings. GG has timely filed or furnished all required registration statements, forms, reports, schedules and other documents required to be filed or furnished by it prior to the date of this Agreement with the SEC pursuant to Federal Securities Laws since its initial public offering (collectively, and together with any exhibits and schedules thereto and other information incorporated therein, and as they have been supplemented, modified or amended since the time of filing through the date of this Agreement, the “GG SEC Reports”), and, as of the Closing, shall have filed or furnished all other statements, forms, reports and other documents required to be filed or furnished by it subsequent to the date of this Agreement with the SEC pursuant to Federal Securities Laws through the Closing (collectively, and together with any exhibits and schedules thereto and other information incorporated therein, and as they have been supplemented, modified or amended since the time of filing, but excluding the Registration Statement/Proxy Statement, the “Additional GG SEC Reports”). All GG SEC Reports, Additional GG SEC Reports, any correspondence from or to the SEC or the Stock Exchange (other than such correspondence in connection with the initial public offering of GG) and all certifications and statements required by (i) Rule 13a-14 or 15d-14 under the Exchange Act or (ii) 18 U.S.C. § 1350 (Section 906) of the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act with respect to any of the foregoing are, or will be, as applicable, available on the SEC’s Electronic Data-Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system (XXXXX) in full without redaction. The GG SEC Reports were, and the Additional GG SEC Reports will be, prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act, as the case may be, and the rules and regulations thereunder. The GG SEC Reports did not, and the Additional GG SEC Reports will not, as of their respective dates of filing with the SEC (or if amended or superseded by a filing prior to the date of this Agreement or the Closing Date, then on the date of such filing), contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements made therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were or will be made, not misleading (for purposes of the Additional GG SEC Reports, assuming that the representation and warranty set forth in Section 4.09 is true and correct in all respects with respect to all information supplied by or on behalf of Parent and its Subsidiaries expressly for inclusion or incorporation by reference therein). As of the date of this Agreement, to the knowledge of GG, there are no outstanding or unresolved comments in comment letters received from the SEC with respect to the GG SEC Reports.
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Section 5.07 Internal Controls; Listing; Financial Statements.
(a) Except as is not required in reliance on exemptions from various reporting requirements by virtue of GG’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 its initial public offering, (i) GG 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), which are, to GG’s knowledge, sufficient to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of GG’s financial reporting and the preparation of GG’s Financial Statements for external purposes in accordance with GAAP and (ii) GG has established and maintained disclosure controls and procedures as required under Rule 13a-15 under the Exchange Act. Such disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that material information relating to GG is made known to GG’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer by others within GG.
(b) GG has not taken any action prohibited by Section 402 of the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act.
(c) Since its initial public offering, except as set forth in Section 5.07(c) of the GG Disclosure Schedules, GG has complied in all material respects with all applicable listing and corporate governance rules and regulations of the Stock Exchange. The GG Units, GG Class A Shares and GG Warrants are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and are listed for trading on the Stock Exchange. As of the date of this Agreement, there is no Proceeding pending or, to GG’s knowledge, threatened against GG by the Stock Exchange or the SEC with respect to any intention by such entity to deregister GG Units, GG Class A Shares or GG Warrants or prohibit or terminate the listing of GG Units, GG Class A Shares or GG Warrants on the Stock Exchange. GG has not taken any action that is designed to terminate the registration of GG Units, GG Class A Shares or GG Warrants under the Exchange Act.
(d) The audited financial statements and unaudited interim financial statements (including, in each case, the notes and schedules thereto) included in the GG SEC Reports (the “GG Financial Statements”) (i) fairly present in all material respects the financial position of GG as at the respective dates thereof, and the results of its operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for the respective periods then ended (subject, in the case of any unaudited interim financial statements, to normal year-end audit adjustments (none of which is expected to be material) and the absence of notes thereto), (ii) were prepared in conformity with GAAP applied on a consistent basis during the periods indicated (except, in the case of any audited financial statements, as may be indicated in the notes thereto and subject, in the case of any unaudited financial statements, to normal year-end audit adjustments (none of which is expected to be material) and the absence of notes thereto), (iii) in the case of the audited GG Financial Statements, were audited in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB and (iv) 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 (including Regulation S-X or Regulation S-K, as applicable).
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(e) GG 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 GG’s and its Subsidiaries’ assets. GG maintains and, for all periods covered by the GG Financial Statements, has maintained books and records of GG in the ordinary course of business that are accurate and complete and reflect the revenues, expenses, assets and liabilities of GG in all material respects.
(f) Since its incorporation, neither GG (including any employee thereof) nor GG’s independent auditors have identified or been made aware of: (i) any significant deficiency or material weakness in the system of internal accounting controls utilized by GG; (ii) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves GG’s management or other employees who have a role in the preparation of financial statements or the internal accounting controls utilized by GG; or (iii) any claim or allegation regarding any of the foregoing.
(g) Section 5.07(g) of the GG Disclosure Schedules sets forth the principal amount of all of the outstanding Indebtedness for borrowed money, as of the date hereof, of GG.
Section 5.08 No Undisclosed Liabilities. As of the date of this Agreement, except for the Liabilities (a) set forth or disclosed in the GG Financial Statements included in the GG SEC Reports, (b) incurred in connection with the negotiation, preparation or execution of this Agreement or any other Transaction Document, the performance of its covenants or agreements in this Agreement or any other Transaction Document or the consummation of the Transactions, (c) that have arisen since the date of GG’s most recent consolidated balance sheets (and the notes thereto) included in the GG SEC Reports or (d) that are not, and would not reasonably be expected to be, individually or in the aggregate, material to GG, GG does not have any Liabilities that are required by GAAP to be set forth on a consolidated balance sheet of GG, whether or not accrued, contingent or otherwise.
Section 5.09 Litigation. There is (and since its incorporation there has been) no Proceeding pending or, to GG’s knowledge, threatened against or involving GG that, if adversely decided or resolved, would be material to GG. Neither GG nor any of their respective properties or assets is subject to any material Governmental Order. There are no material Proceedings by GG pending against any other Person.
Section 5.10 Compliance with Laws. GG is (and since its incorporation has been) in compliance with all applicable Laws, except as would not reasonably be expected to be, individually or in the aggregate, material to GG.
Section 5.11 Business Activities.
(a) Since its incorporation, GG has not conducted any business activities other than activities related to GG’s initial public offering or directed toward the accomplishment of a business combination.
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(b) GG 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.
(c) GG does not own or lease any real property or material personal property.
Section 5.12 Contracts. Section 5.12 of the GG Disclosure Schedules sets forth a list of each “material contract” (as such term is defined in Item 601(b)(10) of Regulation S-K of the SEC) (other than confidentiality and non-disclosure agreements and this Agreement), as of the date of this Agreement, to which GG is a party or by which any of its assets are bound (excluding those included in the GG SEC Reports) (the material Contracts included in Section 5.12 of the GG Disclosure Schedules and the GG SEC Reports, the “GG Material Contracts”). Each GG Material Contract is, as of the date of this Agreement, (a) in full force and effect and (b) a legal, valid and binding obligation of GG, enforceable in accordance with its terms against GG and, to the knowledge of GG, the other parties thereto, in each case, subject to the Enforceability Exceptions. True, complete and correct copies of the GG Material Contracts have been made available to Parent.
Section 5.13 Employee Benefit Plans. As of the date of this Agreement, GG does not maintain, sponsor or contribute to, any Benefit Plan or employee benefit plan (as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA, whether or not subject to ERISA) or any other plan, policy, program, arrangement or agreement that provides compensation and/or benefits to any current or former employee, officer, director or individual independent contractor thereof (“GG Benefit Plans”), nor does GG have any obligation or commitment to create or adopt any such GG Benefit Plan.
Section 5.14 Taxes.
(a) All material Tax Returns required by Law to be filed by GG have been timely filed (after giving effect to any valid extensions of time in which to make such filings), and all such Tax Returns are true, correct and complete in all material respects.
(b) All material amounts of Taxes due and owing by GG have been paid, other than Taxes which are not yet due and payable or are being contested in good faith by appropriate Proceedings and for which reserves have been established in accordance with GAAP.
(c) GG has (i) withheld all material amounts of Taxes required to have been withheld by it in connection with amounts paid or owed to any employee, independent contractor, creditor, shareholder or any other third party, (ii) remitted, or will remit on a timely basis, such amounts to the appropriate Governmental Authority and (iii) complied in all material respects with applicable Law with respect to Tax withholding, including all reporting and record keeping requirements.
(d) No written claim has been made by any Governmental Authority in a jurisdiction where GG does not file Tax Returns that GG is or may be subject to taxation by, or required to file Tax Returns in, such jurisdiction which claim has not been withdrawn or otherwise resolved
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(e) GG is not a party to, or bound by, any Tax allocation, Tax sharing, Tax indemnification or similar agreement that will remain in effect after the Closing Date (other than customary provisions in agreements the primary purpose of which does not relate to Taxes).
(f) GG is not engaged in any material audit, administrative Proceeding or judicial Proceeding with respect to a material amount of Taxes. GG has not received any written notice from a Governmental Authority of a dispute or claim with respect to a material amount of Taxes, other than disputes or claims that have since been resolved.
(g) There are no Liens with respect to material Taxes on any of the assets of GG, other than Permitted Liens.
(h) GG does not have any material liability for the Taxes of any Person (i) under Treasury Regulation Section 1.1502-6 (or any similar provision of state, local or foreign Law), (ii) as a transferee or successor or (iii) by Contract (except, in each case of clause (i), (ii) and (iii), for liabilities pursuant to commercial Contracts not primarily relating to Taxes or customary financing arrangements).
(i) GG has not taken any action (or permitted any action to be taken) or failed to take any action, nor is GG aware of any fact, plan or circumstance, which action, failure to act, fact, plan or circumstance would reasonably be expected to prevent the Merger and the Pre-Closing Consolidation, Sponsor Investment, VCC PIPE Investment, PIPE Investment and the issuance of the VCC Preference Shares from qualifying for the U.S. Intended Tax Treatment, in each case other than as contemplated by this Agreement or any other Transaction Document.
Section 5.15 Absence of Changes. Since December 31, 2020 and through the date of this Agreement, (a) there has not been any event or occurrence that has had, or would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect on the ability of GG to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement (a “GG Material Adverse Effect”) and (b) except as expressly contemplated by this Agreement, any other Transaction Document or in connection with the Transactions, GG has conducted its business in the ordinary course in all material respects, other than due to any actions taken due to any COVID-19 Measure.
Section 5.16 Transactions with Affiliates. Except for the Contracts set forth on the GG Disclosure Schedules, there are no Contracts between (a) GG, on the one hand, and any (b) officer, director, employee, partner, member, manager, beneficial owner (within the meaning of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act) of 5% or more of the capital stock or equity interests of any of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries, or Affiliate of GG or any immediate family member of the foregoing Persons, on the other hand (each Person identified in this clause (b), a “GG Related Party”).
Section 5.17 Investment Company Act. GG is not an “investment company” or a Person directly or indirectly “controlled” by or acting on behalf of a Person subject to registration and regulation as an “investment company,” in each case, within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940.
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Section 5.18 GG Recommendation. The GG Board has, at a meeting duly called and held at which all directors of GG were present, duly and unanimously adopted resolutions (a) determining that this Agreement and the Transactions, including the Merger, are advisable, and in the best interests of, GG and the holders of GG Shares, (b) approving and declaring advisable this Agreement and the Transactions, including the Merger, (c) directing that this Agreement be submitted to the holders of GG Shares for their adoption and (d) resolving to make the GG Recommendation, which resolutions have not been subsequently rescinded, modified or withdrawn in any way, except as may be permitted by Section 7.07(b). The GG Board has received the opinion of its financial advisor, Barclays Capital Inc., to the effect that, as of the date thereof and based upon and subject to the qualifications, assumptions, limitations and other matters set forth therein, the Per Share GG Consideration to be received by the holders of GG Class A Shares, other than the Sponsor and any of its affiliates, in the Merger is fair, from a financial point of view, to the holders of outstanding GG Class A Shares, other than the Sponsor and any of its affiliates.
Section 5.19 Brokers. No broker, finder, investment banker or other Person is entitled to any brokerage fee, finders’ fee or other commission in connection with the Transactions based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of GG for which GG has any obligation.
Section 5.20 Information Supplied. None of the information supplied or to be supplied by, or on behalf of, GG expressly for inclusion or incorporation by reference prior to the Closing in the Registration Statement/Proxy Statement shall, when the Registration Statement/Proxy Statement is declared effective or when the Registration Statement/Proxy Statement is mailed to the Pre-Closing GG Holders or at the time of the Special Meeting, and in the case of any amendment or supplement thereto, at the time of such amendment or supplement, 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; provided, however, that GG makes no representations or warranties as to the information contained in or omitted from the Registration Statement/Proxy Statement in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to GG by or on behalf of Parent specifically for inclusion in the Registration Statement/Proxy Statement.
ARTICLE VI
COVENANTS OF PARENT AND THE COMPANY
Section 6.01 Conduct of Business of the Company During the Interim Period.
(a) From and after the date of this Agreement until the earlier of the Closing or the termination of this Agreement in accordance with its terms (the “Interim Period”), Parent and the Company shall and shall cause their respective Subsidiaries to use their commercially reasonable efforts to (i) conduct and operate the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business and (ii) preserve intact the current business organization and ongoing business of the Company and its Subsidiaries and maintain the existing relations and goodwill of the Company and its Subsidiaries with customers, suppliers, joint venture partners, distributors and creditors of the Company and its Subsidiaries, (iii) keep available the services of their present officers and other key employees, in each case, except as otherwise contemplated by and in accordance with this Agreement or any other Transaction Document, including, for the avoidance of doubt, with respect to the Pre-Closing Reorganization, as required by applicable Law or COVID-19 Measures, as set forth on Section 6.01(a) of the Parent Disclosure Schedules, or as consented to in writing by GG (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed).
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(b) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, except as otherwise contemplated by and in accordance with this Agreement or any other Transaction Document, including, for the avoidance of doubt, with respect to the Pre-Closing Reorganization, as required by applicable Law or COVID Measures, as set forth on Section 6.01(b) of the Parent Disclosure Schedules or as consented to in writing by GG (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), during the Interim Period, Parent, with respect to the Company and its Subsidiaries, shall not, and shall cause the Company and its Subsidiaries not to, do any of the following:
(i) (A) merge, consolidate, combine or amalgamate the Company or any of its Subsidiaries with any Person or (B) purchase or otherwise acquire (whether by merging or consolidating with, purchasing any Equity Security in or a material portion of the assets of, or by any other manner) any corporation, partnership, association or other business entity or organization or division thereof for an aggregate purchase price in excess of $50,000,000;
(ii) (A) authorize for issuance, issue, sell, transfer, pledge, encumber, dispose of or deliver any additional Equity Securities of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries, or adjust, split, combine, subdivide, recapitalize, reclassify or otherwise effect any change in respect of any of the Equity Securities of the Company or its Subsidiaries, or (B) repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire, or offer to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire, any Equity Securities of the Company or its Subsidiaries, except with respect to the foregoing clauses (A) and (B), (1) for the acquisition by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of any Equity Securities of the Company or its Subsidiaries in connection with the forfeiture or cancellation of such Equity Securities or (2) for transactions between the Company and any of its wholly owned Subsidiaries or between wholly owned Subsidiaries of the Company;
(iii) adopt any amendments, supplements, restatements or modifications to the Governing Documents of the Company or its Subsidiaries, except, with respect to the Company’s Subsidiaries, (A) in the ordinary course of business, (B) as would not materially restrict the operations of such Subsidiary and (C) as would not have an adverse impact on GG;
(iv) other than the issuance of shares by a wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company to the Company or another of the Company’s wholly owned Subsidiaries, (A) make, declare or pay any dividend or distribution (whether in cash, stock or property) to Parent Shareholders in their capacities as Parent Shareholders, or (B) transfer, issue, sell, grant or otherwise directly or indirectly dispose of, or subject to a Lien (other than Permitted Liens), (1) any Equity Securities of the Company or its Subsidiaries or (2) any options, warrants, stock units, rights of conversion or other rights, agreements, arrangements or commitments obligating the Company or its Subsidiaries to issue, deliver or sell any Equity Securities of the Company or its Subsidiaries;
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(v) (A) issue or sell any debt securities or rights to acquire any debt securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or guarantee any debt securities of another Person, or (B) incur, create, assume, refinance, guarantee or otherwise become liable for (whether directly, contingently or otherwise) any Indebtedness, other than (1) ordinary course trade payables that are not past due or (2) Indebtedness in an aggregate amount less than $1,000,000,000;
(vi) make any loans, advances or capital contributions to, or guarantees for the benefit of, or any investments in, any Person (including to any of Parent’s or its Subsidiaries’ officers, employees, directors, agents or consultants), make any material change in its existing borrowing or lending arrangements relating to such loans, advances, capital contributions or investments 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, other than (A) the reimbursement of expenses of employees in the ordinary course of business and (B) loans solely between or among any of the Company and its Subsidiaries;
(vii) (A) sell, transfer, assign, abandon, lease, license, sublicense or convey or otherwise dispose of any material assets (excluding Intellectual Property), properties or business of the Company or its Subsidiaries, other than dispositions of obsolete or worthless assets and other than in the ordinary course of business or (B) create, subject or incur any Lien on any material assets, properties or business of the Company or its Subsidiaries (other than a Permitted Lien or in connection with the incurrence of Indebtedness otherwise permitted by this Section 6.01(b));
(viii) (A) transfer, sell, assign, abandon, license or sublicense (other than grant non-exclusive licenses in the ordinary course of business), let expire (other than expiration of Intellectual Property rights in accordance with its maximum statutory term) or otherwise dispose of any Intellectual Property material to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or (B) disclose any trade secrets material to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (other than pursuant to a written confidentiality agreement entered into in the ordinary course of business);
(ix) other than in the ordinary course of business, (A) materially amend, modify or terminate, or waive or release any material rights, claims or benefits under, any Material Contract (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, any expiration or automatic extension or renewal of any Material Contract pursuant to its terms or entering into additional work or purchase orders pursuant to, and in accordance with the terms of, any Material Contract) or (B) enter into any Contract that would constitute a Material Contract had it been entered into prior to the date of this Agreement;
(x) except as required under the terms of any Company Benefit Plan or Labor Agreement, (A) materially amend or modify, adopt, enter into or terminate any Company Benefit Plan or any benefit or compensation plan, policy, program or Contract that would be a material Company Benefit Plan if in effect as of the date of this Agreement, (B) materially increase or agree to materially increase the compensation or benefits payable to any current or former director, manager, officer, individual service provider or employee with annual base compensation exceeding $150,000 (in each case, other than ordinary
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course merit-based increases, consistent with past practice), (C) take any action to accelerate any payment, right to payment or benefit, vesting of any right to payment of benefit, or the funding of any payment, right to payment or benefit, payable or to become payable to any current or former director, manager, officer, employee, individual independent contractor or other individual service provider of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or (D) issue or grant any Equity Securities to an employee, director or other individual service provider;
(xi) (A) waive, release, compromise, settle or satisfy any pending or threatened Proceeding or (B) enter into any settlement, conciliation or similar Contract, in each case of clauses (A) and (B), the performance of which would involve the payment by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, in each case, in excess of $10,000,000, or that imposes, or by its terms shall impose at any point in the future, any material, non-monetary obligations on the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;
(xii) make any capital expenditures (or commit to make any capital expenditures) that in the aggregate exceed $100,000,000, other than any capital expenditure (or series of related capital expenditures) consistent in all material respects with the Company’s annual capital expenditure budget made available to GG;
(xiii) make any material change in financial accounting methods, principles or practices, except insofar as may have been required by a change in GAAP or IFRS (including pursuant to standards, guidelines and interpretations of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or any similar organization) or applicable Law;
(xiv) authorize, recommend, propose or announce an intention to adopt, or otherwise effect, a plan of complete or partial liquidation, dissolution, restructuring, recapitalization, reorganization or similar transaction involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;
(xv) enter into any agreement that materially restricts the ability of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (including, following the Closing, ListCo and any of its Subsidiaries) to engage or compete in any material line of business, or enter into any agreement that restricts the ability of the Company or its Subsidiaries (including, following the Closing, ListCo and any of its Subsidiaries) to enter a new material line of business;
(xvi) enter into, renew or amend in any material respect any Company Related Party Contract; or
(xvii) enter into any material new line of business outside of (A) the business currently conducted by the Company and its Subsidiaries as of the date of this Agreement, (B) any business contemplated to be conducted in accordance with the Company’s annual budget made available to GG or (C) any business directly related to the research, design, manufacture, production, sale or lease of electric vehicles and/or electric vehicle technology; or
(xviii) enter into any Contract to take, or cause to be taken, or resolve to take, any of the actions set forth in this Section 6.01(b).
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(c) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, nothing set forth in this Agreement shall give GG, directly or indirectly, the right to control or direct the operations of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries during the Interim Period.
(d) For the avoidance of doubt, notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries may declare, set aside, make or pay a dividend on, or make any other cash distribution or cash payment in respect of, any Equity Securities of Company.
Section 6.02 Trust Account Waiver. Each of Parent, Polestar Singapore, Polestar Sweden, ListCo and Merger Sub acknowledges that GG is a blank check company with the power and privileges to effect a business combination, and that such Party has read the IPO Prospectus, GG SEC Reports, GG’s Governing Documents and the Trust Agreement and understands that GG has established the Trust Account described therein for the benefit of GG’s public shareholders and that disbursements from the Trust Account are available only in the limited circumstances set forth in the Trust Agreement. Each of Parent, Polestar Singapore, Polestar Sweden, ListCo and Merger Sub further acknowledges that, if the Transactions, or, in the event this Agreement is terminated pursuant to its terms, another business combination, is not consummated by March 22, 2023 or such later date as is approved by the stockholders of GG to complete a business combination, GG shall be obligated to return to its stockholders the amounts being held in the Trust Account. Accordingly, each of Parent, Polestar Singapore, Polestar Sweden, ListCo and Merger Sub (on behalf of itself and its Affiliates), notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, hereby waives any past, present or future claim of any kind against, and any right to access, the Trust Account or to collect from the Trust Account any monies that may be owed to them by GG or any of its Affiliates for any reason whatsoever, and shall not seek recourse against the Trust Account at any time for any reason whatsoever, including for any Willful Breach of this Agreement; provided that nothing herein shall serve to limit or prohibit Parent’s, Polestar Singapore’s, Polestar Sweden’s, ListCo’s or Merger Sub’s right to pursue a claim against GG or any of its Affiliates for legal relief against assets held outside of the Trust Account (including from and after the consummation of a business combination other than as contemplated by this Agreement) or pursuant to Section 11.14 for specific performance or other injunctive relief (so long as such claim would not affect GG’s ability to fulfill its redemption obligations). This Section 6.02 shall survive the termination of this Agreement for any reason.
Section 6.03 GG D&O Indemnification and Insurance.
(a) Each Party agrees that (i) all rights to indemnification or exculpation now existing in favor of the directors, officers, members, managers and employees of GG, as provided in GG’s Governing Documents or otherwise in effect as of the Closing Date, in either case, solely with respect to any matters occurring on or prior to the Closing, shall survive the Transactions and shall continue in full force and effect from and after the Closing for a period of six (6) years and (ii) ListCo shall, and shall cause the Surviving SPAC to, perform and discharge all obligations to provide such indemnity and exculpation during such six-year period in each case to the maximum extent permitted by applicable Law. To the maximum extent permitted by applicable Law, during such six-year period, ListCo shall, and shall cause the Surviving SPAC to, advance expenses in connection with such indemnification as provided in GG’s Governing Documents. The indemnification and liability limitation or exculpation provisions of GG’s Governing Documents
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shall not, during such six-year period, be amended, repealed or otherwise modified after the Closing in any manner that would adversely affect the rights thereunder of individuals who, as of the Closing or at any time prior to the Closing, were directors or officers of GG (the “GG D&O Persons”) to be so indemnified, have their liability limited or be exculpated with respect to any matters occurring on or prior to Closing and relating to the fact that such GG D&O Person was a director or officer of GG prior to the Closing, unless such amendment, repeal or other modification is required by applicable Law.
(b) ListCo shall not have any obligation under this Section 6.03 to any GG D&O Person when and if a court of competent jurisdiction shall ultimately determine (and such determination shall have become final and non-appealable) that the indemnification of such GG D&O Person in the manner contemplated hereby is prohibited by applicable Law.
(c) Parent shall cause ListCo to, and ListCo shall, purchase, at or prior to the Closing, and maintain, or cause to be maintained, in effect for a period of six (6) years after the Closing Date, without any lapse in coverage, a “tail” policy providing directors’ and officers’ liability insurance coverage for the benefit of those Persons who are covered by any comparable insurance policies of GG as of the date of this Agreement with respect to matters occurring on or prior to the Closing (the “GG D&O Tail Policy”). Such “tail” policy shall provide coverage on terms (with respect to coverage and amount) that are substantially the same as (and no less favorable in the aggregate to the insured than) the coverage provided under the GG’s directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies as of the date of this Agreement; provided that ListCo shall not be obligated to pay a premium for such “tail” policy in excess of 300% of the most recent annual premium paid by GG prior to the date of this Agreement and, in such event, ListCo shall purchase the maximum coverage available for 300% of the most recent annual premium paid by GG prior to the date of this Agreement.
(d) If ListCo or any of its respective successors or assigns (i) shall merge or consolidate with or merge into any other corporation or entity and shall not be the surviving or continuing corporation or entity of such consolidation or merger or (ii) shall Transfer all or substantially all of their respective properties and assets as an entity in one or a series of related transactions to any Person, then in each such case, proper provisions shall be made so that the successors or assigns of ListCo shall assume all of the obligations set forth in this Section 6.03.
(e) The GG D&O Persons entitled to the indemnification, liability limitation, exculpation and insurance set forth in this Section 6.03 are intended to be third-party beneficiaries of this Section 6.03. This Section 6.03 shall survive the consummation of the Transactions and shall be binding on all successors and assigns of ListCo and the Company and its Subsidiaries.
Section 6.04 Company Party D&O Indemnification and Insurance.
(a) Each Party agrees that (i) all rights to indemnification or exculpation now existing in favor of the directors, officers, members, managers and employees of any Company Party, as provided in such Company Party’s Governing Documents or otherwise in effect as of the date of the Closing, in either case, solely with respect to any matters occurring on or prior to the Closing, shall survive the Transactions and shall continue in full force and effect from and after the Closing for a period of six (6) years and (ii) ListCo shall cause each other Company Party to
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perform and discharge all obligations to provide such indemnity and exculpation during such six-year period in each case to the maximum extent permitted by applicable Law. To the maximum extent permitted by applicable Law, during such six-year period, ListCo shall cause the each Company Party to advance expenses in connection with such indemnification as provided in the Company Parties’ Governing Documents. The indemnification and liability limitation or exculpation provisions of the Company Parties’ Governing Documents shall not, during such six-year period, be amended, repealed or otherwise modified after the Closing in any manner that would adversely affect the rights thereunder of individuals who, as of the Closing or at any time prior to the Closing, were directors or officers of any Company Party (the “Company Party D&O Persons”) to be so indemnified, have their liability limited or be exculpated with respect to any matters occurring on or prior to Closing and relating to the fact that such Company Party D&O Person was a director or officer of any Company Party prior to the Closing, unless such amendment, repeal or other modification is required by applicable Law.
(b) ListCo shall not have any obligation under this Section 6.04 to any Company Party D&O Person when and if a court of competent jurisdiction shall ultimately determine (and such determination shall have become final and non-appealable) that the indemnification of such Company Party D&O Person in the manner contemplated hereby is prohibited by applicable Law.
(c) Parent shall cause ListCo to, and ListCo shall, purchase, at or prior to the Closing, and maintain, or cause to be maintained, in effect for a period of six (6) years after the Closing Date, without any lapse in coverage, a “tail” policy providing directors’ and officers’ liability, employment practices liability and fiduciary liability insurance coverage for the benefit of those Persons who are covered by any comparable insurance policies of any Company Party as of the date of this Agreement with respect to matters occurring on or prior to the Closing (the “Company Party D&O Tail Policy”). Such “tail” policy shall provide coverage on terms (with respect to coverage and amount) that are substantially the same as (and no less favorable in the aggregate to the insureds than) the coverage provided under the Company Parties’ directors’ and officers’ liability, employment practices liability and fiduciary liability insurance policies as of the date of this Agreement; provided that ListCo shall not be obligated to pay a premium for such “tail” policy in excess of 300% of the most recent annual premium paid by such Company Party prior to the date of this Agreement and, in such event, the Company Parties shall purchase the maximum coverage available for 300% of the most recent annual premium paid by such Company Party prior to the date of this Agreement.
(d) If ListCo or any of its respective successors or assigns (i) shall merge or consolidate with or merge into any other corporation or entity and shall not be the surviving or continuing corporation or entity of such consolidation or merger or (ii) shall Transfer all or substantially all of their respective properties and assets as an entity in one or a series of related transactions to any Person, then in each such case, proper provisions shall be made so that the successors or assigns of ListCo shall assume all of the obligations set forth in this Section 6.04.
(e) The Company Party D&O Persons entitled to the indemnification, liability limitation, exculpation and insurance set forth in this Section 6.04 are intended to be third-party beneficiaries of this Section 6.04. This Section 6.04 shall survive the consummation of the Transactions and shall be binding on all successors and assigns of ListCo and the Company and its Subsidiaries.
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Section 6.05 Financial Information.
(a) As soon as reasonably practicable following the date of this Agreement (and in any event no later than November 22, 2021), Parent shall use reasonable best efforts to deliver to ListCo and GG the Closing Company Financial Statements. The Closing Company Financial Statements (i) shall be prepared in accordance with IFRS applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods indicated (except, in the case of any audited financial statements, as may be specifically indicated in the notes thereto and subject, in the case of any unaudited financial statements, to normal year-end audit adjustments (none of which is expected to be, individually or in the aggregate, material) and the absence of notes thereto), (ii) shall fairly present, in all material respects, the financial position, results of operations, stockholders’ deficit and cash flows of Parent and its Subsidiaries as at the date thereof and for the period indicated therein (subject to, in the case of any unaudited financial statements, normal year-end audit adjustments (none of which is expected to be, individually or in the aggregate, material)), (iii) in the case of any audited financial statements, shall be audited in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB and shall contain an unqualified report of Parent’s auditor and (iv) shall 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 of delivery (including Regulation S-X or Regulation S-K, as applicable).
(b) Parent shall use its reasonable best efforts (i) to assist, upon advance written notice, during normal business hours and in a manner such as to not unreasonably interfere with the normal operation of Parent, ListCo, the Company and GG or any of their respective Subsidiaries in causing to be prepared in a timely manner any other financial information or statements (including customary pro forma financial statements) that are required to be included in the Registration Statement/Proxy Statement and any other filings to be made by ListCo or GG with the SEC in connection with the Transactions and (ii) to obtain the consents of the Company auditors with respect thereto as may be required by applicable Law or requested by the SEC.
Section 6.06 Stock Exchange Listing. Parent shall cause ListCo to, and ListCo shall, use its reasonable best efforts to cause the ListCo Class A ADSs that constitute the GG Share Consideration and either the ListCo Class C-1 ADSs or ListCo AD Warrants, as applicable, issuable in accordance with this Agreement to be approved for listing on the Stock Exchange (and GG, Parent, Polestar Singapore, Polestar Sweden and Merger Sub shall reasonably cooperate in connection therewith), subject only to official notice of issuance, as promptly as practicable after the date of this Agreement, and in any event prior to the Closing Date and to cause ListCo to satisfy any applicable initial and continuing listing requirements of the Stock Exchange.
Section 6.07 Required Parent Shareholder Approval. Parent shall use its reasonable best efforts to solicit and obtain, and deliver to GG, the Required Parent Shareholder Approval within twenty-four (24) hours following the execution and delivery of this Agreement. In the event Parent is not able to obtain the Required Parent Shareholder Approval in such manner and GG does not elect to exercise its right to terminate this Agreement, Parent shall duly convene and hold a shareholders’ meeting in accordance with Parent’s Governing Documents for the purpose of voting solely upon the Required Parent Shareholder Approval as soon as reasonably practicable, in which case Parent shall obtain the Required Parent Shareholder Approval at such meeting of the Parent Shareholders and shall take all other action necessary or advisable to secure the Required Parent Shareholder Approval as soon as reasonably practicable.
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Section 6.08 Pre-Closing Reorganization. Prior to the Closing, Parent shall, and shall cause ListCo, the Company and their respective Subsidiaries to, complete a reorganization, in accordance with the steps and transactions set forth on Exhibit E attached hereto, with such modifications as Parent and GG may agree in writing (not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed by either Party) (such transactions, the “Pre-Closing Reorganization). Pursuant to, and in accordance with, the Pre-Closing Reorganization, Parent shall cause ListCo to adopt new articles of association to be in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit F (the “ListCo New Articles of Association”), as the same may be revised by Parent in the event the Requisite GG Warrantholder Approval is obtained to reflect the terms of the ListCo Class C-1 Shares and ListCo Class C-2 Shares set forth in Exhibit J (such revisions to be approved by GG, not to be unreasonably withheld) and subject to such further amendments as may be agreed between GG and ListCo.
Section 6.09 Employee Matters.
(a) Prior to the Closing (but after the completion of the Pre-Closing Reorganization), the ListCo Board and the Parent Board shall approve and adopt the Incentive Equity Plan in the form attached hereto as Exhibit G, with such changes as may be agreed in writing between ListCo, GG and Parent (the “Incentive Equity Plan”), reserving 10,000,000 ListCo Class A Shares for issuance thereunder and providing that the number of ListCo Class A Shares reserved for issuance thereunder shall automatically increase annually on January 1 of each calendar year during the term of the Incentive Equity Plan (such date, the “Evergreen Commencement Date”) and ending on and including the ninth anniversary of the Evergreen Commencement Date, in an amount equal to the lesser of (i) 0.5% of the aggregate number of ListCo Shares outstanding on the final day of the immediately preceding calendar year and (ii) such smaller number of ListCo Shares as determined by the ListCo Board. As soon as reasonably practicable and permitted following the Closing Date and subject to stockholder approval of the Incentive Equity Plan, ListCo shall take commercially reasonable efforts to file an effective registration statement on Form S-8 (or other applicable form) with respect to the ListCo Class A Shares issuable under the Incentive Equity Plan, and ListCo shall use commercially reasonable efforts to maintain the effectiveness of such registration statement(s) (and maintain the current status of the prospectus or prospectuses contained therein) for so long as awards granted pursuant to the Incentive Equity Plan remain outstanding.
(b) Prior to the Closing (but after the completion of the Pre-Closing Reorganization), the ListCo Board and the Parent Board shall approve and adopt an employee stock purchase plan in the form attached hereto as Exhibit H, with such changes as may be agreed in writing between ListCo, GG and Parent and subject to stockholder approval (the “Equity Purchase Plan”), reserving 2,000,000 ListCo Class A Shares for issuance thereunder and providing that the number of ListCo Class A Shares reserved for issuance thereunder shall automatically increase annually on the first day of each fiscal year beginning with the Evergreen Commencement Date in an amount equal to the lesser of (i) 0.1% of the aggregate number of ListCo Shares outstanding on the final day of the immediately preceding calendar year and (ii) such smaller number of ListCo Shares as determined by the ListCo Board.
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Section 6.10 Termination of Parent Shareholders Agreement. Parent shall, and shall cause each of the Parent Shareholders to, take, or cause to be taken, all actions necessary or advisable to terminate, effective as of the Closing, the Parent Shareholders Agreement without any further obligations or Liabilities.
Section 6.11 Parent Liquidation. Parent shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to liquidate voluntarily in the 2022 calendar year and distribute all of its ListCo stock to the Parent Shareholders.
Section 6.12 Conversion to Public Company. ListCo undertakes that it shall, and Parent undertakes to cause ListCo to, re-register as a public company under the UK Companies Xxx 0000 prior to the Closing and to issue the GBP redeemable preferred shares wholly for cash with a nominal value of GBP50,000 to Parent (or such other person as Parent and GG may agree in writing).
Section 6.13 UK Takeover Code. ListCo undertakes that it shall, and Parent undertakes to cause ListCo to, seek confirmation prior to the Closing from the UK Takeover Panel that the UK Takeover Code will not apply to ListCo with effect from the Closing.
Section 6.14 UK Companies Xxx 0000. If the Requisite Warrantholder Approval is obtained and accordingly ListCo Class C-1 Shares and ListCo Class C-2 Shares are to be allotted pursuant to this Agreement, ListCo shall comply with the requirements of section 593 of the UK Companies Xxx 0000 that section and provide GG with reasonable evidence of such compliance.
ARTICLE VII
COVENANTS OF GG
Section 7.01 Conduct of GG During the Interim Period.
