LOCK-UP AGREEMENT
Exhibit 4.3
THIS LOCK-UP AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is dated as of [●], 2023 by and between the undersigned stockholder (the “Holder”) and ETAO International Co., Ltd., a Cayman Islands company (“Purchaser”).
A. Mountain Crest Acquisition Corp. III (“Parent”), Etao International Group, a Cayman Islands company (the “Company”) and Xxxxxxxx Xxx in his capacity as the Company stockholders’ representative (the “Stockholders’ Representative”), entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of January 27, 2022 (the “Merger Agreement”).
B. Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, Parent will merge with and into Purchaser (the “Redomestication Merger”). As the surviving company in the Redomestication Merger, Purchaser will become the 100% stockholder of the Company.
C. The Holder is the record and/or beneficial owner of certain Company Ordinary Shares, which will be exchanged for shares of Purchaser Ordinary Shares pursuant to the Merger Agreement.
D. As a condition of, and as a material inducement for Parent to enter into and consummate the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, the Holder has agreed to execute and deliver this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements set forth herein, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties, intending to be legally bound, agree as follows:
AGREEMENT
1. Lock-Up.
(a) During the Lock-up Period, the Holder agrees that it, he or she will not offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, any of the Lock-up Shares (as defined below), enter into a transaction that would have the same effect, or enter into any swap, hedge or other arrangement that transfers, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the Lock-up Shares or otherwise, publicly disclose the intention to make any offer, sale, pledge or disposition, or to enter into any transaction, swap, hedge or other arrangement, or engage in any Short Sales (as defined below) with respect to the Lock-up Shares.
(b) In furtherance of the foregoing, during the Lock-up Period, the Purchaser will (i) place a stop order on all the Lock-up Shares, including those which may be covered by a registration statement, and (ii) notify the Purchaser’s transfer agent in writing of the stop order and the restrictions on the Lock-up Shares under this Agreement and direct the Purchaser’s transfer agent not to process any attempts by the Holder to resell or transfer any Lock-up Shares, except in compliance with this Agreement.
(c) For purposes hereof, “Short Sales” include, without limitation, all “short sales” as defined in Rule 200 promulgated under Regulation SHO under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and all types of direct and indirect stock pledges, forward sale contracts, options, puts, calls, swaps and similar arrangements (including on a total return basis), and sales and other transactions through non-US broker dealers or foreign regulated brokers.
(d) The term “Lock-up Period” means the date that is six (6) months after the Closing Date (as defined in the Merger Agreement).
2. Beneficial Ownership. The Holder hereby represents and warrants that it does not beneficially own, directly or through its nominees (as determined in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder), any shares of Parent Common Stock, or any economic interest in or derivative of such shares, other than those shares of Parent Common Stock or Purchaser Ordinary Shares (i) issued pursuant to the Merger Agreement) (the “Merger Shares”) or (ii) acquired directly from Mountain Crest Capital LLC pursuant to that Stock Purchase Agreement dated December 16, 2021. For purposes of this Agreement, the Merger Shares beneficially owned by the Holder, together with any other shares of Parent Common Stock or Purchaser Ordinary Shares, and including any securities convertible into, or exchangeable for, or representing the rights to receive Parent Common Stock or Purchaser Ordinary Shares, if any, acquired during the Lock-up Period are collectively referred to as the “Lock-up Shares,” provided, however, that such Lock-up Shares shall not include shares of Parent Common Stock, [ ] shares of the ordinary shares of the Purchaser owned by the Holder, or Purchaser Ordinary Shares acquired by such Holder in open market transactions during the Lock-up Period.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, and subject to the conditions below, the undersigned may transfer Lock-Up Shares in connection with (a) transfers or distributions to the Holder’s direct or indirect affiliates (within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended) or to the estates of any of the foregoing; (b) transfers by bona fide gift to a member of the Holder’s immediate family or to a trust, the beneficiary of which is the Holder or a member of the Holder’s immediate family for estate planning purposes; (c) by virtue of the laws of descent and distribution upon death of the Holder; (d) pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order, (e) transfers to the Parent’s officers, directors or their affiliates, (f) pledges of Lock-up Shares as security or collateral in connection with a borrowing or the incurrence of any indebtedness by the Holder, provided, however, that such borrowing or incurrence of indebtedness is secured by either a portfolio of assets or equity interests issued by multiple issuers, (g) transfers pursuant to a bona fide third-party tender offer, merger, stock sale, recapitalization, consolidation or other transaction involving a change of control of Parent; provided, however, that in the event that such tender offer, merger, recapitalization, consolidation or other such transaction is not completed, the Lock-Up Shares subject to this Agreement shall remain subject to this Agreement, (h) the establishment of a trading plan pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 promulgated under the Exchange Act; provided, however, that such plan does not provide for the transfer of Lock-up Shares during the Lock-Up Period, (i) transfers to satisfy tax withholding obligations in connection with the exercise of options to purchase shares of Parent Common Stock or the vesting of stock-based awards; and (j) transfers in payment on a “net exercise” or “cashless” basis of the exercise or purchase price with respect to the exercise of options to purchase shares of Parent Common Stock; provided, however, that, in the case of any transfer pursuant to the foregoing (a) through (e) clauses, it shall be a condition to any such transfer that (i) the transferee/donee agrees to be bound by the terms of this Agreement (including, without limitation, the restrictions set forth in the preceding sentence) to the same extent as if the transferee/donee were a party hereto; and (ii) each party (donor, donee, transferor or transferee) shall not be required by law (including without limitation the disclosure requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and the Exchange Act) to make, and shall agree to not voluntarily make, any filing or public announcement of the transfer or disposition prior to the expiration of the Lock-Up Period.