(a) During the Interim Period, GG shall not, except as otherwise contemplated by this Agreement or any other Transaction Document, as required by applicable Law or COVID-19 Measures, as set forth on Section 7.01 of the GG Disclosure Schedules or as consented to in writing by Parent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), do any of the following:
(i) declare, set aside, make or pay a dividend on, or make any other distribution or payment in respect of, any Equity Securities of GG, or repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire, or offer to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire, any outstanding Equity Securities of GG, other than, for the avoidance of doubt, in connection with the GG Stockholder Redemptions;
(ii) (A) merge, consolidate, combine or amalgamate GG with any Person or (B) purchase or otherwise acquire (whether by merging or consolidating with, purchasing any Equity Security in or any portion of the assets of any corporation, partnership, association or other business entity or organization or division thereof);
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(iii) adjust, split, combine, subdivide, recapitalize, reclassify or otherwise effect any change in respect of any of its Equity Securities;
(iv) adopt any amendments, supplements, restatements or modifications to the Trust Agreement or GG’s Governing Documents;
(v) transfer, issue, sell, grant or otherwise directly or indirectly dispose of, or subject to a Lien (other than Permitted Liens) (A) any of its Equity Securities or (B) any options, warrants, rights of conversion or other rights, agreements, arrangements or commitments obligating GG to issue, deliver or sell any of its Equity Securities;
(vi) incur, guarantee or otherwise become liable for any Indebtedness, other than the incurrence of Indebtedness pursuant to working capital loans in an aggregate amount not to exceed $2,000,000;
(vii) hire or engage any manager, officer, employee or other individual service provider with compensation exceeding $250,000;
(viii) make any loans or advances to, or capital contributions to, or guarantees for the benefit of, or any investments in, any other Person;
(ix) enter into any Contract, except for Contracts contemplated by this Agreement or Contracts related to the Transactions;
(x) engage in any activities or business, other than activities or business (A) conducted by GG as of the date of this Agreement (B) in connection with or incident or related to GG’s organization, incorporation or formation, as applicable, or continuing corporate (or similar) existence or as contemplated by the Additional GG SEC Reports, (C) contemplated by, or incident or related to, this Agreement, the performance of covenants or agreements hereunder or thereunder or the consummation of the Transactions or (D) that are (1) administrative or ministerial and (2) immaterial in nature;
(xi) adopt or enter into any Benefit Plan or any benefit or compensation plan, policy, program or Contract that would be a Benefit Plan if in effect as of the date of this Agreement;
(xii) adopt or enter into a plan of complete or partial liquidation, dissolution, restructuring, recapitalization, reorganization or similar transaction involving GG (other than as contemplated by this Agreement or any other Transaction Document); or
(xiii) enter into any agreement to do any of the action prohibited under this Section 7.01.
(b) Notwithstanding anything in this Section 7.01 or this Agreement to the contrary, nothing set forth in this Agreement shall give Parent, ListCo, the Company or any of their respective Subsidiaries, directly or indirectly, the right to control or direct the operations of GG during the Interim Period.
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Section 7.02 Shareholder Litigation. In the event that any litigation related to the Transaction Documents or the Transactions is brought, or, to the knowledge of GG, threatened in writing, against GG or the GG Board by any of GG’s shareholders prior to the Closing, GG shall promptly notify Parent of any such litigation and keep Parent reasonably informed with respect to the status thereof. GG shall provide Parent the opportunity to participate in (subject to a customary joint defense agreement), but not control, the defense of any such litigation (at Parent’s sole cost and expense), and shall give due consideration to Parent’s advice with respect to such litigation. Except as provided in Section 7.02 of the GG Disclosure Schedules, GG shall not settle any such litigation without the prior written consent of Parent, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed.
Section 7.03 GG Public Filings. From the date of this Agreement through the Effective Time, GG shall use reasonable best efforts to 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 Laws.
Section 7.04 Trust Account Proceeds and Redemptions. Upon satisfaction or (to the extent permitted by applicable Law) waiver of the Transaction Conditions (other than any Transaction Conditions that by their terms or nature are to be satisfied at the Closing) and provision of notice thereof to the Trustee (which notice GG shall provide to the Trustee in accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement), (a) in accordance with and pursuant to the Trust Agreement, at the Closing, GG (i) shall cause any documents, opinions and notices required to be delivered to the Trustee pursuant to the Trust Agreement to be so delivered and (ii) shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Trustee to, and the Trustee shall thereupon be obligated to (A) pay as and when due all amounts payable to holders of GG Shares pursuant to the GG Stockholder Redemptions and (B) pay all remaining amounts then available in the Trust Account to GG for immediate use (or otherwise in accordance with GG’s instructions), subject to this Agreement and the Trust Agreement and (b) thereafter, the Trust Account shall terminate, except as otherwise provided therein.
Section 7.05 PIPE Subscriptions.
(a) Unless otherwise approved in writing by Parent and GG, and except for any actions that would not (i) increase conditionality or impose any new obligation on Parent, Polestar Singapore, Polestar Sweden, ListCo or GG, (ii) reduce the PIPE Investment Amount or the subscription amount under any Subscription Agreement or the VCC Preference Subscription Agreement or (iii) reduce or impair the rights of GG or ListCo under any Subscription Agreement or the VCC Preference Subscription Agreement, none of GG, Parent, Polestar Singapore, Polestar Sweden, or ListCo shall permit any amendment or modification to be made to, any waiver (in whole or in part) of, or provide consent to modify (including consent to terminate), any provision or remedy under, or any replacements of, any of the Subscription Agreements or the VCC Preference Subscription Agreement, in each case, other than any assignment or transfer contemplated therein or expressly permitted thereby (without any further amendment, modification or waiver to such assignment or transfer provision).
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(b) During the Interim Period, GG, on the one hand, and Parent, Polestar Singapore, Polestar Sweden, and ListCo, on the other hand, shall use their respective reasonable best efforts to, and shall instruct their respective financial advisors to, keep the Parties reasonably informed with respect to the PIPE Investment, the Sponsor Investment, the VCC PIPE Investment and the subscription for VCC Preference Shares contemplated by the VCC Preference Subscription Agreement, including by (i) providing regular updates and (ii) consulting and cooperating with, and considering in good faith any feedback from, GG, Parent, ListCo, Polestar Singapore, Polestar Sweden, or their respective financial advisors with respect to such matters; provided that each of GG and Parent, ListCo, Polestar Singapore and Polestar Sweden acknowledges and agrees that, except as set forth on Section 5.19 of the GG Disclosure Schedules, none of their respective financial advisors shall be entitled to any fees with respect to the PIPE Investment unless otherwise mutually agreed by each of GG and Parent in writing.
Section 7.06 De-Listing. Prior to the Closing, GG shall reasonably cooperate with ListCo and use its reasonable best efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions reasonably necessary to de-list GG Units, GG Class A Shares and GG Warrants from the Stock Exchange and de-register such securities under the Exchange Act as soon as practicable following the Effective Time (and in no event later than five (5) Business Days thereafter).
Section 7.07 No Change of Recommendation.
(a) Except as permitted by Section 7.07(b), the GG Board, including any committee thereof, shall not:
(i) withhold, withdraw, qualify or modify (or publicly propose or resolve to withhold, withdraw, qualify or modify) the GG Recommendation in a manner adverse to Parent, ListCo or the Company; or
(ii) fail to include the GG Recommendation in the Registration Statement/Proxy Statement (any of the actions set forth in the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii), a “GG Change of Recommendation”).
(b) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, if, at any time prior to obtaining the Required GG Stockholder Approval, the GG Board determines in good faith, after consultation with its outside legal counsel and financial advisor, that in response to a GG Intervening Event, the failure to make a GG Change of Recommendation would be inconsistent with the GG Board’s fiduciary duties under applicable Law, the GG Board may, prior to obtaining the Required GG Stockholder Approval, make a GG Change of Recommendation; provided, however, that GG shall not be entitled to make, or agree or resolve to make, a GG Change of Recommendation unless (i) GG delivers to Parent a written notice (a “GG Intervening Event Notice”) advising Parent that the GG Board proposes to take such action and containing the material facts underlying the GG Board’s determination that a GG Intervening Event has occurred and that failure to make a GG Change of Recommendation would be inconsistent with its fiduciary duties under applicable Law and (ii) at or after 5:00 p.m., New York time, on the fourth Business Day immediately following the day on which GG delivered the GG Intervening Event Notice (such period from the time the GG Intervening Event Notice is provided until 5:00 p.m., New York time, on the fourth Business Day immediately following the day on which GG delivered the GG Intervening Event Notice (it being understood that any material development with respect to a GG Intervening Event shall require a new notice but with an additional three (3) Business Day (instead
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of four (4) Business Day) period from the date of such notice), the “GG Intervening Event Notice Period”), the GG Board reaffirms in good faith (after consultation with its outside legal counsel and financial advisor) that the failure to make a GG Change of Recommendation would be inconsistent with its fiduciary duties under applicable Law. If requested by Parent, GG shall, and shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause its Representatives to, during the GG Intervening Event Notice Period, engage in good faith negotiations with Parent and its Representatives to make such adjustments in the terms and conditions of this Agreement so that the failure to make a GG Change of Recommendation would not be inconsistent with the GG Board’s fiduciary duties under applicable Law.
ARTICLE VIII
JOINT COVENANTS
Section 8.01 Post-Closing ListCo Board. Prior to the Effective Time, Parent and ListCo shall take all actions necessary to cause, in each case, effective as of the Effective Time (a) the ListCo Board to be composed of a number of directors as set forth on Section 8.01 of the Parent Disclosure Schedules and (b) the initial directors of the ListCo Board to consist of (i) one (1) independent director as reasonably determined by Sponsor and consented to in writing by Parent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), (ii) four (4) independent directors as reasonably determined by Parent and consented to in writing by Sponsor (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) and (iii) the remaining directors as reasonably determined by Parent, in each case, in accordance with Section 8.01 of the Parent Disclosure Schedules, until their successors have been duly elected or appointed and qualified or until their earlier death, resignation or removal in accordance with the Governing Documents of ListCo.
Section 8.02 Efforts to Consummate.
(a) Subject to the terms and conditions herein provided, each of GG and Parent shall, and, GG shall cause its Affiliates, and Parent shall cause its Subsidiaries to, (i) use reasonable best efforts to assemble, prepare and file notifications or any information (and, as needed, to supplement such notifications or information) as may be reasonably necessary to obtain as promptly as reasonably practicable all governmental and regulatory consents required to be obtained in connection with the Transactions, and, in the case of any notifications to be filed under the HSR Act, to submit such notifications no later than fifteen (15) Business Days after the date of this Agreement, (ii) use reasonable best efforts to deliver the notices to, and/or obtain the consents of, the third parties set forth on Section 8.02(a) of the Parent Disclosure Schedules, in each case as set forth therein, in connection with the Transactions, (iii) use reasonable best efforts to take, or cause to be taken, and to do, or cause to be done, all things reasonably necessary or advisable to consummate and make effective as promptly as practicable the Transactions, including using reasonable best efforts to obtain all material approvals of Governmental Authorities that any of GG, Parent, ListCo, the Company or their respective Affiliates are required to obtain in order to consummate the Transactions; provided that in no event shall GG, Parent, ListCo, the Company or any of their respective Affiliates be obligated to bear any expense, pay any fee (except as set forth in the last sentence of Section 8.02(b), and excluding any expenses or fees payable to the SEC in connection with the Transactions, including the Registration Statement/Proxy Statement) or grant any concession in connection with obtaining any such approvals, and that each Party shall bear its out-of-pocket costs and expenses in connection with obtaining any such approvals and (iv) take such other action as may reasonably be necessary or as any other Party may reasonably request to satisfy the conditions of the other Parties set forth in Article IX or otherwise to comply with this Agreement.
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(b) Each Party shall promptly inform the other Parties of any substantive communication between itself and any Governmental Authority regarding any of the Transactions. Without limiting the foregoing, no Party shall, and each Party shall cause its Affiliates not to, enter into any agreement with any Governmental Authority not to consummate the Transactions, except with the prior consent of the other Parties. In connection with obtaining any such approvals, nothing in this Section 8.02 obligates any Party or any of its Affiliates to agree to, and Parent, with respect to the Company and its Subsidiaries, shall not without GG’s written consent, agree with any Governmental Authority to (i) sell, license or otherwise dispose of, or hold separate or agree to sell, license or otherwise dispose of, any entities, assets or facilities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any entity, facility or asset of GG and any of its Affiliates, (ii) terminate, amend or assign existing relationships and contractual rights or obligations of any Party or any of its Affiliates, (iii) amend, assign or terminate existing licenses or other Contracts of any Party or any of its Affiliates or (iv) enter into new licenses or other Contracts in respect of any Party or any of its Affiliates. No Party shall agree to any of the foregoing measures with respect to any other Party or any of its Affiliates, except with such other Parties’ prior written consent (not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed). Except to the extent otherwise constituting a Company Transaction Expense hereunder, whether or not the Transactions are consummated, Parent and GG shall each be responsible for 50% of the filing fees paid or payable to any Governmental Authority (including filing fees under the HSR Act or any other applicable Law) in connection with the Transactions other than filing fees under the HSR Act for the acquisitions by PIPE Investors for the PIPE Investment or Earn Out Holders for the Earn Out Shares (which shall be the sole responsibility of the PIPE Investors or Earn Out Holders, as appropriate).
(c) From and after the date of this Agreement until the earlier of the Closing or termination of this Agreement in accordance with its terms, the Parties shall give legal counsel for the other Parties a reasonable opportunity to review in advance, and shall consider in good faith the views of the other in connection with, any proposed material written communication to any Governmental Authority relating to the Transactions. Each of the Parties agrees not to participate in any substantive meeting or discussion, either in person, videoconference, or by telephone with any Governmental Authority in connection with the Transactions unless, to the extent not prohibited by such Governmental Authority, it consults with the other Parties in advance. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any materials shared may be redacted before being provided to the other Parties (i) to remove references concerning the valuation of the Company, (ii) as necessary to comply with contractual arrangements and (iii) as necessary to avoid disclosure of other competitively sensitive information or to address reasonable privilege or confidentiality concerns.
(d) Without limiting the foregoing, GG, Parent, Polestar Singapore, Polestar Sweden and ListCo shall use reasonable best efforts to (i) consummate the transactions contemplated by the Subscription Agreements and the VCC Preference Subscription Agreement on the terms and conditions described therein, including maintaining in effect the Subscription Agreements and the VCC Preference Subscription Agreement, (ii) satisfy on a timely basis all conditions and perform in all material respects all covenants applicable to them in the Subscription Agreements and the VCC Preference Subscription Agreement and otherwise comply with their obligations thereunder, (iii) in the event that all conditions in the Subscription Agreements and the
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VCC Preference Subscription Agreement (other than conditions whose satisfaction is controlled by the Parties or their Affiliates and other than conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at the Closing, but subject to the satisfaction of such conditions at Closing) have been satisfied, consummate the transactions contemplated by the Subscription Agreements and the VCC Preference Subscription Agreement at the time contemplated hereby, (iv) confer with each other regarding scheduling of the Closing Date (as defined in the Subscription Agreements and the VCC Preference Subscription Agreement), (v) deliver notices to counterparties to the Subscription Agreements and the VCC Preference Subscription Agreement at least five (5) Business Days prior to the Closing to cause them to fund their obligations at least two (2) Business Days prior to the date that the Closing is scheduled to occur hereunder and (vi) enforce their rights, as applicable, under the Subscription Agreements and the VCC Preference Subscription Agreement in the event that all conditions in the Subscription Agreements and the VCC Preference Subscription Agreement (other than conditions whose satisfaction is controlled by the Parties or any of their Affiliates and other than conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at the Closing, but subject to the satisfaction of such conditions of Closing) have been satisfied, to cause (A) each PIPE Investor to pay the subscription price set forth in its PIPE Subscription Agreement, (B) Sponsor to pay the subscription price set forth in the Sponsor Subscription Agreement, (C) Xxxxx to pay the subscription price set forth in the VCC PIPE Subscription Agreement and (D) Xxxxx to pay the subscription price set forth in the VCC Preference Subscription Agreement.
Section 8.03 Registration Statement/Proxy Statement; GG Special Meeting; GG Warrantholder Approval.
(a) Registration Statement/Proxy Statement.
(i) As promptly as practicable (and, in any event, within thirty (30) Business Days following the delivery of the Closing Company Financial Statements) following the date of this Agreement, GG, ListCo, the Company and Parent shall prepare and mutually agree upon (such agreement not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed by any of the Parties), and ListCo shall file with the SEC, the Registration Statement/Proxy Statement. Each of GG, ListCo, the Company and Parent shall use its reasonable best efforts to (A) cause the Registration Statement/Proxy Statement to comply in all material respects with the applicable rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC (including, with respect to Parent, the provision of financial statements for the Company and its Subsidiaries for all periods, and in the form, required to be included in the Registration Statement/Proxy Statement under Securities Laws (after giving effect to any waivers received) or in response to any comments from the SEC), (B) promptly notify the other Parties of, reasonably cooperate with each other Party with respect to and respond promptly to, any comments of the SEC or its staff, (C) have the Registration Statement/Proxy Statement declared effective under the Securities Act as promptly as reasonably practicable after it is filed with the SEC and (D) keep the Registration Statement/Proxy Statement effective through the Closing in order to permit the consummation of the Transactions. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Parent, ListCo, the Company and GG shall reasonably cooperate in connection with the preparation for inclusion in the Registration Statement/Proxy 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/Proxy Statement.
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(ii) GG, on the one hand, and Parent, the Company, ListCo and Merger Sub, on the other hand, shall promptly furnish to the other all information concerning such Party (including with respect to the Company, information concerning itself and its Subsidiaries) and its Representatives that may be required or reasonably requested in connection with any action contemplated by this Section 8.03(a) or for including in any other statement, filing, notice or application made by or on behalf of GG or ListCo to the SEC or the Stock Exchange in connection with the Transactions, including delivering customary Tax representation letters to counsel to enable counsel to deliver any Tax opinions requested or required by the SEC or to be submitted in connection therewith as described in Section 8.06(a). If any Party becomes aware of any information that should be disclosed in an amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement/Proxy Statement, then (A) such Party shall promptly inform, in the case of GG, Parent, the Company and ListCo, or, in the case of Parent, the Company, ListCo or Merger Sub, GG, thereof, (B) such Party shall prepare and mutually agree upon with, in the case of GG, Parent, the Company and ListCo, or, in the case of Parent, the Company, ListCo or Merger Sub, GG (such agreement not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed by any Party), an amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement/Proxy Statement, (C) ListCo shall file such mutually agreed upon amendment or supplement with the SEC and (D) the Parties shall reasonably cooperate, if appropriate, in mailing such amendment or supplement to the Pre-Closing GG Holders. Parent shall promptly advise GG of the time of effectiveness of the Registration Statement/Proxy Statement, the issuance of any stop order relating thereto or the suspension of the qualification of ListCo Class A Shares for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, and each of GG and ListCo shall use its reasonable best efforts to have any such stop order or suspension lifted, reversed or otherwise terminated.
(iii) Each of the Parties shall use its reasonable best efforts to ensure that none of the information related to such Party (including with respect to the Company, information related to itself and its Subsidiaries) or any of such Party’s Representatives, supplied by such Party or on such Party’s behalf for inclusion or incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement/Proxy Statement shall, at the time the Registration Statement/Proxy Statement is filed with the SEC, at each time at which it is amended, or 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, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading.
(b) GG Special Meeting. As promptly as practicable following the time at which the Registration Statement/Proxy Statement is declared effective under the Securities Act and, in any event within forty-five (45) days of the effectiveness of the Registration Statement/Proxy Statement, GG shall (a) duly give notice of a meeting of the GG stockholders (the “Special Meeting”), (b) cause the Registration Statement/Proxy Statement to be mailed to the GG stockholders and (c) duly convene and hold the Special Meeting, in each case, in accordance with the Governing Documents of GG and applicable Law, for the purposes of obtaining the Required GG Stockholder Approval and, if applicable, any approvals related thereto and providing
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its stockholders with the opportunity to elect to effect the GG Stockholder Redemptions. GG shall, through the GG Board, recommend to its stockholders except as permitted by Section 7.07(b), (i) the GG Recommendation, and include such recommendation in the Registration Statement/Proxy Statement (the “Business Combination Proposal”), (ii) the adoption and approval of any other proposals as either the SEC or Stock Exchange (or the respective staff members thereof) may indicate are necessary in its comments to the Registration Statement/Proxy Statement or in correspondence related thereto, and of any other proposals reasonably agreed by GG, ListCo, the Company and Parent as necessary or appropriate in connection with the consummation of the Transactions and (iii) the 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 (such proposals in clauses (i) through (iii) together, the “Transaction Proposals”); provided that GG may postpone or adjourn the Special Meeting (A) to solicit additional proxies for the purpose of obtaining the Required GG Stockholder Approval, (B) for the absence of a quorum or (C) to allow reasonable time for the filing or mailing of any supplemental or amended disclosures that GG has determined, based on the advice of outside legal counsel, is reasonably likely to be required under applicable Law and for such supplemental or amended disclosure to be disseminated and reviewed by the Pre-Closing GG Holders prior to the Special Meeting; provided, further, that in no event shall GG adjourn the Special Meeting for more than fifteen (15) Business Days later than the most recently adjourned meeting or to a date more than thirty (30) Business Days after the original date of the Special Meeting or, without the consent of Parent, to a date that is beyond the Termination Date.
(c) GG Warrantholder Approval. As promptly as reasonably practicable following the date of this Agreement, GG, ListCo, the Company and Parent shall, in accordance with the terms and pursuant to the documentation and timing to be mutually agreed upon (such agreement not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed by any of the Parties), solicit the Requisite GG Warrantholders Approval. In the event that the Requisite GG Warrantholder Approval is obtained prior to the Effective Time, the treatment of the GG Warrants at the Effective Time shall be governed by Section 2.01(b)(vi)(3). In the event that the Requisite GG Warrantholder Approval is not obtained prior to the Effective Time, the treatment of the GG Warrants at the Effective Time shall be governed by Section 2.01(b)(vi)(4). GG shall obtain the consent of Parent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) prior to incurring any third-party fees (other than outside legal counsel) in connection with obtaining the Requisite GG Warrantholder Approval.
Section 8.04 Exclusive Dealing.
(a) From the date of this Agreement until the earlier of the Closing or the termination of this Agreement in accordance with its terms, each of Parent, Polestar Singapore, Polestar Sweden, ListCo and Merger Sub shall not, and shall cause their Representatives not to, directly or indirectly, (i) solicit, initiate, encourage (including by means of furnishing or disclosing information), knowingly facilitate (including by commencing due diligence), discuss or negotiate, directly or indirectly, any inquiry, proposal or offer (written or oral) with respect to a Company Alternate Transaction, (ii) furnish or disclose any non-public information to any Person in connection with, or that could reasonably be expected to lead to, a Company Alternate Transaction, (iii) enter into any Contract or other arrangement or understanding regarding a Company Alternate Transaction, (iv) make any filings with the SEC in connection with a public offering of any Equity
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Securities or other securities of the Company (or any Affiliate or successor of the Company) or (v) otherwise cooperate in any way with, or assist or participate in, or knowingly facilitate or encourage any effort or attempt by any Person (other than GG) to do or seek to do any of the foregoing or seek to circumvent this Section 8.04(b) or further a Company Alternate Transaction. Each of Parent, ListCo, Polestar Singapore and Polestar Sweden, also agree that, promptly following the execution of this Agreement, it shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to and shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause its and their Representatives to, (A) cease any solicitations, discussions or negotiations with any Person (other than the Parties and their respective Representatives) conducted prior to the execution of this Agreement in connection with any Company Alternate Transaction or any inquiry or request for information that could reasonably be expected to lead to, or result in, a Company Alternate Transaction and (B) terminate access to any physical or electronic data room maintained by or on behalf of Parent, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and instruct each Person that has prior to the date hereof executed a confidentiality agreement in connection with its consideration of acquiring Parent or the Company to return or destroy all confidential information furnished to such Person by or on behalf of it or any of its Subsidiaries prior to the date hereof.
(b) From the date of this Agreement until the earlier of the Closing or the termination of this Agreement in accordance with its terms, GG shall not, and shall cause its Representatives not to, directly or indirectly (i) solicit, initiate, encourage (including by means of furnishing or disclosing information), knowingly facilitate (including by commencing due diligence), discuss or negotiate, directly or indirectly, any inquiry, proposal or offer (written or oral) with respect to an GG Alternate Transaction, (ii) furnish or disclose any non-public information to any Person in connection with, or that could reasonably be expected to lead to, a GG Alternate Transaction, (iii) enter into any Contract or other arrangement or understanding regarding a GG Alternate Transaction or (iv) otherwise cooperate in any way with, or assist or participate in, or knowingly facilitate or encourage any effort or attempt by any Person (other than the Parent, Polestar Singapore, Polestar Sweden, ListCo and Merger Sub) to do or seek to do any of the foregoing or seek to circumvent this Section 8.04(b) or further a GG Alternate Transaction. GG agrees that, promptly following the execution of this Agreement, it shall, and shall cause its Representatives (in each such Person’s capacity as a Representative of GG) to, (A) cease any solicitations, discussions or negotiations related to any GG Alternate Transaction with any Person (other than the Parties and their respective Representatives) conducted prior to the execution of this Agreement in connection with any GG Alternate Transaction or any inquiry or request for information that could reasonably be expected to lead to, or result in, a GG Alternate Transaction and (B) instruct each Person that has prior to the date hereof executed a confidentiality agreement in connection with its consideration of a GG Alternate Transaction to return or destroy all confidential information furnished to such Person by or on behalf of GG or any of its Representatives prior to the date hereof.
Section 8.05 Tax Matters.
(a) Save as otherwise expressly provided herein, each Party shall pay its transfer, documentary, sales, use, stamp, registration, VAT or other similar Taxes incurred in connection with the Transactions as required by applicable Law. Each Party shall also, at its own expense, file all necessary Tax Returns with respect to all such Taxes, and, if required by applicable Law, ListCo, the Company, GG or Parent shall join in the execution of any such Tax Returns.
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(b) The Parties intend that for U.S. federal (and applicable state and local) income Tax purposes the Merger, together with the Pre-Closing Consolidation, Sponsor Investment, VCC PIPE Investment, PIPE Investment and the issuance of the VCC Preference Shares, shall qualify for the U.S. Intended Tax Treatment. Each Party shall, and each Party shall cause its respective Affiliates to use best efforts to cause the Merger and the Pre-Closing Consolidation, Sponsor Investment, VCC PIPE Investment, PIPE Investment and the issuance of VCC Preference Shares to qualify for the U.S. Intended Tax Treatment. Each Party shall file all Tax Returns relating to U.S. federal (and applicable state and local) income Tax consistent with, and no Party shall take any position for purposes of U.S. federal (and applicable state and local) income Tax inconsistent with (whether in audits, Tax Returns or otherwise), such treatment unless required to do so pursuant to a “determination” that is final within the meaning of Section 1313(a) of the Code. Each of the Parties agrees to promptly notify all other Parties of any challenge to the U.S. Intended Tax Treatment by any Governmental Authority.
(c) If, in connection with the preparation and filing of the Registration Statement/Proxy Statement, the SEC requests or requires that Tax opinions be prepared and submitted in such connection, GG, the Company, ListCo and Parent, as applicable shall use commercially reasonable efforts to deliver to Weil, Gotshal & Xxxxxx LLP (“Weil”) (or such other reputable law or accounting firm with expertise in U.S. federal income Tax matters mutually agreed by GG and Parent (an “Alternative Advisor”)) customary Tax representation letters satisfactory to Weil (or such Alternative Advisor, as the case may be) dated and executed as of the date the Registration Statement/Proxy Statement shall have been declared effective by the SEC and such other date(s) as determined reasonably necessary by such counsel in connection with the preparation and filing of the Registration Statement/Proxy Statement, and, if required, Weil (or such Alternative Advisor, as applicable) shall furnish an opinion to GG, subject to customary assumptions and limitations, to the effect that the U.S. Intended Tax Treatment should apply to the Transactions.
(d) At or no more than thirty (30) days prior to the Closing, GG shall deliver to ListCo a duly executed certificate and notice in compliance with Treasury Regulations Section 1.1445-2(c) and 1.897-2(h), certifying that GG is not, and has not been at any time during the five (5) year period ending on the Closing Date, a U.S. real property holding corporation within the meaning of 897(c)(2) of the Code and the Treasury Regulations thereunder. After the Closing Date, GG shall mail the notice referred to above to the IRS within the time frame provided in Treasury Regulations Section 1.897-2(h)(2)(v).
Section 8.06 Confidentiality; Access to Information; Publicity.
(a) The Parties hereby acknowledge and agree that the information being provided in connection with this Agreement and the consummation of the Transactions is subject to the terms of the Confidentiality Agreement, the terms of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference mutatis mutandis and shall apply to such disclosures.
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(b) From and after the date of this Agreement until the earlier of the Closing Date or the termination of this Agreement in accordance with its terms, upon reasonable advance written notice, Parent, ListCo and the Company shall provide, or cause to be provided, to GG and its Representatives during normal business hours reasonable access to the directors, officers, books, records and properties of the Company and its Subsidiaries (in a manner so as to not interfere with the normal business operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries); provided that such access shall not include any environmental sampling, monitoring, testing or other surface, subsurface or invasive investigation, assessment or analysis of soil, groundwater, building materials, air or other environmental media, and such access may be limited by Parent, ListCo, the Company or any of their respective Subsidiaries, as applicable, in response to COVID-19 Measures to the extent reasonably necessary (i) to protect the health and safety of the managers, officers, directors, partners, members, equityholders, employees, advisors, consultants, agents or other Representatives, or customers, lessors, suppliers, vendors or other commercial partners of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or (ii) in order to comply with any applicable COVID-19 Measures (provided that, in case of each of clauses (i) and (ii), Parent shall, and shall cause ListCo, the Company and their respective Subsidiaries to, use reasonable best efforts to provide (x) such access as can reasonably be provided (or otherwise convey such information regarding the applicable matter as can reasonably be conveyed, including through remote communication) or (y) such information, in a manner without risking the health and safety of such Persons or violating such COVID-19 Measures). Notwithstanding the foregoing, Parent, ListCo, the Company and their respective Subsidiaries shall not be required to provide to GG or any of its Representatives any information (i) if and to the extent doing so would (A) violate any Law to which Parent, ListCo, the Company or any of their respective Subsidiaries is subject, (B) result in the disclosure of any trade secrets of third parties in breach of any Contract with such third party, (C) violate any legally binding obligation of Parent, ListCo, the Company or any of their respective Subsidiaries with respect to confidentiality, nondisclosure or privacy or (D) jeopardize protections afforded to Parent, ListCo, the Company or any of their respective Subsidiaries under the attorney-client privilege or the attorney work product doctrine (provided that, in the case of each of clauses (A) through (D), Parent shall use reasonable best efforts to provide, or cause ListCo, the Company or their respective Subsidiaries to provide, (1) such access as can be provided (or otherwise convey such information regarding the applicable matter as can be conveyed) without violating such privilege, doctrine, Contract, obligation or Law and (2) such information in a manner without violating such privilege, doctrine, Contract, obligation or Law) or (ii) if Parent, ListCo the Company or any of their respective Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and GG or any of its Representatives, on the other hand, are adverse parties in a litigation and such information is reasonably pertinent thereto; provided that Parent shall, in the case of clause (i) or (ii), as promptly as practicable provide written notice of the withholding of access or information on any such basis unless such written notice is prohibited by applicable Law.
(c) From and after the date of this Agreement until the earlier of the Closing Date or the termination of this Agreement in accordance with its terms, upon reasonable advance written notice, GG shall provide, or cause to be provided, to Parent, ListCo, the Company and their respective Representatives during normal business hours reasonable access to the directors, officers, books and records and properties of GG (in a manner so as to not interfere with the normal business operations of GG); provided that such access may be limited by GG, in response to COVID-19 Measures to the extent reasonably necessary (i) to protect the health and safety of the GG and its managers, officers, directors, partners, members, equityholders, employees, advisors, consultants, agents or other Representatives, or customers, lessors, suppliers, vendors or other commercial partners or (ii) in order to comply with any applicable COVID-19 Measures (provided that, in case of each of clauses (i) and (ii), GG shall use reasonable best efforts to provide (i) such access as can reasonably be provided (or otherwise convey such information regarding the
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applicable matter as can reasonably be conveyed, including through remote communication) or (ii) such information, in a manner without risking the health and safety of such Persons or violating such COVID-19 Measures). Notwithstanding the foregoing, GG shall not be required to provide to Parent, ListCo, the Company or any of their respective Representatives any information (i) if and to the extent doing so would (A) violate any Law to which GG is subject, (B) result in the disclosure of any trade secrets of third parties in breach of any Contract with such third party, (C) violate any legally binding obligation of GG with respect to confidentiality, nondisclosure or privacy or (D) jeopardize protections afforded to GG under the attorney-client privilege or the attorney work product doctrine (provided that, in the case of each of clauses (A) through (D), GG shall use reasonable best efforts to provide (1) such access as can be provided (or otherwise convey such information regarding the applicable matter as can be conveyed) without violating such privilege, doctrine, Contract, obligation or Law and (2) such information in a manner without violating such privilege, doctrine, Contract, obligation or Law) or (ii) if GG, on the one hand, and Parent, ListCo, the Company or any of their respective Subsidiaries or Representatives, on the other hand, are adverse parties in a litigation and such information is reasonably pertinent thereto; provided that GG shall, in the case of clause (i) or (ii), as promptly as practicable provide written notice of the withholding of access or information on any such basis unless such written notice is prohibited by applicable Law.
(d) None of Parties or any of their respective Affiliates shall issue any press release or make any public announcement or other communication regarding this Agreement or the Transactions, or any matter related to the foregoing, without first obtaining the prior consent of, prior to the Closing, Parent and GG or, after the Closing, ListCo and Sponsor, as applicable (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed); provided, however, that each Party, Sponsor and their respective Representatives may issue or make, as applicable, any such press release, public announcement or other communication (i) if such press release, public announcement or other communication is required by applicable Law, in which case, (A) prior to the Closing, the disclosing Party or its applicable Representatives shall, unless and to the extent prohibited by such applicable Law, (1) if the disclosing Person is GG or a Representative of GG, reasonably consult with Parent in connection therewith and provide Parent with an opportunity to review and comment on such press release, public announcement or communication and shall consider any such comments in good faith or (2) if the disclosing Party is Parent, ListCo, the Company or any of their respective Representatives, reasonably consult with GG in connection therewith and provide GG with an opportunity to review and comment on such press release, public announcement or communication and shall consider any such comments in good faith or (B) after the Closing, the disclosing Party or its applicable Representatives shall, unless and to the extent prohibited by such applicable Law, (1) if the disclosing Person is Sponsor or a Representative of Sponsor, reasonably consult with ListCo in connection therewith and provide ListCo with an opportunity to review and comment on such press release, public announcement or communication and consider any such comments in good faith and (2) if the disclosing Person is ListCo or a Representative thereof, reasonably consult with Sponsor in connection therewith and provide Sponsor with an opportunity to review and comment on such press release, public announcement or communication and consider any such comments in good faith, (ii) to the extent such press release, public announcement or other communication contains only information previously disclosed in accordance with this Section 8.06(d) and (iii) to Governmental Authorities in connection with any consents required to be made under this Agreement, the other Transaction Documents or in connection with the Transactions.
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(e) The initial press release concerning this Agreement and the Transactions shall be a joint press release in the form agreed by Parent and GG prior to the execution of this Agreement and such initial press release (the “Signing Press Release”) shall be released as promptly as practicable after the execution of this Agreement on the day thereof or the first Business Day immediately thereafter. Promptly after the execution of this Agreement, GG shall file a current report on Form 8-K (the “Signing Filing”) with the Signing Press Release and a description of this Agreement as required by, and in compliance with, the Securities Laws, which Signing Filing shall be mutually agreed upon by Parent and GG. The Company, on the one hand, and GG, on the other hand, shall mutually agree upon (such agreement not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed by either Parent or GG, as applicable) a press release announcing the consummation of the Transactions (the “Closing Press Release”) prior to the Closing, and, on the Closing Date (or such other date as may be mutually agreed to in writing by GG and Parent prior to the Closing), the Parties shall cause the Closing Press Release to be released. Promptly after the Closing (but in any event within four (4) Business Days after the Closing), ListCo shall file a current report on Form 8-K (the “Closing Filing”) with a description of the Closing as required by Securities Laws, which Closing Filing shall be mutually agreed upon by Parent and GG prior to the Closing (such agreement not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed by either Parent or GG, as applicable). In connection with the preparation of each of the Signing Press Release, the Signing Filing, the Closing Press Release and the Closing Filing, each Party shall, upon written request by any other Party, furnish such other Party with all information concerning itself, its directors, officers and equityholders and such other matters as may be reasonably necessary for such press release or filing.
Section 8.07 Post-Closing Cooperation; Further Assurances. Following the Closing, each Party shall, on the request of any other Party, execute such further documents, and perform such further acts, as may be reasonably necessary or appropriate to give full effect to the allocation of rights, benefits, obligations and liabilities contemplated by this Agreement, the other Transaction Documents and the Transactions.
ARTICLE IX
CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATIONS
Section 9.01 Conditions to Obligations of the Parties. The obligations of the Parties to consummate the Transactions are subject to the satisfaction or, if permitted by applicable Law, waiver by the Party for whose benefit such condition exists of the following conditions:
(a) the expiration or termination of the applicable waiting period (and any extension thereof) under the HSR Act relating to the Transactions shall have expired, been terminated or obtained (or deemed, by applicable Law, to have been obtained), as applicable;
(b) no Law or other legal restraint or prohibition issued by any court of competent jurisdiction or other Governmental Authority preventing the consummation of the Transactions shall be in effect;
(c) the Registration Statement/Proxy Statement shall have become effective in accordance with the provisions of the Securities Act, and no stop order shall have been issued by the SEC and remain in effect with respect to the Registration Statement/Proxy Statement;
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(d) the Required GG Stockholder Approval shall have been obtained;
(e) the Required Parent Shareholder Approval shall have been obtained;
(f) after completion of the GG Stockholder Redemptions and prior to the Closing, GG 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);
(g) the ListCo Class A ADSs that constitute the GG Share Consideration and ListCo Class A ADSs that are issued in connection with the PIPE Investment shall have been approved for listing on the Stock Exchange;
(h) the ListCo AD Warrants or the ListCo Class C-1 ADSs, as applicable, shall have been approved for listing on the Stock Exchange; and
(i) the ListCo Board shall have a number of directors and composition of directors determined in accordance with Section 8.01 as of the Closing.
Section 9.02 Additional Conditions to the Obligations of Parent, Polestar Singapore, Polestar Sweden, ListCo and Merger Sub. The obligation of Parent, Polestar Singapore, Polestar Sweden, ListCo and Merger Sub to consummate the Transactions are subject to the satisfaction or, if permitted by applicable Law, waiver by Parent of the following further conditions:
(a) (i) the GG Fundamental Representations shall be true and correct in all material respects as of the Closing Date, as though made on and as of the Closing Date (except to the extent that any such representation and warranty is expressly made as of an earlier date, in which case such representation and warranty shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date), (ii) the representations and warranties set forth in the first sentence of Section 5.04(a) shall be true and correct in all respects (except for de minimis inaccuracies) as of the Closing Date, as though made on and as of the Closing Date (except to the extent that any such representation and warranty is expressly made as of an earlier date, in which case such representation and warranty shall be true and correct in all respects (except for de minimis inaccuracies) as of such earlier date), (iii) the representation and warranty set forth in Section 5.15(a) shall be true and correct in all respects as of the Closing Date as though made on and as of the Closing Date and (iv) the other representations and warranties of GG in Article V (other than the GG Fundamental Representations and the representations and warranties set forth in the first sentence of Section 5.04(a) and Section 5.15(a)) shall be true and correct (without giving effect to any limitations as to “materiality” or any similar limitation set forth herein) in all respects as of the Closing Date, as though made on and as of the Closing Date (except to the extent that any such representation and warranty is expressly made as of an earlier date, in which case such representation and warranty shall be true and correct in all respects as of such earlier date), except where the failure of such representations and warranties to be true and correct, individually and in the aggregate has not had a GG Material Adverse Effect;
(b) the covenants and agreements of GG contained in this Agreement to be performed prior to the Closing shall have been performed in all material respects;
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(c) the Aggregate Cash Amount shall be no less than $950,000,000, prior to the payment of any unpaid or contingent liabilities and fees and expenses of GG (including, as applicable, any GG Transaction Expenses) as of the Closing; and
(d) GG shall have delivered, or caused to be delivered, to the Company, ListCo and Parent a certificate, duly executed by an authorized officer of GG, dated as of the Closing Date, to the effect that the conditions specified in Section 9.02(a) and Section 9.02(b) are satisfied.
Section 9.03 Additional Conditions to Obligations of GG. The obligations of GG to consummate the Transactions are subject to the satisfaction or, if permitted by applicable Law, waiver by GG of the following further conditions:
(a) (i) the Parent and Company Fundamental Representations shall be true and correct (without giving effect to any limitation as to “materiality” set forth therein) in all material respects as of the Closing Date, as though made on and as of the Closing Date (except to the extent that any such representation and warranty is expressly made as of an earlier date, in which case such representation and warranty shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date), (ii) the representations and warranties set forth in the first sentence of Section 3.04(a), Section 4.04(a) and the first sentence of Section 4.04(b) shall be true and correct in all respects (except for de minimis inaccuracies) as of the Closing Date, as though made on and as of the Closing Date (except to the extent that any such representation and warranty is expressly made as of an earlier date, in which case such representation and warranty shall be true and correct in all respects (except for de minimis inaccuracies) as of such earlier date), (iii) the representations and warranties set forth in Section 3.19(a) and Section 4.10 shall be true and correct in all respects as of the Closing Date as though made on and as of the Closing Date and (iv) the representations and warranties of the Company, ListCo and Merger Sub set forth in Article III and Article IV (other than the Parent and Company Fundamental Representations, the representations and warranties set forth in Section 3.19(a), Section 4.10, the first sentence of Section 3.04(a), Section 4.04(a) and the first sentence of Section 4.04(b)) shall be true and correct (without giving effect to any limitation as to “materiality” or “Company Material Adverse Effect” or any similar limitation set forth herein) in all respects as of the Closing Date, as though made on and as of the Closing Date (except to the extent that any such representation and warranty is expressly made as of an earlier date, in which case such representation and warranty shall be true and correct in all respects as of such earlier date), except where the failure of such representations and warranties to be true and correct, individually and in the aggregate has not had a Company Material Adverse Effect;
(b) the covenants and agreements of Parent, Polestar Singapore, Polestar Sweden, ListCo and Merger Sub contained in this Agreement to be performed prior to the Closing shall have been performed in all material respects;
(c) the Pre-Closing Reorganization shall have been completed; and
(d) Parent shall have delivered, or caused to be delivered, to GG a certificate duly executed by an authorized officer of Parent, dated as of the Closing Date, to the effect that the conditions specified in Section 9.03(a) and Section 9.03(b) are satisfied.
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Section 9.04 Frustration of Conditions. None of Parent, Polestar Singapore, Polestar Sweden, ListCo or Merger Sub may rely on the failure of any condition set forth in this Article IX to be satisfied if such failure was proximately caused by Parent, Polestar Singapore, Polestar Sweden, ListCo or Merger Sub’s failure to use reasonable best efforts to cause the Closing to occur, as required by Section 8.02, or another breach by any such Party of this Agreement. GG may not rely on the failure of any condition set forth in this Article IX to be satisfied if such failure was proximately caused by GG’s failure to use reasonable best efforts to cause the Closing to occur, as required by Section 8.02, or another breach by GG of this Agreement.
ARTICLE X
TERMINATION
Section 10.01 Termination. This Agreement may be terminated and the Transactions may be abandoned at any time prior to the Closing:
(a) by mutual written consent of Parent and GG;
(b) by written notice to Parent from GG, if any of the representations or warranties set forth in Article III or Article IV shall not be true and correct or if Parent, Polestar Singapore, Polestar Sweden, ListCo or Merger Sub have failed to perform any covenant or agreement on the part of Parent, Polestar Singapore, Polestar Sweden, ListCo or Merger Sub set forth in this Agreement (including an obligation to consummate the Closing) such that the condition to Closing set forth in either Section 9.03(a) or Section 9.03(b) would not be satisfied at the Closing and the breach or breaches causing such representations or warranties not to be true and correct, or the failures to perform any covenant or agreement, as applicable, is (or are) not cured or cannot be cured prior to the earlier of (i) thirty (30) days after written notice thereof is delivered to Parent by GG and (ii) the Termination Date; provided, however, that GG is not then in material breach of this Agreement;
(c) by written notice to GG from Parent, if any of the representations or warranties set forth in Article V shall not be true and correct or if GG has failed to perform any covenant or agreement on the part of GG set forth in this Agreement (including an obligation to consummate the Closing) such that the condition to Closing set forth in either Section 9.02(a) or Section 9.02(b) would not be satisfied at the Closing and the breach or breaches causing such representations or warranties not to be true and correct, or the failures to perform any covenant or agreement, as applicable, is (or are) not cured or cannot be cured prior to the earlier of (i) thirty (30) days after written notice thereof is delivered to GG and (ii) the Termination Date; provided, however, that none of Parent, Polestar Singapore, Polestar Sweden, ListCo or Merger Sub are then in material breach of this Agreement;
(d) by either GG or Parent, if the Transactions shall not have been consummated on or prior to May 27, 2022 (the “Termination Date”); provided that the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 10.01(d) shall not be available to (i) GG if GG’s breach of any of its covenants or obligations under this Agreement shall have been the primary cause of the failure to consummate the Transactions on or before the Termination Date or (ii) Parent if Parent’s, Polestar Singapore’s, Polestar Sweden’s, ListCo’s or Merger Sub’s breach of any of its covenants or obligations under this Agreement shall have been the primary cause of the failure to consummate the Transactions on or before the Termination Date;
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(e) by either GG or Parent, if any Governmental Authority shall have issued a Governmental Order or taken any other action enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting the Transactions and such Governmental Order or other action shall have become final and nonappealable; provided that the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 10.01(e) shall not be available to (i) GG if GG’s breach of any of its covenants or obligations under Section 8.02 shall have been the primary cause of the entry of such Governmental Order or (ii) Parent if Parent’s breach of any of its covenants or obligations under Section 8.02 shall have been the primary cause of the entry of such Governmental Order;
(f) by GG, if the Required Parent Shareholder Approval has not been delivered to GG within twenty-four (24) hours after the execution of this Agreement; or
(g) by either GG or Parent, if the Special Meeting has been held (including any adjournment or postponement thereof) and has concluded, and the Pre-Closing GG Holders have duly voted and the Required GG Stockholder Approval was not obtained.
Section 10.02 Effect of Termination. Except as otherwise set forth in this Section 10.02 or Section 11.14, in the event of the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 10.01, this entire Agreement shall forthwith become void (and there shall be no Liability or obligation on the part of the Parties) with the exception of (a) Section 6.02 (No Claim Against the Trust Account), Section 8.06 (Confidentiality; Access to Information; Publicity), this Section 10.02 (Effect of Termination), Article XI (Miscellaneous) and Section 1.01 (Definitions) (to the extent related to the foregoing), each of which shall survive such termination and remain valid and binding obligations of the Parties and (b) the Confidentiality Agreement, which shall survive such termination and remain valid and binding obligations of the parties thereto in accordance with its terms. Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything to the contrary herein, the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 10.01 shall not affect any Liability on the part of any Party for a Willful Breach of any covenant or agreement set forth in this Agreement prior to such termination or Actual Fraud with respect to the representations and warranties in Article III, Article IV and Article V.
ARTICLE XI
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 11.01 Waiver. No (a) extension of time for the performance of any of the obligations or other acts of a Party set forth herein may be granted or (b) provision of this Agreement may be waived, as applicable, unless such extension or waiver, as applicable, is in writing and signed by or on behalf of the Party or Parties granting such extension or waiver. Any waiver of any term or condition shall not be construed as a waiver of any subsequent breach or a subsequent waiver of the same term or condition, or a waiver of any other term or condition of this Agreement. The failure of any Party to assert any of its rights hereunder shall not constitute a waiver of such rights.
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Section 11.02 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 email (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:
(a) | If to GG: |
0000 Xxxxxxx Xx
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attn: Xxxxxx XxXxxxx
Email: xxxxxxxx@xxxxx.xxx
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Weil, Gotshal & Xxxxxx LLP
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, XX 00000
Attn: Xxxx X. Xxxxxx, Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Email: xxxx.xxxxxx@xxxx.xxx, xxxxx.xxxxxxx@xxxx.xxx
(b) | If to Parent, the Company, ListCo, Merger Sub or the Surviving SPAC: |
Polestar Automotive Holding Limited
00/X, Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xx. 000 Xxxx Xx Xxxx Xxxx,
Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxx
Attn: Yaru Li (李亚茹)
Email: xxxx.xx@xxxxxxxx.xxx
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
c/o Polestar Legal
Assar Gabrielssons Xxx 0
000 00 Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxx
Email: Xxxxx@xxxxxxxx.xxx
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with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Xxxxxxxx & Xxxxx LLP
000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Attn: Xxxx X. Xxxxxxx, P.C., Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx, P.C., Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx, P.C.
Email: xxxx.xxxxxxx@xxxxxxxx.xxx, xxxxx.xxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxx.xxx, xxxxxxxx.xxxxxxx@xxxxxxxx.xxx
or to such other address or addresses as the Parties may from time to time designate in writing. Without limiting the foregoing, any Party may give any notice or other communication hereunder using any other means (including personal delivery, expedited courier, messenger service, ordinary mail or electronic mail), but no such notice or other communication shall be deemed to have been duly given unless and until it actually is received by the Party for whom it is intended.
Section 11.03 Assignment. No Party shall assign this Agreement or any part hereof without the prior written consent of the other Parties and any such assignment without such prior written consent shall be void. Subject to the foregoing, this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns.
Section 11.04 Rights of Third Parties. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure solely to the benefit of each Party and its successors and permitted assigns and, except as provided in Section 6.03 and Section 6.04, the last two sentences of this Section 11.04, Section 11.15 and Section 11.16, nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any other Person any rights, benefits or remedies of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement. Sponsor shall be an express third-party beneficiary of Section 7.05 and Section 8.01. Legal counsel identified in Section 11.18 shall be express third-party beneficiaries of Section 11.18.
Section 11.05 Expenses. Except as otherwise set forth in this Agreement, all fees and expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement, the other 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; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, (a) if this Agreement is terminated in accordance with its terms, Parent shall pay, or cause to be paid, all unpaid Company Transaction Expenses and GG shall pay, or cause to be paid, all unpaid GG Transaction Expenses and (b) if the Closing occurs, then ListCo shall pay, or cause to be paid, all unpaid GG Transaction Expenses up to an amount equal to the GG Transaction Expenses Cap and all unpaid Company Transaction Expenses.
Section 11.06 Governing Law. This Agreement, and all claims or causes of action (whether in contract, tort or statute) that may be based upon, arise out of or relate to this Agreement, the negotiation, execution or performance of this Agreement (including any claim or cause of action based upon, arising out of, or relating to, any representation or warranty made in or in connection with this Agreement or as an inducement to enter into this Agreement) or the Transactions, shall be governed by, and enforced in accordance with, the internal laws of the State of Delaware, including its statutes of limitations, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the State of Delaware or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the law of any jurisdiction other than the State of Delaware.
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Section 11.07 Captions; Counterparts. The captions in this Agreement are for convenience only and shall not be considered a part of or affect the construction or interpretation of any provision of this Agreement. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
Section 11.08 Exhibits and Schedules. All Exhibits and Schedules or documents expressly incorporated into this Agreement, are hereby incorporated into this Agreement and are hereby made a part hereof as if set out in full in this Agreement. The Schedules shall be arranged in Sections and subsections corresponding to the numbered and lettered Sections and subsections set forth in this Agreement. Any item disclosed in the Parent Disclosure Schedules or in the GG Disclosure Schedules corresponding to any Section or subsection of Article III or Article IV (in the case of the Parent Disclosure Schedules) or Article V (in the case of the GG Disclosure Schedules) shall be deemed to have been disclosed with respect to every other Section and subsection of Article III or Article IV (in the case of the Parent Disclosure Schedules) or Article V (in the case of the GG Disclosure Schedules), as applicable, where the relevance of such disclosure to such other Section or subsection is reasonably apparent on the face of the disclosure. The information and disclosures set forth in the Schedules that correspond to the section or subsections of Article III, Article IV or Article V may not be limited to matters required to be disclosed in the Schedules, and any such additional information or disclosure is for informational purposes only and does not necessarily include other matters of a similar nature.
Section 11.09 Entire Agreement. This Agreement (together with the Schedules and Exhibits to this Agreement), the other Transaction Documents and that certain Confidentiality Agreement in effect between Polestar Performance AB (together with its Subsidiaries) and GG (as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, the “Confidentiality Agreement”), constitute the entire agreement among the Parties relating to the Transactions and supersede any other agreements, whether written or oral, that may have been made or entered into by or among any of the Parties or any of their respective Affiliates relating to the Transactions. No representations, warranties, covenants, understandings, agreements, oral or otherwise, relating to the Transactions exist between the Parties except as expressly set forth or referenced in this Agreement and the Confidentiality Agreement.
Section 11.10 Amendments. This Agreement may be amended or modified only by a written agreement executed and delivered by GG, on the one hand, and Parent, ListCo, Polestar Singapore and Polestar Sweden, on the other hand. This Agreement may not be modified or amended except as provided in the immediately preceding sentence and any purported amendment by any Party or Parties effected in a manner which does not comply with this Section 11.10 shall be void ab initio.
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Section 11.11 Severability. Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement shall be interpreted in such a manner as to be effective and valid under applicable Law, but if any term or other provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable under applicable Law, all other provisions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect so long as the economic or legal substance of the Transactions is not affected in any manner materially adverse to any Party. Upon such determination that any term or other provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal or unenforceable under applicable Law, the Parties shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the Parties as closely as possible in an acceptable manner in order that the Transactions are consummated as originally contemplated to the greatest extent possible.
Section 11.12 Jurisdiction. Any Proceeding based upon, arising out of, or relating to, this Agreement or the Transactions must be brought in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (or, to the extent such court does not have subject matter jurisdiction, the Superior Court of the State of Delaware), or, if it has or can acquire jurisdiction, in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware, and each of the Parties irrevocably (a) submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of each such court in any such Proceeding, (b) waives any objection it may now or hereafter have to personal jurisdiction, venue or to convenience of forum in such courts, (c) agrees that all claims in respect of the Proceeding shall be heard and determined only in any such court and (d) agrees not to bring any Proceeding based upon, arising out of or relating to, this Agreement or the Transactions in any other court. Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to affect the right of any party to serve process in any manner permitted by Law or to commence Proceedings or otherwise proceed against any other party in any other jurisdiction, in each case, to enforce judgments obtained in any Proceeding brought pursuant to this Section 11.12.
Section 11.13 Waiver of Jury Trial. EACH PARTY HEREBY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY OF ANY CLAIM, DEMAND, PROCEEDING OR CAUSE OF ACTION BASED UPON, ARISING OUT OF, OR RELATING TO, THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS, IN EACH CASE, WHETHER NOW EXISTING OR HEREAFTER ARISING, AND WHETHER IN CONTRACT, TORT, EQUITY, OR OTHERWISE. EACH PARTY HEREBY AGREES AND CONSENTS THAT ANY SUCH CLAIM, DEMAND, PROCEEDING OR CAUSE OF ACTION SHALL BE DECIDED BY COURT TRIAL WITHOUT A JURY AND THAT THE PARTIES MAY FILE AN ORIGINAL COUNTERPART OF A COPY OF THIS AGREEMENT WITH ANY COURT AS WRITTEN EVIDENCE OF THE CONSENT OF THE PARTIES HERETO TO THE WAIVER OF THEIR RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY. EACH PARTY CERTIFIES AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT (A) NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER, (B) SUCH PARTY UNDERSTANDS AND HAS CONSIDERED THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS WAIVER, (C) SUCH PARTY MAKES THIS WAIVER VOLUNTARILY AND (D) SUCH PARTY HAS BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 11.13.
Section 11.14 Enforcement. The Parties agree that irreparable damage for which monetary damages, even if available, would not be an adequate remedy, would occur in the event that the Parties do not perform their obligations under the provisions of this Agreement (including failing to take such actions as are required of them hereunder to consummate the Transactions) or any other Transaction Document in accordance with its specified terms or otherwise breach such provisions. The Parties acknowledge and agree that (a) the Parties shall be entitled to an injunction,
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specific performance, or other equitable relief, to prevent breaches of this Agreement or any other Transaction Document and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions hereof and thereof, without proof of damages, prior to the valid termination of this Agreement in accordance with Section 10.01, this being in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled under this Agreement or any other Transaction Document and (b) the right of specific enforcement is an integral part of the Transactions and without that right, none of the Parties would have entered into this Agreement. Each Party agrees that it shall not oppose the granting of specific performance and other equitable relief on the basis that the other Parties have an adequate remedy at Law or that an award of specific performance is not an appropriate remedy for any reason at Law or equity. The Parties acknowledge and agree that any Party seeking an injunction to prevent breaches of this Agreement or any other Transaction Document and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions of this Agreement or any other Transaction Document in accordance with this Section 11.14 shall not be required to provide any bond or other security in connection with any such injunction.
Section 11.15 Non-Recourse. Subject in all respects to the last sentence of this Section 11.15, this Agreement may only be enforced against, and any claim or cause of action based upon, arising out of, or relating to, this Agreement or the Transactions may only be brought against, the entities that are expressly named as Parties and then only with respect to the specific obligations set forth herein with respect to such Party. Except to the extent a Party (and then only to the extent of the specific obligations undertaken by such Party in this Agreement), (a) no past, present or future director, officer, employee, incorporator, member, partner, shareholder, Affiliate, agent, attorney, advisor or representative or Affiliate of any Party and (b) no past, present or future director, officer, employee, incorporator, member, partner, shareholder, Affiliate, agent, attorney, advisor or representative or Affiliate of any of the foregoing shall have any Liability (whether in contract, tort, equity or otherwise) for any one or more of the representations, warranties, covenants, agreements or other obligations or liabilities of any one or more of Parent, Polestar Singapore, Polestar Sweden, GG, ListCo or Merger Sub under this Agreement of or for any claim based upon, arising out of, or relating to, this Agreement or the Transactions. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Section 11.15 shall limit, amend or waive any rights or obligations of any party to any other Transaction Document with respect to the other parties thereto.
Section 11.16 Nonsurvival of Representations, Warranties and Covenants. None of the representations, warranties, covenants, obligations or other agreements in this Agreement or in any certificate, statement or instrument delivered pursuant to this Agreement, including any rights arising out of any breach of such representations, warranties, covenants, obligations, agreements or other provisions, shall survive the Closing, and all of the representations, warranties, covenants, obligations or other agreements in this Agreement or in any certificate, statement or instrument delivered pursuant to this Agreement, including any rights arising out of any breach of such representations, warranties, covenants, obligations, agreements or other provisions, shall terminate and expire upon the occurrence of the Closing (and there shall be no Liability after the Closing in respect thereof), in each case, except for (a) those covenants and agreements contained herein that by their terms expressly apply in whole or in part at or after the Closing, and then only with respect to any breaches occurring at or after the Closing and (b) this Article XI, which, in each case, shall surviving the Closing .
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Section 11.17 Acknowledgements.
(a) Each of the Parties acknowledges and agrees (on its own behalf and on behalf of its respective Affiliates and its and their respective Representatives) that (i) it has conducted its own independent investigation of the financial condition, results of operations, assets, liabilities, properties and projected operations of the other Parties (and their respective Subsidiaries) and has been afforded satisfactory access to the books and records, facilities and personnel of the other Parties (and their respective Subsidiaries) for purposes of conducting such investigation, (ii) the representations and warranties of Parent, Polestar Singapore, Polestar Sweden, ListCo and Merger Sub in Article III and Article IV constitute the sole and exclusive representations and warranties of Parent, Polestar Singapore, Polestar Sweden, ListCo and Merger Sub in connection with the Transactions, (iii) the representations and warranties of GG in Article IV constitute the sole and exclusive representations and warranties of GG in connection with the Transactions, (iv) except for the representations and warranties of Parent, Polestar Singapore, Polestar Sweden, ListCo and Merger Sub in Article III and Article IV and the representations and warranties of GG in Article IV, none of the Parties or any other Person makes, or has made, any other express or implied representation or warranty with respect to any Party (or any Party’s Subsidiaries (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the Company and its Subsidiaries)), including any implied warranty or representation as to condition, merchantability, suitability or fitness for a particular purpose or trade as to any of the assets of such Party or its Subsidiaries (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the Company and its Subsidiaries) or the Transactions and all other representations and warranties of any kind or nature expressed or implied (including (A) regarding the completeness or accuracy of, or any omission to state or to disclose, any information, including in the estimates, projections or forecasts or any other information, document or material provided to or made available to any Party or their respective Affiliates or Representatives in certain “data rooms,” management presentations or in any other form in expectation of the Transactions, including meetings, calls or correspondence with management of any Party (or any Party’s Subsidiaries (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the Company and its Subsidiaries)) and (B) relating to the future or historical business, condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations, prospects, assets or liabilities of any Party (or its Subsidiaries (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the Company and its Subsidiaries)), or the quality, quantity or condition of any Party’s or its Subsidiaries’ assets (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries)) are specifically disclaimed by all Parties and their respective Subsidiaries and all other Persons (including the Representatives and Affiliates of any Party or its Subsidiaries (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the Company and its Subsidiaries)) and (v) each Party and its respective Affiliates are not relying on any representations and warranties in connection with the Transactions except the representations and warranties of Parent, Polestar Singapore, Polestar Sweden, ListCo and Merger Sub in Article III and Article IV and the representations and warranties of GG in Article IV. Except as otherwise expressly set forth in this Agreement, GG understands and agrees that any assets, properties and business of the Company and its Subsidiaries are furnished “as is,” “where is” and subject to and except for the representations and warranties of Parent, Polestar Singapore, Polestar Sweden, ListCo and Merger Sub in Article III and Article IV or as provided in any certificate delivered in accordance with Section 9.03(d) with all faults and without any other representation or warranty of any nature whatsoever. Nothing in this Section 11.17(a) shall relieve any Party of liability in the case of Actual Fraud committed by such Party.
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(b) Effective upon Closing, each of the Parties waives, on its own behalf and on behalf of its respective Affiliates and Representatives, to the fullest extent permitted under applicable Law, any and all rights, Proceedings and causes of action it may have against any other Party or their respective Subsidiaries and any of their respective current or former Affiliates or Representatives relating to the operation of any Party or its Subsidiaries (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the Company and its Subsidiaries) or their respective businesses prior to the Closing or relating to the subject matter of this Agreement, the Schedules or the Exhibits to this Agreement, whether arising under or based upon any federal, state, local or foreign Law or otherwise (including any Proceedings under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 or any other Environmental Laws). Each Party acknowledges and agrees that it shall not assert, institute or maintain any Proceeding of any kind whatsoever, including a counterclaim, cross-claim, or defense, regardless of the legal or equitable theory under which such liability or obligation may be sought to be imposed, that makes any claim contrary to the agreements and covenants set forth in this Section 11.17. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, nothing in this Section 11.17(b) shall preclude any Party from seeking any remedy for Actual Fraud by a Party solely and exclusively with respect to the making of any representation or warranty by it in Article III, Article IV or Article V (as applicable). Each Party shall have the right to enforce this Section 11.17 on behalf of any Person that would be benefitted or protected by this Section 11.17 if they were a party hereto. The foregoing agreements, acknowledgements, disclaimers and waivers are irrevocable. For the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this Section 11.17 shall limit, modify, restrict or operate as a waiver with respect to, any rights any Party may have under any written agreement entered into in connection with the transactions that are contemplated by this Agreement, including any other Transaction Document.
Section 11.18 Conflicts and Privilege.
(a) GG, ListCo, Polestar Singapore, Polestar Sweden, and Parent, on behalf of their respective successors and assigns (including, after the Closing, the Surviving SPAC), hereby agree that, in the event a dispute with respect to this Agreement or the Transactions arises after the Closing between or among (i) Sponsor, the former shareholders or holders of other equity interests of GG or stockholders or holders of other equity interests of Sponsor and/or any of the foregoing persons respective directors, members, partners, officers, employees or Affiliates (other than ListCo, Polestar Singapore and Polestar Sweden,) (collectively, the “GG Group”), on the one hand, and (ii) ListCo, Polestar Singapore, Polestar Sweden and/or any member of the Parent Group, on the other hand, any legal counsel, including Weil, that represented GG and/or Sponsor prior to the Closing may represent Sponsor and/or any member of the GG Group in such dispute even though the interests of such Persons may be directly adverse to ListCo or the Surviving SPAC, and even though such counsel may have represented ListCo and/or the Surviving SPAC in a matter substantially related to such dispute, or may be handling ongoing matters for ListCo, Polestar Singapore, Polestar Sweden or the Surviving SPAC and/or the Sponsor. GG, ListCo, Polestar Singapore and Polestar Sweden, on behalf of their respective successors and assigns (including, after the Closing, the Surviving SPAC), further agree that, as to all legally privileged communications prior to the Closing (made in connection with the negotiation, preparation, execution, delivery and performance under, or any dispute or Proceeding based upon, arising out of, or relating to, this Agreement, any other Transaction Document or the Transactions) between or among Sponsor and/or any other member of the GG Group, on the one hand, and Weil, on the other hand (the “Weil Privileged Communications”), the attorney/client privilege and the expectation of client confidence shall survive the Transactions and belong to the GG Group after the Closing, and shall not pass to or be claimed or controlled by ListCo, Polestar Singapore and/or
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Polestar Sweden. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any privileged communications or information shared by ListCo, Polestar Singapore or Polestar Sweden prior to the Closing with GG or Sponsor under a common interest agreement shall remain the privileged communications or information of Polestar Singapore, Polestar Sweden and/or ListCo. ListCo, Polestar Singapore and Polestar Sweden, together with any of their respective Affiliates, Subsidiaries, successors or assigns, agree that no Person may use or rely on any of the Weil Privileged Communications, whether located in the records or email server of ListCo, Polestar Singapore, Polestar Sweden, the Surviving SPAC or their respective Subsidiaries, in any Proceeding against or involving any of the Parties after the Closing, and ListCo, Polestar Singapore and Polestar Sweden agree not to assert that any privilege has been waived as to the Weil Privileged Communications, by virtue of the Transactions.
(b) GG, ListCo, Polestar Singapore, Polestar Sweden and Parent, on behalf of their respective successors and assigns (including, after the Closing, the Surviving SPAC), hereby agree that, in the event a dispute with respect to this Agreement or the Transactions arises after the Closing between or among (i) Parent, the former shareholders or holders of other equity interests of Parent and/or any of the foregoing persons respective directors, members, partners, officers, employees or Affiliates (other than ListCo, Polestar Singapore and Polestar Sweden,) (collectively, the “Parent Group”), on the one hand, and (ii) ListCo, Polestar Singapore, Polestar Sweden and/or any member of the GG Group, on the other hand, any legal counsel, including Xxxxxxxx & Xxxxx LLP (“Xxxxxxxx”) that represented ListCo, Parent, Polestar Singapore or Polestar Sweden prior to the Closing may represent any member of the Parent Group in such dispute even though the interests of such Persons may be directly adverse to ListCo, Polestar Singapore or Polestar Sweden, and even though such counsel may have represented ListCo, Polestar Singapore and/or Polestar Sweden in a matter substantially related to such dispute, or may be handling ongoing matters for ListCo, Polestar Singapore and/or Polestar Sweden. GG, ListCo, Polestar Singapore and Polestar Sweden, on behalf of their respective successors and assigns (including, after the Closing, the Surviving SPAC), further agree that, as to all legally privileged communications prior to the Closing (made in connection with the negotiation, preparation, execution, delivery and performance under, or any dispute or Proceeding based upon, arising out of, or relating to, this Agreement, any other Transaction Document or the Transactions) between or among Parent, Polestar Singapore, Polestar Sweden and/or ListCo and/or any other member of the Parent Group, on the one hand, and Xxxxxxxx, on the other hand (the “Xxxxxxxx Privileged Communications”), the attorney/client privilege and the expectation of client confidence shall survive the Transactions and belong to the Parent Group after the Closing, and shall not pass to or be claimed or controlled by ListCo, Polestar Singapore and/or Polestar Sweden. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any privileged communications or information shared by GG prior to the Closing with Polestar Singapore, Polestar Sweden and/or ListCo under a common interest agreement shall remain the privileged communications or information of Polestar Singapore, Polestar Sweden and/or ListCo. ListCo, Polestar Singapore and Polestar Sweden, together with any of their respective Affiliates, Subsidiaries, successors or assigns, agree that no Person may use or rely on any of the Xxxxxxxx Privileged Communications, whether located in the records or email server of ListCo, Polestar Singapore, Polestar Sweden, the Surviving SPAC or their respective Subsidiaries, in any Proceeding against or involving any of the Parties after the Closing, and ListCo, Polestar Singapore and Polestar Sweden agree not to assert that any privilege has been waived as to the Xxxxxxxx Privileged Communications, by virtue of the Transactions.
[Signature pages follow]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have hereunto caused this Business Combination Agreement to be duly executed as of the date hereof.
By: | /s/ Xxxx Xxxxx | |||
Name: | Xxxx Xxxxx | |||
Title: | Chief Executive Officer | |||
PAH UK MERGER SUB INC. | ||||
By: | /s/ Jan Mikael Alkmark | |||
Name: | Jan Mikael Alkmark | |||
Title: | Director | |||
POLESTAR AUTOMOTIVE HOLDING LIMITED | ||||
By: | /s/ Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx | |||
Name: | Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx | |||
Title: | Director | |||
POLESTAR AUTOMOTIVE (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD. | ||||
By: | /s/ Xxxxx Xx Xxx | |||
Name: | Xxxxx Xx Ian | |||
Title: | Director | |||
POLESTAR HOLDING AB | ||||
By: | /s/ Xxxxx Xx Xxx | |||
Name: | Xxxxx Xx Ian | |||
Title: | Director | |||
POLESTAR HOLDING AB | ||||
By: | /s/ Xxxx Rudensjö | |||
Name: | Xxxx Rudensjö | |||
Title: | Director |
[Signature Page to Business Combination Agreement]
POLESTAR AUTOMOTIVE HOLDING UK LIMITED | ||
By: |
/s/ Jan Mikael Alkmark | |
Name: | Jan Mikael Alkmark | |
Title: | Director |
[Signature Page to Business Combination Agreement]
EXHIBIT A
Form of
Parent Lock-Up Agreement
[Intentionally Omitted]
[Exhibit A to Business Combination Agreement]
EXHIBIT B
Form of
Sponsor and Supporting Sponsor Stockholders Lock-Up Agreement
[Intentionally Omitted]
[Exhibit B to Business Combination Agreement]
EXHIBIT C
Form of
Registration Rights Agreement
[Intentionally Omitted]
[Exhibit C to Business Combination Agreement]
EXHIBIT D
Form of
Parent Shareholders Acknowledgement
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AGREEMENT TO THE
SHAREHOLDERS AGREEMENT
This ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AGREEMENT TO THE SHAREHOLDERS AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is entered into on September 27, 2021 by and among:
(1) VOLVO CAR CORPORATION (沃尔沃汽车公司), a company incorporated under the laws of Sweden;
(2) XXXXX HOLDING B.V., a company wholly owned by Volvo and incorporated under the laws of Netherlands;
(3) 浙江吉利控股集团有限公司 (ZHEJIANG GEELY HOLDING GROUP CO., LTD.), a limited liability company incorporated under the laws of PRC;
(4) PSD INVESTMENT LIMITED, a company incorporated under the laws of the British Virgin Islands;
(5) PSINV AB, a company duly incorporated and existing under the laws of Sweden;
(6) GLY NEW MOBILITY 1. LP, an exempted limited partnership established under the laws of the Cayman Islands;
(7) NORTHPOLE GLY 1 LP, an exempted limited partnership established under the laws of the Cayman Islands;
(8) 淄博市財金控股集團有限公司 ZIBO FINANCIAL HOLDING GROUP CO., LTD, a limited liability company incorporated under the laws of PRC;
(9) 淄博高新产业投资有限公司 ZIBO HIGH-TECH INDUSTRIAL INVESTMENT CO., LTD., a limited liability company incorporated under the laws of PRC;
(10) 重庆承星股权投资基金合伙企业(有限合伙), a limited partnership incorporated under the laws of PRC;
(11) POLESTAR AUTOMOTIVE HOLDING LIMITED 極星汽車控股有限公司, a private company limited by shares incorporated under the laws of Hong Kong (“Company”); and
(12) POLESTAR AUTOMOTIVE HOLDING UK LIMITED, a limited company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales (“ListCo”),
each a “Party” and collectively, the “Parties”.
RECITALS
WHEREAS:
(1) The Parties, other than ListCo, entered into that certain shareholders agreement on 20 January 2021 (the “Original Shareholders Agreement”) in respect of the operation and management of the Company and certain shareholder rights and other matters set forth therein, and on 8 June 2021 entered into a supplemental agreement to amend certain terms of the Original Shareholders Agreement (the “First Supplemental Agreement to the Shareholders Agreement” and collectively with the Original Shareholders Agreement, as amended from time to time, the “Shareholders Agreement”).
(2) The Company proposes to effect a transaction whereby ListCo, a subsidiary of the Company, intends to list the American depository shares of ListCo on the Nasdaq Stock Market in connection with a merger and “de-SPAC” process with a blank check company incorporated in Delaware, together with the transactions contemplated under the BCA (as defined below) and the other Transaction Documents (as defined under the BCA) (collectively, the “Transaction”).
(3) Each of the Parties, other than ListCo, intends to: (a) terminate the Shareholders Agreement with effect from the date of closing or consummation of the Transaction under the BCA (the “Closing”); and (b) acknowledge and agree to certain matters involving the Company and their shareholdings in the Company and (whether directly or indirectly through the Company) ListCo following the Closing.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual promises hereinafter set forth, the sufficiency and adequacy of which consideration the Parties hereby acknowledge, the Parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:
AGREEMENT
In consideration of the mutual agreements and undertakings of the Parties, the Parties hereby acknowledge and agree to the following:
1. Definitions and Interpretation.
1.1 Definitions. In this Agreement, unless otherwise defined:
“Articles” means the Third Amended and Restated Articles of Association of the Company or such other articles of association of the Company as may be effective from time to time.
“BCA” means the business combination agreement entered on or about the date of this Agreement between, among others, the Company and ListCo in relation to the Transaction.