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3. Representations and Warranties. Each of the parties hereto, by their respective execution and delivery of this Agreement, hereby represents and warrants to the other that (a) such party has the full right, capacity and authority to enter into, deliver and perform its respective obligations under this Agreement, (b) this Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by such party and is a binding and enforceable obligation of such party and, enforceable against such party in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, and (c) the execution, delivery and performance of such party’s obligations under this Agreement will not conflict with or breach the terms of any other agreement, contract, commitment or understanding to which such party is a party or to which the assets or securities of such party are bound. The Holder has independently evaluated the merits of his/her/its decision to enter into and deliver this Agreement, and such Xxxxxx confirms that he/she/it has not relied on the advice of Company, Company’s legal counsel, or any other person.
4. No Additional Fees/Payment. Other than the consideration specifically referenced herein, the parties hereto agree that no fee, payment or additional consideration in any form has been or will be paid to the Holder in connection with this Agreement.
5. Notices. Any notices required or permitted to be sent hereunder shall be sent in writing, addressed as specified below, and shall be deemed given: (a) if by hand or recognized courier service, by 4:00PM on a Business Day, addressee’s day and time, on the date of delivery, and otherwise on the first Business Day after such delivery; (b) if by email, on the date that transmission is confirmed electronically, if by 4:00PM on a Business Day, addressee’s day and time, and otherwise on the first Business Day after the date of such confirmation; or (c) five days after mailing by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested. Notices shall be addressed to the respective parties as follows (excluding telephone numbers, which are for convenience only), or to such other address as a party shall specify to the others in accordance with these notice provisions:
(a) If to Purchaser, to:
0000 Xxxxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx
New
York, NY 10036
Attention: Xxxxxxxx Xxx
E-mail: [ ]
with
a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):
Xxxxxxxxx Xxxx Xxxxxxx, LLP
0000 Xxxxxx xx xxx Xxxxxxxx
31st Floor
New York, NY 10036
Attention: Xxx Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxx Xxx
E-mail: [ ]
[ ]
(b) If to the Holder, to the address set forth on the Holder’s signature page hereto, or to such other address(es) as any party may have furnished to the others in writing in accordance herewith.
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6. Enumeration and Headings. The enumeration and headings contained in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not control or affect the meaning or construction of any of the provisions of this Agreement.
7. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in facsimile and in any number of counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be deemed an original, but all of which shall together constitute one and the same agreement.
8. Successors and Assigns. This Agreement and the terms, covenants, provisions and conditions hereof shall be binding upon, and shall inure to the benefit of, the respective heirs, successors and assigns of the parties hereto. The Holder hereby acknowledges and agrees that this Agreement is entered into for the benefit of and is enforceable by Company and its successors and assigns.
9. Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid or unenforceable for any reason, such provision will be conformed to prevailing law rather than voided, if possible, in order to achieve the intent of the parties and, in any event, the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and shall be binding upon the parties hereto.
10. Amendment. This Agreement may be amended or modified by written agreement executed by each of the parties hereto.
11. Further Assurances. Each party shall do and perform, or cause to be done and performed, all such further acts and things, and shall execute and deliver all such other agreements, certificates, instruments and documents, as any other party may reasonably request in order to carry out the intent and accomplish the purposes of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.
12. No Strict Construction. The language used in this Agreement will be deemed to be the language chosen by the parties to express their mutual intent, and no rules of strict construction will be applied against any party.
13. Dispute Resolution. Section 12.06 of the Merger Agreement is incorporated by reference herein to apply with full force to any disputes arising under this Agreement.
14. Governing Law. Section 12.06 of the Merger Agreement is incorporated by reference herein to apply with full force to any disputes arising under this Agreement.
15. Controlling Agreement. To the extent the terms of this Agreement (as amended, supplemented, restated or otherwise modified from time to time) directly conflicts with a provisions in the Merger Agreement, the terms of this Agreement shall control.
[Signature Page Follows]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Lock-up Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized signatories as of the date first indicated above.
| ETAO INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD. | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | [ ] | |
| Title: | [ ] | |
| HOLDER: | ||
| [ ] | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | [ ] | |
| Title: | [ ] | |
| Number of locked shares owned by Holder: [ ] | ||
| Number of unlocked shares owned by Holder: [ ] | ||
| Address: | [ ] | |
| Email: | [ ] |
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