“Business Day” means any day other than (a) Saturday, Sunday or any day on which banking institutions in the PRC (with respect to corporate banking business only), Hong Kong, England, Macao Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China, British Virgin Islands, Sweden or the Netherlands are closed either under applicable laws or regulations; and (b) a day on which typhoon signal No.8 or above is hoisted or black rainstorm warning signal is issued (as the case may be) at any time between 9:00a.m. and 5:00p.m. on such date.
“Class A Shares” means the shares designated as “Class A Ordinary Shares” in the share capital of the Company, with all rights and obligations attached to them as specified in the Articles.
“Class B Shares” means the shares designated as “Class B Ordinary Shares” in the share capital of the Company, with all rights and obligations attached to them as specified in the Articles.
“Closing” has the meaning given in the Recitals.
“Confidential Information” means any confidential information: (a) relating to the organization, business or finance of the Company or any of its subsidiaries; (b) concerning a third party that the Company is under a duty to keep confidential; (c) relating to the products, services or any proprietary information of the Company or any of its subsidiaries); or (d) relating to the Transaction.
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“Dispute” has the meaning given in Section 10.9(a).
“HKIAC” has the meaning given in Section 10.9(a).
“HKIAC Rules” has the meaning given in Section 10.9(a).
“Liquidation” has the meaning given in Section 3.1.
“ListCo Articles” means the articles of association of ListCo to become effective as of Closing as contemplated by and in accordance with the BCA.
“ListCo Shares” means the outstanding shares of ListCo from time to time.
“PRC” means the People’s Republic of China, but for the purposes of this Agreement, excludes Hong Kong, the Macau Special Administrative Region and the islands of Taiwan.
“Section” means a section of this Agreement.
“Selling Shareholder” has the meaning given to it in Section 4.2(a).
“SHA Termination” has the meaning given in Section 2.1(a).
“Shareholder” means a holder of Shares from time to time, including their respective successors and permitted assigns and any person deriving title under them.
“Shareholders Agreement” has the meaning given in the Recitals.
“Shares” means the outstanding shares of the Company from time to time.
“Transaction” has the meaning given in the Recitals.
2. Termination of the Shareholders Agreement.
2.1 Termination of Shareholders Agreement. The Parties (other than ListCo) hereby mutually agree that, notwithstanding any term or provision of the Shareholders Agreement, and with effect on and from the date of Closing:
(a) the Shareholders Agreement shall immediately be irrevocably terminated, rescinded and cancelled, and shall have no further force or effect (the “SHA Termination”);
(b) each of the Parties’ (other than ListCo) present and future rights, privileges, benefits, responsibilities, liabilities and obligations under the Shareholders Agreement shall cease immediately; and
(c) each of the Parties (other than ListCo) is irrevocably, unconditionally, fully and absolutely released and discharged in any jurisdiction or forum from any and all present and future claims, demands, damages, losses, expenses, rights, entitlements, obligations, rights of action and liabilities (whether actual or contingent) of whatsoever nature to the other Parties (other than ListCo) arising out of or in connection with (in each case directly or indirectly) the Shareholders Agreement, provided that this Agreement shall not affect any antecedent breach under the Shareholders Agreement or the accrued rights and obligations of the Parties (other than ListCo) on or prior to the date of execution of this Agreement.
2.2 No Prejudice to Rights under this Agreement. Notwithstanding any term or provision of this Agreement, the releases and covenants in Section 2.1 shall not apply to, or otherwise limit or prejudice, any claims or rights of action that any of the Parties may have in respect of the enforcement of and/or breach by another Party of any of the terms or provisions of this Agreement.
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3. Liquidation of the Company
3.1 Liquidation. Each Party (other than Listco) hereby mutually agrees that promptly following Closing but in any case no earlier that January 1, 2022, it shall take all reasonable steps, and co-operate with each other Party, to procure that the Company, and the Company shall, initiate and effect a members’ or shareholders’ voluntary winding-up or liquidation proceeding, effect a liquidating realization or distribution of all of the Company’s tangible and intangible assets, and settle all of the Company’s outstanding debts and liabilities (collectively, the “Liquidation”), in each case, in accordance with the Articles, the Companies Ordinance (Chapter 622 of the Laws of Hong Kong), the Companies (Winding Up and Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance (Chapter 32 of the Laws of Hong Kong), other applicable laws and regulations of Hong Kong and the BCA, and the Parties (other than ListCo and the Company) shall co-operate with and provide all reasonably necessary assistance to the Company, and shall take all steps necessary or desirable or as may be requested by the Company, to effect and consummate the Liquidation.
3.2 Distribution to Shareholders.
(a) As part of and concurrently with the Liquidation, the Company shall, and each other Party (other than ListCo) shall procure the Company to, effect a distribution in specie in accordance with applicable laws and regulations of the class A ordinary shares of ListCo and class B ordinary shares of ListCo held by the Company to each Shareholder, which such distribution in specie of the class A ordinary shares and class B ordinary shares of ListCo to each Shareholder shall directly correspond with, and be in proportion to, the number of Class B Shares and Class A Shares held by such Shareholder in the Company, respectively, immediately prior to the completion of the Liquidation, such that immediately following the completion of such distribution in specie of the class A ordinary shares and class B ordinary shares of ListCo to each Shareholder:
(i) such Shareholder’s voting interest in ListCo shall correspond with, and be proportionate to, such Shareholder’s voting interest in the Company; and
(ii) the number of class A ordinary shares of ListCo and class B ordinary shares of ListCo held by such Shareholder shall correspond with, and be proportionate to, such Shareholder’s interest in all of the Class B Shares and the Class A Shares in issue, respectively,
in each case of (i) and (ii), relative to the other Shareholders immediately prior to the completion of the Liquidation; and
(b) ListCo shall co-operate with and provide all reasonably necessary assistance to the other Parties to give effect to the distribution in specie contemplated under Section 3.2(a), including by entering the Shareholders in the relevant register as members of ListCo (subject to the payment of stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax, if any, in relation to such distribution in specie), and completing and despatching to the Shareholders the relevant certificates in respect of the ListCo shares that they hold following completion of the distribution in specie. For the avoidance of doubt, ListCo shall not (directly or indirectly) be liable for any stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax in relation to such distribution in specie.
(c) Without limiting the generality of Section 3.2(b), the Parties (other than ListCo and the Company) shall co-operate with and provide all reasonably necessary assistance to the Company, and shall take all steps necessary or desirable or as may be requested by the Company, to give effect to the distribution in specie contemplated under Section 3.2(a).
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4. Rights and Restrictions of the Shares
4.1 Rights of Shareholders. The Parties (other than ListCo) hereby mutually acknowledge and agree that immediately following Closing and the SHA Termination and until such time as the liquidation or dissolution of the Company is completed or consummated (whether in accordance with Section 3 or otherwise), notwithstanding any term or provision of the Articles, the Shareholders Agreement or any other agreement between the Company and the Shareholders:
(a) each Class A Share and Class B Share shall be deemed to have and be subject to the corresponding rights, privileges, entitlements and obligations as each class B ordinary share of ListCo and class A ordinary share of ListCo, respectively, as set out under the ListCo Articles, and the Shareholders and the Company agree to exercise and be bound by such rights, privileges, entitlements and obligations under such Class A Shares and Class B Shares accordingly; and
(b) subject to applicable laws or regulations, each Shareholder shall be permitted, by written notice to the Company and the other Shareholders, to direct and instruct the Company to exercise, in respect of any matter submitted to a vote of the ListCo’s shareholders, such proportion of the Company’s voting rights in the ListCo that directly corresponds to the proportion of such Shareholder’s voting rights in the Company, and the Company undertakes and agrees to each Shareholder to so exercise its voting rights in ListCo in such manner at the direction and instruction of such Shareholder.
4.2 Transfers of Shares following the Lock-Up Period.
(a) In the event that the Liquidation is not completed or consummated following the expiry of the Lock-up Period (as defined under the BCA), any Shareholder (a “Selling Shareholder”) may deliver a written notice to the Company and the other Shareholders directing and instructing the Company to transfer, dispose of or sell (either on-market or otherwise) such number of ListCo Shares held by the Company which corresponds to the proportion of Shares held by such Shareholder relative to the total aggregate number of issued and outstanding Shares at the relevant time that it wishes to transfer, dispose of or sell, and the Company shall (and the other Parties (other than ListCo) shall procure that the Company shall) take all steps as may be required to such transfer, disposal or sale of such ListCo Shares, including by transferring or submitting the ListCo Shares to the applicable American depository receipt facilities established by ListCo with the applicable depository bank in order to facilitate such a transfer, disposal or sale.
(b) Upon receipt of the applicable transfer, disposal or sale proceeds pursuant to the transfers, disposals or sales contemplated under Section 4.2(a), the Company shall (and the other Parties (other than ListCo) shall (i) give their consent in respect of any resolution and take any other action to approve, and (ii) procure that the Company shall), from and out of its distributable profits (or if such distributable profits are unavailable, from and out of its capital), promptly apply all such proceeds to buy-back or repurchase such number of Shares held by such Selling Shareholder which corresponds proportionately to the number of ListCo Shares transferred, disposed or sold by the Company at the direction and instruction of such Shareholder pursuant to Section 4.2(a), and the Company shall comply with all applicable laws and regulations with respect to such buy-back or repurchase of Shares from such Selling Shareholder.
(c) The Parties shall co-operate with and provide all reasonably necessary assistance to the Company or ListCo (as the case may be), and shall take all steps necessary or desirable or as may be requested by the Company or ListCo (as the case may be), to give effect to the transfers, disposals or sales contemplated under Section 4.2(a), and the distributions, buy-backs or repurchases contemplated under Section 4.2(b). For the avoidance of doubt, ListCo shall not (directly or indirectly) be liable for any stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax in relation to any transfer, disposal or sale contemplated under Section 4.2(a) and the relevant Selling Shareholder shall indemnify ListCo on an after-tax basis against any such stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax (including any such stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax payable by the applicable depository bank or its nominee for which ListCo may, directly or indirectly, be liable).
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5. Amendment of Articles. Promptly following the SHA Termination, the Parties (other than ListCo) shall exercise all voting and other rights and powers available to them to ensure any required amendment or variation is made, and the Company shall (and the other Parties (other than ListCo) shall procure the Company to) make such required amendments or variations, to the Articles or other constituent documents of the Company to reflect, and remedy any conflict under the Articles as a result or consequence of, the matters set out in the foregoing sections of this Agreement.
6. Governance
6.1 Independent Directors. The Parties (other than ListCo) undertake to ListCo and Gores Guggenheim Sponsor LLC (“Sponsor”) that:
(a) at the Closing, the Board will be comprised of eight (8) directors, a majority of whom will be Independent Directors (as defined in the ListCo Articles);
(b) for a period of three (3) years following the Closing they will not (and will procure that their affiliates will not) at any general meeting of ListCo vote in favour of the removal of, or instruct a nominee, depository or any other person to vote in favour of the removal of, any Independent Director of ListCo or otherwise support (by public statement or otherwise) such removal unless at least two (2) of the Independent Directors vote in favour thereof (or if there are fewer than two Independent Directors then in office excluding the Independent Director proposed to be removed, all of the Independent Directors (other than the Independent Director proposed to be removed), if any); and
(c) for a period of three (3) years following the Closing they will not (and will procure that their affiliates will not), alone or with others, require the Board of ListCo to convene a general meeting of ListCo at which any resolution referred to in paragraph (b) above will be proposed or require ListCo to give notice to members of ListCo of such a resolution to be proposed at a general meeting of ListCo.
6.2 Amendments to Articles. The Parties (other than ListCo) undertake to ListCo and Sponsor that for a period of three (3) years following the Closing they will not (and will procure that their affiliates will not) at any general meeting of ListCo vote in favour of any amendment to the Articles relating to the composition of the Board or the appointment or removal of Directors (including Independent Directors).
7. Confidentiality
7.1 Confidentiality Obligations. Each Party shall keep all Confidential Information in strictest confidence and shall not disclose or use any such Confidential Information to any other Person without the prior written consent of the Party (or Parties) supplying such Confidential Information, except where such information:
(a) is or becomes available to the public (other than as a result of any unauthorized disclosure into the public domain by the Party (or Parties) receiving such information);
(b) is already known to the Party before such Party receiving such information from another Party (or Parties) providing such Confidential Information and the first Party is not subjected to any confidential obligations;
(c) is already known by the Party from sources other than the Party (or Parties) providing the Confidential Information, and does not involve any breach of confidentiality obligations between such source and the Party (or Parties) providing such Confidential Information;
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(d) is independently developed by that Party;
(e) is required to be disclosed by any applicable laws or regulations (including, without limitation, the rules of any relevant securities exchange) or by the order of any court of competent jurisdiction, regulatory or governmental authorities or bodies;
(f) is required in order to facilitate the performance or implementation of the transaction contemplated under this Agreement (but only to the extent necessary), including disclosure to competent superior authorities;
(g) is made available by any of the Shareholders to any of their current or bona fide potential investors, shareholders, employees, investment bankers, lenders, business collaborators, accountants, attorneys or other professional advisors, in each case only where such Persons or entities agree to confidentiality obligations similar to those set out in this Section 7; or
(h) is made available by any Party to any of its current or bona fide potential investors, directors, employees, officers, and/or legal, financial or other professional advisors and that such investors, directors, employees, officers and/or advisors are bound by confidentiality obligations similar to those set out in this Section 7.
7.2 Privilege. Where any Confidential Information is also privileged, the waiver of such privilege is limited to the purposes of this Agreement and does not, and is not intended to, result in any wider waiver of the privilege. Any Party hereto in possession of any Confidential Information relating to any other Party hereto (a “privilege holder”) shall take all reasonable steps to protect the privilege of the privilege holder therein and shall inform the privilege holder if any step is taken by any other Person to obtain any of its privileged Confidential Information.
8. Announcement
8.1 Restrictions. Subject to Section 8.2, and whether or not any restriction contained in Section 5 applies, no Party shall make any announcement (including any communication to the public, to any customers or suppliers of the Company, or to all or any of the employees of the Company) concerning the provisions or subject matter of this Agreement or containing any Confidential Information about the other Parties, or by any means, under any meaning or in any format, use the name of any other Party or any affiliate of any other Parties (including references or links to websites or press releases), without the prior written approval of the others (which shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed).
8.2 Permitted Announcements. Section 8.1 shall not apply and no consent from any Party will be required, if and to the extent that such announcement is required by applicable laws or regulations or by any supervisory, regulatory or governmental body having jurisdiction over it and provided that any such announcement shall be made only after consultation with the other Parties to the extent practicable.
9. Notices
9.1 Form — All Communications. Any notice required or permitted pursuant to this Agreement shall be given in writing and shall be given:
(a) by delivering or leaving such notice at the address as stated in their respective signature page;
(b) by sending it by next-day or second-day courier service to the address as stated in their respective signature page;
- 7 -
(c) by electronic mail to such address as stated in their respective signature page;
(d) fax to the fax number as stated in their respective signature page; or
(e) or as otherwise permitted by applicable laws or regulations,
provided that the contact information set forth on such signature page may be changed by such Party by giving prior written notice to the other Parties to this Agreement in accordance with this Section 9, and any such change shall take effect two (2) Business Days’ after such notice is effective or deemed to be effective. Any notice sent pursuant to this Section 9 shall be addressed to the relevant attendee as specified in their respective signature pages.
9.2 When Effective.
(a) Where a notice is given by delivering or leaving such notice at the address as stated in the relevant signature page, service of the notice shall be deemed to be effected immediately.
(b) Where a notice is sent by next-day or second-day courier service, service of the notice shall be deemed to be effected by properly addressing, pre-paying and sending by next-day or second-day service through an internationally-recognised courier a letter containing the notice, with a request for written confirmation of delivery, and to have been effected at the earlier of: (i) delivery (or when delivery is refused by the intended recipient), and (ii) expiration of two (2) Business Days after the letter containing the same is sent as aforesaid.
(c) Where a notice is sent by fax, service of the notice shall be deemed to be effected by properly addressing, and sending such notice through a transmitting organisation, with a successful transmission record generated by such transmitting organisation, and to have been effected on the day the same is sent as aforesaid, if such day is a Business Day and if sent during normal business hours of the recipient, otherwise the next Business Day.
(d) Where a notice is sent by electronic mail, service of the notice shall be deemed to be effected by properly addressing, and sending such notice through a transmitting organisation, and to have been effected on the day the same is sent as aforesaid, if such day is a Business Day and if sent during normal business hours of the recipient, otherwise the next Business Day, unless where a notification of failure of transmission is generated by the electronic mailing system, in which case service of the notice shall be deemed to be effected at the time of receipt by the intended recipient.
10. General
10.1 Further Assurance. Each Party will, and will use all reasonable efforts to, take or cause to be taken all actions, and do or cause to be done all other things necessary, proper or advisable in order to give full effect to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby.
10.2 Severability. If any provision of this Agreement shall be held to be illegal, void, invalid or unenforceable under the applicable laws or regulations of any jurisdiction, the legality, validity and enforceability of the remainder of this Agreement in that jurisdiction shall not be affected, and the legality, validity and enforceability of the whole of this Agreement in any other jurisdiction shall not be affected.
10.3 Assignment and Transfer. This Agreement shall be binding on the Parties and their successors and assigns and the name of the Party appearing herein shall be deemed to include the name of any such successor or assign, but the Parties may not assign, hold on trust or otherwise transfer all or any of their rights or obligations under this Agreement without the prior written consent of the other Parties.
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10.4 Variation and Waiver. No variation, amendment or modification of this Agreement shall be effective unless it is in writing and signed by all the Parties. Any waiver of any right or default under this Agreement shall be effective only in the instance given and shall not operate as or imply a waiver of any other or similar right or default on any subsequent occasion. No waiver of any provision of this Agreement shall be effective unless in writing and signed by each Party against whom such waiver is sought to be enforced.
10.5 Expenses. Each Party will pay its respective direct and indirect expenses incurred by it in connection with the preparation and negotiation of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including all fees and expenses of its advisors and Representatives.
10.6 Counterparts. The Parties may execute this Agreement in multiple counterparts, each of which constitutes an original as against the Party that signed it, and all of which together constitute one agreement. This Agreement is effective upon the delivery of one executed counterpart from each Party to the other Parties. The signatures of all Parties need not appear on the same counterpart. The delivery of signed counterparts by facsimile or email transmission that includes a copy of the sending Party’s signature(s) is as effective as signing and delivering the counterpart in person.
10.7 Third Party Rights. The provisions of Section 6.1 and Section 6.2 of this Agreement are intended to confer a benefit upon, and shall be enforceable by, Sponsor as if it were a party to this Agreement and such provisions shall not be amended, rescinded or terminated without the consent of Sponsor. Save as expressly set out in this Section 10.7, a Person who is not a Party shall not have any rights under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Ordinance (Chapter 623 of the Laws of Hong Kong) to enforce, or to enjoy the benefit of, any term of this Agreement. Save as expressly set out in this Section 10.7, notwithstanding any term of this Agreement, the right of the Parties to rescind or terminate this Agreement or to agree to a variation, release and/or waiver of this Agreement is not subject to the consent of any other person who is not a party to this Agreement.
10.8 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be shall be governed by and construed under the laws of Hong Kong, without regard to the principles of conflicts of laws thereunder.
10.9 Dispute Resolution.
(a) Each of the Parties agrees that any dispute, controversy or claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement, or the interpretation, breach, termination, validity or invalidity thereof (“Dispute”) shall be first negotiated and resolved by the Parties to the Dispute in good faith as soon as practicable. If any Dispute is not resolved to the reasonable satisfaction of all relevant Parties to the Dispute within thirty (30) Business Days after the commencement of such negotiations, such Dispute shall be settled by arbitration in Hong Kong by the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (“HKIAC”) in accordance with the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre Administered Arbitration Rules in force when the arbitration notice is submitted in accordance with the said rules (“HKIAC Rules”).
(b) The arbitration tribunal shall consist of three (3) arbitrators to be appointed according to the HKIAC Rules. Each of the claimant and the respondent to the Dispute shall be entitled to designate one (1) arbitrator in accordance with the HKIAC Rules. If either Party fails to designate an arbitrator, HKIAC shall appoint the arbitrator. The two (2) arbitrators so appointed shall designate the third arbitrator who shall act as the presiding arbitrator of the arbitral tribunal. Failing such designation within thirty (30) days from the confirmation of the second arbitrator, HKIAC shall appoint the presiding arbitrator. The arbitral proceedings shall be conducted in English. To the extent that the HKIAC Rules are in conflict with the provisions of this Section 10.9, including the provisions concerning the appointment of the arbitrators, the provisions of this Section 10.9 shall prevail.
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(c) The award of the arbitral tribunal shall be final and binding upon the Parties thereto, and the prevailing Party may apply to a court of competent jurisdiction for enforcement of such award.
(d) Any Party to the Dispute shall be entitled to seek preliminary injunctive relief, if possible, from any court of competent jurisdiction pending the constitution of the arbitral tribunal.
(Signature pages to follow)
-10 -
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Party below have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.
SIGNED for and on behalf of VOLVO CAR CORPORATION, a company incorporated in Sweden and owner of Xxxxx Holding B.V. that is a Shareholder in the Company, by XXXXX XXXXXXX AND , being Persons who, in accordance with applicable laws or regulations of that place, are acting under the authority of such company, in the presence of:
Signature of witness
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
Name of witness (block letters)
Address of witness |
) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) |
Signature of XXXXX XXXXXXX
By executing this document, the signatories warrant that the signatories are duly authorised to execute this document on behalf of VOLVO CAR CORPORATION |
Contact details for the purpose of Section 9 of this Agreement
Address :
Attention :
Fax and Tel No. :
Email address :
(Signature Page to Acknowledgement Agreement to the Shareholders Agreement)
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Party below have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.
SIGNED for and on behalf of XXXXX HOLDING B.V., a company incorporated in Netherlands, Shareholder of the Company and a Subsidiary of Volvo, by LEX KERSSEMAKERS and , being Persons who, in accordance with applicable laws or regulations of that place, are acting under the authority of such company, in the presence of:
Signature of witness
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
Name of witness (block letters)
Address of witness |
) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) |
Signature of LEX KERSSEMAKERS
Signature of Xxxxx De Geyseleer By executing this document, the signatories warrant that the signatories are duly authorised to execute this document on behalf of XXXXX HOLDING B.V. |
Contact details for the purpose of Section 9 of this Agreement
Address :
Attention :
Fax and Tel No. :
Email address :
(Signature Page to Acknowledgement Agreement to the Shareholders Agreement)
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Party below have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.
SIGNED for and on behalf of浙江吉利控股集团有限公司 ZHEJIANG GEELY HOLDING GROUP CO., LTD., a company incorporated in PRC by XX Xxxxx (李书福), being a Person who, in accordance with applicable laws or regulations of that place, is acting under the authority of such company, in the presence of:
Signature of witness
Xxxxx Xxxx
Name of witness (block letters)
Address of witness |
) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) |
Official seal of浙江吉利控股集团有限公司 Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co., Ltd.
Signature of SHUFU LI (李书福)
By executing this document, the signatory warrants that the signatory is duly authorised to execute this document on behalf of浙江吉利控股集团有限公司 ZHEJIANG GEELY HOLDING GROUP CO., LTD.
|
Contact details for the purpose of Section 9 of this Agreement
Address :
Attention :
Fax and Tel No. :
Email address :
(Signature Page to Acknowledgement Agreement to the Shareholders Agreement)
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Party below have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.
SIGNED for and on behalf of PSD INVESTMENT LIMITED, a company incorporated in British Virgin Islands by XX Xxxxx, being a Person who, in accordance with applicable laws or regulations of that place, is acting under the authority of such company, in the presence of:
Signature of witness
Xxxxx Xxxx
Name of witness (block letters)
Address of witness |
) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) |
By executing this document, the signatory warrants that the signatory is duly authorised to execute this document on behalf of PSD Investment Limited |
Contact details for the purpose of Section 9 of this Agreement
Address :
Attention :
Fax and Tel No. :
Email address :
(Signature Page to Acknowledgement Agreement to the Shareholders Agreement)
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Party below have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.
SIGNED for and on behalf of PSINV AB, a company incorporated in Sweden by FREDRIK AABEN and PER ANSGAR, being Persons who, in accordance with applicable laws or regulations of that place, is acting under the authority of such company, in the presence of:
Signature of witness
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
Name of witness (block letters)
Address of witness |
) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) |
Signature of FREDRIK AABEN
Signature of PER ANSGAR
By executing this document, the signatories warrant that the signatories are duly authorised to execute this document on behalf of PSINV AB |
Contact details for the purpose of Section 9 of this Agreement
Address :
Attention :
Fax and Tel No. :
Email address :
(Signature Page to Acknowledgement Agreement to the Shareholders Agreement)
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Party below have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.
SIGNED for and on behalf of POLESTAR AUTOMOTIVE HOLDING LIMITED極星汽車控股有限公司, by Xxxx Xxxxx Xxxxx XXXXXXXXX, being a Person who is acting under the authority of the Company, in the presence of:
Signature of witness Xxxxx Xxxxx
Name of witness (block letters)
Address of witness |
) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) |
By executing this document, the signatory warrants that the signatory is duly authorised to execute this document on behalf of POLESTAR AUTOMOTIVE HOLDING LIMITED 極星汽車控股有限公司 |
Contact details for the purpose of Section 9 of this Agreement
Address :
Attention :
Fax and Tel No. :
Email address :
(Signature Page to Acknowledgement Agreement to the Shareholders Agreement)
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Party below have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.
SIGNED for and on behalf of淄博市財金控股集團有限公司ZIBO FINANCIAL GROUP HOLDING CO., LTD., a limited liability company incorporated in PRC by Dapeng Li (李大鹏), being the legal representative who, in accordance with applicable laws or regulations of that place, is acting under the authority of such company, in the presence of:
Signature of witness
Xxxxx Xxx (谭秀弟)
Name of witness (block letters)
Address of witness |
) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) |
Official seal of淄博市財金控股集團有限公司Zibo Financial Holding Group Co., Ltd.
Signature of Dapeng Li (李大鹏) By executing this document, the signatory warrants that the signatory is duly authorised to execute this document on behalf of淄博市財金控股集團有限公司Zibo Financial Holding Group Co., Ltd. |
Contact details for the purpose of Section 9 of this Agreement
Address :
Attention :
Fax and Tel No. :
Email address :
(Signature Page to Acknowledgement Agreement to the Shareholders Agreement)
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Party below have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.
SIGNED for and on behalf of 淄博高新产业投资有限公司 ZIBO HIGH-TECH INDUSTRIAL INVESTMENT CO., LTD., a limited liability company incorporated in PRC by Xxxx Xxxx (陈宁), being the legal representative who, in accordance with applicable laws or regulations of that place, is acting under the authority of such company, in the presence of:
Signature of witness
Xxxxxxxx Xxxx (赵晓鹏)
Name of witness (block letters)
Address of witness |
) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) |
Official seal of 淄博高新产业投资有限公司Zibo High-Tech Industrial Investment Co., Ltd.
Signature of Xxxx Xxxx (陈宁)
By executing this document, the signatory warrants that the signatory is duly authorised to execute this document on behalf of淄博高新产业投资有限公司 Zibo High-Tech Industrial Investment Co., Ltd. |
Contact details for the purpose of Section 9 of this Agreement
Address :
Attention :
Fax and Tel No. :
Email address :
(Signature Page to Acknowledgement Agreement to the Shareholders Agreement)
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Party below have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.
SIGNED for and on behalf of重庆承星股权投资基金合伙企业(有限合伙), a limited partnership (有限合伙企业) incorporated in PRC, by the signature of Yimin Ai (艾益民) as the legal representative and general manager of 重庆承运企业管理有限公司, in its capacity as the executive partner of the said limited partnership, in accordance with applicable laws or regulations of that place, is acting under the authority of the said limited partnership, and by affixing the official seal of each of the said limited partnership and 重庆承运企业管理有限公司, in the presence of:
Signature of witness Xxxxx Xxxx (周充)
Name of witness (block letters)
Address of witness |
) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) |
Official seal of重庆承星股权投资基金合伙企业(有限合伙)
Official seal of重庆承运企业管理有限公司
Signature of Yimin Ai (艾益民)
By executing this document, the signatory warrants that the signatory is duly authorised to execute this document on behalf of 重庆承星股权投资基金合伙企业(有限合伙) |
Contact details for the purpose of Section 9 of this Agreement
Address :
Attention :
Fax and Tel No. :
Email address :
(Signature Page to Acknowledgement Agreement to the Shareholders Agreement)
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Party below have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.
SIGNED for and on behalf of Northpole GLY 1 LP, an exempted limited partnership incorporated in the Cayman Islands by Hrvoje Krkalo as a director of Northpole GLY GP1, in its capacity as general partner of the partnership, in accordance with applicable laws or regulations of that place, is acting under the authority of such partnership, in the presence of:
Signature of witness
BAI SHIYU
Name of witness (block letters)
Address of witness |
) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) |
By executing this document, the signatory warrants that the signatory is duly authorised to execute this document on behalf of Northpole GLY 1 LP |
Contact details for the purpose of Section 9 of this Agreement
Address :
Attention :
Fax and Tel No. :
Email address :
(Signature Page to Acknowledgement Agreement to the Shareholders Agreement)
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Party below have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.
SIGNED for and on behalf of GLY New Mobility 1. LP, an exempted limited partnership incorporated in Cayman Islands by Hrvoje Krkalo as a director of GLY New Mobility GP1, in its capacity as general partner of the partnership, in accordance with applicable laws or regulations of that place, is acting under the authority of such partnership, in the presence of:
Signature of witness
BAI SHIYU
Name of witness (block letters)
Address of witness |
) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) |
By executing this document, the signatory warrants that the signatory is duly authorised to execute this document on behalf of GLY New Mobility 1. LP |
Contact details for the purpose of Section 9 of this Agreement
Address :
Attention :
Fax and Tel No. :
Email address :
(Signature Page to Acknowledgement Agreement to the Shareholders Agreement)
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Party below have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.
SIGNED for and on behalf of POLESTAR AUTOMOTIVE HOLDING UK LIMITED, by JAN MIKAEL ALKMARK, being a Person who is acting under the authority of the Company, in the presence of:
Signature of witness Xxxx Rudensjö
Name of witness (block letters)
Address of witness |
) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) |
By executing this document, the signatory warrants that the signatory is duly authorised to execute this document on behalf of POLESTAR AUTOMOTIVE HOLDING UK LIMITED |
Contact details for the purpose of Section 9 of this Agreement
Address :
Attention :
Fax and Tel No. :
Email address :
(Signature Page to Acknowledgement Agreement to the Shareholders Agreement)
EXHIBIT E
Pre-Closing Reorganization
[Exhibit E to Business Combination Agreement]
EXHIBIT E
Pre-Closing Reorganization
Reference is made to that certain Business Combination Agreement (the “Agreement”), dated as of September 27, 2021, by and among Gores Guggenheim, Inc., Inc., a Delaware corporation, Polestar Automotive Holding Limited, a Hong Kong company (“Parent”), Polestar Automotive (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., a private company limited by shares in Singapore (“Polestar Singapore”), Polestar Holding AB, a private limited liability company incorporated under the laws of Sweden (“Polestar Sweden”), Polestar Automotive Holding UK Limited, a limited company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales and a direct wholly owned subsidiary of Parent (“ListCo”), and PAH UK Merger Sub Inc., a Delaware corporation and a direct wholly owned subsidiary of ListCo (“Merger Sub”). Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Agreement.
1. | Not later than thirty (30) days prior to the Closing Date, Polestar Singapore shall transfer to Parent all of the issued and outstanding Equity Securities of Polestar Sweden (the “Pre-Closing Sweden Share Transfer”) in exchange for cash. |
2. | After the Pre-Closing Sweden Share Transfer and prior to the Closing, Parent shall contribute to Polestar Sweden all of the issued and outstanding Equity Securities of Polestar Singapore (the “Pre-Closing Singapore Share Transfer”, and together with the Pre-Closing Sweden Share Transfer, the “Pre-Closing Sweden/Singapore Share Transfer”), and in exchange for the Pre-Closing Singapore Share Transfer, Polestar Sweden shall issue to Parent, Equity Securities of Polestar Sweden (the “Polestar Sweden Shares”); provided that, prior to such share transfer, Polestar Sweden has obtained a statement from Polestar Sweden’s auditor in accordance with the Swedish Companies Act Chapter 13 Section 8 confirming that the value of the Equity Securities of Polestar Singapore, as determined by the board of directors of Polestar Sweden, is not higher than such Polestar Sweden Shares’ book value. |
3. | Prior to the Closing, ListCo shall (i) amend and restate its articles of association to be in substantially the form attached as Exhibit F to the Agreement, (ii) re-register with the Companies House as a public limited company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales and (iii) issue GBP redeemable preferred shares wholly in cash with a nominal value of GBP50,000 to Parent (or such other person as Parent and Gores Guggenheim, Inc. may agree in writing). |
4. | After the consummation of the PIPE Investment and immediately prior to the Closing, Parent shall contribute to ListCo all of the issued and outstanding Equity Securities of Polestar Sweden (the “Pre-Closing Consolidation”), and in exchange for the Pre-Closing Consolidation, ListCo shall issue to Parent the Parent Consideration. |
EXHIBIT F
Form of
ListCo New Articles of Association
[Exhibit F to Business Combination Agreement]
THE COMPANIES ACT 2006
PUBLIC COMPANY LIMITED BY SHARES
ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION
OF
POLESTAR AUTOMOTIVE HOLDING UK PLC
Company No 13624182
1
CONTENTS
CLAUSE
1. |
Exclusion of model articles (and any other prescribed regulations) | 6 | ||||
2. |
Interpretation | 6 | ||||
3. |
Form of resolution | 12 | ||||
4. |
Limited liability | 12 | ||||
5. |
Change of name | 12 | ||||
6. |
The Office | 12 | ||||
7. |
Shares | 12 | ||||
8. |
Right to Return of Assets and Distributions | 13 | ||||
9. |
Rights and Conversion of Convertible Preferred Shares | 14 | ||||
10. |
Rights and Redemption of GBP Redeemable Preferred Shares | 17 | ||||
11. |
Rights of Deferred Shares | 18 | ||||
12. |
Rights and Conversion of Ordinary Shares | 19 | ||||
13. |
[Rights and Conversion of Class C Shares] | 20 | ||||
14. |
Power to attach rights to shares | 20 | ||||
15. |
Allotment of shares and pre-emption | 20 | ||||
16. |
Redeemable shares | 21 | ||||
17. |
Pari passu issues | 22 | ||||
18. |
Variation of rights | 22 | ||||
19. |
Payment of commission | 22 | ||||
20. |
Trusts not recognised | 23 | ||||
21. |
Share certificates | 23 | ||||
22. |
Replacement certificates | 24 | ||||
23. |
Lien on shares not fully paid | 24 | ||||
24. |
Enforcement of lien by sale | 24 | ||||
25. |
Application of proceeds of sale | 25 | ||||
26. |
Calls | 25 | ||||
27. |
Liability of joint holders | 26 | ||||
28. |
Interest on calls | 26 | ||||
29. |
Power to differentiate | 26 | ||||
30. |
Payment of calls in advance | 26 | ||||
31. |
Notice if call or instalment not paid | 26 |
2
32. |
Forfeiture for non-compliance | 27 | ||||
33. |
Notice after forfeiture | 27 | ||||
34. |
Forfeiture may be annulled | 27 | ||||
35. |
Surrender | 27 | ||||
36. |
Sale of forfeited shares | 27 | ||||
37. |
Effect of forfeiture | 28 | ||||
38. |
Evidence of forfeiture | 28 | ||||
39. |
Form of transfer | 28 | ||||
40. |
Right to refuse registration of transfer | 29 | ||||
41. |
Notice of refusal to register a transfer | 29 | ||||
42. |
No fees on registration | 29 | ||||
43. |
Other powers in relation to transfers | 30 | ||||
44. |
Transmission of shares on death | 30 | ||||
45. |
Election of person entitled by transmission | 30 | ||||
46. |
Rights on transmission | 30 | ||||
47. |
Destruction of documents | 31 | ||||
48. |
Sub-division | 32 | ||||
49. |
Fractions | 32 | ||||
50. |
Annual general meetings | 32 | ||||
51. |
Convening of general meetings | 32 | ||||
52. |
Simultaneous attendance and participation by electronic facilities | 34 | ||||
53. |
Notice of general meetings | 34 | ||||
54. |
Contents of notice of general meetings | 34 | ||||
55. |
Omission to give notice and non-receipt of notice | 36 | ||||
56. |
Postponement of general meeting | 36 | ||||
57. |
Quorum at general meeting | 37 | ||||
58. |
Procedure if quorum not present | 37 | ||||
59. |
Chair of general meeting | 38 | ||||
60. |
Entitlement to attend, speak and participate | 38 | ||||
61. |
Adjournments | 38 | ||||
62. |
Notice of adjournment | 39 | ||||
63. |
Business of adjourned meeting | 40 | ||||
64. |
Accommodation of members, security arrangements and orderly conduct at general meetings | 40 | ||||
65. |
Amendment to resolutions | 41 |
3
66. |
Members’ resolutions | 42 | ||||
67. |
Method of voting | 42 | ||||
68. |
Objection to error in voting | 42 | ||||
69. |
Procedure on a poll | 42 | ||||
70. |
Votes of members | 43 | ||||
71. |
No right to vote where sums overdue on shares | 44 | ||||
72. |
Voting by Proxy | 44 | ||||
73. |
Receipt of proxy | 45 | ||||
74. |
Revocation of proxy | 47 | ||||
75. |
Corporate representatives | 47 | ||||
76. |
Failure to disclose interests in shares | 48 | ||||
77. |
Power of sale of shares of untraced members | 50 | ||||
78. |
Application of proceeds of sale of shares of untraced members | 51 | ||||
79. |
Number of directors | 52 | ||||
80. |
Power of company to appoint directors | 52 | ||||
81. |
Power of board to appoint directors | 52 | ||||
82. |
Eligibility of new directors | 53 | ||||
83. |
Retirement of directors | 53 | ||||
84. |
Removal of directors | 55 | ||||
85. |
Vacation of office by director | 55 | ||||
86. |
Resolution as to vacancy conclusive | 57 | ||||
87. |
Appointment of alternate directors | 57 | ||||
88. |
Alternate directors’ participation in board meetings | 57 | ||||
89. |
Alternate director responsible for own acts | 57 | ||||
90. |
Interests of alternate director | 58 | ||||
91. |
Revocation of alternate director | 58 | ||||
92. |
Directors’ fees | 58 | ||||
93. |
Expenses | 58 | ||||
94. |
Additional remuneration | 59 | ||||
95. |
Remuneration of executive directors | 59 | ||||
96. |
Pensions and other benefits | 59 | ||||
97. |
Powers of the board | 60 | ||||
98. |
Powers of directors if less than minimum number | 60 | ||||
99. |
Powers of executive directors | 60 | ||||
100. |
Delegation to committees | 61 |
4
101. |
Local management | 61 | ||||
102. |
Power of attorney | 61 | ||||
103. |
Exercise of voting power | 62 | ||||
104. |
Provision for employees on cessation of business | 62 | ||||
105. |
Overseas registers | 62 | ||||
106. |
Borrowing powers | 62 | ||||
107. |
Board meetings | 63 | ||||
108. |
Notice of board meetings | 63 | ||||
109. |
Quorum | 63 | ||||
110. |
Chair | 64 | ||||
111. |
Voting | 64 | ||||
112. |
Participation by telephone or other form of communication | 64 | ||||
113. |
Resolution in writing | 65 | ||||
114. |
Proceedings of committees | 65 | ||||
115. |
Minutes of proceedings | 65 | ||||
116. |
Validity of proceedings | 65 | ||||
117. |
Transactions or other arrangements with the company | 66 | ||||
118. |
Authorisation of Directors’ conflicts of interest | 66 | ||||
119. |
Directors’ permitted interests | 68 | ||||
120. |
General | 70 | ||||
121. |
Power to authenticate documents | 70 | ||||
122. |
Use of seals | 70 | ||||
123. |
Declaration of dividends | 71 | ||||
124. |
Interim dividends | 71 | ||||
125. |
Calculation and currency of dividends | 71 | ||||
126. |
Amounts due on shares can be deducted from dividends | 72 | ||||
127. |
Dividends not in cash | 72 | ||||
128. |
No interest on dividends | 72 | ||||
129. |
Method of payment | 72 | ||||
130. |
Uncashed dividends | 73 | ||||
131. |
Unclaimed dividends | 74 | ||||
132. |
Scrip dividends | 74 | ||||
133. |
Capitalisation of reserves | 76 | ||||
134. |
Record dates | 77 | ||||
135. |
Inspection of records | 78 |
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136. |
Account to be sent to members | 78 | ||||
137. |
Service of Notices | 79 | ||||
138. |
Notice on person entitled by transmission | 80 | ||||
139. |
Record date for service | 80 | ||||
140. |
Evidence of service | 81 | ||||
141. |
Notice when post not available | 82 | ||||
142. |
Indemnity and insurance | 82 | ||||
143. |
Winding up | 83 |
THE COMPANIES ACT 2006
PUBLIC COMPANY LIMITED BY SHARES
ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION
OF
POLESTAR AUTOMOTIVE HOLDING UK PLC
(Adopted by special resolution passed on the [●] day of [●], 2021 and effective on such date)
1. | Exclusion of model articles (and any other prescribed regulations) |
No regulations or articles set out in any statute, or in any statutory instrument or other subordinate legislation made under any statute, concerning companies (including the regulations in the Companies (Model Articles) Regulations 2008 (SI 2008/3229)) shall apply as the articles of the Company. The following shall be the articles of association of the Company.
2. | Interpretation |
2.1 | In these articles, unless the context otherwise requires: |
Act means the Companies Acx 0000.
address includes any number or address used for the purposes of sending or receiving documents or information by electronic means.
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Articles means these articles of association as altered from time to time and “Article” shall be construed accordingly.
Board means the board of Directors for the time being of the Company or the Directors present or deemed to be present at a duly convened quorate meeting of the Directors.
Business Combination means the merger of a newly formed, wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company with and into the SPAC, which SPAC shall survive, pursuant to that certain business combination agreement dated September 27, 2021
Business Day means a day other than a day on which banking institutions or trust companies are authorized or obligated by law to close in Hong Kong, the People’s Republic of China, the British Virgin Islands, Sweden, New York City, or London, England, a Saturday or a Sunday.
call includes any instalment of a call and, in the application of provisions of these Articles to forfeiture of shares, a sum which, by the terms of issue of a share, is payable at a fixed time.
capital means the share capital from time to time of the Company.
Chair means the Chair presiding at any meeting of members or the Board.
Class A Ordinary Share means an ordinary share of USD 0.01 each in the share capital of the Company which is designated as a Class A Ordinary Share and having the rights provided for in these Articles.
Class B Ordinary Share means an ordinary share of USD 0.01 each in the share capital of the Company which is designated as a Class B Ordinary Share and having the rights provided for in these Articles.
Class C Shares means Class C-1 Shares and Class C-2 Shares.
Class C-1 Share means a class C-1 ordinary share of USD 0.10 each in the share capital of the Company which is designated as a Class C-1 Share and having the rights provided for in these Articles.
Class C-2 Share means a class C-2 ordinary share of USD 0.10 each in the share capital of the Company which is designated as a Class C-2 Share and having the rights provided for in these Articles.
clear days in relation to a period of notice means that period excluding the day when the notice is served or deemed to be served and the day for which it is given or on which it is to take effect.
Closing means closing of the Business Combination Agreement.
Companies Acts means the Act, the Companies Acx 0000 xnd, where the context requires, every other statute from time to time in force concerning companies and affecting the Company.
Company means POLESTAR AUTOMOTIVE HOLDING UK PLC.
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Conversion Subscription Value means an amount equal to the product of the number of Convertible Preferred Shares which have at the relevant time been converted in accordance with these Articles and the initial subscription price (including any premium) paid per each Convertible Preferred Share.
Convertible Preferred Shares: means the convertible preferred shares of USD 10.00 each in the capital of the Company having the rights and restrictions set out in these Articles.
Date of Adoption means the date of adoption of these Articles.
Deferred Shares means deferred shares of USD 0.01 each in the capital of the Company having the rights and restrictions set out in these Articles.
Depositary means any depositary, custodian or nominee approved by the Board that holds legal title to shares in the capital of the Company for the purposes of facilitating beneficial ownership of such shares by other persons;
Director means a director for the time being of the Company.
electronic communication means a communication sent, transmitted, conveyed and received by wire, by radio, by optical means, by electronic means or by other electromagnetic means in any form through any medium.
electronic facility includes, without limitation, website addresses and conference call systems, and any device, system, procedure, method or other facility whatsoever providing an electronic means of attendance at or participation in (or both attendance at and participation in) a general meeting determined by the Board pursuant to Article 52.
electronic form has the meaning given to it in section 1168 of the Act.
electronic means has the meaning given to it in section 1168 of the Act.
electronic meeting means a general meeting held and conducted wholly and exclusively by virtual attendance and participation by members and/or proxies by means of electronic facilities.
Exchange means any recognised investment exchange or other stock market or public securities exchange showing quotations for the Company’s ordinary shares.
Geely means Zhejiang Geely Holding Co Ltd.
Group means the Company and its subsidiaries.
GBP Redeemable Preferred Shares means redeemable preference shares of GBP 1.00 each in the capital of the Company having the rights and restrictions set out in these Articles.
hybrid meeting means a general meeting held and conducted by (i) physical attendance and participation by members and/or proxies at one or more places of meeting or meeting locations; and (ii) virtual attendance and participation by members and/or proxies by means of electronic facilities.
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Independent Directors means a director that both (i) satisfies the requirements to qualify as an “independent director” under the stock exchange rules of the stock exchange on which the Ordinary Shares are then-currently listed and (ii) is not affiliated (as a director, employee, shareholder or otherwise) with Parent, Volvo or Geely, provided that an individual shall not be precluded from being appointed, or continuing to act, as an Independent Director solely on the basis of holding, directly or indirectly, up to 0.01% of the share capital of any publically traded affiliate of Parent, Volvo or Geely.
Initial Liquidation Preference means, in respect of the Convertible Preferred Shares, an aggregate amount equal to USD 498,039,000.
member means a member of the Company, or where the context requires, a member of the Board or of any committee.
month means calendar month.
Office means the registered office from time to time of the Company.
Ordinary Shares means the Class A Ordinary Shares and the Class B Ordinary Shares.
paid up means paid up or credited as paid up.
Parent means Polestar Automotive Holding Limited, a Hong Kong incorporated company.
physical meeting means a general meeting held and conducted by physical attendance and participation by members and/or proxies at one or more Meeting Location(s).
Pound and £ means pounds in the lawful currency of England.
Preference Conversion Ratio means 1 Class A Ordinary Share for each Convertible Share as adjusted in accordance with Article 9.12.
Register means the register of members of the Company to be maintained under the Act or as the case may be any overseas branch register maintained under Article 105.
Seal means the common seal of the Company or, where the context allows, any official seal kept by the Company under section 50 of the Act.
Secretary means the person or persons appointed for the time being to perform for the Company the duties of a secretary.
share means a Class A Ordinary Share, a Class B Ordinary Share, Class C-1 Share, a Class C-2 Share, a Convertible Preferred Share, a GBP Redeemable Preferred Share, a Deferred Share or any other share in the capital of the Company from time to time.
shareholder or member or holder means a duly registered holder of share(s) from time to time.
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Solvent Reorganisation means any solvent reorganisation of the Company, including without limitation by merger, consolidation, recapitalisation, transfer or sale of all or substantially all of the shares or assets of the Company, scheme of arrangement, exchange of securities, conversion of entity, migration of entity, formation of new entity, or any other transaction or group of transactions.
SPAC means Gores Guggenheim, Inc., a Delaware corporation
special resolution shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in section 283 of the Companies Acx 0000.
Sponsor means Gores Guggenheim Sponsor LLC.
Subsidiary has the meaning given in section 1159 of the Companies Acx 0000.
United States means the United States of America, its territories, its possessions and all areas subject to its jurisdiction.
USD or $ means the lawful currency of United States.
Volvo means Volvo Car Corporation.
in writing and written means the representation or reproduction of words, symbols or other information in a visible form by any method or combination of methods, whether sent or supplied in electronic form or otherwise.
2.2 | Headings shall not affect the interpretation of these Articles. |
2.3 | Unless the context otherwise requires, a person includes a natural person, corporate or unincorporated body (whether or not having separate legal personality) acting, where applicable, by their duly authorized representatives. |
2.4 | Unless the context otherwise requires, words in the singular shall include the plural and in the plural shall include the singular. |
2.5 | A reference to one gender shall include a reference to the other genders. |
2.6 | A reference to a statute or statutory provision is a reference to it as amended, extended or re-enacted from time to time, and shall include all subordinate legislation made from time to time under that statute or supporting provision. |
2.7 | Any words or expressions defined in the Companies Acts in force when these Articles or any part of these Articles are adopted shall (if not inconsistent with the subject or context in which they appear) have the same meaning in these Articles or that part, save that company shall include any company, corporation or other body corporate, wherever and however incorporated or established. |
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2.8 | A reference to a document being signed or to signature includes references to its being executed under hand or under seal or by any other method and, in the case of a communication in electronic form, such references are to its being authenticated as specified by the Companies Acts. |
2.9 | A reference to writing or written includes references to any method of representing or reproducing words in a legible and non-transitory form whether sent or supplied in electronic form or otherwise. |
2.10 | A references to a notice or document (including, without limitation, a resolution in writing or minutes) include a notice or document recorded or stored in any digital, electronic, electrical, magnetic or other retrievable form or medium and information in visible form whether having physical substance or not. |
2.11 | A reference to documents or information being sent or supplied by or to a company (including the Company) shall be construed in accordance with section 1148(3) of the Act. |
2.12 | A reference to a meeting: |
(a) | shall mean a meeting convened and held in any manner permitted by these Articles, including a general meeting at which some (but not all) those entitled to be present attend and participate by means of electronic facility or facilities, and such persons shall be deemed to be present at that meeting for all purposes of the Act and these Articles, and attend, participate, attending, participating, attendance and participation shall be construed accordingly; and |
(b) | shall not be taken as requiring more than one person to be present if any quorum requirement can be satisfied by one person. |
2.13 | References to a person’s participation in the business of a general meeting include without limitation and as relevant the right (including, in the case of a corporation, through a duly appointed representative) to speak, vote, be represented by a proxy and have access in hard copy or electronic form to all documents which are required by the Companies Acts or these Articles to be made available at the meeting, and participate and participating in the business of a general meeting shall be construed accordingly. |
2.14 | Nothing in these Articles precludes the holding and conducting of a general meeting in such a way that persons who are not present together at the same place or places may by electronic means attend and participate in it. |
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3. | Form of resolution |
Subject to the Companies Acts, where anything can be done by passing an ordinary resolution, this can also be done by passing a special resolution.
4. | Limited liability |
The liability of the members of the Company is limited to the amount, if any, unpaid on the shares in the Company held by them.
5. | Change of name |
The name of the Company is “POLESTAR AUTOMOTIVE HOLDING UK PLC”. The Company may change its name by resolution of the Board.
6. | The Office |
The Office shall be at such place in England as the Directors shall from time to time appoint.
7. | Shares |
7.1 | The share capital of the Company on the Date of Adoption is divided into Class A Ordinary Shares, Class B Ordinary Shares, Class C-1 Shares, Class C-2 Shares, Convertible Preferred Shares and GBP Redeemable Preferred Shares. |
7.2 | The Board may issue warrants to subscribe for any class of fully paid shares or securities of the Company on such terms and conditions as the Board may from time to time determine. No fraction of any share shall be allotted on exercise of the subscription rights. Subject to the conditions on which the warrants are issued from time to time, bearers of share warrants have the same rights and privileges as they would if their names had been included in the register as holders of the shares represented by their warrants. The Company must not in any way be bound by or recognise any interest in a share represented by a share warrant other than the absolute right of the bearer of that warrant to that warrant. |
7.3 | The Company may in connection with the issue of any shares exercise all powers of paying interest out of capital and of paying commission and brokerage conferred or permitted by the Companies Act. |
7.4 | No person shall become a member until his name shall have been entered into the Register. |
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8. | Right to Return of Assets and Distributions |
8.1 | [On a return of assets on liquidation or otherwise, the assets of the Company remaining after payment of its debts and liabilities and available for distribution to holders of shares shall be applied in the following manner and order of priority: |
(a) | first, to the holders of the Convertible Preferred Shares (pro rata and pari passu) an amount equal to the Initial Liquidation Preference less such amount as is equal to the Conversion Subscription Value; |
(b) | second, to the holders of the GBP Redeemable Preferred Shares an amount equal to the nominal value of such shares; |
(c) | third, to the holders of the Ordinary Shares pro rata to the number of Ordinary Shares respectively held by them up to an amount of USD 1 million per Ordinary Share; |
(d) | fourth, to the holders of Deferred Shares an amount equal to the nominal value of the Deferred Shares; and |
(e) | fifth, to the holders of the Ordinary Shares pro rata to the number of Ordinary Shares respectively held by them, |
provided that if the amount which would be received by the holders of the Convertible Preferred Shares if all such shares had been converted in accordance with these Articles would be greater than pursuant to (a) above, the relevant Convertible Preferred Shares shall be deemed for the purposes of the relevant return of capital to be treated pari passu with the holders of Ordinary Shares on an as-converted basis.]1
8.2 | [Subject to Article 8.3, any dividends (or other distribution) paid by the Company shall be applied among the holders of shares, other than the Class C Shares, the GBP Redeemable Preferred Shares and the Deferred Shares, pro rata to the number of such shares respectively held by them. For the avoidance of doubt, the Class C Shares, the GBP Redeemable Preferred Shares and the Deferred Shares shall not entitle their holders to participate in any dividends or other distributions.]2 |
8.3 | The Convertible Preferred Shares shall not entitle any holder to preferred dividends or accruals save that the holders of Convertible Preferred Shares shall participate in dividends or other distributions on the Class A Ordinary Shares as if such Convertible Preferred Shares had been converted into Class A Ordinary Shares in accordance with these Articles. |
1 | Note to Draft: Subject to inclusion of Class C Share rights. |
2 | Note to Draft: Subject to inclusion of Class C Share rights. |
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9. | Rights and Conversion of Convertible Preferred Shares |
9.1 | The Convertible Preferred Shares shall carry no voting rights, and shall not entitle their holders to receive notice of, to attend, to speak or to vote at any general meeting of the Company. |
9.2 | On a return of assets on liquidation or otherwise, the assets of the Company remaining after payment of its debts and liabilities and available for distribution to holders of Convertible Preferred Shares shall be applied in the manner and order of priority as set out in Article 8.1. |
9.3 | Any dividends shall be paid to the holders of Convertible Preferred Shares in the manner and order of priority as set out in Articles 8.2 and 8.3. |
9.4 | On an issuance of shares or other securities in connection with a demerger (a “Demerger Issuance”), the holders of Convertible Preferred Shares shall be entitled to participate in such Demerger Issuance as if such Convertible Preferred Shares had been converted into Class A Ordinary Shares in accordance with these Articles. |
9.5 | On a Solvent Reorganisation, the rights of the holders of Convertible Preferred Shares under these Articles shall be preserved in all material respects and the Company shall take all reasonable steps to ensure that the holders of Convertible Preferred Shares shall have equivalent rights in all material respects in respect of any securities and property receivable upon any such Solvent Reorganisation as if such Convertible Preferred Shares had been converted into Class A Ordinary Shares in accordance with these Articles. |
9.6 | Immediately following completion of the Business Combination, each Convertible Preferred Share shall convert into one (1) Class A Ordinary Share (credited as fully paid), provided that: |
(a) | the maximum number of Class A Ordinary Shares to be issued on conversion shall be the maximum number that can be issued so that Volvo (alone or taken together with all other legal entities that, directly or indirectly, are controlled by Geely (“Geely Group”)) after such conversion holds, whether directly or indirectly through depositary shares and/or receipts, less than 50% of the aggregate voting rights attaching to the Ordinary Shares (the “Ownership Condition”); or |
(b) | no conversion of a Convertible Preferred Share shall occur in circumstances which would give rise to an obligation on Volvo or any member of the Geely Group to make a mandatory offer under any applicable law or regulation to acquire all of the Class A Ordinary Shares not already held by Volvo or the Geely Group, save with the prior written prior written consent of Volvo or a member of the Geely Group (the “Takeover Condition”). |
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9.7 | Any Convertible Preferred Shares which are not converted in accordance with Article 9.6 as a result of the Ownership Condition, shall automatically convert into Class A Ordinary Shares at the Preference Conversion Ratio on the last Business Day of each fiscal quarter and on such other dates as determined by the Company to the extent that such conversion can at any time be implemented in compliance with the Ownership Condition and the Takeover Condition. |
9.8 | If a Convertible Preferred Share would otherwise automatically be converted into Class A Ordinary Shares save for the fact that the Takeover Condition is not satisfied, the Company shall take all reasonable steps to procure a waiver prior to any such conversion from the relevant regulatory authority from any obligation on Volvo or any member of the Geely Group to make a mandatory offer following any such conversion. Upon receipt of the requisite waiver, a Convertible Preferred Share shall automatically convert in accordance with Article 9.7. For the avoidance of doubt, where no such waiver is obtained, no such conversion shall take place. |
9.9 | If any Convertible Preferred Share remains unconverted on or following the fifth anniversary of issuance of the Convertible Preferred Shares, a holder of a Convertible Preferred Share shall be entitled, by written notice to the Company, to require that the Convertible Preferred Shares held by it be converted into Class A Ordinary Shares and, subject, to the extent applicable, to the delivery to the Company of a duly stamped instrument of transfer in accordance with these Articles, issued (subject to compliance with the Companies Acts) or transferred to such third party investors as the relevant holder of Convertible Preferred Shares shall direct, provided that such conversion shall not breach the Ownership Condition or the Takeover Condition. |
9.10 | The Company shall, on the relevant conversion date, enter the holder of the converted Convertible Preferred Shares on the register of members as the holder of the appropriate number of Class A Ordinary Shares, subject to the relevant holder delivering its certificate(s) (or an indemnity for lost certificate in a form acceptable to the Board) in respect of any relevant Convertible Preferred Shares so converted in accordance with this Article provided that a failure by such holder to do so shall not prejudice or delay the conversion of the relevant Convertible Preferred Shares into Class A Ordinary Shares. Each conversion of Convertible Preferred Shares shall be deemed to have occurred at 5:00 pm, New York time, on the applicable conversion date. The Company shall within 10 Business Days of the conversion date forward to such holder by post to his address shown in the register of members (or such other address as the holder may specify by notice to the Company), free of charge, a definitive certificate for the appropriate number of fully paid Class A Ordinary Shares. |
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9.11 | The conversion of Convertible Preferred Shares into Class A Ordinary Shares by a holder shall automatically be effected (without the need for any resolution of shareholders or action on the part of the Board) by: |
(a) | the consolidation of the Convertible Preferred Shares to be converted and held by that holder into a single unclassified share; and |
(b) | the subdivision into, and redesignation of, such share into the relevant number of Class A Ordinary Shares (rounded down to the nearest whole number) with the balance being subdivided and converted into Deferred Shares. |
9.12 | The Preference Conversion Ratio shall from time to time be adjusted in accordance with the provisions of this Article: |
(a) | if Convertible Preferred Shares remain capable of being converted into new Class A Ordinary Shares and there is a consolidation and/or sub-division of and/or other alteration of the nominal value of the Class A Ordinary Shares; |
(b) | if Convertible Preferred Shares remain capable of being converted into Class A Ordinary Shares, on an allotment of fully-paid Class A Ordinary Shares pursuant to a capitalisation of profits or reserves (including any share premium account or capital redemption reserve) to holders of Class A Ordinary Shares; |
(c) | if Convertible Preferred Shares remain capable of being converted into Class A Ordinary Shares, on an offer of Class A Ordinary Shares or other share-related securities at a discount by the Company by way of rights or otherwise to all or substantially all of the holders of the Class A Ordinary Shares (a “Discounted Rights Offer”), |
(each of (a), (b) and (c) a “Convertible Preferred Adjustment Event”) the Preference Conversion Ratio shall be adjusted conditional on the Convertible Preferred Adjustment Event occurring such that, in the case of (a) and (b) following adjustment the number of Class A Ordinary Shares into which the outstanding Convertible Preferred Shares will convert is the same as the number of Class A Ordinary Shares as would have resulted had the outstanding Convertible Preferred Shares been converted into Class A Ordinary Shares immediately prior to the time of the Convertible Preferred Adjustment Event at the then prevailing Preference Conversion Ratio and had then been subject to the Convertible Preferred Adjustment Event. In the case of (c), the Preference Conversion Ratio shall be adjusted by multiplying the Preference Conversion Ratio in force immediately prior to such issue or grant by the following fraction:
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where A is the number of Class A Ordinary Shares in issue immediately before announcement of the Discounted Rights Offer: B is the number of Class A Ordinary Shares which the aggregate consideration (if any and before deduction for any commission or expenses paid or incurred by the Company in connection with such issuance) receivable for the Class A Ordinary Shares issued by way of rights, or for the options or warrants or other rights issued by way of rights and for the total number of Class A Ordinary Shares deliverable on the exercise thereof, would purchase at the Fair Market Value per Class A Ordinary Share on the record date of the issuance; C is the number of Class A Ordinary Shares issued or, as the case may be, the maximum number of Class A Ordinary Shares which may be issued upon exercise of such options, warrants or rights calculated as at the date of issue of such options, warrants or rights; and “Fair Market Value” means the volume weighted average price of the Class A Ordinary Shares as reported during the ten (10) trading day period ending on the trading day prior to the date of announcement of the Discounted Rights Offer. Any adjustment pursuant to Article 9.12(c) shall only apply to the extent a holder of Convertible Preferred Shares cannot participate in the Discounted Rights Offer due to the Ownership Condition.
9.13 | If a doubt or dispute arises concerning the determination of an adjustment of the conversion ratio in accordance with Article 9.12, the Board shall refer the matter to the auditors for determination who shall make available to all Shareholders their report and whose certificate as to the amount of the adjustment is, in the absence of manifest error, conclusive and binding on all concerned and their costs shall be met by the Company. |
10. | Rights and Redemption of GBP Redeemable Preferred Shares |
10.1 | The GBP Redeemable Preferred Shares shall carry no voting rights, and shall not entitle their holders to receive notice of, to attend, to speak or to vote at any general meeting of the Company. |
10.2 | On a return of assets on liquidation or otherwise, the assets of the Company remaining after payment of its debts and liabilities and available for distribution to holders of GBP Redeemable Preferred Shares shall be applied in the manner and order of priority as set out in Article 8.1. |
10.3 | Subject to the provisions of the Companies Acts, the Company shall be entitled, at any time, to serve notice on all or some of the holders of the GBP Redeemable Preferred Shares that it wishes to redeem all or some of the GBP Redeemable Preferred Shares in issue at that time on the date falling 14 days after service of such notice (or on such other date as may be agreed between the Company and the holders of the relevant GBP Redeemable Preferred Shares). Notice given under this Article 10.3 shall be irrevocable. |
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10.4 | Upon the date on which any GBP Redeemable Preferred Shares are to be redeemed under this Article, each holder of the relevant GBP Redeemable Preferred Shares shall be bound to deliver to the Company at the Office the certificates for such of the GBP Redeemable Preferred Shares as are held by it. Upon such delivery, the Company shall redeem the shares and shall pay to (or to the order of) such holder the nominal value of the relevant GBP Redeemable Preferred Shares. If any holder of GBP Redeemable Preferred Shares whose shares are liable to be redeemed under this paragraph shall fail or refuse to deliver up the certificate for its GBP Redeemable Preferred Shares, the Company may retain the redemption moneys until delivery up of the certificate or an indemnity in respect thereof satisfactory to the Company and shall within seven days thereafter pay the redemption moneys to (or to the order of) such holder. The receipt of the registered holder for the time being of any GBP Redeemable Preferred Shares or, in the case of registered holders, the receipt of any of them for the moneys payable on redemption thereof shall constitute an absolute discharge in respect thereof. |
11. | Rights of Deferred Shares |
11.1 | The Deferred Shares shall carry no voting rights, and shall not entitle their holders to receive notice of, to attend, to speak or to vote at any general meeting of the Company. Unless the Board determines otherwise, a holder of Deferred Shares shall not be entitled to receive a certificate for such shares. |
11.2 | On a return of assets on liquidation or otherwise, the assets of the Company remaining after payment of its debts and liabilities and available for distribution to holders of Deferred Shares shall be applied in the manner and order of priority as set out in Article 8.1. |
11.3 | The special resolution of the Company adopting these Articles shall be deemed to confer irrevocable authority on the Company, at any time and from time to time, to do all or any of the following without obtaining the sanction and/or consent of the holder(s) of the Deferred Shares (or any of them): |
(a) | from the date falling two years after the Date of Adoption, to appoint any person to execute on behalf of any holder of Deferred Shares a transfer of all or any of its/his Deferred Shares and/or an agreement to transfer the same to such person(s) as the Company may determine and without making any payment to the holder thereof; and |
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(b) |
(i) | from the date falling two years after the Date of Adoption, to purchase and/or cancel any Deferred Shares (in accordance with the Companies Acts) without obtaining the consent of the holder(s) of those Shares and without making any payment to the holder(s) thereof; and |
(ii) | for the purposes of any such purchase and/or cancellation, to appoint any person to execute a contract for the sale of any such Shares to the Company on behalf of any holder of Deferred Shares, |
and, pending such transfer, purchase and/or cancellation, to retain the certificate(s) (if any) for such Shares.
12. | Rights and Conversion of Ordinary Shares |
12.1 | On a return of assets on liquidation or otherwise, the assets of the Company remaining after payment of its debts and liabilities and available for distribution to holders of Ordinary Shares shall be applied in the manner and order of priority as set out in Article 8.1. |
12.2 | Any dividend shall be paid to the holders of Ordinary Shares in the manner and order of priority as set out in Article 8.2. |
12.3 | Ordinary Shares shall confer on each holder of Ordinary Shares the right to receive notice of and to attend, speak and vote at all general meetings of the Company in accordance with these Articles. |
12.4 | Each Class B Ordinary Share is convertible into one (1) Class A Ordinary Share at any time at the option of the holder of such Class B Ordinary Share. The right to convert such Class B Ordinary Shares into Class A Ordinary Shares shall be exercisable by the holder of the Class B Ordinary Share delivering a written notice to the Company that such holder elects to convert a specified number of Class B Ordinary Shares into Class A Ordinary Shares. In no event shall Class A Ordinary Shares be convertible into Class B Ordinary Shares. |
12.5 | Any conversion of Class B Ordinary Shares into Class A Ordinary Shares pursuant to these Articles shall be effected by means of the re-designation of each relevant Class B Ordinary Share as a Class A Ordinary Share or by such other method as may be approved by the Board. Such conversion shall become effective forthwith upon entries being made in the Register to record the re-designation of the relevant Class B Ordinary Shares as Class A Ordinary Shares. The Company shall complete the conversion as soon as reasonably practicable, and in any event within 10 Business Days, after the conversion notice is delivered by the holder of the Class B Ordinary Share to the Company. |
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12.6 | Save and except for voting rights as set out in Article 70.1 and conversion rights as set out in Articles 12.4 and 12.5, Class B Ordinary Shares and Class A Ordinary Shares shall rank pari passu with one another and shall have the same rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions. |
13. | [Rights and Conversion of Class C Shares]3 |
14. | Power to attach rights to shares |
14.1 | Subject to the Companies Acts and to any rights, privileges or restrictions attached to existing shares, any share may be issued with or have attached to it such rights, privileges and restrictions, whether in regard to dividends, voting, repayment or redemption of share capital, or otherwise, as the Company may by ordinary resolution determine, or if no ordinary resolution has been passed or so far as the resolution does not make specific provision, as the Board may determine. |
14.2 | Shares may be issued with a preferential or qualified right to dividends and in the distribution of assets of the Company and with or without any special voting rights. |
15. | Allotment of shares and pre-emption |
15.1 | In accordance with section 551 of the Act, the Directors are generally and unconditionally authorized to allot shares in the Company or grant rights to subscribe for or to convert any security into shares in the Company (the “Share Rights”) up to an aggregate maximum number of [•] Ordinary Shares, provided that this authority shall, unless renewed, varied or revoked by ordinary resolution of the Company, expire on the date which is five years from the Date of the Adoption, save that the Directors may allot shares or grant Share Rights in pursuance of an offer or agreement made before such expiry which would or might require shall to be allotted or Share Rights to be granted, notwithstanding that the authority conferred by this Article 15.1 has expired. |
15.2 | The Directors are generally empowered to allot equity securities (as defined in section 560 of the Act) as if section 561(1) of the Act did not apply to any such allotment, provided that this power shall: (i) be limited to the allotment of equity securities up to an aggregate maximum number of [•] Ordinary Shares; and (ii) unless renewed, varied or revoked by ordinary resolution of the Company, expire on the date which is five years from the Date of Adoption, save that the Directors may allot equity securities in pursuance of any offer or agreement made before such expiry which would or might require equity securities to be allotted after such expiry, notwithstanding that the power conferred by this Article 15.2 has expired. |
3 | Note to Draft: Subject to inclusion of Class C Share rights. |
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15.3 | The provisions set forth in Articles 15.1 and 15.2 may be renewed at any meeting of the members of the Company. |
15.4 | Without prejudice to any special rights previously conferred on the holders of any shares or class of shares, and subject to the Companies Acts, these Articles and to any relevant authority of the Company in general meeting required by the Companies Acts, the Board may offer, issue, allot, (with or without conferring rights of renunciation), grant options over or otherwise deal with or dispose of shares or grant rights to subscribe for or convert any security into shares with such preferred, deferred or other special rights, or subject to such restrictions, whether in regard to dividend, return of capital, voting or otherwise, as the Company may from time to time by ordinary resolution determine (or, in the absence of any such determination, as the Board may determine), to such persons, at such times, for such consideration and upon such terms as the Board may decide. No share may be issued at a discount. |
15.5 | If by the conditions of allotment of any shares the whole or part of the issue price thereof shall be payable by instalments, every such instalment shall, when due, be paid to the Company by the person who for the time being and from time to time shall be the registered holder of the shares, or his legal personal representative. |
15.6 | The Board may, at any time after the allotment of any share but before any person has been entered in the Register, recognise a renunciation by the allottee in favour of some other person and accord to the allottee of a share a right to effect such renunciation and/or allow the rights to be represented to be one or more participating securities, in each case upon the subject to such terms and conditions as the Board may think fit to impose. |
16. | Redeemable shares |
Subject to the Companies Acts and to any rights attaching to existing shares, any share may be issued which can be redeemed or is liable to be redeemed at the option of the Company or the holder. The Board may determine the terms, conditions and manner of redemption of any redeemable shares which are issued. Such terms and conditions shall apply to the relevant shares as if the same were set out in these Articles.
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17. | Pari passu issues |
If new shares are created or issued which rank equally with any other existing shares, the rights of the existing shares will not be regarded as changed or abrogated unless the terms of the existing shares expressly say otherwise.
18. | Variation of rights |
18.1 | Subject to the Companies Acts, the rights attached to any class of shares can be varied or abrogated either with the consent in writing of the holders of not less than three-quarters in nominal value of the issued share of that class (excluding any shares of that class held as treasury shares) or with the authority of a special resolution passed at a separate meeting of the holders of the relevant class of shares known as a class meeting. |
18.2 | The provisions of this Article will apply to any variation or abrogation of rights of shares forming part of a class. Each part of the class which is being treated differently is treated as a separate class in applying this Article. |
18.3 | All the provisions in these Articles as to general meetings shall apply, with any necessary modifications, to every class meeting except that: |
(a) | the quorum at every such meeting shall not be less than two persons holding or representing by proxy at least one-third of the nominal amount paid up on the issued shares of the class (excluding any shares of that class held as treasury shares); and |
(b) | if at any adjourned meeting of such holders such quorum as set out above is not present, at least one person holding shares of the class who is present in person or by proxy shall be a quorum. |
18.4 | The Board may convene a class meeting whenever it thinks fit and whether or not the business to be transacted involves a variation or abrogation of class rights. |
19. | Payment of commission |
The Company may in connection with the issue of any shares or the sale for cash of treasury shares exercise all powers of paying commission and brokerage conferred or permitted by the Companies Acts. Any such commission or brokerage may be satisfied by the payment of cash or by the allotment of fully or partly paid shares or other securities or the grant of an option to call for an allotment of shares or any combination of such methods.
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20. | Trusts not recognised |
Except as otherwise expressly provided by these Articles, required by law or as ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction, the Company shall not recognise any person as holding any share on any trust, and the Company shall not be bound by or required in any way to recognise (even when having notice of it) any equitable, contingent, future, partial or other claim to or interest in any share other than an absolute right of the holder of the whole of the share.
21. | Share certificates |
21.1 | Every person (except a person to whom the Company is not by law required to issue a certificate and except as otherwise provided in these Articles) whose name is entered in the Register as a holder of any shares shall be entitled, without charge, to receive within the time limits prescribed by the Companies Acts (unless the terms of issue prescribe otherwise) one certificate for all of the shares of that class registered in his or her name. |
21.2 | The Company shall not be bound to issue more than one certificate in respect of shares held jointly by two or more persons. Delivery of a certificate to the person first named in the Register shall be sufficient delivery to all joint holders. |
21.3 | Where a member has transferred part only of the shares comprised in a certificate, the member shall be entitled without charge to a certificate for the balance of such shares. Where a member receives more shares of any class, the member shall be entitled without charge to a certificate for the extra shares of that class. |
21.4 | A share certificate may be issued under Seal (by affixing the Seal to or printing the Seal or a representation of it on the certificate) or signed by at least two Directors or by at least one Director and the Secretary. Such certificate shall specify the number and class of the shares in respect of which it is issued and the amount or respective amounts paid up on it. The Board may be resolution decide, either generally or in any particular case or cases, that any signatures on any share certificates need not be autographic but may be applied to the certificates by some mechanical or other means or may be printed on them or that the certificates need not be signed by any person. |
21.5 | Every share certificate sent in accordance with these Articles will be sent at the risk of the member or other person entitled to the certificate. The Company will not be responsible for any share certificate lost or delayed in the course of delivery. |
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22. | Replacement certificates |
22.1 | Any two or more certificates representing shares of any one class held by any member may at the request of the member be cancelled and a single new certificate for such shares issued in lieu without charge on surrender of the original certificates for cancellation. |
22.2 | Any certificate representing shares of any one class held by any member may at the request of the member be cancelled and two or more certificates for such shares may be issued instead. |
22.3 | If a share certificate is defaced, worn out or said to be stolen, lost or destroyed, it may be replaced on such terms as to evidence and indemnity as the Board may decide and, where it is defaced or worn out, after delivery of the old certificate to the Company. |
22.4 | The Board may require the payment of any reasonable exceptional out-of-pocket expenses of the Company incurred in connection with the issue of any certificates under this Article. In the case of shares held jointly by several persons, any such request as is mentioned in this Article may be made by any one of the joint holders. |
23. | Lien on shares not fully paid |
The Company shall have a first and paramount lien on every share, not being a fully paid share, for all amounts payable to the Company (whether presently or not) in respect of that share. The Company’s lien over a share takes priority over any third party’s interest in that share, and extends to any dividend or other money payable by the Company in respect of that share (and, if the lien is enforced and the share is sold by the Company, the proceeds of sale of that share). The Board may at any time, either generally or in any particular case, waive any lien that has arisen or declare any share to be wholly or in part exempt from the provisions of this Article.
24. | Enforcement of lien by sale |
The Company may sell, in such manner as the Board may decide, any share over which the Company has a lien if a sum in respect of which the lien exists is presently payable and is not paid within 14 clear days after a notice has been served on the holder of the share or the person who is entitled by transmission to the share, demanding payment and stating that if the notice is not complied with the share may be sold. For giving effect to the sale the Board may authorise some person to sign an instrument of transfer of the share sold to, or in accordance with the directions, of the buyer. The buyer shall not be bound to see to the application of the purchase money, nor shall the buyer’s title to the share be affected by any irregularity or invalidity in the proceedings in reference to the sale.
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25. | Application of proceeds of sale |
The net proceeds of any sale of shares subject to any lien, after payment of the costs, shall be applied:
(a) | first, in or towards satisfaction of so much of the amount due to the Company or of the liability or engagement (as the case may be) as is presently payable or is liable to be presently fulfilled or discharged; and |
(b) | second, any residue shall be paid to the person who was entitled to the share at the time of the sale but only after the certificate for the shares sold has been surrendered to the company for cancellation, or an indemnity in a form reasonably satisfactory to the directors has been given for any lost certificates, and subject to a like lien for debts or liabilities not presently payable as existed on the share prior to the sale. |
26. | Calls |
26.1 | Subject to these Articles and the terms on which the shares are allotted, the Board may from time to time make calls on the members in respect of any monies unpaid on their shares (whether in respect of nominal value or premium) and not payable on a date fixed by or in accordance with the terms of issue. |
26.2 | The Company may make arrangements on the issue of shares for a difference between the holders of such shares in the amount of calls to be paid and the time of payment of such calls. |
26.3 | Each member shall (subject to the Company serving upon him or her at least 14 clear days’ notice specifying when and where payment is to be made and whether or not by instalments) pay to the Company as required by the notice the amount called on such member’s shares. |
26.4 | A call shall be deemed to have been made at the time when the resolution of the Board authorising the call was passed. |
26.5 | A call may be revoked or postponed, in whole or in part, as the Board may decide. |
26.6 | Liability to pay a call is not extinguished or transferred by transferring the shares in respect of which the call is required to be paid. |
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27. | Liability of joint holders |
The joint holders of a share shall be jointly and severally liable to pay all calls and payments in respect of the share.
28. | Interest on calls |
If a call remains unpaid after it has become due and payable, the person from whom it is due and payable shall pay all expenses that have been incurred by the Company by reason of such non-payment together with interest on the amount unpaid from the day it is due and payable to the time of actual payment at such rate (not exceeding the Bank of England base rate by more than five percentage points) as the Board may decide. The Board may waive payment of the interest or the expenses in whole or in part.
29. | Power to differentiate |
On or before the issue of shares, the Board may decide that allottees or holders of shares can be called on to pay different amounts or that they can be called on at different times.
30. | Payment of calls in advance |
The Board may, if it thinks fit, receive from any member willing to advance the same, all or any part of the monies uncalled and unpaid on the shares held by him or her. Such payment in advance of calls shall, to the extent of the payment, extinguish the liability on the shares on which it is made. The Company may pay interest on the money paid in advance, or so much of it as exceeds the amount for the time being called upon the shares in respect of which such advance has been made, at such rate as the Board may decide. The Board may at any time repay the amount so advanced by giving at least three months’ notice in writing to such member of its intention to do so, unless before the expiration of such notice the amount so advanced shall have been called up on the shares in respect of which it was advanced.
31. | Notice if call or instalment not paid |
If any member fails to pay the whole of any call (or any instalment of any call) by the date when payment is due, the Board may at any time give notice in writing to such member (or to any person entitled to the shares by transmission), requiring payment of the amount unpaid (and any accrued interest and any expenses incurred by the Company by reason of such non-payment) by a date not less than 14 clear days from the date of the notice. The notice shall name the place where the payment is to be made and state that, if the notice is not complied with, the shares in respect of which such call was made will be liable to be forfeited.
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32. | Forfeiture for non-compliance |
If the notice referred to in Article 31 is not complied with, any share for which it was given may be forfeited, by resolution of the Board to that effect, at any time before the payment required by the notice has been made. Such forfeiture shall include all dividends declared or other monies payable in respect of the forfeited shares and not paid before the forfeiture.
33. | Notice after forfeiture |
When any share has been forfeited, notice of the forfeiture shall be served on the holder of the share or the person entitled to such share by transmission (as the case may be) before forfeiture. An entry of such notice having been given and of the forfeiture and the date of forfeiture shall immediately be made in the Register in respect of such share. However, no forfeiture shall be invalidated by any omission to give such notice or to make such entry in the Register.
34. | Forfeiture may be annulled |
The Board may annul the forfeiture of a share, at any time before any forfeited share has been cancelled or sold, re-allotted or otherwise disposed of, on the terms that payment shall be made of all calls and interest due on it and all expenses incurred in respect of the share and on such further terms (if any) as the Board shall see fit.
35. | Surrender |
The Board may accept the surrender of any share liable to be forfeited and, in any event, references in these Articles to forfeiture shall include surrender.
36. | Sale of forfeited shares |
36.1 | A forfeited share shall become the property of the Company. |
36.2 | Subject to the Companies Acts, any such share may be sold, re-allotted or otherwise disposed of, on such terms and in such manner as the Board thinks fit. |
36.3 | The Board may, for the purposes of the disposal, authorise some person to transfer the share in question and may enter the name of the transferee in respect of the transferred share in the Register even if no share certificate is lodged and may issue a new certificate to the transferee. An instrument of transfer executed by that person shall be as effective as if it had been executed by the holder of, or the person entitled by transmission to, the share. The Company may receive the consideration (if any) given for the share on its disposal. |
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37. | Effect of forfeiture |
A shareholder whose shares have been forfeited shall cease to be a member in respect of such forfeited shares and shall surrender the certificate for such shares to the Company for cancellation. Such shareholder shall remain liable to pay to the Company all sums which at the date of forfeiture were presently payable by him or her to the Company in respect of such shares with interest (not exceeding the Bank of England base rate by five percentage points) from the date of the forfeiture to the date of payment. The Directors may waive payment of interest wholly or in part and may enforce payment, without any reduction or allowance for the value of the shares at the time of forfeiture or for any consideration received on their disposal.
38. | Evidence of forfeiture |
A statutory declaration by a Director or the Secretary that a share has been forfeited on a specified date shall be conclusive evidence of the facts stated in it as against all persons claiming to be entitled to the share. The declaration shall (subject to the execution of an instrument of transfer if necessary) constitute a good title to the share. The person to whom the share is transferred or sold shall not be bound to see to the application of the purchase money or other consideration (if any), nor shall his or her title to the share be affected by any act, omission or irregularity relating to or connected with the proceedings in reference to the forfeiture or disposal of the share.
39. | Form of transfer |
39.1 | Subject to these Articles, each member may transfer all or any of his or her shares by instrument of transfer in writing in any usual form or in any form approved by the Board. Such instrument shall be executed by or on behalf of the transferor and (in the case of a transfer of a share which is not fully paid up) by or on behalf of the transferee. All instruments of transfer, when registered, may be retained by the Company. |
39.2 | The transferor of a share shall be deemed to remain the holder of the share concerned until the name of the transferee is entered in the Register in respect of it. |
39.3 | The directors are authorised to establish such clearing and settlement procedures for the shares of the Company as they deem fit from time to time. |
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40. | Right to refuse registration of transfer |
40.1 | The Board may, in its absolute discretion, refuse to register any transfer of a share (or renunciation of a renounceable letter of allotment) unless: |
(a) | it is for a share which is fully paid up; |
(b) | it is for a share upon which the Company has no lien; |
(c) | it is only for one class of share; |
(d) | it is in favour of a single transferee or no more than four joint transferees; |
(e) | it is duly stamped or is duly certificated or otherwise shown to the satisfaction of the Board to be exempt from stamp duty (if this is required); and |
(f) | it is delivered for registration to the Office (or such other place as the Board may determine), accompanied (except in the case of a transfer by a person to whom the Company is not required by law to issue a certificate and to whom a certificate has not been issued or in the case of a renunciation) by the certificate for the shares to which it relates and such other evidence as the Board may reasonably require to prove the title of the transferor (or person renouncing) and the due execution of the transfer or renunciation by him or her or, if the transfer or renunciation is executed by some other person on his or her behalf, the authority of that person to do so. |
40.2 | Transfers of shares will not be registered in the circumstances referred to in Article 76. |
41. | Notice of refusal to register a transfer |
If the Board refuses to register a transfer of a share it shall notify the transferee of the refusal and the reasons for it within two months after the date on which the transfer was lodged with the Company or the instructions to the relevant system received. Any instrument of transfer which the Board refuses to register shall be returned to the person depositing it (except if there is suspected or actual fraud). All instruments of transfer which are registered may be retained by the Company.
42. | No fees on registration |
No fee shall be charged for registration of a transfer or other document or instruction relating to or affecting the title to any share or for making any other entry in the Register.
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43. | Other powers in relation to transfers |
Nothing in these Articles shall prevent the Board:
(a) | from recognising a renunciation of the allotment of any share by the allottee in favour of another person; or |
(b) | (if empowered to do so by these Articles) from authorising any person to execute an instrument of transfer of a share and from authorising any person to transfer that share in accordance with any procedures implemented under Article 24. |
44. | Transmission of shares on death |
If a member dies, the survivors or survivor (where the member was a joint holder), and his or her executors or administrators (where the member was a sole or the only survivor of joint holders), shall be the only persons recognised by the Company as having any title to his or her shares. Nothing in these Articles shall release the estate of a deceased member from any liability for any share which has been solely or jointly held by such member.
45. | Election of person entitled by transmission |
45.1 | Any person becoming entitled to a share because of the death or bankruptcy of a member, or otherwise by operation of law, may (on such evidence as to his or her title being produced as the Board may require) elect either to become registered as a member or to have some person nominated by him or her registered as a member. If such person elects to become registered himself or herself, he or she shall notify the Company to that effect. If such person elects to have some other person registered, he or she shall execute an instrument of transfer of such share to that person. All the provisions of these Articles relating to the transfer of shares shall apply to the notice or instrument of transfer (as the case may be) as if it were an instrument of transfer executed by the member and his or her death, bankruptcy or other event had not occurred. Where the entitlement of a person to a share because of the death or bankruptcy of a member or otherwise by operation of law is proved to the satisfaction of the Board, the Board shall within 10 Business Days after proof cause the entitlement of that person to be noted in the Register. |
46. | Rights on transmission |
Where a person becomes entitled to a share because of the death or bankruptcy of any member, or otherwise by operation of law, the rights of the holder in relation to such share shall cease. However, the person so entitled may give a good discharge for any dividends and other monies payable in respect of it and shall have the same rights to which he or she would be entitled if the holder of the share, except that he or she shall not be entitled to receive notice of, or to attend or vote at, any meeting of the Company or a separate meeting of the holders of any class of shares of the Company before being registered as the holder of the share. The Board may at any time give notice requiring any such person to elect either to be registered himself or herself or to transfer the share. If the notice is not complied with within 90 days, the Board may withhold payment of all dividends and the other monies payable in respect of such share until the requirements of the notice have been complied with.
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47. | Destruction of documents |
47.1 | The Company may destroy any: |
(a) | instrument of transfer, after six years from the date on which it is registered; |
(b) | dividend mandate or any variation or cancellation of a dividend mandate or any notification of change of name or address, after two years from the date on which it is recorded; |
(c) | share certificate, after one year from the date on which it is cancelled; |
(d) | instrument of proxy which has been used for the purpose of a poll at any time after one year has elapsed from the date of use; |
(e) | instrument of proxy which has not been used for the purpose of a poll at any time after a period of one month has elapsed from the end of the meeting to which the instrument of proxy relates; or |
(f) | other document for which any entry in the Register is made, after six years from the date on which an entry was first made in the Register in respect of it, provided that the Company may destroy any such type of document at a date earlier than that authorised by this Article if a copy of such document is made and retained (whether electronically, by microfilm, by digital imaging or by other similar means) until the expiration of the period applicable to the destruction of the original of such document. |
47.2 | It shall be conclusively presumed in favour of the Company that every: |
(a) | entry in the Register purporting to have been made on the basis of a document so destroyed was duly and properly made; |
(b) | instrument of transfer so destroyed was duly registered; |
(c) | share certificate so destroyed was duly cancelled; and |
(d) | other document so destroyed had been properly dealt with under its terms and was valid and effective according to the particulars in the records of the Company. |
47.3 | This Article shall only apply to the destruction of a document in good faith and without notice of any claim (regardless of the parties to it) to which the document might be relevant. Nothing in this Article shall be construed as imposing any liability on the Company in respect of the destruction of any such document other than as provided for in this Article which would not attach to the Company in the absence of this Article. References in this Article to the destruction of any document include references to the disposal of it in any manner. |
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48. | Sub-division |
Any resolution authorising the Company to sub-divide its shares or any of them may determine that, as between the shares resulting from the sub-division, any of them may have any preference or advantage or be subject to any restriction as compared with the others.
49. | Fractions |
Subject to the Articles, if any shares are consolidated or consolidated and then divided, the Board has power to deal with any fractions of shares which result. If the Board decides to sell any shares representing fractions, it can do so for the best price reasonably obtainable and distribute the net proceeds of sale among members in proportion to their fractional entitlements. The Board can sell those shares to anyone, including the Company if the legislation allows, and may authorise any person to transfer or deliver the shares to the buyer or in accordance with the buyer’s instructions. The Buyer shall not be bound to see to the application of the purchase money, nor shall the buyer’s title to the share be affected by any irregularity or invalidity in the proceedings in reference to the sale.
50. | Annual general meetings |
An annual general meeting shall be held once a year, at such time (consistent with the terms of the Companies Acts) and place, including partly (but not wholly) by means of electronic facility or facilities, as may be determined by the Board.
51. | Convening of general meetings |
51.1 | The Board may, whenever it thinks fit, and shall on requisition in accordance with the Companies Acts, proceed to convene a general meeting. |
51.2 | Subject always to Article 60.3, the Board may make whatever arrangements it considers fit to allow those entitled to do so to attend and participate in any general meeting. |
51.3 | The Board shall determine in relation to each general meeting the means of attendance at and participation in the meeting, including whether the persons entitled to attend and participate in the meeting shall be enabled to do so: |
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(a) | (subject to Article 60.3) by means of electronic facility or facilities pursuant to Article 52 (and for the avoidance of doubt, the Board shall be under no obligation to offer or provide such facility or facilities, whatever the circumstances); and/or |
(b) | by simultaneous attendance and participation at a satellite meeting place or places pursuant to Article 54.7. |
51.4 | A general meeting may be held at two or more places using any technology that enables members who are not together at the same place to listen, speak and vote at such meeting. Specifically, a general meeting may be held as a physical meeting, a hybrid meeting or an electronic meeting, as may be determined by the Directors in their absolute discretion. |
51.5 | Two or more persons who may not be in the same place as each other attend a general meeting if their circumstances are such that if they have (or were to have) rights to speak and vote at that meeting, they are (or would be) able to exercise them. |
51.6 | A person is able to participate in a meeting if that person’s circumstances are such that if he or she has (or were to have) rights in relation to the meeting, he or she is (or would be) able to exercise them. |
51.7 | In determining whether persons are attending or participating in a meeting, other than at a physical place or places, it is immaterial where any of them are or how they are able to communicate with each other. |
51.8 | A person is able to exercise the right to speak at a general meeting when that person is in a position to communicate to all those attending the meeting, during the meeting, any information or opinions which that person has on the business of the meeting. |
51.9 | A person is able to exercise the right to vote at a general meeting when: |
(a) | that person is able to vote, during the meeting (or, in the case of a poll, within the time period specified by the chair of the meeting) on resolutions put to the vote at the meeting; and |
(b) | that person’s vote can be taken into account in determining whether or not such resolutions are passed at the same time as the votes of all the other persons attending the meeting. |
51.10 | If, at any general meeting at which members are entitled to participate by means of electronic facility or facilities determined by the Board pursuant to Article 52, any document is required to be on display or to be available for inspection at the meeting (whether prior to or for the duration of the meeting or both), the Company shall ensure that it is available in electronic form to persons entitled to inspect it for at least the required period of time, and this will be deemed to satisfy any such requirement. |
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52. | Simultaneous attendance and participation by electronic facilities |
Without prejudice to Article 54.7, the Board may resolve to enable persons entitled to attend and participate in a general meeting to do so partly (but not wholly) by simultaneous attendance and participation by means of electronic facility or facilities, and may determine the means, or all different means, of attendance and participation used in relation to the general meeting. The members present in person or by proxy by means of an electronic facility or facilities (as so determined by the Board) shall be counted in the quorum for, and be entitled to participate in, the general meeting in question. That meeting shall be duly constituted and its proceedings valid if the chair is satisfied that adequate facilities are available throughout the meeting to ensure that members attending the meeting by all means (including the means of an electronic facility or facilities) are able to:
(a) | participate in the business for which the meeting has been convened; |
(b) | hear all persons who speak at the meeting; and |
(c) | be heard by all other persons attending and participating in the meeting. |
53. | Notice of general meetings |
A general meeting shall be called by at least such minimum notice as is required or permitted by the Companies Acts. The period of notice shall in either case be exclusive of the day on which it is served or deemed to be served and of the day on which the meeting is to be held and shall be given to all members other than those who are not entitled to receive such notices from the Company. The Company may give such notice by any means or combination of means permitted by the Companies Acts.
54. | Contents of notice of general meetings |
54.1 | Every notice calling a general meeting shall specify the place (including any satellite meeting place or places determined pursuant to Article 54.7), date and time of the meeting. There shall appear with reasonable prominence in every such notice a statement that a member entitled to attend and vote is entitled to a proxy or (if he or she has more than one share) proxies to exercise all or any of his or her rights to attend, speak and vote and that a proxy need not be a member of the Company. Such notice shall also include the address of the website on which the information required by the Act is published, state the procedures with which members must comply in order to be able to attend and vote at the meeting (including the date by which they must comply), provide details of any forms to be used for the appointment of a proxy and state that a member has the right to ask questions at the meeting in accordance with the Act. |
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54.2 | The notice shall specify the general nature of the business to be transacted at the meeting and shall set out the text of all resolutions to be considered by the meeting and shall state in each case whether it is proposed as an ordinary resolution or as a special resolution. |
54.3 | In the case of an annual general meeting, the notice shall also specify the meeting as such. |
54.4 | If pursuant to Article 52 the Board determines that a general meeting shall be held partly by means of electronic facility or facilities, the notice shall: |
(a) | include a statement to that effect; |
(b) | specify the means, or all different means, of attendance and participation thereat, and any access, identification and security arrangements determined pursuant to Article 64; and |
(c) | state how it is proposed that persons attending or participating in the meeting electronically should communicate with each other during the meeting. |
54.5 | The notice shall specify such arrangements as have at that time been made for the purpose of Article 54.7. |
54.6 | For the purposes of determining which persons are entitled to attend or vote at a meeting and how many votes a person may cast, the Company may specify in the notice of meeting a time, not more than 48 hours before the time fixed for the meeting (not taking into account non-working days) by which a person must be entered in the Register in order to have the right to attend or vote at the meeting or appoint a proxy to do so. |
54.7 | Without prejudice to Article 52, the Board may resolve to enable persons entitled to attend and participate in a general meeting to do so by simultaneous attendance and participation at a satellite meeting place or places anywhere in the world. The members present in person or by proxy at satellite meeting places shall be counted in the quorum for, and entitled to participate in, the general meeting in question, and the meeting shall be duly constituted and its proceedings valid if the chair is satisfied that adequate facilities are available throughout the meeting to ensure that members attending at all the meeting places are able to: |
(a) | participate in the business for which the meeting has been convened; |
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(b) | hear all persons who speak (whether by the use of microphones, loudspeakers, audio-visual communications equipment or otherwise) in the principal meeting place and any satellite meeting place; and |
(c) | be heard by all other persons so present in the same way, and the meeting shall be deemed to take place at the place where the chair of the meeting presides (the principal meeting place, with any other location where that meeting takes place being referred in these Articles as a satellite meeting). The chair shall be present at, and the meeting shall be deemed to take place at, the principal meeting place and the powers of the chair shall apply equally to each satellite meeting place, including his or her power to adjourn the meeting as referred to in Article 61. |
54.8 | If the general meeting is to be a hybrid meeting or an electronic meeting, the notice shall include a statement to that effect and with details of the electronic facilities for attendance and participation at the meeting or where such details will be made available by the Company prior to the meeting. Unless otherwise specified in the notice of meeting or determined by the chair of the meeting, a general meeting is deemed to take place at the place where the chair of the meeting is at the time of the meeting. |
55. | Omission to give notice and non-receipt of notice |
The accidental omission to give notice of any meeting or to send an instrument of proxy (where this is intended to be sent out with the notice) to, or the non-receipt of either by, any person entitled to receive the same shall not invalidate the proceedings of that meeting.
56. | Postponement of general meeting |
If, after the sending of the notice of a general meeting but before the meeting is held, or after the adjournment of a general meeting but before the adjourned meeting is held (whether or not notice of the adjourned meeting is required), the Board, in its absolute discretion, considers that it is impracticable or unreasonable for any reason to hold a general meeting on the date or at the time or place specified in the notice calling the general meeting (including a satellite meeting to which Article 54.7 applies) and/or by means of the electronic facility or facilities specified in the notice, it may postpone the general meeting to another date, time and/or place (or in the case of a general meeting to be held at a principal meeting place and one or more satellite meeting places, to such other places) and/or change the electronic facility or facilities. If such a decision is made, the Board may then change the place (or any of the places in the case of a general meeting to which Article 54.7 applies) and/or the electronic facility or facilities and/or postpone the date and/or time again if it considers that it is reasonable to do so. No new notice of the general meeting need be sent but the Board shall take reasonable steps to ensure that
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notice of the change of date, time, place (or places, in the case of a general meeting to which Article 54.7 applies) of and/or electronic facility or facilities for the postponed meeting appear at the original time and at the original place (or places, in the case of a general meeting to which Article 54.7 applies) and/or on the original electronic facility or facilities. When a general meeting is so postponed, notice of the date, time and place (or places in the case of a meeting to which Article 54.7 applies), including any electronic facility if applicable, of the postponed meeting shall be given in such manner as the Board may, in its absolute discretion, determine. No business shall be transacted at any postponed meeting other than business which might properly have been transacted at the meeting had it not been postponed. Notice of the business to be transacted at such postponed meeting shall not be required. If a general meeting is postponed in accordance with this Article 56, the appointment of a proxy will be valid if it is delivered and received as required by these Articles not less than 48 hours before the time appointed for holding the postponed meeting. When calculating the 48 hour period mentioned in this Article, the Directors can decide not to take account of any part of a day that is not a working day.
57. | Quorum at general meeting |
No business shall be transacted at any general meeting unless a quorum is present. If a quorum is not present a chair of the meeting can still be chosen and this will not be treated as part of the business of the meeting. Two members that in aggregate hold at least 51% of the issued shares of the Company who are present in person or by proxy and entitled to attend and to vote on the business to be transacted shall be a quorum for a general meeting all purposes.
58. | Procedure if quorum not present |
If a quorum is not present within fifteen minutes (or such longer interval as the chair in his or her absolute discretion thinks fit) from the time appointed for holding a general meeting, or if a quorum ceases to be present during a meeting, the meeting shall be dissolved if convened on the requisition of members. In any other case, the meeting shall stand adjourned to such day (not being less than ten clear days after the date of the original meeting), and at such time and place or places, with such means of attendance and participation (including partly but not wholly by means of electronic facility or facilities), as the chair (or, in default, the Board) may determine at his/her/its absolute discretion. If at such adjourned meeting a quorum is not present within fifteen minutes from the time appointed for holding the meeting, one person entitled to vote on the business to be transacted, being a member or a proxy for a member or a duly authorised representative of a corporation which is a member, shall be a quorum and any notice of an adjourned meeting shall state this.
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59. | Chair of general meeting |
The chair of the Board shall preside at every general meeting of the Company. If there is no such chair or if at any meeting he or she shall not be present within five minutes after the time appointed for holding the meeting, or shall be unwilling to act as chair, the deputy chair (if any) of the Board shall, if present and willing to act, preside at such meeting. If more than one deputy chair is present they shall agree amongst themselves who is to take the chair or, if they cannot agree, the deputy chair who has been in office as a director the longest shall take the chair. If no chair or deputy chair shall be so present and willing to act, the Directors present shall choose one of their number to act or, if there be only one Director present, he or she shall be chair if willing to act. If there be no Director present and willing to act, the members present and entitled to vote shall choose one of their number to be chair of the meeting. Nothing in these Articles shall restrict or exclude any of the powers or rights of a chair of a meeting which are given by law. The chair of a general meeting (be it a physical meeting, a hybrid meeting or an electronic meeting) shall, for the purpose of conducting the meeting in orderly manner, have power to take all such steps and actions as he deems appropriate to maintain order during the meeting.
60. | Entitlement to attend, speak and participate |
60.1 | A Director (and any other person invited by the chair to do so) may attend and speak at any general meeting and at any separate meeting of the holders of any class of shares of the Company, whether or not also a member. |
60.2 | All persons seeking to attend and participate in a general meeting by way of electronic facility or facilities shall be responsible for maintaining adequate facilities to enable them to do so. Subject only to the requirement for the chair to adjourn a general meeting in accordance with the provisions of Article 61.2, any inability of a person or persons to attend or participate in a general meeting by way of electronic facility or facilities shall not invalidate the proceedings of that meeting. |
60.3 | Nothing in these Articles authorises or allows a general meeting to be held exclusively on an electronic basis. |
61. | Adjournments |
61.1 | The chair may, with the consent of a meeting at which a quorum is present, and shall, if so directed by the meeting, adjourn any meeting from time to time (or indefinitely) and from place to place (or, in the case of a meeting held at a principal meeting place and one or more satellite meeting places, such other places) and/or from such electronic facility or facilities for attendance and participation to such other electronic facility or facilities as the |
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meeting shall determine. However, without prejudice to any other power which the chair may have under these Articles (including the power to adjourn a meeting conferred by Article 61.2) or at common law, the chair may, without the need for the consent of the meeting and before or after it has started and irrespective of whether a quorum is present, interrupt or adjourn any meeting from time to time (or indefinitely) and from place to place (or places in the case of a meeting to which Article 54.7 applies) or from electronic facility to electronic facility, or for an indefinite period, if of the opinion that it has become necessary to do so in order: |
(a) | to secure the proper and orderly conduct of the meeting; or |
(b) | to give all persons entitled to do so a reasonable opportunity of attending, speaking and voting at the meeting; or |
(c) | to ensure that the business of the meeting is properly disposed of. |
61.2 | If it appears to the chair that the facilities at the principal meeting place or any satellite meeting place or an electronic facility or facilities or security at any general meeting have become inadequate for the purposes referred to in Articles 52 or 54.7, or are otherwise not sufficient to allow the meeting to be conducted substantially in accordance with the provisions set out in the notice of meeting, then the chair shall, without the consent of the meeting, interrupt or adjourn the general meeting. |
61.3 | All business conducted at a meeting up to the time of any adjournment shall, subject to Article 61.4, be valid. |
61.4 | The chair may specify that only the business conducted at the meeting up to a point in time which is earlier than the time of the adjournment is valid, if in his or her opinion, to do so would be more appropriate. |
62. | Notice of adjournment |
Any adjournment pursuant to Article 61 may, subject to the Act, be for such time and with such means of attendance and participation (including at such place or places and/or by means of such electronic facility or facilities) as the chair (or, in default, the Board) may in his, her or its absolute discretion determine, notwithstanding that by reason of the adjournment some members may be unable to attend and participate in the adjourned meeting. Whenever a meeting is adjourned for 30 days or more or indefinitely, at least seven clear days’ notice, specifying the day, the time and the place or places of the adjourned meeting and the means of attendance and participation (including by means of electronic facility or facilities if applicable) as the chair (or, in default, the Board) may in his or her absolute discretion determine, and the general nature of the business to be transacted, shall be given in the same manner as in the case of the original meeting. Save as aforesaid and subject to the Act, no member shall be entitled to any notice of an adjournment or of the business to be transacted at any adjourned meeting. Where a meeting is adjourned indefinitely, form and (where applicable) place for the adjourned meeting shall be fixed by the Directors.
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63. | Business of adjourned meeting |
No business shall be transacted at any adjourned meeting other than the business which might properly have been transacted at the meeting from which the adjournment took place.
64. | Accommodation of members, security arrangements and orderly conduct at general meetings |
64.1 | The Board may, for the purpose of controlling the level of attendance or ensuring the safety of those attending at any place specified for the holding of a general meeting, ensuring the security of the meeting and ensuring the future orderly conduct of the meeting, from time to time make such arrangements as it shall in its absolute discretion consider to be appropriate and may from time to time vary any such arrangements or make new arrangements therefor. Any decision made under this Article 64.1 shall be final and the entitlement of any member or proxy to attend a general meeting at such place (or places, in the case of a meeting to which Article 54.7 applies) shall be subject to any such arrangements as may be for the time being approved by the Board. |
64.2 | The Board may direct that any person wishing to attend any general meeting held at a physical place should provide evidence of identity and submit to such searches or other security arrangements or restrictions (including restrictions in items of personal property to be taken into the meeting) as the Board shall consider appropriate in the circumstances. |
64.3 | If a general meeting is held partly by means of an electronic facility or facilities pursuant to Article 52, the Board and the chair may make any arrangement and impose any requirement or restriction that is: |
(a) | necessary to ensure the identification of those taking part by means of such electronic facility or facilities and the security of the electronic communication; and |
(b) | in its or his or her view, proportionate to those objectives. In this respect, the Board may authorise any voting application, system or facility for attendance and participation as it sees fit. |
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64.4 | The Board shall be entitled in its absolute discretion to authorise one or more persons (including the Directors, the company secretary or the chair) to refuse physical or electronic entry to, or eject (physically or electronically) from, any meeting any person who fails to provide such evidence of identity or to submit to such searches or to otherwise comply with such security arrangements or restrictions as are required pursuant to this Article, or who causes the meeting to become disorderly. |
64.5 | Subject to the Act (and without prejudice to any other powers vested in the chair of a meeting) when conducting a general meeting, the chair may make whatever arrangement and take such action or give such directions as he or she considers, in his or her absolute discretion, to be appropriate or conducive to promote the orderly conduct of the meeting, to promote the conduct of the business laid down in the notice of the meeting with reasonable despatch and to maintain good order. The chair’s decision on points of order, matters of procedure or on matters arising incidentally from the business of the meeting shall be final and conclusive, as shall his or her determination as to whether any point or matter is of such a nature. |
64.6 | Without affecting the generality of Article 61.4, the Board may, at its absolute discretion, arrange for persons entitled to attend a general meeting to do so by simultaneous attendance and participation by means of electronic facilities at such location or locations determined by the Board from time to time at its absolute discretion. |
64.7 | All persons seeking to attend and participate in an electronic meeting or a hybrid meeting shall be responsible for maintaining adequate facilities to enable them to do so. Any inability of a person or persons to attend or participate in a general meeting by way of electronic facilities shall not invalidate the proceedings of and/or resolutions passed at that meeting. |
64.8 | A physical meeting may also be held by means of such telephone, electronic or other communication facilities as permit all persons participating in the meeting to communicate with each other simultaneously and instantaneously, and participation in such a meeting shall constitute presence in person at such meeting. |
65. | Amendment to resolutions |
65.1 | If an amendment to any resolution under consideration is proposed but is ruled out of order by the chair of the meeting in good faith, any error in such ruling shall not invalidate the proceedings on the original resolution. |
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65.2 | In the case of a resolution duly proposed as a special resolution, no amendment to it (other than an amendment to correct a patent error) may in any event be considered or voted on. In the case of a resolution duly proposed as an ordinary resolution no amendment to it (other than an amendment to correct a patent error) may be considered or voted on unless either at least 48 hours prior to the time appointed for holding the meeting or adjourned meeting at which such ordinary resolution is to be proposed, notice in writing of the terms of the amendment and intention to move the same has been lodged at the Office or received in electronic form at the electronic address at which the Company has or is deemed to have agreed to receive it or the chair of the meeting in his or her absolute discretion decides that it may be considered or voted on. |
66. | Members’ resolutions |
66.1 | Members of the Company shall have the rights provided by the Companies Acts to have the Company circulate and give notice of a resolution which may be properly moved, and is intended to be moved, at the Company’s next annual general meeting. |
66.2 | Expenses of complying with these rights shall be borne in accordance with the Companies Acts. |
67. | Method of voting |
67.1 | Any resolution put to the vote at a general meeting shall be decided on a poll. |
67.2 | At general meetings, resolutions shall be put to the vote by the chair of the meeting and there shall be no requirement for the resolution to be proposed or seconded by any person. |
68. | Objection to error in voting |
No objection shall be raised to the qualification of any voter or to the counting of, or failure to count, any vote, except at the meeting or adjourned meeting at which the vote objected to is given or tendered or at which the error occurs. Any objection or error shall be referred to the chair of the meeting and shall only vitiate the decision of the meeting on any resolution if the chair decides that the same is of sufficient magnitude to vitiate the resolution or may otherwise have affected the decision of the meeting. The decision of the chair of the meeting on such matters shall be final and conclusive.
69. | Procedure on a poll |
69.1 | Any poll duly demanded on the election of a chair or on any question of adjournment shall be taken immediately. A poll duly demanded on any other matter shall be taken in such manner (including the use of ballot, voting papers, tickets or electronic means or any combination thereof) and at such time and place, not more than 30 days from the date of the meeting or adjourned meeting at which the poll was demanded, and by such means of attendance and participation (including at such place or places and/or by means of such electronic facility or facilities) as the chair shall direct. The chair may appoint scrutineers |
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who need not be members. It is not necessary to give notice of a poll not taken immediately if the time and place at which it is to be taken are announced at the meeting at which it is demanded. In any other case, at least seven clear days’ notice shall be given specifying the time, date and place at the which the poll shall be taken. The result of the poll shall be deemed to be the resolution of the meeting at which the poll was demanded. |
69.2 | On a poll votes may be given in person or by proxy. Members entitled to more than one vote need not, if they vote, use all their votes or cast all the votes they use in the same way. |
70. | Votes of members4 |
70.1 | Subject to the Companies Acts, to any special terms as to voting on which any shares may have been issued or may for the time being be held and to any suspension or abrogation of voting rights under these Articles, members holding Class A Ordinary Shares and Class B Ordinary Shares shall at all times vote as one class on all matters, and every member holding Class A Ordinary Shares present in person or by proxy shall have one (1) vote for each Class A Ordinary Share it holds, and every member holding Class B Ordinary Shares present in person or by proxy shall have ten (10) votes for each Class B Ordinary Share it holds. |
70.2 | In any class meeting of: (a) the members holding Class A Ordinary Shares, each Class A Ordinary Share shall be considered as carrying the same number of votes as the other Class A Ordinary Shares; or (b) the members holding Class B Ordinary Shares, each Class B Ordinary Share shall be considered as carrying the same number of votes as the other Class B Ordinary Shares. |
70.3 | If two or more persons are joint holders of a share, then in voting on any question the vote of the senior who tenders a vote, whether in person or by proxy, shall be accepted to the exclusion of the votes of the other joint holders. For this purpose, seniority shall be determined by the order in which the names of the holders stand in the Register. |
70.4 | Where in England or elsewhere a receiver or other person (by whatever name called) has been appointed by any court claiming jurisdiction in that behalf to exercise powers with respect to the property or affairs of any member on the ground (however formulated) of mental disorder, the Board may in its absolute discretion, upon or subject to production of such evidence of the appointment as the Board may require, permit such receiver or other person on behalf of such member to vote in person, on a poll, by proxy on behalf of such member at any general meeting or to exercise any other right conferred by membership |
4 | Note to Draft: Subject to inclusion of Class C Share voting rights. |
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in relation to meetings of the Company. Evidence to the satisfaction of the Board of the authority of the person claiming to exercise the right to vote shall be deposited at the Office, or at such other place as is specified in accordance with these Articles for the deposit of instruments of proxy, at least 48 hours before the time appointed for holding the meeting or adjourned meeting at which the right to vote is to be exercised and, in default, the right to vote shall not be exercisable. |
70.5 | In the case of equality of votes, the chair of the meeting at which the show of hands takes place or at which the poll is demanded shall not be entitled to a casting vote. |
71. | No right to vote where sums overdue on shares |
No member may vote at a general meeting (or any separate meeting of the holders of any class of shares), either in person or by proxy, or to exercise any other right or privilege as a member in respect of a share held by him or her unless:
(a) | all calls or other sums presently due and payable by him or her in respect of that share whether alone or jointly with any other person together with interest and expenses (if any) have been paid to the Company; or |
(b) | the Board determines otherwise. |
72. | Voting by Proxy |
72.1 | In the case of a proxy relating to shares in the capital of the Company held in the name of a Depositary, the appointment of a proxy shall be in a form or manner of communication approved by the Board, which may include, without limitation, a voter instruction form to be provided to the Company by certain third parties on behalf of the Depositary. |
72.2 | Subject to Articles 72.1, an instrument appointing a proxy shall be in writing in any usual form (or in another form approved by the Board) executed under the hand of the appointor or his or her duly constituted attorney or, if the appointor is a corporation, under its seal or signed by a duly authorised officer or attorney or other person authorised to sign. |
72.3 | Subject to the Companies Acts, the Board may accept the appointment of a proxy received by electronic means on such terms and subject to such conditions as it considers fit. The appointment of a proxy received by electronic means shall not be subject to the requirements of Article 72.1. |
72.4 | For the purposes of Articles 72.1 and 72.2, the Board may require such reasonable evidence it considers necessary to determine: |
(a) | the identity of the member and the proxy; and |
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(b) | where the proxy is appointed by a person acting on behalf of the member, the authority of that person to make the appointment. |
72.5 | A member may appoint another person as proxy to exercise all or any of his or her rights to attend and to speak and to vote on a resolution or amendment of a resolution, or on other business arising, at a meeting or meetings of the Company. Unless the contrary is stated in it, the appointment of a proxy shall be deemed to confer authority to exercise all such rights, as the proxy thinks fit. |
72.6 | A proxy need not be a member. |
72.7 | A member may appoint more than one proxy in relation to a meeting, provided that each proxy is appointed to exercise the rights attached to different shares held by the member. When two or more valid but differing appointments of proxy are delivered or received for the same share for use at the same meeting, the one which is last validly delivered or received (regardless of its date or the date of its execution) shall be treated as replacing and revoking the other or others as regards that share. If the Company is unable to determine which appointment was last validly delivered or received, none of them shall be treated as valid in respect of that share. |
72.8 | Delivery or receipt of an appointment of proxy does not prevent a member attending and voting in person at the meeting or an adjournment of the meeting or on a poll. |
72.9 | The appointment of a proxy shall (unless the contrary is stated in it) be valid for an adjournment of the meeting as well as for the meeting or meetings to which it relates. The appointment of a proxy shall be valid for 12 months from the date of execution or, in the case of an appointment of proxy delivered by electronic means, for 12 months from the date of delivery unless otherwise specified by the Board. |
72.10 | Subject to the Companies Acts, the Company may send a form of appointment of proxy to all or none of the persons entitled to receive notice of and to vote at a meeting. If sent, the form shall provide for three-way voting on all resolutions (other than procedural resolutions) set out in the notice of meeting. |
73. | Receipt of proxy |
73.1 | An instrument appointing a proxy and any reasonable evidence required by the Board in accordance with Article 72.3 shall: |
(a) | subject to Articles 73.1(c) and 73.1(d), in the case of an instrument of proxy in hard copy form, delivered to the office, or another place in the United Kingdom specified in the notice convening the meeting or in the form of appointment of proxy or other accompanying document sent by the Company in relation to the meeting (a “proxy notification address”) not less than 48 hours before the time for holding the meeting or adjourned meeting at which the person named in the form of appointment of proxy proposes to vote; |
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(b) | subject to Articles 73.1(c) and 73.1(d), in the case of an appointment of a proxy sent by electronic means, where the Company has given an electronic address (a “proxy notification electronic address”): |
(i) | in the notice calling the meeting; |
(ii) | in an instrument of proxy sent out by the Company in relation to the meeting; |
(iii) | in an invitation to appoint a proxy issued by the Company in relation to the meeting; or |
(iv) | on a website maintained by or on behalf of the Company on which any information relating to the meeting is required by the Act to be kept, it shall be received at such proxy notification electronic address not less than 48 hours before the time for holding the meeting or adjourned meeting at which the person named in the form of appointment of proxy proposes to vote; |
(c) | in the case of a poll taken more than 48 hours after it is demanded, delivered or received at a proxy notification address or a proxy notification electronic address and not less than 24 hours before the time appointed for the holding of the adjourned meeting or the taking of the poll; or |
(d) | in the case of a poll which is not taken at the meeting at which it is demanded but is taken 48 hours or less after it is demanded, or in the case of an adjourned meeting to be held 48 hours or less after the time fixed for holding the original meeting, received: |
(i) | at a proxy notification address or a proxy notification electronic address in accordance with Articles 73.1(a) or (b); |
(ii) | by the chair of the meeting or the secretary or any director at the meeting at which the poll is demanded or, as the case may be, at the original meeting; or |
(iii) | at a proxy notification address or a proxy notification electronic address by such time as the chair of the meeting may direct at the meeting at which the poll is demanded. In calculating the periods in this Article, no account shall be taken of any part of a day that is not a working day. |
73.2 | The Board may decide, either generally or in any particular case, to treat a proxy appointment as valid notwithstanding that the appointment or any of the information required under Article 72.3 has not been received in accordance with the requirements of this Article. |
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73.3 | Subject to Article 73.2, if the proxy appointment and any of the information required under Article 72.3 is not received in the manner set out in Article 73.1, the appointee shall not be entitled to vote in respect of the shares in question. |
73.4 | Without limitation, the Company may from time to time determine that any such electronic address may be used generally for such matters or specifically for particular meetings or purposes and, if so, the Company may provide different electronic addresses for different purposes. The Company may also impose any conditions on the transmission of and its receipt of such electronic communications including, for the avoidance of doubt, imposing any security or encryption arrangements as may be specified by the Company. If any document or information required to be sent to the Company is sent to the Company by electronic means under this Article, such document or information is not treated as validly delivered to or deposited with the Company if the same is not received by the Company at its designated electronic address in accordance with this Article or if no electronic address is so designated by the Company for the receipt of such document or information. |
74. | Revocation of proxy |
A vote given or poll demanded by a proxy shall be valid in the event of the death or mental disorder of the principal or the revocation of the instrument of proxy, or of the authority under which the instrument of proxy was executed, or the transfer of the share for which the instrument of proxy is given, unless notice in writing of such death, mental disorder, revocation or transfer shall have been received by the Company at the Office, or at such other place as has been appointed for the deposit of instruments of proxy, no later than the last time at which an appointment of a proxy should have been received in order for it to be valid for use at the meeting or on the holding of the poll at which the vote was given or the poll taken.
75. | Corporate representatives |
75.1 | A corporation (whether or not a company within the meaning of the Act) which is a member may, by resolution of its directors or other governing body, authorise such person as it thinks fit to act as its representative (or, as the case may be, representatives) at any meeting of the Company or at any separate meeting of the holders of any class of shares. |
75.2 | Any person so authorised shall be entitled to exercise the same powers on behalf of the corporation (in respect of that part of the corporation’s holdings to which the authority relates) as the corporation could exercise if it were an individual member. |
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75.3 | The corporation shall for the purposes of these Articles be deemed to be present in person and at any such meeting if a person so authorised is present at it, and all references to attendance and voting in person shall be construed accordingly. |
75.4 | A Director, the Secretary or some person authorised for the purpose by the Secretary may require the representative to produce a certified copy of the resolution so authorising him or her or such other evidence of his or her authority reasonably satisfactory to them before permitting him or her to exercise his or her powers. |
75.5 | A vote given or a poll demanded by a corporate representative shall be valid notwithstanding that the representative is no longer authorised to represent the member unless notice of the revocation of appointment was delivered in writing to the Company at such place or address and by such time as is specified in Article 74 for the revocation of the appointment of a proxy. |
76. | Failure to disclose interests in shares |
76.1 | If a member, or any other person appearing to be interested in shares held by that member, has been issued with a notice under section 793 of the Act (section 793 notice) and has failed in relation to any shares (default shares, which expression includes any shares issued after the date of such notice in right of those shares) to give the Company the information required by the section 793 notice within the prescribed period from the service of the notice, the following sanctions shall apply unless the Board determines otherwise: |
(a) | the member shall not be entitled in respect of the default shares to be present or to vote (either in person or by representative or proxy) at any general meeting or at any separate meeting of the holders of any class of shares or on any poll or to exercise any other right conferred by membership in relation to any such meeting or poll; and |
(b) | where the default shares represent at least 0.25% in nominal value of the issued shares of their class (calculated exclusive of any shares held as treasury shares): |
(i) | any dividend or other money payable for such shares shall be withheld by the Company, which shall not have any obligation to pay interest on it, and the member shall not be entitled to elect, pursuant to Article 131, to receive shares instead of that dividend; and |
(ii) | no transfer, other than an excepted transfer, of any shares held by the member shall be registered unless the member himself or herself is not in default of supplying the required information and the member proves to the satisfaction of the Board that no person in default of supplying such information is interested in any of the shares that are the subject of the transfer. |
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76.2 | Where the sanctions under Article 76.1 apply in relation to any shares, they shall cease to have effect (and any dividends withheld under Article 76.1(b) shall become payable): |
(a) | if the shares are transferred by means of an excepted transfer but only in respect of the shares transferred; or |
(b) | at the end of the period of seven days (or such shorter period as the Board may determine) following receipt by the Company of the information required by the section 793 notice and the Board being fully satisfied that such information is full and complete. |
76.3 | Where, on the basis of information obtained from a member in respect of any share held by him or her, the Company issues a section 793 notice to any other person, it shall at the same time send a copy of the notice to the member, but the accidental omission to do so, or the non-receipt by the member of the copy, shall not invalidate or otherwise affect the application of Article 76.1. |
76.4 | For the purposes of this Article: |
(a) | a person, other than the member holding a share, shall be treated as appearing to be interested in that share if the member has informed the Company that the person is, or may be, so interested, or if the Company (after taking account of any information obtained from the member or, pursuant to a section 793 notice, from anyone else) knows or has reasonable cause to believe that the person is, or may be, so interested; |
(b) | interested shall be construed as it is for the purpose of section 793 of the Act; |
(c) | reference to a person having failed to give the Company the information required by a notice, or being in default as regards supplying such information, includes reference: |
(i) | to the person’s having failed or refused to give all of any part of it; and |
(ii) | to the person’s having given information which he or she knows to be false in a material particular or having recklessly given information which is false in a material particular; |
(d) | prescribed period means 14 days; |
(e) | excepted transfer means, in relation to any shares held by a member: |
(i) | a transfer by way of or pursuant to acceptance of a takeover offer for the Company (within the meaning of section 974 of the Act); or |
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(ii) | a transfer in consequence of a sale made through any stock exchange on which the Company’s shares are normally traded; or |
(iii) | a transfer which is shown to the satisfaction of the Board to be made in consequence of a sale of the whole of the beneficial interest in the shares to a person who is unconnected with the member and with any other person appearing to be interested in the shares. |
76.5 | Nothing contained in this Article shall be taken to limit the powers of the Company under section 794 of the Act. |
76.6 | For the purpose of this Article 76: |
(a) | where any person appearing to be interested in any shares has been served with a section 793 notice and such shares are held by a Depositary, the provisions of this Article 76 shall be deemed to apply only to those shares held by the Depositary in which such person appears to be interested and not (so far as that person’s apparent interest is concerned) to any other shares held by the Depositary in which such person does not have an interest and references to default shares shall be construed accordingly; |
(b) | where the shareholder on whom a section 793 notice has been served is a Depositary, the obligations of the Depositary (acting solely in the Depositary’s capacity as such) shall be limited to disclosing to the Company such information relating to any person appearing to be interested in the shares held by it as has been recorded by the Depositary and the provision of such information shall be at the Company’s cost. |
77. | Power of sale of shares of untraced members |
77.1 | The Company shall be entitled to sell at the best price reasonably obtainable any share of a member, or any share to which a person is entitled by transmission, if and provided that: |
(a) | during the period of 12 years before the date of sending of the notice referred to in Article 77.1(b) no cheque, order or warrant in respect of such share sent by the Company through the post in a pre-paid envelope addressed to the member or to the person entitled by transmission to the share, at his or her address on the Register or other last known address given by the member or person to which cheques, orders or warrants in respect of such share are to be sent has been cashed and the Company has received no communications in respect of such share from such member or person entitled, provided that during such period of 12 years the Company has paid at least three cash dividends (whether interim or final) and no such dividend has been claimed by the person entitled to it; |
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(b) | on or after expiry of the said period of 12 years, the Company has given notice of its intention to sell such share by sending a notice to the member or person entitled by transmission to the share at his or her address on the Register or other last known address given by the member or person entitled by transmission to the share and before sending such a notice to the member or other person entitled by transmission, the Company must have used reasonable efforts to trace the member or other person entitled, engaging, if considered appropriate, a professional asset reunification company or other tracing agent and/or giving notice of its intention to sell the share by advertisement in a national newspaper and in a newspaper circulating in the area of the address of the member or person entitled by transmission to the share shown in the Register; and |
(c) | during the further period of three months following the date of such notice and prior to the exercise of the power of sale the Company has not received any communication in respect of such share from the member or person entitled by transmission. |
77.2 | To give effect to any sale of shares under this Article, the Board may authorise some person to transfer the shares in question and may enter the name of the transferee in respect of the transferred shares in the Register even if no share certificate has been lodged for such shares and may issue a new certificate to the transferee. An instrument of transfer executed by that person shall be as effective as if it had been executed by the holder of, or the person entitled by transmission to, the shares. The buyer shall not be bound to see to the application of the purchase monies, nor shall his or her title to the shares be affected by any irregularity or invalidity in the proceedings in reference to the sale. If during the period of 12 years referred to in Article 77.1, or during any period ending on the date when all the requirements of Articles 77.1(a) to 77.1(c) have been satisfied, any additional shares have been issued in respect of those held at the beginning of, or previously so issued during, any such period and all the requirements of Articles 77.1(b) to 77.1(c)have been satisfied in regard to such additional shares, the Company shall also be entitled to sell the additional shares. |
78. | Application of proceeds of sale of shares of untraced members |
The Company shall account to the member or other person entitled to the share for the net proceeds of a sale under Article 77 by carrying all monies relating to such sale to a separate account. The Company shall be deemed to be a debtor to, and not a trustee for, such member or other person in respect of such monies. Monies carried to such separate account may either be employed in the business of the Company or invested in such investments as the Board may think fit. No interest shall be payable to such member or other person in respect of such monies and the Company does not have to account for any money earned on them.
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79. | Number of directors |
79.1 | Unless otherwise determined by the Company by ordinary resolution, the number of Directors (other than any alternate Directors) shall be at least two and not more than fifteen. As at the Date of Adoption, the number of Directors shall be eight (8) (the “Initial Directors”), including a majority of Independent Directors. |
79.2 | For a period of three (3) years post-Closing a majority of the Directors shall be Independent Directors. However, if at any time the number of Independent Directors falls below a majority of the Board, that will not invalidate any resolution or other act of the Board pending the appointment of additional Independent Director(s). |
79.3 | Following the Closing, the Initial Directors shall be divided into three classes of Directors, designated as “Class I”, “Class II” and “Class III”, respectively (each a “Class”). The Board is authorized to assign members of the Board already in office to such classes at the time the classification becomes effective. The Board is also authorized to assign any persons who take office as Directors after the date hereof to any such Class; provided, however, that the Classes are as close to equal size as possible. |
79.4 | In the event of any increase in the number of Directors, the additional directorships resulting from such increase shall be apportioned by the Board among the Classes of Directors so as to maintain such Classes as nearly equal as possible. No decrease in the number of Directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent Director. |
79.5 | Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, each Director shall serve until their successor is duly elected and qualified or until their earlier death, resignation or removal. |
80. | Power of company to appoint directors |
Subject to these Articles and the Companies Acts, the Company may by ordinary resolution appoint a person who is willing to act to be a Director, either to fill a vacancy or as an addition to the existing Board but the total number of Directors shall not exceed any maximum number fixed in accordance with these Articles.
81. | Power of board to appoint directors |
Subject to these Articles, the Board shall have power at any time to appoint any person who is willing to act as a Director, either to fill a vacancy or as an addition to the existing Board but the total number of Directors shall not exceed any maximum number fixed in accordance with these Articles.
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82. | Eligibility of new directors |
82.1 | No person, other than a retiring Director, shall be appointed or re-appointed a Director at any general meeting unless: |
(a) | he or she is recommended by the Board; or |
(b) | at least seven but not more than 42 clear days before the date appointed for the meeting the Company has received notice from a member (other than the person proposed) entitled to vote at the meeting of intention to propose a resolution for the appointment or re-appointment of that person, stating the particulars which would, if he or she were so appointed or re-appointed, be required to be included in the Company’s register of directors and a notice executed by that person of his or her willingness to be appointed or re-appointed, is lodged at the Office. |
82.2 | For a period of three (3) years post-Closing no person, including a retiring Director, shall be appointed or re-appointed a Director by the Board or at any general meeting unless: |
(a) | he or she would, upon appointment, be an Independent Director; or |
(b) | immediately following that person’s appointment as a Director, the Board would include a majority of Independent Directors. |
82.3 | In the event that an Independent Director is removed or required to resign pursuant to Article 84 or 85.1(c) (the “Removed Independent”), for a period of three (3) years post-Closing no person shall be appointed or re-appointed as a replacement for the Removed Independent Director by the Board unless the Board approves such appointment of an Independent Director by simple majority including the affirmative vote of at least two (2) Independent Directors (or if there are fewer than two Independent Directors then in office, all of the Independent Directors, if any). |
82.4 | A Director need not be a member of the Company. |
83. | Retirement of directors |
83.1 | At the first Annual General Meeting of the Company following Closing, each Director in Class I shall retire from office but shall be eligible for re-appointment by ordinary resolution of the Company at such Annual General Meeting and, in each case, where such Director is so re-appointed, they shall be entitled to serve until the third Annual General Meeting of the Company falling after the first Annual General Meeting, at which stage the Director shall retire from office but shall be eligible for further re-appointment. |
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83.2 | At the second Annual General Meeting of the Company following Closing, each Director in Class II shall retire from office but shall be eligible for re-appointment by ordinary resolution of the Company at such Annual General Meeting and, in each case, where such Director is so re-appointed, they shall be entitled to serve until the third Annual General Meeting of the Company falling after the second Annual General Meeting, at which stage the Director shall retire from office but shall be eligible for further re-appointment. |
83.3 | At the third Annual General Meeting of the Company following Closing, each Director in Class III shall retire from office but shall be eligible for re-appointment by ordinary resolution of the Company at such Annual General Meeting and, in each case, where such Director is so re-appointed, they shall be entitled to serve until the third Annual General Meeting of the Company falling after the third Annual General Meeting, at which stage the Director shall retire from office but shall be eligible for further re-appointment. |
83.4 | At each succeeding Annual General Meeting of the Company following the third Annual General Meeting of the Company following Closing, Directors shall be elected to serve for a term of three years to succeed the Directors of the class whose terms expire at such Annual General Meeting. |
83.5 | Subject to the provisions of these Articles, a Director shall remain a member of the class of directors to which he or she was assigned in accordance with Article 70.5. The initial terms of each class of directors shall expire as set forth in this Article 83, subject to such director’s earlier death, resignation, disqualification or removal. |
83.6 | Where a Director retires at an Annual General Meeting in accordance with Article 83.1, 83.2, 83.3 or otherwise, the Company may at the meeting by ordinary resolution fill the office being vacated by electing the retiring Director. In the absence of such a resolution, the retiring Director shall nevertheless be deemed to have been re-elected except in any of the following cases: |
(a) | where at such meeting a resolution of the Company for the re-election of such Director is put to the meeting and lost; |
(b) | where such Director is ineligible for re-election or has given notice in writing to the Company that he/she is unwilling to be re-elected; or |
(c) | where a resolution of the Company to elect such Director is void by reason of contravention of section 160 of the Act (whereby at a General Meeting a motion for the appointment of two or more persons as Directors by a single resolution must not be made unless a resolution that it should be made has first been agreed to by the meeting without any vote being given against it). |
83.7 | The retirement shall not have effect until the conclusion of the meeting except where a resolution of the Company is passed to elect some other person in the place of the retiring Director or a resolution for the retiring Director’s re-election is put to the meeting and lost. Accordingly a retiring Director who is re-elected or deemed to have been re-elected will continue in office without a break. |
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83.8 | Without limiting the generality of these Articles, a person ceases to be a Director if that person: |
(a) | ceases to be a director under the Companies Act or applicable winding up laws or regulations, or is prohibited from being a director by applicable laws or regulations; |
(b) | becomes bankrupt or makes any arrangement or composition with the person’s creditors generally; |
(c) | becomes a mentally incapacitated person; |
(d) | resigns the office of director by notice in writing of the resignation in accordance with the Companies Act; or |
(e) | for more than 6 months has been absent without the directors’ permission from directors’ meetings held during that period. |
84. | Removal of directors |
84.1 | Subject to Article 84.2, in addition to any power of removal conferred by the Companies Acts, the Company may by special resolution, or by ordinary resolution of which special notice has been given in accordance with section 312 of the Act, remove a director before the expiry of his or her period of office (without prejudice to a claim for damages for breach of contract or otherwise) and may (subject to these Articles) by ordinary resolution appoint another person who is willing to act to be a director in his or her place. |
84.2 | In the first three (3) years following Closing, save as required by the Companies Acts the Board may only convene a general meeting which proposes a resolution (pursuant to Article 84.1 or otherwise) to remove an Independent Director if the Board approves such resolution by simple majority including the affirmative vote of at least two (2) other Independent Directors (or if there are fewer than two Independent Directors then in office excluding the Independent Director proposed to be removed, all of the Independent Directors (other than the Independent Director proposed to be removed), if any). |
85. | Vacation of office by director |
85.1 | Without prejudice to the provisions for retirement contained in these Articles, the office of a Director shall be vacated if: |
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(a) | the director resigns by notice in writing delivered to the Secretary at the Office or at an address specified by the Company for the purposes of communication by electronic means or tendered at a Board meeting; |
(b) | the director offers to resign by notice in writing delivered to the Secretary at the Office or at an address specified by the Company for the purposes of communication by electronic means or tendered at a Board meeting and the Board resolves to accept such offer; |
(c) | the Director is requested to resign by a majority of the other Directors by notice in writing addressed to him or her at his or her address as shown in the register of Directors (without prejudice to any claim for damages which the Director may have for breach of any contract between him or her and the Company), provided that in the first three (3) years following Closing this power may only be invoked in respect of an Independent Director if the majority of the other Directors which gives notice includes at least two (2) other Independent Directors (or if there are fewer than two Independent Directors then in office, all of the Independent Directors, if any); |
(d) | the Director ceases to be a Director by virtue of any provision of the Companies Acts, is removed from office pursuant to these Articles or the Act or becomes prohibited by law from being a Director; |
(e) | the Director becomes bankrupt or makes an arrangement or composition with his or her creditors generally; |
(f) | a registered medical practitioner who is treating the Director gives a written opinion to the Company stating he or she has become physically or mentally incapable of acting as a director and may remain so for more than three months, or is or has been suffering from mental or physical ill health and the Board resolves that his or her office be vacated; or |
(g) | the Director is absent (whether or not any alternate Director appointed by the Director attends), without the permission of the Board, from Board meetings for six consecutive months and a notice is served on the Director personally, or at his or her residential address provided to the Company under section 165 of the Act signed by all the other Directors stating that he or she shall cease to be a Director with immediate effect (and such notice may consist of several copies each signed by one or more Directors). |
85.2 | If the office of a Director is vacated for any reason, he or she shall cease to be a member of any committee or sub-committee of the Board. |
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86. | Resolution as to vacancy conclusive |
A resolution of the Board declaring a Director to have vacated office under the terms of Article 85 shall be conclusive as to the fact and ground of vacation stated in the resolution.
87. | Appointment of alternate directors |
87.1 | Each Director may appoint any person (including another Director) to be his or her alternate and may at his or her discretion remove an alternate Director so appointed. Any appointment or removal of an alternate Director must be by written notice delivered to the Office or at an address specified by the Company for the purposes of communication by electronic means or tendered at a Board meeting or in any other manner approved by the Board. The appointment requires the approval of the Board unless it has been previously approved or the appointee is another Director. |
87.2 | An alternate Director must provide the particulars, and sign any form for public filing required by the Companies Acts relating to his or her appointment. |
88. | Alternate directors’ participation in board meetings |
88.1 | Every alternate Director is (subject to his or her giving to the Company an address [within the United Kingdom] at which notices may be served on him or her (and, if applicable, an address in relation to which electronic communications may be received)) entitled to receive notice of all meetings of the Board and all committees of the Board of which his or her appointor is a member and, in the appointor’s absence, to attend and vote at such meetings and to exercise all the powers, rights, duties and authorities of the appointor. Each person acting as an alternate Director shall have a separate vote at Board meetings for each Director for whom that person acts as alternate Director in addition to his or her own vote if also a Director, but shall count as only one for the purpose of determining whether a quorum is present. |
88.2 | Signature by an alternate Director of any resolution in writing of the Board or a committee of the Board will, unless the notice of appointment provides otherwise, be as effective as signature by his or her appointor. |
89. | Alternate director responsible for own acts |
Each person acting as an alternate Director will be an officer of the Company, will alone be responsible to the Company for his or her own acts and defaults and will not be deemed to be the agent of the Director appointing them.
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90. | Interests of alternate director |
An alternate Director is entitled to contract and be interested in and benefit from contracts or arrangements with the Company, to be repaid expenses and to be indemnified to the same extent as if he or she were a Director. However, no alternate Director is entitled to receive from the Company any fees for his or her services as alternate, except such part (if any) of the fee payable to the alternate’s appointor as such appointor may by written notice to the Company direct.
91. | Revocation of alternate director |
An alternate Director will cease to be an alternate Director:
(a) | if the alternate’s appointor revokes his or her appointment; or |
(b) | if the alternate resigns his or her office by notice in writing to the Company; or |
(c) | if the alternate’s appointor ceases for any reason to be a Director, provided that if any Director retires but is re-appointed or deemed to be re-appointed at the same meeting, any valid appointment of an alternate Director which was in force immediately before his or her retirement shall remain in force; or |
(d) | if any event happens in relation to the alternate which, if the alternate were a Director otherwise appointed, would cause him or her to vacate office. |
92. | Directors’ fees |
Each of the Directors may be paid a fee at such rate as may from time to time be decided by ordinary resolution of the Company. Any fees payable under this Article shall be distinct from any salary, remuneration or other amounts payable to a Director under any other provisions of these Articles and shall accrue from day to day.
93. | Expenses |
Each Director may be paid reasonable travelling, hotel and other expenses properly incurred by him or her in or about the performance of their duties as Director, including any expenses incurred in attending meetings of the Board or any committee of the Board or general meetings or separate meetings of the holders of any class of shares or debentures of the Company. Subject to the Act, the Directors shall have the power to make arrangements to provide a Director with funds to meet expenditure incurred or to be incurred by him or her for the purposes of the Company or for the purpose of enabling him or her to perform his or her duties as an officer of the Company or to enable him or her to avoid incurring any such expenditure.
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94. | Additional remuneration |
If by arrangement with the Board any Director shall perform or render any special duties or services outside his or her ordinary duties as a Director and not in his or her capacity as a holder of employment or executive office, he or she may be paid such reasonable additional remuneration (whether by way of salary, commission, participation in profits or otherwise) as the Board may determine.
95. | Remuneration of executive directors |
The salary or remuneration of any Director appointed to hold any employment or executive office in accordance with these Articles may be either a fixed sum of money, or may altogether or in part be governed by business done or profits made or otherwise determined by the Board, and may be in addition to or instead of any fee payable to him or her for serving as Director under these Articles.
96. | Pensions and other benefits |
96.1 | The Board may exercise all the powers of the Company to provide pensions or other retirement or superannuation benefits and to provide death or disability benefits or other allowances or gratuities (whether by insurance or otherwise) for any person who is or has at any time been a Director or employee of: |
(a) | the Company; |
(b) | any company which is or was a holding company or a subsidiary undertaking of the Company; |
(c) | any company which is or was allied to or associated with the Company or a subsidiary undertaking or holding company of the Company; or |
(d) | a predecessor in business of the Company or of any holding company or subsidiary undertaking of the Company. and, in each case, for any member of his or her family (including a spouse or former spouse) and any person who is or was dependent on him or her. |
96.2 | The Board may establish, maintain, subscribe and contribute to any scheme, institution, association, club, trust or fund and pay premiums and, subject to the Companies Acts, lend money or make payments to, guarantee or give an indemnity in respect of, or give any financial or other assistance in connection with any of the matters set out in Article 92.1 above. The Board may procure any of such matters to be done by the Company either alone or in conjunction with any other person. Any Director or former Director shall be entitled to receive and retain for his or her own benefit any pension or other benefit provided under this Article and shall not have to account for it to the Company. The receipt of any such benefit will not disqualify any person from being or becoming a Director of the Company. |
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97. | Powers of the board |
97.1 | Subject to the Companies Acts, these Articles and to any directions given by special resolution of the Company, the business of the Company will be managed by the Board, which may exercise all the powers of the Company, whether relating to the management of the business or not. |
97.2 | No alteration of these Articles and no such direction given by the Company shall invalidate any prior act of the Board which would have been valid if such alteration had not been made or such direction had not been given. Provisions contained elsewhere in these Articles as to any specific power of the Board shall not be deemed to limit the general powers given by this Article. |
98. | Powers of directors if less than minimum number |
If the number of Directors is less than the minimum prescribed in Article 79 or decided by the Company by ordinary resolution, the remaining Director or Directors may act only for the purposes of appointing an additional Director or Directors to make up that minimum or convening a general meeting of the Company for the purpose of making such appointment. If no Director or Directors is or are able or willing to act, two members may convene a general meeting for the purpose of appointing Directors. An additional Director appointed in this way holds office (subject to these Articles) only until the dissolution of the next annual general meeting after his or her appointment unless reappointed during the annual general meeting.
99. | Powers of executive directors |
The Board or any committee authorised by the Board may:
(a) | delegate or entrust to and confer on any Director holding executive office (including a Chief Executive or Managing Director) such of its powers, authorities and discretions (with power to sub-delegate) for such time, on such terms and subject to such conditions as it thinks fit; and |
(b) | revoke, withdraw, alter or vary all or any of such powers. |
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100. | Delegation to committees |
100.1 | The Board may delegate any of its powers, authorities and discretions (with power to sub-delegate) for such time on such terms and subject to such conditions as it thinks fit to any committee consisting of one or more Directors and (if thought fit) one or more other persons provided that: |
(a) | a majority of the members of a committee shall be Directors; and |
(b) | no resolution of a committee shall be effective unless a majority of those present when it is passed are Directors or alternate Directors. |
100.2 | The Board may confer such powers either collaterally with, or to the exclusion of and in substitution for, all or any of the powers of the Board in that respect and may revoke, withdraw, alter or vary any such powers and discharge any such committee in whole or in part. Insofar as any power, authority or discretion is so delegated, any reference in these Articles to the exercise by the Board of such power, authority or discretion shall be construed as if it were a reference to the exercise of such power, authority or discretion by such committee. |
101. | Local management |
101.1 | The Board may establish any local or divisional boards or agencies for managing any of the affairs of the Company in any specified locality, either in the United Kingdom or elsewhere, and appoint any persons to be members of such local or divisional board, or any managers or agents, and may fix their remuneration. |
101.2 | The Board may delegate to any local or divisional board, manager or agent so appointed any of its powers, authorities and discretions (with power to sub-delegate) and may authorise the members of any such local or divisional board, or any of them, to fill any vacancies and to act notwithstanding vacancies. Any such appointment or delegation under this Article may be made, on such terms conditions as the Board may think fit. The Board may confer such powers either collaterally with, or to the exclusion of and in substitution for, all or any of the powers of the Board in that respect and may revoke, withdraw, alter or vary all or any of such powers. |
101.3 | Subject to any terms and conditions expressly imposed by the Board, the proceedings of any local or divisional board or agency with two or more members shall be governed by such of these Articles as regulate the proceedings of the Board, so far as they are capable of applying. |
102. | Power of attorney |
The Board may, by power of attorney or otherwise, appoint any person or persons to be the agent or attorney of the Company and may delegate to any such person or persons any of its powers, authorities and discretions (with power to sub-delegate), in each case for such purposes and for such time, on such terms (including as to remuneration) and conditions as it thinks fit. The Board may confer such powers either collaterally with, or to the exclusion of and in substitution for, all or any of the powers of the Board in that respect and may revoke, withdraw, alter or vary any of such powers.
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103. | Exercise of voting power |
The Board may exercise or cause to be exercised the voting power conferred by the shares in any other company held or owned by the Company, or any power of appointment to be exercised by the Company, in such manner as it thinks fit (including the exercise of the voting power or power of appointment in favour of the appointment of any Director as a director or other officer or employee of such company or in favour of the payment of remuneration to the directors, officers or employees of such company).
104. | Provision for employees on cessation of business |
The Board may, by resolution, sanction the exercise of the power to make provision for the benefit of persons employed or formerly employed by the Company or any of its subsidiary undertakings, in connection with the cessation or the transfer to any person of the whole or part of the undertaking of the Company or that subsidiary undertaking, but any such resolution shall not be sufficient for payments to or for the benefit of directors, former directors or shadow directors.
105. | Overseas registers |
Subject to the Companies Acts, the Company may keep an overseas, local or other register and the Board may make and vary such regulations as it thinks fit respecting the keeping of any such register.
106. | Borrowing powers |
106.1 | Subject to these Articles and the Companies Acts, the Board may exercise all the powers of the Company to: |
(a) | borrow money; |
(b) | indemnify and guarantee; |
(c) | mortgage or charge all or any part of the undertaking, property and assets (present and future) and uncalled capital of the Company; |
(d) | create and issue debentures and other securities; and |
(e) | give security either outright or as collateral security for any debt, liability or obligation of the Company or of any third party. |
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107. | Board meetings |
107.1 | The Board can decide when and where to have meetings and how they will be conducted. They may also adjourn meetings. |
107.2 | A Board meeting can be called by any Director. The Secretary must call a Board meeting if asked to do so by a Director. |
108. | Notice of board meetings |
108.1 | Notice of a Board meeting shall be deemed to be duly given to a Director if it is given to the Director personally or by word of mouth or given in writing or by electronic means to the Director at his or her last known address or any other address given by him or her to the Company for that purpose. |
108.2 | A Director may waive the requirement that notice be given to him or her of any Board meeting, either prospectively or retrospectively and any retrospective waiver shall not affect the validity of the meeting or of any business conducted at the meeting. |
108.3 | It shall not be necessary to give notice of a Board meeting to a Director who is absent [from the United Kingdom] unless the Director has asked the Board in writing that notices of Board meetings shall during his or her absence be given to him or her at any address [in the United Kingdom] notified to the Company for this purpose, but the Director shall not, in such event, be entitled to a longer period of notice than if he or she had been present [in the United Kingdom] at that address. |
109. | Quorum |
109.1 | The quorum necessary for the transaction of business may be determined by the Board and until otherwise determined shall be three persons, each being a Director. A duly convened meeting of the Board at which a quorum is present shall be competent to exercise all or any of the authorities, powers, and discretions for the time being vested in or exercisable by the Board. |
109.2 | If a Director ceases to be a director at a Board meeting, he or she can continue to be present and to act as a director and be counted in the quorum until the end of the meeting if no other Director objects and if otherwise a quorum of Directors would not be present. |
109.3 | If, within thirty (30) minutes from the time appointed for the meeting of the Directors a quorum be not present, the meeting, if convened upon requisition in accordance with the Companies Act, shall be dissolved; but in any other case it shall stand adjourned to the same day in the next week at the same time and place, or to such other day, time and place as the majority of the Directors may agree. If at such adjourned meeting of the Directors a quorum be not present within thirty (30) minutes from the time appointed for the adjourned meeting, any three Directors present at such adjourned meeting shall be a quorum and may transact the business for which the meeting is called. |
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110. | Chair |
110.1 | The Board may appoint one or more of its body as chair or joint chair and one or more of its body as deputy chair of its meetings and may determine the period for which he or she is or they are to hold office and may at any time remove him, her or them from office. |
110.2 | If no such chair or deputy chair is elected, or if at any meeting neither a chair nor a deputy chair is present within ten minutes of the time appointed for holding the same, the Directors present shall choose one of their number to be chair of such meeting. In the event two or more joint chairs or, in the absence of a chair, two or more deputy chairs being present, the joint chair or deputy chair to act as chair of the meeting shall be decided by those Directors present. |
111. | Voting |
Questions arising at any Board meeting shall be determined by a majority of votes. In the case of an equality of votes the chair of that meeting shall have a second or casting vote (unless he or she is not entitled to vote on the resolution in question).
112. | Participation by telephone or other form of communication |
112.1 | Any Director or his or her alternate may validly participate in a meeting of the Board or a committee of the Board through the medium of conference telephone or any other form of communications equipment (whether in use when these Articles are adopted or developed subsequently), provided that all persons participating in the meeting are able to hear and speak to each other throughout such meeting. |
112.2 | A person so participating by telephone or other communication shall be deemed to be present in person at the meeting and shall be counted in a quorum and entitled to vote. Such a meeting shall be deemed to take place where the largest group of those participating is assembled or, if there is no group which is larger than any other group, where the chair of the meeting then is. |
112.3 | A resolution passed at any meeting held in the above manner, and signed by the chair of the meeting, shall be as valid and effectual as if it had been passed at a meeting of the Board (or committee, as the case may be) duly convened and held. |
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113. | Resolution in writing |
113.1 | A resolution in writing signed or confirmed electronically by all the Directors for the time being entitled to receive notice of a Board meeting and to vote on the resolution and not being less than a quorum (or by all the members of a committee of the Board for the time being entitled to receive notice of such committee meeting and to vote on the resolution and not being less than a quorum of that committee), shall be as valid and effective for all purposes as a resolution duly passed at a meeting of the Board (or committee, as the case may be). |
113.2 | Such a resolution may consist of several documents or electronic communications in the same form each signed or authenticated by one or more of the Directors or members of the relevant committee. |
114. | Proceedings of committees |
All committees of the Board shall, in the exercise of the powers delegated to them and in the transaction of business, conform with any mode of proceedings and regulations which the Board may prescribe and subject to this shall be governed by such of these Articles as regulate the proceedings of the Board as are capable of applying.
115. | Minutes of proceedings |
115.1 | The Board shall keep minutes of all shareholder meetings, all Board meetings and meetings of committees of the Board. The minutes must include the names of the Directors present. |
115.2 | Any such minutes, if purporting to be signed by the chair of the meeting at which the proceedings were held or by the chair of the next meeting or the Secretary, shall be evidence of the matters stated in such minutes without any further proof. |
116. | Validity of proceedings |
All acts done by a meeting of the Board, or of a committee of the Board, or by any person acting as a Director, alternate Director or member of a committee shall be valid even if it is discovered afterwards that there was some defect in the appointment of any person or persons acting, or that they or any of them were or was disqualified from holding office or not entitled to vote, or had in any way vacated office.
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117. | Transactions or other arrangements with the company |
117.1 | Subject to the Companies Acts and provided he or she has declared the nature and extent of his or her interest in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Acts, a Director who is in any way, whether directly or indirectly, interested in an existing or proposed transaction or arrangement with the Company may: |
(a) | be a party to, or otherwise interested in, any transaction or arrangement with the Company or in which the Company is otherwise (directly or indirectly) interested; |
(b) | act by himself or herself or through his or her firm in a professional capacity for the Company (otherwise than as auditor) and he or her, or his or her firm, shall be entitled to remuneration for professional services as if he or she were not a Director; |
(c) | be or become a director or other officer of, or employed by, or a party to a transaction or arrangement with, or otherwise interested in, any body corporate in which the Company is otherwise (directly or indirectly) interested; and |
(d) | hold any office or place of profit with the Company (except as auditor) in conjunction with his or her office of Director for such period and upon such terms, including as to remuneration as the Board may decide. |
117.2 | A Director shall not, save as he or she may otherwise agree, be accountable to the Company for any benefit which he or she derives from any such contract, transaction or arrangement or from any such office or employment or from any interest in any such body corporate and no such contract, transaction or arrangement shall be liable to be avoided on the grounds of any such interest or benefit nor shall the receipt of any such remuneration or other benefit constitute a breach of duty under section 176 of the Act. |
118. | Authorisation of Directors’ conflicts of interest |
118.1 | The Board may, in accordance with the requirements set out in this Article, authorise any matter or situation proposed to them by any Director which would, if not authorised, involve a Director (an Interested Director) breaching his or her duty under the Act to avoid conflicts of interest. |
118.2 | A Director seeking authorisation in respect of a conflict of interest shall declare to the Board the nature and extent of his or her interest in a conflict of interest as soon as is reasonably practicable. The Director shall provide the Board with such details of the matter as are necessary for the Board to decide how to address the conflict of interest together with such additional information as may be requested by the Board. |
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118.3 | Any authorisation under this Article will be effective only if: |
(a) | to the extent permitted by the Act, the matter in question shall have been proposed by any Director for consideration in the same way that any other matter may be proposed to the Directors under the provisions of these Articles; |
(b) | any requirement as to the quorum for consideration of the relevant matter is met without counting the Interested Director and any other interested Director; and |
(c) | the matter is agreed to without the Interested Director voting or would be agreed to if the Interested Director’s and any other interested Director’s vote is not counted. |
118.4 | Any authorisation of a conflict of interest under this Article must be recorded in writing (but the authority shall be effective whether or not the terms are so recorded) and may (whether at the time of giving the authorisation or subsequently): |
(a) | extend to any actual or potential conflict of interest which may reasonably be expected to arise out of the matter or situation so authorised; |
(b) | provide that the Interested Director be excluded from the receipt of documents and information and the participation in discussions (whether at meetings of the Directors or otherwise) related to the conflict of interest; |
(c) | impose upon the Interested Director such other terms for the purposes of dealing with the conflict of interest as the Directors think fit; |
(d) | provide that, where the Interested Director obtains, or has obtained (through his or her involvement in the conflict of interest and otherwise than through the interested Director’s position as a Director) information that is confidential to a third party, he or she will not be obliged to disclose that information to the Company, or to use it in relation to the Company’s affairs where to do so would amount to a breach of that confidence; and |
(e) | permit the Interested Director to absent himself or herself from the discussion of matters relating to the conflict of interest at any meeting of the Directors and be excused from reviewing papers prepared by, or for, the Directors to the extent they relate to such matters. |
118.5 | Where the Directors authorise a conflict of interest, the Interested Director will be obliged to conduct himself or herself in accordance with any terms and conditions imposed by the Directors in relation to the conflict of interest. |
118.6 | The Directors may revoke or vary such authorisation at any time, but this will not affect anything done by the Interested Director, prior to such revocation or variation, in accordance with the terms of such authorisation. |
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118.7 | A Director is not required, by reason of being a Director (or because of the fiduciary relationship established by reason of being a director), to account to the Company for any remuneration, profit or other benefit which he or she derives from or in connection with a relationship involving a conflict of interest which has been authorised by the directors or by the Company in general meeting (subject in each case to any terms, limits or conditions attaching to that authorisation) and no contract shall be liable to be avoided on such grounds. |
119. | Directors’ permitted interests |
119.1 | A Director cannot vote or be counted in the quorum on any resolution relating to any transaction or arrangement with the Company in which the Director has an interest and which may reasonably be regarded as likely to give rise to a conflict of interest but can vote (and be counted in the quorum) on the following: |
(a) | any security, guarantee or indemnity for any money or any liability which the Director, or any other person, has lent or obligations the Director or any other person has undertaken at the request, or for the benefit, of the Company or any of its subsidiary undertakings; |
(b) | any security, guarantee or indemnity to any other person for a debt or obligation which is owed by the Company or any of its subsidiary undertakings, to that other person if the Director has taken responsibility for some or all of that debt or obligation. The Director can take this responsibility by giving a guarantee, indemnity or security; |
(c) | a proposal or contract relating to an offer of any shares or debentures or other securities for subscription or purchase by the Company or any of its subsidiary undertakings, if the Director takes part because he or she is a holder of shares, debentures or other securities, or if he or she takes part in the underwriting or sub-underwriting of the offer; |
(d) | any arrangement for the benefit of employees of the Company or any of its subsidiary undertakings which only gives him or her benefits which are also generally given to employees to whom the arrangement relates; |
(e) | any arrangement involving any other company if the Director (together with any person connected with the Director) has an interest of any kind in that company (including an interest by holding any position in that company or by being a shareholder of that company). This does not apply if he or she knows that he has a Relevant Interest. |
(f) | a contract relating to insurance which the Company can buy or renew for the benefit of the Directors or a group of people which includes Directors; and |
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(g) | a contract relating to a pension, superannuation or similar scheme or a retirement, death, disability benefits scheme or employees’ share scheme which gives the Director benefits which are also generally given to the employees to whom the scheme relates. |
119.2 | A Director cannot vote or be counted in the quorum on a resolution relating to the Director’s own appointment or the settlement or variation of the terms of his or her appointment to an office or place of profit with the Company or any other company in which the Company has an interest. |
119.3 | Where the Directors are considering proposals about the appointment, or the settlement or variation of the terms or the termination of the appointment of two or more Directors to other offices or places of profit with the Company or any company in which the Company has an interest, a separate resolution may be put in relation to each Director and in that case each of the Directors concerned shall be entitled to vote and be counted in the quorum in respect of each resolution unless it concerns his or her own appointment or the settlement or variation of the terms or the termination of his or her own appointment or the appointment of another director to an office or place of profit with a company in which the Company has an interest and the Director seeking to vote or be counted in the quorum has a Relevant Interest in it. |
119.4 | A company shall be deemed to be one in which the Director has a Relevant Interest if and so long as (but only if and so long as) the Director is to his or her knowledge (either directly or indirectly) the holder of or beneficially interested in 1% or more of any class of the equity share capital of that company (calculated exclusive of any shares of that class in that company held as treasury shares) or of the voting rights available to members of that company. In relation to an alternate Director, an interest of his or her appointor shall be treated as an interest of the alternate Director without prejudice to any interest which the alternate Director has otherwise. Where a company in which a Director has a Relevant Interest is interested in a contract, the Director also shall be deemed interested in that contract. |
119.5 | If a question arises at a Board meeting about whether a Director (other than the chair of the meeting) has an interest which is likely to give rise to a conflict of interest, or whether he or she can vote or be counted in the quorum, and the Director does not agree to abstain from voting on the issue or not to be counted in the quorum, the question must be referred to the chair of the meeting. The chair’s ruling about the relevant Director is final and conclusive, unless the nature and extent of the Director’s interests have not been fairly disclosed to the Directors. If the question arises about the chair of the meeting, the question must be directed to the Directors. The chair cannot vote on the question but can be counted in the quorum. The Directors’ resolution about the chair is final and conclusive, unless the nature and extent of the chair’s interests have not been fairly disclosed to the Directors. |
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120. | General |
For the purposes of Articles 117 to 119 inclusive (which shall apply equally to alternate Directors):
120.1 | An interest of a person who is connected (which word shall have the meaning given to it by section 252 of the Act) with a Director shall be treated as an interest of the Director. |
120.2 | A contract includes references to any proposed contract and to any transaction or arrangement or proposed transaction or arrangement whether or not constituting a contract. |
120.3 | A conflict of interest includes a conflict of interest and duty and a conflict of duties. |
120.4 | Subject to the Companies Acts, the Company may by ordinary resolution suspend or relax the provisions of Articles 117 to 119 to any extent or ratify any contract not properly authorised by reason of a contravention of any of the provisions of Articles 117 to 119. |
121. | Power to authenticate documents |
Any Director, the Secretary or any person appointed by the Board for the purpose shall have power to authenticate any documents affecting the constitution of the Company and any resolution passed by the Company or the Board or any committee, and any books, records, documents and accounts relating to the business of the Company, and to certify copies or extracts as true copies or extracts. Where any books, records, documents or accounts are not at the Office, the local manager or other officer of the Company who has their custody shall be deemed to be a person appointed by the Board for this purpose. A document purporting to be a copy of a resolution, or an extract from the minutes of a meeting, of the Company or the Board or any committee which is so certified shall be conclusive evidence in favour of all persons dealing with the Company that such resolution has been duly passed or, as the case may be, that any minute so extracted is a true and accurate record of proceedings at a duly constituted meeting.
122. | Use of seals |
122.1 | The Board shall provide for the safe custody of the Seal. A Seal shall not be used without the authority of the Board or of a committee of the Board so authorised. |
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122.2 | Subject as otherwise provided in these Articles, every document which is sealed using the Seal must be signed by at least one authorised person in the presence of a witness who attests the signature. An authorised person for this purpose is any Director, the Secretary or any other person authorised by the Directors for the purpose of signing documents to which the Seal is applied. |
122.3 | The Seal shall be used only for sealing securities issued by the Company and documents creating or evidencing securities so issued. Any such securities or documents sealed with the Seal shall not require to be signed unless the Board decides otherwise or the law otherwise requires. |
122.4 | The Board may decide who will sign an instrument to which a Seal is affixed (or in the case of a share certificate, on which the Seal may be printed) either generally or in relation to a particular instrument or type of instrument and may also determine either generally or in a particular case that a signature may be dispensed with or affixed by mechanical means. |
123. | Declaration of dividends |
Subject to the Act and these Articles, the Company may by ordinary resolution declare dividends to be paid to members according to their respective rights and interests in the profits of the Company. However, no dividend shall exceed the amount recommended by the Board.
124. | Interim dividends |
Subject to the Act, the Board may declare and pay such interim dividends (including any dividend at a fixed rate) as appears to the Board to be justified by the profits of the Company available for distribution. If the Board acts in good faith, it shall not incur any liability to the holders of shares for any loss that they may suffer by the lawful payment of any interim dividend on any other class of shares ranking with or after those shares.
125. | Calculation and currency of dividends |
Except as provided otherwise by the rights attached to shares, all dividends:
(a) | shall be declared and paid accordingly to the amounts paid up (otherwise than in advance of calls) on the shares on which the dividend is paid; |
(b) | shall be apportioned and paid proportionately to the amounts paid up on the shares during any portion or portions of the period in respect of which the dividend is paid, but if any share is issued on terms that it shall rank for dividend as from a particular date, it shall rank for dividend accordingly; and |
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(c) | may be declared or paid in any currency. The Board may decide the rate of exchange for any currency conversions that may be required and how any costs involved are to be met. |
126. | Amounts due on shares can be deducted from dividends |
The Board may deduct from any dividend or other money payable to any person on or in respect of a share all such sums as may be due from him or her to the Company on account of calls or otherwise in relation to the shares of the Company. Sums so deducted can be used to pay amounts owing to the Company in respect of the shares.
127. | Dividends not in cash |
The Board may, by ordinary resolution of the Company direct, or in the case of an interim dividend may without the authority of an ordinary resolution direct, that payment of any dividend declared may be satisfied wholly or partly by the distribution of assets, and in particular of paid up shares or debentures of any other company, or in any one or more of such ways. Where any difficulty arises regarding such distribution, the Board may settle it as it thinks fit. In particular, the Board may:
(a) | issue fractional certificates (or ignore fractions); |
(b) | fix the value for distribution of such assets or any part of them and determine that cash payments may be made to any members on the footing of the values so fixed, in order to adjust the rights of members; and |
(c) | vest any such assets in trustees on trust for the person entitled to the dividend. |
128. | No interest on dividends |
Unless otherwise provided by the rights attached to the share, no dividend or other monies payable by the Company or in respect of a share shall bear interest as against the Company.
129. | Method of payment |
129.1 | The Company may pay any dividend, interest or other sum payable in respect of a share in cash or by direct debit, bank transfer, cheque, dividend warrant, or money order or by any other method, including by electronic means, as the Board may consider appropriate. |
129.2 | The Company may send such payment by post or other delivery service (or by such means offered by the Company as the member or person entitled to it may agree in writing) to the registered address of the member or person entitled to it (or, if two or more persons are holders of the share or are jointly entitled to it because of the death or bankruptcy of the member or otherwise by operation of law, to the registered address of such of those persons as is first named in the Register) or to such person and such address as such member or person may direct in writing. |
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129.3 | Every cheque, warrant, order or other form of payment is sent at the risk of the person entitled to the money represented by it, shall be made payable to the person or persons entitled, or to such other person as the person or persons entitled may direct in writing. Payment of the cheque, warrant, order or other form of payment (including transmission of funds through a bank transfer or other funds transfer system or by such other electronic means as permitted by these Articles or in accordance with the facilities and requirements of the relevant system concerned) shall be good discharge to the Company. If any such cheque, warrant, order or other form of payment has or shall be alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed the Company shall not be responsible. |
129.4 | Any joint holder or other person jointly entitled to a share may give an effective receipt for any dividend, bonus, return of capital or other monies payable in respect of such share. |
129.5 | If a holder (or joint holder) does not specify an address, or does not specify an account or such other details and in each case that information is necessary in order to make a payment of a dividend, interest or other sum by the means by which in accordance with this Article the Board have decided that a payment is to be made or by which the holder (or joint holder) has validly elected to receive payment or the payment cannot be made by the Company using the details provided by the holder (or joint holders), the dividend, interest or other sum shall be treated as unclaimed for the purposes of these Articles. |
129.6 | The Board may, at its discretion, make provisions to enable any member as the Board shall determine to receive duly declared dividends in a currency or currencies other than sterling. For the purposes of the calculation of the amount receivable in respect of any dividend, the rate of exchange to be used to determine the foreign currency equivalent of any sum payable as a dividend shall be such rate or rates and the payment shall be on such terms and conditions as the Board may in its absolute discretion determine. |
130. | Uncashed dividends |
If cheques, warrants or orders for dividends or other sums payable in respect of a share sent by the Company to the person entitled to them are returned to the Company or left uncashed on two consecutive occasions or, following one occasion, reasonable enquires have failed to establish any new address to be used for the purpose, the Company does not have to send any dividends or other monies payable in respect of that share due to that person until he or she notifies the Company of an address to be used for the purpose.
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131. | Unclaimed dividends |
All dividends, interest or other sums payable and unclaimed for 12 months after having become payable may be invested or otherwise made use of by the Board for the benefit of the Company until claimed. The Company shall not be a trustee in respect of such unclaimed dividends and will not be liable to pay interest on it. All dividends that remain unclaimed for 12 years after they were first declared or became due for payment shall (if the Board so resolves) be forfeited and shall cease to remain owing by the Company.
132. | Scrip dividends |
Subject to the Act, the Board may, by ordinary resolution of the Company and subject to such terms and conditions as the Board may determine, offer to any holders of ordinary shares (excluding any member holding shares as treasury shares) the right to elect to receive ordinary shares, credited as fully paid, instead of cash in respect of the whole (or some part, to be determined by the Board) of any dividend specified by the ordinary resolution. The following provisions shall apply:
(a) | the said resolution may specify a particular dividend, or may specify all or any dividends declared within a specified period or periods but such period may not end later than the third anniversary of the date of the meeting at which the ordinary resolution is passed; |
(b) | the entitlement of each holder of ordinary shares to new ordinary shares shall be such that the relevant value of the entitlement shall be as nearly as possible equal to (but not greater than) the cash amount (disregarding any tax credit) of the dividend that such holder would have received by way of dividend. For this purpose relevant value shall be calculated by reference to the average of the middle market quotations for the ordinary shares on the Exchange, for the day on which the ordinary shares are first quoted “ex” the relevant dividend and the four subsequent dealing days, or in such other manner as the Board may determine on such basis as it considers to be fair and reasonable. A certificate or report by the Company’s auditors as to the amount of the relevant value in respect of any dividend shall be conclusive evidence of that amount; |
(c) | no fractions of a share shall be allotted. The Board may make such provisions as it thinks fit for any fractional entitlements including provisions where, in whole or in part, the benefit accrues to the Company and/or under which fractional entitlements are accrued and/or retained and in each case accumulated on behalf of any member and such accruals or retentions are applied to the allotment by way of bonus to or cash subscription on behalf of any member of fully paid ordinary shares and/or provisions where cash payments may be made to members in respect of their fractional entitlements; |
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(d) | the Board shall, after determining the basis of allotment, notify the holders of ordinary shares in writing of the right of election offered to them, and specify the procedure to be followed and place at which, and the latest time by which, elections must be lodged in order to be effective. No such notice need to be given to holders of ordinary shares who have previously given election mandates in accordance with this Article and whose mandates have not been revoked. The accidental omission to give notice of any right of election to, or the non-receipt (even if the Company becomes aware of such non-receipt) of any such notice by, any holder of ordinary shares entitled to the same shall neither invalidate any offer of an election nor give rise to any claim, suit or action; |
(e) | the Board shall not proceed with any election unless the company has sufficient reserves or funds that may be capitalised, and the Board has authority to allot sufficient shares, to give effect to it after the basis of the allotment is determined; |
(f) | the Board may exclude from any offer or make other arrangements in relation to any holders of ordinary shares where the Board considers that the making of the offer to them or in respect of such shares would or might involve the contravention of the laws of any territory or that for any other reason the offer should not be made to them or in respect of such shares; |
(g) | the Board may establish or vary a procedure for election mandates in respect of future rights of election and may determine that every duly effected election in respect of any ordinary shares shall be binding on every successor in title to the holder; |
(h) | the dividend (or that part of the dividend in respect of which a right of election has been offered) shall not be payable on ordinary shares in respect of which an election has been duly made (elected ordinary shares) and instead additional ordinary shares shall be allotted to the holders of the elected ordinary shares on the basis of allotment determined as stated above. For such purpose the Board may capitalise, out of any amount for the time being standing to the credit of any reserve or fund (including any share premium account or capital redemption reserve) or of any of the profits which could otherwise have been applied in paying dividends in cash as the Board may determine, a sum equal to the aggregate nominal amount of the additional ordinary shares to be allotted on such basis and apply it in paying up in full the appropriate number of unissued ordinary shares for allotment and distribution to the holders of the elected ordinary shares on such basis. The Board may do all acts and things considered necessary or expedient to give effect to any such capitalisation; |
(i) | the Board may decide how any costs relating to the new shares available in place of a cash dividend will be met, including to deduct an amount from the entitlement of a holder of ordinary shares under this Article; |
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(j) | the additional ordinary shares so allotted shall rank pari passu in all respects with each other and with the fully paid ordinary shares in issue on the record date for the dividend in respect of which the right of election has been offered, except that they will not rank for any dividend or other distribution or other entitlement which has been declared, paid or made by reference to such record date; and |
(k) | the Board may terminate, suspend, or amend any offer of the right to elect to receive ordinary shares in lieu of any cash dividend at any time and generally may implement any scrip dividend scheme on such terms and conditions as the Board may determine and take such other action as the Board may deem necessary or desirable in respect of any such scheme. |
133. | Capitalisation of reserves |
The Board may, with the authority of an ordinary resolution of the Company:
(a) | subject as provided in this Article, resolve to capitalise any undivided profits of the Company not required for paying any preferential dividend (whether or not they are available for distribution) or any sum standing to the credit of any reserve or fund of the Company which is available for distribution or standing to the credit of the share premium account or capital redemption reserve or other undistributable reserve; |
(b) | appropriate the sum resolved to be capitalised to the members in proportion to the nominal amounts of the shares (whether or not fully paid) held by them respectively which would entitle them to participate in a distribution of that sum if the shares were fully paid and the sum were then distributable and were distributed by way of dividend and apply such sum on their behalf either in or towards paying up the amounts, if any, for the time being unpaid on any shares held by them respectively, or in paying up in full unissued shares or debentures of the Company of a nominal amount equal to that sum, and allot the shares or debentures credited as fully paid to those members or as they may direct, in those proportions, or partly in one way and partly in the other, provided that: |
(i) | the share premium account, the capital redemption reserve, any other undistributable reserve and any profits which are not available for distribution may, for the purposes of this Article, only be applied in paying up in full shares to be allotted to members credited as fully paid; |
(ii) | the Company will also be entitled to participate in the relevant distribution in relation to any shares of the relevant class held by it as treasury shares and the proportionate entitlement of the relevant class of members to the distribution will be calculated accordingly; and |
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(iii) | in a case where any sum is applied in paying amounts for the time being unpaid on any shares of the Company or in paying up in full debentures of the Company, the amount of the net assets of the Company at that time in not less than the aggregate of the called up share capital of the Company and its undistributable reserves as shown in the latest audited accounts of the Company or such other accounts as may be relevant and would not be reduced below that aggregate by the payment of it; |
(c) | resolve that any shares so allotted to any member in respect of a holding by him or her of any partly paid shares shall, so long as such shares remain partly paid, rank for dividends only to the extent that such partly paid shares rank for dividends; |
(d) | make such provision by the issue of fractional certificates (or by ignoring fractions or by accruing the benefit of it to the Company rather than to the members concerned) or by payment in cash or otherwise as it thinks fit in the case of shares or debentures becoming distributable in fractions; |
(e) | authorise any person to enter on behalf of such members concerned into an agreement with the Company providing for either: |
(i) | the allotment to them respectively, credited as fully paid up, of any shares or debentures to which they may be entitled on such capitalisation; or |
(ii) | the payment up by the Company on behalf of such members by the application of their respective proportions of the reserves or profits resolved to be capitalised, of the amounts or any part of the amounts remaining unpaid on their existing shares, (any agreement made under such authority being effective and binding on all such members); and |
(f) | generally do all acts and things required to give effect to such resolution. |
134. | Record dates |
134.1 | Notwithstanding any other provision of these Articles but without prejudice to the rights attached to any shares and subject always to the Act, the Company or the Board may by resolution specify any date (record date) as the date at the close of business (or such other time as the Board may determine) on which persons registered as the holders of shares or other securities shall be entitled to receipt of any dividend, distribution, interest, allotment, issue, notice, information, document or circular. Such record date may be before, on or after the date on which the dividend, distribution, interest, allotment, issue, notice, information, document or circular is declared, made, paid, given, or served. |
134.2 | In the absence of a record date being fixed, entitlement to any dividend, distribution, interest, allotment, issue, notice, information, document or circular shall be determined by reference to the date on which the dividend is declared, the distribution allotment or issue is made or the notice, information, document or circular made, given or served. |
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135. | Inspection of records |
No member (other than a Director) shall have any right to inspect any accounting record or other document of the Company unless he or she is authorised to do so by law, by order of a court of competent jurisdiction, by the Board or by ordinary resolution of the Company.
136. | Account to be sent to members |
136.1 | In respect of each financial year, a copy of the Company’s annual accounts, the strategic report, the Directors’ report, the Directors’ remuneration report, the auditor’s report on those accounts and on the auditable part of the Directors’ remuneration report shall be sent or supplied to: |
(a) | Every member (whether or not entitled to receive notices of general meetings); |
(b) | Every holder of debentures (whether or not entitled to receive notice of general meetings); |
(c) | Every other person who is entitle to receive notice of general meetings; not less than 21 clear days before the date of the meeting at which copies of those documents are to be laid in accordance with the Act. |
136.2 | This Article does not require copies of the documents to which it applies to be sent or supplied to: |
(a) | A member or holder of debentures of whose address the Company is unaware; or |
(b) | More than one of the joint holders of shares or debentures. |
136.3 | The Board may determine that persons entitled to receive a copy of the Company’s annual accounts, the strategic report, the Directors’ report, the Directors’ remuneration report, the auditor’s report on those accounts and on the auditable part of the Directors’ remuneration report are those persons entered on the Register at the close of business on a day determined by the Board, provided that the day determined by the Board may not be more than 21 days before the day that the relevant copies are being sent. |
136.4 | Where permitted by the Act, a strategic report with supplementary material in the form and containing the information prescribed by the Act may be sent or supplied to a person so electing in place of the documents required to be sent or supplied by Article 136.1. |
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137. | Service of Notices |
137.1 | The Company can send, deliver or serve any notice or other document, including a share certificate, to or on a member: |
(a) | personally; |
(b) | by sending it through the postal system addressed to the member at the member’s registered address or by leaving it at that address addressed to the member; |
(c) | where appropriate, by sending or supplying it in electronic form to an address notified by the member to the Company for that purpose; |
(d) | where appropriate, by making it available on a website and notifying the member of its availability in accordance with this Article; or |
(e) | by any other means authorised in writing by the member. |
137.2 | In the case of joint holders of a share: |
(a) | service, sending or supply of any notice, document or other information on or to one of the joint holders shall for all purposes be deemed a sufficient service on, sending or supplying to all the joint holders; and |
(b) | anything to be agreed or specified in relation to any notice, document or other information to be served on, sent or supplied to them may be agreed or specified by any one of the joint holders and the agreement or specification of the first named in the Register shall be accepted to the exclusion of that of the other joint holders. |
137.3 | Where a member (or, in the case of a joint holders, the person first named in the Register) has a registered address outside the United Kingdom but has notified the Company of an address within the United Kingdom at which notices, documents or other information may be given to him or her or has given to the Company an address for the purposes of communications by electronic means at which notices, documents or other information may be served, sent or supplied to him or her, the member shall be entitled to have notices served, sent or supplied to him or her at such address or, where applicable, the Company may make them available on a website and notify the holder of that address. Otherwise no such member shall be entitled to receive any notice, document or other information from the Company. |
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137.4 | If on three consecutive occasions any notice, document or other information has been sent to any member at the member’s registered address or the member’s address for the service of notices (by electronic means or otherwise) but has been returned undelivered, such member shall not be entitled to receive notices, documents or other information from the Company until he or she shall have communicated with the Company and supplied in writing a new registered address or address within the United Kingdom for the service of notices or has informed the Company of an address for the service of notices and the sending or supply of documents and other information in electronic form. For these purposes, any notice, document or other information served, sent or supplied by post shall be treated as returned undelivered if the notice, document or other information is served, sent or supplied back to the Company (or its agents) and a notice, document or other information served, sent or supplied in electronic form shall be treated as returned undelivered if the Company (or its agents) receives notification that the notice, document or other information was not delivered to the address to which it was served, sent or supplied. |
137.5 | The Company may at any time and in its sole discretion choose to serve, send or supply notices, documents or other information in hard copy form alone to some or all of the members. |
138. | Notice on person entitled by transmission |
The Company may give notice to the person entitled to a share because of the death or bankruptcy of a member or otherwise by operation of law, by sending or delivering it in any manner authorised by these Articles for the giving of notice to a member, addressed to that person by name, or by the title of representative of the deceased or trustee of the bankrupt or representative by operation of law or by any like description, at the address (if any) within the United Kingdom supplied for the purpose by the person claimed to be so entitled or to which notices may be sent in electronic form. Until such an address has been so supplied, a notice may be given in any manner in which it might have been given if the death or bankruptcy or operation of law had not occurred.
139. | Record date for service |
Any notice, document or other information may be served, sent or supplied by the Company by reference to the register as it stands at any time not more than 15 days before the date of service, sending or supplying. No change in the register after that time shall invalidate that service, sending or supply. Where any notice, document or other information is served on, sent or supplied to any person in respect of a share in accordance with these Articles, no person deriving any title or interest in that share shall be entitled to any further service, sending or supplying of that notice, document or other information.
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140. | Evidence of service |
140.1 | Any notice, document or other information, addressed to a member at the member’s registered address or address for service in the United Kingdom shall, if served, sent or supplied by first class post, be deemed to have been served or delivered on the day after the day when it was put in the post (or, where second class post is employed, on the second day after the day when it was put in the post). Proof that an envelope containing the notice, document or other information was properly addressed and put into the post as a prepaid letter shall be conclusive evidence that the notice was given. |
140.2 | Any notice, document or other information not served, sent or supplied by post but delivered or left at a registered address or address for service in the United Kingdom (other than an address for the purposes of communications by electronic means) shall be deemed to have been served or delivered on the day on which it was so delivered or left. |
140.3 | Any notice, document or other information, if served, sent or supplied by electronic means shall be deemed to have been received on the day on which the electronic communication was sent by or on behalf of the Company notwithstanding that the Company subsequently sends a hard copy of such notice, document or other information by post. Any notice, document or other information made available on a website shall be deemed to have been received on the day on which the notice, document or other information was first made available on the website or, if later, when a notice of availability is received or deemed to have been received pursuant to this Article. Proof that the notice, document or other information was properly addressed shall be conclusive evidence that the notice by electronic means was given. |
140.4 | Any notice, document or other information served, sent or supplied by the Company by means of a relevant system shall be deemed to have been received when the Company or any sponsoring system-participant acting on its behalf sends the issuer-instruction relating to the notice, document or other information. |
140.5 | Any notice, document or other information served, sent or supplied by the Company by any other means authorised in writing by the member concerned shall be deemed to have been received when the Company has carried out the action it has been authorised to take for that purpose. |
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141. | Notice when post not available |
If at any time by reason of the suspension, interruption or curtailment of postal services within the United Kingdom the Company is unable effectively to convene a general meeting by notices sent through the post, the Company need only give notice of a general meeting to those members with whom the Company can communicate by electronic means and who have provided the Company with an address for this purpose. The Company shall also advertise the notice in at least one national newspaper published in the United Kingdom and make it available on its website from the date of such advertisement until the conclusion of the meeting or any adjournment of it. In any such case the Company shall send confirmatory copies of the notice by post to those members to whom notice cannot be given by electronic means if, at least seven days prior to the meeting, the posting of notices to addresses throughout the United Kingdom again becomes practicable.
142. | Indemnity and insurance |
142.1 | In this Article: |
(a) | companies are associated if one is a subsidiary of the other or both are subsidiaries of the same body corporate; |
(b) | a relevant officer means any Director or other officer or former director or other officer of the Company or an associated company (including any company which is a trustee of an occupational pension scheme (as defined by section 235(6) of the Act), but excluding in each case any person engaged by the Company (or associated company) as auditor (whether or not he or she is also a director or other officer), to the extent he or she acts in his or her capacity as auditor); and |
(c) | relevant loss means any loss or liability which has been or may be incurred by a relevant officer in connection with that relevant officer’s duties or powers in relation to the company, any associated company or any pension fund or employees’ share scheme of the company or associated company. |
142.2 | Subject to Article 142.3, but without prejudice to any indemnity to which a relevant officer is otherwise entitled: |
(a) | each relevant officer shall be indemnified out of the Company’s assets against all relevant loss including any liability incurred by the officer in defending any civil or criminal proceedings, in which judgment is given in the officer’s favour or in which the officer is acquitted or the proceedings are otherwise disposed of without any finding or admission of any material breach of duty on the officer’s part or in connection with any application in which the court grants the officer, in his or her capacity as a relevant officer, relief from liability for negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust in relation to the Company’s (or any associated company’s) affairs; and |
(b) | the Company may provide any relevant officer with funds to meet expenditure incurred or to be incurred by him or her in connection with any proceedings or application referred to in Article 142.2(a) and otherwise may take any action to enable any such relevant officer to avoid incurring such expenditure. |
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142.3 | This Article does not authorise any indemnity which would be prohibited or rendered void by any provision of the Companies Acts or by any other provision of law. |
142.4 | The Directors may decide to purchase and maintain insurance, at the expense of the Company, for the benefit of any relevant officer in respect of any relevant loss. |
143. | Winding up |
143.1 | If the Company is wound up, the liquidator may, with the authority of a special resolution and any other authority required by law, divide among the members in specie the whole or any part of the assets of the Company. This applies whether the assets shall consist of property of one kind or different kinds. For this purpose, the liquidator may set such value as the liquidator considers fair on any asset or assets and may determine how to divide it between the members or different classes of members. The liquidator may, with the authority of a special resolution and any other authority required by the law, transfer all or any part of the assets to trustees on such trusts for the benefit of members as the liquidator decides. Where the liquidator divides or transfers any assets in pursuance of the powers in this Article, no member shall be required to accept any asset in respect of which there is a liability. |
143.2 | Article 143.1 is without prejudice to any right or power that the liquidator may have, in the absence of the rights expressly conferred by Article 143.1, to divide or transfer the assets in specie as contemplated in Article 143.1 without a special resolution. |
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EXHIBIT G
Form of
ListCo Incentive Equity Plan
[Intentionally Omitted]
[Exhibit G to Business Combination Agreement]
EXHIBIT H
Form of
ListCo Equity Purchase Plan
[Intentionally Omitted]
[Exhibit H to Business Combination Agreement]
EXHIBIT I
Form of
ListCo Warrant Agreement
[Intentionally Omitted]
[Exhibit I to Business Combination Agreement]
EXHIBIT J
Terms of
ListCo Class C-1 Shares
and
ListCo Class C-2 Shares
[Exhibit J to Business Combination Agreement]
Project FP
Securities to be issued in Exchange for SPAC Warrants
This is a summary of the Class C ordinary shares of ListCo (as defined below) to be issued to the holders of Public Warrants and Private Placement Warrants of Gores Guggenheim, Inc. (“GG”) in exchange for GG Warrants on the Closing Date if the Requisite GG Warrantholder Approval is obtained.
Issuer: | Polestar Automotive Holding UK Limited, a public company limited by shares incorporated under the laws of England and Wales (“ListCo”) | |
Securities: | Class C-1 ordinary shares of ListCo with respect to Public Warrants
Class C-2 ordinary shares of ListCo with respect to Private Placement Warrants | |
Voting Rights: | One (1) vote per share | |
Dividend Rights: | None | |
Rights in Liquidation: | In a liquidation, each holder of a Class C ordinary share of ListCo will be entitled to the then as-converted value of such share (for the avoidance of doubt, less the conversion price of $11.50 per share) | |
Conversion Rights: | Each Class C ordinary share of ListCo will be convertible into one (1) Class A ordinary share of ListCo upon payment of $11.50 per share
Each Class C-2 ordinary share of ListCo will be convertible into one Class C-1 ordinary share of ListCo (a) at any time at the option of the holder thereof or (b) upon transfer to any person who is not a Permitted Transferee (under the existing warrant agreement governing the GG Warrants)
The conversion provisions will otherwise mirror the applicable provisions of the GG Warrants with respect to exercise of the warrants, subject to necessary changes under applicable law | |
Redemption Rights: | The redemption rights will mirror the applicable provisions of the GG Warrants | |
Other Terms: | The other terms of the Class C-1 ordinary shares of ListCo will mirror the terms of the Public Warrants, subject to necessary changes under applicable law
The other terms of the Class C-2 ordinary shares of ListCo will mirror the terms of the Private Warrants, subject to necessary changes under applicable law | |
Listing: | The Class C-1 ordinary shares of ListCo will be listed on the same securities exchange as the Class A ordinary shares of ListCo |